I think the whole bidet thing starts to make a lot more sense when you think about the logistics of a sewage system not designed to accept toilet paper. In Spain you are not supposed to flush your used toilet paper; you're supposed to throw it in the garbage. But if I were to use toilet paper there like I do here, that would mean I'd be emptying the wastebasket quite often and would have to use latex gloves to do it. So I was trying to think about how that would work & why I never saw wads of feces-stained toilet paper in the wastebasket during my homestay, and I think the bidet is the answer. Think about it: if things get messy, you just shift over & wash it off rather than using a ton of toilet paper. Seems like it would be much cleaner too, 'cause you can never get 100% clean with toilet paper in my experience.
I feel silly spending time thinking about how I'm going to go to the bathroom in Spain, but it's amazing how complicated things can get if flushing toilet paper is not an option. Ah, the things we take for granted about our culture. Who knew I'd have to relearn potty protocol???
06 July 2007
04 July 2007
no news & other news
No new news on the passport front. I *would* have called the passport office today, except I realized that it was the 4th of July, which happens to be a national holiday, and government offices are closed. But will get on it first thing tomorrow!
In other news: I am completely & utterly hooked on Facebook and have already made "friends" with several people who live or will soon live in Spain; I have preordered the 7th & final Harry Potter book and plan to save it to read on the plane; I bought a digital camera so that I can post pictures of my adventures abroad on this blog; and Mom comes home from AZ tomorrow (hooray!!!).
Also, still have not finalized travel plans with Julie and am a little worried we will not actually be sleeping in a hotel, hostel, or other similar establishment because the entire continent of Europe goes on vacation in August and probably made their reservations, oh, last year. But we are confident, capable, independent young women who do not fear sleeping in the great outdoors! Unless there are bugs. But surely there must be a village or two in northern Spain that are not inundated with tourists... Surely??
Oh, yes, and the friend-of-a-friend with the flat in Madrid emailed me to say her first possible house sitter (a native madrileno) IS going to stay at their flat for the month of August, so I emailed my school and asked them to find me a cheaper room. Was tempted to ask the friend-of-a-friend how old her house sitter is and whether he is handsome and single, but I restrained myself. Have not yet heard back from the school, even to say they received my request. Hmph. Suppose they are busy this time of year.
In other news: I am completely & utterly hooked on Facebook and have already made "friends" with several people who live or will soon live in Spain; I have preordered the 7th & final Harry Potter book and plan to save it to read on the plane; I bought a digital camera so that I can post pictures of my adventures abroad on this blog; and Mom comes home from AZ tomorrow (hooray!!!).
Also, still have not finalized travel plans with Julie and am a little worried we will not actually be sleeping in a hotel, hostel, or other similar establishment because the entire continent of Europe goes on vacation in August and probably made their reservations, oh, last year. But we are confident, capable, independent young women who do not fear sleeping in the great outdoors! Unless there are bugs. But surely there must be a village or two in northern Spain that are not inundated with tourists... Surely??
Oh, yes, and the friend-of-a-friend with the flat in Madrid emailed me to say her first possible house sitter (a native madrileno) IS going to stay at their flat for the month of August, so I emailed my school and asked them to find me a cheaper room. Was tempted to ask the friend-of-a-friend how old her house sitter is and whether he is handsome and single, but I restrained myself. Have not yet heard back from the school, even to say they received my request. Hmph. Suppose they are busy this time of year.
03 July 2007
still no passport
I was hoping it would be here when I got back from my trip to P-town, but it is not. And when I tried to track my application online last week, they had no record of it. Despite the fact that they cashed my check in May. Hmm... I think I'm going to have to call them tomorrow to make an appointment.
3 weeks and one day until I leave for Spain!!!
3 weeks and one day until I leave for Spain!!!
16 June 2007
dreams again
I had a dream last night that I was getting on the plane to Madrid and I realized that I still didn't have my passport, nor did I have any idea where or what time I was supposed to meet Julie when I got there (see note on Julie below), nor was I certain I'd even packed my suitcase. How many times am I gonna have dreams like this before I go???
