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April 20, 2006

Reverse Culture Shock

Back in the United States. It's a little weird. The night before I left it all hit me. I was sad to be leaving Madrid, the lifestyle and the people I met there. Part of that sadness was also probably...

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Posted by KDuffy at 04:20 PM | Read Comments (1)
March 21, 2006

No Childproof Lighters at Las Fallas

Iīve been to all the major Spanish Fiestas now. Iīm not sure which one was the most fun, but I think it is safe to say that "Las Fallas" was the most insane. The fiesta (some pics and info) started...

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Posted by KDuffy at 12:46 PM | Read Comments (2)
March 13, 2006

Carnival in Cadiz

I dreamt of 250 pound black women undulating like only those from the tropics can. I pictured lots of people clad in colorful and ornate costumes. Lots of grinding and explicit dancing. Performances. Parades. All in all, a spectacle to...

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Posted by KDuffy at 10:28 AM | Read Comments (4)
January 24, 2006

Espacio en Espaņa

I donīt have many complaints about Spain. Besides teaching some bratty kids, I havenīt really been bothered too much. What can I really complain about? Lax attitude towards time? Nope. I always hated wearing a watch anyway. I was almost...

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Posted by KDuffy at 10:37 AM | Read Comments (2)
December 22, 2005

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I just hope none of your phones were tapped when I was calling!...

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Posted by KDuffy at 06:02 AM | Read Comments (1)
December 13, 2005

Executions and Ugly Wigs

Well...the last two weeks has been a huge week for legal executioners in the United States. First, the US celebrated the execution of itsī one thousandth prisoner since 1977. WOOO HOOO!!!!!!!!!!! AWESOME! I am sooooooo proud!!! Then, yesterday amid much...

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Posted by KDuffy at 10:57 AM | Read Comments (1)
December 08, 2005

Bad Training...

There are loads of blind people, or at least "visually impaired" people here in Spain. I see them all the time. Well, in the last few weeks I have seen some sad little examples of what passes here for seeing...

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Posted by KDuffy at 09:30 AM | Read Comments (1)
November 25, 2005

I am a big pussy

I remember my arrival last year. I remember being awed and confused by the fact that people here were bundled up in scarves, hats and gloves when it was like 50 degrees outside. There I was walking around in a...

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Posted by KDuffy at 07:43 AM | Read Comments (1)
October 31, 2005

A Trip to the Cinema

I have only been to the movies a few times since I have been in Spain. The first time I went was a bit of a shock. I went with two friends and we each bought our tickets. Unfortunately, when...

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Posted by KDuffy at 09:33 AM | Read Comments (1)
September 30, 2005

Semi-coherent Ramblings

Well...first off, itīs just wrong waking up at 6am. What is wrong with people that do it every day? I can almost (and I said almost) understand people that wake up with the sun, but what do you do during...

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Posted by KDuffy at 10:26 AM | Read Comments (0)
September 01, 2005

Throwing Tomatoes at Random People

Hitting strangers in the head with tomatoes when they are least expecting it is something that I can now wholeheartedly recommend. Let me set the scene for you... The small town on Buņol, Spain has approximately 5,000 residents. Every year,...

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Posted by KDuffy at 05:25 AM | Read Comments (1)
August 26, 2005

Beaches, Mimes and Bar Crawls

Barcelona is pretty cool. With the beach and port as a big part of the city, it definitely adds a certain something to the atmosphere. The beach isnīt the best beach I have ever seen, but it gets the job...

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Posted by KDuffy at 11:49 AM | Read Comments (3)
August 25, 2005

Gaudí -- Donīt Believe the Hype!

Everytime I told someone I was coming to Barcelona, all I heard about was Antoni Gaudí, a famous architect, long since dead. "You canīt miss it. You have to see īLa Sagrada Familiaī and his museum. He is amazing. Blah,...

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Posted by KDuffy at 11:36 AM | Read Comments (1)
August 03, 2005

Becoming a Legal Resident...

Right now, in Europe, it is difficult for teachers to obtain a working permit and/or residency. I know many Americans here who have done so, but most of them have done it with the help of a Irish or Italian...

