Oh Spain

Things I am going to miss;

1. The fight among my senora and the other Monterragon senoras about who's dog is coolest... for the record Chistea should win, he is the coolest and we feed him our food.
2. Alfonoso's pretty hair in politics class.... i will always write sexy papers from now on out... just because of him!
3. The night bus that I can take home at 4am for 61.5 euro cents.
4. Spanish people who obsess about football, oh and the beautiful David Beckham on Real Madrid.


ok i really cant continue this list.... it will make me cry. Anways i am leaving in 5 days and dont plan on checking my email between now and then so I will talk to you when i am back in the states.

I am a comic book PRO

look at what I can make... did i mention I love my MAC?





besos from Spain!

Heather

PICTURES

The Berlin Wall



The Castle in Segoiva



The Roman Aquaduct



An Egyptial Temple in Spain

Frustrated with English

Wow. So all semester long I have been the one that tries to learn spanish and gets buy but doesnt really focus on it. After my past 20 minutes of ignorant Americans here at the internet cafe I am determined to not EVER look like them. Please, if you are going to a foregin country, try to speak their language or alteast be patient when they don´t understand you.

Screaming Spanish Scouts

OMG! I really questioned if I was going to survive the train ride to Segoiva today. After a late and frustrating night last night I was incredibly exhausted and looking forward to a 2 hour nap on the train to Segoiva this morning. Unfortunatley though, I got everything but peace and quiet. I got hundreds upon hundreds of screaming spanish children on their way to a camping trip of some sorts. There was hardly room to stand, let alone sit and I couldn´t hear myself think. After about 15 minutes of whistle blowing, screaming girls I started to calm down and laugh at the situation. Clearly, I thought too soon though and all chaos then broke loose.

The adults of the group at this point start some sort of spanish scream fest where they insult eachother back and forth. Although I am not 100% sure what they were saying, I am 100% sure it was MEAN (oh and i must say these little girls were no more than 8 years old)! It was half of the train chanting and clapping and dancing and shoving into me while the other side just listened and then it switched. The other half of the train would carry on and this continued for what seemed to be an etirnity. The entire situation was made even more wonderful when I pulled out my ipod and put it on to discover my music at the highest setting possible DIDNT DROWN THEM OUT!!

The good news is they got off before we did and I was able to enjoy about 10 minutes of peace before we arrived to Segovia. It is times like this that make me laugh. Would I have ever seen a scene like this on a train in the US? Hell no. Is it strangley typcially spanish? Hell yes. It is strange but I am going to miss these little things. The incredibly uncessiarly loud tone at which the locals speak. The interesting people you meet on the train. The train itself. Being able to escape to a trillion year old city for the day. Laughing with the girls as we impersonate gargoyles at the castle or redo the ball scene from cinderella in the castle. I only have 29 days left here and I intened to laugh a lot and enjoy everything (even the screaming scouts) while I can because I know I will miss them dearly.

Besos for spain!

Heather

Is this what I get for having a great time in Europe?

Wow. I clearly can no longer deal with stress. I have been so immune and hidden from it all semester while I have traveled throughout Europe, enjoying 3 hour meals, sunsets and late night talks. Now that it is back in full swing I don't know if I really can deal with it anymore. Law school applications are coming along but not done, my politics paper is suffering from writters block, my housing for the spring fell through this morning, oh and I have a cold/ear infection thing going on. ICK!

Well if there is anything Spain has taught me, it is that a good nap can solve a lot of problems. I guess I should crash for a while and hopefully when I wake up I am ready to tackle this stress head on.


besos and love from Spain!
Heather

PS-- I come home in 32 days

Prague and Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrlin

oops... forgot to post this correctly earlier!

11/3/06

Check the weather report for Berlin Germany right about now and you will realize it is a FRIGID 2 degrees celsius. The sun set at 5pm. I AM FREEZING MY BUTT OFF! So far, I have to say that the biggest mistake I have made for fall break was not packing my winter parka and I am paying for it dearly now. Yeah, laugh all you want. Heather is in Germany freezing her butt off.

BUT, realize the first part of that, I AM IN GERMANY!! I will take cold weather, the Berlin Wall, amazing chocolate, a gummi factory and Germany any day over the US, sorry!

Anyways, Mom, we made it to Berlin safely. Have checked into our hostel and are doing well. The train ride from Prague was amazing a beautiful and more importantly earned me 2 more passport stamps! I am chilling tonight, getting some food and then headed to site see tomorrow.

