Mi primera cerveza

This title is title is not only super significant, buy also symbolic. 

Here, is a picture of my first beer and I. Yes, this is my first beer ever. I know most of you do not believe me because college students drink cheap beer right? No, not me. I have been waiting so long to say that my first beer was in Europe. Apparently this is the good kind, too. It's the special here, called AlHambra. It was on tap, and my friend from Arkansas said that it was better than any beer she had ever had in the US. Well, not to disappoint but I really did not like it. At all actually. I'm sorry, Dad. I drank my whole cup of it though, so I did not waste it ( by that time the Germans, Russians, and French- yes there are students at my school from all over- were already on their third). But, my profesora this morning gave me some advice on other drinks she thought I might like. My other professor said I should just get used to the taste. Lol

On to the symbolic part, the reason "my first beer" is symbolic is because this night was not only a night of firsts for me, but also of much significance in Spanish history. It was so very cool that I was in Spain during an event that will eventually be in Spanish children's textbooks one day. 

As everyone knows by now, the king of Spain, Juan Carlos, announced his abdication and his handing of the throne to his son, Prince Felipe. 

Firstly, (and this is basic information I gathered from various locals) the king had much controversy surrounding him. Depending on what party you are, you did not like him at all. There were even pictures from his scandalous supposed trip hunting elephants promoting this abdication. Most people do not want a monarch anymore anyways, so they did not like him . Besides that, will all the controversy it's surprising he is just doing this now. Therefore, when he resigned and basically gave his throne to his son, most people were very excited. Anyways, it was significant because at the exact moment I was having my first beer ever, masses upon smashes of people were excitingly rioting in the street about what happened with their government. Some people were celebrating, simply because they did not like the old king, Juan Carlos. But, as news reported, many people were angry and trying to use this event to try and end the monarchy and bring complete democracy. Although past king. Juan Carlos changed the dictatorship to a democracy type ruling, there is still the need for no monarch at all. Most people in Spain thing that power by blood is outdated. They want complete democracy, "the republic". I'm anxious to see what happens from here. 

 Also, tapas are very good. Every time the others would order another round, they would bring us more tapas. Back to my "firsts", some of the tapas were pulpo,which is octopus, 

I'm not talking about the calamari at Olive Garden you get in the states that looks like fried chicken. I'm talking about small octopus, as in little tentacles that were fried but just sitting on the place looking like Ursala's offspring. No me gusta. The Swiss boy (who is super cute and nice) took all of them because that was his favorite. Anyways, I did not like that one bit, the pulpo that is. 

Back up a few hours at around 7 my school had a "cultural event". One of our professors took us on at our of the city. He did it all in Spainsh. It was hard for me to understand some parts, but luckily my friend Danyella (from Arkansas) could translate everything I couldn't get (which was a lot). But, it was super fun. I couldn't tell you everything he said about the city and what not, but I did take pictures. I learned a lot and it was fun talking to the other students and making friends. I find it fascinating meeting all of these new people, and it seems everyone is from a different country. I love it! Everyone is international and it is so much fun! 

This is a plaza type square are that is beautiful and tranquil. When the Moors lived peacefully in Andalucía, this was the first thing they finished. One would think it was the Al Hambra, but it was this. It is beautiful and you can't see it in hone picture, but the whole thing is built with stone and wood combined. It is one of the first things built in Spain that feature the unique Moorish influence of achitecture. 

This is our "tour guide". He is also a professor at my school. He is super awesome. He knows I struggle the most with my Spanish, so he goes slower (despacio por favor) and is very patient with me. He is also totally rad. 

This is super cool. It represents when Christopher Columbus came to Queen Isabel asking for money. It's significant because Columbus went to Portugal first to ask for money, but they didn't even really give him a chance to explain his route, ideas, etc. But, Queen Isabel thought it would be a good investment. And look it eventually opened up a whole new trade route. Good going Isabel, way to have a little faith. You cannot really see it in the picture, but it is super detailed and awesome. 

This is in the Universidad de Granda. It is very beautiful. 

