The Full Experience

After hearing so much praise about IKEA and even getting to build some of their furniture on Saturday, I got the opportunity to make the experience complete.  Today I took a whirlwind visit to Malaga and the land of IKEA!!  My friends had a few more things to pick up for their new house, so Brian and Kassie let me have the day-off to ride down with them.

IKEA is huge.  I can definitely see why looking to furnish a house could be so overwhelming.  If I do end up furnishing some of my house with items from there, I will have to do research and prepare physically and mentally I believe.  Ha, ha.

The top floor was full of show rooms, which I enjoyed perusing, especially since I didn't need anything.  I believe my favorite room had plum painted walls with black and white accents - quite classy.

Later I went down to the bottom floor and found some kitchen utensils, storage boxes, and awesome cranberry sauce to carry back to my apartment as practical souvenirs.  Even though I didn't "build" anything for myself, I successfully put my boxes together and filled them already.

Finally, I had to try the Swedish meatballs of which I've heard such great reviews.  They were quite delicious with their gravy and cranberry sauce.  Who would've thought to combine all of those things?  

After IKEA, I walked through a giant outdoor mall called Plaza Mayor.  I saw some crazy things, including personified fruit and giant decorative cows everywhere!  Quite strange.  After some lime gelato, I hit the train, walked around a bit, and then headed home.  Overall a fun, but a bit tiring, day.

Now I can say I really know what IKEA is about.  J 

I had to try the world famous Swedish meatballs - gravy and cranberry sauce in all.  Not half bad!

Who wouldn't want a massage under the "tropical covering"?

Spanish Panera?

This cow and I became quick friends.

I decided I like the idea of fruit for parking lots markers; banana octopi are easier to remember than numbers for sure.

These cows were coming out of nowhere - literally!!

I thought pineapples were for welcoming, not to decorate exits!

In case you didn't know, "Pitufo" means Smurf...therefore, Smurf gelato.  This is not what I chose, btw.

Spain is definitely Coke-Land.  I even saw a  giant Coke plant in Malaga!

Waiting for the train to the Center.

The before and after shot, all in one.

A Cultural Event

Yesterday I embarked on a truly cultural experience with Becca.  One of the newest girls we’ve met in an intercambio (or language exchange) invited us to her concert.  She plays the flute and piccolo in a band, and come to find out, it’s a huge ordeal! 

I was expecting a small, more coffee-shop experience (although, yes, I know those don’t typically involve flautists).  My bad, lol.  Anyway, we arrived to a large mass of people waiting for direction, sticking out quite sufficiently with our blond hair, blue eyes, “deer-in-the-headlights” looks. 

After finding our friend, we found our seats, and a complete concert with three marching bands ensued.  All of these bands are typical of Semana Santa (or Easter week), which includes daily processions featuring many local bands and the virgin.  Between this concert and the Ofrenda Floral (which you can read about at http://cuentosdemicaelaenespana.blogspot.com/2012/09/ofrenda-floral.html), I believe I have a little better picture now of what to expect come March. 

I was impressed by the performances – sounds which before I hadn’t heard, the absence of a conductor for the marches, the variance of the performer’s ages, the seriousness of those involved, and our friend’s talent.  I even had some flashbacks to my days in conducting class.

How much there is to learn about culture, music, and the mixing of the two into cultural music.  

IKEA Party

This past week has provided the opportunity to help some friends who are moving into a house here in Granada.  I've actually really enjoyed it, and Saturday provided a new experience for me - I helped BUILD some furniture!!!  How cool, no?  Ha, ha.

Since moving to Spain, I've been more thoroughly introduced to IKEA.  It seems like a great place to find inexpensive but good furniture and accessories for your house.  Most everything even comes packaged in manageable boxes with all the supplies you need for personal construction, including some personal tools and instruction guides.

The instruction guides happen to be written in the universal language.  What's that, you might ask?  Pictures.  Observance is not a gift I can claim in the least, so photo guides can prove a bit tricky to follow.  Lol.

Our friends, Becca, and I got to start with a bench, a bedside table, and legs to a desk.  The legs were way more complicated than at first glance; feel free to check the end product out at http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00144763/ just for fun!!

Whenever I officially have my own place, I think IKEA may be a road trip...even if the closest one is several hours away (US-wise).  The only difference is, I may consider paying the fee to have a worker build a portion of the items for me - I think it would preserve my emotional well-being!!  J

Removing the Log in Our Own Eye

On Thursday morning, I woke up slightly late but still wanted to prepare some coffee for my meeting before leaving the apartment.  This is very American of me but something I’m not exactly looking to change in order to fit into the culture better.  Ha J

After I settled my two and a half spoons of frozen ground coffee into the French press, I proceeded to push the air out of the coffee bag.  Unfortunately this allowed a granule of coffee to launch up into my eye.  I can’t remember ever having quite this experience. 

Having my eye close up in pain, with both eyes crying profusely, while attempting to explain the situation in Spanish to my roommate was quite a memory.  Ten minutes or so later I was quite thankful to have the granule dislodged, despite my teary eyes.  Further adding to the story, I forgot my coffee – already in my thermos with milk and sugar added – on my bedside table. 

Fast-forward to my wandering mind partway into the meeting: there’s a Bible verse that deals with having something in your eye.  Yeah, I think I might have a little more context in which to place said verse now. 

Matthew 7:1-5 says, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”

I believe the Lord has been working on me during the last year and a half or so in the area of judging others.  Often I would see the “sin” of others, be it true or not, and judge them in my heart.  Along with the Lord’s breaking of this critical spirit, He has shown me a lot of pride and legalism masked under religion in my life. 

