Assimilating, Soul-Searching, and Beautiful Nerja

Hola a todos!!

Well, I have not written an entry in about a week and a half which totally defeats the purpose of my "daily" chronicles.  But to be honest, so much has been going on this past week that I could not find the words to express my feelings.  Now, after a beautiful weekend in Nerja and a wonderfully blessed day at work, I can sit down and write a much needed entry about my time here and the miracles that I have been able to find!

Last week was busy at work with many new requests such as uploading audio files and imputing them in the digital book online, editing manuscripts, and creating lesson plans in English for a religious education textbook.  I am truly enjoying the work that I do here, though last week was a bit of a struggle for me in regards to my Spanish.  I was terribly frustrated, but what Spain is teaching me is that I need to be kinder to myself and allow time and my own efforts to work their magic.  This frustration has allowed me to really look within myself and let my soul know that I am beautiful the way I am, and that I certainly have the will power and capability of improving my Spanish, even if it takes longer than expected.  I pray that you all realize this too, that you are all beautiful just the way you are, and that you have the power to make things happen, even if it might take longer than expected.  I feel that this lesson I am learning is truly a miracle in my life, something I have needed to learn for a very long time.

Anyways!  So one of my missions coming to Spain besides being introduced to the publishing world was to go to the BEACH!! I have not been to a beach in 2 years, and my soul was yearning for the sea.  Rick Steves, who I love dearly, raves about Nerja, a village on the Costa del Sol in Andalucia (Southern Spain), so I knew I just had to go.

The bus ride from Madrid to Nerja was the most scenic of my life.  I saw everything from the plains to plateaus to the most breathtaking mountains filled with pine forests and the most jagged rock formations.  We twisted around the mountains at shocking heights, but the view was breathtaking and truly showed the beauty of God's creation.  We saw snow-capped mountains, little white-washed villages snuggled in amongst the wide expanse of sweeping mountains.  Never have I seen such diverse natural beauty all in one trip.  I got to see the windmills of Don Quijote and the sun setting against the mountains, white hill towns, and most importantly, the sea!!

Kaitlyn and I stayed at the exquisitely clean Hotel Mena Plaza with the most amazing rooftop terrace.  Here was our view!

On our first day in Nerja we took the 20 minute walk through town to the sandiest beach of all, Burriana Beach!  The sun was shining brightly and I lazily slept and read a fun Sophie Kinsella book called "Twenties Girl" - highly recommend it!  We had lunch at Ayo's, a famous paella joint right on the beach!  It was all you an eat paella for only 6 euro!  I had two plates full and even ate the shrimp!

Our dinners in Nerja were, of course, Italian because I have been craving Italian food for ages!  I got to have my pasta, cheese, and lots and lots of gelato!!

On Sunday morning we went to the Caves of Nerja!  So hauntingly beautiful.  As we were walking through the caves we heard some classical music playing, and we thought it was a recording.  Ohhh no.  No, it was actually a live classical ensemble!  Such a miracle to behold!  I took a video of this and hope to find a way to post it soon (my computer is being dumb and won't let me just upload it on here)!

I just loved Nerja - the smell of the sea and the breathtaking views!

Now I am back at work all sunny and tan!  The past two days I have spoken lots of Spanish and am starting really good work on my thesis.  My focus is going to have to change, but I expected that and am just going with the flow.  Thank you Spain for teaching me to do that too!

Getting used to a foreign culture and perspective really makes one look inward at the heart and discover the most fascinating things about the self.  It has only been two and a half weeks, but I believe that Spain has brought me some miraculous lessons, and beautiful nature to behold!

Keep looking for the daily miracles in your lives - they are there!! Lots of love to you all, and I promise to write again soon!

A Day in the Life of an Editorial Intern (in Spain)

Hola a todos! (Hello everyone!)

So, I have had many eventful days here!  Tuesday evening Kaitlyn and I went out with my boss's family friend Alva to shop and have some drinks (the bar down the street had Bulmer's cider from England - fantastico, maravillosa, ah!)  Then her mother invited us to dinner and oh my, was this a seriously cultural experience for me.  We did not eat until 10 and we had tortilla espanola (omelet with egg and potato that looks like a pie), croquetas (meat and potato that is mushed together and deep fried), salad, puree of vegetable soup, and bread!  To my surprise, her mother then said that we must go over to her neighbor's house for coffee.  That was very nice as well, and we didn't get home until 11!  This is not late in a college student's standards by any means, but I had to start work the next day so the circumstances were different.  I ended up only getting 2 hours of sleep because of my full (yet happy) stomach, and I started my first day of work on adrenaline and ready to go!

