HEY LADIES!

The attention that I'm getting here in Pamplona is not always appreciated. Especially by men. Imagine you, starring the maincharacter in this movie, walking back home after spanish classes. Wild man appears. "Hey hey, que tal? Novio?? Hey!"
This pisses me off. Who in the whole wide effing world do you think you are? Ey? Trying to be all up in ma face ey. Well, not interested. But there isn't really that much to do about it. Nothing at all, I guess.
To get to the point of this. After a long and quite bitter conversation over coffe here at the office it came up that many of the chicas want more attention. Well ladies, just don't wait for it to come to you then. There isn't any tasty secret behind getting attention. Just the normal shizzle: BE CONFIDENT! BE OUT THERE! BE FLESHY, everyone digs that shit. And the most important thing: FORGET THE GAME!

Send the check to 6578493XXXX-thenumbahofmybancaccount ya'll. Ok, enough of this.

Hasta luego,
Louise

I luv yo faces!

'Sup nation, I'm sharing some SexyPhil love this Miércoles morning

Have you heard?

Ok, did I mention that I can haz two computers. Going proooo!

And a doodle to brightens things up.

Hasta luego,

The girl who hates living with monkeys

Martes is sunny, indeed

Not much to write about this morning. Yesterday I went back to class. This morning I decided to stop eating red meat. And I am having a crisis about my spanish. Lovely.

Hasta luego,

Louise

Monday is always a monday and we begin it with a shitty morning @ Fuerte with people behaving like apes.

Hasta luego,
Louise

@ el oficina

Just some casual "fika"

Hasta luego,

Louise

@ the B00TCAMP

The girl in the video is Ade. Our own energizer ;) 

Hey folks!
Finally back from Canfranc aka The Volontario B00T CAMP OF HELL 2012 . Living in a room that smelled like monkey balls and old socks, I spent my week with twenty other girls and four boys everyone from everywhere in Spain. Some came from a nearby village, some from far,far, far away. Originally volunteers from all over Europe and even a girl from The Dominic Republic. Mas o menos I have been sitting on my butt all week, taking in information about the Youth Pass.
But since the food was beyond awesome I give this week (five days) 3 ½ Ewok hugs out of 5.

@ el oficina

Grapes Koldo brought to the office this morning, from his own garden.

Quite amazing grapes I might add.

Hasta luego,

Louise

The progress

Three weeks have gone by and that means it's my third week without any gluten. No pasta, no bread and not much candy either actually. Like I told you, I tried to buy candy but failed eminently and the other day I bought a brownie and thought I'd devour this guilty pleasure. It tasted like a carpet, oh so dry and tasteless that i actually threw it away. Not even worth the time of chewing it. On the good side there has not been any struggle to avoid temptations of buying bread or a really scrumptious, sexy, delightful pasta dish. With a lot of cheese on top. And handmade meatballs.

Touched by his noodly appendage, RAmen!

Anyhow, I know that I am not a clean eating person since I drink and eat what people serve me BUT ever since I moved here my face has actually cleared up a lot and I feel slim and energetic. The flesh wound on my left heel is a proof of me walking a lot, getting my wiggly jiggly thighs into motion. (Note: I love my thighs, no hate) But it does not stop there! My hair is very fond of living here since it has grown like 2 cm in three weeks.
The only thing that I'm paranoid over is the water and the effects of the chlorine  And that fond of buying new bottles of water everyday, I'm unfortunately not.

Studying hard, actually

Because I am in the beginners´beginner´s class I thought it would be awesome to just start at the beginning with some easy Disney Classics. Then I don't have to harass my fellow colleges in their work and I get to listen to Disney classics all day. Win win situation :-) (By all day I mean meanwhile I am working, of course)

Hasta luego,
Louise

@ el oficina

Autobus Doce

The search for an apartment continues but no luck yet, at least not for me. Liz is moving directly after our return back from the VOLUNTARY B00T CAMP 2012. Three days left. I am not in a hurry though, as long as people will stop with the effing running, I´m good. Ok, it's expensive living there but if I just save my pocket money I'd probably be able to save up to a small trip to London next fall. Since winter is rushing in I may have to buy a jacket or a sweater. Oh, this world.

Anyway, the Spanish lessons and news about any epiphany in that area...none.  BUT ( and it's a big one) Iñaki helped me get a bus card and yes I am now a bus traveller. 

To celebrate my victory over not walking that devious path to the other side of town, I thought I'd buy some candy. FAILED with that one. Tasted like oldpeople-smell. Zero ewokhugs out of five.

