Breathing in a New Culture: Week One in Alcalá

Every single day has felt like an eternity. But surprisingly, the entire first week of my study abroad program has passed. So much has happened in one week, and within those seven days, I've made new friends and also learned so many new things about Spain, myself, and others.
It all started after my mom left for Chicago on Thursday morning of May 30th. I had the whole day. To myself. To do as I pleased. By myself.

I remember when she left I was thinking, "No big deal. I'm alone without my parents when I'm down at IU for college. Not the first time I've been on my own..." Hah! Yeah, that's true. But the moment she left I went back upstairs to my hotel room and noticed that the room had only contained my luggage, my carry on, and only my things. At college I'm on my own - but home was a 5 hour zombie drive away. In Spain (or any different country for that matter) it wouldn't work that way. I'd have to go through a whole chain of events if I needed to go home, and if anything were to happen, no one could easily come help me.
I realized, that for the first time ever, I am literally on my own. The feeling of major responsibility had never hit me so hard.
I took a deep breath. Turned around. Ran out the door. Took the elevator down to the lobby. B-lined to the front desk... and tried to telepathically tell the receptionist I needed a map of Alcalá because I totally forgot how to speak any form of language. Two awkward minutes later I gathered my shit together and got three different maps: first a map of the entire city, a second map of the city center, and the third was an extra map - just incase. Needless to say I studied the fuck out of those maps. I marked where every single bus stop was and every route possible that would lead me to the main plaza. Call me "anal" but whatever, I don't care. I was having a responsible adrenaline rush. Anyway, after I left to do my own self exploring everything was just peachy. I ate lunch, toured around the town, and did some shopping!

But then came the next day: Program Orientation.
Orientation weekend went from Friday, May 31st - Saturday, June 1st, and ended on Sunday after the program excursion to Madrid. Those three days were the longest, most intense, exciting, and thrilling days of my life. I learned so many new things and met so many amazing people. I have never felt so alive!

Friday and Saturday were spent meeting the students in the program and getting the low-down on how life was going to happen for the next two months. Although meeting the other students and making new friends was awesome and exciting, it wasn't what really put me on my toes.
Saturday night, at 9:30 p.m., I met my spanish host-mom.
Before meeting our host-families we had to wait in the hotel lobby. We all had different pick-up times and mine wasn't until 9:30 p.m. I had goosebumps and the shakes. I was so incredibly nervous! I remember earlier in the afternoon they gave us packets of information about our host-families. I received a packet about my host-mom (I was only assigned a mom) with her picture and information. The second I looked at it, her picture was imprinted into my memory. I got chills when I opened that packet and looked at the image of who would be my "mom" for the next two months. As I waited in the hotel lobby I couldn't stop talking. Anyone within a 4 ft radius of me was initiated into conversation and/or mumbled to. I was fidgeting, changing my seat, shifting in my seat, and randomly getting up. Then for some reason I decided to go to the bathroom and wash my hands (yeah, I don't even know).

I walked out, went around the corner, and there she was in a red peacoat. She looked just as she did in her picture: Incredibly long dark brown hair, charmingly small, high cheek bones, and almond shaped eyes.
Meet Sol de la Torre, my beautiful spanish host-mom.

Sol de la Torre: My spanish host-mom

Strange... she looks almost like my mom.

After she picked me up, I quickly dropped my things off at my new home in her apartment in downtown Alcalá, and she took me to her friend's house for a party! It was her friend's 25th birthday and it was fantastic and delicious. They made homemade paella de mariscos, navajas (razor clams), and mejillones (mussels). Everything. was. so. good!

Paella de mariscos

Mejillones

Navajas

After those crazy two days I was exhausted. I didn't even unpack. The next day I had to get up at 8:00 a.m. to meet everyone at the train station to go to Madrid. As tired as I was, it was worth it. I'll never get tired of Madrid. It's such an amazing city and there's so much to see! We only got a quick comprehensive tour but I'll have plenty of opportunities to go explore with my friends over these next two months. After the tour we were allowed to go do our own thing. Me and some friends decided to get some tapas and visit Parque Retiro. It was beautiful! I love this park... I can't even explain how amazing it is. Maybe this picture will give you an idea:

Parque Retiro, Madrid

By the end of the day we were absolutely exhausted. On the train home, our friend fell asleep in a seat next to two cops, who started joking around with his sleeping body by waving their batons in front of his face and making silly faces hoping he'd wake up.

He didn't wake up. And so people pulled out their cameras. It was awesome.

After we got back to Alcalá, my host mom picked me up and we went out for tapas, had dinner, and came back home. Shortly after laying down, I passed out in my bed and I dreamed my way to the first day of classes at la Universidad de Alcalá de Henares.

