tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28782503410518780652024-02-22T08:01:31.034-08:00My Overseas Adventures in SpainVictoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-74585047570885917702014-07-21T20:13:00.001-07:002014-07-21T20:14:12.911-07:00Home sweet home21/07/14<br />
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So it's day 24 back in New Zealand, which is pretty crazy when I think about it. While it's so nice being back with my Tucker family again, I also have a whole other lot of emotions that I am dealing with!<br />
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I guess I have to tell you all how my trip back went! Before I even started the trip I had to stress about packing my bags! This was a BIG drama. I had to sad good bye to a few items and stop myself from buying anything else before I left! I had 34kg in my suitcase and could only take 30kg! I also had my handbag full of books - weighing a wopping 6kg -and a backpack instead of a small suitcase that had a good 6kg in it. I had my fingers crossed hoping that they would let me get away with a handbag that looked like I was trying to pack my whole bookshelf into.<br />
The massive haul of a trip started on Wednesday the 25th when I had to say good bye to my awesome host family and all my Spain friends. As a parting gift to my family I gave them a clock adjusted to New Zealand time and wrote a letter to them on the clock face. Their parting gift to me was a bracelet (which I'm sure my host mum would have picked out) and a spanish fan with little things written about me on it. It was very sweet and I did cry a wee bit. I knew I was going to miss my host mum, and I do. <br />
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My host family dropped me off at the train station where I met with all the other AFS students to travel to Madrid. This journey was a solid 9 hours long but I was lucky to be one of the only ones who got given a bed instead of a seat (they obviously listened to all my panicking about being exhausted before I even started my long journey home to NZ!) Despite the fact that I was given a bed 2 hours into the trip, I still didn't get much sleep (maybe 3 hours) and was very tired when I hopped off the train. After that we got taken on a bus to a university residence which was actually really nice, we all had our own bedroom and bathroom each, I thought that we would be sharing a room with quite a few people, which I was not looking forward to. When we got there we got to settle in for a while before we headed off to explore Madrid. I'm not going to lie, nobody was very keen on this idea... I mean it was nice getting to see a bit of Madrid but we were all so tired and just wanted to eat and relax. <br />
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That night we met with all the other exchange students who had done an exchange in Spain but that were from all the other areas outside of Cataluyna. It was pretty cool meeting with them again! I love hearing everyone's accents and learning about their countries and experiences.<br />
I stayed up as long as I could that night because I knew I would probably have to say goodbye to the majority of these awesome people and would never get to see them again! That's one of the best and worst parts of a student exchange - you meet so many amazing people and leave your heart in so many different places. <br />
There were 5 groups of departures leaving for the airport at different times the next day and I got up to say goodbye to the closest of my friends. I was the only one with a late night flight and so I had to leave with the 2pm group even though my flight was at around 10pm. That completely sucked. I had to wait in the airport for about 8 hours which made my journey seem so much longer than it should have been. I had to say goodbye to Katy one of my best friends at the airport which was pretty hard. I'm glad to say that she and Zanete will be coming to visit me in New Zealand in 2 years :)<br />
Luckily I checked in all my bags without problems after I rearranged my things so that my suitcase was not overweight. I had so many emotions as I finally entered the departure gate, I couldn't believe I had lived my dream and it was then coming to end. I just can't explain that feeling. <br />
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I'm glad to say that my trip back from Spain was better than the trip to Spain, even though I didn't have Hugo the other New Zealander travelling back with me. From Madrid to Dubai I was sat to a mum and her son who were nice enough and I got a wee bit of rest on that flight. The best thing was that from Dubai to Melbourne and then Melbourne to Auckland I was seated next to two girls my age who were really lovely. It was really interesting talking to them and they made for lovely company. I managed to watch 3 movies on the trip back and got a few hours sleep in. The trip went quicker and because I had bought flight socks, my feet did not swell up which was a relief!<br />
Little did I know, there was a great surprise waiting for me in Auckland! As some of you may know my Mum and sister Katie had gone to America for 2 weeks and I was told that they would arrive back before me. They had no other choice!! But the thing that I did not know was that they had arrived back in Auckland the same day as me and that they would be waiting for me there!! When I walked out with my suitcases and everything the first thing I saw was my sister Bex, her boyfriend and my sister Katie holding up a big welcome banner! You can imagine the smile that broke out on my face! Then suddenly from the side, came running a beautiful woman, crying... you can guess who that was! My mum! As soon as I saw her I burst out crying and I was just the happiest girl ever. I had been thinking about that moment for so long and it was amazing. <br />
After the tears and hugs, smiles and more hugs, we got a bite to eat and chatted for a while. It was so strange to just be hearing english all around me again. Of course I had to demonstrate my spanish skills though. <br />
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The flight to Christchurch went fast and I was so grateful to be sitting with my mum and my bestest friend. Funny story. My mum had actually planned this whole thing ageees ago and had just never let on, I had no idea, and so when I discovered that my flight seat was in between two strangers (or so I thought) I moved my seat and placed myself next to a window a couple of seats back! My Mum was horrified to find out that I had soiled her carefully planned plan! hahaha Luckily after pleading with the airline, she got it sorted, and I was put back with them again. Good one Victoria!<br />
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My Dad and my brothers were waiting for me at the Christchurch airport and I nearly had a heart attack! My Dad was just the same as always but my brothers... they were HUGE. To me, it looked like they had been on steroids! I was so shocked at how big they had gotten and their voices had dropped. So scary. When I left they were a good head shorter and I still thought of them as my little brothers, now they're like wee men. Kaitlyn did try to warn me. It was a nice trip back to Timaru, just sitting there, soaking in my family. It was so nice just hearing their voices again, laughing with them. I missed them a bunch.<br />
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Now I have been back a good 3 weeks. Everything was strange at first. Nothing had changed really, Timaru is just the same small town I left. But I still feel weird. It's as if I suddenly don't belong anymore. I know that I now have wanderlust, but it's more than that. The way I see people, the town and everything around me is different now. It's better, unexplainable. I may seem the same to the people around me, or they may notice that something is different, but I can guarantee that they won't be able to quite put their finger on what it is. That's the thing about an experience like the one I have lived, it's so life-changing, in so many ways, but I don't even understand it fully myself. <br />
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I have caught up with a few friends since I've gotten back and have repeated myself over and over, telling stories about my exchange. I miss all my friends back in Spain and my AFS student friends who are all over the world, but I am happy to have some good old kiwi company again. That's something I am really grateful for, my friends, no matter where they may be. :) I love them all! <br />
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One of the first things I did when I got back was meet my niece, Lilly! She is absolutely beautiful and I was so happy to finally hold her in my arms! I have been so lucky, being able to go and visit my sister, spending time with her and Lilly. I know my sister loves having me around to help and to chat with.<br />
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At the moment I am having a kind of break whilst doing lots of little bits and pieces that need to be done, so I have time to visit them. I am currently searching for full time work, I need to save money for university next year, and I am also working on some final NCEA 3 assessments that will allow me to complete my certificate. It's nice having spare time and being able to organise my days how I like, but I know that I need to start working as soon as possible. <br />
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I can say that I am overall happy to be back, though it will still take some time to really settle back in. It's been so nice seeing everyone again and to find that my relationships within my family are stronger now. I appreciate them all so much now and I think it goes both ways ;) <br />
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Thanks to everyone who has followed me along my journey of a lifetime and supported me, I hope you have enjoyed reading all about it.<br />
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Love from Victoria,<br />
the spanish girl ;)<br />
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Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-60696560522095681852014-06-17T03:51:00.000-07:002014-06-17T07:35:38.126-07:00Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunityDay 286: 16/06/2014<br />
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JUNE 16TH!! 9 sleeps till I leave Barcelona and 11 sleeps until I leave this country. That means that in less than 11 days my life here will end. Just writing this makes me feel quite emotional. My excitement lies in seeing my family again, back in New Zealand, but I can not help but feel like I am being ripped in half. During these 10 months here in Spain, Cataluyna, I have made a second life for myself - one that can never be repeated or relived. This exchange has been the best, most challenging and life-changing experience of my whole life and even though I have only lived 18 years of it I am sure it will still be one of the most important things I will have ever done. <br />
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To anyone who is thinking about doing an exchange, DO IT. It is the best decision you could ever make. The money was the biggest problem for me when trying to pursue this dream of mine, and sure it proved to be difficult and I know that many other people cross out the idea of an exchange once they see the price but if you are determined enough and you really want it, you can make it happen. I know there are so many quotes saying that money can't buy happiness, which is true, but the money that you pay to go on an exchange buys you the oportunity of a lifetime! The things that you learn and experience are worth more than any amount of money and at the end of the day, nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity. You only live once you know :)<br />
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Soo, what has been happening within the last month?? Well I have been keeping up with the gym and english classes as per usual but I finished school on the 6th of June! I still have to finish off NCEA level 3 by correspondence back in New Zealand BUT I have officially finished high school classes forever! Wow, I must be getting old. <br />
I am now on holidays now and am enjoying every minute of it! The sun is shining (a little too much for my pale, easily burnt skin) and the summer atmosphere is all around me. I am trying to soak up the good weather before returning to the ice berg called New Zealand. <br />
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The weekend of the 24th and 25th of May I went on my final AFS camp in Coma Ruga which was really fun, like always. This time though we were actually surprised as we weren't just the usual group of Cataluyna students that were doing an exchange, they called us "hostings", but there was also a huge group of students that were going to be participating in an exchange, which they called "sendings". So once we arrived we were unexpectedly mobbed by students taht we didn't know. The volunteers had the sendings play a breaking the ice or getting to know you kind of game where they had to go around and ask peoples names, age, where they were from and what languages they had learnt. I had barely set foot in the door and they practically leaped on me with their questions with their papers and pens going mad writing what I said down. I have to admit that I felt like the paparazi was after me. <br />
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After this we were then split of into groups, organised by country, so that the "sendings" could ask us "hostings" questions about our countries. I was very surprised to find that there were two students going to New Zealand! I was also given the South Africa headed students as there was no one from South Africa (luckily I have South African friends and had heard a few stories from them). It was actually pretty cool getting to talk about my country as I am pretty proud of it and I was super pleased that they actually chose to go there (that was until I found out that if you want to do a 2 month program you only have two options, South Africa and New Zealand, and so it wasn't as if they had chosen New Zealand out of a huge list!) <br />
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Once we had covered all topics from school to fashion, we had a small break which included some snacks and then were separated into "hostings" and "sendings" where we when participated in different activities. We had a sort of reflection time, discussing what we had learnt from the year and talking about differences we had discovered. The volunteers then told us that we had to prepare a special ceremony for the "sendings", just as the volunteers had done to us previously. It was basically to demonstrate that we can't always assume we know what things mean in different cultures and that we have to be careful and respectful. We planned the ceremony out before heading to dinner, a buffet type dinner, and then went downstairs to prepare ourselves. We dressed up using our white bedsheets and we painted our faces all differently as if we were from some strange tribe. <br />
It would be quite difficult to explain as it was quite a weird activity but it basically just involved us demonstrating some sort of ceremony that the "sendings" did not understand and did not have any idea what was going on so that we could show them the importance of what I mentioned earlier about culture differences etc. <br />
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After this activity us "hostings" were taken into a small room where we had to sit around in a circle and there were candles in the centre. It was all quiet and serious. The candles in the centre were to be lit or blown out by individuals (if they wished) representing something positive or negative that the person had experienced throughout the exchange. It was quite awkward at the beginning as people were quite hesitant to share in front of the whole group but little by little more people got into the activity. It turned out to be rather emotional as it dawned on us that our time together was so amazing and it was coming to an end. There were a few tears and a couple of loving embraces shared as well. <br />
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The next day we woke up and had a nice breakfast and everything was pretty laid back. We were given bright orange AFS t-shirts to wear and were split into groups to either participate in rock climbing or go to the beach. I chose to do the rock climbing before heading down to the beach, it was fun just chilling with everyone, chatting about whatever came to mind. I love how there is ALWAYS something interesting to talk about with my AFS friends. <br />
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After the beach we headed back up and took a big group photo of parents, students and volunteers, just everyone really. I realised that we were actually such a big network of people. All too soon it was time to say goodbyes and head back to our own host homes again. I am always sad to leave my AFS family. We really are like a big family. <br />
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Aside from my AFS friends and family I have also made friends in school here in Spain you know! :p So as I mentioned, I have finished school now and as a farewell we had a dinner for me the other night at a restaurant and then went out afterwards! Just people from my class came to the dinner but just about the whole year level came out to party! We all met up and headed off to the beach to carry out the party. There was no music (unfortunately) but everyone just had a nice time hanging out and talking on the beach. It was nice chatting to students that I had only ever seen around school but had never really talked to before, I was surprised when quite a few knew my name and who I was despite this.<br />
As a special thing to take back to New Zealand with me I also bought a flag and had my friends sign it for me. It is now full of nice messages from my friends and classmates :) It is pretty cool being able to say that I no longer need to communicate with anyone in english as my spanish is fluent enough! :D I would say that I have had a decent level of fluency since March. <br />
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This month I have also enjoyed a nice weekend in Girona with my host family! We stayed at their Girona house like usual and made a trip to the beach and to their garden. The pictures can probably so you how nice it was! You should know that the smiles in my photos are always genuine! I really am enjoying life and I do enjoy being with my host family, especially with my host mum who I now think of as a second mum! <br />
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Yesterday I arrived home from a non-mandatory AFS trip which I chose to participate in. Wow, it was a rough weekend. It started off Saturday morning with catching the train to Premia de Mar, arriving at 12pm. There I waited for everyone to arrive (most late as always) and we walked down to the beach. It was a pretty hot day and we all straight away stripped off our clothes (down to our bathing suits of course) and took off into the water to cool off. The water was cold, as you would expect, so I wasn't brave enough to spend that much time in there. Turns out that we were at the beach for a solid 6 hours! I had to lather myself with sunscreen and wear my tourist-like hat all day! I am so paranoid about getting sunburnt because my skin is sooo white and doesn't have the ability to tan but rather turn red like a lobster... luckily I didn´t get any sunburn whatsoever. <br />
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7pm came around and after waiting for a boy to arrive, who had lost himself on the train, we had to walk all the way from the beach to the mountain where there was a restuarant, that was like 2 hours worth of walking. (The AFS volunteer that was with us thought it was hilarious to tell us that we would be walking for just 1 hour, then he would change his mind and say 2 hours and then 3...) We had dinner there and then had to walk further up the mountain to where we would sleep, this was about 45 minutes of walking . We set everything up in the grass, with no shelter, and then it started to rain. So we had to pack everything back up and head back down to the restaurant to sleep outside under a roof outside. The floor was cement. So uncomfortable. We had to wait until all the people left the restaurant until we could try to sleep which was around 2.30am. I then somehow managed to fall asleep from like 3am till like 4am but was startled awake when it started absolutely pouring down with rain and there was thunder and lightening - it was the loudest I had ever heard it in my life! It was pretty scary to be honest! So the water started going through the roof and the restaurant owner let us move inside to sleep on the restaurant floor. Slept from about 4.30am till 8am when we were woken up by the owner as we had to pack up and be out of the restaurant because they were opening. <br />
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With only a piece of bread with chocolate in it (it´s considered a breakfast food here in spain) and a box of juice as energy we then headed back up the mountain (a little bit further this time) to where we would be meeting our host parents to take photos and participate in an activity. <br />
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The activity included making flour bombs and then when the parents arrived we would have a flour bomb war. That was quite amuzing I must say! We all looked like crazy bakers. I looked whiter than ever! All flour-covered (expect for the wussy parents who used their cameras' as an excuse not to participate) we went back to the restaurant, in cars this time, and shared a big lunch. <br />
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Even though it was probably the worst night sleep I have ever had it was actually a pretty awesome weekend. This was due to the company I had of course. Zanete my best friend wasn´t there and I missed her presence A LOT but I still enjoyed being with all my other AFS friends. I really will miss them so much :(<br />
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So I think that is about all there is to write about! This will probably be my last blog before I leave Spain, which is a really sad thought, so I hope you have enjoyed! <br />
Ahhhh I can't even explain how I am feeling right now. I can't wait to see your amazing faces back in New Zealand but I wish I didn't have to leave so many people behind here! I am torn in two!! <br />
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Anyway, hope everyone is well where ever you are in the world at this moment! <3<br />
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Lots of Love,<br />
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From the spanish girl :)<br />
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Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-80760178440690424122014-05-13T07:41:00.000-07:002014-05-13T07:44:05.143-07:00Back to my roots in The NetherlandsDay 242: 04/05/14<br />
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Life never stops to give you the chance to catch up on things, for that reason I have not had time to update my blog since last month! Hope everyone has been well! We have now arrived in May and , for me,that means that there are only a few 54 days left before my journey will come to an end. Sad and exciting thought right there! I am looking forward to seeing everyone again but I don't want to leave behind all these awesome people here! <br />
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So probably the most exciting thing that has happened over the last month would be my trip to The Netherlands! Okay no, <b>definitely</b> the most exciting thing! Absolutely beautiful I must say. This opportunity came about when I met my host family's family from Holland who came to visit us in Spain. I got along really well with the 19 year old daughter and was invited to stay with them in their home sometime if I would like to! Of course I wanted to but I wasn't sure if it was possible. So after about a week of thinking it over I went about planning and organising and doing all I could to make it happen. After getting my real parents' permission, I then got my host parents' and then AFS's. I was worried that I wouldn't be allowed to go but was relieved to find that no one had any objections. Holidays were coming up so I had a few days off school for my trip . I bought tickets and arranged a trip from the 16th of April until the 23rd of April, so I had 6 days in Holland. You can imagine how excited I was!<br />
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I arrived in Rotterdam (the city where my host aunty and uncle etc lives) at about 11pm and was collected from the airport and driven back to the house. First thing I noticed was that the houses were all so perfectly aligned and it was just such a different atmosphere compared to the one in Barcelona. I somehow felt more at home. I think this might have had something to do with the fact that there was a lot more nature, more green and canals everywhere, but also might have been because I have a little Dutch blood in me! My Grandfather on my mum's side is originally from Holland but moved to New Zealand when he was young. Consequently I felt like Holland had some sort of special connection to me! <br />
Entering the house I discovered that my bedroom for the week was in the attic, I had to climb two sets of stairs and a wee ladder, and the stairs were crazy! The steps were so thin and I felt like I had only enough room to place my tippy toes on each step as the stairs went upwards rapidly. I suppose that they are this way to save space but people who live in The Netherlands are used to these stairs anyway. <br />
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First day in Holland I rid my first typical dutch bicycle! There are more than 13 million bikes in Holland with a population of approximately 16.5 million this is almost one bike per person! There's honestly bikes in every direction! I can understand why though, I mean first of all, the bikes are cute as and after that, the way you sit is just so relaxed and comfortable and since Holland is a flat and small country, the bike is a great way of getting around. I really wish I could have a dutch bike back at home! <br />
