La Vida Loca de los Jienneses

The 'bombona' truck

You know you have adapted to the Spanish lifestyle when:

• A beer is the replacement for water.
• You block 2-5pm off your schedule because, of course, that's nap time (the siesta).
• You look forward to the daily siesta.
• You start saying ‘Vale, vale, vale’ instead of ‘ok.’
• You limit what you buy at the supermarket because you know you're going to have to carry it all the way home, up the hill.
• Sardines are your new favorite food.
• You take a siesta from 9pm ‘til 11pm, prepping for the night’s events.
• Showers are no longer than 3 minutes.
• It takes a full conversation to explain how to pronounce your name. ‘Jenna, as if you are full…como estoy llena!’ ‘Megan, like the car…como el coche (Megane)!’ Ohhhh!
• Someone calls you ‘guapa’ (beautiful) and you don’t bat an eye.
• You don’t start pre-gaming before 1am.
• You dump a gallon of olive oil on your food.
• You respond to the name ‘Gwendolyn,’ when in actuality it’s Lindsey.
• An evening out for tapas, is your dinner.
• You have the eyes to stare right through someone.
• You don’t go to the discoteca until 4am.
• You plan to wash your clothes around the weather forecast.
• You start telling your American friends to ‘toque’ you. (Call, let the phone ring once, and then hang up.)
• You stay out ‘til 8am and then wonder why everyone is going home.
• You have to light the bombona before taking a shower.
• Your ‘hot’ shower suddenly becomes freezing cold because the bombona has run out of butane gas.
• You ‘invite’ people to coffee.
• You are given shots after dinner as a digestive.
• Taking shots of olive oil ain’t no thang.
• A castle becomes a part of your backyard.
• You text in Spanish shorthand…guapa=wapa, hola=ola, chicas=chixas, quieres=kieras
• You go on evening strolls through the streets, just for the hell of it.
• You say ‘oof’ (with the downward hand motion).
• You go to the China Bazaar store (dollar store) for EVERYTHING…toothpaste, hangers, foot insoles, hampers, shampoo, laundry detergent, soap.
• Paying more than 2 euro for any alcoholic beverage makes you reconsider your choice.
• It becomes a group effort to understand Spanish slang in text messages.
• You limit your texting and phone calls because you know you're phone is going to run out of ‘saldo’ (money) if you don’t.
• You start speaking in British English because that’s the type of English you teach. ‘I’ve got my trainers? Where’s my rucksack? Do you got a plaster?
• You play the ‘toque call back’ game.
• You lose your train of thought when you have to speak English slowly.
• Recess is supposed to be over at 12:15pm but none of the teachers gather their students until 12:45pm to go inside.
• You can’t think of a word in English.

Who couldn’t fall in love the Spanish lifestyle?

At El Abuelo and enjoyng our 'free' tapa.

My hamper from the China Bazaar

I think we can call it a night...(notice the clock)

Walking home and watching the sun rise!

'Invited' for a coffee

It's All in Your Attitude

Within the past 3 weeks I have traveled by just about every mode of public transportation known to man and have learned a positive attitude and a flash of my smile will get me where I need to be. You never can know what to fully expect when traveling. When you have no phone and are left with travel delays, strangers can become helpful friends. Why not start up a conversation with the person sitting next to you. They could be the next person who lets you keep your suitcase in their house, while you catch another flight elsewhere. They could also be the person who invites you to Munich to go snowboarding in the Alps. How could one be so trusting in this day of age? Maybe it’s me being too trusting of others or maybe I’m a good judge of character. It could be me always looking for the good in people. Could be a little of both, but I have learned this world is full of good people.

Traveling has taught me how to make the most of my time. I have learned how to self entertain. But when I’ve listened to every song in my ipod twice or started to read the same book I began 4 months ago, why not make small talk with those around me. I’ve also learned how to react in a time of crisis. Stay calm, everything will work out the way it is supposed to. Whether traveling by metros, buses or walking in a new country, remain aware. One needs to be aware of your bags/purses, posted signs, and even taking note of the direction the masses of people getting off the metro are walking, is helpful. The direction people are walking is a huge indication of where maybe you should be walking. I have learned to take the initiative and to be proactive. It never hurts to ask a question to help clarify an uncertainty. No matter what country you may be in, someone speaks English. Or what I find myself doing, resorting to Spanish because French is foreign! Naps or sleeping in cars has never been my thing but I now take advantage of any chair, in a bus or plane and catch some z’s wherever I can.

Traveling and especially travel delays can be one of the most frustrating times. Just remember to keep a positive attitude. Remain patient and if you need a little help, follow the signs to the local bar and enjoy the taste of a local beer, or two. There’s nothing like a cold one that will provide the best ‘attitude adjustment.’

The best form of an 'attitude adjustment.'

Donde estamos?

Dustin and I flying to Brussels

Catchin' some sleep on the bus.

Double woot, another bus ride!

Nightmare, Turned Detour, Before Christmas

The 9 hour cue that seemed to never end...


Living abroad has opened the door to travel and lots of exploration. When traveling by ‘planes, trains, automobiles (metros and even buses,)’ you never can fully know what to expect. As I recently traveled cross-Atlantic and country-hopped here in Europe, optimism is a key component to making it in one piece.

I was extremely excited to come home for the holiday season but after weather delays and missing my connection flight from London to California, all I wanted to do was cry. Thankfully I stayed strong and kept myself together and took my ‘Nightmare before Christmas’ in full stride. I was encaged in a 9 hour cue,(I swear you only see in movies,) ‘sitting, waiting, wishing,’ in hopes I would make it out of London Heathrow airport the same day. When the hours continued to pass and the cue was hardly moving, I wasn’t left with much to do. I began chatting with those around, all trying to get to loved ones. Traveling is stressful, there’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Why not make that time more enjoyable. It is a lot more fun having a travel buddy and someone to help pass the time. Little did I know that some of these once strangers are people I can now call friends.

I was a slue of emotions once I found out my re-scheduled flight to California wouldn’t be leaving London for another 48 hours. I was happy to finally be leaving the airport knowing I had another flight and finally heading to my hotel to sleep. I was sad knowing I would now be missing my trip to Vegas with my girlfriends and I was simply frustrated with the whole situation. There was nothing I could have done to change it. After making collect calls to the states and finally getting in touch with my family and another encouraging phone call, the only thing left was to make the most of my time in London.

After a much needed sleep in my hotel room, my new friends and I went out to see what London had to offer. As the 5 of us wandered through the streets, in the same travel clothes, we laughed, played tourist and it felt as though we all had known each other for years. It may have helped that we all are from California!

I awoke Sunday morning to a sun-filled sky, and I knew I would be finally making it home that day. As the Virgin Atlantic jumbo jet raced down the runway and lifted off into the air, I cheered! After my 48 hour ‘detour’ in London, I was finally California bound.






St. James Park