I love and miss you all. Monday will find me back in 65 degree farenheit sunny Madrid Spain and I will catch up with you then. Have a wonderful weekend!

besos!
Heather

Jamon at the Eifel Tower and Lost in Paris

Wow, so a lot has happened since I posted last. Yesterday in Paris we had quite the adventure. After wandering the Louvre Museum for a couple hours and paying visit to the Venus DiMilo we found our way back to the Eifel Tower. Clearly Liz and I were fans of the tower considering that this was our 3rd visit to the Tower in less than 3 days. Anyways, we found ourselves waiting in line for tickets to the top for almost 2 hours. Surrounded by screaming children we decided that small children should not be allowed in Europe. Sorry. No children allowed. They aren't going to remember going to the top of the Eifel Tower when they are 2 years old so.... WHY TAKE THEM? Really, PLEASE DONT BRING YOUR SMALL CHILDREN TO EUROPE!!

Anyways, we surrived the 2 hour wait and were amused by some Spanish people about our age on the elevator up to the Eifel Tower. The entire ride up they didn't realize that we understood what they were saying. (This is the mistake we usually make when speaking English and presuming people don't understand us.... a cute security gaurd may have overheard and understood me telling Liz how adorable he was... oops!) Anways, back to the Spanish. Liz and I were entertained with ourselves being able to figure out what they were saying. I was trying to convice Liz she should introduce herself and we were clearly entertained by our new Spanish friends. Then while waiting for the final elevator to the very tip top of the Eifel Tower the loud, goofy Spaniard of the group pulls out this bag out of his backpack. Liz and I could not help but laugh hysterically when we realized it was Jamon (ham, the staple and obsession of the Spanish diet). They even offered to share but if 2 months in Spain has taught me anything at all, it has taught me that Jamon and I are not wonderful friends, so I politely declined, in Spanish of course. You would have thought that this would be their clue that we UNDERSTOOD EVERYTHING they were saying but no.... they were still presuming, in France no one speaks Spanish. Man were they wrong. Anyways, this story is getting long and later in the long line Liz and I were casually talking about a certain someone in our group that would have been complaining in our paticular situation (aka Maletas) and this was over heard by our Spanish friends. At this point they get the shocked look on their face and one guy says ellas es espanolas, realizing that we had understood just about everything they had said for the past 2 hour wait. Ok so maybe that story was longer than necessary but the point is, don't say anything in a foreign country and presume everyone else won't understand you. It doesnt work that way. So after this long wait we made it up, absolutley petrified by the fastest elevator ride of my life, to the top of the Eifel Tower. I saw it sparkle twice and then came back down to enjoy another picnic.

On the way home after our wonderful final day in Paris Liz and I fell upon a minor problem. Our lack of French thus far had not been a burden. We were still able to order NUTELLA CREEPES, get into museums and enjoy our time in Paris. Or atleast until the metro died that was. We were headed home and waiting for our final train when we realized it was dead. We couldnt understand the announcements or comprehend what the French people were telling us. By some act of God we were rescued though by a random French woman who showed us how to get back to our metro stop via a long, maze like walk through a strange part of town. Although doubt crossed my mind when I realized I was following a total stranger home (she lived close to our metro stop) but it all turned out ok. We got home and without the un-named French women we would have still been in the metro today instead of in Prague.

But now we are in Prague and things continue to be amazing. After checking into our hotel and taking a quick nap (siesta is vital when vacationing!) we headed out in search of food. Although we have only been here a short time we have learnt a couple of things. 1. Food in Prague is cheap (thanks to the crown) and all comes backed with cheesy goodness topping. 2. Chocolates in Prague are even cheaper and rather amazing. We spent the rest of our evening wandering around the cold yet beautiful city of Prague. I will post pictures soon, I promise.

Anyways, now I am spending Halloween night hanging out in my hostel with Liz, meeting interesting American/French boys who would have been helpful to know before our Paris adventure. But I should be going. This post is entirely too long, sorry! I hope all is well state side and can't wait to see you all even though I don't ever want to leave Europe where I can fly to Paris for the weekend for less than 100$. But I will be home in 40 days, until then, be good, stay in touch and enjoy the DC fall for me.

love and besos!
Heather

Greetings from PARIS

Hello!!

