Lockdown

I found this entry that I never published and figured I might as well throw it up here. This is more of just a journal entry.

2/12/2013

So, today was interesting and not in a super-exciting-let's-do-it-again way.

I started my day at the butt-crack of dawn assistant-teaching at an elementary school in Midvale.

 Everything was going fine and we were just doing a simple tile-design project but then my boss quietly informed me that we were on lockdown.

The teacher at the school showed us an e-mail on his computer that said the school was on lockdown, there was a shooter on the loose, and not to stir up panic by telling the kids. That was all the info we got and you can imagine how our minds started to race given recent events.

We did our best to stall during the lesson so the kids wouldn't wonder why we were still there but we ran out of things to do pretty quick. I think I was too sleepy for it to really sink in that this could be serious.

After a while, the school just went on partial-lockdown and we were allowed to move to the other classrooms (although we were in trailers so that was interesting). The teacher pulled up this news article to show the kids what was happening: http://fox13now.com/2013/02/12/multiple-injuries-reported-in-midvale-shooting/  They weren't too concerned, I guess this is the second incident in the past couple months so they just joked about it and moved on. I had missed my class anyway so I stayed the entire day.

By the time I left to head straight to my other job, a police barrier had been setup so I had to take a massive detour to get to the freeway. I kind of hoped that meant they'd caught the shooter but I guess they just found his car at the Motel 6.

Why Riding Trax is my Favorite....

I love riding trax around Salt Lake. Ever since I was in High School and would skip school with my friends to go up to SLC, I've had a fascination with Public Transit. Some people find it tedious and stressful, but it's kind of the best part of my day. Here's why:

*The Scenery -

(I couldn't find any pics of the scenery but this is me and Linds on my 20th B-day at the Trax Station, it was a super fun day)

SLC isn't exactly gorgeous all the time with the smog and drab little buildings but I love getting to observe the city from the train and getting to spot out new places to visit. Sam Weller's - the Used/Rare bookstore (back when it was in Gallivan Plaza) was one of these finds. Best store ever, I'm sad they moved to Trolley, it's just not as fun. Also, I love seeing cool graffiti art and the trax line tends to go past all the best murals.


*Chillin' with Homeless Peops -

Yeah, some are mentally unstable and smell bad and maybe they won't leave you alone unless you give them some cash. But, there are a few gems on the train who just want to have a nice conversation. I remember one gentleman who used to hang out by the Smith's stop got robbed one day. He had a little red backpack full of all his possessions that someone took off with and his only real grievance was that they'd taken his bible.

Today, I met a real friendly guy who kind of made my day. I'd missed my train by a millisecond and was pouting on the bench when he came over and offered me a hotdog from the little $1 pack he'd just bought with a friend's food stamps (I declined, since I don't eat meat but it was really nice of him). He went on to tell me how he can't eat milk or gluten and so it's hard to find food he can eat for cheap. Then he read the label on the hot dogs and found out they contained sodium lactate. He vented for a minute about how hard it is to find things to eat and functioning with aspergers, then thanked me for listening, and went on his way. It kind of got me over missing my train.

Sometimes when I'm in a really good mood, I'll drop by the Wendy's next to Trax and get some value meals to take to my favorite hobos for lunch. Maybe I should start hanging with kids my age, oh well....

*It's my Fortress of Solitude -

I have a hard time being alone sometimes because I tend to think too much and get myself all depressed. I'm not as shy and introverted as I used to be and I feel like I socialize enough but when I'm alone in my house, I start to think like I'm the only person alive. So dramatic.... But being alone on trax, on the other hand,  kind of makes me feel like I'm still participating and doing something without having to overexert myself. I love having an excuse to just sit and think and maybe read a book without the distractions I have at home or around a computer. For that 15-60 minute ride, that seat is my home. When I lived in Sandy, it tended to be the only time I did homework too....


A few weeks ago, I had one of those rare days where I got out of class and didn't have work or school for several hours and no homework to do. It was really nice outside so I got on trax and instead of going home I just road all over downtown and made a few stops at the Gateway, a little German bakery, and a bookstore. I chatted with some people at the trax stops and bought myself a treat at the bakery, which I ended up sharing with a homeless gal while I waited for the train. Probably one of my best days this semester.

