Valenica (second go round)

Now that I´ve settled into Valencia and started to make my way things are starting to become a bit routine. Although a routine is nice in the fact that I don´t have to cart luggage around everywhere or worry about having to find transport out of a city, every now and again I have to mix it up a bit to make sure I don´t get bored. I figured I´d share with you the daily Spanish life, as well as my life, and let you compare and contrast on your own.

DAILY SPANISH LIFE
Usually starts around 9 AM, even though work doesn´t start until around 10. Between 9:30 and 10:30 you can find spaniard having almuerzo (which means lunch but is more of a brunch here) with coffee and a pastry. Things shut down EXACTLY at 2PM until EXACTLY 4PM for siesta and lunch. Offices are then open until around 7:30 or 8. Dinner starts around 9 and usually goes until around 11. Spaniards will stay up until around 2 (for the older ones) or even 5 (younger ones, even on weekdays) then start the process all over again.

MY DAILY LIFE
Usually begins in the 10 oclock hour. I awake and do a quick circuit workout just to try to keep in some shape. Shower, breakfast, and out the door around 11. Between 11 and 1:30 is my time, I listen to my music as I walk to my destination, which is usually something cultural (a museum, a plaza, etc.) and will spend some time reading my books. I head back around 1:30 to grab some food before everything closes. I have lunch at 2 and watch an hour of the Simpsons, in spanish, to work on my listening skills. The Simpsons by the way is a great show to watch since it uses so much everyday vocabulary. At 3 I´ll do some word puzzles and brain teasers just to keep my mind sharp, then leave around 3:45 for center city where I will study my spanish. On my walk there I listen to my mp3 spanish lessons and while Im there I spend time studying vocab, verb tenses, and translating a book. This usually takes me just past seven, when I walk back for dinner. I finish up dinner around 830 and usually spend about an hour on the internet planning new trips, updating my blog, and doing my best to keep in contact. After an hour in the locutorio (internet cafe) which is as hot as a sauna, I treat myself to a couple beers. Sometimes I head back into town to an international lounge to speak some english, and sometimes I stay local and talk in Spanish. I usually try to alternate between the two. This takes me up until around 11:30 or midnight when I head home, read for a bit then bed.

MY DILEMMA
My original intention was to settle here for a month ortwo and find a job or at least volunteer to really get involved with the culture. This no longer is a real possibility and I have no one to blame but myself. In London I booked my flat here for two months and decided since I had it for such a long time I could travel intermittently. Thus I booked a trip to the italian coast and munich (which I leave for today) which will last ten days. Well, upon my arrival my flatmate tells me he´s leaving on Oct 10, much earlier than our talked about date of Nov 15. This cuts my time in less than 1/2, making it almost impossible for me to find work or volunteer. I say it´s my fault because I trusted him, and as the saying foes ´possesion is 9/10s of the law.´ Instead I have decided to talk on the role of observer, even though I have conversations with locals I am putting more effort into noting and appreciating Spanish culture, which I will share with you soon. After Oct 10 I am still unsure but think I will stay in Spain through that month, though probably not Valencia.

PINK IS THE NEW DAN
I forgot to mention that in Paris I did my first load of laundry. I had packed a new shirt that my friend gave me from Morocco and didn´t remember to wash it before I left. By the way, it was red, thus now most of my whites and linens are now pink. This wouldn´t be too much of a problem in Paris, or even Italy, but I get the feeling Pink is to Spain as Purple is to Jerry Falwell (there´s an SAT analogy for you). I wore my pink polo the other day and caught some off-color comments and even what I believe was a possible solicitation, much like our recent senator (what happened with him by the way). Anyways, pink is staying in the closet in Spain, for lack of a better term.

KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED
Im doing the italian coast, milan, interlaken (Switz), then munich for Octfest so things could get pretty interesting in the next week and a half!