These are the days

On my walk to school today, I caught myself thinking "those were the days," about my days at University. I always swore to myself that I wouldn´t say that. It always upset me when I caught grown-ups saying "those were the days...(sigh)...when I was thin/happy/in shape/when I went out/when I was beautiful etc. It always annoyed me. I decided from a young age that I wouldn´t be one of those people. Every age is different and every stage of your life can be fabulous, if you let it. I´m optimistic but I´m also realistic and I understand that yes, we go through rough patches and hard times, but that´s natural and I believe that how you react to hardships and struggles is what defines you as a person.

I told myself, in the future I will probably look back nostalgicly and say "those were the days" about now, my life at 22 in Ourense, Spain. I came to the conclusion to adopt the philosophy of these are the days, yes, these are the best days of my life because the past is gone, the future is uncertain, and all we have is the present.

Hay que vivir (one must live)

Hay que vivir. Hay que + the infinitive form of the verb in Spanish is One must...

The title of my post today is "one must live." It has become my favorite phrase in Spanish.

Last night in Ourense it rained all night. I woke up to the sound of the rain several times through the night and what a beautiful thing. It has been raining on and off since Friday, and now, as it's Tuesday, it is still raining. Today my students had an exam and my boss told me that I didn't need to come to my classes as they had exams and I had planned, with one of my co-worker friends to go on a hike, she finishes work early on Tuesdays and as I didn't have work today due to exams, we thought we'd take advantage of our day and go for a hike. Despite the rain, we were both willing and eager to go hiking. We drove to the nearby town of Allariz, parked and started walking along the river. We took umbrellas but after about 3 minutes of walking with an umbrella, I got annoyed and put it away, as did my friend. I hadn't brought an umbrella with me as I think they are extremely obnoxious, but my friend had brought me one and told me "I knew you weren't going to bring one for yourself." I guess I'm that obvious.

We hiked for about 3 hours along the river, climbing up stone walls to avoid the overgrown riverbanks and through mud and marsh. It was beautiful. We saw ducks swimming and watched the rain penetrate the river with numerous drops. We felt the cool rain drip on our heads and down our faces as our bodies were warm with sweat from the hike. Afterwards, we went to a bar for a glass of wine and a pincho (tapa) of bread with a sardine. Delicious. We had a cool, crisp, dry, Albariño wine (white).

Then we went to a restaurant for an amazing 3 course lunch, where we split a bottle of wine and then enjoyed café con leche (coffee with milk; a strong, baby latte). We had an amazing conversation and toasted about 15 times, to life, to love, to living, to the rain, to feeling alive, to feeling.....

I feel that there are many people out there who are not really alive, and what a pity that is. We have one life, so far as I know, and why not enjoy it? Hay que aprovechar. (One must take advantage)

Think less, do more

I am a huge planner. I love to-do lists and thinking about how I will organize my day or my travels or anything. As much as this is comforting to me and the way I am used to doing things, I recognize that it is important to sometimes just do. Often times we talk ourselves or think ourselves out of an idea that we are excited about and truly want to pursue. So I think we should plan when needed but know when to let go and just do. I can´t tell you when that is but it´s best to follow your heart.

The Secret Life of Bees

I just read the book The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

What I love about reading books, stories, etc., is that they have a completely unique effect on each person. When you read a book, you bring to it all of your life and experiences. You relate to the book by what you know, your beliefs. And how the story affects you could be completely different from how it affects the next person. Something that could make you cry could make another person laugh. Reading a story is an experience, at least for me. I develop relationships with the characters, relating to some, disliking others and hoping the best for others. I remember situations I have been in in my life that are similar to what the characters are going through or I put myself in their position, trying to think how I would behave. I laugh, cry and crinkle my brow when necessary. I could not completely relate to everything in this book but I thought about it and I related on an emotional level, but not to the experiences.

This book is very well written. What I love about it is that it is so real. It does not try to hide the ugly truth that exists yet shows that beauty can come from even the ugliest of situations. It taught me to be open to life and to think outside of the box. We can find happiness in the most unexpected places, we just have to be open to it.

