El Último de España

Hello!

Well, I don´t even have a semblence of a list this week, so this post could be a bit interesting.

First of all, Erika, I do know Saya-- she´s excellent and quiet and she doesn´t like pictures. :) Also, of course it was a typo, Jessie... (*cough cough*) but I think I´ll leave it there for awhile just to bother you. (I am SUCH a good friend.) Also (#2), I´ll definitely have an epilogue post for photos and such-- I´ll try to post recipes in that. The problem with recipes from my Spanish mom is... well, here´s an excerpt from a typical session in the kitchen:
M: Y ahora, echa margarina... *scoops a big chunk out of a tub and tosses it into the pot*
K: ¿Cuánto?
M: No sé... Mueva la cuchara así, y echa leche. ...y no me pides que cuenta cuánto leche, porque no tengo medidas. Si hay mucho en la pota, echa mucho. Si hay menos en la pota, echo menos.

Well, that is not at all my style of doing things (improvisation and imprecision make my brain hurt... sólo un poquito...). I can post my notes and a few of my pictures, but I can´t promise that the food will be possible to replicate without having been there (even having been there, I´m not sure...) I´ll do my best!

Speaking of cooking-- Taylor´s mom is an importer of various products, and so could easily send a big package. In that package, among other things, was brownie mix and chocolate chips, with the idea that we could make American desserts as a little thank you for Mamá. Well, that idea didn´t work out, because Mamá likes to cook too much. We made them a few nights ago, when her friend Rosa was over for dinner (we spend so much time with Rosa she´s like a second mother), and we all had an excellent time trying to make cookies, complete with calculating conversions (American recipe, Spanish measuring cup--decilitros), a different mixer, and baking powder instead of baking soda (for some reason baking soda doesn´t exist here...) I have lots of funny videos. Despite the difference of materials and tools, however, the cookies turned out well and they´re all in a big bowl in the kitchen now. Brownies shall come later. (Perhaps tonight?)

Last Friday, we (students) went to a giant picnic hosted by one of last year´s host families that couldn´t take a student this year, but wanted to meet all of us. There was music, food, a bit of dancing, and a tour of the couple´s garden. This was not just any garden-- more like a farm. (Actually yes, it was a farm.) It´s been around since the 80´s, and they´ve been using eco-sustainable7organic methods all that time. It was interesting for about the first ten minutes (the tour was an hour long), but I learned a few things and it´s evident how much work they´ve put into it. Also, I felt a little twinge when they led us into a greenhouse maybe... 30 by 50 feet? absolutely full of tomato plants. Homegrown tomatoes are one thing that I´ll be scarfing by the dozen upon my return.

Also, we went to the building of the parliament of Asturias the other day (Oviedo´s the capital, remember?) It was built in the early 1900´s, and there was a whole floor made up of completely the original stuff. It´s obvious and very easy to see walking through it that Oviedo is a rich city, but the solid marble staircase and banisters in the government building certainly underscored it. While the tour guide was explaining a room, I sat in a chair reminiscent of a throne, and I´ve decided that I´d like a throne in my house in the United States, because it´s quite a fun feeling. (And comfortable, too.)

I´m just going to say now how much I´ve loved getting letters from the United States. When I get home and there´s an envelope with familiar handwriting on my pillow, I do a little dance (I´m not ashamed). It´s slightly ironic that I´m posting this AFTER it´s too late to send letters-- they take 7-10 days, and I´ll be leaving Oviedo on Tuesday-- but it´s a thank you to all those who´ve sent them because they´re absolutely fantastic.

Ooh! I remember what I was going to write about! The traditional music of Asturias is heavy in bagpipes-- they´re not only for Scotland! At the goodbye party for the host families (TOMORROW--can you say "not ready"?), everyone´s going to sing the Himno de Asturias with a background of bagpipes, and I love it ridiculously much.

Well, the train´s going to arrive in 10 minutes, so I should probably sign off. Pictures are in another post below this one.

I´ll see everyone (who´s in Bloomington, at least) very soon!

Katherine