Greetings from the wonderful city of Paris France. I have been here 2 days now and am LOVING IT. Saturday, after a night in the Madrid airport with my amigos, I took an early flight into Paris.

After a quick nap and pizza lunch, Liz and I found our self in hunt of the Eifel Tower. While navigating across 3 lines of the metro and through the city we found the Eifel Tower and some creepy, yet nice, Egyptian men. We managed to loose the strange men in the crowd and were able to admire the tower in peace. We then wandered the area to the Invaildes and took some time to plan out our France weekend. We then had the genius idea of PICNIC at the Eifel Tower. Bread, wine, cheese, fruit and some KINDER RINOS made for a wonderful dinner and we saw the Eifel Tower SPARKLE twice!

Today we spent the morning admiring the MONA LISA at the Louvre and enjoyed the more religious Paris in the afternoon. Just as Paco claimed, the Sainte Chappelle was amazing with all of the stained glass windows. My only question is "how many pieces of glass are there in the Sainte Chappelle?" Creating that wonderful ness is clearly not a job for me. Maybe I would be better suited to be the one who breaks all of the glass into shards. I can drop a plate or cup with the best of them. Entirely different, yet amazing all the same, Notre Dame (home of Quasi Modo) was HUGE and the bells rining reminded me of the Disney Movie. After our adventurous afternoon we had NUTELLA CREEPES from a corner stand and shopped a little. (Don't worry Mom, I didn't spend that much.) Our evening was spent climbing 284 stairs (not an easy task after 2 lbs of Nutella Creepe) to the top of the Arc de Triomphe where Hitler once sent his troops goose stepping by during WWII . The evening was ended with an impromptu Spanish lesson on the 284 stairs down thanks to Liz and being made fun of by the French people behind us becuase we were walking too slow.

All in all I LOVE FRANCE. The people are rather evil, but sit that aside and you have a wonderful city. It is acceptable to drink bottles of wine in public places. Jewlery is sold by its weight. Bread and cheese can be found at every other street corner. Creepes stuffed with Nutella (chocolate and hazelnut in a spreadable form, kinda like peanut butter but BETTER) are on the other street corners.

But it is getting late and my internet cafe time is almost out so I am going to sign off for now. Tomorrow we are back to the Lourve and the Invalides and going up to the TOP of the Eifel Tower. Tuesday we fly to Prague, Thursday night to Berlin and Monday back to Madrid. Email me or facebook me but stay in touch.

Hasta luego,
Heather

Over half way done.... YIKES

Ok, so last Saturday was 50 days of my 100 days total in Spain. Can I belive that I am at the half way... NO! Am I ready to go home... NO! Do I miss things from home... YES!

Random list of things I miss the most about the US:

1. normal lined notebook paper
2. peanut butter
3. closed toe shoes... yes I was genius and only brought tennis shoes
4. the way they serve meals so efficently
5. punctuality
6. unlimited nights and weekends cell phone plans
7. the efficent way that we load and unload the metro during rush hour in DC
8. soft baked cookies
9. clothes fresh out of the dryer
10. full power hair dryers
11. feeling literate in the local language

Things that are amazing in SPAIN:

1. Tortilla de Espanol
2. The cheese, egg and tuna amazing-ness my senora makes
3. October sun burns
4. abundance of travel spots
5. the beautiful language i butcher daily
6. the history that puts the 200 year history of the US to serious shame
7. my lack of academics (excpet for midterms, papers and finals)
8. no pasa nada (the moto that means ¨dont worry about it¨)
9. eating our way through the Mediterreanean
10. Chistea (aka Joke, my Spainish Yellow Lab)

Classes are good, the midterms are done so I can officially go on Fall break to PARIS, PRAUGE and BERLIN without a thought about my academics. I found out today that it is going to snow while I am in Berlin so I am REALLY excited.

For all of those who heard the computer got stolen, the good news is my new MAC will be here waiting for me after fall break. I need lessons on how to use the thing but all will be good and I will be reconnected with the world.

Ok well I should be going. I have packing to do and sleep to catch up on.

Besos from Spain!

Heather

OH PS-- Friday night until November 6 I will be traveling... email me and i will try to catch an internet cafe while I am out.

Update on Life

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted anything relevant at all. Life has been a little bit crazy, but wonderful none the less.

