Daytrip to Arribes

Let me tell you about the most awesome daytrip ever...It started off with a 2 hour boat ride down the river separating Portugal and Spain...All I need to say about that is: GORGEOUS!!

We also passed this green covered rock face which had a '2' on it...legend has it that if you are a girl and you don't see the 2, you're never getting married. But have no fears, friends, I did see the 2 :) (Giovanna wasn't so happy with the '2' situation...)

Next up we went to a Vinyard and tasted wine slash got an informative tour of the production process line (whatever you call that...) in the winery. (and tried the wine)



After that, it was lunch time! (Yum) And the highlight of my dining experience: Jeff broke a wine glass; the stem just snapped...The most terrified look right at Javier...bahahahahahahahaha mental image which I hope will last forever! (sorry Jeff)

Next up we headed to this like underground wine-society winery. That was so cool. I don't like wine that much, but I still want an underground wine distillery...it was soooo cool. (Perhaps this is what the Wake tunnels really are....is that why they don't let us in?)

We finished off the day with a museum-esque visit, and a trip to the dam. So pretty!! I loved Arribes!!

(I mean, just look how happy I was!)

Anyhow, exam manana!! (Y paper for tuesday!) so I must be off!

Abrazos,

Rachel

Oh yeah, PS: Fun fact of the day: I don't really like watching movies without doing something (I get bored and lose interest)...so I normally make friendship bracelets, crochet or work on homework in front of the tv if a movie's on.

rif -raf (shout out to Nataliaaa)

fun fact of the day: The only days that I have absolutely no inhibitions on wearing sweats in public is days when I have tests. (I think sometimes comfort trumps appearance completely)

So in case you can't guess what I'm wearing right now....boom! sweats :) I turned in my paper and just finished my two exams...the first one...well....uhhhh, we had to identify the style of the building based on the image we were shown. We were shown five images and I think I owned four of them...but then along came number five...I just said the completely wrong style and wrote about all these things that were just wrong...so that was really sad...

And then I went to business exam...50% was a take home essay question, I think that part went well. then there were multiple choice, which was not too bad. And then we arrive at the true or falses. Let me tell you a story called "I HATEEEE true and false questions..." why, you ask? well the style of true and false questions is that if they're false you have to say why. So sometimes I know something's wrong, but I can't correct it, because I don't know what it's supposed to be...so, I'll report back when I recieve the results of this experience...Or I'll just never mention anything if they're too terrible, and hopefully you'll all forget about this post ;)

How did we fix the test slump? a post test strawberry/whipped cream extravaganza! WOOHOO! How am I further going to ammend this situation?- NATALIE RACHEL SHOPPING TRIP!!!! Oh heyyyyyyy. Yup its gonna be a great afternoon! And out to Chinese with the ammended fantastic four!!! And then to Arribes tomorrow! THIS IS THE LIFE!! (and then studying like a lunatic for the rest of the weekend, because I have these fun little things called another exam and 5 pager next week!!! huzzah!)

In this moment I feel dirty (yeah I didn't mention, I really don't shower the night before or morning of a test...hygeine goes right out the window with exams), I'm sleepy, and I'm in sweats- But can I just tell you, in this moment I feel completely perfect- I don't feel stressed, I'm not worried, I feel good. I love that. I love this :)

And furthermore I love you all!!

Have a beautiful Thursday!!
<3 Rachel

so...about those things called midterms...

fun fact of the day: I hate bridges. I get outrageously unsettled everytime I have to drive over a bridge- and I strongly dislike walking under bridges...which I do at least 4 times a day here...

And now for the post. Last week, this week and next week are just this god-awful string of midterm/paper-laden horrors. Tomorrow I have exams in Art&Architecture, and Business. I also have a 2000 word paper due tomorrow...Im at 800 words right now...So that's fun...I was outrageously productive yesterday, now i just need for that to carry through the day and night today. I'm skipping Bible Study today, and staying at the centro to hopefully finish my paper. Goal is to be done by 5 PM- (right now its 2 PM my time...that means I have to average 400 words per hour. Thats not hard at all- its just finding the thoughts thats the tricky part (and figuring out how to effectively relay those thoughts...). I feel outrageously calm for my current position... (Which I mean I'm glad for...I just find it odd...)

