From Summersville to Spain - Interview with Jessica Pepperman

Happy Friday, folks. It is DEFINITELY a TGIF for me (emphasis on the TG). I hope all of you had a very merry Christmas and are making big plans for a happy new year. 

I have had this post in the works since week 1 of KileyinKentucky. 

Jessica Pepperman, a young lady after my own heart, has been following this blog all the way from Granada, Spain! This lovely gal is from Summersville, Kentucky: Population 700. A student of Spanish at the University of Louisville, she just completed 3 months of a 7 month study abroad program in Spain. While she is home for Christmas, I snagged her for a few hours and picked her brain to see what she misses most about Her Old Kentucky Home.

Our original plan for a coffee date turned into lunch when Greensburg's only coffee shop was closed. It wasn't until the chips and salsa were placed at our table at the local Mexican restaurant that the irony fell on me. 

KinKY: So, I realize I just brought you to a Mexican restaurant and you've been eating Spanish cuisine for 3 months. How does this compare?

JP: (Laughs) Well, I lived in the South, in Granada. They have a lot of seafood. I didn’t get to have much because my roommate had a phobia of fish (I laugh). So, we never had it in my household. But, if we went out to a restaurant you could get seafood paella. Paella is the main dish in Spain--if you're a tourist, you're going to get paella! I went to Valencia, an Eastern city on the Mediterranean Sea. They are the people that “founded” paella...I got to eat it there and it was incredible. It was just fantastic. Other than that I didn’t eat anything spectacular. 

KinKY: Really??? (Gasp!)

JP: …Which is unfortunate. But I still have another semester. And I’m actually not living in the same household when I go back.

KinKY: Where will you be living next semester?

JP: I’m moving into a residencia. I’ll be living with other students who are also studying in Spain. It’ll be a lot of fun. I can’t wait to go back!

KinKY: What’s been the craziest part about coming home?

JP: When I first came home…within 24 hours, I had people I didn’t know coming up to me and asking me how my trip was.  Some of these people I have never met in my life. I wish I had known them because I hate the thought of someone approaching me and being so genuine and me not having a clue about them. It’s overwhelming. Here, if people don’t know you directly, they know your family. And that alone is enough of a reason for them to approach me and say “Oh, how was your trip to Spain?” Everyone in Green County knows and loves everyone. It makes me think, why would you ever leave? Ms. Weddle (the amazing Spanish teacher at GCHS) told me that the only way to know your home country is to leave it. And that is so true. I wanted to leave this place. I’ve always had this itch to find myself somewhere else…but I realize now, I don’t have to go anywhere. It’s right here, you just don’t appreciate it until you leave.

KinKY: What are some things you really missed while in Spain?

JP: Other than Family, I miss that whole “connection” you have with people. I miss driving down the street and waving at people. Or walking into the grocery store and seeing at least five people you have known your whole life. Or having people write you and call you and text you and ask if they can see you. The support and love is overwhelming. I don't have that in Spain. I’m alone. The other students, who I have just met, are all I have. They are great people, but they’re not home. Home is the only place you’ll ever have that true connection. Being here, I see people I grew up with; people that watched me grow up. In general, the people there don’t hold a candle to the people here.

KinKY: Having visited Europe, I know Europeans are nothing like Americans...especially us Southerners. What is different about the people of Spain in comparison to Kentuckians?

JP. It’s weird…there is kind of this personal bubble everyone has around them in America. It’s an unspoken rule not to invade that bubble. When people do, it’s taboo. They don’t have that in Spain. It is perfectly normal for someone you have just met to stand extremely close to you or even touch you... which, I will never get used to. Aside from that, people look angry walking down the street. They don’t smile. You don’t make eye contact. If you do either of those things, it sends the wrong message. Here, if you don’t speak to someone, you’re the angry one. Especially if it’s someone you know. You NEVER walk right past someone you know.

KinKY: You got that right, sister.

