So today I decided to take a siesta for the first time in a long time because I was struck with a horrible thought: Today is just about the last day that I will be able to do so. Without it being weird, that is. I suppose this is arguable, being that the standard American college student's sleep schedule is much like that of all of Spain: go to bed after midnight, wake up at 7, go to class/be productive, then take a nap in the afternoon. It's brilliant, I think. College students have the right idea. Let's impose this on the rest of the country.
So yes, this weekend was satisfying, which is the best I can hope for, as it is my last one. I got to see most, if not all, of my ERASMUS friends, which were the ones I was most concerned about seeing. It's the most uncomfortable goodbye, because that's exactly what it is: a goodbye. There's almost absolute certainty that you won't ever see the person again. There's no "see you later" about it. The Portuguese guys, as they've been come to be known, threw all us Americans a going away party at their house uptown, which was really sweet. And if you're confused about why we're having a going away party right now, while we still have a couple weeks left in Europe (actually 2 as of tomorrow), it's because tomorrow will be our last night. We've had several of these "last nights" here in Santander (for example, last weekend, we never hesitated to tell everyone who would listen that it was our last weekend. And tomorrow night, there is talk of going out for our "last night," but then most of us will still be here on Friday the 29th, which is our real last night, because we leave for Madrid the next day, and from Madrid, it's home), and I think it's because we all just want an excuse to party harder than we've ever partied before.
Anyway, it was a successful weekend. After losing my camera on Thursday night, I succeeded in losing nothing else. Oh, Spain. All I've ever done is love you unconditionally and you just take, take, take. I've lost two sets of keys, two cell phones, an iPod, a camera, and probably some dignity as well. Okay just kidding about that last one.
So one more thing before I go home and start to pack and give up halfway through and instead cry myself to sleep...I was walking here to the library to study for my last exam tomorrow when I heard some really obnoxious drumming. I walked a little further on and I saw my first Semana Santa procession! Now, for those of you who don't know, Semana Santa means "holy week," and a Semana Santa procession is kind of like a parade, only creepy. Men cloaked in large white cloths with their faces covered in the cone-shaped hoods walked to the slow, ominous drumming of teenage boys walking behind them. Then came some pre-teen looking girls carrying banners and looking like they hated their lives. After the girls with banners, there was a giant "float," if you will. It was a giant wooden table covered in red flowers on the top with a symbolic Jesus standing on top, complete with crown of thorns and look of misery on his face, he was carrying a proportionally sized crucifix on his shoulder. The statue was even made to look like he was being weighed down under the burden of this giant cross; a detail I think few would think to include. Bringing up the rear were 4 or 5 young boys, also cloaked in white, but the terrified looks on their faces were on display, as they were not forced to wear the creepy cone-shaped hoods with the tiny eye slits. Why make a religious procession so unsettling? I'll never know. I can only imagine what would happen if the Catholic Church tried to pull something like this in North Carolina.
Speaking of North Carolina! I hope you all are doing well and my heart goes out to everyone who lost homes or even family. You guys made international news. I watched it on the Spanish news with my host family. That was just about the most frightening thing, let me tell you; hearing about natural disasters in your home state and not knowing whether your family and friends are okay. Glad to hear you all are, though. I count myself lucky.
Until next time, everyone!
"El mundo es un libro y ellos que no viajan leen solo una página."
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