You can really see the Moorish influence in the architecture in the arches of this building. 

La catedral de AveMaria

Beautiful!

This cathedral has a mix of influences. It took so long to build that the original architects died. They left no plans, so the people that started building it after that came from Italy. Therefore, it has much Renaisannce influence in the architecture. It is smack dab in the middle of an area of the town that has much Morrish influence, that it is quite unique. It stands out and is quite beautiful. It's funny how so many buildings have stories and culture behind them. It is also great to me that architecture translates culture. You can just look at this cathedral and compare it to others in Spain and notice the architectural difference. 

A perfect representation of Granada: two cultures mixed into one. You can see the typical on the leftt, with the Moorish influence on the right. Such simple streets in the city hold so much history, culture, and beauty.

In school today, I spoke so much Spanish. Honesty, my brain gets exhausted always trying to understand and speak in Spanish. But, it is fun anyways. 

I learned this morning some weird things about Spain.  Firstly, they have beer, wine, etc without alcohol. I don't know how or why, but that is a thing. Also, Spain is known for its red wine, which I can say I have had. It is very good. 

Last night while talking to all my new European friends, I learned that the U.S. needs to change the drinking age. They have no problems and thought it was so weird that the drinking age is 21. They said they learn how to drink before they learn how to drive. One of the boys explained to me that by the time they learn how to drive, they have already been through the stage of drinking to much, figuring out your limits, etc. That made so much sense to me. However, they also use public transportation a lot more than we do. So, I can see why the U.S. has it they way they do. Speaking of the U.S., it rules. No literally, it rules the world market. On Spanish commercials, which are in Spanish, it will feature some American song in English. Our brands are around. I mean, it's everywhere. I reallized I couldn't get Netflix in Spain, and one of my Sweedish friends explained to me the "non US problem" they have when sometimes they want to purchase things online, etc they sometimes run into "won't work in your country" response. This blinded me. So, markets are trying to be like the U.S. But it seems as if we always win this "competition". I am not saying I like the US better, or it rules the world or anything. I love Europe, and I wish we adopted some of their things. But, the truth is the U.S. is all around, even when you are halfway across the world. I don't think I like that. Idk. I haven't decided yet. 

Mi amga y yo en el parque. Bebemos sangrías. Pero, mi sangría es no bueno. Su sangría es muy muy bien. 

This dude is super cool. He took me under his wing my first day and is the absolute sweetest. He studied over twenty years ago, when he spoke fluently, but is now back just because he loves Spanish and wants to get better. He is the coolest old man from England with the best accent ever. However, even after all these years, his Spanish is still super awesome. When I took out my iPhone to take pictures, he said he didn't know how to use one of those. Anyways, he is so helpful and so sweet. Typical cute old man from England- check. 

Olga is from Russia. She speaks fluent Spanish, along with English, Russian, and some other language. She is super cool, very sweet too. Also, note my favorite old man in the background. 

El chico es de Switzerland. La chica es de Lithuwania (sp). 

They both speak Spanish very well. Also, again, they are super cool. The dude's parents are in the next picture. 

Do, the two on the right are the parents of the other dude. Again, they are from Switzerland.

They are the coolest parents ever. They go to Spain every year as a family vacation to study Spanish. They are super awesome. The guy on the left is from Belgium. He finds my southern accent when I speak English fascinating. ( I did not even know I had an accent. ) he works for an American company in Belgium, Johnson and Johnson. So, he speaks English, along with many other languages, including Spanish, to which he is still learning obviously. He said that he is going to change my American accent to sound like him when he speaks English and his American accent when he speaks English to sound more like mine. He thinks it is just so funny, they way I talk anyways. 

So, I taught the whole group how to say ya'll. I really wish I would have gotten that on tape. It would have been a YouTube hit.

Although most everyone is pretty much fluent in Spanish, they are all very patient with me. Sometimes though I don't get a joke until after someone explains it to me in English. 

Tonight we have a cultural class about youth slang here, so that should be fun. 

Adiós