Note on Julie: Julie rocks. Met her in Sevilla the first time I was in Spain. We traveled together to Barcelona, Sion, Chamonix and Geneva after my program was over, and we're going to meet up in Madrid on the 27th of July and travel together again for about a week. Hooray!
Note on Julie: Julie rocks. Met her in Sevilla the first time I was in Spain. We traveled together to Barcelona, Sion, Chamonix and Geneva after my program was over, and we're going to meet up in Madrid on the 27th of July and travel together again for about a week. Hooray!
07 June 2007
The Countdown
I leave for Madrid seven short weeks from today, and I can hardly believe it. I still feel unprepared. Part of the problem is that I don't have my passport yet. Yikes! Really hoping that comes SOON. The other main thing is that I'm waiting to hear about my housing situation. The school I'll be attending has helped arrange accommodation for me for August, but it costs 450 Euro for the month (OUCH!). The other possibility is that a friend of a friend lives in Madrid with her husband and children, and they're going out of town for the month of August and want someone to stay at their house. I've never met these people before, but they're willing to consider me. The problem is that the friend of a friend asked someone else to housesit before she knew about me, and she hasn't heard back from him yet, so at this point I have no idea whether I'll be paying 450 Euro or staying somewhere for free. Obviously I would much prefer free.
I bought a little Moleskine Madrid book at Powell's the other day. It's part of their new line of little guidebooks: it has metro maps, city maps, a street index, and plenty of pages for me to write in my favorite spots and record experiences I want to remember. The book is super portable (small & light). Anyway, I was playing with it a couple nights ago and fantasizing about losing it somewhere and having it returned to me by the man of my dreams. Very unlikely, I know, but that's the point of fantasy. =*)
Although I'm a bit incredulous about how few weeks I have left in the States, I'm also very excited about my adventure: REAL cafe con leche, eating queso manchego and jamon serrano every day...YUM YUM YUM!!! (Odd, isn't it, that the first thing that springs to mind is food? And that the first thing I missed about the U.S. when I went to Spain the first time was Taco Bell?) Of course also very much looking forward to the art and architecture...I intend to take full advantage of the free admission to museums on Sunday mornings. But mostly I'm looking forward to reconnecting with myself. I somehow feel I've gotten away from myself in these last seven or eight months. I haven't spent enough time exploring and reflecting, I guess. But there's also something about being in Spain that helps bring me back into sharp focus. My layers of culture are much easier to see over there, and therefore easier to peel back to peek at what's underneath. And over there, no one knows me. No one expects me to be a certain way or a certain person. Free of other people's expectations, I can reinvent myself once again. I'm free to explore other sides of my personality. To once again test my limits and abilities. To develop new strengths and find new vulnerabilities. I suppose that would be a nightmare for some, but I find the possibilities thrilling.
I bought a little Moleskine Madrid book at Powell's the other day. It's part of their new line of little guidebooks: it has metro maps, city maps, a street index, and plenty of pages for me to write in my favorite spots and record experiences I want to remember. The book is super portable (small & light). Anyway, I was playing with it a couple nights ago and fantasizing about losing it somewhere and having it returned to me by the man of my dreams. Very unlikely, I know, but that's the point of fantasy. =*)
Although I'm a bit incredulous about how few weeks I have left in the States, I'm also very excited about my adventure: REAL cafe con leche, eating queso manchego and jamon serrano every day...YUM YUM YUM!!! (Odd, isn't it, that the first thing that springs to mind is food? And that the first thing I missed about the U.S. when I went to Spain the first time was Taco Bell?) Of course also very much looking forward to the art and architecture...I intend to take full advantage of the free admission to museums on Sunday mornings. But mostly I'm looking forward to reconnecting with myself. I somehow feel I've gotten away from myself in these last seven or eight months. I haven't spent enough time exploring and reflecting, I guess. But there's also something about being in Spain that helps bring me back into sharp focus. My layers of culture are much easier to see over there, and therefore easier to peel back to peek at what's underneath. And over there, no one knows me. No one expects me to be a certain way or a certain person. Free of other people's expectations, I can reinvent myself once again. I'm free to explore other sides of my personality. To once again test my limits and abilities. To develop new strengths and find new vulnerabilities. I suppose that would be a nightmare for some, but I find the possibilities thrilling.
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