Friday, February 9, 2007
San Fermín
I´m sorry I miswrote in my last entry. Yesterday I went walking in "El Viejo" the beautiful old part of the town where the torros run! Pamplona´s claim to fame is the running of the bulls, which happens every year on the Feast of San Fermín. I don´t know the whole story of this saint yet, but he was a martyr and is the patron saint of Pamplona. At that time, the hotels fill and the streets are full of people. All the festivities last for about a week in July and for sure Pamplona is on the news then!
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
The good life in Pamplona
A few days before I left for this grand adventure, I saw a Spanish friend after mass and we fell into a conversation. She told me that I was going to love Spain and told me many things that I would enjoy doing. As we parted she asked "And where exactly are you going?" I responde"Pamplona" and she stopped in her tracks and quickly shot back "Oh that´s boring!" I thought about it only momentarily then because I knew that there was an excellent university in Pamplona that I had chosen to go to. And remembering what my Mom had always told us, I thought, "You know, only boring people are boring."
It´s true that Pamplona is a small and rather unimportant town in Spain. Since the student of the university have been in exams for the past three weeks, after the big meal at 2, we all go to have a coffee and watch the news and I have never seen one mention of Pamplona, nor Navarre (the province where Pamplona is). On my bus ride into the city from Bilbao, I was surprised to find that it is surrounded by snowy mountains in the winter, just as an island is surrounded by water, so Pamplona doesn´t attract many tourist either. It´s seems as though it is an isolated little town in the north of Spain that really has no claim to fame. I was thinking yesterday of what some people said of when they saw Jesus doing miracles, "Isn´t he the carpenter´s son from Nazareth? What good can come from Nazareth?"
Reading the last blog that I posted and I thought it was funny that I found myself apologizing for writing about all the trips out of Pamplona. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of Spain but not because I want to get out of here. This city has a heart and soul and I´m living in it. The University of Navarre is a beautiful work of God. And the colegio mayor Goimendi where I´m staying with 100 other students is incredible! The schedule runs like part of the military but, meanwhile, there is so much laughter and joking among us that every day is entirely different. Every person is so welcoming that I feel like I´ve been here for years. I have one friend in Goimendi, Esther, who lived in the US for 8 years and so sometimes, when my brain switches back into in English for the day (which doesn´t happen until about 11 pm but life is very late here!), she is a translator for me. She is a translator for me other times too, like when everyone is laughing at a joke that I didn´t quite catch. I mean, I laugh anyways but she is so kind that she can tell when my laugh is a little empty because I didn´t understand....hehe.. so she explains a lot to me.
In the ICLE, the foreign exchange program, I´ve met two very nice girls as well: Crispin, who just graduated from GW Univerisity, and Elizabeth, who has just come from Brazil to so here masters in Pharmacy. We have some classes together and they enjoy to come over to the Goimendi too. We all had a good laugh yesterday as we walked to the CTI to get our temporary contrasenas to sign onto the computers and we were speaking in Spanish. I don´t remember what we were talking about exactly but, Crispin and I got stuck on something for about 5 minutes and neither of us could understand the other. Elizabeth just started laughing and said, ¨Que patientes son! Lo que hubeiran decidido en un minuto en ingles habian tratado decir por 5 minutos en Espanol!" (How patient! What you could have said in 1 minute in English, you have been trying for 5 minutes to say in Spanish!" The truth is, we all speak English so when we are together, we really learn how to be biligual because we switch so many times!
And the university, itself, is just amazing. I still can´t get over the fact that there is an oratory in every single building and at least 4-5 masses each day around campus. Every part of the campus is living and breathing because our Lord is physically present in so many parts. The hospital is very grand and as clean as a lab. The new architechture building has gorgeous greenery inside and many of it´s internal structures visible so that the students can learn from the construction. The gym is welcoming and usable (in contrast with the wooden center). The library is the largest building on campus and they just built a new one that connects with the old. And the Central building is where I have all my classes. It´s the oldest, the muy beautiful, and the totilla de patata en Don Faustino´s cafe is really quite exceptional.
