Fool Me Twice

Hey, 

This is an  update of my saturday. Check the post below for more of the greater content of my weekend. 

Saturday night was cool, as you would find out below I was exhausted form a full day of skiing. Actually I was really sure that I would not be able to gather the strength to go out that night. But I have found out in Spain that my stamina for weekend activities is quite incredible. I'm looking to break Cal Ripken's record for consecutive games played. So I showered up and was ready to go, I felt like Patrick Ewing with ice bags on my knees. Anyway, thanks to the Colegio I knew of some exciting new places to go. We ended up going to Bar Emilio in which you buy a jug, or genie lamp/bong filled with a delicious mixed alcoholic beverage. It didn't taste very alcoholic but it probably was. Everyone just passed this thing around, and instead of using cups just poured the drink from the jug into their mouths. I tend to admire innovative and fun ways of drinking so I had a blast. A couple of us went to a Spanish chupiteria  (shot bar) next door  in which we bought 20 shots for 10 Euro. However, they were deceivingly small because they filled alot of the shot with flavored stuff. Regardless, still a good time. 

After meeting up with more IES people we decided to give Mae West another shot. If you remember, I got rejected from Mae West for having a bad attitude. We showed up and there was a huge line going up the infamous Mae West stairs. I went up with a girl attached to my arm, and once again was told to leave while my male friend walked right through. I don't understand what I'm doing, maybe its this small goatee beard I have but they don't like me. They almost pushed this girl down the stairs. So essentially, FUCK MAE WEST....they are going to be shutdown anyway because apparently one of their roided up bouncers murdered someone. They can suck a dick...it was unfortunately very sobering, and we bounced to the always fun Granada Diez. Except, it wasn't really that fun. Maybe it is time to try somewhere new

ESPN Classic/ Love Lockdown

Yo, 

Another weekend in Granada.... This weekend was cool because we found a new area to explore but also made me realize we have fallen into a routine. On Friday some Colegio people took us to the Pedro de Augustin area in which I had been really excited to try out but every time we tried to go people bitched about the "long" walk. Anyway, most of the weekend was spent in that area thanks to the direction of the Colegio. Friday night I laid low a little bit, which meant after exploring bars I went home at 3. We went to some cool places and some weird ones, like this heavy rock bar in which a couple friends and I took a shot of Absynth. Apparently, "I was lied to" by Eurotrip because it wasn't green and I didn't hallucinate. It was red, and it tasted so terrible. I couldn't breathe after I took it, and it burned my chest. Before you call me a puss, try it, its a killer. Anyway, I went home at 3 because I needed to get up for Skiing at 7 am. I bounced out of bed at 7, got ready and left my room at around 7:20 for the 8 am bus to the Sierra Nevada (Ski mountain). Unfortunately, the Colegio is the most special place in the world, and they lock the doors from 7 am-8 am. So I was locked inside the Colegio, unable to get out. Recently, a couple of other Americans on our program moved into the Colegio and they met me downstairs, also perplexed as to what the purpose of locking people inside is. Funnily enough, Spanish Colegio bros were locked outside after a night of Discoteca-ing so both groups were trying to break the door down. At around 7:50 we were let out, and we bolted as fast as we could to the mains street to get a cab to the Bus station to the Ski mountain.  At  7:53 we got in a cab and I told the driver, in spanish, to drive as fast as he could without any hesitation for our health. Perhaps, in retrospect, not the brightest idea. He drove, with the belief that we would not make it to the bus. At 8:05 the Bus was still there, but ofcourse nothing easy can happen in Spain so we could only buy two tickets when there was three of us. Everyone else in our group of Americans were on a bus, and we began to argue with the Bus driver about getting another ticket, which the lady at the ticket booth had told us he would sell. This was not the case, as I ended up getting into a heated argument with him in Spanish. He got in my face alot and said essentially, Spanish motherfucker, do you speak it. The Bus pulled out, we were left to ponder what to do with a large group of spanish people in our similar situation. Fortunately a small van pulled in that apparently was a shuttle bus  for Sierra Nevada. Our third member in the group bought a ticket for this bus, which was just a piece of paper that the man wrote on in pen. We boarded the bus, and set off for Sierra Nevada, completing what was arguably the Greatest Underdog story since Giants-Patriots. Disney is in contract for the feel good movie. 