I am working at Grupo SM in the Madrid area and it is such a bilingual environment! There are many native Spaniards that work there and primarily speak Spanish, many British, Scottish, and Canadians as well.  I also found one other American.  My head was spinning from all the code-switching, but now after my third day I am actually really getting used to it.  We arrive at the office around 8:45am and immediately go into the little "cafeteria" which is a tiny room where everyone gets their morning cup of coffee or tea.  Then I go into my office that I share with Kaitlyn and start working on my editorial tasks.  Usually I will receive a proof for a book where the pages are set on massive pieces of paper and I must make the necessary changes regarding punctuation, spelling, formatting, etc.  These books are textbooks for Primary learners in English and deal with a variety of subjects.  I have actually been working mainly with the Science textbooks!  Another job that I have is to transfer the text on the page into a script format for the recordings that are done in London.

After my first day Kaitlyn and I went into Madrid with my boss and we had tapas at the Mercado de San Miguel - oh was that good!! A miracle in front of my eyes, this covered market housed the most delectable treats.  I had a tinto de verano (red wine mixed with lemon soda) and a little sandwich on a baguette with some amazing Spanish cheese and jamon iberico - some of the best ham offered in Spain.  Then another miracle happened - my boss's friend called her friend who is a native of Madrid and he took us around parts of the city! We got to see the Plaza Mayor, the neighborhood of La Latina, the Palacio Real, and the Egyptian temple!  The city has so much history and is really quite beautiful.

 Tapas!

Palacio Real, from the Jardin de Sabotini!

My second day of work was filled with events - the UD business school came to visit Grupo SM for a tour and we got to join them!  I was overjoyed to see two good friends of mine - it felt like a miracle to see their faces!  We all took a tour of the building which was extremely productive for me because I got to see where all the departments were located.  Then after a presentation all about the company we went to the Grupo SM warehouse which was HUGE!! So many books in one building!  I then went home and rested for awhile - seriously those moments where you just get to relax are also little miracles in your day!

Today was just fascinating!  We had two training sessions, both of which were in Spanish, but I understood everything and I was so proud of myself.  We were trained to use the software to upload images within the books and then we were also trained to work with digital books - they are supplements for teachers and students that are interactive and enrich the learning experience.  This is my project for at least a month and I am so excited!! I am doing my thesis on electronic publishing, and this is the company's first way of developing their digital content.  I get to add audio/visual content and links to the book which is in print first and then converted into a digital format.  So my day will be broken up into three parts: electronic book work, thesis work, and editing/script work with book proofs.  On Fridays we get to leave at 3pm.  It's so great!

Day by day Spanish is getting a little easier to comprehend and speak.  I am happy and my faith is strong. :)

Much more to come soon - might be going to Toledo this weekend and actually planning on going to Andalucia next weekend!  Lots of love!

Un entorno bilingue (A Bilingual Environment)

One of the most striking aspects of my living situation is that the environment is extremely bilingual.  One minute we can all be speaking English and the next the conversation can turn Spanish.  This rapidity surely keeps me on my toes, and it also forces me to confront my anxieties about speaking Spanish.  Surprisingly, I become a very shy person when speaking Spanish - the opposite of what I usually am - and it's mostly because I tend to lack confidence in my conversation skills.  I can read and write Spanish with much more proficiency, so the fear that creeps up as I try and comprehend a question and then answer it is truly frustrating for me.  Part of what this whole experience will teach me is to fight that fear, to realize that I am my harshest critic and that most people do not mind if I make a few grammatical mistakes.  I can't wait for the day when I can walk away from a conversation with a local feeling comfortable and happy with my progress - that will definitely be a miracle in my day!  So far I have been able to push myself and have conversations with some locals who know my  boss and her family.  I find that many of these friends are trying to learn English as well, so we then become equals.  Oh, and guess what I miraculously discovered?  The Spanish cooking channel!! Joy!! Why so much joy?  Because I really need help with my food and cooking vocabulary in Spanish, and what better way to learn that vocab than to watch Spanish chefs explaining how they cook in Spanish! And they even play Jamie Oliver shows with Spanish voice-overs - cool!!  

Yesterday was a leisurely day for me.  I slept for 12 hours straight so I woke up quite refreshed.  I spent my time unpacking, studying for the GRE, reading, and watching some Spanish TV (which is actually quite productive).  For lunch I just had a little sandwich made with a fresh baguette and lomo, a coldcut that is basically cured pork loin, delicioso!! Then I made my boss and her family some fresh tomato sauce with pasta for dinner.  I had to improvise on the ingredients a little bit, but my boss thought it was lovely, so in the end I succeeded!

Kaitlyn, the other girl I am working with and living with from UD, arrived this morning!  My boss cooked us some chicken and risotto with fried asparagus for lunch - yum!  Her daughter's friend was there and ate with us, so we spoke in Spanish during that meal.  I was able to say a few sentences - an okay start - but I know that I will improve as the weeks pass!

We just took a walk into town and I finally got some pictures of the Plaza Mayor de Grinon!

The town of Grinon is really quite nice with the Plaza Mayor you see above, some "tabernas," the usual "tiendas," and even an Irish pub!  There are trees of all different types, but the palm trees reign supreme and are coupled with beautiful yellow and pink roses in various shades.  What I notice most is the camaraderie amongst the locals.  I consider small towns to be little miracles when this happens, because this means that one small place can bring so many people together in a way that the city sometimes does not!

