Spain is the Land of Extremes

being academic- proving that to my parents that i am learning something

Moore Foundation and INIVA

  

new dress from spain... i'm so european

on a mountain, overlooking the ocean

docks of Vigo, with giant octopus

portugal!!!

the view from the monastery

the view from the embryo restaurant

Hello! These last few weeks have been extremely busy. JQ and I went to Vigo, Spain, which is in the northwestern part of the country. It is beautiful and awesome. We stayed with JQ's family friend, who was wonderful and provided us with delicious meals 3x a day, which is the most food I have eaten since being abroad. Do not worry, I have enough baby fat to sustain myself. As for Spain/Portugal (where we went for one day) my main observation is that Spain loves hyperbole, almost as much as me. 

A normal for JQ and I:

Wake up between 9 and 10. Cat Watch 2008 (a.k.a. spying on the kittens in the backyard). Breakfast: 2 pieces of toast, Frosted Flakes, and Sunny-D), Beach until JQ's stomach demands we return to the apartment (so about an hour, maybe 2 if JQ had eaten 2 bowls of cereal and 2 pieces of toast), SIESTA complete with a delicious food made by Carmen and my favorite beverage Fanta. Then we would hang around and by 8 or 9 go to the bar downstairs and enjoy a few adult beverages while e-mailing and talking to the bartender. 

My Spanish is still bad, but my charms make up for it. We went to many places thanks to Carmen's friends generosity. We went to the port one day, then Santiago Compestella, where people who backpack usually start their journey. One of the Bush twins went there and Carmen said that she went there to ask forgiveness for her father's sins, which means that like me, the Spanish have good senses of humor. We also went to Portugal where we tasted like Porto wine. Quite possibly the most disgusting thing I have ever had the displeasure of consuming. In the words of my Alien Baby roommate from Colgate, it tastes like "you are suckling sweet baby blood". So very true. 

As to the extremes: I was the highest I have ever been, besides in a plane. We were on this twisty mountain top and got to the top and I could see into infinity. It was great.

Next when were eating paella, the most delicious Spanish dish, with seafood, I noticed the shrimp were not peeled. So I reached for one of them. As I pulled of the head, an extreme amount of red goo flew out and spread across the plate. Needless to say I was shocked. Then Carmen, her friend, and JQ began speaking rapidly in Spanish. I asked what they said but JQ was hesitant to tell me. I demanded to know and in retrospect I wish I hadn't. Turns out the red goo was shrimp embryo. DISGUSTING! Let's not discuss it anymore. Next I went to a monastery, which was something I had always wanted to do. I also had churros and chocolate. Luckily neither of those things can reproduce so I didn't have to worry about awkward explosions. 

But now I am back in LDN and things are just dandy. Work has been getting crazier but the study group is a lot of fun. We went to see Oedipus Rex at the National Theatre and Ralph Fiennes played Oedipus. It was great, it would have been better if he would have taken off his shirt, but when he did he was covered in blood.

I also went to the Jenny Lewis concert. It was awesome and perfect in every way. I went by myself and met really cool people by extending my magnetic friend rays in every direction. I did not take pictures because I'm a fool but just know it was fun. 

I had my first date in England last week. It was an experience. All that matters is that I looked hot and I realized that once and for all about 75% of the English male population are creeps. I should have known judging on the club scene.

Anywho, work calls. I miss everyone so much. I'll try to write more frequently as I am now back at homebase in London.

Signing off--

LeahMon

p.s. I realize the captions are all off. Sorry. I am still not the best at this and I like to assume that my readers have common sense. Love you and thanks for reading!