It was a great start to a fun filled Valentines day, in which essentially every girl on the trip is either rocking a purity ring or involved in Love Lockdown with a bf in the states. I personally,  don't think that many relationships will last, or more appropriately and selfishly I hope they don't last. There are many girls who are single, but everyone is somewhat cautious to sexually mingle. Anyway, skiing was pretty sweet. The terrain wasn't too difficult, actually it was a full day of just crushing groomed runs. However, just being out on the mountain was really fun. Anytime I get to Ski I have a good time, especially with some amigas. 

Bad Attitude/Tostada Con Tomate

Once again I fucked around and did not update the blog for about 10 days. The sad part is I have no good reason for the lack of writing... I sleep during the day, errrday. However, today I don't think I will Siesta because it is getting beautiful and sunny outside. Anyway I gotta update ya cats on the last part of my Vida. 

Classes have begun, actually I just finished my second week. I hate class because obviously no one goes abroad to go to class. However, I can't complain too much because I have a four day week, and on Thursday I have early morning spanish and then a scheduled walk to various Islamic architectural sites. Today (Thursday) I only had the early morning spanish class and no walk. The only thing that gets me through the alternating, 8:50 and 9:50 in the AM spanish class is that afterwards I can drink some Cafe con Leche and eat God's gift to the world, Tostada con Tomate. I don't really like tomato but this is easily the most type dope breakfast ya boy has EVER had.  

Enough with school work, I'll delve into my last weekend, because that is the most fun. Last Thursday we went out to a couple of bars, you know just doin our thang. If you recall, the Colegio closes at 3 am on Thursdays and does not reopen until 7 am. Now, for Spaniards this isn't really a big deal because they don't roll through to the Discos until at least 4....however, I tend to stay until 5 mostly. I'm trying to improve, I'll be good by the end of my time here. Anyway, perhaps we start drinking a little early by pregaming with some friends at 10....which is unheard of in Spain. Anyway, Thursday night was goin well, after our pregame of embarrasingly boxed wine for 58 Euro cents we went to some bars and were havin a dope time when we decided to go to Mae West. If you remember, I fuckin lovED Mae West last time we went. However, that was  a Wednesday night, and this is a Thirsty Thursday. Anyway I rolled up with 3 other guys and about 10 girls. We ascended the stairs to where the Mae West bouncer/nightstick carrying fashion police were letting people in. I wasn't very drunk, I'd characterize myself as a little tipsy, and I recall smiling and perhaps laughing. This is important because as I reached the summit of the Mae West stairs, the bouncers promptly said I couldn't go in, and told me to have a good night. If you have ever met me you know I was pissed as shit, especially cuz I was wearin the nicest clothes I own, as well as rolling with many sheilas, so what the fuck. Obviously I'm too puss to fight these jacked up bouncers, but I was content to curse them out safely on the street. Someone, slightly more proficient at Spanish asked what the deal was, and they said that I had a bad attitude. I guess thats what happens when you smile.  Apparently these assholes were randomly not letting people in all night...I can't blame them, I am the Bad Boy of IES. 

After fuming on the street we decided to go to a Disco that had been recommended called Vogue. When we got to Vogue at 2:00 there was actually no one. I took my free drink and tried to enjoy my time. Matt, my roommate, and I decided fuck it we were going to be here passed the 3 am deadline. Half an hour later the place started to pack full with people. It was a little bit of different crowd than the Pijo (preppy) crowd of Mae West...everyone was rockin the dreadlocks and the Disco was gettin lit up with weed all around. I smell weed on the street all over Granada, but I had no idea you could just hit that spliff in the Disco. Me and my group of IES and the Rasta/Dreaded Hippies danced/I shimied for many many hours. Our friends left at around 4:30 leaving Matt and I in Vogue not being able to go home until 7. While many offered their homestays we thought we would just stick it out. We bounced from Vogue at 5 am, and walked all around Granada, we found the only Kebab place still open, we peed in the street. Next to the Colegio I deleriously climbed a tree to pick some oranges and threw them down the street. It was fine until 6:30, from 6:30 until 7 all I wanted to do was go inside the building. Unfortunately, la porteria (door man) actually leaves and returns at 7. It makes me wonder, if we are locked in, what the fuck happens if there is a fire or disaster after 3. Anyway, we sat on a bench outside the Colegio playing Who Would You Rather, quite a fun game, and watched intently at every person who walked by, hoping they were the Porteria. Finally out of the mist, late, at 7:05 we saw our du and he let us in. 