Ok so my birthday was last week and was amazing. We had a great night out on the town and I was able to sleep in until noon the next day, YEAH FOR SLEEP. The only down side of my birthday was I arrived to school and found out that my computer had been stolen from the program office. :( Whoever stole it deserves to have their hands cut off but I bought a new MAC on Monday and it should be here tomorrow! Owell, why not go more broke while I am in Spain! The good news was my pictures were still almost all on my camera still, phew they are not gone for ever! The bad news is my law school application stuff is gone! :(

Last weekend we went to Barcelona to see all sorts of art stuff. It is a really beautiful city and we had a great time. The night train there was quite the expierence and I have officially become a pro at sleeping on moving vehiciles (trains, planes, buses, really anything). I would say though the highlight of the trip was riding the BARCA Bus (the bus for the official Barcelona football aka soccer team).

Now I am back home trying to get life orgainzed, enjoy Madrid and pass my midterms. Saturday night I am off to Paris, Prague and Berlin for Fall break.

Besos and Love from Spain!
Heather

Midterms... YIKES

Ok so for the past 52 days i have been learning a lot. My classes are really interesting and wonderful but the trips and hands on things are where I do the learning thing. My classes have no homework and I don´t have the burning desire in me to do the readings. Minor problem with this is that MIDTERMS ARE TODAY!!! Yikes! How am I expected to go from 52 days of vacay and travel to 4 exams in 1 week? If you figure it out let me know. Until then I will be failing my mediterranean politics midterm in less than an hour.... yeah, posting instead of studying I am!

Besos from Spain!
Heather

Turkey Pictures

The blue Mosque in Istanbul!












The Hagia Sofia in Istanbul!













Alicia, Theresa and I in the Blue Mosque!














Turkish Toilets... UCK!! oh and it is a public affair... NO THANK YOU!











Gotta run, must pack for Dublin tomorrow!

Besos!
Heather

Greece Pictures

Sunset at Cape Sunion/ The Temple of Poseidon, althought the pictures don't do it justice, this was an amazing site... the most beautiful sunset of my life!











Acting like my favorite greek god (hercules) at the ACROPOLIS in Athens...















Santorini, the most amazing Greek Island!














on the Tender to Mykonos with Theresa, Meagan and Leslie...










I had a wonderful time. Can't really put words to all of it. I am now back in Madrid recovering from my OCTOBER sunburn and serious case of jet lag. Off to Dublin and Edinburgh on Thursday. More pictures are up on facebook. Love and miss you all!

Besos!

Heather

Greece and Turkey

Top 10 moments in Greece/Turkey

1. Riding donkeys up a steep incline to Santorini and fearing for my life.... then watching the most beautiful sunset in the world.

2. Watching the stars from the top of the cruise ship after an afternoon at Mykinos, one of the best Greek Islands ever!

3. Eating lunch on pillows on the floor of a restraunt in Turkey!

4. Sun bathing during our afternoon siesta on the cruise ship... i have a tan that would make EVERYONE jealous!

5. Shopping at the Grand Bazar and having millons of Turkish men hitting on us and calling us Charlies Angels and Spice Girls.

6. Being woken up by the prayer calls at 5:30am in Istanbul.

7. Staying in a hotel in Greece with a wonderful view of the acropolis on Monday night and then staying in a hotel in Turkey with a wonderful view of the Blue Mosque on Tuesday night.

8. Realizing I am getting credit for all of this.... siesta, sun, EVERYTHING!

9. Meals together... a never ending supply of happiness!

10. Knowing that we still have time left here and this is only the first of MANY trips!!

Greetings from Greece!

I have to run cause I am in an internet cafe and still smell like donkey from last nights right.... dinner is at 8:15 so i gotta run. Just wanted to say I am having a fab time and will be back to internet in a week. Much love and kisses!

Heather

Adios! I am headed to Greece y Turkey!!

Ok, so tomorrow at this time I will be in Athens, Greece. Yeah, you read that correctly, ATHENS. Like straight out of story books, GREECE!! I will be spending the next 11 days island hopping and swimming. We will also be spending a couple days in Istanbul, Turkey so I will be haggling for Christmas gifts for all of you! I will have my cell with me but won't answer your call because it would cost me like 5$ a minute or something crazy. I will be back Monday, October 9 and will try to email/post something early that week. Until then, have fun, be safe and SEND ME BIRTHDAY LOVE!!

