2005

Lisa’s Top 10 Events of 2005 (in chronological order)

1. Waking up in New York City for the New Year.
2. Getting my Harry Potter scar in a not-so magical car accident in San Francisco, followed by a robbery the next week.
3. Finishing my Senior Thesis.
4. Graduating from college and everything that came along with it.
5. Getting a Fulbright Scholarship to Spain.
6. Rekindling with old friends during the summer.
7. Moving to Madrid.
8. Meeting my cheese-loving, dog-loving, sweets-loving, Ross-loving crazy crazy Madrileno friends.
9. Starting my new job as a middle school teaching assistant.
10. This hasn’t happened yet; spending New Year’s Eve in Madrid with my brother and sister. However it turns out, it’s going to be unforgettable.

So, that’s a good year, yeah? I would say it is. The year was a matter of ends and beginnings, a transition for a new chapter in my life. It’s such a cliché, especially since I just finished college, but things become clichés because it happens to everyone. I’m riding my new wave right now, not knowing what to do or where to go, but for the moment, my place is here in Arguelles, in Madrid, in Spain. I thought I’d take this “break” (which, believe me, has been NOTHING like a break) from decision making, and come here for a year. However, I fear that I’m now more confused than ever about where my future is going to be. But, being here forces me to live in the moment. I’ve never been good about planning my life out, anyway. So, I end on a high note, and hope that everyone else has had a decent year, and that you all will have an even better New Year.

Special shout out to my dear friend Marylyn, who just gave birth to a beautiful and healthy 7lbs 4oz girl on December 24th. We all love you, and send you good strong thoughts from all over the globe.

This is a picture of a cookie I made with my friends on Christmas Eve. It's a Spanish Bull, and pay attention the little details of its balls, because that is what makes it a bull, and not a cow.

FELIZ NAVIDAD!

Madre mia.

The year is almost over, and the trimester ended today. It was a half day, and school was let out at 11AM. I spent the time chatting with my kids about class gossip, finding out who has a girlfriend, who they thought was cute, which professors have nicknames, all kinds of cotijillas. The students also wanted to take pictures of me with their souped up mobile phones and digital cameras. I almost felt like a celebrity, but it was endearing. Some of the older students (17-18 years old) poked their heads into the class just to say "HELLO!!" to me, which is something I feel they wanted to do all trimester. I don't work with the oldest kids, and I suspect they were very curious about us teaching assistants. I can't blame them, we're all young women, only a couple of years older than them.

So... Reflection.

Overall, it was a good couple of months. I've grown to care for my students, and they went off to vacation with affection and interest for me. At least, most of them. We've had a great time, and they still continue to speak to me in English, which is a triumph. After a couple of months, they started suspecting about my level of Spanish, especially when they saw me talking to other professors who don't speak English. But, I refuse to speak to them in Spanish, so they still speak to me in English, which is what I want. I don't ever want them to feel comfortable speaking Spanish to me.

Improvements; there are lots to improve. DISCIPLINE. I have to get them harder on the discipline, because I fear they consider my time with me "fun time". One of my students said to me, "Lisa, it's okay, you are like half student, half teacher." They listen to me the majority of the time, but when it gets out of control, it GETS OUT OF CONTROL. I have to work on that.

I've wanted to kick my kids' asses on several occasions, but in the end, they're all good kids. I'm looking forward to seeing them again in January.

SO! That's my reflection of my first trimester. I hope everyone has a great Christmas and a Happy Holiday! I'm positive I'll update before the New Year.

Peace and Love,
Lisa

7AM rant

I am sick and tired of disgusting Spanish men.

Of course, there are decent ones. And there are also ridiculous American men. But, recently, the only male contact I've had consist of repulsive PIGS of mankind.

First of all, there is NO EXCUSE for them to treat me like a whore. There is NOTHING about me that screams American Whore. They don't even see me as American. "Where are you from?" Los Angeles. "No, but where are you really from?" LOS ANGELES!! "No, but you're like this. *squints eyes*" queue my exit, right there.

The next pack of guys that scream out "NIIIIHOUUUUUUUUUUUU" to me are getting Chinese Throwing Stars RIGHT IN THEIR ASSES because that's what they want me to be. Some kind of Dragon Lady-Street Fighter- Tea-serving bitch. Motherfuckers.

I miss my guy friends. At least they;re decent. They may not be PC all the time, but at least they have the decency NOT to harass women like they're some kind of public property.

Thank goodness I'm strong enough to take care of myself from these bitches.

THE END.

(P.S. I just came back from a hectic night at a club, and am a little drunk. Just a warning. But I'm dead serious about my complaints. Girls, y'all watch out because "some guys, some guys are only about that thing, that thing, that thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing.")

P.P.S. HAPPY B-LATED JAMES! AND DUSTIN! Aaand.... I can't think right now.

I suppose it's time for an update...

We're reading a book called "Kensuke's Kingdom" in class, and one of the chapters was called, "A Ship's Log." I asked my students if they knew what a ship's log was, and they said yes, a piece of wood on a ship. I said, no, it's like a blog that you have when you're on a ship. At once, they all said "Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, a blog! Ok, ok teacher." I asked them if they knew what a blog was, and they said, "Of course. We are savvy, teacher."

In other news, I went to London again. Not many pictures to post this time. Just one:


That's me, looking self-righteous and double-chinned, blocking people traffic at the Portabello Market in Notting Hill. Bought myself a very cute leather bound notebook for seven pounds. Later realized that it's actually 14 dollars, and I cursed at myself, silently. I hate the pound.

While I was in London, I met a girl whose mother is a Japanese flamenco dancer. I emailed her and feel content that I finally have some lead on my project. WOOP!

London and I have a very good relationship, because I always end up wanting to go back there, and the city always shows me a good time. I feel it's because I go there for short periods of times. Over exposure of any kind is never good.

On the otherhand, Madrid and I have a very rocky Love and Hate relationship. I can't quite describe it. At times, I get frustrated with the lack of charm in Madrid. It's diverse, it's urban, and it is exciting. But the constant construction and the lack of character dampens my opinion about this place. There are times when my favorite part of the city is my bedroom, and that's a horrible thing to think about when you're living in a huge city.

At the moment, I am feeling the Love part of our relationship. I felt relief when I got out of the Arguelles metro, coming back from the airport. Arguelles is my oasis here. When I feel the Love, Arguelles is my favorite part of the city. Good thing I live here.

Yeah, I know. Boring post. I'll figure something out later.

Shout out to Carmen, the survivor.

Shout out to my Hannah, HAPPY B-LATED!!

Shout out to my broham and sistah. They will be making an appearance, here in Spain, in a couple of weeks.

Ciao.