I read, and really like the quote "The mind is like a parachute, it works best when opened" by Frank Zappa. I thought it fit to part of the moral I made of this story and serves as a great life philosophy.

Blind for a Meal

I saw in my Berlin welcome card discount book an advertisment for "unsicht-Bar" reading: "Eating in total darkness is an exciting and unique experience - and a truly unforgettable event! During the evening you will be looked after by our blind and partially sighted staff."

Cool!

I suggested it to my travel companion and he was not excited about it. He thought it sounded weird. Weird is one if those words I don't really understand. Yes this place is not normal, but then, what is normal? I guess eating dinner in pitch black, out at a restaurant is not "normal," but either is jumping off of a bridge with a cable attached to you but I know plenty of people who have done that! I flagged the page in my book and kept reading.

Later in the day, as we walked through a park behind the Brandenburg Gate I said "Okay, I know you don't really want to go to the blind restaurant but I really want to and I'm going to make you." He laughed and said "I think it's going to be really weird, but I want to go."

Way to go "open to try new things" even though they are "weird!"

We arrived and put our coats away and were given a menu written in a riddle, giving vague clues as to what the meal would be. The menus were titled vegetarian, from river and sea, poultry, etc.

We both chose from river and sea. We were met by our blind waitress, Angela who gave us directions as to how things would work. She had one of us put our hands on her shoulders and the other put his/her hands on the others shoulders. She led us into the dining room and when we arrived at our table she took me by the hand and showed (had me feel) the table. We were at that point disconnected from our arm-shoulder chain and my friend said "Wait! Uh, I've lost you!" in a very scared tone. I thought it was super cool because you are forced to rely on someone else for help and even though we knew that this blind feeling was temporary, we freaked out equally.

I felt uncomfortable. I was a bit nauseous and under my ears were tight, right at my jaw. My eyes straining to search for sight, to no avail.

We were brought our first course, salad and more than being delicious, it was a spectacular sensation tasting food that you could not see, nor had prior knowledge as to what it was.

Angela checked on us frequently announcing her presence at the side of the table so as to not frighten us. We spoke a lot. I don't mean over-dinner conversation, I mean with Angela. She would ask if we were finished eating, she would tell us that she was going to take our plate and from what side. It was an amazing lesson in communication.

Afterwards I remember feeling extremely thankful for my eyesight and just everything. Both my friend and I were shocked and impressed by the experience. If you ever have the chance to do something like this, I highly suggest it.

Night life

Last night my friend and I were walking around the Casco Viejo (old part of town) talking and taking pictures. She was taking pictures and I was talking, what´s new? We were standing in a plaza looking up at the Cathedral when a man started to walk towards us. He saw we were taking pictures and asked if we wouldn´t mind taking his picture and then erase it, just so he could see himself. We did.

When he saw his picture he was really surprised. Apparently he used to have really long hair and he had just cut it. He told us that he was an alcoholic and lived on the streets. He talked to us for about an hour telling us about his children, how proud he was of them, he cried telling us about his family. He showed us a deep, stapled scar he had on his arm. Of course there was a story behind it. He wanted to stop his girlfriend who is addicted to drugs from buying drugs. He positioned himself in her route so she would have to see him as she passed to buy drugs and there he cut his arm. He passed out and woke up with her in the ambulance. He said he succeeded, he stopped her from buying drugs. It was a small victory, but a victory nontheless.

He told us about his past and about how he lives on the streets. He said when the people he loves are happy, he is happy. He lives for people. He thanked us time and time again for listening to us.

I thought it was a pleasure, we as people, are here for each other. We are social beings and thrive on speaking to one another, being heard, seeing emotion in the eyes of our audience.

What I started thinking was, what does it take for us to realize these basic things in life, like being happy, living for those we love and not obsessing over the little things that don't actually matter? Does it take losing our job, our money, our house to realize that those things are important for our life but do not define why we live? Shouldn't we try to be happy while we have these things and/or in the midst of any crisis, which is when we need it the most?