I turn 22 on October 18 so if your love is going to get here in time, you should send it today!

Here's the Address!
Heather Botter
American University - CIS
C/Velázquez, 140 - Bajo
28006 Madrid - SPAIN

cell:011-34-669396172
*** but don't worry I will accept early or late love!

Hasta Luego!
Besos!
Heather

My Weekend!

So this weekend we had a great time. We started out with a beer pong game at the bar Thursday night and ended with a trip to Toledo on Sunday afternoon! Yeah for SPAIN!


The picture to the left is Emily, Alicia and I standing in front of the Palace and some sort of statue/fountain.

The palace was amazingly beautiful...check out my facebook photos for more photos.

After the morning at the palce we decided to go an nap in the sun in Retiro Park. Our Spanish class met there at 4 for a makeup class that turned into a Spanish Tour of the park and a rowing in Retiro outing. Alicia and I were brave and ventured out with Mike and Andrew... good news is we didnt get knocked in! We actually even showed the boys how the rowing was done. Clearly east cost boys can't row and it took our midwest talent to show them how it was done!!

Saturday we spent the day sleeping in, shopping and at some sort of festival thing in downtown Madrid. La Noche En Blanco was fun although we got lost a little and it ended up raining. Once again, the pics are up, check them out.
After a late night at La Noche En Blanco I got up at 7am to head to Toledo. Toledo is a really interesting city and amazingly old. I had my first Mazapan (an amazing spanish dessert), saw the town of 3 cultures and the amazing Paco "esplaned" everything artistic and otherwise to us.

Anyways, this post is random and confusing. Sorry for that. I gotta run though. I will try to post 1 more time before GREECE on THIS THURSDAY!!


Besos and Love from Spain!
Heather

my RIDICULOUS travel plans

Phew... so all the flights are booked. All the hotels are set. The money is gone. It is official. I am visiting 10 countries between now and Christmas. Here's the plan:

Sept 27--13 days to Turkey and Greece

Oct 12-- 6 days in Ireland and Scotland

Oct 28--9 days in France, Czech Republic and Germany

Nov 15-- 4 days in Italy

Nov 24-- 3 days in Portugal


Plus Spain equals 10 COUNTRIES!! Plus all sorts of random Spain trips (Barcelona, Granada, Valencia, Salamanca, Avilla, Toledo and the like). I think I am going to have serious case of JET LAG when I return to the states. Needless to say, it will be well worth it!

Send me your addresses if you want postcards!

Besos and Amo from Spain!
Heather

Salamanca

Hola!

Just got home from a great weekend in Salamanca Spain. It is a college town, much like Oxford, and that was clear from the begining. Ashely and I decided you know you are in a college town when there are random condom vending machines posted on the walls of buildings on the streets. I guess they are smart and the city just wants to make sure they have smart sex too. Who really knows?

Anyway, Salamanca was great, only a 2 hour bus ride away. We spent the majority of Saturday wandering, checking out a cathederal or 2, the university, plaza mayor and the like. There was no lack of amazing Spanish food, my personal favorites sangria and helado ended out the night and we had a great time at our resort-ish hotel that let you pick the type of pillow you wanted.

Today we spent the morning continuing our search for ¨the frog¨(myth says you have to find a frog at the university to graduate.) After a long hunt and walking in a few circles Ashey and I found the general local of the infamous frog but had to ask a cute Spanish man for help in locating the stupid thing. I will post photos later and you will see, it wasnt easy to find. The good news though is we found and we will both be happily graduating in May! Yeah for us!

Well todo y todo it was a great weekend. I am home in Madrid and avoiding my senora (long story that will come later) so call me if you see this tonight. I will be wandering Madrid loving Spain and missing you!

Besos and Love from Spain!
Heather

Pictures and People

Yesterday I went Retrio Park and saw the Alfonso the XIII memorial. This is me basking in the Spanish sun and enjoying the fake lake infront of the memorial.


The one to the left is a closer pic of the memorial!! I will look up the story behind it and post it later!

And this (to the left) is the real life bird women of Madrid who sat on this bench and fed the icky birds for over an hour.... it isnt just in the movies!!

Ok well now onto more productive stories of my trip. I have been having a wonderful time here in Spain. Yesterday was my first day of adventures alone around Madrid. I only had class from 4-5 so i spent the rest of the day at Retrio Park (like Central Park) in Madrid. I wandered and watched the bird ladies for a while and then talked to some of my favorites from the states who didnt mind the 6am phone calls! (6 hour time difference, sorry!)