Good thing the scales here are in kilos, eh? I feel like I´ve gone to Pluto where I´m thin thin thin! Sometimes the call the colegio mayor where I live "Gordi-mendi" because the food is so delcious. But don´t worry, I will mendi any gordi-ation that might occur here! (it´s a joke it´s a joke)
I swear, the gym is really welcoming! We went to play basketball last Friday and we had a very heated competition of knock-out where a few girls were almost knocked-out! Those who were not so fierce in the desire to win retreated to soccer after a few rounds...
I return to the subject of the news programs that I´ve watched. With the state of many things in Spain at the moment, I started to wonder today, ¨"Can anything good in Spain not come from Pamplona?" Maybe I´ll have to travel to a few more places to really be able to answer that question. But I tell you now, Pamplona is good!
The Navigator dijo...
Sounds like you got some sleep. Glad to hear you're warming to the Pamp, though I gotta admit, your description doesn't put it at the absolute top of my must-see list. It does sound like a great place to live and study, though.
February 8, 2007 10:40 AM
Suprimir
Lizzy G dijo...
Pamplona is how do you say ¨tranquila?¨ We like it here, us Pamploneses, that is. It´s the perfect place to learn Spanish and the culture of Spain (at least, Navarre)!
February 9, 2007 7:38 AM
Suprimir
The Navigator dijo...
Ah, such predictions after so little time! Perhaps you should let Spain seep into your blood before you start claiming general principles....
In other news, has your camera arrived yet? If it has, let me know (via email) and let's make your Flickr account fly...
February 11, 2007 1:56 AM
Suprimir
Lizzy G dijo...
Hey Hey! The Pamplona blood is running through my viens! I can feel myself becoming more a part of the Foral kingdom of Navarra every day... hehe I just got my camera today and I´ll try the flicker when I take some pictures, yea?
Hasta luego!
February 15, 2007 8:44 AM
It´s true that Pamplona is a small and rather unimportant town in Spain. Since the student of the university have been in exams for the past three weeks, after the big meal at 2, we all go to have a coffee and watch the news and I have never seen one mention of Pamplona, nor Navarre (the province where Pamplona is). On my bus ride into the city from Bilbao, I was surprised to find that it is surrounded by snowy mountains in the winter, just as an island is surrounded by water, so Pamplona doesn´t attract many tourist either. It´s seems as though it is an isolated little town in the north of Spain that really has no claim to fame. I was thinking yesterday of what some people said of when they saw Jesus doing miracles, "Isn´t he the carpenter´s son from Nazareth? What good can come from Nazareth?"
Reading the last blog that I posted and I thought it was funny that I found myself apologizing for writing about all the trips out of Pamplona. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of Spain but not because I want to get out of here. This city has a heart and soul and I´m living in it. The University of Navarre is a beautiful work of God. And the colegio mayor Goimendi where I´m staying with 100 other students is incredible! The schedule runs like part of the military but, meanwhile, there is so much laughter and joking among us that every day is entirely different. Every person is so welcoming that I feel like I´ve been here for years. I have one friend in Goimendi, Esther, who lived in the US for 8 years and so sometimes, when my brain switches back into in English for the day (which doesn´t happen until about 11 pm but life is very late here!), she is a translator for me. She is a translator for me other times too, like when everyone is laughing at a joke that I didn´t quite catch. I mean, I laugh anyways but she is so kind that she can tell when my laugh is a little empty because I didn´t understand....hehe.. so she explains a lot to me.
In the ICLE, the foreign exchange program, I´ve met two very nice girls as well: Crispin, who just graduated from GW Univerisity, and Elizabeth, who has just come from Brazil to so here masters in Pharmacy. We have some classes together and they enjoy to come over to the Goimendi too. We all had a good laugh yesterday as we walked to the CTI to get our temporary contrasenas to sign onto the computers and we were speaking in Spanish. I don´t remember what we were talking about exactly but, Crispin and I got stuck on something for about 5 minutes and neither of us could understand the other. Elizabeth just started laughing and said, ¨Que patientes son! Lo que hubeiran decidido en un minuto en ingles habian tratado decir por 5 minutos en Espanol!" (How patient! What you could have said in 1 minute in English, you have been trying for 5 minutes to say in Spanish!" The truth is, we all speak English so when we are together, we really learn how to be biligual because we switch so many times!
