A Double Dose of Excitement

Today my visa finally arrived from the Spanish consulate! Although I somehow wrote my address wrong on the envelope. Oops! Could have turned out badly, but all is well.

Now the next thing I need to do is buy a plane ticket to Madrid... departing from Orlando. What? I know. You're probably thinking "but this kid lives in California..." My parents would like for me to take my car (read: their car) to their house in Florida as they are not satisfied with the vehicle they have there. They'll even pay me to do it. I jumped at the chance.

ROAD TRIP!!!

Yes, the great American adventure will be followed immediately by the great Spanish adventure. It's like the double feature at the drive-in, only more sitting in the car. I'll be going from northern California to Orlando, by way of Denver. I have 13 days to get to my flight to Spain, so it should be pretty fun. I'm going to Denver to visit my sister and her family who I haven't seen since she lived in New Orleans before Katrina. Other than that I don't have any plans for places to go.

This will be my first time seeing lots of the states I'll pass through, so I'm pretty excited, but who wouldn't be excited about Kansas? You're not human if you don't get a little riled up about Utah.

If you live anywhere along or near my blue line of destiny down there on the map, let me know! I'll most likely be looking for any excuse to stop driving.

Any tips for things to see along the way?

The Waiting Game

I've spent my whole life waiting for summer to come and wishing it would never end. I love the sun, and I love being outside as long as I have some SPF 15 on hand. My anticipation for summer 2010 turned into contempt a few months ago when I received my acceptance letter from the Junta de Extremadura folded in it's fancy, official envelope. At first I felt like Harry Potter must have felt after he found out he was accepted into Hogwarts. Filled with excitement and wonder surrounding my impending adventure.

Now it's mid-August and I still don't leave for another five weeks. What is with Spain and doing everything late? They delay everything! The kids here in Lake County, Ca started school last week! I'm tired of the waiting. My fingernails have all been bitten off, my ankle is tired from tapping my foot so much, and the clock just can't seem to move slower!

So I'll be here waiting, spending ungodly amounts of time on the internet, and anticipating like the Rapture the end of September. Sigh.

How To Make a Tinto de Verano in America

a tinto de verano at El Sardinero, Chipiona, Cadiz

Virtually everyone who has been in Spain in the summer can tell you how wonderful a tinto de verano is on a hot afternoon. Tinto de Verano, or summer wine in English, is the refreshing concoction Spaniards drink with lunch just before taking a siesta. I had one with every lunch the summer I was staying in Chipiona, Cadiz.

In Spain the drink is made with a cheap red wine, the cheaper the better, and Casera brand soda. Some people like lemon flavor Casera, some prefer the blanco. I like a tinto con limon, with lemon. When you go to a bar in Spain and say "un tinto de verano, con limon por favor" You know that you'll get it in a tall, skinny glass with three ice cubes, no more, no less. They'll pour some red wine in, some casera limon, and maybe you'll get a lemon wedge for garnish. It'll probably cost around €1.50 or so.

So you're back home from Spain and you wan't a tinto on a hot August afternoon? Tough luck unless you know where to find some Casera. Luckily we have a soda here in America that tastes a bit like Casera limon. It's Squirt! I never drink Squirt by itself, but with wine it's just like a Spanish tinto de verano.

So grab a red wine, any one with do, but I recommend the Carlo Rossi Burgundy. It tastes just like those cheap Spanish wines, and why waste a good bottle of wine on a mixed drink right? Add some ice and the Squirt and you're good to go. Thank me later.

About Don Benito

I guess I should say a little about where exactly I am going to be living for a year. The town is called Don Benito, in Badajoz province of the autonomous community of Extremadura. Don Benito is a city of 35,000, which makes it the fifth largest city in Extremadura.

Looking at pictures, the town doesn't seem to be an especially beautitul one with old buildings and the like, but there are lots of old cathedrals and castles nearby. The city of Merida is only 50 km away and has Roman ruins, including an almost completely intact amphitheater.

The neighboring town of Medellin is the birthplace of the conquistador Hernan Cortes, and has a cool looking statue of his in the middle of town. Towns like Trujillo, Caceres and Badajoz which have many historic buildings are not too distant. I'm sure I will get over the fact that Don Benito isn't a postcard town, but rather a city of commerce.

Don Benito is hours from anywhere that I've ever been in Spain, so it could be a very different lifestyle than what I am used to when I think of Spain. I hope that it isn't very different from Cadiz province where I spent my last two summers. From what I have read, Extremadura is full of warm, hospitable people so I'm sure it will be lots of fun.


Roman Ampitheater in Merida

Last Wednesday I went to the San Francisco consulate for my visa appointment. I was super excited and also nervous that I might have forgotten something. Everything went well except for one thing. They didn't accept my doctor's note, so now I have to try to get a new one. I called the local health clinic and they want $229 for a physical! Eff that, I got one for $50 in Sacramento. I'll probably have to make the 2 1/2 hour drive back to Sacramento to visit the same clinic. Maybe I can sweet talk them into writing me another note in the correct wording without charging me for a physical again. Good thing I have such good friends that I can stay with in Sac.

I'm spending the summer just working to save money for before I go to Spain. I was lucky to find a job so quickly here in Lakeport. The first job I applied to called me for an interview, unheard of. It doesn't pay much and is only part time, but since I'm living with my parents for the summer that isn't so bad. I need to save everything I can so I have money to last until I start getting paid from the auxiliar job, which could be until Christmas! One thing that is nice about not knowing any people here is that nobody calls me to go out and spend money!

Is it weird that I'm more nervous about logistical things like money for rent and food than actually moving to another country? I'm surprising calm about the thought of living with strangers who most likely won't speak a word of English. I guess it's just my blind optimism showing again.