Although this hasn’t been easy, it’s been great.  What value there is when the Lord reveals to us the speck (or the LOG) in our own eye.  From personal (albeit physical) experience, having something in one’s eye is debilitating.  We cannot see clearly.  Yet we still try to fix someone else while not dealing with our own issues.  Isn’t the Lord’s grace towards us incredible? 

If you are anything like me, the every-day gospel is the best news we can encounter.  When I judge, live in pride, worship idols, misuse my tongue, react out of my insecurity, etc., the Lord is gracious.  He opens my eyes to my sin, so I can see how much I need Jesus.  Once I’m reminded of that, it allows me to have more grace, compassion, and mercy on those who sin against me.  I can forgive much because I’ve been forgiven.  I can love much because I am constantly loved.

I still have a long way to go, but it’s doable because the Lord is for me.  He is committed to my refining sanctification so I come to reflect Jesus more. 

I’m far from perfect; I mess up lots.  But Jesus came for those who can’t do it.  He alone is able. 

May the Lord in His grace show us where we aren’t living out of faith so that this unconditional love and grace becomes our first response to others.         

A Weekend in the Alpujarras

Last weekend, Brian, Kassie, the kids, Becca, and I took a trip to the Alpujarras (an area of mountains outside of Granada).  Unfortunately my and Becca's portion of the trip began with a crazy, curvy drive up the mountains that left some queasy stomachs.  Needless to say, we dosed up on dramamine and took advantage of our laid-back seats on the return trip.  

Our little house in the mountains was quite rustic, in a good way.  It reminded me of my previous mystery road trips after high school where I spent time in the middle of nowhere - apart from the business of life, city, normal.  I loved being able to walk the little paths with the kids, read and pray wrapped up in a blanket on a tree stump, visit the little tourist stores, and enjoy late-night conversation and cards.  

Although practically speaking life in seclusion is not my calling, here and there it's quite refreshing.  If you have the opportunity to enjoy some "time out," take it.  

Back in Granada

When I returned from the north of Spain, I got to visit Brian, Kassie, and the kids before going to see Les Miserables with Becca.  It was really nice to see the kids with some of their Christmas presents and to laugh at their craziness.  

We made some origami animals, which you can see in the pictures.  Jairus seemed to enjoy crumpling his animals more than folding them.  Ha.  I can't blame a 2-year-old for that though! 

Becca and my adventure to see Les Miserables was really fun, but funny as well.  The movie was dubbed into Spanish, or should I say a couple hundred words of it was.  Almost the entire movie was made up of songs, in English, but there was an occasional deep Spanish voice that came directly following a musical number.  Kinda ridiculous?  We thought so...but it was enjoyable (and memorable) just the same.  

Nochevieja

New Year's Eve in Spain holds quite a different tradition when it comes to ringing in the new year.  It involves 12 grapes, a knife (in certain households), and 16 chimes. 

Unless you are the 10-year-old cousin who forgets to de-seed his grapes, all the little seeds are removed and the grapes "put back together" before midnight.  The time begins with four chimes signaling the grape-eating is about to start.  Beginning with the fifth chime, every couple of seconds or so, the 12 chimes continue on.  The goal is to completely eat all of your grapes by the end of the chimes...or something like that.  I believe I was pretty close!

Trying to take a picture of Alicia's cousin struggling with his grapes (complete with seeds) and the laughter that ensued because of the ordeal proved quite difficult!  Laughter is a great way to ring in the new year though.  Here's to you!!

My Adventure to the Reyes Parade

Tomorrow is Reyes, what I've heard to be perhaps the biggest holiday in Spain.  More or less, it's their Christmas; although instead of Santa Clause (or Papa Noel), there are Reyes Magos - the three wise men.  Tonight was the parade.  I'll let the pictures and videos tell the story.  

[P.S. Think Macy's Day Parade...in a smaller city.  (Not that I've ever been though. ha)]

Preparing the way.

Dora just happened to fly away (and almost have a run-in with an airplane).

I think these same balloons have been for sale since Halloween.  

That's some good helium!!

Mom and son waiting in anticipation.

Angels?  Clowns?  I don't know.

"Where's the candy???"

Capturing the calm before the storm.

Reindeer and children were in high quantity.

Wait!  Is that a camel?!

Sure is...

This is a short clip of the crowd.  If only I knew the songs and dance!

I believe this is one of the wise men.  Gold maybe?

This lady sure liked to wave her flag.

Some random fireworks in the opposite direction.  What was the distraction for?

At one point, a box (or several) of candy fell out of the back of a van in the parade...mass...chaos.

I heard umbrellas were helpful for catching candy and for protection.  This guy must have started the rumor because it's the only one I saw.  Lol.

My personal theory is the kids in the floats are mad they can't keep the candy...so they try to pummel the onlooking spectators.  It could be fun.  J

Wise man number 2?  I think I might have missed the 3rd.  

Ronald McDonald!  All the way from the U.S.!!!

Becca and I in the crowd.  

There were so many people.  

I've never seen so many balloons in my life!!

This was the final float and musical number.  Apparently there is a chicken plant in Granada - at least that would make a little bit more sense.  

The street cleaners brought up the rear.  Quite efficient.  

This is the typical Reyes cake.  Apparently whoever has the plastic figurine in their piece buys the one the coming year.  I just stepped into the bakery to take a picture.  J

I hope you felt like you were there, but without any claustrophobia!!!