After my nice afternoon picnic in the park i ventured out to wander and learn the city. I walked all the way up Calle Valesquez (the street that my school is on) and ended up doing a little bit of shopping! The good news is that I didnt get lost and someone asked me for directions in Spanish and I was able to not get them lost and they understood my Spanish! Slowly but surely I am learning Spanish!

Spanish class was good and the vino y tapas (wine and appetizers) afterwards with some friends made everything even better! After a quick cenar (dinner) we ended up going out in search of some drinks and a TV with the Real Madrid game on. We found a fun Cuban place and definatley stood out as the loud Americanos. At this point we are used to it though and it didnt phase us. Instead of being like other Spaniards we decided to end the night early at 2am and head back to sus casas (our homes).

I think one of the best things here is the people we are working with. For example, Paco, our art history teacher is the most excited, cute, short Spanish man in the world. He is going to make the class SOOO much fun and time flies when we run through the Prado with him for class. Maricarmen has been doing this for a long time and she is nothing but AMAZING. She is like our mother but also our friend and she is super sweet. Rafa is our travel agent and I am excited to work with him on my travel plans. Overall, everyone is great here!!

Clearly, life here is really good. My homestay is still cook and she cooks very well! I am working on travel plans and will post my extremely cool agenda in the next few days. Hope all is well state side!

Besos!
Heather

Mi Casa

Hola!

I am sorry it has been so long since I have last written but the good news is that I HAVE INTERNET and A CELL PHONE!! YEAH!! Email me or call me, i get free incoming calls so grab a phone card and call me at 01134-669 396 172!!

To the leftis a picture of my new home. You cant see the dresser in the picture or the decent sized closet I have but it is all very nice. Pretty small but sufficent for me to sleep in! :)

So, a lot has happened since my last entry. After the long ride back from Valenica we met our senoras at the hotel on Saturday night. Needless to say, I have never been so nervous in my life to meet someone. Good news is my senora is this cute little, gray haired, old lady who wears burberry and tommy. She has an awesome Yellow Lab (I HAVE A PUPPY) and lives in the same apartment building as a lot of my friend's senoras. The bad news is she doesn't speak a lick of English. I live in her cute little apartment with her, her dog (who watches me eat and sleeps at the foot of my bed), her son (who doesnt want anything to do with me and doesnt even know my name) and another foreign student (from Paris who speaks English, Spanish and French and is a more picky eater than i am). Things are pretty much good, although I couldn't figure out the word for hangers or understand when she was telling me about the queen. The important stuff though I understand and her food is really good. I am living quite the life where she wakes me up for breakfast (homemade bread and jam) and while I eat she makes my bed and picks up my room. She does my laundry and irons everything (even the under-roos) and waits on me hand and foot. Yeah except for the language barrier I am really enjoying it!

To the left is a picture of my underwear hanging on the line... for everyone to see... I'm not in the US anymore!

So Madrid, on Sunday we went downtown to the Prado (after a trip to the airport for the last of my luggage) and saw the last day of the Picasso exhibit! Needless to say it was amazing. I actually just got back from my second trip to the Prado (this one for my art history class). Classes are good and the people are wonderful. Yesterday was orientation and we got our phones and such. We are going on a bus tour of Madrid today during our seminar class. Classes are going well so far and dont seem too challenging. Our travel schedule is amazing. I can't wait for the 13 day trip to Greece and Turkey in the end of the month. This weekend we are already leaving for Costa Brava (north of Barcelona) for another weekend sipping sangria on the beach.

Anways, things are going well. I need to shoot out some emails and get on the bus but i promise to post again soon!! Love and miss you all!

Besos!
Heather

this ones for mi madre!

Hola!

I am here in wonderful Valenica enjoying my last day before our return trip to Madrid. Today we finished our Spanish Immersion Course and wandered the city. This place is absolutley beautiful. Valenica is not only the third largest city in Spain but the home of Valenica oranges, loads of rice and beautiful ceramic. All of the buildings have these beautiful blue ceramic domes (i have pictures but no cord to upload them with yet) and the advante gard arcitecture is beautiful.