Hasta luego,

Louise

@ el oficina

Iñanki - The chief in carge of my group :)

Q: Louise, what happens on Saturday?
A: There is an event taking place in one of the parks here in Pamplona city.  The subject I am going to discuss with my group is the awareness of  recycling, consumption and reuse. Environmental issues and how a small effort can make a big change. Mostly to aware others of the small changes to add in their everyday routine for a better future. Sounds funky? Well, not that funky when it's for the greater good,future generations health and the earth's health.... More or less.

Hasta luego,
Louise

@ el oficina

Instead of giving you the daily complaint I am just going to leave this sick a cappella cover of Ellie Goulding's Lights. Although I've just been sitting on my arse all day I feel quite productive. I have even got an assignment for Saturday.

hasta luego,
Louise

@ el oficina

Human sexuality is complicated

I happend to see this on one of my close friends blog and had to repost. It feels rather current in the oficina were I work also. Teenagers, sexuality, puberty, the feeling of non-belonging, depression, etc. Unfortunately.

Chop Suey!

Two weeks have gone by with a swoosh and on Saturday it's time for EVS Voluntary BOOT CAMP 2012. The one I thought would never come. This week does also my Spanish lessons start.

Will be conveniently awesome to know four languages by the end of this stay here.

Hasta luego,
Louise

De otra lunes

Woke up to someone bashing the doors again this morning.
Preparations for Saturday is full on. I'm listening to Mustsach. Loud.

What I might experience about this trip is that I won't learn any Spanish at all, but instead become excellent at English, start a rock band and die by an overdose.

Yes, I'm posting the most popular song here. For the pamplonians ;)

The band is from Gothenburg, Sweden.

Over and out,

Louise

Red Bull Stratos

You go and watch the freefall from space, NOW!

El Feria

Today is Sunday, that means today is the day that followed the most awesome day and by that I mean yesterday. Yesterday was awesome. (like this very confusing and not impossible incorrect line? well, keep reading my blog)
The feria arranged by CJN - Consejo de Juventud de la Navarra, turned out to be simply as awesome as awesome can be. Even though I had a small fight with my boss, no chocolate fountain and the monsoon rain which soaked my sneakers and turned my hair into the non-attractivepoodlelook.
Information about different areas such as drugs/sex/children/activitiesforyoungpeople/possibilitytochange, standup comedy, music(!) and Zumba took place between 10.00 in the morning until 21.00. Amongst other things of course. And I danced like a fool which I think unfortunately both Koldo and Iñaki documented. Haha, but I'll give you that one.

Shake what ya mama gave ya

Just a short post. We were out last night.
The music was terrible and where were this hit when I needed it the most?

Thursdays are dangerous 'cause then they serve drinks and food even cheaper than usually. And it's in general very cheap here. Just imagine.

Hasta luego,
Louise

Solo en Pamplona

The tough life

Ayer Liz y me, nos reunimos los otras voluntarios para unos cervezas.

Dee y Agnes

This is the first whole sentence I've ever written in Spanish without using google.translate. It's probably wrong. If anyone wonders, I've been here for one and a half week. I didn´t know any Spanish before that. Para mí es está grande!
So yes, yesterday we had beers with the volunteers. I don´t know if it was the weather or anything but it ended up badly with a SPEECH OF LIBERTY AND ARTS AND LIFE.
Jebus, christ. I won't go home... because I haven't got anything to return too. No apartment and no money. I am really stuck here so vamos hacer lo mejor de es! Probably wrong that one to.

Beso,

Louise

Inmundigande

Baby squid cooked in their own ink

Navarra specialty

A little music for my readers

Got this recommended by Naiara @ the office.

And this one is in Basque!


/Louise

Tengo hambre

@ el oficina

Today was the first day when we really had rain here in Pamplona. Although some kind of minor pouring, it's still quite warm outside. I am wearing my new shirt and classy dirty hair, with that some insomnia eyes and quite the airhead. Trying to beat life into my mind with some classy hiphop/jazz/rap. Tried to persuade myself into listening to Spanish music but this far I have nothing. Suggestions anyone?
YES, music is important since I don't like watching tv...Or can't.
And speaking of apples. This is what I fikade today. Yum!

Who hasn't heard about the festival?

