Dominating the Sierra Nevada

So I have to start this blog post off with a very special "Thank You." My awesome day of skiing in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Spain would not have been such a smashing success without all of the help and guidance of the Gietzen family. I went with them when I was 18 to ski in Utah and it was there that I had a private lesson (only after they saw how terrible I was) and then got much instruction from John and Mr. Gietzen. Being on the mountain again brought back many fond memories of that trip.
Anywho, the roomies, our friend Javier and I decided to go skiing yesterday in the Sierra Nevada mountains. They are always visible from Granada and even from Motril but I had yet to go there. It had been 5+ years since I had gone skiing (and really have only been 2-3 times in my life). I was nervous but knew it was something I wanted to do. We set out bright and early (I had to be up at 6.....yeah, that wasn't fun seeing as how I am used to waking up at 9-9:30 every day). The drive up was windy but beautiful and the views kept getting better and better.....especially when we started seeing SNOW! I didn't think I missed it but I must admit it was nice to be around (gave me a little taste of home - only with much better views!!)
Here are some of the surrounding mountains on our drive up

Here is the ski resort as we were approaching...the lights are still on because the sun hadn't reached this side of the mountain yet. The nerves really started to sink in at this point!

We parked and made our way to a rental shop. We chose the first one and in retrospect probably should have looked around as we paid a little more than some of our other friends but the people were nice and helpful so it all worked out.
Here are Tad and Javier all decked out and ready to ski/snowboard

We had to take a gondola ride up to the part of the mountain where we were going to be skiing. It was beautiful. As you can see from the pictures, we had a blue-sky, cloudless, windless and overall amazing day. It could not have been any better of a day. We got to the top and put our skis on
Here I am...ready to go

Upon my request and after a bit of laughter, we went up what they call "the rug." It's this tiny little conveyor belt that climbs up to the bunny hill....I might not even call it a hill. Still, I hadn't skied in a while and wanted to see if I still remembered anything from my lesson 6 years ago. I made a few cuts back and forth and felt pretty good. Tad, Michael Lynn and I went up on a lift with runs that were green (very easy). Normally, in the US, your lift ticket is on your jacket and it's impossible to lose. Here, in Spain, you get a card and you have to scan it and then go through a turn-style to get onto every lift. It was so annoying because you had to take off your glove and get it out every time you wanted to go up a lift and I was always so afraid I was going to lose it. I wanted to keep it but you pay a 3 euro deposit for the card and I wanted my money back so I returned it....the pictures will have to do as a souvenir :-)


Anyway, back to the first run we went down....it felt amazing!! I fell right back into the groove of skiing and felt pretty comfortable. Tad did really well too and from that point on, we went off to explore other lifts. We stuck to another lift with easy runs and then made it to the blue runs (still considered "easy" but just challenging enough for my beginner level!)
Here we are at the top of one of the lifts...partners in crime for the day!

We found one lift that had a run that we loved and managed to take some pictures with Granada and the surrounding mountains in the background.

We skied for a solid 3 1/2 hours in the morning and then it was time for lunch - of course, bocadillos (Spanish sandwiches)

Javier and me at lunch (yes, my cheeks are red....the sun was bright and I have fair skin!)

After lunch, Tad and I were ready to hit the slopes. We climbed our favorite lift again and decided to ski all the way down the mountain. This required going past the point where we were normally catching lifts and then having to take the gondola back up. It was amazing but we were so tired after that!
Just because I am a super-nerd (and because it's Saturday and I have nothing better to do with my time), I have mapped out the route we took down the mountain :-)
It's the turquoise line that goes from the top red star to the bottom one - hope you can see it - might have to click on the picture for a better view ;-)
When we got back up, we ran into Javier and Michael Lynn and took a picture post-mountain domination :-) Can you tell we were proud of ourselves?! haha

Then we got one of all three roomies~

Tad and I did a few more runs and eventually ended up going all the way down the mountain again to finish our day.
Again, I've mapped out our route - it's pink this time. This was the way down through the "rio" or river. It's the main way to get all the way down the mountain.

Here is a shot of a cool rock formation on the way down the mountain - it was just as the sun was about to go behind the mountain.

We called it quits around 5:00pm and boy, we were tired. We returned all of our equipment. A couple of friends that I had met in Granada were also skiing yesterday and we met up with them (unfortunately, we never caught each other on the mountain).
Em, Diego (from Argentina) and Julie (from France) - yum, hat hair!!

We followed them in our car to a neat cafe about half-way down the mountain for some much-needed refreshments.

On our way down the mountain - just look at how beautiful the sky was

We got home just in time to catch a full, gorgeous moon over Motril :-)

Overall, it was an awesome day and Tad and I want to go back again soon (though not too soon...I have to save my money as it was not a cheap day!!!)

