Harry Potter

Tomorrow the last of Harry Potter's books will be released, but bookstores (and fans) couldn't wait until tomorrow so they are preparing some parties that will start this evening with magicians, activities, shows... all these will finish at midnight, when they'll give the books to all those people that booked them.

I didn't have it booked, it's my birthday present (thank you Jing-Jing) and now I'm like a little child waiting for the time to arrive so we can go to the bookstore and have a good time there. I was thinking of being naughty: if I get the book at midnight and considering that bookstores don't open in Spain until 10am (3am US central hour), I have three hours to read the book and spoil it to my Spanish friends XDD

Just kidding, if I spoil the book to my sister Ana Maria... she will kill me (for having nephews and nieces she will still have my other sister lol)... and that reminds me of something funny that happened yesterday at the office: I was telling my boss that the next day (today) I was going to a Harry Potter's party (so I wanted to leave early today, something logical taking into account that I worked extra hours on monday-wednesday, my schedule is quite flexible). Then, one of my workmates came and said that if we were interested, he knew a link where we could download the book, to my surprise, Allyson (another workmate, she's in her 50s) came like: "if you spoil me the book, I'll have to go and tell your boss to look for another employee!" (ok, it doesn't look funny like that, but if you had seen it, it was hilarious live).

See you!


Ok, ok, I must practice my English, that's one of the reasons why I'm writing this blog. If you find any mistake, just tell me. Thanks! :)

My hometown

I know this is not related to my trip to the United States, but I found this videos surfing the web and I thought it would be nice to show the people how my hometown is. These videos are from a TV show called "Andalucia de Cine" that consisted in little videos (all of them are 1'39'') about almost every town and village in Andalusia (the region where I come from).


The translation to this video woulde be: "Jaen, the historic andalusian capital of the olive tree, is a beautiful border city between the fields and the hills. Jaen, link between andalusian valleys and castilian countryside, it grew up next to Saint Catalina's Castle, from which you can see a geography full of olive trees. Its streets are open to magnificent churches and palaces that give to this city an artistic range different to the other andalusian capitals. Silvered Jaen. Andalusian crossroad."


And the translation for this second video is: "Jaen, andalusian capital of the olive tree, historical bridge between high valleys of guadalquivir and the Castilian plateau. Cleaved between steep mountains, Jaen was called Jeen (“station of caravans”) by the Arabs, and played an essential role in the communications with the bordering regions. Its urban core, presided by the imposing castle of Saint Catherine, keeps excellent architectonic samples, from the Renaissance cathedral to famous civil buildings. Jaen, industrial and pretty, city of romances, historical axis of inner Andalusia."

I hope you liked it. See you!

Drawing

I didn't know how to name this post: comics? comiquing? drawing? It doesn't really matter. The other day, reading The Daily Texan, I saw an uncle-Sam-style announcement: "We want you... to draw a comic for The Daily Texan".

So I decided to try, I took pencil and paper (and some rubber) and drew a small sketch of what I wanted... the result was simply awful... but I said to myself: "it's one of the worst drawings I've ever done... but nothing happens if I send it". Surprise comes when I receive an email saying that they like the strip.

You drawing published... not really funny but...

Finally, the published it on friday. You (or should I say Y'all? :-D) must admit that is quite simple and not really funny... but anyway, I did it and I'm happy with it.

ByeBye YingYing (June 7th)

Yesterday YingYing went back to China... She has been one of the best people I've found here in Austin and I cannot help having a feeling of sadness. I still remember how I met her and how through her I met really important people for me (like JingJing, Felix, Shannon...)

I don't know why I have a strange feeling, I'm not exactly sad but it's not like being ok... she left with a smile on her face, a hug and a recommendation (that I'll try to follow although I don't know if it's possible)... her smile was so calmed that I can't be sad, but I can´t help feeling like something really important of me is missing. When Vicky, JingJing or Felix (yeah, he left today) said "bye bye" I didn't have a feeling like this one as I knew that one day I'd see then again... but not for YingYing.

We just said "see you... I don't know when". And it wasn't sadness... it was hope and happiness and confussion and melancholy... It was that time at Taco Cabana taking care of her while she was drunk, it was the conversations we had when she had problems with her bf or when she was missing her family... It was Vicky and Felix and Roxana and Marcelo... It was her teaching me chinese (or trying to), argueing about political stuff in China or just drinking coffee while having a chat in Starbucks...

And she left... wearing that smile that I liked so much.

Cheers

This is a translation of song from a Spanish music band called "Jarabe de Palo". It's one of my favourites bands and this song is one I really like from their last CD. It's called "Olé" and could be translated like Cheers.


Cheers for you knowing how I am
Cheers for you breaking my heart
Cheers because your love doesn't have an owner
and you gave me a little.
Cheers for saying I'm wrong
when both of us know I'm wrong.

Cheers for filling up my heart
of tenderness and feelings.
Cheers for filling up with beautifulness
with that 'I love you'.
Cheers for you being like you are
because your looking still touches me.

Cheers because I like you like that
Cheers for everything you believe
for everything you want
because you trust in me.
Cheers because you're always there
Cheers because I die for seeing you
and you die for me.