Then we come home to my boss's two precious dogs - Emma, a boxer, and Dixie, the golden retriever who loves to follow me around and sleep at my feet.

Isn't she cute!! She loves this big piece of wood too, it's hilarious!

Well, I start work tomorrow!  I am truly excited to meet new people and start my work in the publishing industry! A definite blog post will be coming about my first day of work, but until then, hasta luego!

España Hermosa

I arrived in beautiful, sunny Spain this morning at 7:30am - about 2am EST!  On the drive to my boss's house, the terrain was so intriguing.  There are trees of all types here, from pine to palm.  The ground is also dry and brown - many houses cannot maintain lawns and instead have trees planted in white rock beds.  The weather is hot, a good 88 degrees Fahrenheit, but there is no humidity so the heat is not as scorching as it is in the American Midwest! I do burn more quickly here though, so sunscreen is a must!

The Spanish are truly some of the most welcoming, hospitable people I have ever met.  The minute I arrived I was able to eat breakfast, shower, and then fight my impending jet lag by going to the horse stables down the street where my boss keeps two horses (Whiskey and Bo).  This particular horse stable is family run and called Asociacion Amigos del Caballo.  What a way to start off my immersion into the Spanish culture!  I was able to meet some wonderful people, and they all welcomed me to their country.  Everyone at least said hello to me, even though they have never seen me in their lives, and some even sat next to me and spoke to me in Spanish for a little while.  Horses are just gorgeous creatures.  I loved how I would walk by each horse and they would stick their head out so I could gently pet them.  The stables had many different varieties of horses - light brown, dark brown, black, gray, multi-colored, and the most beautiful white horses (caballos blancos). The owner of the stables was working with one of them in the riding area, holding the horse by a rope as the horse galloped around the ring in the glowing morning sun.  In that moment, I truly felt like I was in Spain, and I had only just arrived two hours before!  Miraculous things happen every day.

After spending a couple hours at the horse stables I took a much needed "siesta" and then went to walk around the town with my boss to buy lunch!  We went to a chicken place called "Pollo Listo" and they had the most scrumptious roast chicken, croquetas, and patatas fritas.  Here in Spain, lunch is the largest meal of the day, and Sundays are especially important because the whole family is home to enjoy a meal.  Everyone is out during this time, around 2pm or so, and in just walking around town with my boss I was able to meet many more people that she knew.  I have been told that Spain truly emphasizes building relationships among people, and I can definitely feel that vibe already.  Most markets and stores are closed on Sundays because the Spaniards really do desire to spend time with their families.  Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest after all.  Amen!

It is only 3:25pm here so I still have a good deal of the day left before I can hop into bed, but I needed to stay awake, so I figured I would write a blog post now!  We are all just relaxing, including one of my boss's dogs, a dear Golden Retriever, who followed me upstairs and is now fast asleep at my feet. :)

I start work on Wednesday, but until then, there will be more on my adjustment to Spanish life!

My 22nd Year

Today is my 22nd birthday!

Every human life is a miracle at its very conception - and my life began today 22 years ago.  My life has been filled with infinite blessings, especially growing up with a beautiful family that has raised me to know and bestow respect and kindness towards myself and towards everyone else I am priveleged to meet.  Of course, life is also filled with struggle, but I choose to dwell on the beauty of my past - I hope you do, too. :)

My university has brought me so many miracles - my wonderful friends, the Marianists, and the most beautiful opportunities.  Last summer a 12-year dream of mine came true - I studied at the University of Oxford in England for 6 weeks researching my true literary heroine: Jane Austen.  The Bodleian Library, I am certain, possesses magical properties.  The library holds over 8 million novels - many of which are older than the 15th century!  I also met the most brilliant minds while in Oxford, including my kindred spirit Samara.  If you ever have the honor of meeting a kindred spirit, that, my friends, is a truly beautiful miracle.

And now, I am about to embark on another European adventure - I am to be an Editorial Assistant Intern at a well-established publishing company in Madrid, Spain!  My dream for many years now has been to be introduced to the publishing industry.  Here is my chance!!  The minute I saw the advertisement for the position, a lightbulb went off inside.  I knew that this was the chance of a lifetime.  What a perfect way to mold my double English and Spanish major by working in a bilingual environment.  I leave this Saturday and will be in Spain until July 15th. 

For the next two months then I will be blogging about the miracles of Spain!

For now, I will leave you all with the miracles of today - my birthday!
*I wake up at 8am to over 60 birthday messages from friends on Facebook.  Though I am an old soul, technology can be seriously amazing and awe-inspiring!
*My Mom has been trying to find me this particular skirt with a particular material, and when we went shopping today we walked right into the store and found the very skirt!
*Whole Foods is a miracle everytime you walk in the door.  Today we bought the ingredients to my birthday dinner: fillet mignon with a mushroom red wine sauce, herb cheese polenta, and salad fresh from my Dad's garden!  Oh, and we bought a scrumptious birthday cake too!
*It's a beautiful sunny day - can't forget that miracle. :)