The next two days were more of the same for me, except I went to sleep a little bit earlier 4 and 5. Instead of Vogue we hit up the more Pijo, Granada Diez. Saturday was probably the most fun because although I want to meet Spanish people (girls), it was cool to be with a ton of IES people in the Disco. Notable moments were taking shots at what we determined was a High School bar before G10. Granada Diez is pretty awesome...Discos here are really lavish. This place has gold couches and is a glitzed up old theater. It is definitely a Pijo crowd, and for some reason people were throwing their glasses on the floor. The place was pretty packed full of Spanish and Americans, which is dope. I even was on stage for a little bit, u know, just livin my life. 

Anyway, I'm looking forward to another sweet weekend. Unfortunately tomorrow I have a little fieldtrip, but its too a really cool location, the Alhambra, look it up. All my Colegio boys are done with exams this week, so they told me that it will be Fiesta all the time now. Also, I'm going to be tearing up (Skiing)  the Sierra Nevada on Saturday. One final piece of exciting news is that next weekend alot of us are going to Carnival in Cadiz, which is about 4 hours away. It is apparently the 3rd biggest Carnival in the world, or something like that. There are a millions of buses filled with people heading out on Saturday at 12 noon and returning to Granada at 8 am. 

Until Next time, Ima do me ya can do you 

Spin it Back One Time

So I gotta rewind a little bit back to last week and orientation. It was week two of Orientation and it was really fun. Pretty much everyday we would go to spanish class, I would ask the professora if we could get cafe soon, she would say yes then later we'd just go for a walk. So pretty much we did no work, which is cool for everyone. I loved spanish class, whether it was actually doing work or going on walks. And this was because I am actually in love with my orientation spanish professora, Adriana. Obviously ya boy got jokes and therefore had a special relationship with Adriana during class.  She is really cute, cool and ofcourse Spanish. The only possible obstacle I can see is that she has a boyfriend. But that du is in South Africa, and your number one Pappi is in Granada. All jokes aside she is awesome and I miss her now that classes have started. 

Last Wednesday I decided to go out with my roommate and some friends. We went to this really cool bar called Mohito. Where,  surprisingly they make some type delicious Mojitos. It was a small group of Americans and then some Spanish girls. With Mojitos in hand we started hanging out with these chicas, and suddenly one of them yells in English, who wants to see me put my fist in my mouth. Obviously we all did....then, this girl obviously really drunk took my roommate and I outside to show us how Americans drink. She did cartwheels in the street, and stood on her hands. Apparently after much critical analysis she was doing a keg stand, sans the keg. After multiple Mojitos we decided we would go to a discoteca. Our small group and spanish chicks ended up at this place Mae West, which is actually in a mall. Nevertheless it has fashion police with nightsticks outside. Once inside it looked like a really lame Cowboy saloon bar and we thought that this place had been incredibly overrated. However, we walked to other side of the bar and pushed up some doors and were suddenly on the outside of a huge room with a live band on a stage, essentially we were at a concert. Needless to say we got our dance on, drink on, and probably had the best night so far.  At 2:45 my roommate and I had to book it back to the Colegio. We took different cabs accidentally because we were pretty drunk, he had to hold the door open for me before the Colegio closed for the night. 

A couple of us showed up to orientation Spanish class not feeling to great after about 4 hours of sleep. My roommate didn't get up, he just kept sleeping. 

Next Time I will update ya on the weekend in Sevilla, it was rainy. It never stops raining in this fuckin place, but I love Granada. 