And the university, itself, is just amazing. I still can´t get over the fact that there is an oratory in every single building and at least 4-5 masses each day around campus. Every part of the campus is living and breathing because our Lord is physically present in so many parts. The hospital is very grand and as clean as a lab. The new architechture building has gorgeous greenery inside and many of it´s internal structures visible so that the students can learn from the construction. The gym is welcoming and usable (in contrast with the wooden center). The library is the largest building on campus and they just built a new one that connects with the old. And the Central building is where I have all my classes. It´s the oldest, the muy beautiful, and the totilla de patata en Don Faustino´s cafe is really quite exceptional.
Good thing the scales here are in kilos, eh? I feel like I´ve gone to Pluto where I´m thin thin thin! Sometimes the call the colegio mayor where I live "Gordi-mendi" because the food is so delcious. But don´t worry, I will mendi any gordi-ation that might occur here! (it´s a joke it´s a joke)
I swear, the gym is really welcoming! We went to play basketball last Friday and we had a very heated competition of knock-out where a few girls were almost knocked-out! Those who were not so fierce in the desire to win retreated to soccer after a few rounds...
I return to the subject of the news programs that I´ve watched. With the state of many things in Spain at the moment, I started to wonder today, ¨"Can anything good in Spain not come from Pamplona?" Maybe I´ll have to travel to a few more places to really be able to answer that question. But I tell you now, Pamplona is good!
The Navigator dijo...
Sounds like you got some sleep. Glad to hear you're warming to the Pamp, though I gotta admit, your description doesn't put it at the absolute top of my must-see list. It does sound like a great place to live and study, though.
February 8, 2007 10:40 AM
Suprimir
Lizzy G dijo...
Pamplona is how do you say ¨tranquila?¨ We like it here, us Pamploneses, that is. It´s the perfect place to learn Spanish and the culture of Spain (at least, Navarre)!
February 9, 2007 7:38 AM
Suprimir
The Navigator dijo...
Ah, such predictions after so little time! Perhaps you should let Spain seep into your blood before you start claiming general principles....
In other news, has your camera arrived yet? If it has, let me know (via email) and let's make your Flickr account fly...
February 11, 2007 1:56 AM
Suprimir
Lizzy G dijo...
Hey Hey! The Pamplona blood is running through my viens! I can feel myself becoming more a part of the Foral kingdom of Navarra every day... hehe I just got my camera today and I´ll try the flicker when I take some pictures, yea?
Hasta luego!
February 15, 2007 8:44 AM
Monday, February 5, 2007
Navarre: first impressions
Today I began classes. It´s only the first day of classes and I´m already struggling to think in English and construct good sentences. I guess that´s a good thing...hehe.
Agnes (the director of the Residence where I´m living) asked me last night in the get together if I was nervous about classes today and I arrogantly responded that I hadn´t even thought about them! I have been thrown into the fast past schedule of the residence and I hadn´t really thought about anything other than getting the warm cloths and comida I need. So I guess I became a little anxious about classes and woke up at 4;15 this morning. After struggling all morning to stay awake, I finally got up from my third class this afternoon and went to the cafe in the Central building called Faustino´s. I politely explained to the barista that I had left my wallet in the classroom but that I was in dire need of a cafecito so that I didn´t offend the teacher of the class when I was falling asleep in the front row. I should have just taken one after lunch at the residence (everyone gathers in another room, plays loud music, and drinks little cups of coffee). But don´t be fooled by the size of the coffee because now, it´s already 7 and I am WIDE awake! I hope to sleep some tonight...
