Plays, Strange Foods and a Volcano

1. Yesterday I had a 10-page research paper due (in Spanish) on the play "El Pintor de su deshonra" (The Painter of his dishonor) by Calderon de la Barca. I really should do a longer post just describing the plot. Dear English-speaking world: you don't know what you're missing. Calderon de la Barca is one of many incredibly talented, masterful Spanish playwrights whose work is really good, interesting, and relevant... Despite its length, I'm glad I got a chance to read one of his excellent plays. This stuff rivals Shakespeare, y'all.

2. Again, this really deserves its own post. I have been compiling a list of the strangest foods served to me by Charo. Of course, to Spaniards they are perfectly normal... Yesterday I shared some of the foods that I find strangest with Lola, my adorable Spanish friend. She was so surprised- all these things were very normal to her. Examples:
- Hard-boiled eggs cut in half, stuffed with tuna and topped with a large dollop of mayonnaise.
- White rice in tomato paste. ("You eat your rice plain?!" said Lola)
- Chocolate and white bread for breakfast
- Eggs and fruit for lunch or dinner (Fruit is actually a dessert in Spain, eaten at table with a knife and fork)
- White bread and olive oil, everywhere, all the time
- Salty water soup, with thin noodles in it and little ham cubes at the bottom
- Mass quantities of ham or other indiscernible meats

3. Theresa is supposed to be visiting me this weekend. Her flight was cancelled becuase of a volcano in Iceland. Really? This has to be a joke. Stupid Iceland.

Depressed but well-fed,
Lilly