Thanksgiving

This post is for all of my European friends.  I was fortunate enough to be home this year for Thanksgiving. Even though I am missing my new family in Barcelona, I was happy to be home with my family in Seal Beach.  Most of the aunts, uncles, and cousins made it this year.  I was able to share with them my experience so far in Spain.  It was fun to talk about all of the new things I have learned while abroad, and my family was very enthusiastic to hear all about them.

Thanksgiving is a very important holiday in my family.  My father proposed to my mother on Thanksgiving, and since then, have hosted the entire family (both my mom and dad's side) at our house.  Thirty years later the tradition still stands.  Because of this tradition, both sides of my family are very close-knit, and enjoy the one time of year they can all see each other and catch up on each others lives.  I am very fortunate to have such open and welcoming families.

This year, like many years past, we made three turkeys.  Since I don't eat turkey, we also barbecued a sizable fillet of salmon. Other dishes include sweet yams,  broccoli salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, warm bread rolls, corn and green beans, home-made cinnamon rolls and cookies, and  pumpkin, boysenberry, apple, and lemon meringue pie. Needless to say, by the end of the day, I had to take a nap from sheer eating exhaustion.

Next it was our annual movie, and my mom, grandma, aunts, cousins, sisters, and I all piled into the car to see Burlesque.  We somehow made more room for popcorn (don't ask me how) and sat and enjoyed the film and each others company.

Before we eat every year, we gather in a circle, and my dad will say a few words.  This year he thanked everyone for preparing such a great meal.  Congratulations were also in order for my cousin and her pregnancy.  And then, with tears in his eyes, he said how thankful he was that I was there.  And this, of course, is what I am thankful for.  A family that cares for me so greatly.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Halloween: Barcelona Edition

Sooooo this was my first Halloween ever abroad.  It was definitely a memorable evening. I already did a small post on my improv team's website about the occassion:  chineseballroom.blogspot.com

Anywho, for about two weeks I was trying to decide on a costume that was comfortable, warm, creative, and of no cost to me.  I had it narrowed down to a hippie or Sandy from Grease.  However, I'm not sure if Sandy would have been recognizable, and living in San Francisco for 6 years, it just feels weird dressing up as a hippie.  So, at the last minute I decided to go as a dead fish. You may say, "How could anyone recognize a dead fish?". And you would be right, I'm pretty sure no one guessed my costume.  But my was homemade.  Thanks SEK-Catalunya for the 'free' crepe paper!

After my fingers were worked to the bone from stapling, pinning, coloring, and glueing, I hoped into my costume and onto the train.

The girls and I decided that since it was Halloween we should have a 'proper night out'. I say 'I' in that sentence loosely.  Since, ya know, these girls are British and know how to drink like the best of them, a night out means getting back home at 8am. And that's exactly what we did.

We hopped on the 8:20pm train and headed over to our friends hotel room that she and her boyfriend had booked for the weekend.  Two hours later we were in the midst of make-up and drinks (including a bit of Absinthe and champagne!).  After everyone was in their costumes, we decided to wait a bit before heading to the club. I decided this would be the best opportunity to teach the gang some improv and away they went! They were so funny and entertaining that we ended up leaving for the club at 12:30am. 

To my surprise, we did not see another person in costumes on our 15 minute walk to the club.  Spanish teenagers were pointing in amazement/fright at my friend's skeleton costume.  Old couples and young alike stared in confusion as they had their late dinners and espresso.  It was pretty funny to be so obviously foreign.  Once near the club we came into contact with many more costumed folk, though I think they were all British and American.  I even saw a guy in an SF Giants jersey that goes to UC Davis. Ha!

We danced the night away for about 3 hours, and after a short walk on the beach, we headed back to the hotel. Then was the fun of getting back home. The first train to head home was at 6:20am, and believe me, we struggled to stay awake. After an hour on the train, and a half hour walk home, I collapsed into my bed, smiling from ear to ear at the success of yet another night out in Barcelona.

Smiles!

Meg

El Dia de Castanyada

Sorry for the lack of blogging everyone! Here is an update about, what else, another Catalan holiday!! Catalonia is rich with culture and tradition, and it has been a delight to experience yet another part of that tradition.  The most recent holiday that was celebrated is called "El Dia de Castanyada".  There is not much information on this holiday, since it is solely celebrated in Catalonia.  However, from what I have heard and read, this is what I can gather.  The holiday of "La Castanyada" is an Catalan celebration of All Saints Day, and is celebrated on October 31st.  Castanyes, chestnuts, are roasted to celebrate this holiday.  Panelettes are also made, as well as sweet potatoes with quince .  A yummy sweet wine, moscatel, can also be paired with these foods.  We were lucky enough to get a taste of the wine on our, wait for it, field trip. We got to drink on our field trip! It was amazing.

Anyways, back to the holiday.  The symbol for the day is "La Castanyera", a 'yaya' or grandma-looking fictional character (sound familiar?).  I'll link this video, since it is a recording of the song the kids sing when they visit "La Castanyera" in the woods.  It's in Catalan, but has animation that explains most of the story ( as far as I know it).  On our field trip, the children first met with the program leaders to make panelettes, small rolled sweets.  They were then told the story of "La Castanyera", and then went into the forest to collect chestnuts.  Magically, we came across 'la yaya', who was asleep in a chair.  She was surrounded by quite a harvest scene, with yams, pumpkins, and the like.  The kids yell "La Castanyera!!!" three times.  On the third time, she wakes from her sleep to sing a song with them (i.e. the video).  They offer the picked chestnuts to "La Castanyera" and the students will later eat the roasted chestnuts that she makes for them.

In my head, I likened the holiday to Thanksgiving, with a little Christmas built it.  It is celebrated on Halloween as a day to celebrate All Saints.  The holiday does also seem to celebrate the harvest, with the gathering of the chestnuts, and the fall scene.  "La Castanyera" herself reminds me of a female Santa, especially since a few kids started crying when they saw her.  I guess some things are the same throughout the world, haha.

Aside from an allergic reaction and a quick trip to the doctor (the kid was fine, thank God), the trip was a success.  Just 20 minutes away near the Montseny mountains, the countryside was a nice change of pace.  And the wine helped.