The Internet is being my friend today. I found this video montage at YouTube filled with pictures from Pamplona. Maybe this will give you a clearer view of the city :-)
If not, just youtube away.
There is plenty of videos about the city and especially the San Fermin Festival "Encierro" with the running bulls. The festival takes place the 6th -14th of July every year and it's celebrated in honour of Saint Fermin, a bishop who spread Christianity in Pamplona and for his courage.At 8 a.m. a rocket is launched to announce the opening of the event and alert everyone that the gate has been opened to release the bulls. The second rocket informs the runners that the bulls have left and are running up the slanted street of Cuesta de Santo Domingo to the front of the City Hall. From here, they will run down Mercaderes Street and onto Estafeta Street. At this point, one or two bulls have probably separated from the herd, and onlookers become especially aware that this is the time unexpected accidents occur. This section of streets ends crossing in front of the telephone exchange and down to a passageway into the bull ring, Plaza de Toros. 

Agur,
Louise

The statue of the bull run

Where the streets have no name

When looking at an apartment be sure to bring your most comfortable shoes, because there might be a distance to walk. Do never trust a map and never ever be foolishly overconfident in your knowledge about maps. Maps are indeed a good tool for navigation but yet so mischievous when not used correctly. Make sure to bring your map when traveling but do not ever use it with confidence of finding the right way in case of panic or a short period of time. 

Looking for apartments and finding Burger King

In a beginning of a hunt for an apartment in Pamplona one must always try everything. This I know from moving around a lot back in my hometown. The farthest apartment may be the best one, the last one you'd ever think of/the biggest, the fugliest/ the most comfortable one. And so on. This set of hunting has now begun since the amount of sleep we are getting at the moment is not sufficient for living. That you'd know if you've been reading my last posts. Good girl/boy/hen. Liz, who is a superhuman/knows better Spanish than me, found several adds and people to contact last night. I thought I'd call the English apartment girl = me making some kind of contribution and today walk the distance to see the flat.
35 minutes later after departure, not getting my hopes up when searching the map for answers about where I might be, I'm stopping a guy for help. He's awfully nice and helpful, pointing me in the right direction and I was back on track. 25 minutes later I'd seen the flat and taken some pictures.

On my way home I got lost again.

/Louise

Pero es está cada vez mejor

Monday, why you be such a pain in the arse?
Ok, recently I've really been trying to call home through skype and the hostel does have WiFi. It's just that it won't cooperate with my computer or my phone. World problem number 1.
Went to the bank this morning, had forgot my passport  - no bankcard for me, thereof no money. World problem 2.
Liz and I really can't sleep at night 'cause of the noise. Through the hours between 11 PM too 2 AM we just laid in our beds, staring at the ceiling. The mornings are not sufficient for sleeping either since people are getting up at six and apparently slamming the doors is something acceptable. World problem 3.

Documenting the devilish showers

And now how to solve these problems

MOVE into another apartment. This night we sat up and scrolled through Internet for collocations . I mean, of course we have to solve this by doing something radical.
As for the bankcard question: I use Koldo-mon. He uses efficient-problem-solving, it's super effective!

Hasta luego,
The girl with the thorn in her side

Kärleken måste få en chans

No luck in getting another room than the one small we have now. Since there is two boys moving in on the girlsONLY-floor they want an easy way to evacuate the building IF anything happens, Note the ANYTHING. Or if they maybe just have to face naked women. I am not going to be understanding in this matter.No.
Oh my lord.

Buen finde,
Louise

Necestíamos más fiestas!

Buenos días everyone!

What happens here?
Well, it's time for a fiesta!

Gran Fiesta de Marisco                                                  Liz inside the Plaza de Toros

Since the festival when the bulls are running is not taking place until July of next year, in the center of the arena is a restaurant where you might order either a delicious lobster och some fish.

I found a shirt!

Lunch time at Fuerte de Principe

Not ok!

Early this morning Lis and I were told that we were forced to change rooms. Without any kind of explanation. The one we've had all week is spacey, fits two persons perfectly and there was like nothing to complain about when you got used to the fact that you're living in a hostel and not the luxury of an apartment. Deal! Ok, the showers doesn't work and it's barely coming any water out of the taps, nada Internet connection in the room what so ever but ok, deal!
Ok, now for the loving f* of God, we are living in a rat hole. Smaller than a rats ass of you know what I mean. No hooks where to hang your clothes, small windows (compared to the ones we had before) and no tables besides the beds. One shelf. ONE! When you open the wardrobe you can not get in/out of the room. It's dirty and noisy as hell since we are living in the center room of five so we can hear everyone. You don't really have anywhere to put your clothes besides under the desk but it's strictly prohibited to put stuff on the floor.
Lis is mad. I am f* pissed off! This is not OK!
So when the chief in charge returns at five I am just going to, very calmly ask her what the f* is going on. So what if she's speaks spanish. I'll speak a language everyone understand.