Besides Spain, we chatted about a little bit of everything and cleaned our plates. Before ending our 2 hour lunch, Ms. Pepperman struck a chord in me with this:

JP: Living in Spain is a good experience. I’m so glad I’m doing it. I’ve been to 5 countries in a matter of 3 months, pretty much by myself. There are many people that never get to experience that, and coming from a small town...getting to say I did it is incredible. The Spanish 3 class at the high school sent me a card in Spain. Every one of them wrote “I’m jealous.” And I wanted to scream… “NO! You are me. I came from the same place you did, had that same high school class, I’m not a rich kid. I grew up on a farm.  Anyone can do this, you just have to have the drive.”

I think she may be on to something, here. 

Now, I'll give your eyes a break. Jessica is not only an extremely wise and fascinating young woman, but she happens to be a very talented photographer as well. I perused her collection of pictures from Spain, and a few from Rome, Italy, to share with y'all... 

I'm sending well wishes to her as she prepares to spend another 4 months in Spain. Let's all pray this child gets some good ole' Spanish food and has the time of her life. 

How We Spend Our Days Is, Of Course, How We Spend Our Lives.

This holiday season marks the first that I have not been a student, able to enjoy a relaxing month-long break in my hometown of Greensburg. Though I am in Greensburg, I am at the end of my rope busy. I have a full-time job and countless other obligations after work is done, just like everyone else. I'm not used to this fast-pace but I have enjoyed the excitement and chaos. Until this week, when I was reminded that I need pump the breaks.

I surprised myself at some of the beautiful moments I captured this week when I allowed myself to slow down and at times, come to a complete stop. 

 

Sophie sits on the couch all day long. She has no idea how perfect her placement was, wearing a prism created by a piece of crystal in our kitchen window.

I realize this could be taking my love of coffee to an unhealthy level...but seeing as how I depend on it at least twice a day, what would I do if I woke up and it were gone? THANK YOU, COFFEE. Never quit.

Enjoy the view from the backseat. It's not so bad.

****

On one of the many work-related trips I have made to Bowling Green in the past few weeks, I finally took the time to make a few stops and appreciate the things I always wonder at from inside my car, but never get close to. 

There are three places along the windy backroads leading to Horse Cave and eventually, I-65 South.

There are chimneys. No houses...just chimneys. Why? I wonder. I don't know...but they fascinate me. Instead of whizzing past them, imagining their history, I stopped and looked for myself. I spun tires getting out of a serious mud-pit and had to wish for the best turning out of a gravel road onto the curvy main road....but it was worth it to feed my curiosity.

Has anyone else ever thought these chimneys were the most mysterious things ever?!

Finally, I caught a sunset. In the Summer, I see them almost every night when I take a walk after dinner. Sadly, this time of year, I realized, the sunsets are still as beautiful, but I'm not willing to stand out in the cold to appreciate them.

So, I did.

On this last Friday before Christmas, hug and kiss every single person you love and tell them how much they mean to you. If you're brave and you have 4-wheel drive, take a drive out to Donansburg and beyond for a visit with the chimneys. And watch a few sunsets with someone special. You never know how many of these moments you have left.

"Try to learn to breathe deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep, really to sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might...." -Ernest Hemingway

Last Minute Kentucky Christmas

Hello and Happy Friday....the 13th!

This week, I was inspired to share a few Christmas gift ideas. I love to shop, but Christmas puts a whole new level of pressure on the whole process. I am notorious for waiting until the last few weeks. Let's be honest...the last few days. Or the last day.

A friend of mine, Hilary Lewis, of Lula Lizett, has pledged to have an All-American Christmas. Purchasing only gifts made in the USA is a wonderful idea and I wanted to bring it even closer to home....what if I could buy most, if not all, of my gifts from right here in Kentucky? 

The real challenge would be finding something fitting for each person I love and not breaking my already pretty broken bank.

Some of these are real gifts. I would love to share them all but that would make a lot of people who love surprises not so happy.

*Each of these gifts are less than $30.00.