Well, I missed a chance to go to the South of France yesterday because some chicas of the residence had an excursion there. But I had recollection in Alcacea, the retreat house where the Father (the Bishop Echevarria of Opus Dei) had been staying for the past month! He just recently left... but he told his daughters there that he would see them before the summer! That means only one thing: that I will get to see him here before I leave! (A dream, but my fall short anyway)
The good news is that they are organizing a trip to Madrid next weekend because the UNAV (University of Navarre) is just finishing their exams on Thursday. THere will be an international student orientation that weekend too but I think I´m pretty oriented since they took me all around Pamplona on Saturday. So hopefully I can go!
And the following weekend: to the South of France again to go skiiing! I´m definitely signed up for that trip!
I´ve made two friends in the ILCE program that I´m doing: ELizabeth from Brazil and Crispin from Virginia. Theý´re very good and we communicate in English, Spanish, and Portugues (well, some of us speak Portuguese.... actually, one of us...hehe)
It´s not so cold as I thought it would be! I recommend Navarre to any and everyone. It could sound like I´m trying to get out since I´m telling you about all these trips we have planned but that is not true at all- there is a whole mar adentro en this place! Over and out, roger roger.The Navigator dijo...
Yes, you are rapidly losing command of English. I'll start learning sign language so we can communicate on your return.
February 8, 2007 10:35 AM
Suprimir
Debster dijo...
You said: "I recommend Navarre to any and everyone."...after decrying to be a place of no importance!
I think you are contradicting your self a bit...and confussing us a LOT!
So, tell us what you HAVE done and we'll tell you what we have done. No "misticas ojalateras", but a reality check...he he
February 8, 2007 5:55 PM
Suprimir
Lizzy G dijo...
What have I done? ¿Qué es lo que he hecho? Buena pregunta, amiga mia. Ayer me levanté para rezar y ir a la misa. Desayuné y fui a la universidad para las clases hasta las dos. Comimos y luego tomé una siesta porque es imposible dormir hasta la madrugada en el colegio. Fui a comprar un tarjeta de llamadas para hablar con mi Mama, regresé al campus y escribé unos correos, estudié por dos horas. Luego rezé el rosario y hice mi oración y fuimos a correr a las nueve en pantalones cortas (porque no me gusta correr en los larges) en Pamplona y te digo que hacía un pooooccooo de frío. Comimos a las diez y era una reunión mandado en el cole a las 10:30. Hablabamos por una hora después, cogé mi ropa para esqiar hoy y ya, me dormí. Eso es un día en la vida del estudiante Navarrense. Quería escribir algo un poco más emocionada en mi bog....jeje!
February 16, 2007 2:23 AM
Agnes (the director of the Residence where I´m living) asked me last night in the get together if I was nervous about classes today and I arrogantly responded that I hadn´t even thought about them! I have been thrown into the fast past schedule of the residence and I hadn´t really thought about anything other than getting the warm cloths and comida I need. So I guess I became a little anxious about classes and woke up at 4;15 this morning. After struggling all morning to stay awake, I finally got up from my third class this afternoon and went to the cafe in the Central building called Faustino´s. I politely explained to the barista that I had left my wallet in the classroom but that I was in dire need of a cafecito so that I didn´t offend the teacher of the class when I was falling asleep in the front row. I should have just taken one after lunch at the residence (everyone gathers in another room, plays loud music, and drinks little cups of coffee). But don´t be fooled by the size of the coffee because now, it´s already 7 and I am WIDE awake! I hope to sleep some tonight...
Well, I missed a chance to go to the South of France yesterday because some chicas of the residence had an excursion there. But I had recollection in Alcacea, the retreat house where the Father (the Bishop Echevarria of Opus Dei) had been staying for the past month! He just recently left... but he told his daughters there that he would see them before the summer! That means only one thing: that I will get to see him here before I leave! (A dream, but my fall short anyway)
The good news is that they are organizing a trip to Madrid next weekend because the UNAV (University of Navarre) is just finishing their exams on Thursday. THere will be an international student orientation that weekend too but I think I´m pretty oriented since they took me all around Pamplona on Saturday. So hopefully I can go!
And the following weekend: to the South of France again to go skiiing! I´m definitely signed up for that trip!