But I do have some wonderful things ahead that are really making me maintain happiness- Friday we're going to Arribes, which I guess is just absolutely beautiful (it's kind of one of those just pretty, nature places I think?) And we're hitting up a vineyard, and taking a boat ride- so that's pretty awesome. And then next week after one exam and one paper come Thursday- BOOM.  Barcelona!  So  things are looking good!!

And now I best get going on my paper or I am never going to meet my goal...Oh, want a visual aid of my paper topic???:

What you're looking at right there is the fachada of The Saint Sebastian Convent...good stuff yeah? yeah? Anyone interested in reading 7 pages about in Spanish, I got the hook up! ;)

All right, Hasta luego!
Rachel

Dancing: the universal language

GREAT NEWS! In the cyclical relationship that I have with my hermanitos, we are currently in the good part of the cycle of mutual like and respect! Which means today I am very very happy!!! So I had this ribbon that had been tied around the flowers that I was keeping, because Im drying the flowers, but was going to re-tie them when they're dry. So I left the ribbon on my desk, but told Natalia she could borrow it because she needed something red to serve as a penalty flag while we played soccer. Well, without asking she went and cut it to fit size for what she wanted, so when she came back, and I saw it was cut, I was like, "oh no, you cut it?" and I was kind of expecting her to just be obnoxious, but instead she responded: "Ay Dios! Te valia?" which means like, 'oh my gosh, was it important/special to you?' and so I said yes, I was saving it, and she just got the saddest look on her face...she felt so bad, and started just apologizing a million times and saying she didn't realize it was special. Obviously I told her it was fine, and honestly it is fine. It made me so happy to see that she does care that she doesn't disrespect me or my things, because every now and again it does not seem to be the case.

Then we ate dinner (turkey sandwiches! THATS RIGHT---NOT HAM!!!!! :)  ) And after diner comes the highlight of my host family experience thus far: 2 straight hours of playing 'Just Dance' on Wii. (Sidenote: I don't normally brag, but I won almost every time...except for this stupid song called 'mashed potato time' which just had a god-awful rythm (if you can even call it that) that I could not master...) It's all english songs, which made it really fun!! They love the song 'girls just wanna have fun' and I think we did that dance 8-10 times. But I loved it. I really really hope that we get to play the dance game like every night from now on, that would just make my life so great!! It was so cool that even though I feel like the majority of the time we have serious communication issues, that that has no effect on our ability to have a ridiculously good time dancing together!

Anyhow I gotta jet home in case we get to dance again!! Oh and, I forgot about giving fun facts about myself last blog, right after I said I was going to in each blog, so two fun facts:

1. I love dried mango but I ABHOR fresh mango (it literally makes me gag)
2. I hate vanilla scented things- air fresheners, candles etc...I think it's overwhelming and I sometimes get nauseous if there's a continual vanilla scent (ie; those air fresheners that continuously spray)

all righty thats all for now!!
abrazos,

Rachel

Carnaval

Yesterday we ventured to Ciudad Rodrigo to celebrate Carnaval. You want to talk about an experience...that was mind blowing for a lot of reasons. First of all, imagine a place where all social norms rearding alcohol have been discarded...We got to Ciudad Rodrigo at 9:30 AM and there was an obscene amount of drunk people...at 9:30 AM...Now let me tell you how my day started: At approximately 9:45 AM we're all walking along, and a very intoxicated individual literally dives/slides right into my left shin and I face plant the ground. and him. Welcome to Ciudad Rodrigo?Awkward...and painful (I reopened my mountain wound, so that felt less than great). Not more than an hour later we walk into this semi-empty bar/cafe (I was looking for some coffee) and I get party-boyed by two more random drunken strangers. Mehhh. So we leave and go walking around. AND THEN!!!!! WE WATCH RUNNING OF THE BULLS! (what what?) which is when the bulls run through the streets (the streets are semi-gated so as long as you don't go into the gated area, you're more or less safe...unless the bull tries to take down the gate as it did right by us...scary) But tons of people run in the streets with the bulls (which just really doesn't seem like a good idea to me. I don't understand the desire to do that...)

