The last week draws near and I find myself a little more bitter then sweet. With this past week being Corpus Christi, I have felt like a sponge that has taken on to much water. This weekend has been nice to sit back and spend much need time with the my lovely host family and to reflect on my time here.
On Monday, the group got to go back to the Sacromonte Abbey for the "official" tour. It was really nice for the San Rafael crew because we haven't been able to see it since the orientation at the beginning of the trip. Its a beautiful area and there is so much history behind it. On Tuesday, San Rafael had their last day of school. That was hard for me as I am going to miss dearly the kids and the staff in my class. Everyone was so kind and compassionate and passionate about what they do. Though I didn't get to do a whole lot, I didn't want to go. This upcoming week, we'll get to work in the soup kitchen and the clothing exchange in the same building so I am excited about working with something different.
The beginning of the week started the holiday of Corpus Christi but Wednesday is when things kicked into full gear. That day no one from the group had internship so that morning Austin and I wandered around to shop and see what festivities were happening. A little bit before lunch, Austin and I and the rest of the Shalom crew headed out to see the preclude of the bigger, more official parade on Thursday. This littler parade started with elaborate statues - Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand being in the lead.
Next came the woodlin goblins and a giant woman on a dragon To my understanding she announces the fashion trend for the year. Next came people wearing giant bobble heads dressed to look like important people of Spain. In their hands they had some interesting beige and pink small balloons...... they were pig bladders! The bobble headed people were bonking anyone in the crowd they could reach with the bladders. Its a good thing the group and I stood far enough back to avoid them!!
Later that evening after Spanish, the group got to tour San Nicolas Church. This was thrilling as it is one of the Archbishop's cultural art projects and is not open to the public yet.... all I can say is that it was so beautiful and will be even more so once it is completed. We got to meet the architect and he showed us the inside and the bell tower. He talked about how the church would represent people from all over the world and how it has a rich history behind it already.
Much later that night, Maya and I had a chance to go to La Feria (the fair) - Corpus Christi's night life. It was absolutely insane yet really interesting to take part in. There were lights and people and music and food everywhere. The first stretch you walk in there are discotechas - big tents with music for people to dance in. Maya and I spent the night walking around and exploring, taking in the sights and sounds. After we walked further into the fair there is food and amusement rides.
On Thursday, we met up with Mike and Cassie to see the bigger parade. They staked out a spot on Gran Via (one of the main roads) and said meet us here! Maya and I got a little stuck on our way out of the house.... by the time we left, there were so many people out and about! The streets were clogged and (as a short person) it seemed like everyone grew an extra foot over night so we couldn't see anything. After lots of Google Mapping and side roads we finally made it to Mike and Cassie.
Maya and I heard the marching band while we were wandering to Gran Via as well as saw the start of the ceremonial flags and their bearers. Once we got to where we needed to be, we got to see the procession of candles, people dressed to the nines, and the Eucharist float. Mike told us the holder for the Eucharist is very important as it is seen as a physical symbol of God and therefore people take great care moving it through the streets.
We decided to go out for ice cream at one of the best gelato places we have visited so far on the trip... it was heaven. Definetely one of the places to visit a lot more before the trip ends. Pizza for lunch and some wanderings later, we all meet back up with Mike and Cassie for a movie night! We watched "Human Experience" - a movie about 2 brothers who travel the world in order to understand how other people live. They lived homeless in New York, worked with disabled children in Peru, visited people with AIDS in Africa as well as a leper colony.
The brothers (and the group of non blood brothers they gathered) all came from different backgrounds just to listen and see what was out there. It was a really moving movie. It was fitting for this trip. While we aren't doing anything as extravagant as the brothers, we are going out of our comfort zones and immersing ourselves in other peoples culture to be a part of their lives. This has brought about a huge wave of growth. Some which is immediately detectable and others that haven't appeared yet. I am still processing the movie and the meaning behind it but its something amazing to watch.
On Friday (eek the last one!) Mike and Cassie took the group on a tour of San Jeronimo monastery and the monastery of the Cartuja. Both of these were rich with Spanish history. San Jermonio was given to Queen Isabel's confessor priest who used the land to expand his brotherhood. Unfortunately, it was taken over by the Spanish government. The Cartuja had the same thing happen except, instead of being given back fully like San Jeronimo, only the monastery was given back. Te rest of the land of the Cartuja became the land for the University of Granada.
We went out for pizza for lunch and then later that night, headed back out to the fair with Mike, Cassie, and the Shalom crew!! It was Maya and my
second time but this time we got to go on rides!! It was so much fun. All the rides went on were way to fast and some went upside down! Maya, Austin, Caleb, Cassie, Vanessa, and I got a little bit competitive with the bumper cars :) We also loaded up on fair food - corn on the cob and stuffed baked potatoes and later that night, chocolate stuffed churros and candy apples. The group started to make a list about the places we want to see before going home, so on Saturday we went back up to the Carmen de los Martyrs and saw the peacocks!
Time to get ready for the last week :( Adios till then!