If you are special and you know it

Que Tal, 

I realize I've been slackin hardcore on the blog, ma dus, and for that I do apologize. I realize my words are a regular part of ya daily routine. So I got a decent amount to update you upon over the last 6 or 7 days. 

I've found myself really getting into Granada living, and having a fantastic time. I completely didn't realize we would have to take classes here. I have continued to have a great time with the IES Crew as well as the Spanish neighbors who we have continually gotten friendly with. 

I think the last time I updated I spoke about my new nickname in the Colegio, which is Chavo. I would like to tell all of you reading at home how special the Colegio is. These kids take about 12 classes with the expectation to fail around 5 or 6. This doesn't make them special, because they can take the exams again if they fail. Really great system I know. Anyway they are all taking exams and are incredibly bored. So bored that they resort to, as people walk into the dining hall, getting quiet, everyone staring at the people walking with trays and uniformly saying shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I thought that they were targeting me until I heard them shshhhiiing other members of the Colegio. One time I walked in with my tray and I cupped my ear a little bit, as to say, make some noise....think Allen Iverson back in the day. I think that this could have been detrimental to my cause. I have a new nickname, that is Dimbo. I went from Chavo, or Chavito like tiny D, to Dimbo, the Spanish equivalent of Dumbo. Which is apparently interpreted as I got a Big Ass D****  like an elephant. Anyway moving on, my neighbors who are really cool but equally as bored thought it would be a fun prank to take my roomates bed out of the room while we were in Sevilla for the weekend. I thought it was really funny and so did he, we still have no idea how they broke into the room. A cultural observation of the Colegio students is that friends, or atleast neighbors all go to lunch together every time. Or atleast make sure they have asked everyone in their area. And at lunch, everyone at the table gets up together when they leave, no one leaves before the other. It is very different from an American dining hall. 

Last tuesday my roommate and I played basketball with some Colegio ballers in an outdoor park. I was excited to see some differences, some Euro ball being played. Noticeable differences were that they never checked the ball in, but I would always forget and they would resume playing. Also when the ball went out of bounds rather then starting the ball at the top of the key they would do inbounds passes. I thought that they would be all about the three pointer, but rather they tried to make some ridiculous cuts and passes all the time. My roommate was pretty good, and it was a pretty competitive and fun game. One du could jump out of the building, which is weird for the Spanish. 

Thats it for Colegio discussion 

Shook Ones Remix/Street Encounters

Alright I just posted below so don't forget to read that one. I just thought I had to get this story out before I forget all the details. Before I begin I would like to announce that a spanish woman asked ME for directions on the street yesterday. I contribute that mainly to me rocking a Euro button-down shirt that had quite a few buttons unbuttoned revealing my  hairless chest.  Also the girls here must train in the mountains because they are steadfast in their stares and take alot of work to get them distracted. For example, I said hola mammi and one finally turned around, and then I realized I was the creepiest person alive.

On to the story however. Yesterday we went on a day long hike in a really beautiful mountain area outside of Granada. I will upload pictures later from my Sharapova Power Shot. Anyway Matt and I got off the bus after our arrival back in the city of Granada. We live only about 3 minutes away from the drop off point. It was us two walking with one girl who we were going to show the Colegio to. On our small walk back we were talking about the Cathedral near by, and I may have made a reference to the spanish mammis infront of us saying they were the Jenny from the Block girls. Anyway, during the walk I see this spanish guy rapidly approaching us on an angle and making weird faces and hand gestures. He is walking really fast and he comes up behind me with his face really close to mine and starts yelling Maricon, Maricon which can roughly be translated to Faggot. I knew this, so I knew that he was cursing me out. But I  kept walking and he veered away and then came back really fast still yelling and coming at me, Maricon, Maricon. I didn't say anything but I was just B-lining it for the Colegio while Matt and Stephanie were behind me. I thought he was going to knife me or try to hit me or something especially when he started saying Corto tu cabezas, I'm going to cut your head off. As I walked into the Colegio I watched him walking down the street normally with his briefcase as if nothing was out of the ordinary. I was definitely, definitely shook ones after that experience. Especially because I had just said I feel really comfortable speaking spanish and responding to anyone on the street. This guy I concluded was just fucking crazy. My neighbors didn't seem to shocked that this had happened but they did think it was kind of weird. While it did fuck with my head a little after, I was back on the calle soon after, because I corro Granada. 