Yesterday we went out the albufera (the largest lake in Spain) to see the rice fields and the sun set. Although it was cloudy the trip was totally breath taking. We took a cute little boat tour of the lake and although i was convinced we were going to sink it ended up being amazing. We also saw the port that is going to host Americas Cup in 2007 (a boat race) and all of the buildings that they are putting up for this event. It seems like a big deal and Louis Vutton has the biggest building on the port.

Ok well we are now headed out to enjoy our last day here in Valenica. There is an awesome Turkish/Middle Eastern place down the street that we have alraedy enjoyed once and now we are headed back there for some sangria! (Amy you should be proud of me, I ate Doner Kebap)! Anyways, tomorrow is the 4 hour bus ride home and the first meeting with my senora. I move into my house tomorrow and will try to post again soon but I am unsure as the internet situation at the homestay.

Adios! Besos!
Heather

!Sangria! y Aquario y AC

Hola! ¿Buenos dias?

Greetings from Valenica! I am here in beautiful, exotic Valencia Spain enjoying life. I have officially been in Spain for 5 days now and it still very much feels like a vacation that is going to end soon. I don´t know if it will ever seem for real.

Yesterday we went to LÓceanografic (Europe´s largest aquarium) to check out an acrobatic dolphin show and some beluga whales (that made me think of Krisitan Hoysradt´s song). It was incredibly warm but the AC in the IMAX combined with the reclining chairs made it all muy bien!

On the topic of AC, Spain clearly doesn´t believe in it. Our classes, no air. Our dorms, no air. Our stores, no air. EVERYTHING, no air. Although most of the weather is beautiful, it does get brutally warm (without humidity) though between the hours of 3 and 6 de la noche! Luckily we have siesta during that time!

When we don´t have siesta we pass the time with a cold, and cheap, pichter of sangria on the beach. Today we spent the afternoon napping, drinking and reading in the warm and fine sand of the Mediterranean Sea.

Anyways, I should get going. I am exhausted after my day of relaxing.... but i will post pictures once i get the cord to connect my camera to this computer! Mucho love and besos! I miss you all muy grande!

Heather

NATIONAL NAPTIME

¿DON´T YOU KNOW YOU ARE JEALOUS? YEAH I AM HOME FROM A 4 HOUR MORNING CLASS OF SPANISH, LEVEL 1, FOR A WONDERFUL LUNCH FOLLOWED BY A 3 HOUR NAPTIME. CLEARLY MY SCHEUDLE WOULD BE ALL GOOFED UP IF I ACTUALLY SLEPT FOR THE ENTIRE TIME SO I AM TAKING A MOMENT TO UPDATE THE BLOG.

LAST NIGHT WE WENT TO THE VALENICA BEACH AND DRANK SANGRIA! (MUCH BETTER THAN THE BOXED RED SANGRIA CHERYL AND I HAVE BEEN DRINKING) THE PHOTO HERE IS A GROUP OF THE GIRLS ON THE BEACH IN FRONT OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA! IT WAS ABSOLUTLEY BEAUTIFUL AND THE SUN WAS SETTING! SAIL BOATS IN THE BACKGROUND AND NAKED EURPOEANS MADE IT SHOCKING THAT WE REALLY ARE HERE.

(MEG, MEAGAN, ASHLEY, RACHEL, EMILY, LINDSEY, ALICIA, LIZ AND ME ON THE BEACH)


TODAY WE ARE OFF TO CENTER CITY AND A WALKING TOUR AFTER SEISTA!

MY LUGGAGE IS IN ROUTE TO ME, OR SO BRITISH AIRWAYS CLAIMS! YEAH!

OK I DONT KNOW IF THIS POST CAN BE MUCH MORE RANDOM SO I AM NOW HEADED TO BED! HAVE A WONDERFUL LABOR DAY AND STAY IN TOUCH!

!ADIOS!

Greeetings from Valencia!