Lessons in Inconvenience

Well, I have to start by saying that I had a very fun weekend. Secondly, I think I have mastered the technique of inconveniencing people. Let me tell you all I have learned about the art of "INCONVENIENCE."
We'll start the weekend on Saturday morning. I had plans to go to Granada for a birthday BBQ during the day and an International Dinner at night. I was so excited for both of these things. Since I already had plans, Tad and Michael Lynn decided they would go to Guadix (a town north of Granada). It was a trip that we had planned for last week but didn't end up doing it. Since Granada is on the way to Guadix, Tad offered to drop me off so that I didn't have to pay to take the bus (we'll consider this inconvenience #1 - only because even though he offered, it was still out of their way a little bit). So they dropped me off and then my friend Jacob (the BBQ was for him because it's his birthday on Monday) came and picked me up where Tad dropped me off (Inconvenience #2). I felt bad that he had to come pick me up because it is a BBQ for him yet he was the one who brought all of the stuff and pretty much planned it. We went and picked up his cousin and ran some more errands and then finally made our way to the BBQ site. We ended up going to a recreation area behind the Alhambra. It was a bumpy road but the climb was gorgeous. There was never a moment that I didn't have an amazing view of the Sierra Nevada mountains. I will never tire of the landscape of Spain.
It took a while to get everything set up but the BBQ was a blast. Here are some pictures.
Some of the guys standing around the grill, enjoying some beer and a beautiful day

Me and my friend Javier - I had a blast teaching him new English words :-)

Me and a couple of the girls

The group (except for me)

Now here is a personal inconvenience (#3) - they decided to play a game of soccer and guess who didn't get the memo to wear tennis shoes?!?! ME. Being a trooper, I played in the shoes I wore (which weren't outrageously uncomfortable but they are getting worn out in spots). Anyways, I had so much fun playing soccer - I miss it so much. You could tell we are all a little out of shape as the beginning of the game was rough but we improved. I stopped playing once I noticed this..... (hope no one is grossed out by feet....especially dry, nasty feet)

It hurt a lot and had bled through my sock and into my shoe. This whole weekend, I have had to walk differently to avoid putting pressure on it. And in compensating for that, other parts of my foot have started to hurt! Oh well, it was worth it and now I have the itch to play more soccer!
After everyone was sufficiently worn out, there was a water fight....
Just check out Irma's clothes

....a group shot that included Emily (thanks to self-timers)

.....and a beautiful sunset on the drive down

After that, it was time for the International Dinner at my friend Abelardo's house. He has tons of friends and a lot of them are in the Erasmus program (it's Europe's study abroad program). He organized a dinner and everyone that came had to bring a traditional dish from their country.
Here are all of the flags of the countries that were represented last night - Can you guess them all?

It's the US, Spain, France, Argentina, Mexico and Columbia.
I of course made the apple pie that I made for our Thanksgiving dinner. Only this time, I made a lattice crust on top (just to make it look fancier).

We had many different dishes (quiche, a pork dish with potatoes and honey mustard sauce, salmorejo - a tomato-based Spanish dish, candied coconut, impossible cake - half chocolate cake/half flan, and my apple pie). Little did any of us know, Abelardo decided there would be a contest to see who brought the best dish. Well, we decided to initially vote for two categories (sweets and main dishes) and then have the winners from each category go head-to-head. Well, my pie won for the dessert and the guy from Argentina who made the pork and potato concoction won for the main dishes. To add another element of surprise, Abe made Diego and I give speeches about why we thought our dishes should win. Diego went first (and even being a native Spanish speaker) he had nothing to offer. Then it was my turn. I was nervous (besides the French girl, I was the only non-native Spanish speaker). But I gave it my best. I said "my apple pie was hand-made with love. I spent a lot of time and effort peeling and cutting apples for this delicious pie which is so typical of the US." Everyone clapped and loved it. Then we voted.
I WON!! YAY!!! I have an award-winning pie! haha There was also a prize. Abe is an architecture major at the University of Granada and he did a drawing for the winner (aka ME).

I love it and think it's so cool to have something that my friend drew.
Here is a picture with my pie and my prize (it's a bad pic because my lazy friend would not stand up to take the picture but you get the point)

Well, here's where the real inconveniences start. So after the dinner, all of the people were going to another party (a going away party for a couple of Erasmus students). I didn't really know anyone and was also not feeling well. I had started coughing and really in no way wanted to go out but since I was staying at Abelardo's apartment, I had to do what he did. This party was jam-packed. There was standing room only and even if you could find space, you could be guaranteed that within seconds, someone was going to be bumping into you. I was not feeling this party and was looking for a way to leave.
Enter my other good friend Juan Carlos.

