Piragüismo

Saturday Adventure

We (Derick and I) were contemplating on what to do on a Saturday and decided that kayaking would be a fun activity.

So, I quickly went on www.yumping.com and looked up Piraguismo en Madrid and reserved 3 hours (15 euros each which include the life vest & other equipment) with Naturaleza Extrema Deporte y Aventura Piraguismo.  

I thought since the place was close to El Escorial, we would need Cercanias to get there but boy was I wrong! We ended up catching Cercanias train in Principe Station that headed to Villalba, once in Villalba we catched a bus (630) that would leave us close to the Emabalse Valmayor. The cost from cercanias was 16.30 euros for both round trips and considering that we were in the C1 zone the round trip on the bus was 8 euros. So, as of now we have a total of 54.30 euros.

After a trip of an hour in a half, we finally got to the place but were greeted by the the lady that was in charge of who went in or not. On the website it says that everything is included but not the entrance fee which was 6 euros (3 euros each). That fee goes to the Embalse.

We walked towards the people in charge of giving us the life vest and the other equipment, they were nice but I got the vibe that they just wanted to get us in the water and not worry. There were three other people waiting for us because the monitors wanted to get us out there on the water as a group.

The monitors quickly got us into the kayak and said nothing but they did monitor us for about 15 minutes. I was expecting a short introduction as to how to use the paddles since I have never done it! They didn't even ask if we knew how to swim even though we know but I was shocked at their laid back approach. 

The landscape is beautiful and relaxing! We fully enjoyed the fresh air and the sound of nothing other than the birds flying and the wind.

In conclusion, I fully recommend the activity but would have gone with a closer location or would have made into a weekend getaway! 

In total we spent 60.30 euros and it does not include the Pincho de torilla that we had at a bar. 

Sprinkles!

My love for their cupcakes is never ending!
If you haven't tried Sprinkles, please do so!

 They have been the best cupcakes I have eaten thus far.
They are moist and the frosting is unbelievable.

Last time I was in LA (November 2012), I made my parents drive to Beverly Hills from Sherman Oaks which is a 30minute drive thru Mulholland Drive. That drive reminds me of so many Saturdays of my childhood; rolling down the windows, closing my eyes, feeling the air and loving every curve.

Sorry, back to my ATM experience! Waited an hour in line with my mom, while my dad was driving around giving us time and reminding us that it was 11pm jajajajaja.
Just behind us was a party of girls celebrating a bday & infront of us were two girls that decided to get 12 cupcakes. Ok you say no problem right so did I but then I checked the ATM and it was dispensing every wonderful cupcake one by one!!! No CASH, only Visa or Mastercard which you had to swipe every time.
After watching the girls get their 12 cupcakes, it was my turn!!I was so happy & nervous, I got two Red Velvet & Cranberry which was seasonal since it was around Thanksgiving.

Got the cupcakes and ran to the car! Opened one in the car for the drive back home and it was magical with the windows rolled down & smelling the air.

Thoughts

Missing home?
It does not get easier as time passes by, you just handle it better.

When I get a particular smell in my surroundings, it might take me to the 90's and the scene: My brother is driving, while I am in the front seat & my parents are in the back talking about stuff & we are driving down somewhere in Vine Street and Santa Monica Blvd. to our usual Bagels place to get breakfast before working. During Saturdays we would all go clean this Plastic Surgery clinic (it was speculated that Michael Jackson got operated but never found out) near to the La Brea Tar Pits.

or

It might take me to my Middle School (7th grade) times where I stopped hanging out with my Elementary friends to hang out with 8th graders that listened to the music I really liked: The Cranberries, Nirvana, The Offspring, Sublime, Red Hot Chilli Peppers & the list goes on! I am still good friends with one of them :).

or

In High School a group of us always hung out at a tree (not too close to the popular people because they were annoying,  but close enough to get to our lockers & restrooms). It was always a group of us; Cindy, Johana, Brenda, Evelyn T.(who did hung around us previous to her adventures with drugs that we got the blame for from her mom), Evelyn C, Juan (Cindy & Evelyn T's cousin and I.
You can always find me sitting on the grass, reading magazines, a big bottled water or just talking about music/gossip or our up coming SAT's exam.
I was not considered a geek, popular, athletic, gangster, or anything else that High School puts you in.
I was all in one except athletic because I always ended up hanging out with Brenda (one of my best friends) somewhere far away from coach and just did the bare minimal laps to get a D+ which was passing for P.E in my days.

or

Hurrying up to  get out of a class in College so that I can go to the Computer Lab and talk to Derick, who is now my husband :)! I remember scouting the room for the good computers with a good connection, knew which ones since I would spend hours there.

or

To a memory with family, friends, food, a concert, walking down Hollywood Blvd., hanging out on Venice Beach or walking Korea Town for an Acupuncture appointment or  just in my apartment with music on very high volume.

