Bucket List

There are so many things I want to do while in Spain, so I decided to make a Spanish Bucket List to figure out everything I want to accomplish on my time abroad! This list isn't in any particular order, and I'm planning to add onto as the year progresses. But for now, here it goes:

1. Go on a spontaneous day trip. El Escorial with Angela (another TA at my school) when we had a surprise week off before we started teaching!
2. Take a dance class. Had a few "private" salsa dancing lessons going out with Fulbrighters a couple times, not quite a "class" per say, but I learned the basics of salsa!
3. Go for a jog in Parque del Retiro. I've gone several times! Living right next to it is so perfect. I love that I've seen the park's trees and flowers change colors over the seasons!
4. Read a great Spanish book.
5. Participate in a language exchange. I participated in one at school during a break between classes with another part-time teacher who is trying to practice her English.
6. Take a Spanish course. I've taken several courses: Biology, Yoga, Pilates, Bikram Yoga, a Tapas cooking class and a "Cocina Española" cooking class - they've all helped my Spanish vocabulary tremendously!
7. Have a long conversation with a Spaniard in solely Spanish. I've had conversations with many of the staff or teachers at my school, particularly the principal and the receptionist because they take the same bus as me in the mornings.
8. Take cooking classes. I've taken a month-long Tapas class, a month-long "Cocina Española" class and still have a Chocolates class to take that I'm registered for!
9. Purchase a Spanish cookbook. I've got five now... Todas Tapas, 200 Recetas Vegetarianas, Cocina Española, Comidas de Murcia, and Repostería de los Conventos!
10. Make my roommates a classic Spanish dish (like paella). Yep - Tortilla Española! Hoping to make more soon! And I've definitely made more since then... love it! Can't wait to make things for family back at home.
11. Make my roommates an American dinner. Baked Mac 'n Cheese and Hamburgers... we miss American food sometimes...
12. Host a party at my piso (if my roommates are okay with that...) Had a party for my 21st birthday! We amazingly fit 15 or 16 people in my small piso. We did have a neighbor say we were too loud after a couple hours... and he was going to call the police. So we headed out for salsa dancing instead! And since then I've had a Valentine's day tea party and birthday parties for Kim & Jamie!
13. See some of the gardens of Madrid (Sabatini's, Real Jardin Botánico, or the Puerta de Atocha gardens). Yep! I've seen the gardens at Retiro, Puerta de Atocha and went to the Jardin Botánico with my mom!
14. Visit Tatiana and see Gibraltar. Sadly this trip isn't going to happen... just not enough time in the year! :(
15. Attend a Bull Run/Bull Fight. I decided this is not something I want to do... I've had friends go and it was very gory and they did not enjoy it...
16. Watch a Fútbol game. Again, something I decided I just don't want to do... not a big sports fan.
17. Try churros and chocolate. Tried it at the famous Chocolatería San Ginés! And my favorite now is the chocolate at Valor!
18. Eat something new I've never wanted to try. Octopus! It didn't settle too well in my stomach though. I've also tried Eel and a lot of Rabbit... rabbit was pretty good, but it just makes me sad to think of the poor bunnies :(
19. Devote a day to a community service project. Done a couple of Serve the City projects in Madrid through my church Oasis. The first we handed out toiletries at a public shower. The second time we decorated and wrapped handmade soap being sold for charity. The U.S. ambassador actually showed up! Wasn't expecting that.
20. See a Flamenco show. Yep! Saw one in Sevilla, the home of Flamenco.
21. Find a favorite spot to read outdoors. Retiro most definitely, it's beautiful! Just wish this year hadn't been so cold... looking forward to these last weeks of sunshine.
22. Party until the early hours of the morning. Went til 6 am in Barcelona! Also went to two clubs in Madrid and stayed out until the metro re-opened at 6 am both times. Went to Pacha with Angela and her little and went to Kapital with Alicia!
23. Bring cookies or something I've baked to my students/teachers. Yep! I brought them chocolate chunk cookies with milk and dark chocolate. They've never had them before and loved them! I also made my students in 3A chocolate truffles and heart-shaped jam-filled cookies. They loved them!
24. Compile a recipe book of all the foods I've made. Working on it right now! So excited!
25. Sit at a Spanish café for a long time and people-watch. Spanish service takes awhile... so I've definitely done this many times without even planning on it. Going to miss this laid back atmosphere when I go home!
26. Attend a church service in Madrid. I go to an international church called Oasis. We have services every other week and socials or seminars the other weekends. I'm also part of a weekly community group/Bible study and love it!
27. Take part in a traditional Spanish fiesta. I've gone to different parties... not sure what I originally meant by Spanish "fiesta", but I've definitely partied late at night like a Spaniard!
28. Buy a stylish outfit one would see a Spaniard wearing. I've bought some bright colored jeans... and some really cute sandals. I've bought other things too... hoping to make a Zara trip before I leave though for a little something! Oh & I also bought a cute bathing suit!
29. Go through Madrid's Rastro (market) on a Sunday morning. I've gone a several times now! They have so many things... it's tempted to get carried away.
30. See amazing works of art in the Museo del Prado. I've gone a few times, love living right next to it!
31. See a view of Madrid from the Tetas de Vallecas (a set of hills on the outskirts). Haven't gone there, but I've gone two places that are even better! I went to La Pedriza, the largest area for rock climbing in Europe I believe. It was amazing!! Went with two of my teachers, Virginia and Marian. Virginia brought her two little boys - 6 & 9 years old. I was impressed by how well they did! And we recently went to Peñalara as well, the highest peak in Madrid! It was still covered in snow even in May, so we didn't make it quite to the top but we tried! It was a beautiful site and there was a natural lake right below it where we sat and had lunch.
32. Get gifts for friends at original places like the Rastro. Definitely gotten lots of gifts here and on my other travels!!
33. See Calle Gran Via and enjoy the architecture. My hostel the first week here was right near there, so I saw it all the time! I'm also up there frequently, it's the city center and heart of town.
34. See rural Spain, not just the city. Yep! I've gone hiking on the outskirts of town. Also I teach really far out of the city, so it could be somewhat considered rural. But farmland I've only seen by train or bus. It's absolutely beautiful, especially all the trees and vineyards.
35. Travel within Spain: Valencia, Alicante, Barcelona, Córdoba, Bilbao, Sevilla, Granada, Salamanca, Ronda, Oviedo, Santander, Zaragoza, Galicia, Malaga, Marbella, Toledo, Segovia, San Sebastián, Ibiza, and the Canaries (Tenerife).
36. Travel outside of Spain: Portugal, France, Morocco, Germany (Munich for Oktoberfest), Austria (took a train through it & been there before), Switzerland, Czech Republic, Belgium, Hungary, & the Netherlands. I've gone everywhere I'd planned to go!! Would love to go to Scandinavia or Greece/Croatia one day... but those were further away. Got to save up and go on travels again some day!