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Posted by KDuffy at 07:23 AM | Read Comments (4)
August 01, 2005

Learning Languages

Well, today marks the end of my first ten months here. I have had a few crazy experiences, loads of fun and have watched as my Spanish has slowly improved. But, learning a language is fucking hard. And at least...

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Posted by KDuffy at 07:25 AM | Read Comments (0)
July 18, 2005

The Canary Islands

After travelling 6 hours by bus with a backpack and sunburn, I arrived back in Madrid around 12:30am. A whole 8 hours to clean myself up, sleep and catch my flight to Fuerteventura. Perfect. I was up and out the...

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Posted by KDuffy at 08:05 AM | Read Comments (0)
July 14, 2005

Pamplona End Notes

They always say that you can get a good look at a T-Bone by sticking your head up a bulls ass, but wouldnīt you rather take the butchers word for it? Some didnīt and on Monday, they got punished in...

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Posted by KDuffy at 12:01 PM | Read Comments (1)
July 07, 2005

Are those horns real??

Why are these bulls chasing me? I didnīt do anything to them. Honestly, if the San Fermin Festival isnīt the craziest party in the world, I donīt know what is. Yesterday (at least I think it was yesterday...the days are...

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Posted by KDuffy at 03:34 AM | Read Comments (3)
July 06, 2005

A Bumīs Life

There is a post below this and since I plan on more or less being awake for the next 30 hours, I will try to post again while I am here at some point. If it is possible to slur...

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Posted by KDuffy at 04:59 AM | Read Comments (1)
July 05, 2005

Finally, Iīm Here!!

I arrived this morning. Perfect weather, about 80 degrees and sunny. My 5 hour bus ride wasnīt all that bad and I managed to sleep for the majority of it. The only negative was that I think I might have...

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Posted by KDuffy at 09:57 AM | Read Comments (1)
July 04, 2005

Patiently Waiting...

Well, my parents have been visiting for the last week. I have to say this, I am pleasantly surprised by their ability to adapt to the laid back attitude here. Before I knew it, my dad was drinking sangria and...

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Posted by KDuffy at 06:48 AM | Read Comments (0)
June 30, 2005

Pamplona Prep Work

As the date quickly approaches (July 7th, 8am) a sense of nervous excitement is setting in. Part of me wishes that everyone I know would stop telling me not to run, but part of me also loves that aspect of...

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Posted by KDuffy at 10:23 AM | Read Comments (2)
June 18, 2005

Volunteers??

As I expected, my two friends (Tim and Brendan, the little bitches) have backed out of going to Pamplona and running with me. As of now, I am going solo and sleeping in the park, so it should be interesting....

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Posted by KDuffy at 11:39 AM | Read Comments (0)
June 11, 2005

Billiards anyone?

I was out the other night with some friends. We started at a pub to watch a football match and then sat at a cafe for a while. Then we decided to play some pool. After about 30 minutes of...

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Posted by KDuffy at 11:53 AM | Read Comments (0)
June 03, 2005

It Never Ends

Public Displays of Affection...definitely part of the lifestyle here in Spain. I thought I had seen it all, until recently. As I have mentioned before, it is quite common for many native Spanish people to live with their parents until...

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Posted by KDuffy at 08:06 AM | Read Comments (2)
May 29, 2005

What the fu...?

Itīs always something. I donīt have much to complain about here. Great weather, check. Relatively cheap beer and sangria, check. No early morning work, check. Relaxed and laid back culture, check. Quiet street to live on, check...or so I thought....

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Posted by KDuffy at 11:38 AM | Read Comments (4)
May 23, 2005

Paula Abdul, You Dirty Little...

This weekend you all missed a special treat. "Eurovision 2005: Song Contest". And, unfortunately for everyone who missed it, it only happens once a year. On top of that, this year was the 50 year anniversary gala. And let me...

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Posted by KDuffy at 09:11 AM | Read Comments (3)
May 12, 2005

Up a Creek, Without a Paddle...

Here is a story about bathroom humor, literally bathroom humor, so if you are so inclined to, stop reading now. Itīs slightly embarrasing for me, but who gives a shit (one might even say a pun on words). Last night...

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Posted by KDuffy at 06:01 AM | Read Comments (0)
May 07, 2005

Are You Ready For Some Football?