Some cultural differences

• Kissing of the cheeks when you meet a new person. Either you get a real kiss on your cheek or just a swift sound in your ear. In Sweden you greet another person with a nod or maybe a handshake at the first encounter. Depending on the situation you might hug each other but that's more common within family.
• Walking indoors with your shoes. It´s rather obvious why los españoles walk with their shoes indoors. The floors are ice cold but other than that I don't really know. I think it's a habit that have lived on.
• Stores closes at 14.00, opens again at 17.00. During the hottest hours of the day the los españoles retire back to their houses to eat lunch.
• There's no filmjölk anywhere to find!

I´ll probably write more on the difference matter soon so keep yourself updated!

Adíos,

Louise

@ la oficina

If you thought that sitting in the office all day was it well then I have to disagree! We have a Huerto Oficinal! A small garden ;)

 

Seeds

Babypeppers dangeling from their branches

I think, this was some kind of lettuce thingy.
I'll get back to you about that.

/Louise

PS: Koldo took the excellent pictures.DS

Apropos spanish people are nice

Yuzune & Therese

These two took me to el filmoteca yesterday

@ zee office

Shiny, happy people

Some of you I guess, must have had the urge to know what kind of people I spend my daytime with. Or actually, will spend more time with at all. I know all of their names in the back of my head but I never kiss&tell so...
Anyhow the guy is my mentor Koldo who helps me with most of the things here. He's..yeah, my mentor. Or sensei, haha.
In this picture I think he was trying to look violent. With a pocket knife. And a mouth stuffed with apples. He's cool.

Algunas fotos de Pamplona

Una pequeño taza de café

The beautiful view from one of the walls around the old castle. I think. Haven't had a proper round tour yet.

Hey Liz, I hope you don't mind but I love this picture :-)

This was supposed to be my guide post if I got lost. But where the f* is this thing on the map?

One out of many statues...

Another building I don't know the name of...

The three musketeers....eh, I mean, volunteers!

Yesterday at 10 a'clock am, we had our first meeting all of us volunteers in this project. I was nervous because I thought the third girl were going to speak excellent spanish already. Luckily for me (if I can say that without sounding too rude) she didn't speak a word more than basic basic stuff. Hola, gracias, llamo etc. As me!
From left: Lis, la francais, Linda, I think she's lettish and me, the Swede. (We are the geeks with the paper bags from Instituto Navarra de la Juventud) The dude standing in the rearmost place in the photo is my mentor. Or sensei, haha. During this day we, amongst other things, walked to a shelter for homeless people. There is volunteers working there right now, that arrived in May this year. This is a place were people in need gets a bed and three meals a day for 2 euros. It was nice visiting this place although I look like the least amused person in the world.

Today however I got lost. Wandering around in Pamplona listening to music maybe isn't the most clever idea. Not if you're completely unfamiliar with the town. Roads, parks, statues tends to look the same after a while. I know I started at Plaza de Castillo but I ended up walking down, towards the ginormous stone wall below the wall and the other side of the city. Oh well, Turned around and started walking in the opposite direction and voila, there was the Shelter again. Oh flip. I ended up walking the long way back to Castillo and all the way down the shopping district in the old part of the city.

Plaza del Castillo

Now if anyone as much as dares to have a close encounter with my shoes, I'll give them 10 euros!

Saludos,
Louise

Arriving

Hello everyone who has decided to read this blog about my time as a volunteer in Pamplona! Good to meet ya'll! 

First of I'm going to tell you about the trip down here to Pamplona, the capital of the region Navarra. My mentor and I booked the flight and train tickets almost the same day as I got back the approval of me going to Pamplona. I'm always it nervwreck when it comes to traveling alone outside swedish borders but this trip went really well. As we were flying I started talking to my seat neighbour and we ended up chit chatting all the way down to Barcelona. Can't believe I survived three hours just sitting down without having cramps or restless legs. At Barcelona airport I found my bag and began looking for either the train to Pamplona or the bus. The advice to just follow people to get to similar destinations didn't work out that well since everybody just split up after the flight but I got directions just by asking... everyone. In french, in English and finally, someone who spoke english. Either way, people are very friendly in Spain overall. Well, well, well. The train to Pamplona took over 4 hours to ride so you might say I was tired when I arrived. 

Hello Pamplona!

Koldo, my spanish mentor, met up with me at the station and we drove through town too Fuentes Principe. It's kind of an hostel. Before me getting a proper shower, he showed me the office where I'm about to do volunteary work. Nice place indeed. For those who has been abroad in the matter of work might agree with me when I say Sweden is a spoiled country, in an IKEA landscape way. Back at the hostel I said hello to my roomie. A french girl who I share room with.

And not long after that I kind of hit the showers and went to bed.

First post, done!
Adíos!