A Kickass Invisible Tree House

Well, I've decided that in addition to talking about things that I've done on here, I'm just going to blog about whatever "me de la gana" (whatever I feel like).

Check out this sweet tree house designed by Swedish firm Tham & Videgard Hansson Arkitekter that blends in with its surroundings... you can find more about this project right here.

'Tis all for now.

xoxo,
Alison.

The Bloody Olive

So the other day I was in a café with a few friends and I ordered a drink. I asked for a vodka martini with an olive and when the drink was delivered the olive was covered in blood........... nah, just kidding! But with an entry title like that, how could I resist?!?

Anywho, earlier this week I went to a little short film screening with my conversation partner Onaney. This screening was put on by Future Shorts, a film label that puts on these expositions of short films in various cities in the world each month. Luckily for me, Gijón happens to be one of these cities! Here is the web address for Future Shorts if you are interested.

I really enjoyed the screening and I've posted here my favorite short film that I saw. It is called The Bloody Olive and was directed and co-written by Vincent Bal. For those of you who don't speak Dutch (the language that the film is in) there are subtitles in English. Even though it is a bit long for a short film (just under 11 minutes) I think you will enjoy it.



You can also watch more films including this one at Future Shorts' YouTube page, or read more about The Bloody Olive at this page from IMDB.

Enjoy!

Holiday Fever

Well, since I'm becoming super excited to go home (7 days and about 3 hours) next week and I've got a fever... I thought this is an appropriate post. As you may know, I'm obsessed with Christmas music at this time of the year and other holiday traditions like making Christmas cookies and decorating and best of all... Christmas shopping!!

I wanted to first share my favorite Christmas song in the world All I Want For Christmas is You by Mariah Carey. This has got to be the greatest modern Christmas song, and the only Christmas song that I can listen to at any time during the year.

This website distracts me majorly... you can make your own snowflake, without all of the little pieces of paper that are left over. The link is : http://snowflakes.barkleyus.com/ and here is a sample of what you can do there.... I made this one.
And lastly, this funny site powered by Office Max called Elf Yourself where you turn yourelf and 4 other people or pets into an elfin family.... here's my fam! (PS. be patient because it takes a long time to load!!)

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

I should be posting before the holidays, but just in case... I wish everyone and their families a safe and happy holiday and new year!!

Un besin,
Alison.

George Bernard Shaw

I just found this quotation the other day and think it's really great. It's pretty much a philosophy that I try to live by but could never put into words as eloquently as he did.

People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them.

George Bernard Shaw, "Mrs. Warren's Profession" (1893) act II

Smart guy, that G.B.S.!

An Important Article, I think...

Well, as it seems, I've picked up a little momentum on this blog again, and I'd like to share this article from the New York Times that was recently passed on to me.

I really agree with what Kristof writes and I really hope that Mr. Obama takes this into account. I think, well really I know, that teachers are underpaid and undervalued in our country these days and it really isn't fair. And honestly, I know that this sounds cheesy, but the children of today are really the future. If we don't invest in them now, we don't really have a right to criticise them in the future. They're only kids after all... they don't know any better. On the same note, a greater amount of involvement on behalf of the parents is also required to make this function.

After living abroad for so long (FAST FACT: In the past 3 years [2006, 2007, and 2008] I've lived more months in Spain that in the US. This month makes 20 months in Asturias and 16 months in the US! Crazy, huh?) and seeing the way that America is viewed by the rest of the world, I really hope that we can improve our image. I'm so sick of the snide comments that people make every time I mention that I'm American. I'm proud to be American (just like Lee Greenwood) and I wouldn't trade my citizenship for anything, but sometimes it's borderline offensive to see and hear how other people's opinions of my country.

Anyhow, like it or not, we're just going to have to wait and see what Barack has in store for his White House days.

xoxo,
Alison.

Gijon

Ok, so.... I'm a really big slacker and haven't written in a long time. I had a ton of stuff that I wanted to write, but I have honestly forgotten everything.

Anyhow, I'm in Gijon now. It's really great. I think I've gone out more times in the last month than I did all last year living in Luarca. I'm not being irresponsible, just in case you're wondering, Mom. I really like the school where I'm working and the teachers have all been really helpful and fun to work with. I've also got a great schedule: I only work 12 hours a week and only on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. So yes, I have more "weekend" days than weekdays each week. Sounds awesome, but I can easily get bored too. I'm not complaining though.

Someday soon, I'll be getting internet at home, so I'll be able to do more things with this like upload pictures and music.

Here are two pictures of Gijon. The first one I found online and the second one I took when I was in Gijon in 2006 on a visit with my group.



Lots of love,
Alison.

Back in Action!

Well, it's been quite a while since I last updated my blog. I wanted to dedicate this entry to our trip to Germany, which was really amazing.

Our first stop was Berlin, and I was actually surprised by how much I liked it there. I learned so much about the history of Germany, and was totally "wowed" by the buildings and monuments that we saw. I think probably the most amazing thing for me to see was the Berlin Wall - or shall I say, the fragments that are left of it. I can't believe that Berlin has changed so much since the Wall came down and this is something that has happened in my life time! It was just so cool to be able to see that. Another place that I really liked was Checkpoint Charlie, which was a border stop between the American and Soviet sections of Berlin. They have now put a museum on that site, and the museum is dedicated to telling the stories of people who attempted successfully and unsuccessfully to cross the Berlin Wall. It was a really heartwarming place, and for those of you who really know me, I'm sure you know that I had many a tear in my eyes. Katy and I also read on our in-flight magazine on EasyJet about a new food craze in Germany, which is "currywurst" which is basically a sausage with a curry/tomato sauce on it. It was indeed delicious!

Next we went to Bavaria to visit Munich. I can't really pick a favorite thing about Munich really, because it was all really awesome. We did a free tour that brought us all around the historic center of the city and we learned a lot again about the history of Germany and it was cool to hear about famous events right in front of the buildings where they took place. One of the monuments that most stands out in my mind even now, 2 months later, is this gold line that marks a path through an alley way. It commemorates the people who took that certain detour to avoid being forced to do the Hitler salute to a Nazi plaque when they walked by it. I find it especially moving because those people who took the detour were logged, and if they took the detour too many times, they were sent to concentration camps, but most people still did it anyway. We also took a day trip to the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, which was every bit of the straight-from-the-fairytale-book as it was rumored to be. We also really enjoyed the German beer, and tried a few different kinds, and of course, drank customary one-liter beers at the Hofbrauhaus.

I enjoyed the trip a lot, and really want to go back to Germany when I can. I also found the Germany people to be quite nice and friendly, in contrast to the typical stereotype that I'm used to. Inappropriate as it may be (or not!) I'd like to leave you with this short clip, which is a spoof of the German Coast Guard.

Tschüs!