Probably a weird way to kill boredom, but it beats wasting away in front of a computer.

Our house, in the middle of our street...

Song lyrics. Awesome.

So, I'm just going to ramble a bit about my living situation. Maybe I can get to more interesting posts later on:

My House:

So, after finding myself in desperate need of a new place to live back in July/August, I took to the web in search of an apartment with the simple hope that wherever I landed would not be occupied by serial killers.

I'll spare you the awful details of that process. But I came across a darling little duplex in Sugarhouse with a yard and on-site laundry (a luxury I hadn't had in years). Something about the vibe there just called to me and I wanted it more than anything. I don't have any pictures of the house itself but here's the kitchen and the view from the front room:

I had to interview with the roommates and landlord before they would decide whether or not to let me move in. Very nerve-wracking. I knew that the people living in the duplex were from totally different backgrounds than me and pretty involved in the LGBTQ community so I wasn't sure how they would feel about a Mormon invading their home or if there would be any prejudices involved. But, a week after the interview, I got the call from Stephanie. She said that I seemed pretty cool and they would love for me to move-in. I just about peed myself (Haley was a witness) but since I'm so cool, I calmly accepted.

The house is fantastic and I have my room all set up just how I like it. The neighborhood is really nice and quiet too and our neighbors aren't bad. We live next door to a nice couple, Rick and Larry, who are super friendly and just helped me dig my car out of the snow the other day. We gave them some cream puffs that Nick's mom had made as a thank you. I honestly don't think I've felt this comfortable in a neighborhood since moving to Salt Lake.

And the best part is that I live right near Liberty Park so I can go running with my sister, Megs, or chill out there when it's warm.

The Roommates:

Wow, this post is gonna be lengthy.... I suck at blogging.

So, my roommates are pretty great and we all come from very different backgrounds so it always makes for interesting conversations and viewpoints.

Stephanie -

Steph recently got her dream job at the city library. She is a bookworm and intellectual. She's also a big-time feminist and is one of the founders of a women's group called "When she Speaks I Hear the Revolution". They hold open-mic nights and print their own literary magazine or "zine". She also is part of a SLC writer's group that holds write-ins. So, she's super involved and crazy-busy. Her girlfriend, Shauna, is much the same and also a very talented writer. Whenever the two of them are home, we have really in-depth philosophical discussions. And they help me with writing my screenplays, which is an awesome plus :) She also has a passion for the punk movement and can talk for hours about the subject. I've definitely learned a lot I didn't know about it.

Nick -

Nick was raised on a farm and his family is Greek Orthodox. He went to Catholic school. I like to give him a hard time about it. He's now Pagan, which I also knew nothing about but it's really fascinating and I've gained a lot of respect for the Pagan community through him. He reads tarot cards on the side for people and has done a few readings for me (he's scarily good at it....). He also loves to cook and knows everything about it, which is great for me because it usually means he fixes my failed attempts at cooking. Usually if he sees me trying to cook, he'll make suggestions and eventually just kick me out of the kitchen and finish it for me. I'll usually sit on the couch and pout until he brings the food out. It's a nice arrangement. But I'm slowly learning. He said my last attempt at making soup was "decent" so we're getting there. He also knows how to guilt me into doing dishes. I'll have to share some of the hilarity that happens between us sometimes... we think we're funny.

The best part about living here is that we all have the same tastes in movies and TV shows as well as food so we never really fight over what to watch or where to eat out. They even let me order vegetarian pizza. And Nick will cook vegetarian meals every once in a while so I don't feel left out and we can share.  Our differences come up every now and then but we all have a mutual respect for each other and our belief systems so it's never been an issue. We tease each other a lot, but it's all in fun. I seriously lucked out with roommates, I think this is the best arrangement I've ever had.