!hola chicos!

i have made it safe and sound to madrid and have since moved on to valencia spain. the trip was rather interesting and i lost my luggage thanks to the recent terrorism in the UK and my heathrow connection. owell, i get money for them and should also get them back in the next couple of days! shopping spree, here i come. that is if i can figure out my size in spain!

i have now been in spain for about 24 exciting hours. we were greeted at the airport by maricarmen who will be a psuedo mom for the entirety of the trip. she is super sweet and helped me fill out paperwork for my luggage. NY Katie and I then took a car ride with Rafel to the hotel. Rafel doesn´t speak english very well and I don´t speak spanish very well so it was an interesting ride but i got most of the conversation about muisco (music) and was feeling rather confident.

i then got to the hotel and had to think when they told me my room was cuatro tres dose (432) but i was able to figure it out! it wasnt until the walking tour of madid (they pronounce it without the r) that i realized how lost i was going to be in spanish! we saw a beautiful palace and cathederal but i dont know what he told us about them, he spoke too quickly. the only thing i caught was to hold my purse in my lap when i set on the metro and at dinner.

after the walking tour we proceeded to dinner (at 10pm) at a cute spanish restraunt. they were clearly prepared for us and didnt even offer ham (a spanish staple) but instead steak and potatoes, yes my first meal in spain was very similar to every meal i eat in KS! we drank a lot of wine, ate amazing dessert and then headed back to the hotel to crash thanks to our serious jet lag.

this morning we took a bus to valencia on the mediterranean coast of spain for our spanish immersion course that we thought was going to be in granada. i have already discovered the spanish have no sense of urgency or planning so this will be a fly by the seat of your pants type of trip. we are now checked into dorms at the school in valencia and i should be taking my spanish profenciey exam but i decided just to enter into level 1 becuase i know nothing. tonight we are going out to dinner as a group and walking on the beach. the locals also invited us out for drinks and churros and chocolate so i have a feeling this will be our first big party of the semester! i think this is the begining of a great thing! the people are awesome, 22 girls and 3 guys, smaller than i expected but all super relaxed and fun. The country is beautiful. Dry, warm, sunny, and perfect! i should sign off now and go get shower before heading out again. we hopefuly will find some clothes tonight so that i dont feel so gross. keep your fingers crossed that my bags come in!

I will have email access all week here in valencia so please stay in touch, im me and email me! have a great labor day weekend and i will write more soon!

!hola!

T Minus 4 days and counting

YIKES!

Madrid is approaching quickly. Between working my last day at WilmerHale, picking up my visa and spending my last weekend with the friends, it seems more and more defentitive each and every moment. Am I ready? NO, of course not. Am I going Friday come hell or high water? Of course!

The question/problem of the day? Host family gifts? What do I buy a Spanish family to introduce Kansas to them? I was orginally thinking the Wizard of Oz on DVD, corney I know but it would work, or atleast I thought so until I realized Europe doesnt quite have the same DVD tech we do on this side of the pond. That idea is out. Then I moved on to thinking books. Something about KS, something about DC and maybe even some stuff about AU? Minor problem though, do they speak English? I wont know til I get there. That idea is out. Now I am left thinking picture/coffee table books, food, toys (for kids i am not sure if they have), and the like? Nothing seems right though.... any ideas?

CONTACT INFORMATION NEEDED

If you want to hear from me via email, postcard or even a phone call if you are lucky, I NEED YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION! Even if you think I have it please send it to me via email at heather.botter@gmail.com or just post it as a comment to this! If you have a bday this fall also include that so I don't forget to congratulate you on becoming older and wiser!

7 days to SPAIN!

9 days to Madrid

WOW, believe it or not... I am only 9 days away from my travel across the Atlantic! So many of you have asked if I am ready.... the answer... NO WAY! Still have to pick up my visa, do tons of laundry, pack/move, see friends, finish my internship, and figure out other things.

If you want to see me before I leave for SPAIN for the next 4 months CALL ME NOW! Also send me your mailing and email addresses if you want to hear from me before 2007!

My bear is ready to go!

Ok for those of you who don't know, upon my arrival to DC and College I got this adorable teddy bear from my ever so loving mom. This teddy is not just any teddy. It is one of the special ones that sings a lullabye and wears an outfit. Yeah, for the past 3 years this bear has been patriotic, political and perfect head to toe wearing a flag shirt and jean shorts... but I am thinking it is time for a change. Although I may not be ready for Madrid, the above mentioned, no name bear, is ready to dance the night away in her newly purchased RED FLAMENCO DRESS!! :)

Yes, you dear read that correctly. My bear is going with me to Spain and is READY TO DANCE! :) Watch out Madrid... here we come.

11 days and counting!

PS-- AMY T-- thanks for the inspiration to write. I will try to be as good of a blogger as you are!

Let's give it a try....

Ok so I am running around like crazy all summer and country jumping this fall so I thought this would be a good homebase to leave stories at, etc. We will see if it works!