This was written Sunday late morning…sry it was posted a little late.

Well these last couple days have been quite eventful. Thursday I had my test….for the most part I think it went pretty well, but I suppose I will find out for sure this week. During our 20 minute break between classes, Deusto (the University) was having a “movement” (don’t really know what else to call it) for Haiti. Whoever wanted to could go out to the bridge, which is in front of the university and goes across the river to the library, to hold hands. A lot of people did it and so we made a huge line…strangers linking hands…pictures were taken and it was supposed to just be a remembrance thing, a couple of my classmates and I did it…pretty cool that Haiti is on a lot of people’s minds. Then after that class we had a presentation about Haiti from a group that is organizing to help out. It was basically just informative…telling what happened…what Haiti was like and then how it is now after the earthquake….the pictures just make me cringe. Doesn’t make sense as to why I am able to study in Spain while others are just fighting to find food and water each day…makes me sick.


Thursday night Joy and I wanted to just stay in and watch a movie since we had to be up at 6 am Friday morning for our South of France Day trip that was put on by our study abroad program. So we went to Corte Ingles….which is basically Herbergers on steroids plus a grocery store…because we had to pick up a few things. First we decided to get some popcorn for our movie night, and then I needed to get new make-up because I had realized that I was using the same foundation since the beginning of last May and Joy informed me that it was probably bacteria filled and it was started to get pasty…so with her great expertise she helped me find some new stuff. Also had to get shampoo and hair gel…if you guys could see these prices it would make you sick, because it does it to me. I told my mom the other night that I might have to decide if I want to go on spring break or shower the rest of the trip, because it was going to cost about the same. She said I should continue to shower….probably wise words. The last thing I needed to get was some mascara…Joy and I searched for the cheapest tube, because like shampoo makeup is waaaaaaaaaaaay overpriced as well. We finally found some for about 7 or 8 euros and then went home. When I got home I opened it up and you will never guess what color I had gotten….bright blue. No where on the tube was there any indication of what color it would be and there was a seal on it so I couldn’t open it at the store….but who wouldn’t assume that it was going to be black or a color remotely close….well we should all learn not to assume. I guess that’s what I get for going cheap (So if anybody is dying to look like a smurf…hit me up when I get back to The States and it is allll yours!!). That night we were getting ready to watch a movie (in Spanish….but with English subtitles so Joy and I wouldn’t be completely lost)…when Amelia came over (we were at Joys apartment) because she wanted to show us where we needed to get on the bus in the morning so we could get to the Termi-Bus station to meet the rest of our group for the excursion. Joy and I hopped up and went with her….little did we know it was pouring outside and of course Amelia was the only one to grab an umbrella. Joy and I were both in sweats and I was in flip flops. I wish someone would have taken a picture of us that night….Joy Amelia and I trying to fit under one umbrella in the pouring rain….I was the one to hold the umbrella since I was by far the tallest….and I was trying to keep it over Amelia but it was super windy and was hard to keep still…Joy is trying to huddle next to me….but in all reality she was just getting soaked. The three of us walked the two blocks to the bus pickup looking ridiculous…we were all three laughing so hard because we realized that the umbrella was almost not even worth it….Amelia was saying I was loca for wearing flip flops cause my feet were soaked and so on…it was pretty much kind of “had to be there” but none the less, priceless moment. Went back to the apartment…watched the movie…ate our olive oil popcorn…then hit the hay.


The next morning was a bright an early morning…up at 6am to be at the Termi-Bus stop at 7:45. We had to bring our passports since we were crossing the border…and so when Joy and I were walking the two blocks to get picked up by the bus I asked Joy if she had hers….im guessing you can now guess what her answer was….lets just say that was probably the quickest run back to the apartment building that she will ever have to make….but she made it back in time for the bus and everything was smooth sailing from then on out. The south of France was super fun. Soo beautiful and it was in the 60’s the whole day and not a drop of rain….amazing. We went to Bayona….a little French town not far from the Spain boarder. It was soo cute and since it was Friday they had the market out and after our tour of some history stuff we were able to walk around and go wherever we wanted. Little side note…while we were on our tour, we came upon the set of a movie being filmed right when we were there….we think it was a WWII film…or something along those lines…although it was just cars driving and some people walking around it was pretty sweet to see it…(some pics on facebook). After the tour we walked around to see the town and then we wanted Crepes, since we were in France and all, and so we found a Creperie and sat down and ordered some….yum yum yum. Luckily Michaela was with us because she knows how to speak French…she studied abroad in France not long ago so she helped us out a lot that afternoon. After that we drove back to San Sebastian for lunch and then headed to another small town that was right on the Spain coast and we had free time there as well. We went down by the water and just relaxed for awhile. Then Sarah Michelle and I went to another part of the town and found a big green hill and sat and had a good ol heart to heart chat. It was a good day.