Peace, and don't forget the post below with another story

Just livin ma life/Estoy Viviendo Mi Vida

So alot of stuff has happened to me in the past 24 hours plus we've been busy with hikes and whatnot.  I would like to begin this blog by clarifying something that special Ank inquired about. While I haven't met many mamisitas (spanish girls) I go out with a ton of Americanas. You kind of have to try not to, nevertheless though this is quite a change from the norm. Anyway, moving forward, I have some ridiculous experiences of recent. 

Two Nights Ago (Friday) alot of us IES people met to go to some Tapas bars. Pretty much everyone in our group is paroling the same area at the moment so we run into a lot of people we know. As mentioned you get a free beer with a Tapas, which is traditionally pretty small, kind of like an appetizer. But this one place we went to gave us legitimate panninis with fries. It was really really good...easily the best Tapas so far. The night went pretty well, nothing to really comment about we went to alot of Tapas bars which is the norm. We ended up running into another group who we traveled with to another Bar which I dubbed the Kanye West bar. It was pretty much just like being in America, there was beer pong....so I decided to bounce. Three of us who left ended up at an Irish bar where we had a beer called Alhambra 1925. Now, most of the time we ask for beer and get what is most likely the Natty Ice of Spain, and so it is easy to down. In Spanish class our professor told us of Alhambra 1925, she said it has way more alcohol than any other beer, if you have two you're on your ass. So we decided, the professor told us about it, why not have a night cap. For the first two sips, it is like drinking the greatest beer, it is pretty heavy like Guinness and with alot of flavor. After those first sips it is so hard to drink. It is like eating a four course meal, all three of us could have shared one.  After this hearty bowl of soup that is Alhambra 1925 we decided to see how the Americanas we left at the bar were doing, seeing as those they would probably require strong male accompaniment such as myself. We ran into them in the street and all decided to walk home. On the walk to our respective points of reference to get to our homes I began speaking to this girl in our program named Mary Maher. Mary goes to Ole Miss, and has the greatest accent I have ever heard. She ranks with Tabisa in my list of people I could listen to all day, and would have narrate my life. We both realized we live near Dunkin Coffee, in the US  of A, Dunkin Donuts. So we decided we would walk home together, thinking that we lived in the same place. Although I realized on the walk that I was going in the wrong direction, it was still not wrong enough that I didn't think she knew  a way to cut through a streets to where I was. Plus I was entranced by that accent. Unfortunately after about a 15 minute walk I realized that this Dunkin Coffee was not the one I had seen near the Colegio. The cool part was that it was near a street that my neighbors had told me was definitely the place to go.  Anyway, I said bye to Mary who is living with a host family, and bolted back towards where we had come from. I was walking really quickly because I desperately had to use the bathroom. As I was booking it home, and on the street right next to the Colegio I was stopped by some guys who live in the Colegio. They asked me if I lived there, and I said yes, they then called me Chabo or Chavo I don't really know. After a lot of Ques, and Como I found out it was a nickname. Upon asking my neighbors there is no definite verdict on this national mystery whether this is a good name, or a bad name. I tend to think bad, but why would the stop me on the street to tell me if it was bad unless they are really dicks. Anyway, I said Vale and left them and started knocking on the closed 1643 built huge wooden doors of the Colegio. I was a little nervous it may be closed, but I was pretty sure it didn't close that night until 7 am. I pounded on the door for about 7 minutes until I couldn't wait any longer and I peed in the backalley during which a cab turned down and I had to bolt again. Finally I made it back into the building, safe into the Colegio where I could ask Pablo and Bernardo about this nickname. I feel like my spanish is getting so much better just because I talk to them. They didn't know what it meant, or more appropriately implied, they guessed like chico,  essentially young. Afterwards I learnt some nice cursewords...and found out that saying this is the shit, is saying De Puta Madre. I got another story, that will be the next post. 