Francesca, my host cousin and I rid our bicycles to the metro station as we were going to go visit The Hague, another town close to Rotterdam. In The Hague we enjoyed a nice lunch, a little bit of souvenir shopping and some sightseeing. I loved absolutely everything from the old style buildings to the bright blooming flowers. I don't really know what I had expected to think about Holland but I think that my expections were not nearly high enough! I'm sure that I went on and on about how much I liked the houses and gardens!<br />
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Notice all the bicycles lined up in the first picture?? Crazy huh!<br />
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After spending the day in The Hague we went home and had a nice family dinner. The dinner conversations were mostly in english but there was also a bit of dutch and catalan in there too. It was so strange to be talking in english so much as I was so used to speaking in spanish but whilst I was in Holland I spoke mostly english. There was a noticeable difference in the english ability in Holland compared to that of Spain :3<br />
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After dinner Francesca and I made plans to head out for the night. After not dressing up too much, due to the cold but also due to the fact that Francesca had warned me that the type of party we were going to was quite a different kind of party. By this I mean that people wore whatever they wanted. A onzie, a dressing gown, paper bag if you felt like it. The party was in a town named Delft which is a town full of university students and the party was being held by a specific group from the university. You could call it a sorority party? You know like what you see in the american movies? Makes me realise how boring the parties for the youth are in NZ... am I right? haha <br />
In Delft we met with some of Francesca's friends and it made for a pretty enjoyable night. Though I am always happy when there is good music and a good dancing atmosphere! <br />
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Second day in Rotterdam I woke up to a nice typical breakfast with toast and butter! There´s never bread and butter in Spain, only oil and tomatoes! Both countries will argue that their way is better I´m sure :p <br />
The weather for the day looked like it would be alright so we decided to do some sightseeing around Rotterdam and a little bit further. First stop was the famous windmills. Of course I couldn´t go to Holland without seeing the windmills! <br />
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After the windmills we just travelled around looking for beautiful churches and buildings. I tell you, I´m absolutely in love with the way the houses are in Holland!<br />
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Don´t you just love it too?? The countryside and sheep really reminded me of New Zealand, though I don't know of any other country that has as many sheep as we do! <br />
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Francesca and her family have a garden behind there house and this was so nice! I mean Spain is great but it could really do with some more grass, more green! <br />
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Just behind their house and over a little bridge there was also a huge park with a mini zoo and an amusement park for kids. This was pretty awesome I must admit. I mean, if I was a kid again I would absolutely love to play there, I would probably be able to play there for hours and hours on end... it was <b>that </b> awesome. Entrance would usually cost but Francesca and her family have a full year membership and can enter whenever they want so I got to go in and have a good look around, even had a turn on the swan pedal boats :3 There were heaps of playgrounds, big and small, a go kart zone, a water ride that shot you into the water, and this house that had everything giant sized inside. Giant jumping beds, hide and go seek wardrobe (not quite like the wardrobe from Narnia) and a huge bird cage. <br />
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On the Saturday morning my host mum took me in the car to find tulip fields and take photos! I was very lucky to be in The Netherlands at the time I was because the tulips were all blooming! There were sooo many colours, I had no idea there were so many! I wanted one of every colour to put in my own garden back home! <br />
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After the tulip fields we paid a visit to Madurodam! Madurodam is a big centre that has a lot , if not all, of the beautiful and famous attractions of The Netherlands in miniature version. The miniature versions were done so well, with such great detail, that I think if anyone couldn't visit all the places they wanted in real life, they could just visit them in this centre. I really enjoyed being able to see everything from bird's eye view too as I think I would not have been able to see things so clearly from street level. In fact, I had visited one of the buildings that was shown off in Madurodam but I hadn't even realised it before because it looked so different walking through the middle of the actual streets. The only annoying thing about Madurodam was that it was crowded with tourists, but hey, I guess I was one of those annoying tourists too :p<br />
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After enjoying a nice afternoon snack at the expensive Madurodam cafe, Francesca and I met up with her friend and hung out in a park close to the centre. It was a really nice day and we made the most of it listening to music, making daisy chains and climbing trees. I have come to realise how much I love just laying down in the grass, I could pass hours reading in the garden...if there was one here :p We really take grass for granted in New Zealand! <br />
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Saturday night we had Indonesian food for dinner! First time I had tried it and it was really nice (not quite as spicy as I would have thought though)! After dinner we took the bicycles and biked for half an hour to the central and stopped off at a bar where we were to meet up with Francesa's friends who were celebrating a birthday. On the way to the bar we met up with another one of Francesa's friends and because we were 3 people with only 2 bikes we had to do that very typical dutch thing where they carry someone on the back of their bike. I did a wee run and jump onto the back and felt ever so dutch hahaha. It's funny imagining my Grandad doing the same thing with one of his dutch girlfriends back when he was young and living in Holland. <br />
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Easter morning, Sunday of course, it was a nice day and I shared a lovely breakfast with the family. I was surprised to find out that eggs had been hidden in the garden... by the easter bunny of course. It's a Tucker family tradition to have an easter egg hunt and I'm not embarrassed to admit that I still love doing it. Usually I would go to church with the family on easter sunday too but I didn't end up going this time. Instead I spent Sunday out in the sunshine with my host aunty on the bicycles. We had a tour around the town and just talked about life. It's surprising how much you just appreciate the little things in life as you get older. I can imagine my younger self getting bored so easily, but now I take life day by day and always find enjoyment in the small things. There is so much to be thankful for, it's so sad when people just can't see it! My exchange has definitely helped me in this way, to be more positive and grateful, and I would definitly recommend the experience if not only to improve the way you or your child views life! <br />
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Anyway! Monday seemed to come around so quickly and before I knew it I was off to visit Amsterdam. Amsterdam was about 30 minutes from Rotterdam by train so it was super easy to organise a visit there. Unfortunately I have lost all of my Amsterdam photos as my Iphone has been stolen and I had not had the opportunity to upload any photos from Monday onwards... sooo I would recommend looking up pictures of Amsterdam to get a good idea of what I would have seen. In Amsterdam we went around the central and saw the typical things including red light district. In all honesty I actually enjoyed Rotterdam more than Amsterdam. I am not sure why but I think that I am just a small town kind of girl. I have grown up in tiny Timaru all my life and I could easily live a bigger town (in fact, I would like to) but it might take some time to adapt to a big city. I mean I am very sociable but I don't like when people are always in my space and I don't like getting lost or feeling insecure. In saying that, I feel more confident with independent travel now that I have done an exchange. You really do have to learn to navigate, use maps, translate messages and ask strangers for directions. <br />
Overall I thought Amsterdam was a really cool city and just like what I had thought it would be, definitely a good place to visit if you are young and looking to have some fun with friends. I did some souvenir shopping there and found some nice wee gifts for my family back in NZ including some dutch treats! I am really struggling with the concept of repacking my bags for the trip back home. Even if I do leave the things that I don't want behind I am sure that I will have to wear like 10 layers of clothing on the plane to get away with all the shopping I have done during my exchange! First world problems right there... <br />
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As you can probably tell I loved The Netherlands and I am so glad I got the opportunity to go! This has got me thinking about how bad things might really have happened for a reason during this exchange. Maybe if I hadn't been with my first host family for so long I wouldn't have ended up here in this host family. I might not have had the opportunity to visit The Netherlands like I have which is pretty lucky I must say! Well that's just what I think anyway :) <br />
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I hope you have all enjoyed reading about The Netherlands and that you also all had a great Easter! I know a lot of time has past since then and I thank you for your patience :p As I mentioned, my Iphone got stolen just recently and so finding internet access and a good device to write my blog with has proven to be quite difficult! <br />
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Thanks for taking interest in my life and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me, I love hearing from everyone :) <br />
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Love from Victoria,<br />
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The Spanish Girl :p <br />
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Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-86650471290375830782014-04-02T00:27:00.001-07:002014-05-04T07:54:58.210-07:00Where ever life takes youDay 210: 02/04/14<div><br />
</div><div>Wow. 210 is a big number and it's crazy to think I have been in this now not-so-foreign country for that long! I don't even want to think about how much things must have changed in my home in the time that I've been away. For example, my younger twin brothers started high school this year and through skype I can see that they're shooting up in height and their voices are getting all manly... I didn't give them permission to grow up! Ahh. Truth be told, when I left New Zealand it was like I pushed the pause button on life there and pushed play in another life in Spain. I just can't picture New Zealand any other way than how I left it... Which makes me quite nervous. I know that everyone else's lives have carried on and this makes me worry about how I'm going to fit back into the norms and routines, back into my kiwi life. But hey, there's a wee way to go yet and for now I can close the door to these niggling worries. </div><div><br />
</div><div>So what's been happening? I've been living a busy life here lately. Not only in my day to day schedule but with special occasions too! </div><div>Gee wizz, come to think of it, there's a ton of things that I could talk about! Where to start is usually the problem...</div><div><br />
</div><div>Hmm back in, I don't when, (maybe end of February) I went with my host family to a used-to-be hospital of <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Santa Creu and </span>Sant Pau, which was absolutely beautiful. It was designed by a student of Gaudi (the talented man behind the construction of "La Sagrada Familia") to be a sanctuary for the sick <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">. It was a fully functioning hospital until June 2009 but it is currently undergoing restoration for use as a museum and cultural centre. We actually got a private tour of the hospital, after hours, because my host dad had a friend that worked there and offered to let us in for free and show us around.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />
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</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8oK2se2t6gMaoVKtJHCJlhPRUAMIS3QOCMMC-gRrE3Fbf63-WmdqdDmpX7qJy2BsARJbWUKH75EULLsOloPNUppqMAZPe-r4M2WCisL1cBEmNLTxONa9-dTQAEX2iW1ZMy6hdfFPpnmS/s640/blogger-image-1328786100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8oK2se2t6gMaoVKtJHCJlhPRUAMIS3QOCMMC-gRrE3Fbf63-WmdqdDmpX7qJy2BsARJbWUKH75EULLsOloPNUppqMAZPe-r4M2WCisL1cBEmNLTxONa9-dTQAEX2iW1ZMy6hdfFPpnmS/s640/blogger-image-1328786100.jpg"></a></div><br />
</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPABdDb21nyDnWkeyZlVTmHFZEiQlOSA86hw8YE3qSjCmnQBSicTroPxAlReEAJmrP_n7Aeu8jVMbQu5BpqTw-OQDlY4wkdfoKOfnmvwFioISbyNYHeJJ-IL4jxkIYjoIWK2hjGk9u5Gqr/s640/blogger-image-1135039136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPABdDb21nyDnWkeyZlVTmHFZEiQlOSA86hw8YE3qSjCmnQBSicTroPxAlReEAJmrP_n7Aeu8jVMbQu5BpqTw-OQDlY4wkdfoKOfnmvwFioISbyNYHeJJ-IL4jxkIYjoIWK2hjGk9u5Gqr/s640/blogger-image-1135039136.jpg"></a></div><br />
</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">The following day we packed up some bags and headed to the old family house in Girona for the weekend. This is where my host dad's pride and joy is grown, the garden. Lots of friends and family had been invited to have a barbecue in the garden. Mind you , this wasn't a normal kind of barbecue, this was a traditional Catalan barbecue with calçotadas. Calçotadas are spring onions and are basically crimated on the barbecue until they're black on the outside. The hot onions are then eaten in an animal like fashion - you strip the outside off getting black all over your hands and dip the soft centres in a special orange salsa that has a little kick in it. I was surprised to find how delicious they were! Hoping to find the salsa in New Zealand and get my family in on the experience! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">It was a nice weekend getting to stay in a very old and cute house and share quality time with these crazy Catalans I live with here :) </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><br />
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</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">In the middle of March my host dad had his 50th birthday and so, to celebrate and do something a little different, we spent the day at the</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "> zoo! Barcelona zoo is really big and even though we were there for a decent few hours I think that we only managed to see half of the park. It was really cool as the park had just about every animal you could want to see, and I got to see new animals that I had never seen before too. It was great spending time with the family and actually feeling like they enjoyed my company :3 </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><br />
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</div></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">After the zoo we came home and had a lovely saturday lunch before heading to the regular Esplai group that I've told you about. This time in Esplai things got a bit crafty and included painting our group symbol on one of the walls in the centre. Not too shabby I must say.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br />
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</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The next day my host mum had invited all the family around for a birthday dinner and so I spent the afternoon helping cook and setting things up for the evening. I've discovered that I have developed a passion for cooking and I always enjoy helping my host mum out in the kitchen which will definitely benefit my family when I get home! I'm also sure that my host mum will miss my helping hands as having three sons it's not that often she gets a happy volunteer in the kitchen! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br />
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</span></div><div>Just two weekends past we had another barbecue in Girona, another celebration for my host dad's birthday... And this weekend past my host mum also organised yet another dinner (this one a surprise) for his birthday. Bit spoilt I'd say, but he's such a great man and really appreciates everything so he deserves it! :) </div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XV4MGbN3sl4/U0Q8LbB8lRI/AAAAAAAABC4/LEFR8-G_WIg/s640/blogger-image-961777080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XV4MGbN3sl4/U0Q8LbB8lRI/AAAAAAAABC4/LEFR8-G_WIg/s640/blogger-image-961777080.jpg"></a></div><br />
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</div><div>Over the past few weeks I have been really busy, with school, the gym, friends and helping out kids with their English. </div><div>After having had hockey in Castelldefels and arriving here and having to stop playing, I felt really inactive and I really didn't like it. So I have joined one of the nicest gyms here, that's located basically on the beach, and have been regularly going with every opportunity I get. It's 15 minutes with my bike and I usually need a good 2 hours to fully make the most of it, so it's quite difficult to find time. I have loved being able to swim there as I had been missing my regular morning swims with my real mum back in good old timaru. It's just not the same without her but the beautiful sensations of swimming are still there. It's especially great when coming straight from the gym because the air-conditioning isn't working at the moment and it feels like working out in a sauna! </div><div><br />
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</div><div>2 weeks ago I enjoyed a girls night out with my girls Žanete and Katerina and the both of them were able to stay the night at my house. It was great going out and experiencing the typically talked about "Barcelona nightlife". Even though it wasn't on the top of my list, this was one of the reasons why I wanted to come to Barcelona! :p</div><div><br />
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</div><div>I've also been on some excursions with the school just recently, which are like wee class field trips. One for Catalan and one for economics. The Catalan excursion was to a museum and we studied the works of an artist. As much as it was great to be out of school, I can not say I enjoyed the 45 minutes walk back home after... I was wearing my new boots and they killed me, had to practically limp. If only I had known that my train ticket had <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">expired and had brought money to get a new one, I also shouldn't have listened to the teacher who told me that it was only a 20 minute walk -_- </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><br />
</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9OxXXpBsua8/U0Q54ySR0lI/AAAAAAAABBk/BE_JlSJy3Y8/s640/blogger-image-1274048097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9OxXXpBsua8/U0Q54ySR0lI/AAAAAAAABBk/BE_JlSJy3Y8/s640/blogger-image-1274048097.jpg"></a></div><br />
</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">The economics excursión was quite cool, we went to a business centre that spoke about how to start a business and the way it works. We were all entertained during the break when two girls were just randomly dancing (like really going for it) outside the centre, there was a good crowd going. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><br />
</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ro88wBgv7-E/U0Q6ncjFx_I/AAAAAAAABCk/99-LP1zd9UI/s640/blogger-image--1464709997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ro88wBgv7-E/U0Q6ncjFx_I/AAAAAAAABCk/99-LP1zd9UI/s640/blogger-image--1464709997.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
</div></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">On Sunday we went to the aquarium with free entrance as a relative of the family works there. It was really interesting but it kind of put me off scuba diving because of all the facts about the dangerous fish. We saw a big collection of different kinds of sea animals including seahorses, penguins, corals, crabs and sharks. It doesn't matter how protected you are from the sharks it is still terrifying seeing them up close! One of the sharks was really old and had a hunchback - I was thoroughly amused hahaha.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZqJVDo_T2To/U0Q5P1n611I/AAAAAAAABAA/cy42tI5g1gk/s640/blogger-image--365571154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZqJVDo_T2To/U0Q5P1n611I/AAAAAAAABAA/cy42tI5g1gk/s640/blogger-image--365571154.jpg"></a></div><br />
</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qThKbfjxvlfr_f7KT5vK1zvhPq_WlouDWnsfqTr8m5-DdY1F_Od3MEBiqSqQELTf-UYuFlkniNAEns7G5iznMPSDAPU_UcPK_FeTiozEA1YALwnE_yB3xnQLf-9h2WAOvVCePhGD6GKK/s640/blogger-image--2027979613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qThKbfjxvlfr_f7KT5vK1zvhPq_WlouDWnsfqTr8m5-DdY1F_Od3MEBiqSqQELTf-UYuFlkniNAEns7G5iznMPSDAPU_UcPK_FeTiozEA1YALwnE_yB3xnQLf-9h2WAOvVCePhGD6GKK/s640/blogger-image--2027979613.jpg"></a></div><br />
</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZv0AqIHnHnf26M-_VwSfyTXIm2I45g1SVmSEhzAjN0vMJzlSSdYuZK5LA-VdtuXrdoC881KBEV4u4pscX6ajmgeTs4zY_MCuNAGO_VXavhT_vRsdcTlteHq4eNCznaSGIlMRKhBCjhNL/s640/blogger-image-1155517962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZv0AqIHnHnf26M-_VwSfyTXIm2I45g1SVmSEhzAjN0vMJzlSSdYuZK5LA-VdtuXrdoC881KBEV4u4pscX6ajmgeTs4zY_MCuNAGO_VXavhT_vRsdcTlteHq4eNCznaSGIlMRKhBCjhNL/s640/blogger-image-1155517962.jpg"></a></div><br />
</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1a003bdRykNhD_3xmd4Fggz-m5PmfmhUTueBen-djmAUICoDZuSqgjXPKTWf-PgQC3zlUHt5UTfsTqUOMg7WiuBYHef7WgHa2VLPbLezq-Dgkx5Xs-hRirmsl-U-qOZEKRB41gnx3oqPc/s640/blogger-image-2058728275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1a003bdRykNhD_3xmd4Fggz-m5PmfmhUTueBen-djmAUICoDZuSqgjXPKTWf-PgQC3zlUHt5UTfsTqUOMg7WiuBYHef7WgHa2VLPbLezq-Dgkx5Xs-hRirmsl-U-qOZEKRB41gnx3oqPc/s640/blogger-image-2058728275.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1a003bdRykNhD_3xmd4Fggz-m5PmfmhUTueBen-djmAUICoDZuSqgjXPKTWf-PgQC3zlUHt5UTfsTqUOMg7WiuBYHef7WgHa2VLPbLezq-Dgkx5Xs-hRirmsl-U-qOZEKRB41gnx3oqPc/s640/blogger-image-2058728275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4qOUdwI4yw8/U0Q8hIqf8LI/AAAAAAAABDg/htpVmbYGPN4/s640/blogger-image--2026083638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4qOUdwI4yw8/U0Q8hIqf8LI/AAAAAAAABDg/htpVmbYGPN4/s640/blogger-image--2026083638.jpg"></a></div></div></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The school holidays begin at the end of this week and I can not wait to have more free time!! Plus, the weather is looking up! I have already started hitting up the beach (across the road) though its not warm enough to swim yet! I'm now counting down the days till I leave for The Netherlands, Holland for a 6 day trip :) I will be going to stay with my host family's family which will be great as they have a daughter my age, not to mention the fact that I will get to put The Netherlands on the list of places I've travelled to! </span></div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xImsBSGsAqY/U0Q5W_wglnI/AAAAAAAABAc/OgHbv3NNBYM/s640/blogger-image--780456366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xImsBSGsAqY/U0Q5W_wglnI/AAAAAAAABAc/OgHbv3NNBYM/s640/blogger-image--780456366.jpg"></a></div><br />
</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Today (I'm still finishing this entry on the 8th of April) marks only 80 days to go in Spain! But I will have to travel for nearly 2 days before my journey will come to an end. I am absolutely dreading the flights back!! Nearly died arriving here...</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Anyway, I hope that sums up all that has been going on in this bittersweet life of mine! I guess I will let you all know how my trip goes and everything else!! :D </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Blessings! :) </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Love from Victoria</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The Spanish girl :) </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br />
</span></div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-53674699996740366632014-03-11T09:11:00.000-07:002014-03-11T15:07:20.222-07:00It changes your lifeDay 187: 10/03/14<div><br>
</div><div>Hey all my followers, now I don't mean to get all serious, but seriously, truth be told, I really needed to do this exchange. I mean just looking back over the past few weeks, I realise how much I have changed, and only in the best ways possible. I have learnt so many important things during this experience, about me, the world, life - through the good and the <i>not </i>so good moments. Things that I don't know if I ever would have learnt otherwise. An exchange is definitely a big leap, I did it the hard way but I'm so glad I did. </div><div><br>
</div><div>The following 3 points definitely have to be at the top of the list of important things I've had to learn and improve on during my exchange but also that I have had to make use of over the past few weeks in particular: </div><div><b>1. </b>Give things a go </div><div><b>2. </b>Get out of your comfort zone </div><div><b>3. </b>Don't be scared to be yourself</div><div>Written down like that, it seems as easy as 1, 2, 3, but in reality, as I'm sure you would agree, it's not. At the beginning of my exchange, I thought that I would be able to do these things, but I really couldn't without feeling insecure, embarrassed or darn right scared. Since then, I've had no choice but to follow these rules, along with others, and open myself up to a world of bravery, strength and confidence<i>, the world of an exchange student.</i> </div>It´s so hard to explain my experiences and put it on down on paper but you can probably imagine why I have had to follow these 3 rules. Being in an unknown country, with restricted communication skills and meeting new people everyday, has to give some reason no? <br>