I´ve made two friends in the ILCE program that I´m doing: ELizabeth from Brazil and Crispin from Virginia. Theý´re very good and we communicate in English, Spanish, and Portugues (well, some of us speak Portuguese.... actually, one of us...hehe)
It´s not so cold as I thought it would be! I recommend Navarre to any and everyone. It could sound like I´m trying to get out since I´m telling you about all these trips we have planned but that is not true at all- there is a whole mar adentro en this place! Over and out, roger roger.The Navigator dijo...
Yes, you are rapidly losing command of English. I'll start learning sign language so we can communicate on your return.
February 8, 2007 10:35 AM
Suprimir
Debster dijo...
You said: "I recommend Navarre to any and everyone."...after decrying to be a place of no importance!
I think you are contradicting your self a bit...and confussing us a LOT!
So, tell us what you HAVE done and we'll tell you what we have done. No "misticas ojalateras", but a reality check...he he
February 8, 2007 5:55 PM
Suprimir
Lizzy G dijo...
What have I done? ¿Qué es lo que he hecho? Buena pregunta, amiga mia. Ayer me levanté para rezar y ir a la misa. Desayuné y fui a la universidad para las clases hasta las dos. Comimos y luego tomé una siesta porque es imposible dormir hasta la madrugada en el colegio. Fui a comprar un tarjeta de llamadas para hablar con mi Mama, regresé al campus y escribé unos correos, estudié por dos horas. Luego rezé el rosario y hice mi oración y fuimos a correr a las nueve en pantalones cortas (porque no me gusta correr en los larges) en Pamplona y te digo que hacía un pooooccooo de frío. Comimos a las diez y era una reunión mandado en el cole a las 10:30. Hablabamos por una hora después, cogé mi ropa para esqiar hoy y ya, me dormí. Eso es un día en la vida del estudiante Navarrense. Quería escribir algo un poco más emocionada en mi bog....jeje!
February 16, 2007 2:23 AM
Monday, January 29, 2007
Communication is the key
While I am away for 4 short months, I will remain in contact with you via this expressive outlet of my soul, which functions electronically. Though I will be afar in Navarre, we will stay close in our hearts if we use this means provided us by blogspot. God bless blogspot.com!
The Navigator dijo...
More precisely, bless blogger.com. And it's called a "blog," you loon. But my question really is...when you are afar in Navarre will you drive a car with a gar? Har har.
January 29, 2007 10:54 PM
Suprimir
laartgal dijo...
keep posting those bilingual blogs (just so you remember your english -- and your monolingual friends back home ;-)!
February 1, 2007 7:29 PM
Suprimir
Lizzy G dijo...
My car would not go far if I were to drive in Navarre because my stick skills are not up to par. And after this sentence, I think I shall return to thinking in Spanish since I´m a little embarrassed of my English
February 5, 2007 11:48 AM
Suprimir
Lizzy G dijo...
Yes. It is good speak English sometimes. It pleases me much the language. I have good friends who listen to me talk English, even though it be difficult for me. hehe!
February 5, 2007 11:50 AM
Suprimir
The Navigator dijo...
You are muchly out of your mind, no? Yes, it seems, madness lady is yours okay?
February 11, 2007 1:58 AM
The Navigator dijo...
More precisely, bless blogger.com. And it's called a "blog," you loon. But my question really is...when you are afar in Navarre will you drive a car with a gar? Har har.
January 29, 2007 10:54 PM
Suprimir
laartgal dijo...
keep posting those bilingual blogs (just so you remember your english -- and your monolingual friends back home ;-)!
February 1, 2007 7:29 PM
Suprimir
Lizzy G dijo...
My car would not go far if I were to drive in Navarre because my stick skills are not up to par. And after this sentence, I think I shall return to thinking in Spanish since I´m a little embarrassed of my English
February 5, 2007 11:48 AM
Suprimir
Lizzy G dijo...
Yes. It is good speak English sometimes. It pleases me much the language. I have good friends who listen to me talk English, even though it be difficult for me. hehe!
February 5, 2007 11:50 AM
Suprimir
The Navigator dijo...
You are muchly out of your mind, no? Yes, it seems, madness lady is yours okay?
February 11, 2007 1:58 AM
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