Everyday I'm Corto-ing

Whatsup Pappis y Mammis

Day 2 in Granada is going pretty sweet.  I'm getting more used to the Colegio life, which means I'm getting used to waking up in arctic winter and having to walk across a hallway to the shower. Regardless its pretty sweet and I'm meeting more Spanish students...unfortunately they are all dudes, I don't know where all the mamisitas are. But I'll find them eventually, there are a boatload of bars. Pretty much every corner street has like 3 or 4 tapas bars. Here in Granada if you order a beer it comes with a free Tapas which can be anything from fish, sliced ham on bread or croquetas which I have no idea what they are made of but are delicious. Pretty much you order a beer and get given what you're given. It is a pretty sweet way to have inexpensive dinner while getting your drink on so to speak. Last night a group of us Americans went out. When I say group I mean like four groups of 15 people or something like that. Not too easy to fit into a bar like that but you know I'm just living my life, or as I say now estoy viviendo mi vida, pappi. I've been talking alot about speaking to spanish chicks by saying oye mamisita soy pappichulo but I haven't done it yet. Probably won't be a good thing. In Granada tapas bars stop serving at 12, but then people go to pubs until 3 am and then if you are still craving the night life you hit up las discotecas.....which I don't think any of us have "hit up" yet. Pero es muy temprano.  

I'm really liking the IES group. On the first day we all got suckered into buying phone plans called appelcom which no one in my dorm full of spanish students have ever heard of. They are all just shitty Nokias but if you know me it is barely a downgrade from my Razr. Anyway if you are in the service and want to speak to others in the service all you need is a Corto, which is just a 4 digit number. It is not only easy to remember but Corto is a fantastic word. For example, one could use it such as 

"Hola Mammi, I could get yo corto?" 

or "Corto me later."

Last night we went out and went to a couple of tapas bars. We're obviously americanos. Some girls started getting hit on my some gelled up Spanish pappis. Us Americans can't compete with that. But they looked like some of the Colegio people who I have mentioned are a little big distant with us Americanos. Maybe this will be a conversation starter, how'd you go with those chicas americanas? Alot of us ended up at an Irish pub though which I found out how to ask for my go to drink after beer, the rum and coke or Pallido Cola. Pallido is a type of rum, it was iight. 

People in Colegio are becoming more and more friendly. Each day someone new will introduce themselves. For example, we met another Pablo today who invited my roomate and I to ball next week. 

Thats it for right now....above is another picture of where I live...im on the 3rd Floor. 

Granada

Whatsup Ma Dus

I'm writing this blog to detail my life in Granada spain and keep ya cats updated. We arrived in Granada yesterday from Malaga where we had our first day of Orientation and getting to know people. It's unfortunate to say but you can tell that this is not a GW group mainly because everyone is unbelievably cool and friendly. The group is comprised of around 80 people, about 3/4 of which are girls. In Granada most people have homestays with host families, about eight are in residence halls, which leaves myself and my American roommate in a Colegio. It is called Colegio Mayor Bartolome y Santiago. We are two Americans living in a small room in a  building built in around 1643 with a courtyard with about 120 Spanish students from other cities in Spain.  Thankfully our neighbors Pablo and Bernardo are really chill. Everyone else is a little distant. It was pretty terrible walking into the dining hall of the Colegio with the other 120 Spanish students staring at us. Every once in a while someone will say hey and introduce themselves though. 

Last night Matt (my roommate) and I walked around Granada and found some Tapas Bars. If you order a beer they give you a tapas included with the beer. It can be sliced ham on bread or fish, whatever the bar decides actually. Two beers and one tapas cost about 3 Euros so its type dope. Last night we got into a conversation with a man at the bar who started going off on a 45 minute monologue about how American involvement in the Spanish-American war killed children or something like that....who knows. The bartender told us he had no idea what the guy was talking about either. 

Thats about it so far, Siesta time (right now) is pretty sweet. The picture above is the entrance to the building. I'll try to add a picture of the courtyard and where my room is.