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When I said that I have had to make use of these rules over the past few weeks I was talking about the change of family, school, city, and also a camp that I went on this weekend. This weekend I went on an "Excursión" as they would call it here, or ,as I would say, camp. The camp was from Saturday the 8th of March, 8:30am at the train station, until Sunday evening and was with a big group of people from a club that my host brothers attend. The club is called "Esplai" and it´s similar to boys scouts or a kids club really. There are kids and teens of all ages from 5-16 and then there are the leaders with 18 years plus. I had been to the club a week earlier and met a few of the people but had felt a little out of place. Therefore, when my host mum told me that I would be going on the camp I have to admit that I wasn´t so keen! As everyone knows, camps are only fun if you have a good bunch of people around you, and I was thinking that everyone would know everyone (as they do) and that I would have to follow along. But. Getting on the train with all these people I starting thinking and I realised something. I realised that I was doubting my ability to make friends.In Casteldefels, when I first arrived here, I struggled at settling in, I felt awkward and like I couldn´t really be myself and, consequently, I think that I lost a little bit of my confidence. Of course I had to take into account that I couldn´t speak spanish very well and in all honesty, the students at my school didn´t really make much effort to make me feel welcome, but I kind of became quite shy. This wasn´t me, and sitting there on the train, I told myself that I wouldn´t hold myself back and that I would have a great time! And so I did. The crew in Esplai are really nice and it wasn´t difficult at all to find and make friends. <br>
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After a train ride of about 30 minutes we jumped out and had to walk 30 minutes or so to the place that we would be staying in for the night. It was a school-like building, quite big, and I was surprised to find that we didn´t have it to ourselves, there were other people and another club staying there too. On our arrival, we had a wee snack (my host mum had planned out and prepared all my camp meals for me) and some free time. This was when I took the opportunity to chat with new people and make friends. A little while later we were split into different age groups to do some activities. Even though I´m 18 years old, I went with my host brother, Miquel, and his group which included 15/16 year olds. We went upstairs where we played some board games and hung out. Although it was fun, it was a really hot day, and we wanted to go play outside, so we went outside to play a game of Basketball (I got quite of few points, just saying). After the game we went and had lunch, mine included a sandwich and peach juice! <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hZfwpdfHUc8/Ux-IhYu2P6I/AAAAAAAAA9M/y4KZLnSZenE/s640/blogger-image--474451755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hZfwpdfHUc8/Ux-IhYu2P6I/AAAAAAAAA9M/y4KZLnSZenE/s640/blogger-image--474451755.jpg"></a></div><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdKSqm5udIJlmY1MY-fdQ_ydZagAqVKBj6YnFprh50LS3Kf-y2ZXIxZCAO6z84nXUTFNm6yzT1gq_S2hsQTH2dR1t4Fj6ATkMp_bRKAHS1_1OaC6uUCxbzomIwwan3292djeWbgimi5TM/s640/blogger-image--438872681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdKSqm5udIJlmY1MY-fdQ_ydZagAqVKBj6YnFprh50LS3Kf-y2ZXIxZCAO6z84nXUTFNm6yzT1gq_S2hsQTH2dR1t4Fj6ATkMp_bRKAHS1_1OaC6uUCxbzomIwwan3292djeWbgimi5TM/s640/blogger-image--438872681.jpg"></a></div><br>Once we had finished lunch, we had to participate in some activities which included using a scorecard. First up we had to do an a activity with puzzles. You had to say whether you thought you could put 5, 10 or 15 puzzle pieces together for 1, 2 or 3 points. There was a big pile of puzzle pieces and we all failed at putting together even 5 pieces. Useless haha. After that we had to make paper planes and I had no clue how to make one, then we had to jump, next we had to skip rope and then we had to do running races. Wooo, felt like a wee kid, but in a good way I suppose. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2uf5lmJ7-Y8PAK0Nc0BaDNQ4ELkxWWTaToOerFq5ij4g-m7ep4g8mvJCZWg-XpQ4gGhqBhZxpFWRZ-vgwz4MYu8G4aMjdYTXzdplonjDcy_Uy0DvbUagROi5FT2JwBMtZs52ZiRt6s_V/s640/blogger-image--1269116488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2uf5lmJ7-Y8PAK0Nc0BaDNQ4ELkxWWTaToOerFq5ij4g-m7ep4g8mvJCZWg-XpQ4gGhqBhZxpFWRZ-vgwz4MYu8G4aMjdYTXzdplonjDcy_Uy0DvbUagROi5FT2JwBMtZs52ZiRt6s_V/s640/blogger-image--1269116488.jpg"></a></div><br><div><br></div><div>After these activities, we had free time and we all chilled out and messed around in the sun with the good old frisbee, having a good laugh. Just on a side note - don't try catching a frisbee with your eyes closed...it's not the best idea hahaha. We also attempted dancing whilst catching and throwing the frisbee, clapping before catching the frisbee and played until it was too dark to play anymore.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jgOM4UUTT_w/Ux-IfTZQ2RI/AAAAAAAAA9E/WO7ItS8nmx4/s640/blogger-image-1511848908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jgOM4UUTT_w/Ux-IfTZQ2RI/AAAAAAAAA9E/WO7ItS8nmx4/s640/blogger-image-1511848908.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEz8OMH58LaFKhAUNDnCCUfO-o3YukDmdO0IzEp8YE1pC9PQxIlZJW-aNCmWmr9R2z07d1uRzMWZ0gqca4oW3hlYfAn002Kvz71tDoD4Cy46s243sd92kM7YF9OyRW7s6QbvEdttuPM7j/s640/blogger-image--1444466386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEz8OMH58LaFKhAUNDnCCUfO-o3YukDmdO0IzEp8YE1pC9PQxIlZJW-aNCmWmr9R2z07d1uRzMWZ0gqca4oW3hlYfAn002Kvz71tDoD4Cy46s243sd92kM7YF9OyRW7s6QbvEdttuPM7j/s640/blogger-image--1444466386.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div> Turns out that you weren´t allowed (weren´t supposed to) to bring your phones on camp, but me being me, had to take photos of what was going on so that I could upload the photos to my blog of course, so I got some cool photos ;)<div> </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hlAwapPaisw/Ux-Ii4GqcGI/AAAAAAAAA9U/Cr0vLAc5yo0/s640/blogger-image--1388807332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hlAwapPaisw/Ux-Ii4GqcGI/AAAAAAAAA9U/Cr0vLAc5yo0/s640/blogger-image--1388807332.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wdc2UO7B2fU/Ux-ItaANt7I/AAAAAAAAA-E/T3YI-6SdeH0/s640/blogger-image-793975020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wdc2UO7B2fU/Ux-ItaANt7I/AAAAAAAAA-E/T3YI-6SdeH0/s640/blogger-image-793975020.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>As it was dark we then all headed inside where everyone sung songs in Catalan and each group shared what they had done for the day. This went on for a while and afterwards we had dinner. I had green beans and a potato tortilla just for your information :p</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HNZYy5W70l4/Ux-IkvzALDI/AAAAAAAAA9c/9CUC_1b0_V4/s640/blogger-image-2073422605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HNZYy5W70l4/Ux-IkvzALDI/AAAAAAAAA9c/9CUC_1b0_V4/s640/blogger-image-2073422605.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>What we did next was pretty fun to be honest. We split off into peers and were told that we were going to do a "special mission". The objective was to sneak through the corridors of the hostel, deciphering clues, and avoiding the guards (or leaders) who were patroling the corridors (in the dark) with their torches and end up discovering where we would be sleeping. My partner was Tomas and we did pretty well but turns out that the clues weren't straight enough and everyone kept getting stuck trying to figure the clues out. So in the end, we ended the game because it was getting late but not without having fun first. </div><div><br></div><div>In the morning (8:30am) we were woken by roaring music ( have no idea where it came from) and all the leaders bursting into the rooms to wake us up -_- I wasn't impressed hahaha. </div><div>We all packed up our things, had breakfast and were split off into groups (mixed with the younger kids) to participate in activities. We had to participate in the activities and earn money which we would later use to bid on things as a team. The activities included: musical chairs (but instead of the person being out they had to sit down on someone), a tag-like game, an obstacle course, and Chinese whispers with water in our mouth. Once we had earned money, we were then told that we were to make a performance as a group, the money we had could buy the music genre and costumes. My group, for some reason, spent all our money on buying "Rock" which really didn't do us much good as the only moves people could think of was playing the guitar and fist pumping. But it was amusing.</div><div>After the performances we had lunch and free time and then were off back on the train again to Barcelona. I'm actually not sure of the name of where we went but oh well :)</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUxkGwIWd-QBwZs-fCWKNqHZA1K9kDPZNQnOcOCiRM0FrZ-K0jzxnYX3SHfjUQFJ-pmM9YELMABRc2D7C0pG5HBmGrLw8llDRFfZ74WUN22ZZLE9wecR23ns3Z4qbIDMy0a43LM9A2Wbo/s640/blogger-image--1350478451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUxkGwIWd-QBwZs-fCWKNqHZA1K9kDPZNQnOcOCiRM0FrZ-K0jzxnYX3SHfjUQFJ-pmM9YELMABRc2D7C0pG5HBmGrLw8llDRFfZ74WUN22ZZLE9wecR23ns3Z4qbIDMy0a43LM9A2Wbo/s640/blogger-image--1350478451.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ShIcc4G0N7o/Ux-IrMOrpzI/AAAAAAAAA98/Ghc2-eCn8_I/s640/blogger-image-60521401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ShIcc4G0N7o/Ux-IrMOrpzI/AAAAAAAAA98/Ghc2-eCn8_I/s640/blogger-image-60521401.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Z-ziMfnkgpY/Ux-ImBSmzAI/AAAAAAAAA9k/yrvvaS4rK2M/s640/blogger-image--1545694654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Z-ziMfnkgpY/Ux-ImBSmzAI/AAAAAAAAA9k/yrvvaS4rK2M/s640/blogger-image--1545694654.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWi4Du2Zamsa_-d8MTMKaLW0rXNNkQieFuzfJAmDt4iQGdSCxUhMYwRalppuWIuHGBTuSWYr2LIlVfLN-3r19v3IBYqmHR15qZ91YuQrWEJLHv2y1Q1-t8u9iJzKgDR-EiFGPBGIoUVVQ/s640/blogger-image--21683382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWi4Du2Zamsa_-d8MTMKaLW0rXNNkQieFuzfJAmDt4iQGdSCxUhMYwRalppuWIuHGBTuSWYr2LIlVfLN-3r19v3IBYqmHR15qZ91YuQrWEJLHv2y1Q1-t8u9iJzKgDR-EiFGPBGIoUVVQ/s640/blogger-image--21683382.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div>During the camp I really just was myself and had a great time, and it really paid off. I think that I will continue going to the club on Saturdays and I am looking forward to the next camp (hoping there will be another one whist I'm here)</div><div><br></div><div>Hmm that's about all for now. I hope that I didn't bore you as I've just noticed that its rather long :3</div><div><br></div><div>Hope you're all well :)</div><div> </div><div>Love from Victoria,</div><div><br></div><div>The Spanish Girl ;) </div><div><br></div><div><br>
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</div></div></div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-60291301294012091092014-02-27T06:20:00.001-08:002014-02-27T10:43:55.828-08:00Time passes byDay 174: 25/02/14<div><br>
</div><div>In my calender I have worked out that there are 121 days left... Still in the three digits when it comes to days but that's only 16 weeks ... And 4 months?!</div><div>It seems that as soon as you start enjoying yourself time seems to get a boost and go full speed ahead! Woah. I am thinking about things I still need to achieve before I leave and wondering if I will get the chance! One thing I really am not looking forward to is having to say good byes, especially to my best friends Katy and Žanete who have been part of my journey every step of the way. Maybe if I didn't have so much stuff I could bring them back to NZ with me :( </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfeGBD7KYfJk7ALlv3Lu3TNlTEjHBhfZC1_WCfHDB9JvTQvg7exEjpBa8q-ME0uVVZQJX-AuL0ms8kxrxzy_UwaNgyuXzChYk23yxMP14_aZAb6Hs1DmSMEKgImvnekMBHtP5Fo4cswGi/s640/blogger-image--1667164084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfeGBD7KYfJk7ALlv3Lu3TNlTEjHBhfZC1_WCfHDB9JvTQvg7exEjpBa8q-ME0uVVZQJX-AuL0ms8kxrxzy_UwaNgyuXzChYk23yxMP14_aZAb6Hs1DmSMEKgImvnekMBHtP5Fo4cswGi/s640/blogger-image--1667164084.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>So in my last blog I wrote about all the new things in my life but skipped out some of the things I got up to, soo this blog is going to be about the past few weeks.</div><div><br>
</div><div>First up, after my first week of school went swimmingly well, I met up with Žanete and Katerina on Friday the 7th of Feb to catch up and because they wanted to give me my birthday presents :3 like always I was so happy just being around my girls and walking around Barcelona like we belonged there! To quench our thirst, we went to Starbucks where Katerina shouted me a drink and we made ourselves cosy whilst we chatted and laughed about everything and anything! The girls whipped out two bags of gifts for me and I was clapping my hands excitedly hahaha what a weirdo. From Žanete I got a wee bag of random bits and bobs including nice smelling lip balm and eye shadow :) the next part of her gift was a bit more exciting though... A bag filled with sweets! No, I'm not saying a bag of sweets ... I mean ... a bag full of sweets, as in, a cake made of lollies, candy floss, chocolate bar, packet of chocolate biscuits and lollies. Gosh, everything looked yummy but in all honesty my first thought was - "is she trying to make me fat?!" Turns out the answer was yes ;) (but dont worry, i took the sweets to the AFS camp the next week and shared with everyone) Katerina's present was also delicious and fattening! A packet of different kinds of chocolate that she got sent from Swizerland just for me :) It is such a pain, liking chocolate, as you are never not in the mood for it and it just means more sugar, more calories! <br>
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On the Saturday I was with my host family for the afternoon and for the night I went to Cristina´s surprise 18th birthday party in Castelldefels. I was looking forward to catching up with Cristina and her family and seeing Cristina´s reaction when she came home to find everyone waiting for her. I actually nearly missed out on this... things didn´t quite go to plan. I got dropped off at the Barcelona Sants train station by my family, which i knew quite well, and I already knew which train i was going to catch and at what time. I had to be in Castelldefels at 7.30pm, as my classmate was going to pick me up, and the train went for about 20 minutes, so I was going to catch the 7.07pm train. When I got there, i discovered that there was no train until 7.15pm and so this would mean that I would be late, I had no internet and no way of contacting my friend to say I would be late, they had told me that they wouldn´t wait for me if I was late :S I was a bit stressed but decided that there was nothing to do but wait for the train. So I waited for the train and when my train was next on the list to arrive and it arrived 2 minutes early, i had hope that i would get there on time. I got on the train with 4 other people and the train took off down the track but suddenly all the lights turned off and there was no voice on the speakers letting us know when the next stops were. The train starting going really slow and I was really confused as to what was going on when all of sudden the train stopped completely. The other people on the train and myself didn´t know what was happening until the train driver came down the aisle to tell us that we had caught a train that was out of service (parking up for the night)... you can imagine how devastated i was. I looked at my watch, not knowing where i was, and saw that it was already 7.30pm. I must admit I felt like crying, I just have the worst luck when it comes to trains and metros, and I was so stupid not to have internet on my phone. One of the guys lent me his phone to call Cristina´s mum and tell her what had happened, she told me that she would pick me up when I arrived in Castelldefels - turns out we had to wait 30 minutes for another train to stop and pick us up. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RdlleSiYles/Uw9RzIGg2uI/AAAAAAAAA4U/09MNG3k1q-g/s640/blogger-image--1717943473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RdlleSiYles/Uw9RzIGg2uI/AAAAAAAAA4U/09MNG3k1q-g/s640/blogger-image--1717943473.jpg"></a></div><br>
When I arrived in Castelldefels it was about 8.10pm and Cristina was due to arrive home at 8.15pm for her surprise, I called her mum and she said she would pick me up even though I tell she wasn´t happy about it :/ Very unexpectedly, walking out of the train station I saw my best friend from school (in castelldefels), Florencia, and we were shocked to see each other. I waited with her until Cristina´s mum picked me up and we made plans to meet up the next day before I left back to Barcelona. <br>
Zooming to the house in the car, we were so worried that Cristina had already arrived but were pleased to see that the car was not there and we hurriedly rushed down to the party room where, embarrassingly, everybody shouted "Surpise!!!" as i walked in, thinking it was Cristina. It turned out to be a great night and it was such a nice night for Cristina as i can imagine it would be great to know how loved you are by your friends! Presents were given, videos were shared and lots of photos taken. Cristina´s friendship is definitely one I value here in Spain. Now I just really hope i get a surprise party some day!<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> <a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hNR-IzeeVq4/Uw9R9LfFw9I/AAAAAAAAA5M/tiVKV9dk3ao/s640/blogger-image--1677222111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hNR-IzeeVq4/Uw9R9LfFw9I/AAAAAAAAA5M/tiVKV9dk3ao/s640/blogger-image--1677222111.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokbIM1WfOTouR3BZarsdopV2wi2x3jN70gtq7quZRMbM3Z0-jHIVC-w_qwKu7O9WMYA-BxdQmOuu2rvxfKkSIUedUzk5DZS9GnJF8a4lOHyYZ8l64uVNosUKMBtfB_R1oAtiPivLARXEK/s640/blogger-image-488472972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokbIM1WfOTouR3BZarsdopV2wi2x3jN70gtq7quZRMbM3Z0-jHIVC-w_qwKu7O9WMYA-BxdQmOuu2rvxfKkSIUedUzk5DZS9GnJF8a4lOHyYZ8l64uVNosUKMBtfB_R1oAtiPivLARXEK/s640/blogger-image-488472972.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>
Later on in February, the weekend of the 14th-16th, I had an AFS camp in Manresa with all the AFS students and a few volunteers. After catching a train for about 1 hour, we arrived in Manresa and had to lug our heavy bags on this, surprisingly, hot day up the streets to the hostel. I wasn´t impressed - nearly died hahaha. Now with AFS, you never know what is going to happen, what there going to make you do, nor what the accomodation will be like! The thing I was most worried about was whether we would have hygenic bathrooms and beds! The first thing we did was play a game to determine what rooms we would be sleeping, with who, you would think that since AFS is pretty strict with things they wouldn´t put girls and boys together, but sure, we were mixed rooms. <br>
Turns out that yes, the bathrooms weren´t gross and the bunk beds didn´t have any inappropriate graffiti or marked sheets hahaha thank goodness. <br>
At this orientation there were 4 new girls who had arrived for a half year program from Austria, I really can imagine that they would just be thinking that we were all crazy because at this point us AFS students are very relaxed around each other, to the point where we probably seem a bit weeeird. I can just remember how unknown and different everything was for me when I first arrived. For the first activity we were suppose to draw a picture of ourselves and everyone was to write something nice about each other, but we were interrupted by loud drums and voices coming from the streets. Turns out that there was a traditional spanish parade going on, so we all ran off out of the hostel and into the winding, old style streets, following the music. What we came across, to my surprise, was actually like a devil parade, and i felt very uncomfortable. I mean some people thought it was really fun, with loud music, fireworks getting thrown everywhere and people shouting but me and my friends just felt a bit out of our comfort zones. I had never seen a parade where people dressed up as devils with evil looking faces, shouting about, New Zealand parades are a bit more child-friendly i guess :S</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1G-h1Kw-kl0/Uw9SSNBTgjI/AAAAAAAAA6k/BCKWtd0f70Q/s640/blogger-image-1017455661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1G-h1Kw-kl0/Uw9SSNBTgjI/AAAAAAAAA6k/BCKWtd0f70Q/s640/blogger-image-1017455661.jpg"></a></div><br>
Only a few of us returned to the hostel early and completed the activity and after that we just did our own thing for the rest of the night ( i think we had dinner before the first activity).<br>
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Saturday morning came and we had to get up at around 8am for breakfast by 8:30 AM. I think that I only got to sleep at 1am? AFter breakfast we went into the activity room to play an early morning game. We were separated into two groups and were given the task of standing on a small blanket and having to turn it over without anyone touching the ground. This was pretty amusing but nearly impossible with the amount of people we had in each team, you get the picture by these photos. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-n7o54vd7L9TZfIjmdGfz7bQgZyBzDtR5DdRWhT99X714M8Xm4ps9fLAKstNNd6-898T-7xqNFecpjOJdEBUwA54gAfZ4o4o44ZA7AXVvXazKtCv6mHO9NAtzDKbyWALVSUh3l6nG17V/s640/blogger-image-171684838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-n7o54vd7L9TZfIjmdGfz7bQgZyBzDtR5DdRWhT99X714M8Xm4ps9fLAKstNNd6-898T-7xqNFecpjOJdEBUwA54gAfZ4o4o44ZA7AXVvXazKtCv6mHO9NAtzDKbyWALVSUh3l6nG17V/s640/blogger-image-171684838.jpg"></a></div><br>
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As far as i can remember, after this activity we went off to visit the streets for a while and to check out the big church up on the hill. It was a beautiful church just like all of the churches here in Spain and we got to check out a nice view of Manresa from the big hill. We also attempted to play the game "Ninja" but that all failed when someone skidded through dog poo and the smell scared everyone off!! I saw the accident coming and it was like slow motion "nooooo!!" hahaha, lucky it wasn´t me :L</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pmF3ptpBLry-EeN9RmHZbzUQKU7qu09ZZMMO6kO1JgwG9hvHiUUNv9roEhaEcmXlZmw4YmRy1M4IPquv5Vic-BCVXSv8e1wDFQCa7pu5q1yT6mUWa4Cceix-JAzejN8zNk3OT5pljr7e/s640/blogger-image--1952334794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pmF3ptpBLry-EeN9RmHZbzUQKU7qu09ZZMMO6kO1JgwG9hvHiUUNv9roEhaEcmXlZmw4YmRy1M4IPquv5Vic-BCVXSv8e1wDFQCa7pu5q1yT6mUWa4Cceix-JAzejN8zNk3OT5pljr7e/s640/blogger-image--1952334794.jpg"></a></div><br>
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Arriving back from the church we had more free time and I just spent the time with my girls, we went into the town and looked around and bought really nice frozen yogurts with lots of toppings! We said hello to all the town folk, browsed the cute wee shops and were just singing and dancing and I just realised (not for the first time) how great it is to have friends who you can completely be yourself around. No judgement, no worries, just friends :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lHmGeYcv7IU/Uw9Sc92FDTI/AAAAAAAAA7c/ArYtMpqrh78/s640/blogger-image--279021886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lHmGeYcv7IU/Uw9Sc92FDTI/AAAAAAAAA7c/ArYtMpqrh78/s640/blogger-image--279021886.jpg"></a></div><br>
After this we returned back to the hostel for dinner and we were all anticipating what activity AFS had planned for the night... as we had been told we had to all bring fiesta/party clothes!We had to set up the activity room with all the chairs set up in rows, which i guessed we were going to have to do some sort of show... but turns out it was something a little bit crazier! We got split into groups of 4, 3 girls and 2 boys and were told that we had to swap clothes amongst ourselves - the boys in the girl´s fiesta clothes and vice versa! Damn the boys looked better as girls I reckon! What do you think? :p<br>
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After dressing up, each team had to do a skit for a TV news show, which consisted of weird events. My group had to give news about a little girl who got attacked by a giant ant? I´ve got to admit that i wasn´t feeling very well and my group didn´t do much planning for the skit, bit of a fail, but some of the other group´s skits were very amusing! </div><div><br>
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Next we played a game where all the boys, still dressed as girls, left the room while the girls prepared a bench (three chairs covered with a blanket) and one girl sat on each end. The boys outside were told to do who knows what, I guess act like a girl to their best ability, while we were literally just told to sit there. After the boy sat down once on the bench he was told he was doing a bad job and had to leave to try again. After he left the room we would pull out the middle chair of the bench so that when he returned he would fall straight down. NOT ONE BOY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON! We literally had four or five different guys come in and do it and not one of them had a clue he was going to fall to the floor. No two reactions were the same, but all of them were completely priceless!<br>
The last activity for that night was called "Looking for my princess". For this one, one guy had to leave the room. While he was gone some volunteers were chosen to sit in a row. Each had to chose somewhere to point to on their person where the boy would have to kiss them. The last person in the line had to point to their mouth, and would have water in their mouth to spit out at the last second. Water went all over the place but not without good humour. <br>
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Saturday night I got to sleep at about 2am and everyone was pretty zonked out (haha zonked is a funny word). Again, on Sunday morning, we had to get up at about 8am to shower and be ready for breakfast. I actually quite enjoyed breakfast, a few croissants, cereal, orange juice and a coffee. <br>