I went to my first Real Madrid match ever this weekend. For those of you that donīt know anything about football, Real Madrid is like the New York Yankees of the sport. Ironically, more so now than ever. They, like...

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Posted by KDuffy at 09:24 AM | Read Comments (0)
April 22, 2005

The Good, The Bad and The Extremely Distasteful

"The Extremely Distasteful" And for once itīs not my sense of humor Lance Armstrong is a hit. Now, donīt get me wrong, I couldnīt care less about whether he rides his tricycle to another victory or off a cliff, cycling...

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Posted by KDuffy at 06:57 AM | Read Comments (2)
April 17, 2005

I Hate Being Right!!

But, I am defnitely getting used to it. It seems to happen all the time. As I mentioned earlier, we were taking a tour of the Royal Palace. So, we took the tour on Tuesday. I was wrong about a...

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Posted by KDuffy at 11:55 AM | Read Comments (6)
April 12, 2005

The Royal Tennenbaums

Nothing like having people come and visit to make you get up and do different things. When I first arrived I was in no rush to "see the sights" and do everything there was to do in Madrid. I kept...

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Posted by KDuffy at 09:39 AM | Read Comments (2)
April 09, 2005

Spain is making me soft!

I donīt know what it is, but Iīm a big pussy now. Maybe itīs old age, who knows... Itīs like 50 degrees here today and I am freezing cold. I even thought about getting the winter coat out of the...

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Posted by KDuffy at 02:48 PM | Read Comments (3)
March 24, 2005

Salamanca

First, God obviously didnīt like my taunting about the weather last week. We had actual rain twice this week, some clouds a few other times and I think it dropped below 60 two or three times to boot! So, maybe...

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Posted by KDuffy at 10:34 AM | Read Comments (0)
March 18, 2005

In case you were wondering...

The weather is perfect. It has been reaching a high of about 72-75 degrees every afternoon. Blue, sunny skies. Every window and door in our flat is open all day...hahaha Spring is here and I am going to savor every...

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Posted by KDuffy at 09:07 AM | Read Comments (5)
March 09, 2005

Give Me a Little Song or Dance...but Something!

Unfortunately, it seems like homelessness is a fact of life. Call me crazy, but Iīd rather see us try and get rid of homelessness and hunger instead of watching MTV Cribs and finding out that Shaq and Jay Leno have...

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Posted by KDuffy at 11:47 AM | Read Comments (1)
March 05, 2005

ŋDonde está el baņo?

I have no idea if what I am about to say is standard across Europe or it is just in Spain. Sometimes a trip to the bathroom adds some excitement to your day. Iīm not sure the exact reason, but...

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Posted by KDuffy at 01:37 PM | Read Comments (0)
February 21, 2005

Fur

I donīt know what it is about the climate here, but every woman over the age of 50 has a fur coat. The people at PETA would not be happy. And all of these women are tiny. Look, I realize...

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Posted by KDuffy at 07:58 AM | Read Comments (3)
February 15, 2005

Eyes Wide Shut

Maybe itīs me and maybe itīs because I never lived in a big city before, but are there always this many blind people walking around? Should I be worried about some chemical in the drinking water that is going to...

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Posted by KDuffy at 06:42 AM | Read Comments (0)
February 01, 2005

Rebajas Mania

Two things before I get to the real post today. You have probably heard a variation of this one before, but I donīt care, itīs funny. George Bush and Condi Rice are at a UN meeting and Bush wants to...

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Posted by KDuffy at 06:40 AM | Read Comments (2)
December 29, 2004

Public Displays of Affection

Itīs just great to see happy couples in love. But, some people here in Spain bring the Seinfeld "Schmoopie" episode to an entirely new level. I feel like I am watching "Lady and the Tramp" 24/7, everywhere I go. I...

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Posted by KDuffy at 09:54 AM | Read Comments (0)
December 18, 2004

Street Performers

Like any major city, Madrid has more than itsī share of street performers. Though, I think the funniest thing I have seen came from a homeless man. He was sitting on Gran Via (think smaller Broadway) with a sign that...

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Posted by KDuffy at 07:43 AM | Read Comments (1)
December 07, 2004

Did he really just do that?