That night when I got home Amelia had some of her family there. One of her daughters, her son-in-law, and two of her grand-daughters (I had met both of her granddaughters once before. One is about 13 I think and the other is 18…freshman in college in Victoria…a town not too far from Bilbao). Her daughter is a teacher and so she can speak about 4 languages…including English...and also the oldest granddaughter can speak some English as well. But they were very good about talking to me in Spanish unless I didn’t understand something. The two girls are surfers….the oldest is actually studying sports so she can be a athletic teacher, trainer, or coach…. or really anything involving sports…she says it will take her 5 years to get the degree. They both love surfing and do it year around…the oldest told me that they also play instruments…she said that she plays the accordion and her younger sister plays some kind of brass instrument. An accordion playing surfer….pretty much the coolest person I’ve ever met. Amelia’s family is so nice. They were very welcoming and asking about Nebraska and my family back home and things like that. We ate dinner together and then they had to leave because the youngest had a surfing competition in the morning so they had to get to the bus station.


Saturday morning/afternoon was pretty uneventful….slept, studied, read my book (Wicked, great book!), slept, played Solitaire, studied, read some more, slept some more…..slept a lot because I was getting a cold…and my throat wasn’t feeling the best…so thanks for making me take those cough drops mom….they were much needed, but by late afternoon I was feeling a lot better .


SOO last night was pretty great. A group of us went out downtown and had a great time…it was just Ish, Michaela, Joy and I to start out with…then we met up with more friends and went to a Salsa bar. Basically I can’t dance…but in all reality, that has never stopped me from dancing. It was fun and laidback. Then we got our group together to go to another dance club. OMGOODNESS….I have never been in a place with some many people. We just all grabbed hands and pushed our way to get something to drink and then slithered like one big American worm towards one side of the club…it was like one large mass of people dancing…dripping sweat…and standing shoulder to shoulder with people you will never see again…which is probably for the best. While we were dancing with random people, I leaned over to Joy and yelled in her ear, “This is going in the blog!”…I guess it’s just not something we experience every weekend in good ol Lincoln, Nebraska… haha….I would have taken pictures so you guys could get the full affect on just how crowded this place was, but I didn’t want to be THAT American haha. Our guy friends are also the best (This is just a little side note for Momma Miller and Momma Roos)….they were very aware of who all of girls were dancing with, and if we didn’t want to dance with whoever we were dancing with anymore they would intervene. Ish was always on the ball making sure all of us girls were safe and comfortable…..what a great amigo! We were in there for a couple hours and then when it hit 5 a.m we decided it may be time to head home….yep 5 am…and we were the people heading in early, crazy. Joy and I walked home and hit the hay a little before 6. Buuuut I was wide awake and alert at 10:45, so I am not a bum….nap later?....yes. Today Amelia’s daughter was over for just a little bit and Amelia told her I went out to a fiesta last night…she asked me what time I got home and I was like ohhh around 5…Amelia started to laugh and I was said ok maybe it was closer to 5:30…and Amelia said ohhh I don’t know I’d say maybe 6…(think she wanted me to look tough)…then she turned to her daughter and said “Now Melinda is going to get on the internet with her parents and tell them this…uh oh…” haha it was pretty funny. Every time Amelia’s daughter has left the house she always shakes my hand when she says bye. I know she does it cause it’s the “American” way of saying good-bye….she adds a bye-bye! with that handshake…pretty funny.


(So since I have written this Monday has come and gone since I am posting this late….and so I was able to talk to my mom on facebook this afternoon…she wanted me to tell Amelia Hello and Thank you for her and so I did tonight at dinner. She was pleased, and then said did you tell your mom that you didn’t get home until 6am on Saturday and I started to laugh and said no…she ok good…and I said oh I will another day…and she started to laugh and she noooo not another day..dont tell her because she will be like OMGOODNESS….haha little does she know my mom wouldnt mind….maybe I should have told her that haha)


So the weekend was successful…Joy and I only got lost once….got on the wrong bus when going to Corte Ingles…kind of left that out…got to see the South of France….met the family…and had my first real Spanish disco bar experience.


Today is Super Bowl Sunday and I am a little sad I am missing the game but the Super Bowl party that they are having here tonight is from 10pm-3am (obviously because we are ahead 7 hours)…and I know I wouldn’t get home until 4ish and I have class at 10…and it’s at a bar that is not even remotely close to my apartment…so since last night was a late night, id say I better stay home tonight….but really who am I kidding, all I really care about is half time, so someone let me know who performs and how it was, thanks. I know someone back home will be making Melinda’s famous puke chip dip…Have some for me, and enjoy the game!


I hope my dad is reading this because that means he made it home safely from Haiti…still constantly thinking about all those people and what they are going through.


Love you all, Abrazos y besos -Mel


P.S. I have officially been here for one month…seems like just yesterday when the taxi driver dropped Joy and I off in front of building number 29 with our luggage, scared shitless, not having any idea why I was doing this…...so crazy, one down 3 ½ to go. How time flies!