Right after breakfast we had to pack up our bags and beds and be all ready to leave before we played our last activities. The first game we played was like freeze tag and it was inside a stone like auditorium with massive steps - pretty dangerous to play a running around game if you ask me, but hey.<br>
After this game we played a game that I would never think to play in anywhere but Spain! A game that involved touching and kissing! We all sat in a circle and all the boys were each given a letter and the girls were each given a number. I was the first one that was chosen to sit in the middle of the circle because i was the last one to sit down... i didn´t know what we were going to play at that point. To start the game a volunteer called out a letter and a number. If the person sitting in the middle was a girl (me), the boy whose letter it was had to run and kiss her anywhere on the face before the girl (chasing after him) could kiss him on the face. I thought I had to sit their the whole time but was relieved to find that the person who didn´t manage to kiss their victim had to change and be in the middle. <br>
I´ve got to admit, even though it was weird to be getting kissed and kissing people, it was one of the funniest and funnest games I have ever played! It was so intense with people leaping on each other, dragging them to the floor, tackling and kisses! Far our, i was amused. The most entertaining part was watching the shy people get so aggressive and into the game! Great way to break the ice i guess! <br>
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At 4pm we were catching the train and heading back to Sants train station before all heading our seperate ways. I was glad to find my family waiting for me so that i didn´t have to carry my big bag with me on the metro and then on the bus. I really feel like the family does look out for my needs and wants! :)<br>
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Last weekend i spent most of my time with the family, and met more of the family from Holland. Such a sweet family and they all get along really well. There is my host dad who has 3 siblings and each sibling has 3 kids, all around the same ages which makes it great for all of the family. There was even a girl cousin of my age which was nice! i mean its okay living with boys but sometimes i miss girl/sister company! Together, we visited some nice places in Barcelona, a gorgeous park and a really beautiful placed called Monduic. I love getting the opportunity to see more of Spain and only wish that I had a camera that was as good as my own eyes! <br>
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All and all things are still going great here in my family and school. I have managed to find some great people to be around and have a good relationship with my host parents! Also, I eat a lot healthier here and there was always vegetables or salads with the meal where possible. My host dad never stops mentioning how the vegetables and fruits are economical (most comes from their vegetable garden that they grow). I think that he wants me to go with him to the vegetable garden this weekend to check it out! <br>
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I´ll keep you all in touch,<br>
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Lots of Love,<br>
<br>
Victoria<br>
<br>
The spanish girl ;)<br>
<br><br><br><br>P.s. here's a photo to end with a wee laugh ;) </div><div><br>
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</div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-71598501028017678302014-02-11T09:31:00.000-08:002014-02-17T08:53:17.566-08:00New beginningsDay 160: 11/02/14<br>
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Less than 5 months left to go, over half way, and I feel like the best of my exchange is only just beginning! Since the 27th of January many things have changed and I couldn´t be <b>happier </b>with my decision to move! <br>
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So on the 27th of January I finally had all my bags packed (after a lot of struggle and repacking)and I left my first placement for good. Turns out that I have bought and some how collected more clothes and things than I had expected! I wouldn´t think I would be too far wrong if I guessed that my suitcase weighed around 35kg (maximum allowed on my flight is 30kg)and I had about 3 other bags containing my shoes, shower and bathroom products and my books that I have for school and for leisure. I still plan on doing a little more shopping within the next few months before i leave so I am going to have to sort some things out and maybe leave some things behind :(<br>
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So the first stop I made on leaving my house in Castelldefels was a temporary spanish family in Barcelona. I was picked up by an AFS volunteer and dropped off there on the 27th of January, a Monday, and i was to live there until the Friday (until the family that would host me for 5 months was ready to host me). This family was really lovely! On my arrival I was greeted by a girl my age who had recently done a student exchange to South Africa so she understood my situation, plus she spoke English (not that I needed her to speak English anymore :p)She made me feel welcome straight away as I said I was a little bit hungry so she took me to a wee cafe where she bought me a nice croissant. <br>
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Since the family were opening up their home to me for a few days and made me feel so welcome, i felt like i should do something in return, so on my first night in the house I cooked them all dinner and made myself useful. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbxqyUaB-YLvs8zODoXuEI0k4_e76VOn6l6y0WCraPyTiPtyONw_tSyk5CrnxAATWSXrpNaHFR7eyUalxNy2C_m1SDBGsPuBpUCfRgbKfe74IjXMR5tK2GH7ILqpGrFmb1WpA388WdcSc/s640/blogger-image--1846917589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbxqyUaB-YLvs8zODoXuEI0k4_e76VOn6l6y0WCraPyTiPtyONw_tSyk5CrnxAATWSXrpNaHFR7eyUalxNy2C_m1SDBGsPuBpUCfRgbKfe74IjXMR5tK2GH7ILqpGrFmb1WpA388WdcSc/s640/blogger-image--1846917589.jpg"></a></div><br>
Whilst living in the temporary family I didn´t have to go to school so I had the opportunity to do some shopping by myself and to visit some touristy locations! One of these locations included the "La Sagrada Familia" which is a really famous church is a work on a grand scale which was begun on 19 March 1882 from a project by the diocesan architect Francisco de Paula del Villar (1828-1901). At the end of 1883 Gaudí was commissioned to carry on the works, a task which he did not abandon until his death in 1926. Since then different architects have continued the work after his original idea. The building is still going on and could be finished some time in the first third of the 21st century. I went by myself to visit the church as my lovely temporary host mum (who couldn´t come because she had to work) bought me a ticket with entrance and also a voice audio to listen to. I was absolutely amazed by the church and it was a sight that I think everyone should see if they ever go to Spain! I took plenty of photos but the photos give it no justice, the intimate and delicate design of aboslutely every detail in the church can not be caught by a small Iphone camera and should really be only seen by the eyes! Just one of those once in a lifetime kind of things ;)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bMfOxl5z8Iw/UwI7o0RZrgI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/FHGmDrIrbSg/s640/blogger-image--886100342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bMfOxl5z8Iw/UwI7o0RZrgI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/FHGmDrIrbSg/s640/blogger-image--886100342.jpg"></a></div><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXlufbyjKyA8Zy3uSSWEAfZpXCCYcYkRjyJmiirgQytVVdgOyHPlsVsxxTTY9Mr9CZU1oFDrvHKsbtxxsSh6PV6y29pNFYjXAhZJxIvDBzqSrZn-858y2QWpK4wbtChbecQW6XAJK6Jd1/s640/blogger-image--674112089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXlufbyjKyA8Zy3uSSWEAfZpXCCYcYkRjyJmiirgQytVVdgOyHPlsVsxxTTY9Mr9CZU1oFDrvHKsbtxxsSh6PV6y29pNFYjXAhZJxIvDBzqSrZn-858y2QWpK4wbtChbecQW6XAJK6Jd1/s640/blogger-image--674112089.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xxsNbmfZ9NM/UwI7yh6anbI/AAAAAAAAA1s/nDAp8_WtcaI/s640/blogger-image--1227639423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xxsNbmfZ9NM/UwI7yh6anbI/AAAAAAAAA1s/nDAp8_WtcaI/s640/blogger-image--1227639423.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pIzOWfroUek/UwI7iCWVh_I/AAAAAAAAA0w/moFmua-Ij4Q/s640/blogger-image-1470119420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pIzOWfroUek/UwI7iCWVh_I/AAAAAAAAA0w/moFmua-Ij4Q/s640/blogger-image-1470119420.jpg"></a></div><br><br></div><div>Some other things I got up to whilst staying with the family included grocery shopping and going out for lunch with my host mum. This actually made me feel so so happy. I didn´t have a great relationship with my previous host mum and I was really missing the "mum-like" company. I really enjoyed just chatting and having someone who was interested in what I had done for the day, and just how I was. Another thing that was very sweet was when I woke up for the day and found a nice wee note from my host mum to me and my breakfast things out all ready. Of course some might just roll their eyes at the cheesy saying here - "it´s the little things that count" but Spain has really made me believe it. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZDbURe9zjFU/UwI7gYjzLrI/AAAAAAAAA0o/X2Gvnl0v-Ko/s640/blogger-image-613335831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZDbURe9zjFU/UwI7gYjzLrI/AAAAAAAAA0o/X2Gvnl0v-Ko/s640/blogger-image-613335831.jpg"></a></div><br>
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Just something interesting I thought I would mention, my temporary host parents, for their career, they own an animation business called "Tomavistas" which you can check out at this website: http://www.tomavistas.com/ . They have designed and created some pretty cool and original animations that they have managed to show in a lot of places in the world and are still working on reaching every country :)#nottryingtoadvertise<br>
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On the Friday, 31st of January, I was packing up my things again and leaving to meet the people who would be my new family for the next 5 months of my life! I was super nervous as I didn´t know what they were like (hadn´t met them before) and I was really praying that everything would be so much better for me! On my arrival I felt a really good vibe straight away, meeting my host mum (host dad was at work)and 3 host brothers, 10, 14 and 16 years old. I can just say that they are a really genuine family, and it is a much better environment for me - it feels a lot more like home with 5 people in the family (I like the busyness and having many different personalities in the house).<br>
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On the first day of my arrival I was there for about 3 hours before I was told that we were heading off to their house in the mountains (La Molina) for the weekend to Ski and as a special thing to do for my birthday which was on Sunday. I had nothing to complain about! :)<br>
So after unpacking all my things and putting my stuff away in my new room, I had to repack, again, a small bag to take with me (I forgot my pjammas and had to wear my host dad´s old shirt and skiing leggings hahaha)to the mountains. My host family had ski clothes for me to wear so that was handy because skiing wasn´t really something I was prepared for!<br>
In the car ride (2 hours) to La Molina, i was with the family and we were using the time to find out new things about each other. They knew quite a bit already as they had read my AFS profile but we still had plenty to talk about. One thing I have to mention is that the family usually speaks Catalan, and up until now I have not been learning Catalan... My previous host family only ever spoke Spanish. They speak with me in Spanish but it can be quite frustrating when I don't understand what everyone is talking about in Catalan - when they mention my name or when someone tells a joke, I want to know what's going on! I can pick up bits of pieces of what they say however.<div>When we got to La Molina we went to sleep and the next day we went skiing! It was second ever proper day of skiing! I had skiied when I was around 10 years old in NZ and I didn't enjoy it that much because I failed at it. I was a little nervous at first because of the fact that I couldn't ski very well last time but it turns out that I'm quite a natural now?? </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-e3Zz5now5Aw/UwI74cGCk-I/AAAAAAAAA2I/8UAD5sJ6zY8/s640/blogger-image-151391927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-e3Zz5now5Aw/UwI74cGCk-I/AAAAAAAAA2I/8UAD5sJ6zY8/s640/blogger-image-151391927.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I had a really great time and the slopes were amazing! It snowed for most of the day but was still enjoyable. After skiing we all had lunch together and chilled out for the afternoon. The whole family is super nice and I have a host cousin that is my age. </div><div>That Saturday night my host parents organised for me to go with the youngsters of the family and meet 2 other AFS girls for dinner for an early birthday thing. We had a nice dinner and then went to the only hangout place in La Molina to play pool and chill out.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-q-kC-23Q1QI/UwI77FKKTPI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/_v6aCZKKzvc/s640/blogger-image--2107606307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-q-kC-23Q1QI/UwI77FKKTPI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/_v6aCZKKzvc/s640/blogger-image--2107606307.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTpR_Nppvxmz2nPdhI7tToxKRa076j25_LI-it7GC-uJQkNsb4KrXaIu7YQx94qHbh0_pzRz0hzNYArdpYo2jcwK_kiusUMkX8m6XpznI30UJzKUQcJASFv8gVdaovtgyeWBlnumFdRhZ/s640/blogger-image--1577697579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTpR_Nppvxmz2nPdhI7tToxKRa076j25_LI-it7GC-uJQkNsb4KrXaIu7YQx94qHbh0_pzRz0hzNYArdpYo2jcwK_kiusUMkX8m6XpznI30UJzKUQcJASFv8gVdaovtgyeWBlnumFdRhZ/s640/blogger-image--1577697579.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The next day, February 2nd, was my birthday and I woke up to a homemade birthday cake :) it was very sweet! For my present, it really was the gift of spending a day in the mountains, skiing and admiring beautiful views. I had a great time with the family and really enjoyed just chatting with my new host mum and joining in with a sport that they are all so passionate about :) </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9pzwxIbNcJA/UwI8SCja3jI/AAAAAAAAA2g/UqmNdeTC2-4/s640/blogger-image--1134681024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9pzwxIbNcJA/UwI8SCja3jI/AAAAAAAAA2g/UqmNdeTC2-4/s640/blogger-image--1134681024.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2zaEHDWTtac/UwI7v4KBx8I/AAAAAAAAA1o/wu0Sy3DLXDk/s640/blogger-image--1477971329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2zaEHDWTtac/UwI7v4KBx8I/AAAAAAAAA1o/wu0Sy3DLXDk/s640/blogger-image--1477971329.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzy6BAOqEhelRYDJ1w_sExUU88DozLmEMbYxyt-F3XX7aUfPYnuA05vt_f3tcUpYD3MiD_ufFvFBr3KAHp2J5YAmNe2UhixRihw8lS_NDIzaFyn8JfHkMham8Q50PDRqSxdVfcSw4uwWn_/s640/blogger-image--1459635683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzy6BAOqEhelRYDJ1w_sExUU88DozLmEMbYxyt-F3XX7aUfPYnuA05vt_f3tcUpYD3MiD_ufFvFBr3KAHp2J5YAmNe2UhixRihw8lS_NDIzaFyn8JfHkMham8Q50PDRqSxdVfcSw4uwWn_/s640/blogger-image--1459635683.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EYAIAjB3TX0/UwI-dU8PwII/AAAAAAAAA3M/kPAIdZWDsek/s640/blogger-image--1042076379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EYAIAjB3TX0/UwI-dU8PwII/AAAAAAAAA3M/kPAIdZWDsek/s640/blogger-image--1042076379.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-u9_mc4NA794/UwI-cGXylhI/AAAAAAAAA3E/lP8c_5GtEXw/s640/blogger-image-1073694913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-u9_mc4NA794/UwI-cGXylhI/AAAAAAAAA3E/lP8c_5GtEXw/s640/blogger-image-1073694913.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4EaInfvONs4/UwI7jk2QJAI/AAAAAAAAA04/nV73SaUoXak/s640/blogger-image-1103923129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4EaInfvONs4/UwI7jk2QJAI/AAAAAAAAA04/nV73SaUoXak/s640/blogger-image-1103923129.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I arrived back Sunday night and Monday was my first day at my new school! I was really nervous but was soon okay after meeting my class mates who were nice to me straight away. This time round I had someone to sit with in every class unlike in my old school where I had to sit alone for the majority of the time. Mondays are my favourite days at school because, now that I've changed from segundo bachillerato to primero, I get to have 2 hours of physical education. We spent our first class of P.E. dancing a Spanish dance and then doing a workout circuit, I thought it was pretty fun! </div><div><br></div><div>Already I have made a group of friends to hang around but after 2 weeks I only feel actually close to one person, I am hoping that it will be a lot easier to make friends this time round :) I have hung out with them once so far and they are a great, crazy group of people and I think that if I can force myself to speak up more, I could fit in just fine.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q0c3ftqY0Qw/UwI-e4u6DJI/AAAAAAAAA3U/_V-1eMFNkcY/s640/blogger-image-1425851904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q0c3ftqY0Qw/UwI-e4u6DJI/AAAAAAAAA3U/_V-1eMFNkcY/s640/blogger-image-1425851904.jpg"></a></div>(Closest friend at school, Marta)</div><div><br></div><div>Now I'm in Barcelona I have had to leave my hockey team in Castelldefels, I wanted to continue playing but it would be about 50 mins each way for hockey practices and games. It turns out that grass hockey isn't that popular here and it's hard to find a team. So at the present moment I haven't played hockey for 3 weeks which isn't cool :/ I'm looking into getting a gym and pool membership to fill in time and to keep my exercise up! I had to walk to school for about 25 mins in Castelldefels but here I only walk for 5 so I really need to find some activities to do! </div><div><br></div><div>So all and all I am very happy with the changes that have come from my difficult but needed decision! It has brought mostly benefits and at this point of my exchange I am just trying to live it up and enjoy the time I have left (less than 5 months?!) </div><div><br></div><div>Hope I have covered everything :3 </div><div>Thanks for reading and thanks for everyone's continuous encouragement and support :)</div><div><br></div><div>Lots of love,</div><div>Victoria</div><div><br></div><div>The Spanish girl ;) </div><div>
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</div></div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-73340294004414913712014-01-26T04:49:00.001-08:002014-01-27T02:42:50.916-08:00Catch up of January :)<div>Day 144: 26/01/2014</div><div><br></div><div>So today it has been exactly a month since I wrote my last blog. I haven't been able to write my blog because of some reasons so I'm just going to update you through pictures :) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Jv0vRGWPTY0/UuVaKRyh5NI/AAAAAAAAAyI/lZxLpkfi-Z0/s640/blogger-image--171484038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Jv0vRGWPTY0/UuVaKRyh5NI/AAAAAAAAAyI/lZxLpkfi-Z0/s640/blogger-image--171484038.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>New Year's Eve at my friend Cristina's family's house for dinner! :) had been wanting an excuse to wear this dress for a while now! :) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3bpfK8leB3w/UuVaN8IW2_I/AAAAAAAAAyY/mzruhHkdOIY/s640/blogger-image--1143875847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3bpfK8leB3w/UuVaN8IW2_I/AAAAAAAAAyY/mzruhHkdOIY/s640/blogger-image--1143875847.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnd6IpRQ6DV464oJ724xlsD8t90EkLtTUmEcIThgy1ebqRTA74toWvT15kao6ZHZJnDQ_eD1cAUjfPon20edKMZApiwt7v610M1XPp26VZzBZ-AbXvjqvNVAGIlbrfgWi8glVZK9KzqYbg/s640/blogger-image-1285599300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnd6IpRQ6DV464oJ724xlsD8t90EkLtTUmEcIThgy1ebqRTA74toWvT15kao6ZHZJnDQ_eD1cAUjfPon20edKMZApiwt7v610M1XPp26VZzBZ-AbXvjqvNVAGIlbrfgWi8glVZK9KzqYbg/s640/blogger-image-1285599300.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>This meat was delicious and was accompanied by two really nice sauces :) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-axF-loJtHQQ/UuVCMAYPCOI/AAAAAAAAAw0/bNU4gvBKvqQ/s640/blogger-image--311904471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-axF-loJtHQQ/UuVCMAYPCOI/AAAAAAAAAw0/bNU4gvBKvqQ/s640/blogger-image--311904471.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Mini desserts - kind of like dessert shots ! Hahaha. Lemon, chocolate and Catalonian flan :) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x1Fx1PLYNO4/UuUbIgqwqvI/AAAAAAAAAvI/spkOGTR88lk/s640/blogger-image--1785033423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x1Fx1PLYNO4/UuUbIgqwqvI/AAAAAAAAAvI/spkOGTR88lk/s640/blogger-image--1785033423.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Some expensive wine apparently ;) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr23WsaD4z2OxihwB9JSnbGH-v_xI1GVlcebfIJdZJBS-xpPAFzYRI3UWDkbIWdUfhvcbXVcIoFSryAeESEy_uCzMQQ61w1-N8nG4c3URc8OEEYVmf91sbWRv-A78bZ4etoprXd2ZSnYbV/s640/blogger-image--242308919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr23WsaD4z2OxihwB9JSnbGH-v_xI1GVlcebfIJdZJBS-xpPAFzYRI3UWDkbIWdUfhvcbXVcIoFSryAeESEy_uCzMQQ61w1-N8nG4c3URc8OEEYVmf91sbWRv-A78bZ4etoprXd2ZSnYbV/s640/blogger-image--242308919.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The 12 grapes that you eat on the 12 strikes of the New Year - Spanish tradition! Was so hard trying to stuff them all in my mouth with such little time! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQBiF1rXqYo7zwIp7lg5lUfDNe-1v2EgJwfuUwWVm8B43VIz3asQHZuw-Umul3b-nTehRtPrswxz70D2mavNsxvCn0h1x2_-oZAvJ2NlbQ0gMcJlQOWE7aF-IIQnh9s9Y_NJH5veWnExt/s640/blogger-image--1355691194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQBiF1rXqYo7zwIp7lg5lUfDNe-1v2EgJwfuUwWVm8B43VIz3asQHZuw-Umul3b-nTehRtPrswxz70D2mavNsxvCn0h1x2_-oZAvJ2NlbQ0gMcJlQOWE7aF-IIQnh9s9Y_NJH5veWnExt/s640/blogger-image--1355691194.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>After the dinner with Cristina's family I went out to playafels in Castelldefels and met up with some friends . Here is one of my best friends, Florencia :) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w26DrvyRXf0/UuUP7k-r8wI/AAAAAAAAAs8/K6hRYmCbxbA/s640/blogger-image--1649057758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w26DrvyRXf0/UuUP7k-r8wI/AAAAAAAAAs8/K6hRYmCbxbA/s640/blogger-image--1649057758.jpg"></a></div> </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SETRsiQqKxA/UuVMTE_fv5I/AAAAAAAAAxw/Hl0TCqtiUNU/s640/blogger-image--904064710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SETRsiQqKxA/UuVMTE_fv5I/AAAAAAAAAxw/Hl0TCqtiUNU/s640/blogger-image--904064710.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YmwQ4xvNcKw/UuUbEEHbTNI/AAAAAAAAAus/MLDzJKyzcmA/s640/blogger-image-140087738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YmwQ4xvNcKw/UuUbEEHbTNI/AAAAAAAAAus/MLDzJKyzcmA/s640/blogger-image-140087738.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5ntCq6skq0Y/UuUQUzCuWvI/AAAAAAAAAuM/ZKjKV7ObQFk/s640/blogger-image--676879356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5ntCq6skq0Y/UuUQUzCuWvI/AAAAAAAAAuM/ZKjKV7ObQFk/s640/blogger-image--676879356.jpg"></a></div></div><div>(I had never tried meat where you self-cook it on a boiling slab of rock!) </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-poQiMM698lE/UuY4KBQKCUI/AAAAAAAAAzI/WlrneSdNDsY/s640/blogger-image--793955451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-poQiMM698lE/UuY4KBQKCUI/AAAAAAAAAzI/WlrneSdNDsY/s640/blogger-image--793955451.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>On the 3rd of January I went with my family to a wee town between France and Spain with my host family and we met their friends there and went out for dinner and stayed the night. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tnjpZPZqXBljEscEzKWY9TvB8B5vXr74qVIqvPmQJlSYfIRFksyeqXUKRy2GLqFIVvBhwAmdIg4gNuWjA1Ox2iGi4_7o58jSkGHIIr2YoW2rWkr5uNMETHWN6P7Es3tYNHMBlwRA8KDD/s640/blogger-image-514166862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tnjpZPZqXBljEscEzKWY9TvB8B5vXr74qVIqvPmQJlSYfIRFksyeqXUKRy2GLqFIVvBhwAmdIg4gNuWjA1Ox2iGi4_7o58jSkGHIIr2YoW2rWkr5uNMETHWN6P7Es3tYNHMBlwRA8KDD/s640/blogger-image-514166862.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOawj_H95pu53xU_lZ8VmOxGafIE-EnFICP-sJCBTsNeA-BmR5yn4IGuaBD6CbrDWofZ4fQZQVeff3gqFESgz_ZR3W6VA3kWx5FLlt8cJ3dDveDybNhexHIDbWmHl3_kfn2ebQ6nSoOq08/s640/blogger-image--1706270969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOawj_H95pu53xU_lZ8VmOxGafIE-EnFICP-sJCBTsNeA-BmR5yn4IGuaBD6CbrDWofZ4fQZQVeff3gqFESgz_ZR3W6VA3kWx5FLlt8cJ3dDveDybNhexHIDbWmHl3_kfn2ebQ6nSoOq08/s640/blogger-image--1706270969.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDW7QlWADst3xXZbFqf4Pf0YKRbBTTPLO-r5tRhNJFIvR8J3lEyGb4_moY9rYUBGL28BfdbOLSJqOb8V-gDiU9x04EpDMtr9fgrZPR0QqkhlkyB9Ls0K2V-zolLM3NUMrIb-mbvzvsKKo/s640/blogger-image-939091186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDW7QlWADst3xXZbFqf4Pf0YKRbBTTPLO-r5tRhNJFIvR8J3lEyGb4_moY9rYUBGL28BfdbOLSJqOb8V-gDiU9x04EpDMtr9fgrZPR0QqkhlkyB9Ls0K2V-zolLM3NUMrIb-mbvzvsKKo/s640/blogger-image-939091186.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-peTK7SZ_buY/UuUbHFq06kI/AAAAAAAAAvA/lt0UzNYLDW0/s640/blogger-image-1964012476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-peTK7SZ_buY/UuUbHFq06kI/AAAAAAAAAvA/lt0UzNYLDW0/s640/blogger-image-1964012476.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The next day we went skiing on the border of France!! Super cool! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheK4PfVONhN4C0AAq7JoyzmmOX4Axv4rB24HL446WT_M_3arSgjUZaWkELXqXRTxlZF3_gTwS5UHT_h9i6g9sfySXmFbtPXDY422t64W3XBPRRQnUG3B2nyyPmcukVUY9JZ92NSNyPfzip/s640/blogger-image--1763644856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheK4PfVONhN4C0AAq7JoyzmmOX4Axv4rB24HL446WT_M_3arSgjUZaWkELXqXRTxlZF3_gTwS5UHT_h9i6g9sfySXmFbtPXDY422t64W3XBPRRQnUG3B2nyyPmcukVUY9JZ92NSNyPfzip/s640/blogger-image--1763644856.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I hadn't skied since I was like 10 but I actually did pretty well (didn't fall over) and it was super fun! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha466UnbnonrDo8aJxscXsPlf-GoF8xvoSo-0DSy1AHqw7ZWeJcM-hgGNh7w16qiUV11h0D-6W_iV6uHssS_-R9ICxmJ9RCGWyN6iHQYkK_dj-Bv95X1dBIyzWSKlYpp0-gCsvkzelv4yr/s640/blogger-image-1952385174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha466UnbnonrDo8aJxscXsPlf-GoF8xvoSo-0DSy1AHqw7ZWeJcM-hgGNh7w16qiUV11h0D-6W_iV6uHssS_-R9ICxmJ9RCGWyN6iHQYkK_dj-Bv95X1dBIyzWSKlYpp0-gCsvkzelv4yr/s640/blogger-image-1952385174.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>On January 5th (back in Castelldefels) there was a parade for the 3 kings that they celebrate. (The ones that brought Jesus gifts when he was born). The concept is changed here however as the three kings supposedly bring the children gifts on the 6th of January.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-srIy5qhYTWg/UuUbiSax72I/AAAAAAAAAvo/3r5gFX-n6Bs/s640/blogger-image-953935034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-srIy5qhYTWg/UuUbiSax72I/AAAAAAAAAvo/3r5gFX-n6Bs/s640/blogger-image-953935034.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>There was lots of lollies being thrown out for all the kids and adults haha. (The kids had bags and were stuffing them full! ) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-t5vQYaEmtjQ/UuUbPJhKL2I/AAAAAAAAAvg/U1LxvmeqELo/s640/blogger-image-2016470262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-t5vQYaEmtjQ/UuUbPJhKL2I/AAAAAAAAAvg/U1LxvmeqELo/s640/blogger-image-2016470262.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>On the last day before school started again I hung out with my gorgeous girlfriends and had a great time :)</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4O3tDA1xUl7_NqIMP5CZpEPxkUtW4TuS76DY7xi_-0bcWufnUvlwJrDdqNyW1O152agqeEAyXVgjHjFPy0G6InaHMnzDz2I57NOk1g6GwtydnWy0NZVTbKJiVeUsiWOdkDv2p5MCjv2g/s640/blogger-image-443570037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4O3tDA1xUl7_NqIMP5CZpEPxkUtW4TuS76DY7xi_-0bcWufnUvlwJrDdqNyW1O152agqeEAyXVgjHjFPy0G6InaHMnzDz2I57NOk1g6GwtydnWy0NZVTbKJiVeUsiWOdkDv2p5MCjv2g/s640/blogger-image-443570037.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHSFWsEs4wb8ZKW-lRNJOYKiMCdQtcmkAiVLmubWKd7aoQxolmNsC0wrbX2syWBANbIETevujwvjeJFbK14bGgxBizohY6I_tK17crqjv8wutGSsXGs8pJQEDkSXGAXkfyfxbwKY8hvf6/s640/blogger-image--1566367492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHSFWsEs4wb8ZKW-lRNJOYKiMCdQtcmkAiVLmubWKd7aoQxolmNsC0wrbX2syWBANbIETevujwvjeJFbK14bGgxBizohY6I_tK17crqjv8wutGSsXGs8pJQEDkSXGAXkfyfxbwKY8hvf6/s640/blogger-image--1566367492.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Lunch at Zanetes house!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DfPf1p-NxMY/UuUQQVn7kzI/AAAAAAAAAt0/LErFpyiTcR8/s640/blogger-image--212468020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DfPf1p-NxMY/UuUQQVn7kzI/AAAAAAAAAt0/LErFpyiTcR8/s640/blogger-image--212468020.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Lunch at Katerinas house after a cute girly sleepover <3 watched despicable me 2! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkEs-piWAbYrT9wMN4h5VPo4qPhl6ga6gYebjmF-X9DyhjIVsczDWBktNUPczCOOvFrkt75rg3E4ae8VlKS1CGl1NWywwXYmsLI8K2Jn9Wso59keHM-bX8Bmd2q94L2ATS8J0ThKU41z7/s640/blogger-image-827515990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkEs-piWAbYrT9wMN4h5VPo4qPhl6ga6gYebjmF-X9DyhjIVsczDWBktNUPczCOOvFrkt75rg3E4ae8VlKS1CGl1NWywwXYmsLI8K2Jn9Wso59keHM-bX8Bmd2q94L2ATS8J0ThKU41z7/s640/blogger-image-827515990.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Amazing chocolate Katerina had and let me try! :) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnCyb5MSLBAdjYhdkTtp0a6igk_1OEoKM1cFERP01X3qte5dyFJ2667-ZFg0ZZlG7-xydYHg9LFY6zYKY_7JCjf_3wWTL-VXQLa1qRp4Ukwe4dOyjZi4D_NRpaq8a0TMvRTs_EIJRTOVL/s640/blogger-image-1391035949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnCyb5MSLBAdjYhdkTtp0a6igk_1OEoKM1cFERP01X3qte5dyFJ2667-ZFg0ZZlG7-xydYHg9LFY6zYKY_7JCjf_3wWTL-VXQLa1qRp4Ukwe4dOyjZi4D_NRpaq8a0TMvRTs_EIJRTOVL/s640/blogger-image-1391035949.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>My first indoor, 4 player, hockey game! Way more intense and faster than a normal hockey game.</div><div>I've had hockey 10 days out of 14 in the past two weeks.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xAPXKHK6zbQ/UuUQTZJQXHI/AAAAAAAAAuE/j1payoB05r8/s640/blogger-image-368747769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xAPXKHK6zbQ/UuUQTZJQXHI/AAAAAAAAAuE/j1payoB05r8/s640/blogger-image-368747769.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I was feeling a bit down and received this lovely card from my sister in NZ with pictures of my baby niece :)</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fKqYhcmNW3w/UuUQO8TY9VI/AAAAAAAAAts/2ZwhWBNBY0g/s640/blogger-image--1879061392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fKqYhcmNW3w/UuUQO8TY9VI/AAAAAAAAAts/2ZwhWBNBY0g/s640/blogger-image--1879061392.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>My last day at school with my friend from Australia, Tiana. I spent my Catalan classes for new people with her :) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zvldsJB6G-s/UuUquk6CRqI/AAAAAAAAAwU/eTmIS7tuaD4/s640/blogger-image--23531980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zvldsJB6G-s/UuUquk6CRqI/AAAAAAAAAwU/eTmIS7tuaD4/s640/blogger-image--23531980.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrPwxjrCt70gHiklviDlLwzlfZfpT5dNWedkC24T_04LwSGuqlLZ8hOOR6_HaUSzyH835XC280td42s9vwzYfLwauVCCjEYDCEbArXF21V9RRshQ_xUg-pU0ItoWulUhYYRRHdg6EA1Ol/s640/blogger-image--1891343149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrPwxjrCt70gHiklviDlLwzlfZfpT5dNWedkC24T_04LwSGuqlLZ8hOOR6_HaUSzyH835XC280td42s9vwzYfLwauVCCjEYDCEbArXF21V9RRshQ_xUg-pU0ItoWulUhYYRRHdg6EA1Ol/s640/blogger-image--1891343149.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Me with most of my classmates in the last class I would have with them :( </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjs68F-hDeuZcAin_4M1CJJdfM_DXHLgyjawVC8C5W-LzFJbnW392aETkc6jBdkGTlMhjUYhNyqkuxyWIAWjfKVlkHLK2BK8BOScEqYt3hdxEDoyNFD0PxLtIo_ex5P1w4hp7Gh8vvyuA1/s640/blogger-image--455964546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjs68F-hDeuZcAin_4M1CJJdfM_DXHLgyjawVC8C5W-LzFJbnW392aETkc6jBdkGTlMhjUYhNyqkuxyWIAWjfKVlkHLK2BK8BOScEqYt3hdxEDoyNFD0PxLtIo_ex5P1w4hp7Gh8vvyuA1/s640/blogger-image--455964546.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Last time I would be walking home from this school.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RhWlBcFTJvc/UuVCOWtZ5dI/AAAAAAAAAw8/MPCgDxLCnmE/s640/blogger-image--730802467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RhWlBcFTJvc/UuVCOWtZ5dI/AAAAAAAAAw8/MPCgDxLCnmE/s640/blogger-image--730802467.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fmVlpyeUr4A/UuUbKDAE_rI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/om_hBjjp4gU/s640/blogger-image-948889982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fmVlpyeUr4A/UuUbKDAE_rI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/om_hBjjp4gU/s640/blogger-image-948889982.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHTvwH72QFljhM6WI4SQFkFSJu3wI-9YyAb_sM26qmGGlF0D4wV8M1quID2JnLZFYSIZ2hasUTSR_CgS4GBzYUX4HYBVp0cVB2fJamFzlW9fajHjKVa_A9JIACNtJMKk_0FIvAJnQZf7y/s640/blogger-image--263903108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHTvwH72QFljhM6WI4SQFkFSJu3wI-9YyAb_sM26qmGGlF0D4wV8M1quID2JnLZFYSIZ2hasUTSR_CgS4GBzYUX4HYBVp0cVB2fJamFzlW9fajHjKVa_A9JIACNtJMKk_0FIvAJnQZf7y/s640/blogger-image--263903108.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Night out with some of my friends for dinner and karaoke before I leave to live in Barcelona :) super fun, had never been out to a place where they do karaoke before :) </div><div><br></div><div>This will be last blog before I will have changed cities, families and school.</div><div>I'm so excited!! Nervous too. It's for the best! </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-61417865764063643312013-12-27T08:49:00.001-08:002014-01-08T06:58:25.882-08:00Christmas in SpainDay 113: 26/12/13 (still writing this on the 31st!) <div><br></div><div>So I'm not sure how well this blog is going to go as I am not very pleased with my phone right now. I spent an hour and a half writing the blog and it didn't save. So I have to start again and I can't remember what I had wrote... -_- and whilst re-writing this I had to re-write 4 more times. I absolutely hate this application. </div><div><br></div><div>So today is the day after Christmas and I am proud to say that I survived it without crying (I just pulled "I feel sorry for myself" faces when talking to my family on skype instead). </div><div>So... It sure was different this year! I celebrated it in a different country, on a different day, in a different way with a different family. Crazy!</div><div> Although it was a nice Christmas, really, its sad to admit that I didn't feel much magic this year. Yes there was still magic amongst the beautiful streets and joyful atmosphere, and in the glittering fairy lights but Christmas didn't truly feel like Christmas. I don't know if this is due to the fact that it wasn't what I was used to - the strange traditions and foreign food, the lack of Jesus', that I have out-grown it (which I hope isn't true) or that I wasn't with my real family. To be quite honest Christmas snuck up on me, so I didn't get the chance to think about it that much... I would only give it thought when people asked me what I was doing - whether I was going back to New Zealand for Christmas or had any plans - and apart from that there was no exciting anticipation or anything of the sort. I did all my Christmas shopping in the last few days before and I knew I'd be just doing whatever my host family was doing, so I wasn't laying in my bed awake over it. But don't get me wrong, I do love Christmas! </div><div><br></div><div>The time difference between Spain and New Zealand is 12 hours. So my (nz) family had Christmas before us and I was able to call them via Skype, but first, here in Spain they celebrate on the 24th of December too, so I had to spend time with my spanish family before calling. This celebration was very relaxed, I just went with my host family to the grandparents' house and we shared a nice meal together. This consisted of bread, ham, a salmon and egg dish, a noodle sort of dish (which I found out was actually sea worms) and prawns. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--XGhFHqlQ4g/UsCgQNV0VeI/AAAAAAAAAo4/QTwGlBTc5Rg/s640/blogger-image--1010453391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--XGhFHqlQ4g/UsCgQNV0VeI/AAAAAAAAAo4/QTwGlBTc5Rg/s640/blogger-image--1010453391.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7AI8w-PO_rw/UsCfTj70yDI/AAAAAAAAAow/Szc3iBmMrOY/s640/blogger-image-744859290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7AI8w-PO_rw/UsCfTj70yDI/AAAAAAAAAow/Szc3iBmMrOY/s640/blogger-image-744859290.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rUY6UADXg4I/Ur63kIwm3mI/AAAAAAAAAoY/-bTaUpSQc34/s640/blogger-image--1407431997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rUY6UADXg4I/Ur63kIwm3mI/AAAAAAAAAoY/-bTaUpSQc34/s640/blogger-image--1407431997.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GVNS5joayaM/Ur63igJltFI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/s4bc_snjyQI/s640/blogger-image-258867860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GVNS5joayaM/Ur63igJltFI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/s4bc_snjyQI/s640/blogger-image-258867860.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>All these foods were very strange for me as I hadn't tried them before and it wasn't a typical Christmassy meal as I knew it. In this way it was nice having the chance to try new things! </div><div><br></div><div>So the evening ended at around 11.30pm (earlier than I had expected) and I was so excited to call my family, whom left me waiting for 20 long minutes!</div><div><br></div><div>I set myself up in my bedroom with my phone on the charger and a cushion on the floor as the 1 metre IPhone cables don't get you far (didnt reach the couch) and collected my presents that my awesome family had sent me from New Zealand.</div><div> I rang my family and everything was exactly as I imagined it would be... a typical Tucker Christmas on the other end of the line. The Christmas tree was sitting in the same place as always, there was a busy and happy atmosphere and people everywhere. But when I say "people everywhere" I really just mean my family. You see: there was my precious wee sister Megsy who answered my Skype call with her singing into her new christmas elf microphone, my beautiful Mum bustling around organising things in her new Christmas dress, my Dad rattling off some inappropriate but funny jokes, my sister Danielle settled on the couch alongside her husband holding their newborn baby, my other sisters working away in the kitchen preparing the big Christmas feed, my two younger twin brothers setting up their new toy cars, with our adopted Grandad helping out, and then my favourite uncle sitting on the couch trying to avoid any chaos. This is what I call normal! Hahaha. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GS66jLHaFKgNO_E1yShny_kcRc1KD6Kg-tnisqT_nzkzhIuQxOXlndNNyJeQmwulkhXY_XciyDjVBMyJO6-YHyTbrvGEDryezYuqtTYzeNkNgA2k7o6iZCHtsHxXpLR9bVCw8-xfwdix/s640/blogger-image-1287004600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GS66jLHaFKgNO_E1yShny_kcRc1KD6Kg-tnisqT_nzkzhIuQxOXlndNNyJeQmwulkhXY_XciyDjVBMyJO6-YHyTbrvGEDryezYuqtTYzeNkNgA2k7o6iZCHtsHxXpLR9bVCw8-xfwdix/s640/blogger-image-1287004600.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0l_EdapXSkQ/UsCs_1TKJcI/AAAAAAAAApI/CZtc8NoNBYI/s640/blogger-image--2112837230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0l_EdapXSkQ/UsCs_1TKJcI/AAAAAAAAApI/CZtc8NoNBYI/s640/blogger-image--2112837230.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGkZyyTwIBztnM0CTGcwIxQV5V7IQVJXl70y-f2BrgF_dE95Z44Z-Fvl4-_Y4vEARAekY9vkz8CxyB0nCRmeFI88lN5QY9x-lApzDfIwxTSiWtwtP2Qe4P8wzPaFqb1-0Xkxtml5BIpGl/s640/blogger-image-70412132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGkZyyTwIBztnM0CTGcwIxQV5V7IQVJXl70y-f2BrgF_dE95Z44Z-Fvl4-_Y4vEARAekY9vkz8CxyB0nCRmeFI88lN5QY9x-lApzDfIwxTSiWtwtP2Qe4P8wzPaFqb1-0Xkxtml5BIpGl/s640/blogger-image-70412132.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div> I think that's one of the things I miss the most being here in Spain. My family of course, but also, how there was always someone around. Here I have a family of only 3, and I always get up in the morning by myself, walk to school and return home to find an empty house. That is completely different to what I'm used to. In the morning in New Zealand I usually woke up with my Mum and we would go swimming and have some nice bonding time (which I miss so much!) and if Dad hadn't come with us we would find him in the kitchen with the jug boiling and toast in the toaster. Then my little brothers would get out of bed, and we would argue about them using the toilet whilst I was trying to get ready in the bathroom (it's so weird to say that I wish they were here to annoy me like that). My Dad would then drive us to school and pick us up again after.</div><div> I've realised now how much I appreciate my Dad in the way that, even though he is often late and sometimes forgets about me, he is always there when I need him to be. I also appreciate how he would always listen to what had happened in my day and laugh at my stories and give me advice when I had any problems. Missing this amazing man so much! </div><div><br></div><div>But anyway! My family was all doing there own thing but I got whomever had sent me each present to come see me (grab the laptop) whilst I opened the present. Everything that they got me was so thoughtful and I felt very lucky as I know how expensive the postage is! (Plus I had been waiting to open my presents for like two weeks!)</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbNdEXK3jTNi7Nf_Ud1sU_WLWrLIPRV8oyCiYLmyU-EWkENGzMzgavB2AgHgLPa60-NRtv6kCfbpaC_elCFT7-oLL1_I9vWGlIg7fwUgX3_gUS4ABPZHKmNamC5IqEWXxnmTyS2JmltaW/s640/blogger-image--1664925508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbNdEXK3jTNi7Nf_Ud1sU_WLWrLIPRV8oyCiYLmyU-EWkENGzMzgavB2AgHgLPa60-NRtv6kCfbpaC_elCFT7-oLL1_I9vWGlIg7fwUgX3_gUS4ABPZHKmNamC5IqEWXxnmTyS2JmltaW/s640/blogger-image--1664925508.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-R8I_dZ2yVdG2siNRKA4Kf6T86bVOAqSD_bqiN8P8_4RpDjZKofQiOhspt1dQc4WN0aFt2WGbJlIj6GEEu6gygSgRgtObLZkjjAdycBoaoPsuH2e0kShbmXVQfafC1qU_Pe6GvoFK7co4/s640/blogger-image--1944060371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-R8I_dZ2yVdG2siNRKA4Kf6T86bVOAqSD_bqiN8P8_4RpDjZKofQiOhspt1dQc4WN0aFt2WGbJlIj6GEEu6gygSgRgtObLZkjjAdycBoaoPsuH2e0kShbmXVQfafC1qU_Pe6GvoFK7co4/s640/blogger-image--1944060371.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I got lots of nice clothes including merino, which is really good because Barcelona is a lot colder than I thought it would be! My mum and sister both sent me books, which is like a life-saver for me and I was very happy! Annnd, chocolate of course. The chocolate is good here, but I think its just the connection to New Zealand that makes the chocolate so special .</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pq2VUoLInEM/UsCtFalR8QI/AAAAAAAAApo/WckeD38nT-Y/s640/blogger-image-242600180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pq2VUoLInEM/UsCtFalR8QI/AAAAAAAAApo/WckeD38nT-Y/s640/blogger-image-242600180.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>After I opened my presents it was time for lunch and even though it was like 2.30am for me I demanded that I join them and so they took me (the laptop) and placed me on a stool at the table where I could see all the delicious food and listen to my family and their joyous discussions as they feasted on their typical kiwi feast! I'm not sure exactly everything they had but I saw hamburgers, kebabs, salads, potato salad and fancy grape juice. There were also the typical christmas crackers, which contain the colourful hats that everyone wears and reliable lame jokes. It was very frustrating and also sad being stuck inside the screen as I just wanted to hug everyone and also, eat all the food. </div><div>But I was content and had a smile on my face, that I couldn't stop, just seeing my family and knowing that they were all mine and would all be there when I got back made me feel like everything would be okay. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-77uK6cx5-UI/UsCzWy6U8MI/AAAAAAAAAqA/RMajzxRofpo/s640/blogger-image--1917086326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-77uK6cx5-UI/UsCzWy6U8MI/AAAAAAAAAqA/RMajzxRofpo/s640/blogger-image--1917086326.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(My face is so close to the camera here, probably because I was getting tired of holding my phone out) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After chatting with my family and things were settling down a bit, my oldest sister convinced me that I should probably go to bed - 3.30am. I knew she was right but I was very reluctant as I didn't want to miss out on anything... But in the end I gave in and dragged myself across the floor to bed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Christmas morning I woke up to my host sister shouting for me to get out of bed, I think it was 10am so not too bad I must say! My host sister is 8 years old and still believes in Papa Noel (Santa clause) so she thought that everything came from him and it was all magic. The night before they had left out some milk and cookies for him and he had left a wee note behind. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EudxhW0wCVs/UsKNp6HZsZI/AAAAAAAAAqU/_muvsWjnKO4/s640/blogger-image-720764380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EudxhW0wCVs/UsKNp6HZsZI/AAAAAAAAAqU/_muvsWjnKO4/s640/blogger-image-720764380.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For Telma it basically reads: look if the table (snowboard) is the right size. This year I am very happy with you because you have studied very well. You don't talk so much in class. Now you are 8 years old, sleep in your own bed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My note says: I hope that the present is your size. You have to speak more Spanish. Try to talk with the little one of the house in English. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My note is a little confusing, I have to speak more Spanish but try to speak English. Oh well haha.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So after reading the note my host sister starting ripping open her Christmas presents, one after the other. Her coolest present by far was her snowboard. Now due to her believing in Papa Noel there were no thanks or gratitude for anything she was given, so personally, I don't want Santa to get all the credit at Christmas time. My kids will be getting Christmas presents from Santa (for all the magic of it) and their family, as I think it's really important to learn the how to give and receive. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I thought carefully about what to give my family and in the end I thought that I bought some really nice presents but my presents were from Papa Noel too apparently...and I was a bit sad when my host parents didnt say thanks then or later on (they didn't make any comments so I have no idea if they liked them). I hope they did! I had a Christmas present for me under the tree from my host family and surprisingly they did really well. They had bought me some sports shoes (my ones are really destroyed) and they got the right size too (or so I thought). I loved the colour and everything and was so grateful but when I tried them on they were too tight. My feet are honestly soo big compared to everyone here. So I'm hoping I can exchange them to my size but shoe shops are useless with sizes here, they never have mine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZAMS-rfem6s/UsKNsZogoFI/AAAAAAAAAqc/frlwldC77iw/s640/blogger-image--771729876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZAMS-rfem6s/UsKNsZogoFI/AAAAAAAAAqc/frlwldC77iw/s640/blogger-image--771729876.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34nBcAk5yP4a5x2Z3iD8mjryg189AUk2_cVwKOSPr-_Hr3m9In8Mu4iKzuJkgwsjy9YdP_joR7CnuQlRlAjjPGn3J6RwBCel6xOdAeJ0rJHFirevpfz-zJ4SlSuFg3fVrJokzTWLK5SX3/s640/blogger-image-89390435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34nBcAk5yP4a5x2Z3iD8mjryg189AUk2_cVwKOSPr-_Hr3m9In8Mu4iKzuJkgwsjy9YdP_joR7CnuQlRlAjjPGn3J6RwBCel6xOdAeJ0rJHFirevpfz-zJ4SlSuFg3fVrJokzTWLK5SX3/s640/blogger-image-89390435.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So up to this point I had re-written twice and saved and everything I wrote after this is gone. Yet again and my phone screen turned off my 5 minutes. What is wrong with this phone!!! Nearly a page if writing gone!!! Breathe. Just breathe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So after opening the presents we had a pretty relaxed morning, ate breakfast, got dressed and headed to the parents' house again. When I arrived I made myself useful (also trying to avoid standing around awkwardly) and laid the table. This time there were about 15 people (relatives) and they made an effort to make me feel welcome. I was happy to find that there was a relative that I hadn't met before who was my age and I was relieved, thinking i would have someone to talk to. Which I did but only for a short while because after lunch he was on a his phone for the entire time (anti-social, especially on Christmas!!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Before lunch there were presents for the three young girls, including Telma. They got some really nice gifts, like dolls, games and activities, and one of them got a scooter! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jVEwkqRGoNo/UsKvIwQWmcI/AAAAAAAAAr0/kL2UICGaYfA/s640/blogger-image--1021618303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jVEwkqRGoNo/UsKvIwQWmcI/AAAAAAAAAr0/kL2UICGaYfA/s640/blogger-image--1021618303.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This meal was very similar to the meal I had had the night before. For starters we had prawns, ham, the salmon dish and bread. I was seated near the younger ones and the guy my age and was surprised to find that they finished off the plates closest to us faster than the adults did! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qHSnNnWWP3k/UsKnUBvFWvI/AAAAAAAAArI/KaeajGp_n70/s640/blogger-image--636779844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qHSnNnWWP3k/UsKnUBvFWvI/AAAAAAAAArI/KaeajGp_n70/s640/blogger-image--636779844.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We then had chicken flavoured soup with pasta in it and we cut up chicken and put that inside too. I did the usual thing and dipped bread in my soup, but apparently that's not normal here! Haha. I actually can't recall a time where I have eaten soup for Christmas?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlaRSP_lRJ2pxrWouLk2oAmeueaYm03ofYFBzTjnk_tBWJqc7pQT3ZrI7JWqk9mduO9xeX7q4WX2LtIqejPI4zNrNzRoQzKw9ZS-Q0ybDjkODpHPj5hOP8p_cCfWjQF0dSMTzR-_5q6Uy/s640/blogger-image-535985802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlaRSP_lRJ2pxrWouLk2oAmeueaYm03ofYFBzTjnk_tBWJqc7pQT3ZrI7JWqk9mduO9xeX7q4WX2LtIqejPI4zNrNzRoQzKw9ZS-Q0ybDjkODpHPj5hOP8p_cCfWjQF0dSMTzR-_5q6Uy/s640/blogger-image-535985802.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After the soup they brought out a big chicken, which they cut for me and it was delicious with some amazing sauce to go with it. It doesn't look very appealing but I love chicken all the same. I do find it weird how here they would have chicken for lunch, just by itself, with no vegetables or anything. Felt stupid the first time this happened as I was waiting for the vegetables...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ts6RErecGoE/UsKnYlheW1I/AAAAAAAAArY/S0uLLtA2HfM/s640/blogger-image-931285036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ts6RErecGoE/UsKnYlheW1I/AAAAAAAAArY/S0uLLtA2HfM/s640/blogger-image-931285036.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">During the meal there was also lots of wine, and my glass kept being filled without me asking (because I didn't like it), and I was sure that one of the uncles was a bit drunk. He was very noisy, making jokes (in English) that I didn't understand and then laughing/snorting. He seemed to think that he was absolutely hilarious.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My favourite part of the Christmas meal is always dessert and after seeing what my family in New Zealand had had, I was really hoping we would have nice dessert here too. But I was sadly disappointed. Turns out Spanish people aren't that big on dessert! We had coffee, some melon, turron, pig sweets (which I hate) and the Anzac biscuits that I had made (great success by the way). There were no cakes and no ice cream?! No ice cream I tell you!