Update~

Oops, another three weeks since my last blog. Sorry for this lack of regular blogging. 

Since my last blog, I had a major 2500 word essay hand-in from my home university for the end of April, and it consumed my life for a long time. It was a literature review - a summary of 8 sources on a particular topic, pointing out contributions and faults.. etc. Being buoyed by my great Spanish skills, I thought I could read 6 scholarly books and journals in Spanish - which is how I nearly died. But the topic was really really interesting. I chose to look at the impact of Catholicism on Spanish society and vice versa in the last 50 years. Religion here is really interesting. The Spanish Catholic Church has changed from a spiritual monopoly for the last century (before 1960s) to just another spiritual option. Whilst most Spaniards still call themselves Catholics, the whole concept has changed - it doesn't entail any religious obligations - no need to agree with the doctrine set by the pope, nor attend mass. These changes have happened within one or two generations, and so there's generations of Spaniards with completely different mentalities coexisting now.

Two weeks ago, on 26 March, the weekend before it was due, I still went to Bilbao for a day with the local christian group. It was a pity that the Guggenheim Museum (by Frank Lehry!) was just swapping expositions, so a third of the museum was closed =( But I was really excited to see the famous puppy by Paul Koon outside of it. I'd read about it and seen it in books back in Sydney so many years ago.

It's a lovely city, bigger than Pamplona. The river that cuts through the city makes it very scenic.

Another Koon's work on the terrace of the Guggenheim

The bridge across from the Guggenheim

I love the trams here! They're really modern, and it looks like they are skimming across the grass when they pass

It's got a beautiful river running through, which reminds me of a mini-thames

Funnily enough, there is a merry-go-round here

There is something called la Semana del Pincho in Pamplona from 25 May to 2 April. What it is, is a whole week of special foods. There is a custom of eating pinchos/pintxos in this region (it's the same as tapas) - a small plate of food usually eaten with a glass of wine/drink. ie. sandwiches, tortillas, etc What people usually do, is to order a pincho and drink in a bar, finish it standing or sitting at the bar; before moving onto the next bar and doing the same thing.
This week was a competition between a few hundred bars to come up with the best pincho. They were amazing, and all presented beautifully. Sadly I forgot to bring a camera the both times I ate out =( However the food was a bit more expensive - 4.30€ for two pinchos and there were so many people it was difficult to move from bar to bar. But it was really fun!

I'm excited about the new weather here! Since this week, temperatures are reaching 30 degrees, and they do lovely public garden landscaping here: they've planted lots of flowers here. And the grass is so green.

But I'm not sure what to think about summer clothing here. Despite of the 30 degree temperature, I saw less than three girls in shorts/skirts at uni. Apparently the other university has clothing restrictions (ie. girls cannot wear shorts/skirts without ankle-length tights) because they are run by the Catholic branch, opus dei. Or maybe this city is just a bit more conservative. It's a far cry from the short shorts worn by so many girls back home in Sydney. I felt stared at even though I was only wearing a skirt just above the knees. But it's seriously impossible to wear jeans!

Flower beds in the main plaza: Plaza del Castillo

The view from my uni

And last night, there was some sort of a demonstration in the streets when I went home. You can see the van in front, and it was followed by people on bikes and people running, chanting something in euskera/basque (the regional language here) I asked a bystander, apparently some pro-basque people join this march which happens every two years, throughout the basque region. Businesses sponsor them to run. 

The bible study group has been great so far! We're a bunch of six girls, and we all go almost every week, and it's great to be able to hang out, share in bible discussion, pray and sing together. This size means that everyone is comfortable with one another. Thank you to those who have been praying for this group, and I'm really relieved to have this group. There are still teething problems, but all the main thing are going wonderfully. The best thing, is that we all learn from the bible.^^


Food blog from the last three weeks!

I tried making honey soy chicken ^^ It's actually really simple. I can't believe I've made all this chinese food. Back in Sydney, I avoid it like the plague because I eat it every night at home anyway. But here I miss my dad's food so much

A friend showed me a lovely cafe, and I found a portuguese custard egg tart! I was so excited I didn't take photos until I have already started eating it. It tastes different to those in Macau, with a slightly heavier base.
I can't wait to travel to Portugal, a friend told me that the tarts there are amazing too!

Leche Frita - Fried Milk!
I got this because of its name! It's actually got a pudding texture, sprinkled with cinnamon. Yum!

The first thing I made after handing in my essay: crepes~!
I tried 3 different flavours and this is one of the flavours - banana

Lemon and honey (my Spanish flatmate thought this was a weird combo, but it's actually my 2nd favourite)

And finally strawberries and honey

Bacon and Pumpkin Pesto Pasta
I found this recipe on taste.com.au and it's pretty yummy, but I'm never cutting raw pumpkin again
and it's pretty greasy

Afterwards I felt like I needed some healthy food. So here's to boiled veggies and sliced chorizo.
Chorizo is amazing - I can just cut and eat it straight away without cooking

Then my next dish: Trout with Mushroom and Leek Cream Sauce
This is when I was making the sauce - it was the first time I've ever cooked with leek - its the one that looks like onion

Tadaa~

and today, a simple mushroom, leek, chorizo and scrambled eggs served with crusty bread