La Feria, Algodón de Azucar y la Noria

A feather just drifted onto my bed in a crisp morning breeze through the open door in my new piso (apartment) here in quaint little Laredo. Perhaps the only evidence left of a duckling that decided to fly away home…and was shot on the way up. I shall cherish this feather and it shall lay alongside my other precious memorabilia here in Laredo—my mini lawn gnome, my mini homies and my pin of Michael Jackson and ET during their duet performance in 1992.

Do I already digress in this first paragraph of my first entry here in Spain? Hmm…Well, I can honestly say that all things here have been almost identical to what I expected, except for the feelings in my heart to go along with these occurrences.

Saying good-bye to my mother at the airport in Chicago could have potentially been one of the most difficult things I had done in my entire life, but as soon as I began to cry I felt an unfamiliar arm on my shoulder and an excited voice say, “HEY! You’re from Nebraska!” I turned around to see an acquaintance of mine who was also going to Spain to do the same program as me, and he was on the same flight. We sat together and he was so nice and energetic that it kept my mind off of all the rather depressing or scary things I could have been thinking about on that 8-hour flight to Frankfurt.

I finally arrived in Madrid, after 8 hours of in and out lucid dreaming in the Frankfurt airport atop of my suitcases. Little Tamara picked me up with her aunt, and I then slept for a good 12-14 hours. The next few days were filled with excitement and a constant surrounding of the Spanish language and culture. I went to Ponferrada to stay with Tamara and her abuela for two nights. I went to la feria (fair), as Ponferrada was having its yearly festival. I met Tamara’s friends, which was overwhelming at first because I learned most of my Spanish in Mexico and was still very unaccustomed to Castellano (Spain Spanish)—especially all the colloquial expressions, extremely fast-paced and loud speech mixed with an accent that I am still getting used to (and a lisp that I at first refused to adapt, yet now find myself saying “grathiath” instead of gracias and “thtaluego” instead of hasta luego). I got to watch some fuegos artificiales (fireworks) that were quite impressive and at la feria I got to try Spain’s version of churros. Deliciosa!

It wasn’t much different from a carnival here at home from first glances, but venturing around inside was quite an inexplicable experience for me. The cool night air, the smell of churros and algodón de azucar (cotton candy), Spanish language and music all around me, the different tómbolas (raffles/booths where you play those silly games to win a goldfish that will die in 2 days) and the little differences in rides and names of things and smells and colors that made the experience so unique and different from a visit to a down-home Nebraskan carnival. I learned a lot of new words just being there and taking it all in; it was a very memorable first night out in España.

The next day, Tamara’s abuela made paella, and although my taste buds had once before ventured into the paella world, they had never experienced the maravillosa pleasure of a homemade Spanish abuela’s paella. Tamara showed me around the enchanting city of Ponferrada where I visited the ayuntamiento (city hall building) and a castillo (castle) that was more so a fortaleza (fortress). So far, the weather here in Spain has been doing its best to appease me. Seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit beautiful nubes (clouds) and warm sunny breezes that tempt my nostrils with the scents of sunflowers and the delicious food that lie just a few steps away. I went out that evening once more with Tamara and her friends and experienced the barhopping tapas experience. We went from little bar to little bar trying mini cervezas (beers) and vino (wine). I experienced a lot of tapas topped with jamón seranno (a pungent-tasting typical ham in Spain) and I am beginning to enjoy that just as much as the Spaniards who swear they couldn’t live without it. The next morning, off on a bus once again to my new hometown.

I have moved all over the place the past couple of weeks, and was so looking forward to having a place to myself and getting to unpack and have a home again. My new colleagues at one of the two schools where I will be working came and picked me up from the bus station, and the REAL rapid-fire Spanish began. My few days with Tamara were a godsend because otherwise, I would not have understood a word these ladies were saying to me. At this point, I am able to understand about 80% of what people say to me; at the beginning it was more like 40%. It is becoming more and more natural to me and I can watch TV in Spanish without having to think about it too much. My main trouble at this point is that something happens when I begin to speak. I have perfect sentences formulated in my head. I can picture it and say it in my head so eloquently, and then I speak and the nerves kick in and I sound like I’m in Spanish 101 again. I’ve only been here for a week though, and I am sure it will continue to get better.

I have met the teachers at both of my schools—I will be the instructor of the oral and conversational English classes. I am a little nervous about coming up with lesson plans as I have never taught before, but they gave me some books and I’ve taken a million foreign language classes, so I hope that helps. They learn British English. Perhaps I shall have to adopt a British accent while living here. Niños, repeat after me, “Yes, I would fancy a spot of tea and a dollop of haggis.” ¡Muy bien!

I finally found an apartment and it is beautiful. I love the town here and I really love all the people I am working with. I really missed my friends and family the first few days here—to an overwhelming and crushing extent. I was so incredibly lonely and scared. I am not afraid to admit that I was even moved to intense tears a couple of times because I felt so alone and freaked out by my decision to live here by myself for a year. But it was this that I wanted, and I am beginning to enjoy it quite a bit. I have time for myself for the first time in my life. I can walk by the ocean. I can write in my blog. I can read a book. I can make a delicious eloquent dinner for one. I can go shopping at all the amazing millions of shops in town. I can write a letter. I can watch a movie. I can dance. I can sing. I can pray. I can laugh. I can do whatever I want, and it’s going to take some getting used to, but I realize I should cherish it, because never again will life be this pace for me.


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I leave for Venice tonight to meet up with two beloved friends! I will spend two nights in Venezia, 2 nights in Milano and then off to Germany and the Czech Republic for a while. I will then come home to Laredo where I will hopefully find a roommate and begin my work. The adventure continues!