bmgray’s blog

Making Tail

Posted on May 28th, 2008 by bmgray.
Categories: Uncategorized.

First of all I would like to apologize for abandoning my blog for a couple weeks! Finals are around the corner and I have been trying to get some studying done and finish my papers before Leslie and Courtney come to visit next weekend. I am hoping to be able to go to Madrid with them but it all depends on how much work I get done!

You are probably wondering why I’ve decided to call this blog “Making Tail”. I just think it is a funny phrase in Spanish “to make tail” means to stand in line! I am starting to feel as though I sort of fit in here, finally after 4 1/2 months! The deal breaker was when I was standing in line at the “Mercadona” (the super market that, in my opinion rocks the socks off Wal-mart) I participated in little conversation between a few other customers and the cashier. I felt like such a Spaniard! It wasn’t anything special we were just discussing a new type of tomato sauce that just came out but it was a cool feeling to be able to casually talk to someone without stuttering and sweating.

It has been quite some time since I have written so I will tell you a little about Almeria and Malaga. We went to Almeria first and explored the town. I loved it so much because there was hardly anyone out in the streets. There were a lot of people dressed up for weddings and first communions. We climbed up to an Arabic Castle and wandered around the fortress for hours. It was full of flowers and little ponds! The Cathedral in Almeria was also gorgeous. I went with a Bulgarian girl named Lyuba and two Italians, my roommate Rosaria and her friend Corrina. There was a statue of John Lennon there, Almeria is where he wrote “Strawberry Fields Forever”. I have been having a lot of trouble with allergies here. I am not sure what I am allergic to but it was really bad in Almeria and I was unable to go out with the other girls one of the nights.

After Almeria we took the bus to Malaga. I really enjoyed Malaga, but I think I preferred Almeria. My reason being that Malaga was full of tourists from northern Europe and Almeria was so tranquil, I felt as though we were the only ones walking around the town. The bus ride from Almeria to Malaga was absolutely fabulous, I swear I think I may have enjoyed it more than the city itself. Here is something I wrote in my notebook on the bus…

music, cliffs, water crasing the shore, kittensoutside, hole in the wall, rest stop, windows open, wind rushing through, laughing, clanking of glasses, white pueblos, more laughter, thoughts of home, not taken for granted…

Right now I am listening to a CD that Roberto made me, it is Joan Manuel Serrat and I love it! I recommend it!

In Malaga there were a lot of things to see. My favorite was the Picasso museum, there was a beautiful modern photography exhibit in the museum. We also got to see Picasso’s childhood home, part if it was changed into a museum and the other part was left as though it were the living room of the Picasso family. We went to more Arab fortresses and also a wonderful lookout of the city. Rosaria had a friend there who invited us to eat with her family. We had ensaladilla rusa, one of my favorite Spanish tapas! It is basically tuna salad with potatoes! Her family was was so warm and welcoming, it is nice to be in a family atmosphere once in a while because I don’t get it very often here. I wrote this sitting in the plaza in front of Picasso’s house where he used to play as a child…

Sevillana, Dancers, brisk wind, flowing charcoal dress, mandarin kissed lips and flowing hair, music. music. palomas, periwinkle flowers resting in in the sqaure of tress, lonely bicycle, boys playing ball, sunshine on my shoulders, trotting pup, castle to my right, bliss.

Since I have been back my days are pretty repetitive but definitely not dull. I wake up in the morning about an hour before my classes begin and I eat breakfast and have some coffee. For breakfast I have been eating “tostada con tomate”, baguette bread with tomato. I leave for class and usually have to be there for 3 or four hours. After class sometimes I go get a coffee with my friend German who is in some of my classes or I go home and study (don’t think I am always working hard I have also perfected the art of the siesta!). When I get home from my classes I always make something to eat for lunch, I eat so much earlier than the average European (especially the average Spaniard). Can you believe that 1 pm is early? I can’t. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have my Spanish class across town, it is quite the hike! I enjoy the walk because I have my ipod and the weather is nice. I try to get there a bit early so I can buy a coffee and sit outside a little while before the class. If I don’t have Spanish class in the afternoon Roberto sometimes comes over to hang out or I will go hang out with some other friends here in Murcia. Although I do the same things everyday my life never seems monotonous. I learn something new everyday and I am always noticing the beauty around me. The people here are so friendly and open! There is always men whistling in the street or an old woman squeezing your cheeks telling you how “guapa” (beautiful) you are. The other day I went to charge my phone at a little booth in the street and the man asked me “Do you know Beethoven? I just love him” then he began singing and laughing! This man works in stuffy booth charging phones and selling newspapers for a living and he’s as happy as can be.  It’s truly beautiful!

“Until I saw Chardin’s paintings I never knew how much beauty lay around me in my parent’s house, in the half cleared table, in the corner of the table left awry, the knife beside the empty oyster-shell.” Marcel Proust

Last weekend Roberto and I went to Calblanque and Cabo de Palos. Calblanque is a beach in the middle of nowhere, there was hardly anyone there! It was amazing! Cabo de Palos was a little pueblo (town) with wonderful views from cliffs of the water. It was like a dream! I love the rocky coasts and I get high off of the beautiful crashing of the waves against the shore. I am so glad I’ve had the opportunity to know such great people in my life and do such fun and interesting things. I wouldn’t change who I am or what I’ve experienced for anything.

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe in Spanish…just for fun!

Pito Pito, gongonito, donde vas tu tan bonito, a la era, verdadera, pin pon, fu-e-ra

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2074237&l=4c4b0&id=47202615 (pictures from Almeria)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2074238&l=23888&id=47202615 (pictures from Malaga)

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