A rainy afternoon in Malaga

So it is raining in Malaga, shocker I know, but the rain actually makes me miss home a little bit, I most certainly did not bring enough warm clothes or rainproof shoes here with me. But anyway, I figured this would be a perfect afternoon to update my blog again with the happenings of the last couple of weeks. I am anticipating a long blog post. Prepare yourselves.

So since my last pros and cons blog I guess a lot has actually happened here. First of all, WE HAVE FINALLY MATRICULATED. It funny because it sounds like a medical term, but it is quite enjoyable saying it, it actually means we have finally registered here! My papers have been sent to Birmingham, and they have received them. Happy days. I have also completed and sent off my Shanghai application, a little bit scarier and coming round far too quickly! Gahhhh.

University here still continues to baffle me daily, we had a 3 day mid week strike recently  which was carried out by the students, as a result I only had 3 hours that week. I mean seriously, give students the opportunity to strike? Don’t be silly, of course we will strike.  I don’t know what I am striking for exactly but I enjoyed my days off at the beach, and my evenings off knowing that I didn't have to make class in the morning. This week my first class got cancelled because my teacher didn't want to come in, the only class I have on a Monday and it was cancelled. Not happy when I turned up! It is also Halloween this week which means Thursday is a bank holiday, and as a result the teachers apparently like to take the Friday off as well for a long weekend. The Spanish are just SO lazy, but I am fine with this.

The way of teaching here is so funny, students literally walk out of the classroom to take phone calls, go and buy cigarettes and have a fag break during class and the teachers just take calls whilst teaching. I’m sure we couldn't get away with this in England? Then again, there are some negatives for us. Being Erasmus students means you are known, it isn't just my blonde hair and British summer outfits that give me away, we have to put up our hands and wave. We have to introduce ourselves to the teachers and find groups to do work in, this feeling is just the worse, looking around the room with begging eyes trying to persuade the Spanish students to want us, not fun. I do however feel very useful in one of the groups I am in, I am the only English student in a Spanish to English translation class, so my group couldn't wait to have me on board, and I genuinely feel like I am doing something productive when I work with them!

You’ll also noticed how American-ised we have become, ‘class’, ‘school’, whatever next…

I still need to speak more Spanish. I find it really hard to listen, understand, translate, read and write all at the same time in lectures. I am coping though, however in social situations I just can’t do it. It’s the most daunting thing ever, and I quite frankly don’t have the confidence to talk awful Spanish and be corrected all of the time. I am going to suffer next year because of this!

Both Charlee’s parents and Charlotte’s parents visited this weekend which was great fun, along with Katie's sister so we have had a very family orientated weekend. It was pretty nice to do things that we wouldn't normally do because we would have hangovers! We climbed the castle which was beautiful, walked all the way along the port a couple of times and had a really nice couple of dinners, including Paella – I am learning to love the dead fishies, and octopus and everything else they have here. 

The end of the port. Sunshine in October!

At the top of the castle

Beautiful views.

Who'd have thought I would enjoy this...

Paella!

Blondies 

Dinner along the port.

All the family time makes me so excited for when my Mumma and sister/s come out to see me,  but also a bit sad though that Dad won’t be able to experience it with us too.

As you all know, the majority of our evenings here are spent drinking, but we actually worked out that out of a two week period, there was only 1 or 2 nights where we didn't drink. Not heavy drinking every night, but still…my poor liver. We have also had a few nice dinners over the last few weeks (not only when parents were visiting!). Sammie has cooked for us a few times, and we decided to take it in turns to do a ‘Come dine with me’ kind of weekly evening. Clever way to not drink alcohol for the night… unless someone brings wine… 

Shanghai love

<3

I have also finally been shopping here! It was inevitable that I was going to go crazy one day and last week it finally happened. But, I think I did very well. The amount of decent clothes I got for 80 euros is only going to encourage me to shop more. It does actually suck though about weight limits for travelling, I keep seeing things here that people would love for Christmas but I have to refrain from buying them. So frustrating as it means I am just going to have to do a last minute Christmas shopping flap when I am home, at double the price, boo. Next up on my list to buy is waterproof shoes and maybe a parka jacket, or maybe another blazer, or just some more pretty clothes from Stradivarius (my new favourite shop – smells like Hollister but the clothes are so cute). Come to think of it I need some more wintry accessories too, might buy a scarf or two if the weather carries on like this!