I miss blasting on music, thats therapy to me!

But the memories I'm making in Madrid will also have major impact in my life.

What's up!?

It has been too long since my last post!

Taking a huge step in my education this year, starting a Masters in Speech and Language therapy in September of 2013. I am not going to lie that I'm scared/nervous/happy because it has been four years since I've stepped inside a classroom besides conferences/meetings. I keep having this recurring dream where I receive a test score and it's an F; my main fear is to fail.
I believe that's every student's fear but this time it has become even more because I am doing it in a whole other country, other language and it also has a different bureaucracy. We'll see how it goes but for now I am reading blogs on the subject and working on my Spanish grammar!!

Started working with a Multilingual Psychological Institute this March, working as an Aid for kids that have some difficulty with reading/writing/organization skills. Since I do not have my Masters I cannot work beyond and I totally understand because when I go to formal meetings at the work place I get totally shy since others have more knowledge & experience.
I love working for them! The only downside since I am not getting so much money is being Freelance in Spain. It's so much paperwork, fees and to top it off I have to pay my Lawyer a fee for filling in information. Even though I have the lawyer helping me I still feel like Hacienda (IRS in Spain) will come out for me! hahahahaha I am serious!!

My husband and I moved apartments earlier this month thanks to +Pablo Acuña and another two friends help!!! So thankful for their time & energy :). You don't notice you have so much stuff until you move, I had to get rid of a lot of clothes since we are downsizing. +Derick Leony  & I still haven't finished but we will soon :).

This is all for today!

Civil Ceremony

     On May 11th, Derick & I got married in a town just outside  of Madrid. Villanueva del Pardillo is the town where I worked for two years and got married there. It would have been a six month wait if we wanted to get married in Madrid center but only three weeks in the little town.

I didn’t think that I would get nervous that day, I thought “just sign a paper & walk out” but the lady that married us was extremely nice, she talked to us about the significance about marriage, kids, becoming one household, Spanish laws and what it means. I got very emotional thats when I thought about my parents & Brenda not being there. It was the time t oread our vows, I wrote mine and Derick memorized his.  We invited a few friends to be with us for the ceremony & later found out about a seafood festival going on so we decided to go there and celebrate. Later, we came back to Madrid to meet with other friends that couldn’t make it for some beers. We also had a little dinner with other friends at this really nice restaurant called LaMucca.

We are so grateful to have great friends here in Madrid, will totally miss them when we move from Madrid.

Where will we settle? Only God knows. 

Still getting use to talking about Derick as my husband! In my eyes he will be  once he has a ring on his finger which will be in December jajajaja.

Education

Hearing all these things about Budget cuts in education here in Spain & back home just makes me anxious because I think of my nephews and one day my own kids education. It’s starting to look  as education is beginning to be a luxury & not a basic necesity.

I recently got an email from my University that the Californis system wants to cut $250 million from all CSU’s, coming from an Alumni that was on scholarships 90% and I am forever grateful for that help. I feel sad for the students that are in high school now that are minorities, low income family and with no role models to follow their foot steps. I’m worried for that generation who will have little or no access to education; what does this mean about our future?

I hope no more cuts are going to be made!!

Now, Spain is making cuts in Health! Have so many people used it excessively or wrong?

Talked to friends that are doctors in Madrid, they tell me that many people use it inappropiately and some do need/use it as it should. I guess there is everything in this world.

Legal or not legal?

Life in Spain as of now

Have hit some bumps in the road but it is looking clearer. Got my NIE denied which is a card so that you can stay in Spain legaly and not have to worry about the Little things but what  happens when you get denied. Well, first you appeal it as I did with a lawyer who is helping me along. You put an appeal, question why you got denied & wait for a 2 month or more response. I got really lucky because my fiancee is now a Spanish citizen, so we rushed the civil wedding due to my issue.

 Did the civil ceremony & celebrated with friends. Now, I am waiting for the certificate,  family book and another document to start my filling process for a card that says that I am legal for five years and can FINALLY work. Hopefully in those five years, I find a job (not being picky at all), save money, Derick finishes his PhD and we find somewhere to settle. Doing some private classes in the afternoon with kids & teenagers but doesn't pay a lot.

The settling can be anywhere in the world, huge question mark for us & family.

This all has been a process since November 2011 and we might not have it solutioned until December of this year (2012).

Homoligacion process: Started this process to get my degree approved in Spain so that I can work as a Psychologist or something in the field. Been waiting for six months but people say that they can last up to two years!! Received a letter from them not too long ago  stating that Valley College & CSUN  had to send them directly my transcripts, didn’t say why but they wanted to check if I didn’t make it up (who would make that up!) and still waiting & hoping the schools sent them over. Gotta call soon to see what is up.