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Now this is a photo of what my family in New Zealand had:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iMdVBZ4v0sU/UsKpHpeCB_I/AAAAAAAAArk/CcUretDVR3c/s640/blogger-image-902336348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iMdVBZ4v0sU/UsKpHpeCB_I/AAAAAAAAArk/CcUretDVR3c/s640/blogger-image-902336348.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You can imagine how much I wished I could reach through the screen and grab it all! Trifle, strawberries, blueberries, cream, jelly, pavlova, ice cream, and my favourite, ambrosia!! Don't know which thing I missed more - the dessert or my family? KIDDING. Was a joke, of course - the dessert ;) haha kidding again! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After the meal was all done, we then had presents for the adults through a thing called "invisible friend" which is similar to secret Santa. Each if us had to draw a number from the stocking (girls or boys stocking) and this number was matched up to a present. These were small gifts that were either funny or just nice things. This present was actually one thing I didn't get a picture of! I got a small box with cute kitten on it that contained some really sparkly eye shadow and lipgloss, not quite my colours but I'm sure I can make use of them some time! ;) These presents were brought by everyone and is a tradition.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The next tradition is a really strange one... I really don't understand it but okay. "Caga Tio"<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">, pronounced “Cacka-tee-oh” is a wooden log with a smiley face painted onto one end.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "> It a</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">lso wears a traditional Catalan red hat</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">and is</span><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; "> </strong><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">basically the Catalan equivalent of Santa Clause. Any one with a little Spanish knowledge, knows that “</span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; ">tio</em><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">” means “</span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; ">uncle</em><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">“, however it also means “</span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; ">log</em><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">” and Caga tio tr</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">anslates to “</span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; ">poo Log</em><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">“, Christmassy hey?!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p style="text-align: -webkit-auto; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The idea is that Caga Tio is “looked after” by the kids from the 8th of December to Christmas Eve. They cover his rear end with a blanket to keep him warm and feed him Turron and Orange peel every evening. The more they feed him, the more Christmas presents he will “<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; ">poo-out</em>” for Christmas. I kid you not people, I didn’t believe it either, but it’s true, and the story only gets stranger from here. Caga Tio</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">, apparently, needs a little persuasion to “</span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; ">poo</em><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">” the presents out, so after weeks of feeding</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">and making sure he is warm with his blanket, the kids are given a stick to “beat” it </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">with. Only then will he “poo” out the presents. As if this isn’t absurd enough, they also have to sing a song… which is telling him if he doesn't poop out good presents they will beat him more! In our case however, they just brought out the Caga Tio from someone's house and I'm not sure if the little girl had been feeding it or whatever but it was very funny! They discovered that he wasn't really giving them presents and it was a fake!! Because they saw one of the dads putting the presents under the blanket and they were so angry! No more Caga Tio for them. </span></p><p style="text-align: -webkit-auto; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; "><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jy46tbTVn8M/UsMLKbIejoI/AAAAAAAAAsU/EyHaPIqxrsY/s640/blogger-image--1812701378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jy46tbTVn8M/UsMLKbIejoI/AAAAAAAAAsU/EyHaPIqxrsY/s640/blogger-image--1812701378.jpg"></a></div><br><p></p><p style="text-align: -webkit-auto; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; "><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">There is also another poo orientated tradition that have here in catalunya which involves a wee pooing man called "Caganer". They seriously have an obsession with poo that I don't understand! (But hey its culture differences!) Caganer is</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: justify; "> a little porcelain “nativity” figure , squatting down and pooping (with his butt showing and all), somewhere in the nativity scene. He </span><span style="text-align: justify; ">is normally hidden somewhere among the more traditional nativity scene characters, and there are heaps of different versions of him! It is honestly so strange, I think it's more normal to see him in the manger than even baby Jesus! (It's just not right). But I guess all cultures have to have something weird that they do.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: -webkit-auto; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: justify; "></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OXFV-2_x1ZI/UsMK4mzVKKI/AAAAAAAAAsM/fJVxReVaiy4/s640/blogger-image--2102814189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OXFV-2_x1ZI/UsMK4mzVKKI/AAAAAAAAAsM/fJVxReVaiy4/s640/blogger-image--2102814189.jpg"></a></div><br><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">After the Caga Tio there were no more presents and everyone sat around talking and I just about fell asleep on the couch (dribble and all - how embarrassing), I guess staying up till 3.30am did get to me in the end! </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">We headed home after all of that and I believe that we just watched a movie and relaxed for the rest of the day!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "> It was overall a nice Christmas, and I think there were more tears over having to re-write my blog a hundred times than over Christmas itself! Note to self - dont use your phone to write your blog - ever again!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I can now tick off my list "Christmas in another country" and I'm glad I got to experience it even though I missed my family a bunch. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">How was everyone else's Christmas?? Hope you all had a lovely time whatever you did!! I did have a nice day with my host family and their family!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">So finally I am finished writing... I hope you enjoyed reading about my Christmas! </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Missing everyone, but I'm doing just fine! </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Love of love,</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-u_5beYkCRgM/UsKwUE9VtTI/AAAAAAAAAr8/dhhZGpwRGnU/s640/blogger-image--1764095685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-u_5beYkCRgM/UsKwUE9VtTI/AAAAAAAAAr8/dhhZGpwRGnU/s640/blogger-image--1764095685.jpg"></a></div><br><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Victoria <3</span></p><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial; text-align: justify; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><br></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><h3 style="text-align: -webkit-auto; margin-top: 9px !important; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 16px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; "></h3></div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-32771878927544617412013-12-22T09:21:00.001-08:002013-12-22T09:21:54.714-08:00Barcelona visit with my Catalan for beginners class ;)This man stood so still and didn't even blink. I have no idea how he does it! <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdkKWJXzvNMwnJ4ixfJPryPAxOQHpzRBnzoyk58RMyL6ZVXrCXNTxNGy70ASdhx6cvineeA5_R7rCDTEdMwSfHYHEww1WCwxxHTkVZBwjK4YS7pYp16Jm1ZOX5vqogYfCv-Op58uHyacR/s640/blogger-image--755282274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdkKWJXzvNMwnJ4ixfJPryPAxOQHpzRBnzoyk58RMyL6ZVXrCXNTxNGy70ASdhx6cvineeA5_R7rCDTEdMwSfHYHEww1WCwxxHTkVZBwjK4YS7pYp16Jm1ZOX5vqogYfCv-Op58uHyacR/s640/blogger-image--755282274.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aKmYmt1bekE/UrcfqJ9UbZI/AAAAAAAAAnY/wzdjEx7Vps0/s640/blogger-image--1092178901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aKmYmt1bekE/UrcfqJ9UbZI/AAAAAAAAAnY/wzdjEx7Vps0/s640/blogger-image--1092178901.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aELM1bNAyyQ/UrcfkkRrVtI/AAAAAAAAAnA/DKMwbIXUjVg/s640/blogger-image--67892225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aELM1bNAyyQ/UrcfkkRrVtI/AAAAAAAAAnA/DKMwbIXUjVg/s640/blogger-image--67892225.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJQEMQF3aev0dxyBltLucHUTTgW8xxpGH23zWxDqpEIR58TwFZv0r3aMj_bdAH2-KKjcESZdt4cpnkPAac3jmXQlvncrnqVn6O8Gtl1reWi90_6rFoDd1rckDAu92Kr9PI2Z3BJSP3sn_/s640/blogger-image--241308650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJQEMQF3aev0dxyBltLucHUTTgW8xxpGH23zWxDqpEIR58TwFZv0r3aMj_bdAH2-KKjcESZdt4cpnkPAac3jmXQlvncrnqVn6O8Gtl1reWi90_6rFoDd1rckDAu92Kr9PI2Z3BJSP3sn_/s640/blogger-image--241308650.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>The cathedral! <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_88mh0NkECQO-pguNqNmSP311VINJEImA9klBtHIV7QEErz48bH-vlpvXFVjS99CZrJcAMEEiQx6R9KQIM_kUK1lYXGo3M5S7Z2Xtct3ggNKoZou6kJkbgJAmZjll02KsV77qO2-mbHj/s640/blogger-image-112360769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_88mh0NkECQO-pguNqNmSP311VINJEImA9klBtHIV7QEErz48bH-vlpvXFVjS99CZrJcAMEEiQx6R9KQIM_kUK1lYXGo3M5S7Z2Xtct3ggNKoZou6kJkbgJAmZjll02KsV77qO2-mbHj/s640/blogger-image-112360769.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZNaKP1Bpaok/Urcfh3NUcNI/AAAAAAAAAmw/pafTPCIWkuc/s640/blogger-image--1352549644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZNaKP1Bpaok/Urcfh3NUcNI/AAAAAAAAAmw/pafTPCIWkuc/s640/blogger-image--1352549644.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYvKSAlMTElT0TaNLBvO2uiRBP8g1vS-hZbFb2DRh7hybM6TZu-hKCR_TDBvTmVOyhprMGTgna2TzxRe_9p104nroaDxOx3lndb83ciQ24w_K8_QENuhjVblSSRLSoW4XTGI16PwD0GHu/s640/blogger-image--349335811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYvKSAlMTElT0TaNLBvO2uiRBP8g1vS-hZbFb2DRh7hybM6TZu-hKCR_TDBvTmVOyhprMGTgna2TzxRe_9p104nroaDxOx3lndb83ciQ24w_K8_QENuhjVblSSRLSoW4XTGI16PwD0GHu/s640/blogger-image--349335811.jpg"></a></div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-53281169632667138242013-12-20T05:35:00.001-08:002013-12-20T05:35:14.175-08:00A Weekend in the Life of a Spanish GirlDay 103: 16/12/13<div><br></div><div>So the weekend of the 13th-15th was all in all a great weekend :)</div><div><br></div><div>A few weeks ago AFS sent around an email saying that they had organised a non compulsory get together for all the students in the morning of the 14th of December and then our families too in the afternoon. All we knew was that we had to be in Barcelona at 10.30am to meet with the other students and volunteers and that we had to make a typical snack from our own country to bring to a shared "merienda" or picnic sort of thing. </div><div><br></div><div>So I spent quite a long time trying to decide on what I could possibly make for this "merienda" that was either common in New Zealand or a typical kiwi favourite. After deciding and then un-deciding I finally chose Anzac biscuits! They seemed like a good idea as they have such an awesome meaning behind them! I had never made them before but I knew that they were easy enough... As long as you had the right ingredients and utensils. Problem being... Spain seems to lack ingredients and cooking utensils! I found this out previously when I had wanted to make lollie cake and couldn't find any sweets similar to eskimos or wine gums or malt biscuits. Plus in my house here, we don't have measuring cups, measuring scales, cup cake tins or cake tins. Meaning that I have to guesstimate the amounts of ingredients to use. I guess this is strange for me as I've grown up with baking being a regular thing in my family.</div><div> So when the time came to buy ingredients for my Anzac biscuits, I found that they only had raw brown sugar for one and no golden syrup. We asked around for golden syrup and did some searching on the web and finally came across some in a store ... But it was $13 and I only needed two table spoons! So I ended up substituting the golden syrup for normal honey. </div><div>I made the Anzac biscuits the night before (because i hadn't had time during the week) which turned out take a lot longer than I thought! We only finished dinner at 10.30pm and so i started baking at around 11pm. Though I was sure I had followed the recipe exactly, something was not quite right as the biscuit mixture was just crumbling so I took a lot of time trying to fix them and including all the cooking time and waiting for the biscuits to cool before dipping them in chocolate, I ended up getting to bed at 1.30am! Nearly died. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fPZC2QtpQ4s/UrRHcBa8RSI/AAAAAAAAAmU/_eTbz2dzddw/s640/blogger-image--2013536968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fPZC2QtpQ4s/UrRHcBa8RSI/AAAAAAAAAmU/_eTbz2dzddw/s640/blogger-image--2013536968.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KgZOdG4SfQc/UrRHVZRpD_I/AAAAAAAAAlk/efugrhXWm48/s640/blogger-image--1629580814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KgZOdG4SfQc/UrRHVZRpD_I/AAAAAAAAAlk/efugrhXWm48/s640/blogger-image--1629580814.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>So in the morning (8am wake up) I caught the train with Emily, exchange student from USA, and we skilfully found our way through stations to meet the other students expecting it to be a pretty chill, catch-up kind of activity... But no. We were paired off for a city wide scavenger hunt involving clues, Spanish, cello-tape, an Afs poster, taking photos, an apple and an egg. The main point of the activity I believe was having to ask people, in Spanish, for directions to these places that we weren't familiar with, but I also think that embarrassing us was something they thought would be fun! </div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">At each destination we had to take a picture with our Afs poster and collect a new clue from the Afs volunteers who were waiting for us. Usually we had to complete some task or just take off to the next place. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q_w56OEEouQ/UrRHW9efbMI/AAAAAAAAAls/njfj15ani18/s640/blogger-image-1342429554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q_w56OEEouQ/UrRHW9efbMI/AAAAAAAAAls/njfj15ani18/s640/blogger-image-1342429554.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>At our first destination we were told that we would have to walk three legged (stuck together with the cello tape mentioned) whilst asking random people for directions to this plaza. This was very difficult and we got some very strange looks...</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BVXsB-WNdkY/UrRHZwGQ7sI/AAAAAAAAAmE/hrB02L_MAEk/s640/blogger-image-968705728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BVXsB-WNdkY/UrRHZwGQ7sI/AAAAAAAAAmE/hrB02L_MAEk/s640/blogger-image-968705728.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SgcnUll1xAI/UrRHXw1n9RI/AAAAAAAAAl0/3-tY2Dt1bUA/s640/blogger-image-471461107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SgcnUll1xAI/UrRHXw1n9RI/AAAAAAAAAl0/3-tY2Dt1bUA/s640/blogger-image-471461107.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>At some point some of us removed the cello tape on our legs for a while and put it back on again before arriving at the next place because it was seriously sore haha. At the next stop we were given an apple and had to swap it with anything from anyone we could find, which sounded pretty strange. My partner and I decided to try out our luck in a chino store and she simply asked and the guy in the store let her have a cigarette lighter off the shelf. I was so surprised that we were just able to walk in and he was so nice about it! Im sure we would never be able to do the same thing in NZ. He really didn't want the apple though... </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pFTET0rlJW8/UrRHRRHeODI/AAAAAAAAAlc/AjFvtiSAc_o/s640/blogger-image--1154365837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pFTET0rlJW8/UrRHRRHeODI/AAAAAAAAAlc/AjFvtiSAc_o/s640/blogger-image--1154365837.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The next time we were allowed to remove the cello tape from our legs but we had to get our arms taped together. We ended up being first to our next destination but there were no volunteers waiting! So about 14 of us students (exhausted and bored) sat down in a group in the middle of the street. We all whipped out our lunches and starting having a wee picnic. Quite nice really but I think we were in the way and people must of thought it was strange to see a group of kids all speaking English, but whom all looked completely different (being from different countries all over the world), eating sandwiches on the dirty street. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluBXKhhudYxs6sc1QlO25fnhKjOYfBv9aXSPeXGnhongF78kNFo_qxYOQLe0P25MzFcK3iNP2es_BDHW6zsnTRwI7sOiMpbDcbvUE-lFlIyFGLcTlJ5aU2HgrJ134l1zHzAVCPG1L8Gi_/s640/blogger-image--1961129473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluBXKhhudYxs6sc1QlO25fnhKjOYfBv9aXSPeXGnhongF78kNFo_qxYOQLe0P25MzFcK3iNP2es_BDHW6zsnTRwI7sOiMpbDcbvUE-lFlIyFGLcTlJ5aU2HgrJ134l1zHzAVCPG1L8Gi_/s640/blogger-image--1961129473.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Finally the volunteers found us and we had the task of finding someone that could fluently speak our language. English! Easy! And my absolute favourite part of the day... We found a group of 4 young English boys in Spain on a trip, and of course I love English boys! <3 </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1KTUgchWY1xMH3Xe_21fr95l3wjZC50TWwMrkxqK3adAyn9ZvYufaMgXRSZxjDtGHBP4xeC0yVUCERV9rCT_oHkTIFFcVkSIWg2MeGEjxCbiUXjwrT3eEGFBtWwgQWnr9IHHJWPwJY6k/s640/blogger-image--69107909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1KTUgchWY1xMH3Xe_21fr95l3wjZC50TWwMrkxqK3adAyn9ZvYufaMgXRSZxjDtGHBP4xeC0yVUCERV9rCT_oHkTIFFcVkSIWg2MeGEjxCbiUXjwrT3eEGFBtWwgQWnr9IHHJWPwJY6k/s640/blogger-image--69107909.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>There were a few more clues and tasks after this but that's enough of that.</div><div>After, we all had the shared merienda with everyone in a building and it was really cool trying food from lots of different countries! But the next part was not so cool... We had to speak in front of everyone, and there were heaps of people, about what we did in our country for Christmas (in Spanish) and sing a Christmas song. Gosh I could have died. Me and my friend both sung the wrong lyrics to our song, good one. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIU5bn9SGLhnxLghyphenhyphenA9TiVKGSRDYKKSVmj-8-L1wcIactPrBIZ2nyEHDjl2aj-izBHveHdFv5mBdUqiEQx30frD4k5Pv496hP6TAs2AMvvtrO0VEO121iFy-uq3QXGz_ZXnwBIa8y-1sg4/s640/blogger-image-1812142606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIU5bn9SGLhnxLghyphenhyphenA9TiVKGSRDYKKSVmj-8-L1wcIactPrBIZ2nyEHDjl2aj-izBHveHdFv5mBdUqiEQx30frD4k5Pv496hP6TAs2AMvvtrO0VEO121iFy-uq3QXGz_ZXnwBIa8y-1sg4/s640/blogger-image-1812142606.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>So Sunday, was a nice way to finish off the weekend. I spent Sunday with a nice south african family, who lives across the road from me, in Anec Bleu (shopping centre) looking for Christmas presents and they shouted me lunch at an Italian restaurant where i had pasta, (it was not great, unfortunately) which was very kind of them :) They speak English and there is a boy my age, so it was a nice change being able to talk about whatever I felt like! I managed to find presents for my host mum and sister but still have to find one for my host dad with only days remaining! After, I returned to their house and watched a movie before heading across the street back to my house. It's very nice to know I have friends living just outside my gate :) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lhDzGOFjKMA/UrRHa4NvCRI/AAAAAAAAAmM/c9rFBczlF58/s640/blogger-image--937334440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lhDzGOFjKMA/UrRHa4NvCRI/AAAAAAAAAmM/c9rFBczlF58/s640/blogger-image--937334440.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>So that's a summary of my lovely weekend! Crazy, embarrassing but overall, I really enjoyed it! And I must say that my biscuits turned out really well! </div><div>Oh and I mentioned an egg in the scavenger hunt... We had to carry it round, but I have no idea why. Absolutely none...</div><div><br></div><div>Until next time!</div><div>(Which will probably be all about Christmas!)</div><div><br></div><div>Merry Christmas everyone!</div><div>Much love,</div><div>Victoria :)</div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-69805927075052559622013-12-05T06:45:00.001-08:002013-12-05T06:45:28.436-08:00More Christmas photos :)<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEs7k0WLx74sCSZhyINlC7e2ViD4LcXp_BnjDLRVkYIaxC5B1yZl2fsSa0sZ366NmT6Zphzl2rWSRZ4a_M2qg2lfZgt5rf0j493HmhHiczebs9zu3OV4Er-m3ZruY_KMi0oPiJO5InF91X/s640/blogger-image-456211164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEs7k0WLx74sCSZhyINlC7e2ViD4LcXp_BnjDLRVkYIaxC5B1yZl2fsSa0sZ366NmT6Zphzl2rWSRZ4a_M2qg2lfZgt5rf0j493HmhHiczebs9zu3OV4Er-m3ZruY_KMi0oPiJO5InF91X/s640/blogger-image-456211164.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_m8vR5goLPI/UqCRdtUegLI/AAAAAAAAAkg/hCuntH8iWQE/s640/blogger-image-369084548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_m8vR5goLPI/UqCRdtUegLI/AAAAAAAAAkg/hCuntH8iWQE/s640/blogger-image-369084548.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBH8vSoQyeZUsOW6iwzr2hsJGjYP02G01h9K1QPxPp1nROnql8A_lO9IO20P3othIs20xpRLxvNi5lxLjVR12vVjkXvJpnk_gcnV9kmX6xe3H7tjFjXpHf1tcqlXRdDMJFs5J_BNgGLE_h/s640/blogger-image--1192865436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBH8vSoQyeZUsOW6iwzr2hsJGjYP02G01h9K1QPxPp1nROnql8A_lO9IO20P3othIs20xpRLxvNi5lxLjVR12vVjkXvJpnk_gcnV9kmX6xe3H7tjFjXpHf1tcqlXRdDMJFs5J_BNgGLE_h/s640/blogger-image--1192865436.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8pdYaWKlesgGQB19-Q4tQhiAWQMPvUQxa_KJQE2dYpw3J6gfqbVBUnPbrl3G86DYEQz0I3hrFhmzI-s6J53-aky8kU3odAas2rRKKl9s8sEfz8_ajo0SvEenfoXHDaQIFvyvwOvBCFpD/s640/blogger-image-1492963127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8pdYaWKlesgGQB19-Q4tQhiAWQMPvUQxa_KJQE2dYpw3J6gfqbVBUnPbrl3G86DYEQz0I3hrFhmzI-s6J53-aky8kU3odAas2rRKKl9s8sEfz8_ajo0SvEenfoXHDaQIFvyvwOvBCFpD/s640/blogger-image-1492963127.jpg"></a></div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0Castelldefels Castelldefels41.276638 1.966174tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-80875433225438042292013-11-29T07:47:00.001-08:002013-11-29T07:48:02.218-08:00Christmas is coming<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Day 80: 24/11/13</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ahh the 24th?? In one month I'll be celebrating Christmas, all the way across the other side of the world from my family, my friends and familiarity. There will be no over-crowded bed for me to rush to in the morning to wait with my family before bounding into the living room. There will be no summer sun beaming in through the windows like a typical kiwi summer Christmas. There will be no prayers of thanks and acknowledgement of Jesus' birthday before opening any presents. And the thing that is most on my mind is how there will be no Tuckers! </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">One of the main reasons I'm not looking forward to Christmas is because I think that i will be very lonely and therefore, sad. I still don't feel like I am part of my Spanish family and so I'm worried that Christmas just won't feel like Christmas if you know what i mean! I</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "> am 99 % sure that I will cry, but I will try hide it from my host family... i wouldn't want to be a downer at Christmas!</span></div><div><br></div><div>But anyway, things definitely will be different this year! I am sure that it will be colder Christmas but I'm not sure of much else! </div><div><br></div><div>Already, there are beautiful lights being hung up in the streets , there are window displays of mini Christmas trees and magical elves, Christmas songs, like Mistletoe by Justin Bieber, playing down the aisles of the supermarkets, television advertisements using santa as a means of capturing children's attention and then there are my friends... all talking about the wonderful things they will do with their families for Christmas...</div><div><br></div><div>It has surprised me how many people think that I will return to New Zealand for christmas... the shock on their faces when I inform that actually I won't be seeing my family until after my exchange in June... is pretty amusing. As much as I would like to be with my family, a few thousand dollars for a plane ticket for a long, uncomfortable plane ride home for a few days doesn't sound THAT appealing at this stage... Maybe if I won the lotto and could take my private jet. Ha! That's something that's pretty sad! I really don't have any money after paying for this exchange, and usually, I absolutely love giving presents to all my loved ones, so that's a bit of a christmas grinch! Haha love that movie. But yeah, I have no idea what to do about presents this year. I can't really afford the postage of sending presents across to New Zealand, and my mum won't let me anyway. And what am I supposed to do about host family presents?? I have no idea. I'm sure my host dad would pretend to like something, or even be genuinely happy with anything I got him, but I think my host mum would be very difficult to buy for and my host sister already has a lot, and I believe she's quite fussy (she does not like chocolate??). Ideas anyone? </div><div><br></div><div>Oh Christmas, it's the most beautiful time of the year! I'm looking forward to experiencing Christmas in another culture and will just have to be content with being with my real family via good ole technology (Skype)! There will be an extra special gift given to my family for christmas this year. A new addition to the family, with my sister due to have a beautiful baby any day now!! I'm very sad to be missing out on this but so so happy as I have been begging my sister to have a baby ever since she got married! </div><div><br></div><div>I can guarantee that I will take a lot of photos of Christmas and everything that comes with it so make sure to take a look when I post them! :) </div><div><br></div><div>Ahhh, Christmas is sneaking up on us so fast!! It's nearly the end of this roller coaster of a year and the beginning of another! The beginning of a new part of my life started when I arrived in Spain, but I am still determined to make 2014 one of the best years Of my life! I hope everyone is prepared for some amazing things to come! I sure am! </div><div><br></div><div>Blessings and hugs! </div><div>Victoria-Rose </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LNV9CBAcapM/Upi2_nL1GBI/AAAAAAAAAkA/F4YRd2LnbwQ/s640/blogger-image--1759806210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LNV9CBAcapM/Upi2_nL1GBI/AAAAAAAAAkA/F4YRd2LnbwQ/s640/blogger-image--1759806210.