las canteras

This is the beach that is basically in Lara's front yard. It is cool because as you can see the waves break in two spots. The waves naturally break due to rocks about 100 meters from the shore, which creates a kind of natural swimming pool in front where the water is smooth and free of rocks or seaweed. That is not me swimming in the water-jeje.

This is where I went today and will probably go tomorrow trying to get a little tan before I leave. Today I read my "Reading Power" book to plan my English lessons. I am teaching Reading and TOEFL in January, and I am very excited!

Called in Sick From Travelling Today

Laying on a hospital bed hooked up to an IV in a country where they don't speak your native language-check. Last night, out of no where, I got so sick I could not stop throwing up. I've travelled in India, lived in Central and South America for 7 months, I've eaten food from the street in Asia, I eat fruit and vegetables that I don't peal myself-and I have never so much as taken a tum. I go to Spain, and eat in the house of my friend and get sicker than I have been in years.

Jesi and Hector had to take me to the medical clinic across the streeet. I was reluctant to go because I thought we would have to wait a long time-I was thinking of all the times I brought EF students to St. Elizabeth's emergency room and waited forever. However, there was a little bit of discussion from a very unfriendly receptionitst about me having private insurance and there being a lot of paper work, but they saw me within 10 minutes.

I was hooked up to an IV with medicine to stop the vomiting and water to hydrate me for maybe 20 minutes, and they let Jesi sit with me because we said I don't speak Spanish-this is one of those moments you pretend you don't speak the language, along with anytime they are trying to make tourists pay some sort of wierd made up fee. Then they gave me some orange stuff to put in a liter of water and drink until noon today.

I'm fine now, just playing hooky from travelling, sitting on the couch reading and uploading my pictures.

Primera Semana

I’ve been in Las Canarias for about a week now, and I have a lot to write about. I have been very busy thanks to all of Lara’s plans for me! She wants me to meet all of her friends and do all of the things that are “so typical canary.” Last night we played volleyball on the beach until about 11. Lots of people are playing soccer, volleyball, and running on the beach until 10 or 11 at night.

I really like to see all of the runners at all times of the day. The first night we were driving back from bocadillos and a cervicita around 11-all very typical the late time for eating dinner, small sandwiches, and a half carafe of beer- and I saw lots of people running along the waterfront. I smiled, reached my hand out the window and said “amigos!” That’s how I feel, that all runners are my friends.

This past weekend we went to the South of the island, which is only about half an hour away, but this is far on such a small island. We rented a little apartment with lots of Jesi and Lara’s friends-so many that we were 7 people in 2 beds! One of the highlights is that our refrigerator talked-“la temperature es…”

The girls friends don’t really speak English, equal to what anyone who took a language in high school speaks. However, because I am here they like to say random phrases in English like “girlfriend” and point at their girlfriend, or “party, party,” “rain.” They remind me of Kerri when I was leaving for Ecuador and she was shouting random words at me like “amarillo” “bombero” “zapato.”

All of the girls’ friends are super nice. Their friend Marta took me around to some of the museums and sights in the old part of the city-casa de Colon (Columbus), CAAM (modern art), museo canario (histoy), catedral de santa ana.

The first day I was here I slept until noon and did not hear lara calling me at the house! que mala! Hector, Jesi's boyfriend started to call me the marmota, which is marmot, which in Spain I quess means you sleep a lot. It proved true on the weekend when I slept fine in a bed with 3 other girls, and took a nap with 7 other people in the room :-)

Surfing!!

I went surfing today! It was so great to be in the water again. I had to wear a wet suit because the water is pretty cold, which was very wierd because the water is so warm in Costa Rica that I always surfed in just my bikini-and I get cold very easily. My friends Marta and Marcos were my photographers, and they also took some videos :-)

El Principe de Bel Air

I am currently eating a chocolate croisont and watching the Fresh Prince of Bel Air in Spanish. Will's voice is super high pitched-jeje!

Fresh Prince of Bel Air Theme Song in Spanish

Gran Canaria

I am here in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria-which is the northwest tip of the island Gran Canaria. We are really close to Morocco and the Lonely Planet website even lists the Canary Islands under Africa. However, the islands are a part of Spain. A few times I have said something like“in Spain are the outlets the same?” and the people here tell me “this is Spain!” I am staying with my friend Yesi from EF Boston and her boyfriend Hector on the futon of their cute apartment, which overlooks a busy street with everything you could need-the Hiper Dino super market, fruit stand, bakery-todo. It is also about two streets parallel to the waterfront. Que lindo! 

I'm here!