After getting lunch at a local place we decided to do something crazy...attend a bullfight. (which if you're unaware is actually a violent/torturous slaughter...aka a "cultural experience") But that was really a doozy. I didn't realize how much blood is involved in these kind of things. And watching them stab the bull and then stick these spikes in it, and then go at it with a sword...it was rough. Oh gosh and at the end after it's collapsed to the ground they it usually isn't dead so someone comes and like stabs it in the spinal cord or something, and there's this horrible twictch and then the bull is dead. If the matador did well, meaning fancy moves and a good 'kill' then they award the matador with the bull's ears. So they cut the ears off...right then and there...(sometimes before they've killed the bull after it has collapsed to the ground)  It's really hard for me to understand why this is such an accepted and popular event- I thought there was much more art and choreography involved but I was slightly disappointed...

What was I not disappointed in? The second matador gave me his flowers! (We had front row seats, and the matadors all like got their swords and stuff from right in front of us, and this man told the matador we were americans, so he turned around and handed his flowers to me! Happy day!)

Anyhow thats all!
Amor!!

Rachel

From this Day On, I'm Gonna Be Me. :)

Hey there!

 So I was having a beautiful Friday today; (aside from still being semi-sick...which really isn't much fun at all) I woke up at 9:15 due to a coughing fit, so I showered (and put my pajamas back on) and had two cups of coffee and then watched 13 Going on 30. (wonderful life choice). And then I was going to do my art and architecture hw, but I instead turned on some upbeat songs and danced for 2 hours in my room (that's not an exaggeration). And then (I don't know why...) my mind went to a deep place, and I spent a lot of time doing some personal reflection. (This all started because I remember thinking to myself, I wish it was socially acceptable to dance like this in public...and not have people assume you're under the influence of something). And here's what I realized: I think I let myself be defined by other people and their expectations and assumptions about me. What I mean by that is that I think I live in a way to fulfill other people's assumptions about me. And for the first time I realized- I really hate that. I think sometimes it works out to be a good thing. For instance, in high school I had a lot of friends who thought I was a lot more academically accelerated than I actually was...I mean, I do think I was smart and all, but I mean I was top 40...I wasn't top 10...I wasn't even top 10%, but for some reason people thought I was way up there. I think this drove me to work harder than I might have otherwise worked, because I liked that people misjudged me and thought of me as being an academic genius.

But how does letting people having false assumptions about you really benefit you. I realized today that I think there are a lot of people who know me. But there are very very few people who actually know me for who I think I am. Why? It's because I'm living as how I am defined by others. And I decided that as of this moment- I'm completely done with that. I have spent way too much time being concerned with how others view me- because truth be told, I don't care anymore. (I mean, don't get me wrong, I do care if my friends like me and all) but if people don't like me, I'm not gonna change to fit the mold of how they think I should be. Something I love about Spain is that at times I feel like it's breaking me down, but I think I'm really becoming who I am, (I know I know maybe that sounds lame and corny- but I mean it) I don't think I'm the same person who left the states 2 months ago- but I think I'm more myself now than I was before.  Because from this day on I'm defining myself. I challenge you to think about what makes you you, and try and really stick to that, and be yourself!

Wanna know what makes me me? (if not, you should probably close this window now):

1. I think the purpose of life (for myself and everyone else) is to somehow better the world...I think that is most easily accomplish-able (?) by helping other people. I do believe that helping people has a pay-it-forward effect by nature, and by just helping one person we can make a huge difference

2. I think I have a genuine ability to bring people joy, and I try to make sure that a day doesn't pass where I haven't made someone laugh. I love feeling like if even only for a second, I was able to bring someone joy

3. I'm an optimist. Also, I tend to assume the best of everyone (which sometimes doesn't work out for the best...but I'd still rather assume the best in people and be wrong than have a pessimistic view of people as a whole...)

