Since it’s been a few weeks since I posted, I’m going to sum up a few different things today.
First let’s talk about Thanksgiving. During Thanksgiving I was invited to a small dinner with a few fellow auxiliaries. We had it potluck style, but legit, with a huge Turkey, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, candied yams, green beans, etc. etc. Needless to say, it was a great Thanksgiving. The best part was going around the table and saying what we were thankful for. Here is a list of things that I’m thankful for this year:
1. Having great new friends here in Spain. Every weekend I get to go into the city for a party or a concert or just to go shopping. It has definitely made the experience that much more fun having friends to share things with.
2. A job. In a time when the world is in crisis, I have a job. Plus I only work four days out of the week and I’m able to travel to other cities and countries.
3. Diversity. I’m so thankful that the United States is such a diverse country. Every day when I walk to work, someone stares at me. And they don’t stare and then look away, no they GAWK at me. It’s nice to know that at home we have all types of skin colors and cultures. I love that about the States.
4. My mother. She is an amazing mother, my best friend, ‘nuff said.
5. My friends from home. They are so great. They love me despite my awkwardness and insecurities. This trip would be perfect if I could have them here with me.
On the bus back to Jumilla after Thanksgiving, I got hit on by this Moroccan guy. I had noticed him before we got on the bus, he was well dressed and had good hair (I always fall for the curls). So I got on the bus first and he sat in the seat behind me and struck up a conversation. He asked me if he could sit with me during the trip and I let him. Before we even left the bus station, he asked me, “Do you have a boyfriend?” Ugh, get out of my face. So I lied and told him that I had a boyfriend back home lol. But did that stop him from flirting with me? Nope, not at all. He even tried to hold my hand at one point, the jerk. So he asks for my phone number so that "we can go have a coffee or something" and after giving him the wrong number TWICE (Obviously Moroccans can’t take a hint), I finally gave in and gave him my real number. So somewhere in Yecla (the next town over) there is a guy named Rachid with my phone number. But he thinks my name is Ashley so I guess that’s good. Btw Ashley seems to be a very difficult name for people over here so if you have some creepy guy asking for your name, just tell him that it’s Ashley. It’s fun to watch the bewilderment on their faces.
This weekend I went to Valencia to visit my friend Margo. She and I went to college together and we both dance salsa. So of course we made plans to dance. On the way to Valencia I was worried that I would want to dance more than she would, but lucky for me Margo had planned places for us to go all three nights that I was in town! We definitely made a name for ourselves this weekend. One night we went to a club that only had salsa for an hour before they started playing pop and techno. In Spain, people go to dance clubs to shuffle their feet. They get a drink, stand in a circle with their group and shuffle their feet. It is so frustrating for me. So when Margo and I got together, we caused some commotion. At one point we had our whole group jumping around. They looked really uncomfortable at first but they got into it. On my last night in town we went to a place called Noches de Salsa. When we got there (at about 12:30) it was pretty quiet with mostly an older crowd. But as the night went on, it turned into a great party. I was actually picked up off the floor at one point haha. And there was this beautiful Ecuadorian boy. Oh my gosh I’m still drooling. Anyways, it was a great way to end my time in Valencia. For those of you who don’t dance…firstly, you should start dancing…..secondly, Valencia is a beautiful city even without the dancing. Margo was a great tour guide and she showed me all the major landmarks and all the good food. It’s definitely a must see place if you are in Spain.
Thanks for reading!
~Arisha~
First let’s talk about Thanksgiving. During Thanksgiving I was invited to a small dinner with a few fellow auxiliaries. We had it potluck style, but legit, with a huge Turkey, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, candied yams, green beans, etc. etc. Needless to say, it was a great Thanksgiving. The best part was going around the table and saying what we were thankful for. Here is a list of things that I’m thankful for this year:
1. Having great new friends here in Spain. Every weekend I get to go into the city for a party or a concert or just to go shopping. It has definitely made the experience that much more fun having friends to share things with.
2. A job. In a time when the world is in crisis, I have a job. Plus I only work four days out of the week and I’m able to travel to other cities and countries.
3. Diversity. I’m so thankful that the United States is such a diverse country. Every day when I walk to work, someone stares at me. And they don’t stare and then look away, no they GAWK at me. It’s nice to know that at home we have all types of skin colors and cultures. I love that about the States.
4. My mother. She is an amazing mother, my best friend, ‘nuff said.
5. My friends from home. They are so great. They love me despite my awkwardness and insecurities. This trip would be perfect if I could have them here with me.
On the bus back to Jumilla after Thanksgiving, I got hit on by this Moroccan guy. I had noticed him before we got on the bus, he was well dressed and had good hair (I always fall for the curls). So I got on the bus first and he sat in the seat behind me and struck up a conversation. He asked me if he could sit with me during the trip and I let him. Before we even left the bus station, he asked me, “Do you have a boyfriend?” Ugh, get out of my face. So I lied and told him that I had a boyfriend back home lol. But did that stop him from flirting with me? Nope, not at all. He even tried to hold my hand at one point, the jerk. So he asks for my phone number so that "we can go have a coffee or something" and after giving him the wrong number TWICE (Obviously Moroccans can’t take a hint), I finally gave in and gave him my real number. So somewhere in Yecla (the next town over) there is a guy named Rachid with my phone number. But he thinks my name is Ashley so I guess that’s good. Btw Ashley seems to be a very difficult name for people over here so if you have some creepy guy asking for your name, just tell him that it’s Ashley. It’s fun to watch the bewilderment on their faces.
This weekend I went to Valencia to visit my friend Margo. She and I went to college together and we both dance salsa. So of course we made plans to dance. On the way to Valencia I was worried that I would want to dance more than she would, but lucky for me Margo had planned places for us to go all three nights that I was in town! We definitely made a name for ourselves this weekend. One night we went to a club that only had salsa for an hour before they started playing pop and techno. In Spain, people go to dance clubs to shuffle their feet. They get a drink, stand in a circle with their group and shuffle their feet. It is so frustrating for me. So when Margo and I got together, we caused some commotion. At one point we had our whole group jumping around. They looked really uncomfortable at first but they got into it. On my last night in town we went to a place called Noches de Salsa. When we got there (at about 12:30) it was pretty quiet with mostly an older crowd. But as the night went on, it turned into a great party. I was actually picked up off the floor at one point haha. And there was this beautiful Ecuadorian boy. Oh my gosh I’m still drooling. Anyways, it was a great way to end my time in Valencia. For those of you who don’t dance…firstly, you should start dancing…..secondly, Valencia is a beautiful city even without the dancing. Margo was a great tour guide and she showed me all the major landmarks and all the good food. It’s definitely a must see place if you are in Spain.
Thanks for reading!
~Arisha~
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