Let me quickly summarize what the first week of classes consisted of:

Figuring out my classes, going to classes, meeting more students, speaking spanish, eating tapas, studying the fuck out of my spanish book, going on tours, speaking more spanish, realizing I still need to study more spanish, walking, going to classes, adjusting to a new lifestyle, adjusting to a new culture, figuring out how to properly take a siesta, speaking spanish, learning how to balance work and play, balancing bonding with new friends and bonding with my host-mom, speaking spanish spanish spanish, listening to spanish, understanding whatever I can, learning whatever I can, eating, drinking, hearing, seeing, feeling, and breathing spanish culture.

Sorry, was that confusing? I know, I'm still trying to take everything in.

This is hard. Really hard. Every day is a challenge. And every day is a success. It's trial and error, and if things don't work out, there's always tomorrow; another day to try again. 

It's frustrating. It's exciting. It's scary. It's exhilarating. And I love it.

One week down, seven more to go.

Thank God, 'cause I love being here.

Beyond Mountains, Beyond Places: Where Do I Begin?

Warning: This post consists of an entire week's worth of posts and is really long... I'm sorry.

So I left for my study abroad program early... It starts on May 31st (tomorrow). I left on May 24th. I know I probably should have updated and posted about this past week's shenanigans earlier, and I'm sorry. This post is coming in way late but I figured I should at least get this out there before tomorrow - when shit gets real.

But first...

HOLY @#$%! I'M STUDYING ABROAD IN SPAIN FOR 2 @#$%ING MONTHS!

*Ahem* so um... 

Leaving for a life abroad happened faster than I expected. Packing felt like it was moving at a glacial pace. But as soon as I put my bags in the car, in the blink of an eye, I was on a flight through Iberia Airlines from Chicago to Madrid - which was probably one of the most interesting flights I've ever had.

Perhaps it was the nervous excitement I felt, or the intimidating expectations running through my head as I worked my way through the airport telling me to not screw up (don't worry, I didn't screw up). Well, I guess it was a mix of the two. But mostly it was the charming oldie sitting next to me that made this flight quite the experience.

Mary, a 63 year old bad ass.

This is Mary. She is a 63 year old lady who has retired and gives no fucks.

I'm being serious.

Although, before the whole "IDGAF, I'm gonna do what I want" period began in her life, she of course had her share of teenage experiences, life changing moments of a young adult, the good and bad times in marriage, and life threatening times when growing older. The two of us shared our life stories and it was magical! This lovely lady is so bright and I thoroughly enjoyed her stories. Especially when she talked about her young-adult-lets-get-fucked-up-sex-drugs-rock-and-roll-party-life in the 60s and 70s. 

Now, she uses her retirement fund to travel the world. No retirement home. No kids (I don't think she had any). Just the her and the world. I asked her why she doesn't just buy a place so that she has a home. 

She laughed at me and said, "Why would I do that? Home to me has no boundaries. The world is my home."

So here I am, World. I'm ridding myself of boundaries and making myself a home in your parts unknown.

We landed in Madrid, Mary went to baggage claim and I continued on to my connecting flight to Málaga... I never got her last name, number, or email. And I honestly can say I've never met someone that I hoped I would see again.

I really hope I'll see her again.

Finally after I arrived in Málaga, I got my luggage and met my mom outside of baggage claim and we made our way out to the car. It seriously was a terrible and embarrassing walk. We pushed my baggage cart onto the moving-floor-verticalator-whatever-that-thing-is... Long story short: The cart hit the metal on the right and went sideways; spilling all my luggage over me and mom, crushing our feet, thus making us fall backwards, causing everyone behind us to run off the moving walkway (yeah, I googled it) in the opposite direction - away from the tidal wave of two screaming filipino ladies being crushed by lots of baggage.

It was sad. So. Sad.

... Actually I'm totally kidding about the people behind us running away. There was no one behind us, thank God. But there really was a tidal wave of two screaming filipino ladies being crushed by lots of baggage. That part was real.

Moving on...

After an hour and a half drive, we arrived at our summer home in the mountains of Benahavís! My parents repainted the whole house, did some renovations to the backyard, and added some new furniture. I must say... This house just gets more beautiful every time! I'm in love with our new table! And the bench. The almond tree. The sunshine. The flowers. The... view. Oh, my god. The view.

Daytime!

Night time!

On a really clear and sunny day, you can see Africa in distance. In the daytime picture, if you squint into the blue a little bit, you can see the silhouette of Gibraltar! Here are some more pictures of what my parents have worked so hard for:

The whole backyard

Beautiful table!

Our adorable almond tree

Our lovely little pool

My family's summer home in Benahavís, Spain

Dear Mom and Dad,

I love you both. And I truly can't even explain how thankful I am for everything you have done and what you have provided your children with. I'm not saying this because you guys bought a summer home in Spain. I'm saying this because I've seen you both work hard for the success you wanted, and what you wanted us to have. It was love that got you here and I'm so proud to say that you two are my parents.