Sunday was our last day in Sevilla and Iīd have to say it didnīt disappoint. Spent the day at the Davis Cup matches, which were nothing special. Roddick didnīt play too well and when he lost to Carlos Moya, it...

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Posted by KDuffy at 10:07 AM | Read Comments (4)
December 04, 2004

Tres Chopitos

A friend from home is visiting and we decided to travel to Sevilla to watch some of the Davis Cup action. His roommate in the states is an agent to players on the US team. Unfortunately, we had a 6...

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Posted by KDuffy at 03:29 PM | Read Comments (0)
November 11, 2004

Some Culture for the Savage

Salvador Dalí must have been one eccentric dude (and by "eccentric" I mean "fucking crazy"...and by "dude" I mean "man"), but I would have loved to have a few drinks with him and actually witness the insanity up close. 2004...

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Posted by KDuffy at 01:37 PM | Read Comments (0)
November 02, 2004

Spain is for Dog Lovers...But Watch Your Step!

* Dogs are all over the place and most are the best trained dogs I have ever seen. Tons of people walk their dogs with no leash in the middle of the city. Itīs a bit surprising. I wonder if...

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Posted by KDuffy at 12:55 PM | Read Comments (0)
October 26, 2004

Random Observations

#1 - If Spain doesnīt have the highest rate of cancer and/or youth smoking in the world, Iīd be a little surprised. First, they can buy cigarettes for 2.10 euros a pack. Second, there are vending machines everywhere...restaurants, bars, internet...

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Posted by KDuffy at 01:04 PM | Read Comments (2)
October 22, 2004

Tiene Un Menu Del Dia!

Have the "Menu of the Day" is you visit Spain. Itīs a pretty good deal. It is offered during the day and usually available till about 5pm it seems. But, itīs worth it. Lunch is traditionally their main meal here,...

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Posted by KDuffy at 10:34 AM | Read Comments (2)
October 20, 2004

Madrid Metro

The reason why people here are skinnier than in the US, contrary to popular opinion, has absolutely nothing to do with people eating healthier or having smaller portions, etc... The metro functions as a sauna. It makes me think back...

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Posted by KDuffy at 01:44 PM | Read Comments (0)
October 17, 2004

Spanish TV

Spanish TV sucks. I mean, it really sucks. I apologize to any Spanairds out there reading this but we have to do something about the programming. Your country is awesome, but throw me a bone here. Granted, it would be...

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Posted by KDuffy at 01:06 PM | Read Comments (1)
October 10, 2004

Flamenco Bars

I guess I had another "authentic" spanish experience the other night. Around 3am, with a few Americans I just met, we strolled across the city down to La Latina and into a seemingly I would say "dreary" bar. You can...

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Posted by KDuffy at 11:24 AM | Read Comments (0)
October 06, 2004

Info I could have used a week ago

A little more than one week ago, I was faced with the problem of packing. I needed to squeeze anything I might possibly want in Spain into 2 bags. Preparing to live in another country for 15 months, this was...

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Posted by KDuffy at 01:15 PM | Read Comments (2)
October 04, 2004

The Myth of Formal Spain and Siestas

October 4th I have only been here a few days but I have learned a few quick lessons. #1 - Nowhere near all spanish people are as formal as I was led to believe. It may be a generational thing....

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Posted by KDuffy at 10:57 AM | Read Comments (0)
October 03, 2004

Day #2

My second day started like any other day when you roll out of bed at 3pm. After not sleeping on the flight over and trying to keep up with the natives on friday night I was in need of some...

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Posted by KDuffy at 01:00 PM | Read Comments (0)
October 02, 2004

Day #1

Well, after a long wait, I finally got here. Canīt beat 80 degrees and sunny! Then, I realized how much work my spanish needs. Iīm ok when I plan out what I am going to say in my head. The...

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Posted by KDuffy at 01:35 PM | Read Comments (0)
Latest Comments
Dia aka Funchilde: Say it isn't so....Well, Bienievidos a Las Estados... [read]

johnny underbet: what the hells a childproof lighter anyway? we don... [read]

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Victor Warlord: I agree with the comments made by lord starfire, a... [read]

Bill: There you go again... blaming America first. Pink... [read]

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