The jobs:

Bad Dog Arts -

 I got a job as an art assistant for a non-profit downtown thanks to a tip from Shauna. I never thought I would love working with kids as much as I do. I mean, I worked with kids in Costa Rica and loved it but I figured it would be different actually having to teach them in a classroom. Well, the kids are punks but I love getting to share art with them. It's something I feel like a lot of people take for granted but the kids we teach have very few opportunities to do art in school due to a lack of funding and art teachers in the area. This basically means that Bad Dog is the best part of their day. It's been such an amazing experience to watch a project click in their heads and see them get into it (even the ones that hate it at first). It's also been a great excuse to do art again. I forgot how much I loved it.

Cafe Solstice - 

This was a place my roommates introduced me to (Steph keeps scoring me new jobs). The first time we visited, I almost immediately went to the counter and asked for a job there even though I already had two jobs at the time. It's inside a very eclectic import store and the music and ambience there is so soothing that I wanted to stay forever. The menu is all vegetarian (aside from a turkey sandwich for those meat-eaters) with a ton of vegan and gluten-free items as well. They also do a lot of interesting things with tea and coffee that I hadn't seen much of like red-tea lattes and matcha lattes. They also use a lot of herbs in unique ways like peach-lavender, lemon-chamomile, and mango-basil smoothies (so freakin' good).

I think I annoyed the owner, Erin, into hiring me but I got the job nonetheless. I love it and my coworkers are a diverse bunch and so are the clientele. Our regulars include yogis, pagans, folk singers, local farmers (who bring us fresh produce) and a few tarot-card readers/psychics who come in every day and have their own tables set aside for readings. They're sweet people and some of my favorite customers. I think my first week I had one of them come in and tell me she had to consult her angels about which sandwich she should eat before ordering. It was a very awkward five minutes while she stared into the void.... We have live music almost every Saturday as well, which ranges from folk-guitarists and quartets to a didgeridoo-player. It's certainly been interesting getting to know the different subcultures there. I've also learned a ton of new vegetarian/vegan recipes to try out at home. I've become pretty good friends with my coworkers, John and Amanda, as well and they're always a blast to hang out with.

I guess to sum things up, my life is pretty awesome right now. School is another story but at least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel....

Oh man, I'm blogging again....

So, there have been several times when I've thought of something I might blog about and it just never became a priority.... But, since I don't take many photos or keep a journal, this is probably the only way I'll be able to force myself to document what I've been up to.  Even if it's kind of dull. So here's a recap:

>Got home from Spain, had a horrible falling-out with my roommate (don't ever move in with one of your best friends. Multiple people warned me, but I was stubborn).

>Was let go from my receptionist job when my school schedule didn't coincide with my work schedule.

>Started working at a Cafe downtown and, 2 weeks later, became manager (mostly because I was the only employee with coffee experience).

>Found a duplex in Sugarhouse with 2 roommates: Nick and Stephanie. Best living situation ever. Aside from one of Steph's cats who was sent here to harvest my soul.

This is the face of evil:

(She's been waiting in my doorway to slit my Achilles when I leave).

>Discovered my boss at the Cafe was on the run from the law and my paychecks kept bouncing. He fled the country, I got a better job.

Which brings us to now! I know, that was a bit vague but I feel like if I catch up now, it'll be easier to blog later.

So, now I'm in my last semester of college, have two great jobs and two awesome roommates. I'll post more on all that later.

Madrid - Take Two!

Our second time in Madrid was a completely different experience than the one before. First off, our hostel was 10,000 times better:

This was probably the first hostel I've ever stayed in that had walking space and its own private bathroom. I was ready to sign a lease as soon as I saw the room AND the balcony where we could people watch. It was perfect and a bummer we weren't staying an entire week. 

We were in a different part of town than before so we got to see a whole different side of Madrid. After Gijon, I think Madrid's my second favorite city in Spain that we visited. There's something about the atmosphere there and how easy it is to navigate. Plus there are a TON of things to do and see. 