So, lets get out of here and go to Córdoba...
On the second day, my mom wanted to go to Córdoba. Wait, actually, she wanted to go to La Rambla. That was because our neighbor, Christian, told her that every summer there's a patio festival to celebrate everyones patio and roof gardens in La Rambla. So, we drove off in the late afternoon to La Rambla, only to find it dead, a ghost town, without a single soul in sight. There was no festival... So my mom sadly turned the car around and we started to drive back. But I had to use the ladies room pretty bad since we drove 3 hours straight (I swear I was going to burst). So we took a pit stop and grabbed some tapas. My mom was still hung up on not finding the patio festival, so we asked our server about it. Turns out the festival is in Córdoba! So we drove off again, for another 2 and a half hours, to Córdoba. I actually was REALLY excited, despite the drive, because I've never been able to explore Córdoba and I really wanted to see La Mezquita de Córdoba! But it was already late, and so the Mezquita was closed. But luckily we were able to catch the last bit of the festival. There were so many flowers in the streets, it was beautiful! My mom was happy, but then I was down because I couldn't see the Mezquita. Therefore, I felt the need to eat my feelings and bought myself a scoop of pistachio ice cream.

Sunshine + pistachio ice cream = a very happy Lily

Haha, okay I really wasn't that shitty because I couldn't see the Mezquita. Although I really did want some pistachio ice cream, because ice cream makes any day a greater one. And to make it even better, we got to see the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos! It's open until 11:00 PM, but we were only there for about 2 hours. I'd really like to go back at night some time. I bet it's beautiful! It was so much fun running through the fort, climbing the towers, walking through the courtyards, and taking pictures. My favorite part was the garden... Once I saw the view of the gardens from the top tower of the Alcazar, I was eager to get there. There were fountains that stretched out one after another, pink, red, and white roses, purple flowers, orange trees, and rows of rounded cyprus trees all throughout the garden.
Something about me that I learned on this trip: I absolutely love gardens.

Afuera de La Mezquita de Córdoba

Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos

Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos

El jardín del Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos

 

For the last two days we enjoyed southern Spain and hung out around Marbella. We also had a month early birthday dinner with our lovely neighbors! We ate at Zozoi in old town, and it was deeeeeelicious! Such a great dinner with our amazing family friends and my mom! It was cute, really cute, because my mom tried to "discreetly" tell our waitress that it was my birthday. And by discreetly, I mean covering her face with the menu, leaning over to the waitress, and loudly whispering "IT'S MY DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY!" *wink wink*.
Hey, is that cake? Yay! For who? Me? Oh, my god, it's for me?!?! Wow, Mom, I had no idea you told them it was my birthday.
But, seriously, thank you so much for the early birthday dinner. I love you!

My first week in southern Spain was wonderful; I already miss our summer home. I miss the ocean breeze. I miss the mountains. But yesterday I arrived in Alcalá, my mom left this morning, and my study abroad program starts tomorrow: CIEE - Alcalá de Henares Summer Program 2013. 

Over these next two months, I'll be discovering new winds to embrace, mountains to climb, places to dwell, and a new home to love. It's time for my life beyond mountains; beyond places. No boundaries or confined spaces. 

Life abroad: It's a sense of place, a sense of time. 

So here I am, World. I'm ridding myself of boundaries and making myself a home in your parts unknown.

Green Tea Cake with Lemon Honey Buttercream

I should really be studying for my spanish final and finishing my final paper for cultural geography... but I think I'm gonna procrastinate and do this instead.

Green tea cake with lemon honey buttercream

I'm honestly surprised with how this cake turned out. It was quite a challenge putting it all together, especially since I've only done a layered cake once! But my friend Michelle showed me this recipe from Building Buttercream while we were looking up cake recipes for our friend Kerri's surprise birthday party (check out her blog here). It's a green tea layered cake with a lemon honey buttercream. I love green tea! So, naturally, I had to try it.

I made some changes from the original recipe from Building Buttercream, but it still tasted great and I'm definitely keeping this recipe. I think next time I'll try making cupcakes... we'll see how that goes. But it turned out to be a great birthday cake last night and (from what I've heard) everyone loved it! 

Kerri's birthday cake!

So instead of using the Italian Meringue Buttercream in Building Buttercream's recipe, I decided to go the easy route and just use regular butter cream :)

...

Okay, that's a lie. I really did try to make the Italian Meringue Buttercream - but it was a total fail. I'm not gonna go into details about what happened. But, let's just say that stubborn form of frosting ruined my afternoon, splattered all over me and Michelle, didn't work out, and it was really sad.

Really ****in' sad. 

ow ow!

I had a feeling things were gonna get messy... 

After the Italian Meringue Kitchen Massacre, Michelle eventually put an apron on. 

Making frosting is never a clean and simple task.