That’s it really, all I have to update on! I will continue to make new friends, and maybe attempt to speak some more Spanish by the next post. Although I am helping all of those trying to develop their English, my good deed for the semester! Oh and I am managing my homesickness well too, although still miss the family big time, and can’t wait to see them/my cats. The time here is going far too fast though, definitely not wishing the time away but it won’t be long until we all are home for Christmas, with a REAL need for waterproof shoes and parka jackets… Haha!

Right that’s it, once again. Adios guapos x

Snapshots of the week:

The pros and cons of my new life.

Sometimes it seems like a holiday, sometimes it seems like a chore. Let me share the pros and cons of my new life with you...

CONS:

• Supermarket – The supermarkets here make no sense. Yoghurts next to washing powder? Apples next to tinned beans? Frozen fish next to chocolate? I kid you not. Although Mercadona plays a wonderful tune to shop to, shopping here is so frustrating. I could not even find all the ingredients for one meal, let alone enough for a week’s worth of meals!
• Stress – Spanish life is soooo chilled out that it can get very stressful! Manana, manana, manana! Combined with the fact that it has taken weeks and weeks to get emails from my British coordinators, and I have been given the shortest straw in the world with my module choices here, life has been very tough. But, I’d like you all to know, I think I am dealing with it very well.
• The #20 bus – Although its cheap, there’s always such a queue and never seats on the way back. I dislike being stood up next to a smelly Spanish boy and being thrown into him when the bus brakes or turns suddenly. Something that has happened, and I want to forget about. The answer to this is simple - run more buses, or get more seats.
• Sleazy men  - I know it is known in Spain for any man to eye the ladies as you are walking down the street, but some of the noises they make and comments they shout to attract you are just shocking. From 12 year old boys shouting ‘pretty blondies’ at us, to old men making the horrid ‘tutting’ noise, it happens all the time! The word ‘guapa’ is overused here, it doesn't have meaning anymore. My personal favourite though,and coincidentally an experience of today was walking through a group of 6 men. One must have thought he was the new Enrique, and was singing ‘la la laa, beautiful beautiful, beautifuuul’ to the three of us. I don’t normally laugh at them, but this time I just cracked up!
• Street cleaning – This is something they do every night here. During the middle of the night – during peak drunk time. The streets are soaking, the water goes down the middle ‘draining’ section, and I always end up in it, with my slippery shoes and bad balance/coordination. The streets do look lovely and shiny all the time, but this daily routine is lethal.
• Oven situation - We don’t have an oven, just a hob and microwave. So, I am still trying to adapt to soggy microwave oven pizza and lack of oven food. Cooking just seems like such a mission allll the time here!

 PROS:

