The Fiestas part 2

I now stand at the end of the nine days of the Fiestas Del Pilar and boy were they both very fun and a little bit exhausting. On Monday, I went with my Geology class to a Galatcho (a former river bed) where we went up into the mountains next to it and into the forest around the lagoons. It was gorgeous and I could see all of Zaragoza from the mountains.

                Tuesday after class, I went with Gonzalo and his friends to Interpeñas, the music festival, again. This time, we stayed out literally all night and after, at eight in the morning, went to the Vaquillas (sp?) which is ametur bull jumping where anyone who wants to can get into the ring and dodge the various bulls they let in. The result is about fourty sleep deprived and occasionally drunk young men running around trying to touch the bull without getting gored (and aside from one poor man, no one was seriously injured).

                By the time we got home, both Gonzalo and I were exhausted. Gonzalo proceeded to sleep into the late afternoon; I however, had to get a quick nap before the main event of Pilar: the offering of the flowers, a parade where different groups come from all over, dressed in traditional clothing, to dance and show off different regional performances and music while marching to an enormous pyramid with a statue of Maria Del Pilar at the top where they place their flowers. I went with Pablo who was able to narrate and explain the different groups while they were dancing and singing, making it and overall very interesting and fun experience.

                After this I slept a little before a chunk of the extended family came over to have churros with melted chocolate (a cuisine I’ve come to love) which was plenty of fun. However, I called in an early night and slept for ten hours.

                Thursday I went to the offering of the fruit in the afternoon, which was similar to the flowers, but with local produce, and later to the Rosario Cristal in the evening. This was a gorgeous parade where the marchers walked with candles and lanterns from one church to another interspaced by giant stained glass lanterns depicting various biblical concepts and events as well as a glass Basilica of Pilar with working bells and a giant ship representing the discovery of America inscribed with all the flags of latin America.

                Finally Friday I woke early to return to the Vaquillas with my school friends and again to Interpeñas with them in the evening. Now Saturday and Sunday were finally days of slight relaxation and seeing all the little performances in the city (light and water shows, circus acts, traditional music, street performers, etc.)

                Tomorrow, School will start again and the enormous crowds and spectacles will be gone. This next weekend, I’m going with my rotary club to Ordessa national park, which I’ve heard is gorgeous and I’m very much looking forward to.

The Fiestas

Well it’s been a little while since my last blog post and much has happened. Right now I’m in the middle of the Fiestas Del Pilar which is a huge event here. As well my language is continuing to improve, though I’m still a while from understanding; however my host parents have begun to occasionally quiz me and teach me which I enjoy. Ultimately, I had a good weekend of understanding last week and then a Monday of bad understanding, but after a pep talk from my host mom, I’m feeling better and trying to not focus too much on the language and let it happen. Most importantly, I’m having fun.

First I had the orientation, which was fantastic, after a four hour bus ride with the other exchange students in the area, Brian, Maggie and Marley, where we were tripping over each other with things to say (in English), we met all of the other students in a complex outside of Madrid where we played plenty of games and hung out. It was a relieving and relaxing weekend where we learned about each other’s experiences and shared stories of triumph and tragedy. I think I gained two very important things there: I learned that what I'm experiencing is normal and I've made some fantastic friends.

After this I returned to school where I’ve begun to make friends that I hang out with on the weekend. As well, with them I went to Interpenyas, a music festival that occurs during Pilar where I listened to some good music and danced a bit and it’s certainly good to have found a group I feel comfortable with.

Overall, Pilar is plenty of fun, every day there’s random street vendors, concerts and events and at night a large stage in the main plaza where there’s a large concert. Today I went out with Pablo and Pilar to see the Gigantes and Cabezudos. The Gigantes are large effigies of historical figures that people wear on their shoulders and the Cabezudos are giant heads people wear. All of the families and children go out to see them and listen to the folk music while the Gigantes and Cabezudos dance. Overall it was plenty of fun to participate in.

Tomorrow, I’m going on a trip with my Geology class to a washed out riverbed which should be fun and after I continue with the Fiestas, which I look forward to.