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Snowflakes on a building in Barcelona :) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TQOKNXLZEckLMbTWWnn2lgpKkhn_PBBxM2dFardvVaYqvn1CXzAxNKTwWHHYqS7d72HqUDkR5p-AJg7P8wI9GjpqHQydGLQ8gDKeSMkWODL1-8jEcKjTJZYkFom8nHupqAiC1l72xqmQ/s640/blogger-image-445234640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TQOKNXLZEckLMbTWWnn2lgpKkhn_PBBxM2dFardvVaYqvn1CXzAxNKTwWHHYqS7d72HqUDkR5p-AJg7P8wI9GjpqHQydGLQ8gDKeSMkWODL1-8jEcKjTJZYkFom8nHupqAiC1l72xqmQ/s640/blogger-image-445234640.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Christmas treats :) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpZ5Tu8ce8jUay89MYTPq2YQrg8TOaMstK-UNl0WOV46t3LkLjfMfiDp_9mDM9iHNEFk9vpWkhwUl_E1_tyZWwxGqT4k3XlpB0DGYElt042qS09DZ53MY3Me7bP3cL5DxUwZU2bKypegN/s640/blogger-image-1521994167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpZ5Tu8ce8jUay89MYTPq2YQrg8TOaMstK-UNl0WOV46t3LkLjfMfiDp_9mDM9iHNEFk9vpWkhwUl_E1_tyZWwxGqT4k3XlpB0DGYElt042qS09DZ53MY3Me7bP3cL5DxUwZU2bKypegN/s640/blogger-image-1521994167.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Mini Christmas trees :) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPGMPrPE9VXJ8m90nPnoSMMeHnWHg2AkG0sluIimio1pYPnwb3qOmgrOt0CBxbMx6Z7dFevdmfZdX2wzrYRsd03mN_eZTvneg0z1uE2-Tejn3StFFYg49_Jt1FQT3M4huPjdfmRQtAJUl/s640/blogger-image-770101951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPGMPrPE9VXJ8m90nPnoSMMeHnWHg2AkG0sluIimio1pYPnwb3qOmgrOt0CBxbMx6Z7dFevdmfZdX2wzrYRsd03mN_eZTvneg0z1uE2-Tejn3StFFYg49_Jt1FQT3M4huPjdfmRQtAJUl/s640/blogger-image-770101951.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-16030849351461010882013-11-24T04:05:00.001-08:002013-11-24T04:25:12.666-08:00I know you've been reading my blog...Day 79: 23/11/13<div><br></div><div>Hey you beautiful people! How are you doing?? I just wanted to share something with you! I discovered something really cool the other day! I mean I knew that most of you reading this would be my friends, family and acquaintances, people who are interested in my adventures, and who like to catch up on my blog when there's updates, but I just took a look at the statistics of my blog and saw something I didn't expect! This is the page views on my blog over the last few months. Check out some of the different countries my blog has been viewed! I don't know about you but I think that's super cool :) so if you're reading this from any of these places, you've contributed to this ;) </div><table __gwtcellbasedwidgetimpldispatchingfocus="true" __gwtcellbasedwidgetimpldispatchingblur="true" class="GHUY-LPG0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-spacing: 0px; width: 347px; height: 32px; "><tbody style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><tr __gwt_row="9" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GHUY-LPP-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(243, 247, 251); "></tr></tbody><thead style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><tr __gwt_header_row="0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><th colspan="1" class="GHUY-LPF- GHUY-LPD-" __gwt_column="column-gwt-uid-244" __gwt_header="header-gwt-uid-245" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 15px; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(111, 114, 119); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; color: rgb(75, 74, 74); text-shadow: rgb(221, 221, 255) 1px 1px 0px; overflow: hidden; "><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Entry</span></font></th><th colspan="1" class="GHUY-LPF- GHUY-LPN-" __gwt_column="column-gwt-uid-246" __gwt_header="header-gwt-uid-247" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px 15px; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(111, 114, 119); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; color: rgb(75, 74, 74); text-shadow: rgb(221, 221, 255) 1px 1px 0px; overflow: hidden; "><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Pageviews</span></font></th></tr></thead><tbody style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><tr __gwt_row="0" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GHUY-LPPY" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><td class="GHUY-LPOY GHUY-LPA- GHUY-LPB-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 15px; border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; "><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-248" tabindex="0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><p class="GHUY-LPKN" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; width: 220px; white-space: nowrap; "><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">New Zealand</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "></p></div></td><td class="GHUY-LPOY GHUY-LPA- GHUY-LPL-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 15px; border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; "><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-249" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">701</span></div></td></tr><tr __gwt_row="1" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GHUY-LPP-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(243, 247, 251); "><td class="GHUY-LPOY GHUY-LPA0 GHUY-LPB-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 15px; border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; "><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-248" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><p class="GHUY-LPKN" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; width: 220px; white-space: nowrap; "><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Spain</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "></p></div></td><td class="GHUY-LPOY GHUY-LPA0 GHUY-LPL-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 15px; border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; "><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-249" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">506</span></div></td></tr><tr __gwt_row="2" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GHUY-LPPY" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><td class="GHUY-LPOY GHUY-LPA- GHUY-LPB-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 15px; border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; "><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-248" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><p class="GHUY-LPKN" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; width: 220px; white-space: nowrap; "><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">United States</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "></p></div></td><td class="GHUY-LPOY GHUY-LPA- GHUY-LPL-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 15px; border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; "><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-249" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">91</span></div></td></tr><tr __gwt_row="3" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GHUY-LPP-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(243, 247, 251); "><td class="GHUY-LPOY GHUY-LPA0 GHUY-LPB-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 15px; border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; "><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-248" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><p class="GHUY-LPKN" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; width: 220px; white-space: nowrap; "><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">France</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "></p></div></td><td class="GHUY-LPOY GHUY-LPA0 GHUY-LPL-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 15px; border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; "><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-249" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">34</span></div></td></tr><tr __gwt_row="4" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GHUY-LPPY" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><td class="GHUY-LPOY GHUY-LPA- GHUY-LPB-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 15px; border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; "><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-248" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><p class="GHUY-LPKN" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; width: 220px; white-space: nowrap; "><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">United Kingdom</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "></p></div></td><td class="GHUY-LPOY GHUY-LPA- GHUY-LPL-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 15px; border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; "><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-249" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">27</span></div></td></tr><tr __gwt_row="5" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GHUY-LPP-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(243, 247, 251); "><td class="GHUY-LPOY GHUY-LPA0 GHUY-LPB-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 15px; border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; "><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-248" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><p class="GHUY-LPKN" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; width: 220px; white-space: nowrap; "><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Germany</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "></p></div></td><td class="GHUY-LPOY GHUY-LPA0 GHUY-LPL-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 15px; border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; "><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-249" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">24</span></div></td></tr><tr __gwt_row="6" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GHUY-LPPY" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><td class="GHUY-LPOY GHUY-LPA- GHUY-LPB-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 15px; border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; "><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-248" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><p class="GHUY-LPKN" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; width: 220px; white-space: nowrap; "><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Latvia</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "></p></div></td><td class="GHUY-LPOY GHUY-LPA- GHUY-LPL-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 15px; border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; "><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-249" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">23</span></div></td></tr><tr __gwt_row="7" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GHUY-LPP-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(243, 247, 251); "><td class="GHUY-LPOY GHUY-LPA0 GHUY-LPB-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 15px; border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; "><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-248" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><p class="GHUY-LPKN" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; width: 220px; white-space: nowrap; "><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Australia</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "></p></div></td><td class="GHUY-LPOY GHUY-LPA0 GHUY-LPL-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 15px; border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; "><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-249" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">15</span></div></td></tr><tr __gwt_row="8" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GHUY-LPPY" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><td class="GHUY-LPOY GHUY-LPA- GHUY-LPB-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 15px; border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; "><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-248" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><p class="GHUY-LPKN" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; width: 220px; white-space: nowrap; "><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Belgium</span></p><p class="GHUY-LPKN" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; width: 220px; white-space: nowrap; "><br></p><p class="GHUY-LPKN" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; width: 220px; "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I hope everyone has been enjoying reading my blog! It takes a lot of time to gather my thoughts so I am not able to write that often, but when I do I try to make sure that it doesn't bore anyone to death :b </span></p><p class="GHUY-LPKN" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; width: 220px; "><br></p><p class="GHUY-LPKN" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; width: 220px; "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Here's a sweet picture I took as a nice way to finish my short post :) </span></p><p class="GHUY-LPKN" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; width: 220px; "><br></p><p class="GHUY-LPKN" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; width: 220px; "></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SeMw_WwyfdA/UpHvwogvD9I/AAAAAAAAAjo/-Aa44nDy91M/s640/blogger-image--1811735335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SeMw_WwyfdA/UpHvwogvD9I/AAAAAAAAAjo/-Aa44nDy91M/s640/blogger-image--1811735335.jpg"></a></div><br><p></p><p class="GHUY-LPKN" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; width: 220px; "><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "></p></div></td><td class="GHUY-LPOY GHUY-LPA- GHUY-LPL-" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 15px; border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; "><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-249" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">12</span></div><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-249" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-249" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-249" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline-style: none; "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-30679844848608083202013-11-14T07:08:00.001-08:002013-11-14T07:08:30.585-08:00Friends like theseDay: 70? (Who knows) <a href="tel:60%2014/11/13" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0">14/11/13</a><div><br></div><div>So it is past the 2 month mark now and I have been through some tough challenges but as you can see, I'm still here :p i have survived so far! In fact I think I'm doing more than surviving, I've had some really awesome moments here in Spain and it is becoming easier to find these moments. Dare i say that I'm proud of how far I've come and how much bravery and tenacity I've had throughout these past few weeks, yes i believe i can. Of course I've had to do a lot of it on my own but I can't help but mention how grateful I am to have found some amazing friends in two other girls also from the AFS exchange program. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C0kRhr3x-wM/UoTnTnIiuKI/AAAAAAAAAi4/-Y38rgbAGQQ/s640/blogger-image-1480477167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C0kRhr3x-wM/UoTnTnIiuKI/AAAAAAAAAi4/-Y38rgbAGQQ/s640/blogger-image-1480477167.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>We are a group of 3, from different sides of the world, there is Žanete who is from Latvia, Katerina from Switzerland and myself, from New Zealand. The thought of this amazes me - how we can be from totally different sides of the world but this one, crazy thing that we have decided to do, has connected us all together in the same place and at the same time. We are each here for our own reasons and purposes, we will all go through our own completely different experience, and we are like the complete opposites of each other, but some how, we understand each other, and we just seem to fit together like a puzzle (is that cliche enough for you :p) </div><div><br></div><div>I should probably mention that we had only meet each other twice before we became good friends, and only three times before we felt comfortable sharing the same bed, of sending hideous photos of ourselves to each other and now I would trust them with anything. They're my girls and I feel like I have been missing out on their awesome companionship all this time! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO442gyqSVsTf1eyILTaqYgN3K_SgOt-3ttekQtzm6cgjAsfWJMq6ewE7FmpQgNeAM-h6m2Rw4uzYhRzju8Cjie7ClquL3v7vMzUXSg2ngQV4QPAR8IKJLeiYmXk-TQ2DrMXn_xL9Nc_09/s640/blogger-image--990025503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO442gyqSVsTf1eyILTaqYgN3K_SgOt-3ttekQtzm6cgjAsfWJMq6ewE7FmpQgNeAM-h6m2Rw4uzYhRzju8Cjie7ClquL3v7vMzUXSg2ngQV4QPAR8IKJLeiYmXk-TQ2DrMXn_xL9Nc_09/s640/blogger-image--990025503.jpg"></a></div> </div><div>Just two weeks ago we went out on a girls night to Barcelona, to have dinner and just enjoy the beautiful city! We put on our dresses and heels for the night and had some delicious salads and some great laughs! Walking arm and arm down the Main Street, all dolled up, speaking English, and giggling our heads off sure turned some heads! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pEouZN6HAsE/UoTnXJoPncI/AAAAAAAAAjI/4S-QfjDuo1c/s640/blogger-image--167629527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pEouZN6HAsE/UoTnXJoPncI/AAAAAAAAAjI/4S-QfjDuo1c/s640/blogger-image--167629527.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>But yeah, just if anyone was wondering how i was doing friend-wise, if I was a loner or if I was hanging out with all the popular kids, I have to managed to find myself the best friends I could have asked for. I didn't mention that they speak like perfect English, so I don't have to continuously explain my jokes until it becomes awkward and not even funny anymore. They get me! Seriously though, I was beginning to worry that I would lose my sense of humour here, I have a quick mind in English but it takes me so long to process things in Spanish. </div><div><br></div><div>But yeah, if you are thinking about doing an exchange, make friends in your other AFS companions!! #bestchoiceever </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q69gYQMKmLQ/UoTnYggw2yI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/xEjubtFv9wc/s640/blogger-image--347063523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q69gYQMKmLQ/UoTnYggw2yI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/xEjubtFv9wc/s640/blogger-image--347063523.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qnpfBr2-uCA/UoTnbCNoTaI/AAAAAAAAAjY/1rDVNgfNTtk/s640/blogger-image-508062352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qnpfBr2-uCA/UoTnbCNoTaI/AAAAAAAAAjY/1rDVNgfNTtk/s640/blogger-image-508062352.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>"There's no place I'd rather be than to have you crazy freaks with me!" Xx </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div> </div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-90730983965871438852013-10-30T10:45:00.000-07:002013-10-30T10:45:10.960-07:00Life as I know itDay 55: 30/10/13<br />
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I think that I should have updated my blog a lot sooner because i now have a long list of things to write about :S <br />
So, some key words describing what i have been up to in the past 2 weeks: School,wakeboarding, hockey, shopping, friends, eating, packages and parcels, exams, break down, skype, family,and AFS camp.<br />
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Everyone asks me how things are going and i think school is one of the most regular (and unavoidable) things in my life at the moment. To be completely honest, i am finding school very hard. This is due to the language, first of all, not being able to understand the teachers is very challenging, friends, and well... boredom. In class, generally, i sit by myself, and this is not always by choice. Since the first day arrved at school everyone seemed to be already sitting in seats of 2, so consequently i had to find a seat by myself. I thought that this would change but it hasn´t, i actually find that some days - very awkwardly - other students walk into the class and see that there are not many seats and they will look all around the class before coming and sitting next to me. Makes me feel rather, rejected haha. Especially since everyone says that "everyone wants to be friends with the exchange student" which was true in New Zealand, but not so much here. I get the odd person asking me where i´m from and how i like spain, but apart from that, there´s no special treatment. Some days,i think that i must be doing something wrong. Maybe i didn´t make a good first impression? I mean, i have a group that i walk around with at school, but i really thought that more people would want to talk to me. For a while i really wanted to change schools, but this would be really difficult and all the schools here in Catalonia are in Catalán anyway and friends say that its just the way the teenagers are here in Castelldefels.<br />
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Following on from school, i have had a few exams in the past few weeks... how fantastic they have been! Nobody even tells me that there is an exam and i walk into the class and all the desks are separated for the exams. Of course i know that i´m not really capable of doing the exams but i just find it a little bit rude when the teachers don´t even hand me the exam paper, they skip me every time and i have to ask them, specifically, to give me a paper. So the exams scores range from 0 - 10 i believe... not sure if you can get less? But here it works very different to New Zealand because there are no internal assessments or projects (just one that you work on for the whole year - a research, written report and presentation that has to be between 25-50 pages), there are just lots of tests. This sucks because all my friends are always busying studying for these exams. For my first exam i answered one question and got a 1 out of 10. For the next exam i received another 1 and today i got my castellano paper back... 0.4 out of 10. Now the reason why i wasn´´t sure if you could get less than 0 is because, here, every time you answer a question wrong you get - 0.1 and for my philosophy exam it was multi choice questions... so you know what i did ... a,b,c,c,d,a,b,d... you get the picture. I chose any random letter - didn´t work out so well for me. <br />
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Oh and wakeboarding! That´s something i have been trying. At first i was pretty good, making great progress on the practicing cable - so i tried the big cable. I managed to do a full cycle on my first go but after that i couldn´t even get off the platform. It´s a lot harder than people make it look! Not only because it´s difficult but because it kills your arms and legs, you have to hold a slighly bent position at the knees - that´s got to be fantastic for the thighs though!<br />
The crew at the Olympic Canal (wakeboarding place) are awesome, they always make me feel welcome and are just soo lovely! They´re the type of people that i was expecting in Spain, such pleasant people to be around.<br />
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Hockey. Ahh hockey. I feel like the more i play hockey here, the worse i get. Yup, that would be about right hahaha. It doesn´t matter what position i changed to on the field...i feel like i have forgotten how to play :( And i miss having one of my besties Joella playing hockey with meee! So basically, i´m not really enjoying it but i need to play for the exercise! It´s about $55 a month too, very expensive :/<br />
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The food here! I really expected it to be a lot healthier, so now, yes, i am freaking out about getting fat!!! AFS (Another fat student) no thank you! My family in particular is rather unhealthy, they (we) eat pasta, rice, bread and meat, not many vegetables and not much fruit. From next week my host mum will be working so i will have to make my own lunch after school, so i am actually looking forward to that! Salad! Yoghurt! Fruit! I already feel like i have put on a little bit of weight and i want to cry :( Very pleased that i walk for about 1 hour everyday due to walking to and from school - at least that is something!Hopefully you have been looking at all my phtos in my Spain food diary!! If not, check it out :3<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bo3b9TWqawQ/UnFESfBBGCI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/IqCqSJGtdsA/s1600/IMG_1762%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bo3b9TWqawQ/UnFESfBBGCI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/IqCqSJGtdsA/s320/IMG_1762%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a><br />
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Friends <3 now i am not just saying this because i am an Exchange student... but seriously Exchange students are the coolest people you will ever meet! The people i have met here with AFS are absolutely awesome. Katerina, Zanete and Pamela, love them to bits and i have only met them like 3 times!! Every Exchange student is so different but we have this one big thing in common that connects us all,that nobody else could ever understand! I am catching up with them this weekend, going out for dinner in Barcelona and then having a sleepover at my house!! Soo excited!
