I've taken an interest in observing graffiti in foreign countries. I saw a few spots in Hong Kong that grabbed my interest but nothing like what I've seen here in Granada. Amazing, often breathtaking images sprayed on ancient buildings. It's a bit paradoxical in a way, bits of speech and phrases echoing the now, marked on history like a temporary tattoo.

Ever since seeing the "local art" I've been thinking more and more about getting my first tattoo. Thought I never would but I may reconsider. However, I'd like someone to go with me and hold my hand!

Here are some photographs I've taken of the graffiti in Granada. The first one is the tattoo I want, either on the back of my upper arm or in between my shoulder blades. We'll see.

That's it for now. More to come later, amigos!

love. peace. chicken grease (no thanks).
MISU

One little bar and I'm stepping two far notches back
in space, in time
in phrases muttered underneath breath salted with whiskey
and cigarettes and passion undenied


because no one else was there, my love
no one else was there
except that cheap ticking motel clock
and the banging from the other room
we might've mistaken for our own tall beats
pounding in each other's chests.
secretly, i was terrified 
as i watched your shadow from the wall
carefully, most dignified
made me rise and rise and rise and fall


One little bar and I'm humming the tune
that groped the strings I knew so well
lucid language spoken in sleep, in my ear
never seems to vacate my memory.


and i see your face most constantly
in the burrowed brows, i hear your raspy voice
telling me how sweet i am, over and over like a drum
i know this, and i know you
as well as you let me know you
that no matter how much it repeats and turns me on
i cannot press stop, i just don't know how


One little bar and i'm fast asleep
after years of drinking and staying awake
cautious not to let the night take me over,
ruin me like kisses out the door, never to be found again
till i'm old and pale, too cold to know that once i had you
in that small fragment of time

Simple smells
without sans recognition
perfume, garlic, soap & flowers
scents that don't make me
scratch my head or bat my fist
wondering if I'm approaching death
bad breath or a messy kitchen

Faces like sketches
perfectly chiseled
lustrous thick eyebrows
like hyphens made out of black soil,
i want to dig my fingernails into knowing
and feel it grow, beyond my comfort zone
i'm overthrown just by the scent of it
tossed against the wall by it

These simple smells
spices entices
are invigorating, salivating
in this small, eclectic city
in this life that i am living

and i don't ever want it to stop

I've uploaded a few shots, mostly from Granada. Take a look! I'll be back later to upload more. Thanks for stopping by.

Intense might possibly be an understatement. 


I went from doing virtually nothing to doing everything, bundles and bundles of knowledge thrown at me in the course of twelve hours a day, pausing occasionally for breaks. Life has officially slowed the eff down, this might possibly have been the slowest week of my life but I'm in Spain so that makes it all better. It's only Wednesday! I haven't even been here a week but it feels like a month. 


I'm not even going to go over and review anything from the course because I need a mental break, but I will say I'm student-teaching tomorrow morning, bright and early. Sally, a cute Australian/Swedish girl, and I are tackling the first class. I'm nervous but excited. I'm very interested to see how they will be similar and different from my Chinese students. 


That's it for now. I need to take an aspirin for my head.

I'm tired as a mug but it's because I haven't stopped. But I finally got an electrical adapter so it's good to be in touch again.


Today was the first day of class. The staff kept warning us how overwhelmed we were going to be after the first day. I'm not overwhelmed, just tired. It was an all day affair, which is what I expected. My Chinese experience has really helped me out and lead me to connect with what the instructors were discussing. I hear myself constantly say, "In China..." "when I was in China..." "Oh, China..." I hope no one's sick of it.


I feel like I left one of the dirtiest places and came to really clean spot. I even stuck my head under the sink faucet and drank the delicious, flavorless water. It was great. They have clean up crews who push carts along the streets, making sure the place keeps tidy. Why doesn't every town have one of those? 


I've been developing an interest in graffiti ever since I went to Hong Kong. There's something very intriguing about it. On one hand, it defaces historic buildings, but on the other hand, it's temporary messages from the present connecting to the past. Rather harmless in a way, but important. I like to read the social insignia and try to figure out what some of it means. A lot of it is in Spanish, of course, which is an educational experience for me. I've never made my own graffiti art before but I'd like to try sometime. But I'd hate to get caught, especially here. I'd rather just look at everyone else's work and admire the charm of it.


I'm going to go to bed. Thanks for reading!

My mind is a blur. I'm having trouble forming complete sentences. My stomach is empty, I'm too tired to eat. My ankles are swollen, from dehydration and lack of humidity. And I'm in utter awe.

Granada might possibly be the most beautiful place on Earth. Everything-from the bluest skies I've ever seen, to the cobblestone streets, to the gorgeous passerbys and super-friendly taxi drivers. This is more than I ever expected. My confused state is mostly because of jetlag, obviously, but I know once I'm rested and fed, I'm going to explode with energy.