One day though, one day, I'm gonna get it right next time and it will be awesome. You'll know when that day comes because I will publish a very happy and exciting post.

On another note, aside from using regular buttercream, I made a mint-sea foam ombre for the frosting and adjusted some of the ingredient measurements.

I seriously love mint and sea-foam green

For this recipe I basically doubled all of the measurements because I wanted to make a bigger cake than what Building Buttercream's recipe made. Even after doubling the recipe, I still had to make two whole batches at separate times because I only had 2 cake pans and I wanted 4 layers for the cake.
But I aside from doubling the recipe, I used a little more matcha because I wanted a stronger green tea taste. And since the flavor of lemon stands out, I didn't want it to over power the taste of the cake. So I used zest from about 1/2 of a lemon for the icing between cake layers and the rest of the icing I used was plain buttercream frosting for the crumb coating and creating the mint-sea foam ombre.

Sifted flours, matcha, salt, and baking powder

It's a pretty simple recipe:

Preheat the oven, grease and flour the cake pans, sift the dry ingredients together (all-purpose flour, cake flour, green tea matcha, salt, and baking powder); set them aside.

In a large bowl, beat together the eggs and oil. Add the sugar gradually, beat until smooth, and stir in the vanilla.

Once that's all combined, beat in the flour and yogurt - alternately. I used a 1/4 cup of flour mixture for every scoop of yogurt I added while beating them together. After all of that is mixed, smooth, and has a ribbon-like-consistency, pour them into the prepared cake pans.

It takes about 20-30 minutes to bake. I set my timer for 10 minutes, then rotated each pan 180 degrees so that it cooks evenly on all sides, and judged another 10 minutes would be enough to finish the job. Just check the cake by poking at it with a toothpick/fork/some small pointy object and make sure it doesn't come out sticky/wet with cake batter.
If it does, it's probably not done yet.

I'm so happy that the cake turned out great! After taking the time to put the layers together and decorate, it was definitely worth it. There's nothing better than making everyone around you happy, especially when you know it's because you gave them something tasty to put in their stomach. Plus, no one got sick, we all had fun, the birthday girl was happy, and therefore we were all happy! It was such a great night. I love my friends - they really are the best!

Happy Birthday, Kerri!

A Sneak Peak at Future Delicious Moments

I guess it's official. I'm going to be having lunch at Akelaŕe when I visit San Sebastian in the Basque!

So, this is just a tiny peak at what is to come for this summer while I'm abroad:

On the weekend of July 19th - 21st I will be traveling to San Sebastian to do some research on culinary preservation in the Basque.

As you can see, we (my sister and me) have made a reservation for a tasting menu for lunch at 3 Michelin star restaurant, Akelaŕe! After that, we'll get settled in the apartment we rented out for the weekend, explore San Sebastian until we get hungry again, eat, and then get ready for a Pintxos Bar Crawl! I wonder how much my mom will be able to drink...

On Saturday, I'll be going to the Basque Culinary Center for a tour of the school in the morning :) 

After that, we'll be off to Axpe for lunch at Asador Etxebarri.

In the evening, once we get hungry again (or thirsty for that matter), we will have dinner at Sidreria Petritegi and have unlimited glasses of cider until midnight - a cab is definitely going to be needed - because (as my sister said) we are in it to win it!

Our last day will be Sunday, July 21st, and our delicious weekend will end with a tour and tasting of txacoli at Txomin Etxaniz and lunch at Elkano in Getaria.

After all of that, it's off to the train station and back to Alcala for me. But, wow, so much to look forward to on this one weekend and there are still so many other weekends to plan! I can't believe that literally a month after today (or I guess I should say yesterday) I will be leaving to study abroad and do things like this on my weekends and call it "research!"

I seriously can't wait.

P.S.: Thank you to my sister, Sophie, for helping me put all of this together! I couldn't do it without her.

Cigar: Lumpia in disguise!

If you think that's something you can smoke, I'll tell you right now, it's not.

This isn't a cigar, it's a lumpia (a filipino egg roll). I made it for my independent study about the geography of food last semester. Unfortunately I don't know what I did with the recipe for this foolish looking food, but I promise I'll scavenge for it so I can post how I did it! 

I was influenced by Chef Homaro Cantu from Moto in Chicago who made a cuban sandwich look like a cuban cigar.

For this food challenge, my final, I had to create a dish of molecular cuisine by changing the components of the dish to make it look like something it's not. I'll get more into detail about it later, and I promise I'll find the recipe and instructional video of how to make this dish and post it as soon as I can.

Note To Self:

When making a syrup, don't forget about it when it's simmering on the stove, or else you'll end up with burned sugar of caramel-like-consistency all over your stove and cooking pot - which I'm sure you do not want to clean up.

So much for studying. Looks like I need to clean my kitchen that now smells like burned stupidity.