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XLrRZPa5c3k/UnFEmttDuwI/AAAAAAAAAiY/UFtV98bUHkg/s1600/IMG_1756%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XLrRZPa5c3k/UnFEmttDuwI/AAAAAAAAAiY/UFtV98bUHkg/s400/IMG_1756%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6r3OUusbuElxoupvpIgMrB_3RWT8VcVFOhoTR0tpB_S6AVLRcUVgRGlfn6F3yNKfRTQ553txL3m1qqTTnKSGI1KoSgHsmy_nEzBfMiXah9ibJS4KAjeeOFKG5G4AyU3RnRlHVe78RvuE2/s1600/IMG_1730%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6r3OUusbuElxoupvpIgMrB_3RWT8VcVFOhoTR0tpB_S6AVLRcUVgRGlfn6F3yNKfRTQ553txL3m1qqTTnKSGI1KoSgHsmy_nEzBfMiXah9ibJS4KAjeeOFKG5G4AyU3RnRlHVe78RvuE2/s400/IMG_1730%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a><br />
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I have also been the mall a few times with friends and made another new friend out of my host sister´s piano teacher who is the same age as me. Last night i finished school early and had a lovely lunch with my friend Cristina and her family for her mother´s birthday. Her family is always very sweet to me. They´re like my second family away from my second family hahaha. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAQ1d56qapXNYVsTY0lBE25vYkWayFqjLccPuXQkZDKY7uySMdlJ9tsxvX81zysfwaltKlh-QFCmY9YV9ufN5dnyMIInNlq8lqarvn3V_pFDbLGna-zuQq9z0zs2wR6pa8kA7KdI_3seB/s1600/IMG_1777%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAQ1d56qapXNYVsTY0lBE25vYkWayFqjLccPuXQkZDKY7uySMdlJ9tsxvX81zysfwaltKlh-QFCmY9YV9ufN5dnyMIInNlq8lqarvn3V_pFDbLGna-zuQq9z0zs2wR6pa8kA7KdI_3seB/s320/IMG_1777%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a><br />
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My lovely mother back in NZ has sent me some parcels in the mail which i was very excited about!! I opened the first package to find a book in the series that i really wanted to read (in english)which i was very happy about, but discovered that my mum had sent me book number 3 instead of number 1, was disappointed... but my amazing mum bought and sent me the 1st and 2nd book in the series as soon as i told her :3 Such a fantastic mum i have, i miss her a bunch! She also sent me my christmas present... very early, it´s a bit mean but at least i will have something to unwrap at christmas time. I am kind of dreading Christmas... without my family, and familiarity. No BBQ for me this year. I have a feeling that i will cry, actually that is a definite, but at least i have skype and i can talk with everyone and kinda be apart of their christmas because it will only be christmas eve here. I have told my host mum that we have to have pavlova and ambrosia! So hopefully she will buy the ingredients and i can enjoy that here with this new family of mine :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wjYENz2_ieTwq74ZJcLU3_RV2Qor7o6dLTm40hd6tpswhvWz6BpIt3FyXQLoHRV4DlcXjvOAVtZHY-cM0Ta9XYAq_aUdrh6gWdu7JPJHNY3tsWPhkZAmmtEg490dZTd-z4JTBy1Yyuwh/s1600/IMG_1657%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wjYENz2_ieTwq74ZJcLU3_RV2Qor7o6dLTm40hd6tpswhvWz6BpIt3FyXQLoHRV4DlcXjvOAVtZHY-cM0Ta9XYAq_aUdrh6gWdu7JPJHNY3tsWPhkZAmmtEg490dZTd-z4JTBy1Yyuwh/s320/IMG_1657%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a><br />
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So at the very beginning of this blog i did mention the Word "breakdown" but i´m not going to post about it on this blog. It would take to long and i have to watch what i say on here, but if anyone wants to know what´s been going on behind scenes you can message me and we can talk! :) I´d also love if people wanted to skype or send letters, so talk to me about that tooo!<br />
<br />
Alright, i think i have covered just about everything. I have been sitting here for 2 hours writing this, so i hope you read all of it and enjoyed at least some of it. <br />
Don´t worry, i am surviving here in Spain and i think i am slowly adapting more and more everyday. It is nearly 2 months since i have been here and it still seems so crazy.<br />
<br />
I will keep you posted,<br />
much love<br />
Victoria-Rose <3Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-50004357278819226832013-10-13T08:23:00.001-07:002013-10-13T12:36:10.150-07:00A picture can't capture everythingDay 38: 13/10/13<div><br></div><div>Hey everyone! Haven't written anything in a while, not because lack of time but rather not having any energy to, physically and mentally... or if I were to be completely honest, its probably because I've been too lazy. But I'm doing it now so I hope no one is complaining and muttering under their breath haha</div><div><br></div><div>So what's been happening? Well I have 3 topics to write about but, this blog, i will delegate to only one topic. Lucky you! </div><div><br></div><div>Firstly, I went to Barcelona with my family on Thursday night :) I don't know if you know but I actually live just outside of Barcelona in a town called castelldefels so although I say that I live in "Barcelona" I am about 20 minutes by car. Now this may not seem like far but you know how it is (like Timaru and Temuka), it takes a lot of effort and organisation to get there haha. So I have only been there once really, for the fiesta and I didn't do much sight seeing except for the main area where the fiesta was based.</div><div> On Thursday night I went with my family for dinner to Barcelona (10pm), we left for Barcelona at 7.30pm in my host dad's fancy Porsche. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkaznzvYBX-ok9s6j-WJL49p_dXxKk0cromEEvTXSFlCKHMdxTUisdlvvfUJ1B4Hostp3B9uEfLPqhis5_sWs22DxpafzMN-BW1FFS9ic_-HrpW4nYKaDN8tinAQG1oXf_ilsoPq23hGF/s640/blogger-image--389882994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkaznzvYBX-ok9s6j-WJL49p_dXxKk0cromEEvTXSFlCKHMdxTUisdlvvfUJ1B4Hostp3B9uEfLPqhis5_sWs22DxpafzMN-BW1FFS9ic_-HrpW4nYKaDN8tinAQG1oXf_ilsoPq23hGF/s640/blogger-image--389882994.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>At this time you got to see Barcelona as the night life came alive. I was like a child in a candy shop. I didn't know where to look! Everything I saw was amazing and beautiful and just amazing! The Main Street was bustling with people and sweet little cafes, fancy restaurants, and gorgeous Spanish style buildings. I was attempting to take pictures whilst trying to keep up with my host family (consequently a lot of the photos turned out blurry :/) but one thing that you must understand is that the camera could not capture the actual emotion of the city. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqhKSH2VH9ZETZqjol6wLgTfNRkzCE5USZAh2rzqvUtV0ZHxMTahZNtxtecou_UdcIM5qdSKBAoSX_gf3HCOucFu8tFWJxSDzttgwsQPtGpzU-oONb2lpR0E3z2cNLMrIf4eBCa2Au0Nb/s640/blogger-image--566816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqhKSH2VH9ZETZqjol6wLgTfNRkzCE5USZAh2rzqvUtV0ZHxMTahZNtxtecou_UdcIM5qdSKBAoSX_gf3HCOucFu8tFWJxSDzttgwsQPtGpzU-oONb2lpR0E3z2cNLMrIf4eBCa2Au0Nb/s640/blogger-image--566816.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>You do not get all the extra things that are outside of that one moment captured in a photo like the Spanish music, the smell of gourmet seafood, the laughter of happy Spaniards, the sound of a bell on a gentlemans' bicycle as he rides past as if he has no troubles in the world... All of this is what I came here for. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BlEE8ujXpRE/Ulq6_QFl9sI/AAAAAAAAAgs/RWylt_Hl1V8/s640/blogger-image--512158921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BlEE8ujXpRE/Ulq6_QFl9sI/AAAAAAAAAgs/RWylt_Hl1V8/s640/blogger-image--512158921.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>No longer do I just have a picture in my mind of a place I could only wish to one day go. That background of a beautiful city that I had on my computer desktop, I am in that picture. I'm not sure how many of you understand this feeling but it is incredible. Despite the fact that I can only recognise a few words from the sentences going on around me and I have no idea which direction takes me to where I want to go, and yes, I take photos like an Asian on a high (no offence :3), I am just like everyone else, like all the people who call Barcelona their home. It's a dream come to life. Gosh this all sounds so crazy and somewhat cringe worthy , but it's all true. I am here , and you are wherever you are, and at this very moment we are living completely different lives. I have just been for a bike ride next to the beautiful Mediterranean Sea whilst you have been asleep. I have also enjoyed a beautiful meal of pasta and chicken, been forced to dress up in a wetsuit and ride a suitcase, nearly stood in poop, and have been talking with a family, that is apparently mine, in another language.</div><div><br></div><div>I will also just quickly mention that for dinner in Barcelona we went to this cute Italian restaurant and I had a croissant style pizza and tried a nice beer with a touch of lemon. My host family was lovely enough to pay for my meal for me and it was absolutely delicious. :) </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--wAqbHON7Y4/Ulq6-EZPEKI/AAAAAAAAAgk/19_7Wapt31g/s640/blogger-image-103851630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--wAqbHON7Y4/Ulq6-EZPEKI/AAAAAAAAAgk/19_7Wapt31g/s640/blogger-image-103851630.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div> I am now sitting at the kitchen table, on a Sunday afternoon, a little bored because my friends are all busy studying for a Catalan exam that I will not be doing... </div><div>But that's my next topic :) hope you enjoyed my little fairytale (as it seems to be one) and that you are having a lovely sleep (New Zealanders of course). </div><div><br></div><div>Update soon <3</div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-82705210726998229532013-10-08T08:32:00.001-07:002013-10-08T08:32:49.856-07:00Why so emotional?Day 26: 02/10/13
Okay this blog entry might not be thaat interesting as it doesn´t have any peaking moments in it, but I said that I would share the good, bad and everything in between. Also, please do not pay attention to the gramatical and spelling errors in this as this laptop is in a spanish setting and only recognises spanish words - therefore no auto correct.
So, today was a challenging day in the way that I went through so many emotions in one day and I don´t quite know what to think of it. I was happy, bored, upset, embarrassed, sensitive, positive, excited, impressed and now... confused
My morning started off just as it usually does, around 6.15am. I wake up, do whatever girls do in the bathroom for half an hour, get breakfast, make lunch, clean up everything after myself (so that my mum doesn´t tell me off when i get home) and leave for school, tired but quite happy. I love having this time to myself in the morning, with no one else awake! I had a nice coffee (i don´t even like coffee, but i am so tired all the time that i feel as though i need it), and i had chocolate cereal. I left for school at 7.40am as usual and really enjoyed my nice walk to school, with the temperatura just right, and some music to listen to. I listen to the same 10 songs over and over because there is no good music on my phone, but oh well.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtc6Htw8UpZVU4XGp4TN5B_6YzMPar9-Tmg8uroiSBdQftwFt5zil0Y0lPVzZYebkZUZrRdZfhoEjV2J32MVpguKv8QWNNJdUyz5_n3VbKrCH2Ht2tip1BAmMLus8UMskNxQoKfBOz6Vgm/s1600/IMG_1149%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtc6Htw8UpZVU4XGp4TN5B_6YzMPar9-Tmg8uroiSBdQftwFt5zil0Y0lPVzZYebkZUZrRdZfhoEjV2J32MVpguKv8QWNNJdUyz5_n3VbKrCH2Ht2tip1BAmMLus8UMskNxQoKfBOz6Vgm/s400/IMG_1149%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a>
I´m always quite happy until I actually arrive at school, realising that i will then have to go inside and be locked away for the day. But today, that wasn´t the real problem. The problem was that, in Geography class there are never many seats and always a lot of students. So when i walk into the classroom i find that there are only a of couple seats left, one next to this creepy guy who doesn´t talk, another next to this guy who looks like he´s too cool for everyone and one next to this guy that i had spoken to once before. So, obviously i casually sit down next to the guy i know. A few minutes later this girl strolls into the class room late and she looks at me, annoyed, because apparently i took her seat. Now, there are no certain seating plans here so, to me, it wasn´t a big deal. But she starts getting all up in my face, in spanish, telling me to move, but i say no. I wasn´t being rude but i genuinely just didn´t want to sit with the guy who doesn´t talk and just stares. But the girl really just wanted her own way, she was making a big deal out of it and really embarrassing me making me look stupid because i couldn´t respond fast enough. Now i really didn´t want to cry but i think that she just made me tip. I mean it´s hard enough coming to a new country, family and school without her being a... you know. I just think i felt particularly sensitive and couldn´t stop myself from crying, consequently i had to leave class because i knew i had to calm my silly self down. I got stopped by some english speaking teachers (i was sobbing at this point) and i told them i wanted to go home. They refused to let me leave and instead they let me go and sit in the cafetería and calm myself haha. The lovely cafetería people gave me a coffee and a lolly. That was nice. After an hour i returned to class and basically acted as if nothing happened.
In the end, i think that crying and making a fuss turned out to be a positive thing. This is because the teachers realised that i was actually unhappy with school and how things were going. I told them about how unwelcome i felt (they didn´t even know i was an Exchange student) and how i was upset about having absolutely nothing to do in class. In New Zealand i worked my butt off to get good grades and here i didn´t even have a colouring in book to do during class. I was soo bored. I told them that i knew they couldn´t slow down the pace of the clases but the least i expected was a book to work from, or to just read. Consequently, some of the teachers have now given me some books to flick through.
That was the main part of my day, but the best part of my day was that i discovered the rule to the future tense verbs in spanish. This means that i unlocked several new words for myself to use in conversation. When i got home from school i was able to have a decent conversation with my host mum (with help from a spanish, english dictionary). I was very impressed with myself. I´m just wishing that i had some spanish lessons at school rather than sitting in catalán classes doing individual work. Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-18052065989897972382013-09-26T10:49:00.001-07:002013-09-26T10:49:22.549-07:00Oh Fiesta!<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Day 20: 26/09/13 </span><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">I think I have been counting the days wrong, unsure exactly what day it is, so don't quote me! </div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">So! Aside from school, what has been going on?? Well the most interesting topic would be the Fiesta that was on this weekend! I know that this sparks a bit of jealousy in some :p to put it simply, it was AWESOME! The best party I have ever been to!! (Unfortunately i don't have photos, i didn't want my Iphone to be stolen) In New Zealand, yeah they party but they don't know HOW to party! They talk, they drink. Here it is much the same, but so much more! The night started off at 10pm, we caught the train to Barcelona with sooo many people I thought the train might not manage to close the doors. People were cramped into every corner, with their faces smooshed up against the windows! Luckily, the trip only took 20 minutes! Arriving in Barcelona I followed the sound of the music along with my bunch of friends (around 15) and we found our way to the party! At first we just sat down in the centre square of Barcelona, sure there were HEAPS of people, talking, having fun, and music was playing, but I thought to myself "is this it?" Haha! Luckily I didn't say anything because my friends said, "right, lets get into the party!" Which was a huge concert! Thousands and thousands of people, together in a massive mosh pit! Boy it was crazy, the atmosphere was amazing! I had never seen so many teenagers and young people together in one place! Now dancing might not be everyone's thing, but I was born with something in me that lives to dance!! I was keen to join with the city and move with the music! </div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">So I followed my friends into the crowd and we lost ourselves in the Spanish and English music! I loved the feeling of letting everything go! I simply danced, and everything was A.O.K :) The people I was with were from my school and friends of friends haha. They proved to be great company, treating me like one of them :) at one point I was minding my own business , just dancing, when someone starts to chant my name. Apparently I was ripping out some fancy moves?? They were loving my dancing and thought it was a cool idea to form a circle and scream my name, oh I could have died!! In my mind I was paralysed with embarrassment but my body just kept dancing hahaha and I laughed it all off, pretending that I was off in my world! (I did feel pretty awesome :p) </div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">And that was it, for hours! We danced with friends, made new ones and nothing could bring us down :p it all sounds so crazy and probably cheesy, but seriously, you just had to be there. I Finally got to bed at 6am, I think I did my fair share of exercise for the day. Ahh, I just can't wait for the next fiesta! Wishing that there was a fiesta every week! Unfortunately, the next is not for a couple months :/ oh well, at least I still have music and I can have my own song and dance party in the shower! Oh Barcelona, how I love you. </div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-55636786227316688832013-09-21T11:29:00.001-07:002013-09-21T11:29:48.901-07:00School in Spain<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Day 15: 18/09/13 </span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So I decided to leave writing for a whole so that I would have more to talk about (I know some of you already think this is waay too long :p) but I don't have that much really. Mostly, all I have to talk about is school. Where do I start with school?? </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Well first of all, it feels like a cage or a prison. Hahaha I know, a bit drastic, but compared to mountainview high school back in Timaru, it really does feel that way. The first things you see are a big, brick building, surrounded by a big brick wall and a locked, black gate that is the only entrance, and exit. To add to the beauty of the school, the brick fence has graffiti as a nice decoration. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When school begins (at 8.10am) the gates are unlocked and a huge mob of students cram inside the doors. To get to my classes I have to push my way up some stairs and down a long, rather narrow, corridor. The classrooms aren't much to describe, a medium sized room with desks for the students (around 30), a desk for the teacher, a couple of rubbish bins, and a smart board/chalkboard. The windows in the school are placed high on the walls, when we arrive in the morning there a thick, metal blinds pulled down over them. I don't know whether this is for security or what - possibly, they do not want the students to get distracted by the outside world (the brick fence). I must say that I took mountainview and it's mountain views for granted! Even though I always did appreciate the gorgeous rose garden in summer and the neatly trimmed hedges. I think I miss waiting outside in the fresh air for a teacher to let us into class. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y7mfOW4yOvI/Uj3lTiJH-UI/AAAAAAAAAf4/i5tz38LK72g/s640/blogger-image--1381640371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y7mfOW4yOvI/Uj3lTiJH-UI/AAAAAAAAAf4/i5tz38LK72g/s640/blogger-image--1381640371.jpg"></a></div>Mountainview </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Another...interesting, perhaps, thing about the school is the toilets. They are in a very narrow room, and you have to grab a few pieces of toilet paper before you enter the cubicle. Most of the toilets did not have toilet seats, just a toilet bowl? I believe that you are not allowed to go to the toilet during class time but I don't know about during breaks, because when I attempted to go to the toilet, they were locked. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The subjects that I am apparently taking are: history, art history, maths, geography, psychology and sociology, Catalan, Spanish, English and philosophy. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "> </span></div><div><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IIHbn0X9he4/Uj3lYmMhUcI/AAAAAAAAAgA/BfwKRGTtO5I/s640/blogger-image-2124603978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IIHbn0X9he4/Uj3lYmMhUcI/AAAAAAAAAgA/BfwKRGTtO5I/s640/blogger-image-2124603978.jpg"></a></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">In New Zealand I only took Spanish, photography, English, history and physical education. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The schedule here is:</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Begin 8.10pm</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">2 hours of classes.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">A 25 minute break.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">2 hours of classes.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">A 15 minute break.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">2 hours if classes.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Finish 2.50pm</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">This means we have an extra hour of school compared to nz and I have to get up at 6.30am to walk to school. Boy does it drag on! 7 hours of barely understanding a word. I do nothing in class except listen, and I feel utterly exhausted by the time school finishes. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Something strange I discovered was that the teachers did not know who I was or what I was doing at the school. They would talk to me very fast in Catalan or Spanish and I would not understand a word. When I told them I didn't understand they were very confused as to why I was at their school. There were a few embarrassing moments where they would ask me a question and I would just nod and agree and the class would all laugh at me...awkward!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I can honestly say that this is the most challenging situation I have ever experienced! My brain works over time, having to wake up at 6.30am , trying to work in 2 languages all day and only getting to sleep at 11pm because dinner is around 9pm and my family are night owls. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I would say that my main escape here is listening to music. Although, thanks to my friend Katie they are mainly super intense remixs and my sisters body jam songs. The people here are nice. I feel as though I am a bit of a fly, following them around rather than being part of the group at this stage, but isn't that what you would expect? The language barrier of course is against me, but some students do speak a little English. I hope I pick this language thing up sooner rather than later as it sure is hard to join in these girls fast talking, giggly conversations. Ahhh, time for sleep before my head explodes ! :p</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-65162643033795023002013-09-12T06:43:00.001-07:002013-09-12T07:11:49.182-07:00The settling in stageSo today is the 7th day of my life in Spain. Wow, that's a whole week! It feels as though the time went so quick but yet I'm convinced that I haven't seen my family for at least a month. I must admit I am missing my family, boyfriend and friends... Already. How embarrassing haha. But to be honest I know that they are already missing me too, cute guys! <div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So on Tuesday (10/9/13) I met someone new, I made my first friend :O my host dad arranged it which was nice. Her name is Cris and I met her and her friend at their school and we caught the bus to the mall they have here in castelldefels (called Anec Blau). At the mall we were on a mission to buy a SIM card, because I couldn't buy one the other day without my pass port. Cris speaks a little bit of English (which is good and bad) and so we communicated using a mixture if English and Spanish. I had a really nice time with them showing me the good stores and talking about the fashion here in Spain. At the moment, the "in" thing is... Crop tops and very short shorts. All the girls like to show their body! What would their mum's say?! Oh wait, their mums are doing it too, don't worry haha. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I didn't buy any clothes but I did buy a yo yo! Not the toy but a yoghurt ice cream that Cristina highly recommended! It cost about $5 and I could choose 3 toppings, there were so many , I wanted to try them all!! But, in the end, I chose Oreo and toblerone pieces and Ferrero rochere chocolate sauce - however you spell that. Omg it was amazing! I better not have too many of those! </span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMZCYqRSOtyxBPNwJ452YtxjM2x7IaauCs24niW1PvleO5T1Rx_NZzIktmvINV1d87dBNTYNeaE7R_5LAR63oPGoekkdGoodEIUWZaZdyN9mSJDaiFLTeTPv4roSWXBElU-nuQ7HY17z-/s640/blogger-image--10864304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMZCYqRSOtyxBPNwJ452YtxjM2x7IaauCs24niW1PvleO5T1Rx_NZzIktmvINV1d87dBNTYNeaE7R_5LAR63oPGoekkdGoodEIUWZaZdyN9mSJDaiFLTeTPv4roSWXBElU-nuQ7HY17z-/s640/blogger-image--10864304.jpg"></a></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Above is the "yo-yo" :)</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">On the Tuesday I also had my first hockey practice with my new team. I couldn't bring my stick with my from New Zealand so all I had was a stick that was too short for me. If you want to know what that's like, it's similar to playing rugby with tiny hands... I guess haha. The practice went from 6.45pm till 8.30pm, in Nz that would be considered very late but I soon discovered why it was held at that time. Because it was still so hot!! If the practice was any earlier I probably would have died. No joke. Conveniently, I left my drink bottle at home and so I looked terribly unfit because I was then dying from the hey and thirst. So my coach said I had to drink from the toilet... Sink! Man, who do you think I am! :p the water was gross as it was warm and I really didn't trust it! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">During the lesson it was sometimes hard to pick up what the coach was saying and one girl got really annoyed when I did things wrong. That amused me. My next practice is tomorrow at 5.20-7, which will probably be even hotter. Hopefully I can find a better stick! </span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">So yesterday, Wednesday 11/9/13 </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">I was going to try wake boarding! Wooo! And also see the beach for the first time :3 buut the weather decided against me. It thought it would be rather funny to rain again, like seriously rain, thunder and everything. So I was stuck inside for the day with not much to do. I couldn't even watch the tv! Well I could but I soon got bored of not understanding anything at all, not even Mickey Mouse on Disney channel. So to save the day, my friend invited me to go to the mall again! :) I went with my family to meet Cristina and her family at the mall. Apparently, castelldefels is as small as Timaru but still manages to have a big mall! But I don't believe that castelldefels could be that small. Anyway, Cristina and her family are so lovely! I love them already . Cristina, her mum and I went shopping and I bought two shirts and matching jeans (for me and Cristina - not her mum). I think this was the first time I felt really content with my new life. I think this was due to the fact that I made a good friend and she could understand me (age wise and also speaking - in English and I'm Spanish). Sadly, she does not go to my school but I'm sure we will remain great friends throughout my exchange here :3 Today we are going on a frappe date! She read the back of my phone which says that I love them and so decided that we must have one! Of course, I agreed.</span></div></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oLGmiDKtUKw/UjHLoomdbWI/AAAAAAAAAfo/1gt10icMm88/s640/blogger-image--598900820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oLGmiDKtUKw/UjHLoomdbWI/AAAAAAAAAfo/1gt10icMm88/s640/blogger-image--598900820.jpg"></a><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-76034598671772605872013-09-09T04:55:00.003-07:002013-09-09T04:55:54.638-07:00My new home (apartment) in Spain :)<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FpFiwi5wabc/Ui23SIH1Y9I/AAAAAAAAAek/pshgaBk7NPQ/s640/blogger-image--984518513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FpFiwi5wabc/Ui23SIH1Y9I/AAAAAAAAAek/pshgaBk7NPQ/s640/blogger-image--984518513.jpg"></a></div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-78778803416853923812013-09-09T04:55:00.001-07:002013-09-09T04:55:08.514-07:00Barcelona - on the train!<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZfvgFKCrPaM/Ui23GqOAWWI/AAAAAAAAAec/yhFepAvqaos/s640/blogger-image-2129120292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZfvgFKCrPaM/Ui23GqOAWWI/AAAAAAAAAec/yhFepAvqaos/s640/blogger-image-2129120292.jpg"></a></div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-26365201451027246852013-09-09T04:54:00.001-07:002013-09-09T04:54:12.932-07:00Some of the AFS Spain students<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSENHbUdot48x1HcNOeCHZeDU1bsGiQ5__fl9vthiiXsbzucQvx4pX1ci7RdReChePgSDs4zUZbcT2VNdcbrsfnoxlyf2groMyOzvImlo9clqDeW9xJNdv8TENjs7vaS7fYhPUXyY5x9j5/s640/blogger-image-1613959831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSENHbUdot48x1HcNOeCHZeDU1bsGiQ5__fl9vthiiXsbzucQvx4pX1ci7RdReChePgSDs4zUZbcT2VNdcbrsfnoxlyf2groMyOzvImlo9clqDeW9xJNdv8TENjs7vaS7fYhPUXyY5x9j5/s640/blogger-image-1613959831.jpg"></a></div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878250341051878065.post-51417060908826344592013-09-09T04:52:00.001-07:002013-09-09T04:52:34.220-07:00Plane food man :s<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sb9IeRr-TTzPgKc37H9zELWMaxwBJua7TPMXaXc8BqWGC_OOp3CXxm_vBqqCse0oHdFcP9dVKeqgee76c4ofCGk-zCwBsRDvXM1WcIZZzhSpXCUgJ3PMzONCTvn11bDQcAhE13cux0fa/s640/blogger-image--702702017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sb9IeRr-TTzPgKc37H9zELWMaxwBJua7TPMXaXc8BqWGC_OOp3CXxm_vBqqCse0oHdFcP9dVKeqgee76c4ofCGk-zCwBsRDvXM1WcIZZzhSpXCUgJ3PMzONCTvn11bDQcAhE13cux0fa/s640/blogger-image--702702017.jpg"></a></div>Victoria Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12253872222473030012noreply@blogger.com0