Cheers when you make me smile
Cheers for your life
Cheers for all those moments
that only you and me know
Cheers because I remember you
in any place and I miss you.

Cheers for your inspiration
Cheers and cheers for you
Cheers for those songs I write to you
that speaks of what I feel
Cheers for you argueing with me
because time with you worths it.

Cheers for everything you believe
for everything you want
because you trust in me.
Cheers because you're always there
Cheers because I die for seeing you
and you die for me.

Cheers for that moment I met you
Cheers for believing that it was a 'no'
and at the end it was a 'yes'
Cheers for everytime I think of you
Cheers because I want, because I feel it,
because it's what I want.

Cheers for your kisses, for your tongue
Cheers for you turning your head
Cheers for life, for people
that loves and know how to love
Cheers for whatever may come
what happened happened and will stay in my memory.

When I want you don't want
When I have you don't have
When I am you are not
When I see you don't see

It seems like it is but it isn't
It seems like it isn't but it is

So, what should it be?
yes or not?

If I can you can not
If I tell you, you don't understand
If I stop you move
I'm sitting down and you standing up.

It seems like it is but it isn't
It seems like it isn't but it is

So, what should it be?
yes or not?

It seems like it is but it isn't
It seems like it isn't but it is

So, what should it be?
yes or not?

Memories

It looks like a longtime ago when I arrived to the Castilian, but 5 months have already passed... I've moved so I'm no longer there, maybe I go back in september, but now I'm enjoying a "peaceful" summer in my single room at Goodall Wooten... and there are so many memories of my old dorm...

I remember the first day at the Castilian (with Vicky), it was our first day in Austin (and in the USA) so we were completely lost.

I remember the night I met YingYing with Marcelo, we had a lot of fun talking about how her best friend betrayed her.

I remember Alex, my roomate, he didn't speak much, but when he did, he had a nice conversation.

I remember "the night of the wallabees" at Cain & Abels, with Marcelo... and how they "repeated" it for Vicky's B-Day.

I remember the icestorm and how the australian guys and I went out just wearing shorts and T-shirt.

I remember the day I went shopping with Roxana, we didn't have cellphone jet and Vicky was really worried, she almost called the police!

I remember Mexico, it was my first (and maybe last) Spring Break.

I remember meeting JingJing, "talk" to her in chinese and how YingYing was upset with me because I had offended her by saying something rude.

I remember Virginia Tech (and I won't forget it).

I remember Castilian blackout... two days without light or hot water, although I told my parents that it was just a few hours not to worry them.

I remember receiving emails I didn't want to receive from Spain.

I remember my grandma dying in Spain and how I felt weak because I couldn't help my mother and I couldn't go back, and not telling anybody but Vicky (that was upset because I told her three days later).

I remember playing pool with HP, Marcelo and Raul...

... and two poker nights with HP, Marcelo, Jojo, Sammy and Stephen.

I remember Dena and her calling at 3am to speak Spanish (as drunk as a lord, but with the best pronountiation I've ever heard in America).

I remember hanging out with a really nice chinese girl (in the funniest and most interesting night I have lived in Austin), meeting other exchange students and "suffer" their gossiping the day after.

I remember the cockroaches (yes, in plural) of my room.

I remember Vicky calling me because there was a "rat" in her room... that turned to be a cockroach (and it wasn't that big).

I remember seeing Francis Ford Coppola with YingYing and Su Yeong... and Seth MacFarlane with YingYing and Marcelo.

I remember, and never forget, the sadness in Vicky's eyes when she had to say "good bye" to Felix and YingYing.

I remember Felix, Heather, Alex, Amira, Celsio, Sofía, Michal, Sarah, Michael, Claire, Jose Antonio, Aya, Shindo, Su Yeong, Liam, Shannon, Bennie, otra Heather, Burak, Aysha, Svet, Marianne, Ugur, Julie... and so many that I cannot write all their names because it'd take a lot of time...


... So many things I will never forget... and it's been just 5 months...

Lost in translation

I'm lost in translation.

I should translate this blog (I promised to YingYing)... as I'd like to talk a better English, and specially to write it... something that looks almost impossible to me.

I'm lost in translation.

I'd like to be free to express my thoughts... but then I crash with my language limitations... and I hate it... and I feel it does deserve trying, but I don't know if I'm capable.

I'm lost in translation.

I'd like to express my feelings without conditions, without being misunderstood... forgetting the barriers that are upon me.

I'm lost in translation... and I wish I wasn't.

New blog, new world

I have decided to translate my blog (Road to the USA) into English... I know there are some reasons why it looks a bit weird to create a new blog for that instead of using the old one, but I think it's the best option, because:

• Having the English and the Spanish version together would be to messy.
• As my English is not too good, I prevent comparisons between the Spanish and the English version.
• I prefer it separated... so, who cares?!

I'll try to translate all of them from today and so on (maybe I'll translate some of the old ones first).

So, I just ask for one thing: if you find any mistake or something wrong with my English, tell me. I want to learn as fast and as much as possible and I think this is a good way.

Thanks!