I am back in Spain for another year. I will continue to do updates like I did all last year.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Remember this commercial?

I learned a cool fact about Tarazona today.  There was a Mastercard commercial shot here in town that claims to be the running of the bulls in Pamplona but it was actually shot here in the streets of Tarazona.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS3VNrbpHU4

Saturday, April 23, 2011

I like how they celebrate Good Friday here...

.....they go clubbing!

Yesterday it was raining yet again so the procession in Tarazona was very short and I wasn't able to see too much.  What I was able to see was very pretty.





The Cathedral that is now open on weekends after being closed for almost 30 years due to restoration.  I hope to go sometime next month.




After I saw a little of the procession I went to dinner with friends which was fun and later we went out to celebrate. As usual I saw a bunch of students, I feel uncomfortable sometimes when I see students out but it was fun none-the-less.


Comments are welcome...

Thursday, April 21, 2011

La ProcesiĆ³n de Torrellas

Here is a video of the procession in the church.  It was held in the church because it has been raining all week!





Oranges as decoration!




Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Salou

The last week was crazy because I had some issues with the CPR (Center for Teachers).  I wrote about how the English conversation course that I gave was finished and so the time came for them to pay me.  All of a sudden it was necessary for me to get a paper from the IRS before I could get paid the whole amount.  They told me about the paper the same week taxes are due!  I was not confident that the IRS would fax the paper under normal circumstances let alone their busiest time of year.  At the meeting where they told me I would need another paper I was in shock and so I did not get upset.  It was only after I went home and thought about the situation that I realized back in January I asked what I needed to do to not be breaking the rules of the program and they said nothing, do not worry.  The more I thought about it I realized that I never signed a contract with the CPR and so I started thinking the worst.  If you know me well you know I jump to the worst possible conclusion first then psych myself into a state of panic.  Luckily, I went and talked with Ana at the Language School and she said she would help me so I felt much better.  Finally, after a phone call and another meeting the CPR said they would pay me no problem without the paper after Easter break.  I was feeling fed up with Spain after this incident and the speech fiasco with the Language School but we are now on holiday.  Here in Tarazona I had off from last Thursday till next Tuesday!
Last weekend I went with friends to Salou, which is a seaside town south of Barcelona.  It is very beautiful and the weather was nice.  It was sometimes a little chilly with the wind but on the beach it was nice to cool down because the sun was hot.  We walked around the town, slept on the beach and drank crazy drinks.  The bars there put a lot of decorations in the drinks which makes them fun and festive.  At night they come with sparklers in them!

Classic Spanish bull on the side of the highway on the way to Salou.

Mojito that we got in the afternoon that I had no idea how strong it was till I was tipsy walking back to the hotel.

The hotel, it was really nice except for all the teenagers that were there on their school trips.



Everyone looking out at the port in Cambrils.

Beach

The Greenwich Meridian, it crosses the highway near Zaragoza.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Easter Procession

With Easter around the corner the people in Tarazona are getting ready for Holy Week or Semana Santa as they call it here.  Last night I went to the festivities in the Old Bullring and it was a lot of fun because one of my friends, Estefania plays the large drum for her church.  This is a video of her playing.

There were about 10 groups who played and 2 were from Zaragoza.  Many of the groups had small children playing with them and they were so cute to see.

You can see the different colors that the groups wear.  The colors make it festive and I've never seen anything like this procession.






When the procession through the bullring was finished they later processed through the streets of Tarazona.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Monasterio de Veruela

This afternoon I got to go to the Monastery of Veruela which is a very famous monastery that is only about 10 minutes from Tarazona.  The tour was done in English by the same guide who took us around Tarazona last week.  It was extremely interesting and I took a lot of photos which are later in the post.

I am so glad the warm weather has come to stay.  Also, another aspect that I love about Spain that I had forgotten from my other trips here is how late it stays light outside.  Now, even though it is still early spring it is light out till 9 p.m., it is wonderful.

Up the stairs is where the Official Language School is located.  It is connected to the church because it is an old convent.

The Monastery

Beautiful walk up to the monastery.

The paradise garden within the monastery walls.

Bathing room and fountain.

Dining Room.

Extremely old Middle Ages tomb.

My students told me I have to confess because I have been a bad girl, haha.

The inside of the church.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Cultural Day

So today was the cultural day, my speech went ok I think.  They really liked the photos and it was not too short and not too long.  The sandwiches and smores went well too, though there was plenty left, maybe too much.  I also brought some Bacardi to make the punch more festive, looking back maybe it was not such a good idea but I cannot be held responsible at all, haha.  There were a decent number of students but I was glad that people from the CPR as well as some friends from outside the school were able to come.  I braided my hair and had hibiscus flower hair clips to complete my outfit, I also had a blue lei that was sent by my parents.

Here is a funny video of some students doing karaoke and dancing to Shakira's Waka Waka:

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Sunburn on April 1st, a record for me!

I missed the sun so much these winter months that I wanted to sit and eat lunch outside today.  Only two hours later and my bright idea came back to bite me.  It is far from the worst burn I've ever had but it is still sunburn, which sucks.  I am as red as my lobster costume from Carnival!  I put cold water compresses and Ana gave me after-sun stuff, so I will be back to normal soon.

Today I finally got my ID card so that is a relief.  Only 2 months left in my program and I got the paperwork done.  But, in August I have to go back again to renew for next year.  Paperwork is never-ending.

I am still preparing for the cultural day so that is keeping me really busy.  Thankfully, it is this Tuesday so it will be over soon.  An addition to my speech and American food is karaoke.  I am not going to be singing karaoke without alcohol, so I think someone needs to spike the cranberry/pineapple punch I am going to make.  I will do a blog post with the results of the Cultural Day and hopefully upload some pictures of us in our Hawaiian inspired outfits.  I will try to take some funny videos as well.

Yesterday, was the last day of my course that I teach at the Center for Teachers here in Tarazona.  I am such a great conversationalist that they want to continue classes with me the rest of the Thursdays till the end of May.  Just kidding, I think they like me but I also know that the supply of native English speakers is running low here in Tarazona.  Overall, teaching the course was a great experience and I like to think the teachers got a lot out of the course as well.  As a great last class we went on an English guided tour of Tarazona arranged by the Center.  At the end of the tour the guide, who was not a native speaker but who had really good English, said wow you have a good accent it sounds American.  This had all my "students" laughing and I told the guide that is because I am American.  The tour was extremely interesting because even though this is a little town it has a very rich and diverse history.

Ok, that is all for now until later this week...