• Beauty – It’s not only the chicos here that are beautiful, but the city is too. The cute streets, architecture and just simply the views of any buildings in the city centre. It is just SO Spanish, the paths, the fountains, the smell. I love it, it is all so pretty. II never want to leave,the atmosphere just makes me smile!
• Siesta – Anyone that knows me knows that I am a mega fan of sleeping and napping. Therefore for me, this lifestyle is ‘increíble’, I get to wake up late and then nap in the evening, without being judged! Everything goes into shutdown mid afternoon here, napping is strongly encouraged! I think there is even a break in the uni day for the siesta.
• The price of alcohol – Cheap alcohol is loveable wherever you are, but it is just great how much you can get for your money here in Malaga. I bought two big bottles of schnapps and vodka the other day, and it only cost me 7 euros?! Then on nights out, shots for a euro, litres of vodka/fanta limon for 5 euros, and the best daiquiris for 4 euros. They aren't even tight with their measures, half half is the average! WHO CAN COMPLAIN?
• Exercise – Somehow, I have managed to lose weight since being here, despite all of the alcohol consumed. I don’t exercise, I rarely even play Frisbee on the beach, but I think that the amount of walking we do is really making an impact. We walk so much every single day, and the people here walk so slow, it just feels like I am running all of the time!
• Amigos – So many new amigos are making me love my life. They make me want to go out every night, and I love them for it. My liver, not so much, however I’m already sad at the thought of them leaving/me leaving for China! So we are just trying to not talk about that.
• Kisses - One thing I am going to miss when I get back England. Everyone loves a cheeky kiss for a hello, but here you even have to double peck everyone on every greeting, friends, strangers and anyone in a group with someone you know. The funny thing about this though, is you never know if the Brits are going for the double kiss or a hug...awkward half peck on the lips! Going to try and bring this back to England, so expect lots of kisses from me next year!
• Pizza – Yes, I may sound like a fatty, but wherever you go that sells pizza here is worth a mention. There’s a particular place after a night out that gives you ¼ of a 14inch pizza for 3 euros. Its great.The only negative is burning your tongue and it hurting for the following few days, but **** happens, it’s worth it!
• Life – I just love Malaga life and that pro pretty much outweighs all of the cons. It is just the actual BEST.

And that’s it really, for now. Still discovering new things about this beautiful city, and I would put money on my pros list being 10 times longer by the end of February!

Besos x

The amazing Spanish education system.

I have been back in Spain 6 days now and can honestly say this has been the most stressful week. If you exclude the weekend which involved a lot of alcohol and a lot of fun, this week has just been nightmare after nightmare. I've actually wanted to come home and jack it all in a few times purely because this system out here is too messed up, and I am far to stressed to even care anymore. I’ll explain a little more…

So we've had three weeks to trial classes, dip in and out and see what you like before you can sign up for them and get them signed off. But I missed the first two weeks, so this week that is what I have done, since I have been back I have been to three classes. Three, that is it! It’s not that I haven’t tried, or have taken the 30 minute bus ride for campus just for fun, it has simply been impossible. We walked yesterday for an hour to try and find our ‘building’, but it was just invisible and still have no idea where it is so we didn't go! Apparently campus doesn't have map points, and the locations of faculties  aren't anywhere to be found.  Then it got better today, I managed to find my classroom!  I was there nice and early and there was not one person there, someone explain how they can change the location of a class without publicly displaying the information?

People obviously swapped class for a siesta today!

I also tried to ‘formulate’ my ‘matriculation’ form last night, this is where you choose which classes you want and it cleverly formulates a piece of paper that you go and get signed.

1. Nearly all of the ones I wanted to do that were easy were full
2. Had to re do my whole time table again with new modules
3. Only 3^rd year language modules were left
4. Wasn't allowed to do a new language or more than two business modules despite the fact I do business at home , and I am good at languages  - however I can do medicine if I want – because that seems SO sensible
5. All the timetables overlap
6. And I want to cry A LOT.

So, basically I have screwed myself over by taking so long to do it, am doing 4 3^rd year modules which is insane, 3 by myself as a massive loner and I still have an overlap of one hour each week. I have decided that I have reached the point that I don’t care anymore. The Spanish education system is messed up, everyone here hates life.

You can imagine my surprise as well, when considering my circumstance I send emails to all my coordinators (home, and away), and after two weeks they still haven’t replied to me other than sending me a form to fill out and saying they will forward my email to another person. I swear these people shouldn't be doing the jobs they are, they just aren't capable. Claro.

I miss how easy Birmingham make it for us. I wish someone would make me a timetable of what I want to do and just give me it, it won’t be until then that life will be happy again. Massive rant over I guess, until something else happens to add to my frustration! Booo.

Hasta luegooo! x