1. Kentucky Necklace from Kentucky Market House. This is the necklace I am wearing in the "My Roots" tab photo. Each time I wear this I receive numerous compliments. Like most locally made merchandise, this necklace is customizable. It may be purchased from Market House in other colors (i.e. red for those of you in Cardinal Country) and with the heart in a different location. I recently had the privilege of helping an out-of-state friend acquire this necklace as a gift, after he had seen it on my blog.

2. "My Kentucky Life" by Dave Shuffett

This is my cousin Dave, host of KET's Kentucky Life and author of his new book! This gift is perfect for anyone that supports KET or simply loves reading about adventures to be had in the Bluegrass state.

*Books can be ordered here or on Amazon. For an autographed copy, click and send a private message here or visit Longhunter's Coffee and Tea Company. Dave is pictured below at a book signing in Longhunter's Cafe. He had folks lined up all night!

3. A local bottle of wine... Bring it to a gathering or serve it at your own home.

Made and bottled very close to home, this particular wine was a gift to my family! This wine and others made in Kentucky are easily found in all regions of the state.

"Kentuscany" ... How clever can it get?

4. A candle flavor that isn't Pumpkin Spice Chai blah blah or Hot Apple Spice blah blah blah

Yes, this is a Fried Chicken scented candle. I ordered this as a Secret Santa gift for a friend out of state. As you can see, they are currently sold out and I am back-ordered so I couldn't take a real photo. But--check out this awesome website www.kentuckyforkentucky.com  and shop around. This candle is one of the least exciting things you can order, believe it or not.

5. Local Art 

This is a gift for someone that likes drinking wine but also cares what happens to the empty bottle. It was purchased at what seems to be my favorite place, Kentucky Market House. This piece was made using a wine bottle from Kentucky's largest vineyard and winery, Elk Creek, in Louisville. The fleur-de-lis at the top  fits the Loo-a-vuhl theme very nicely.

I know my friend will get a ton of use out of this in her new apartment--even if it is in Lexington.

6. Your own art. If you're crafty, or just thrifty...maybe a little of both....I've got a project for you.
Keeping with the state and heart theme that is my necklace and KileyinKentucky logo, here is a piece of art I made this week.

Click here or visit the DIY State Love Art tab at the top of the page to see the full tutorial.










Merry Christmas, friends. Get your shopping done and... if you are looking for the perfect gift for me... it's THIS. See y'all next week!

Christmas on the Square

HERE IT IS! THIS IS IT! (pulls the curtain away...reveals the big secret) The very first post in my brand new adventure.

Each year, the City of Greensburg holds a day-long event called Christmas on the Square. As a recent employee of Greensburg, I had a hand in planning and preparation, and was so excited to see it come to life on Saturday, November 30th.

***Disclaimer: If you are hungry, please skip ahead. I took way more photographs of cake than I thought I did. And that really doesn't surprise me.

The "Distinguished Young Women of Green County" held an old-fashioned cake-walk to raise scholarship money for their annual program.

*Made by Ms. Karen Gilpin. I have NEVER seen her create anything less than Food Network or Southern Living table-setting worthy. These festive little guys are no exception. 

YES. It IS acceptable to eat Mississippi Mud Cake in Kentucky. When we can make mud taste like this, we'll stop. But, for now, props to MS.

The lucky winner of my fancy-pants Lemon Poppyseed cake (as seen above). I hope he enjoyed that cake as much as I enjoyed not getting to lick the spoon.

Now that we all want a slice of cake...

These cleverly-named wind chimes outside Colvin's Frame Shop caught my eye. Locally made, greatly enjoyed.

Indulgent moment outside Colvin's Frame Shop. In my hand is the most delicious spice tea, made by Ms. Dottie Colvin, wife of the frame-maker himself.

The parade began at dark, following the countdown for the big reveal of Christmas lights.

    My favorite photo from the parade.

Around the square

My beautiful, witty, intelligent best friend, Miss Evie, displayed the newest addition on my wish-list. This towel and other items like it can be found at Kentucky Market House

Who cares about photo quality? This is Greensburg; my little town; our little home.