He was out with friends and I met up with him and he told me that I could stay with him even though all of my stuff was at Abe's. He told me that I could have his bed and he would sleep on the couch (#4 - how sweet of him). We took a bus home and I immediately crashed. His mom made us breakfast this morning and after that I ventured off to Abe's to get my stuff and catch a bus home to Motril. After asking Abe to look at the bus schedule, we determined that there was a bus at 1:30. It was 1:20 and so Abe offered to drive me to the bus station (#5). We got there in record-time (thanks to the wonderful driving skills of Mr. Abe) and I went to the ticket window only to find out that we read the schedule wrong and the bus left at 1:15 and the next one didn't leave until 3:30. FAIL. I texted him and told him what happened and he told me to walk back and he would drive me back at 3:30. Upon arriving at his apartment (again), I told him all I wanted to do was sleep. I crashed on the couch for an hour and he took me back around 3:15 (#6). After nearly couching my head off and with barely any voice, I am back in Motril but after a fun weekend.
Long story short, I inconvenienced a lot of people this weekend and I know that I really am so fortunate to have such amazing friends here in Spain. They do so much for me and I never know how to re-pay them. I can only hope that they all come to visit me one day in the US so I can spoil them rotten (hint hint to any of my Spanish friends that read this....COME TO THE US!!!)

Exciting News

So, I must share with everyone the exciting news. I have not really told many people about it and think it's time that I do. Every month our program (CIEE) sends out a newsletter to all of its participants with relevant information and updates. Well, the December newsletter contained a curious link about a Master's program for foreigners. Not wanting to miss out on anything exciting, I clicked on it and found a wealth of information about a program for Americans/Canadians to obtain a Master's degree in the Teaching and Learning of the Spanish Language and Culture (a rough translation of the title) at the University of Granada. After checking into the necessary qualifications and what it would take to apply (not much), I decided to take a chance. Well, I was ACCEPTED! I sent out many emails asking questions about the validity of this program in the US and what it would take for me to be able to come back to the US and teach. I got a variety of answers, some positive and some a little on the negative side. I have not 100% made a decision but I think all of you have an idea of which way I may be leaning. The only thing holding me back now is the money aspect (of course, what else?!)
If anyone has any information about where I can find one of these, please contact me - Thanks!

I have to let them know and have the payment in by the end of February so I am quickly checking into options (ie. loans). I am very excited to see where this opportunity could possibly take me!
In other news, Tad and I went to Granada this weekend. My friend Juan Carlos (whom I am sure you all know of if you have ever read my blog) asked if I wanted to hang out on Saturday afternoon. Our original plan was to go to this commercial shopping center and eat and then go bowling. Well, we definitely did the eating part as you will see from the pictures - but bowling was closed! I was bummed because I have never been bowling in Spain (not that I really think it's any different but just seems like something cool to do). Anyway, we ended up eating at this restaurant called none other than.......

So, this restaurant is Spanish chain and specializes in American/Mexican food. Just imagine, you open the menu and the list of appetizers includes: onion rings, jalopeno poppers, cheese sticks, etc. The main dishes include: ribs, pasta, burgers, steaks....everything that any American could ever dream of and more. I was surprised at how busy it was. Unfortunately, Juan Carlos and Tad went against every healthy moral I have and ordered "el clasico" for an appetizer......Fries covered in ranch dressing, cheese and bacon. Could I resist eating some? Definitely not.

My favorite part of the experience was this......

Rough translation: another, another, another! Order a pepsi and we will refill it as many times as you want!
SCORE! One thing Spain just doesn't do is free refills and so this just made my day! I think I had 3 :-)
After a very filling meal (I had a burger and Tad had ribs), what else is there to do but take a very long walking tour around the city (really unintentionally though). Juan Carlos and I took Tad to Garcia Lorca Park and we took a walk around.
Juan Carlos and me by the pond

We also paid a visit to Mitch and Catherine (Catherine is my coworker and Mitch works at the same school as Michael Lynn). They had just recently moved into a new apartment in the Albaycin and we just had to check out their spectacular view from their terrace.
No, I am not jealous of this at all............ ;-)

After a fun and exhausting afternoon with Juan Carlos, Tad and I met up with my other group of friends in Granada. He now knows all of my friends and got to work on his Spanish a lot (as did I).
Here's Tad with my buddies!

Oh, I completely forgot....before we left for Granada on Saturday, Tad and I met up with our landlady to give her the rent and also to meet her new son!!! She gave birth on the 27th of December. He is absolutely precious.
Here is little Antonio

Hmmmm....what else could there be to mention about this past weekend?!?! THE SUPERBOWL! Ok, so I act like I was really excited about it but I was not. Fortunately for us, our friend Pablo got in touch with someone who has Canal+ (the channel that was showing the game) and got this person's password to be able to stream it online. He ended up bringing over a TV (yes, he brought a flat-screen tv) and his computer and hooked it up so we could watch it.
Here's our fancy set-up

The coin toss

It was so nice of Pablo to go to all that trouble so that we could watch the game. Bern also came over to watch as he had NEVER seen a football game before in his life! The announcing was in Spanish but we also had another stream on Tad's computer to see the commercials. Wasn't the commercial for Chrysler representing Detroit so awesome?!?! I ended up going to bed after halftime (It was 3am here and work was calling my name this morning).
It's crazy to think it's February already....time flies. I hope everyone is surviving the snow!! Love to all.
Em