I asked for an adventure and I got one when I arrived. The flight was fairly simple, although I will admit to being a bit spoiled from the luxurious Air Canada, so flying American is a bit sub-par in comparison. But I am not complaining one bit, merely making observation. After I landed in Madrid, I made way to the Renfe train kiosk, realizing I forgot my print outs of my tickets to Sevilla and Granada. The clerk was a bit on the rude side, made a  wise crack that I need to know better Spanish. I should've said "Fuck you" in Chinese but I merely nodded my head and agreed. Change of plan, however. I was only able to take a train directly to Granada but it left at 5 pm. So this gave me six hours to wander aimlessly with the heaviest piece of luggage I've ever packed. I thought I was doing myself a favor by only packing one suitcase this time, but if I could do it over, I'd take about half of the things I packed and keep them at home. Senseless, but whatever. My hands have blisters on them from dragging that piece of shit around. It inhibited me from exploring Madrid before my train, but it made an excellent place to rest my head and nap nearby the botanical garden in the station. I was fortunate to meet a very kind Spanish man, Jose, who helped show me how to get to the train station from the airport.

Being so accustomed to the Chinese railway, I was blown away with how peaceful and quiet the trip was. I sat at the window and watched acres and acres of Spain pass, saw the sun drop and the moon rise, a full one at that. At first it was barely peeking its head over a mountain, then it disappeared and I thought, Yeah right, that was way too bright to be the moon, but it was and I was floored. And I have yet to see a cloud in the sky, even as I type this during my second day in Spain.

When I got to Granada, I flagged a taxi driver by the name of Alex. Cute as a button and very forgiving of my weak Spanish. I didn't feel nearly as intimidated like I did in China, however, to practice speaking. Even the little bit I already know has really pushed me far, so I feel twice as confident as I did last year. That's not saying too terribly much, considering I had zero-confidence in my Chinese this time last year, but still, I feel a lot more capable. The Spanish people I've conversed with thus far understand me a lot quicker than the Chinese did...they've seemed to automatically know what I'm getting at, whether it's by intuition, familiarity with foreigners, or maybe my Spanish isn't THAT bad. We'll see. I can tell you that I've fallen in love with the sound of it, and I'm so eager to learn more that I'm considering attending a language school after this course is over. If it gains me access to jobs in Granada, then sign me up...I'm head-over-heels for this place.

In the taxi, we rode up and down these insanely narrow alleyways, tires rumbling over cobblestone. Alex was a pro. No one honks here! It's quiet and peaceful and clean. He drove me as far as he could, till the remainder was only steps from the office. However, those steps were the longest and most painful, logging that massive bowling ball of a bag along with my backpack. My shoulders HATE me right now. I'm such an idiot for packing so much shit.

Because I could only get the later train, this put me at the office way past when I said I'd get there. To make matters worse, my phone doesn't work and was pretty much dead. The electrical outlets (shut up, I didn't know this) are different so I can't charge it anyway. On my list of things to do is to buy an adapter. In fact, I'm typing this entry as quickly as possible before my computer dies along with my phone. But trust me, all is well even though I'm sort of sans communicado.

I knocked on the large green doors but no one was present. I stood there, baffled and confused, feeling anchored from my bag. A group of Polish students walked by and noticed my state. Angels, all of them. They totally took me in. They were in Granada studying Spanish and are leaving tomorrow for another city. I was so grateful to run into them. They immediately took control of the situation, since I was sleepless and out of it and on the verge of panic. The apartment some were staying in had an extra room so we grabbed a taxi and they let me stay with them for the night. I am so, so, so grateful. I really do owe the world a favor, considering the several encounters I've had lately with kind people. Makes me reconsider the idea that altruism is non-existent.

This morning I parted ways with the lovely Polish clan and took a cab back to the office. Once again, my taxi driver was so friendly and fun to practice Spanish with. And, like Alex, very attractive. They all are!! It's insane. Is this a movie set perhaps? I'm glad I've arrived unattached, otherwise it would be really, really difficult being here. I sat on the doorstep of the office and read for a bit until someone showed up and let me inside. Then I finally gained access to my room...and IT'S AMAZING. That's all I'm going to say for right now, I'd rather upload pictures later and let them speak for themselves. I don't think my computer's going to allow me the time to display the adjectives this place deserves.

More to come. I'm alive and well. Please keep reading. Love to all.

MISUUUUU

For now, anyway. It's not like I'm never coming back...or am I??

My bag, for the most part, is packed. I'm merely keeping my fingers crossed it's not over 50 lbs. I'm taking a shuttle service from Macon to Atlanta, so it won't be like last time when my mother took me to the airport herself, and yes, my bags for China were both over 50 lbs. My mother was kind enough to help me re-situate some stuff onto my carry-on (my back was pissed later) and take some stuff back home (like extra bottles of Listerine, etc.). But this time, I'm really riding solo.

I'm debating on taking two cameras--my digital and an old film camera I haven't used in years, since my days on the middle school yearbook staff (hehe!). But I should also be practical. I would like to start using film but I also must consider just how much shit to bring or leave behind. The less I have, the less to worry about.

What an awesome summer it's been! I got to see almost all my friends...took three trips to Valdosta, several to Atlanta, saw Colleen on two separate occasions (which just doesn't fucking happen), hung out in Florida, saw two great shows (Sonic Youth and Elbow), soaked it up at Lake Lanier, hung out with my oldest friend Dave several times (also just doesn't fucking happen), spent quality time with my mom, and even spent a good amount of time cooking. This has been a wonderful summer. I'm sad it's over. I really am.

This entry is a means of procrastinating. I should continue packing and trying not to freak out. I'm going to miss everyone like whoa.

xoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxox and an o
MISU