4. I'm a very sheltered individual; which I think has had positive and negative effects on me. I think it caused me to become a semi-oblivious and naive individual to the world around me.  but the positive side is that it has allowed me to have a very optimistic view of the world.

5. I forgive freely, but never really forget

6. I'm sentimental and corny, and in a lot of ways I'm immature...for instance if we want to talk about movie taste: I love Mary Kate and Ashley films, I love Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan as actresses. Disney Channel and ABC Family movies often make me cry (don't even get me started on Lifetime and Hallmark). I love romantic comedies (and I HATE crude humor), and I love teenage drama films.

7. I love people who make me laugh. I'm especially fond of puns. I always think things are way funnier than everyone else, and when I laugh so hard I stop breathing. Also, I sometimes have trouble walking and laughing at the same time. SPeaking of laughing- a weird quirk is that I laugh when I'm nervous.

8. I LOVE trying new things- as a result I feel like I can do a million things at a mediocre level, but once I reach the point of being decent, I normally quit trying to progress 

9. I have the most eclectic music taste of anyone I've ever met...I'll jam out to Kesha, Elton John, Miley Cyrus, and Hillsong all in a row. My favorite music is the good 90s stuff (like legit good- Im not talking Boy Bands or Britney Spears or any of that crap...) and Taylor Swift. But I love love love dancing, and so I really will listen to anything with a beat. Anyone who knows me well knows that I sing all the time. Like really- all the time. (And I really really hate when people tell me not to sing. I feel like that's one of those things that just comes with me, so if it bothers you that I sing, then we're gonna have issues overcoming that...)

10. I like to let people know that I appreciate them. I have no problem telling people how much they mean to me and the impact they have had on my life. I also tend to thank people excessively (in their opinion, not mine) because I want them to know how genuinely grateful I am for them. I a lot of times do this in letter form, because I think that's the best way for me to express that I care. I think when we care about someone and appreciate them we should tell them or show them. And I think that not enough people do that. I don't know why people are ashamed to tell the people they love that they love them- but I hate that.

11. And lastly- I don't like everyone, but I do love everyone- What do I mean by that? There are people who aren't like us, there are people who do things or act in ways that we hate, and we just at the end of the day aren't going to be friends with them- we aren't going to like them. But I have genuine love for every human which reaches far beyond any judgments- a love which says 'I might dislike everything about you, but if you're hurting, I'm hurting. I have nothing in common with you, but if you're crying I want to comfort you. I don't know you, but if you need help, I'm here for you. I don't agree with the choices you make, but I'm sorry for what you're going through. Maybe you're a stranger, an aquaintence, or an enemy, but regardless, I want to improve your life, and I will do that by loving you'.

I think those are the things which really make me the person I am. Maybe I'll start each blog with a nice little fun fact about myself, since I did say that I don't really think anyone (even my friends and family) know me well. And what about you? What makes you you? think about it! (And feel free to let me know if you want to, cuz I'd be interested in hearing what defines you! [email: GOLDRL8@WFU.EDU])

With all the love I have in my heart,
Rachel

Oh hey Thursday!!!

Best feeling of the world?: overcoming a difficult week, and being able to breathe at the end of it! Going into the exam today, I was tense. But after the test, woahhhh! I feel good! That was so much less intense that I was expecting. Something about being prepared really does wonders for exam-taking.

Also, let me recount the greatest experience... so my computer didn't come with solitaire or any games this year...sad. So I downloaded this mega solitaire pack thing before I left. And the other night I was playing solitaire...well it was called "daisy chain" or something. And I had no idea how to play the game, so I clicked to read game instructions, but I accidentally clicked the wrong button under the 'help' tab...what came up in a little window? The following:

Rest for the Weary

(Jesus said) "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

That was the craziest most awesome experience! There's a whole little section of Bible verses in my solitaire games...it was so amazing. I love you solitaire mega pack!

Well Im about to get locked out of the centro, so I gotta jet! Out to chinese with Natalie tonight!! YAYYYYY!!

Hasta manana!
Rachel