The day after we arrived was the 4th of July, we were a little bummed to miss the festivities in the US but, luckily, the Oscar Meyer Weiner company decided to throw the US a little tribute. Complete with Uncle Sam, Hot Dogs, Cowboys, Cheerleaders, Football players, and all those lovely American stereotypes:

First... we got food because we were starving. A man outside a pizza place happened to have a super cheap promotion going and we wandered in. But, SECOND, we visited the royal palace. They wouldn't let us take pictures inside but here's the outside:

The inside was amazing though. They had murals and paintings by Goya and all sorts of old furniture - including a collection of hundreds of clocks (I would go insane) in all shapes and sizes (one was actually a table, apparently this monarch had a fetish). We didn't bother with a guide and read out of Alex's travel book instead and learned a ton about the history of the Spanish monarchy. 

There was also an old "pharmacy" full of old herb jars and remedies that my mom would have loved and an armory full of actual armor from waaaaay back. Some pieces had dents and bullet holes in them.

We met up with Crystal later and visited the Reina Sofia again. This time we actually knew a lot about the artwork there since we'd learned about it all in Laura's class. It definitely enhanced the experience and made us appreciate the art more. We saw Guernica again and had fun telling Jenny about all the symbols and history behind it. We visited Salvador Dali's work too and watched his video that we'd discussed in class. 

Inside the glass elevator that goes down the exterior

of the Reina Sofia.

Outside the Reina Sofia. The museum used to 

be an old hospital and you can tell by the setup inside.

After that, we said goodbye to Jenny and wandered around Puerta del Sol for a while. Crystal really wanted to see a discoteca since she'd never gotten a chance in Gijon so we walked around looking for one until a guy handing out flyers showed us to one. 

Most discotecas don't really draw a crowd before 2 AM so this one was pretty dead. Crystal got her free cocktail and danced with a small group of kids while me and Alex played pool. We hung around for a bit and then decided to come back when it had people. 

Alex opted out later though, so it was just me and Crystal. We went to a different discoteca this time and it was definitely a unique experience, not sure if I'll do it again. We did find some nice Spanish boys to dance with and had a pretty good time before we got a little nervous and decided to leave. Alex was still awake when we got home and we ended up pulling an all-nighter talking and watching TV. The next morning, Crystal and Alex both left and I spent the rest of the day alone. 

I wandered around Plaza Mayor and Puerto del Sol again but spent a lot of the day in my hostel getting ready to leave. 

Creepy deer/dog thing hanging out around Plaza

Mayor, waiting to scare the crap out of unsuspecting

tourists.

They'd moved me to a private room downstairs that looked like a hallway that they'd somehow shoved a bed into. I only had money left for a taxi to the airport so I had to scavenge for food and hardly ate anything. It kinda sucked being hungry and alone, I was definitely ready to go home at that point. It had been an amazing experience and I'd do it again in a heartbeat (and for even longer) but I missed familiar faces. 

Now, I'm in the Dallas airport waiting for my flight that will finally take me home after a 20+ hour day of traveling. My taxi driver was really nice this morning and told me all about his trip to Florida after I told him I was an American. It was fun to have one last Spanish conversation before going back to full-English and real-life. I haven't had internet at any of the airports I've been in so these posts will have to wait til I get home. More highlights to come though once I get organized!

Barcelona

BARCELONA:

The plane flight to Barcelona was a lot more dramatic than I'd like. I guess my mom's told enough people that I might as well elaborate even though I hate talking about it.  I'll explain why in a minute. 

First off, we didn't actually have a gate:

It was just a number on the wall. Between 9 and 10.  Me and Alex were fully prepared to run straight into the wall and go to Hogwarts. 

The gate turned out being down below since we had to board from the ground. So, no Hogwarts Express, sorry. We met up with the other kids from Utah going to Barcelona and all sat in a bunch on the airplane. 

I'd had bronchitis for the past few days and hadn't managed to find a doctor but I'd been feeling okay aside from some coughing. Then when the plane started descending, I had a bad coughing fit. I took my inhaler to see if it would help but a few minutes later, my airways closed up. I tried my inhaler again but couldn't get enough air to inhale any of the albuterol. When the plane landed, I had a hard time getting up and walking and was still struggling for air. 

A flight attendant noticed and asked if I was okay. Then a woman came up to me and asked if I had asthma and I nodded. She started speaking rapid Spanish about how I needed to sit-down and relax and breathe from my stomach so the flight attendants led me to a chair. They hooked me up to an oxygen tank and called for the medics. 

It took a while but my breathing got better and I even managed to take my inhaler. We joked around with the flight attendants about how the oxygen tank was filled with good weed and got to know what countries they were all from. They were all around our age and really fun to talk to. When the medics finally arrived, they checked my vitals and decided that I was okay for now. They escorted me out of the airport just to be sure. 

I was really embarrassed by the whole scene. First off, all my friends were there and second off, I've never had an asthma attack that bad, I usually just get short of breath. 

The first night and day in Barcelona were kind of rough since I was still feeling a little like a ball of crap and it was an overwhelmingly huge city full of people from all over the world. I tried Paella (a traditional Spanish dish) and discovered that I do NOT like it (Sorry, Spain!) We met up with Alex's friend who's been nannying in Madrid and spent hours trying to find a doctor willing to help me. When we did, he didn't have any solutions for me aside from using my inhaler. 

It got better though and by that Monday, I was almost back to normal.

SPAIN VS. ITALIA

 Sunday night was the big futbol game against Italy and we watched outside a restaurant with the other kids from our group. We were probably the loudest and the waitresses painted our faces and asked to take pictures with us. When Spain won, we all got on our chairs and started chanting and everyone else joined in. 

We were all wet from jumping in the fountain.

Afterwards, a party broke out in the plaza and people started jumping in the fountain. Me and some of the other kids decided to join and jumped in with them. Then some homeless guy with a wooden vase started dumping water on us. That's about when we decided to get out. 

Here are some of the sites we saw that week:

Most people in Barcelona speak a dialect known as "Catalan". It's kind of a mix of French and Spanish and extremely hard to understand. While we were searching for Parc Guell, I ran into a man who wanted to know where we were heading. I had a very confusing conversation with him speaking Catalan and me speaking Castellano (Spanish). Somehow, we managed to communicate but it was really weird. 

Here some pictures of Parc Guell, which was designed by Antonio Gaudi:

This tunnel was my favorite. Sooo trippy.

The trail to Parc Guell ran up a huuuuge mountain. But, luckily, Barcelonians are smart and use outdoor escalators:

Las Ramblas was probably the most prominent part near our hostel. It is a long stretch of street designated for tourists. Vendors, artists, and street performers roam the Ramblas jumping tourists right and left. There are a bunch of people that paint themselves like statues and stand completely still until someone puts money in their bucket. Alex took a picture with a lady dressed up like one of Salvador Dali's paintings:

The Dali lady.

Nearby is an amazing outdoor market where the locals can buy fresh food every day (like... still alive, fresh. The carnage was amazing). We saw a lot of interesting goods being sold and got a few ourselves along with breakfast.

Om Nom Nom. Eat it before it eats you! The crabs and

prawns in the background are still alive, PS.

You know those cautionary tales about rabbits

 like Little Bunny Foo-Foo? Now I know what 

happens when you bop field mice on the head, Mom....

Sheep heads and, next to them, the brains. Looks 

delicious, no? I'm still not sure how you're supposed

to cook them but I'm certainly glad I'm a vegetarian.

Our last day in Barcelona, we hit the beach so we could see the Mediterranean. It was beautiful but not quite as clean and big as the one in Gijon. We still dipped our toes in though and did some sunning (though we kept getting kicked off the sun chairs when people demanded we pay). 

Cheesey picture, I know. 

Then me and Alex hopped on a plane for Madrid.

More pictures of Barcelona:

The Sagrada Familia by Gaudi. It's been under

construction since 1926 and they hope to complete

it by 2026. Buenas suerte with that. Sheesh...

Photo-bombed by priests! Dios mio!

The four evangelists: Matthew the Angel, Mark the

lion, Luke the bull, and John the eagle. Oh the things

you learn in history class.

The view on out big fat Camino de Parc Guell.

The spot where Isabel and Ferdinand welcomed

Columbus home from his first trip to the New World.

My love affair with waffles.

An old cemetery.