Well its been about a week....wow how time flies.
Last week (minus being sick) was a good week. It was Joys birthday on wednesday so we celebrated Tuesday and Thursday....because whoever really celebrates on their birthday??...well that will be our excuse. Anyway as I said in the last blog we did a bakery hop on Tuesday.....went to a couple bakeries and then went to get some sorbet icecream. It was super nice out so walking around was enjoyable. Then since Wednesday was full of lots of homework and studying for tests for everyone we stayed in...but had a happy green day anyway. Then Thursday Javi, Sarah, Joy, Robert, and I went to a Mexican resturant for supper to again celebrate the big 20 for Joy. It is so funny how all of us kids are in so much need of spicey food...but being born to a mother where ground pepper is a food group and being born in a town where mexican food is a food group....(Joy and I just want some dang jalepenos) we needed some spice. So at the mexican place we ordered enchiladas and pina coladas....it was no Taqueria, but it had spice and thats all we really cared about. After that we went by the river and sat on a bench and all talked until about 2 in the morning. It was soooo nice out and we could ever see some stars.
The rest of the weekend we kind of layed low....I wanted to get rid of my sickness before heading to Egypt on Friday (which it is almost gone :) ). Friday night Joy, Javi, and I watched Pride and Prejudice....Joys FAVORITE....good flick. Then Saturday night Joy, Javi and I went for a walk by the river to walk through this carnival that was going on...they had a live band and rides...we just walked around and such...was another really nice night. Then after that we found a little cafe and ordered some hot tea for all of us and sat and talked.
Sunday was the hair dying day. Two boxes of hair dye + two unexperienced hair dying American girls + two pairs of instructions in Spanish + one veryyy small bathroom = a success story. Joy did mine and then while mine sat I did hers. It wasnt as hard as we thought...and both of our heads look good....just had to get rid of those roots.
My last blog I had two comment requests...which is good because it gives me more to talk about. The first was from my lovely friend Sarah White asking me to explain what I do during the week, since I tend to just write about my weekends. So here we go...A normal day consists of getting up at 8:30am....making my bed...showering...getting ready....eating breakfast (fruit, yogurt, muffin, orange juice)...walking to school with Joy (except on Wednesday because she has class at 9 instead of 10)....Monday through Thursday I have Spanish Language, conversation, and writing class....on Monday and Wednesday its just from 10-12 and then on Tuesday and Thursday its from 10- 1...then also on Tuesdays and Thursdays I have Spanish Culture class from 1:10- 2:25. Then after those classes I walk home....have lunch with Mil (my nickname for Amelia)...then I sometimes take a nap...then I go to the Library and work on homework/check facebook and email/ chat with my momma and amigos. Then I walk home and eat supper (which by the way I want to know how many people use the word supper...because Joy and I have been teased a lot here from our American friends for using that word...appearently nobody uses that word anymore...they say it stopped being used in the pioneer days....i beg to differ) Then after that I go wash my face, brush my teeth, read or watch a podcast, and go to bed. Now thats a general day...some days consist of more so dont think I dont have a life...but really life here has become the normal everyday school life. But smelling the fresh mountain air everyday also really adds to it.
Ok second request is from my spanish teacher Guillermo. He thought I should talk about our salsa dancing lessons...which i dont know how i forgot this in the first place. Two thursdays ago after our test, Guillermo said that he would teach us how to Salsa. As most of you know...Melinda likes to dance....but her skills lack. Guillermo was my partner so at least I was with someone who knew what they were doing... it was a lot of fun. I did a lot of looking at my feet making sure they were doing what they were supposed to...so next time my goal is to look at someones face haha. So I will try to improve my skills while I am here and whoever wants to learn when I get back I will be booking lessons...first come first serve...haha :).
Well at this moment I am killing time by talking to all of you...(thats not to say you guys arent important to me...) I just needed to do something while waiting for Joy to get out of class. When she gets done we are going to go get last minute necessities from Egypt seeing as we leave FRIDAY!!! We are very excited but a tad nervous maybe..idk maybe nervous isnt the word....its just this came so quickly....so we need to pack and make sure we have everything!
Well I think that is about it. I dont know if I will be able to write before I leave for Egypt so if not there may be a little break in my writing. I dont know what kind of internet access I will have in the hostels....but I am going to write everything down that we do each day so I can write about it when I return.
Prayers for healing for my grandmas back!
I hope you all have a wonderful Easter..I hope you can spend it with friends and family and rejoice in the fact that He has risen!
Also Happy birthday to my two favorite brothers on March 31st!!! 24 and 22....wow...love/miss you guys!!!
Hugs and Kisses
-Mel
Monday, March 22, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Well this week/weekend had its up and had its downs...
My test on thursday was ok....ok meaning not stupendous...but not awful. Thursday night made up for it though. We started our ¨pre-party¨ at the apartment dorms...than after being there for a couple hours we went to a bar that was having an Erassmus Party...they have those parties every thursday night. A lot of dancing...a lot of fun...but a late night, 430am. Friday was a sleep in until 11...get up eat breakfast....work on homework....eat lunch...and then went to the library to make final plans on our Egypt trip. We found all of our hostels that we are staying in (and acutally booked them today) and made a plan of what all we are going to do in each city. We are getting pretty excited...only 11 more days. Friday night I went out with friends to this dance club called Fever...its a couple metro stops away...big club...again lots of dancing...but a late night...6am. When i woke up Saturday morning I felt like I was hit by a truck....I honestly wondered how my body hurt so bad haha.
Saturday I layed low the whole day...caught up on some sleep. Then that night me and the two couples (Joy and Javie and Michaela and Ish....yes I am now the 5th wheel)...went to Crazy Horse, a really chill bar close to our house...we ordered drinks...(well i had a coke)...and sat and talked for a couple hours.
Sunday is where things turned...I woke up worse than i had felt on Saturday night....Saturday I started to get a sore throat and cough...but thought it was just a little thing....well I was wrong...Sunday was filled with a 101 temp, coughing yellow stuff up that nobody should ever cough up...and ive gone through about a trees worth of Kleenix. Today is better...but still coughing up crap like nobodies business...I know, probably too much information...sorry.
But we have sun today and that makes everything better! Its supposed to be pretty nice and warm all week! Tomorrow night my friends and I have planned a Bakery Hop for Joy´s birthday which is on Wednesday....instead of bar hopping and getting drinks, we are going to Bakery hop and get pastries. Sounds like a good idea to me :) haha....Then I think we will maybe go out Wednesday night for supper for Joy´s actual birthday and St. patricks day :)
ALSOOOOOOOOOO I want to send out a HUGE THANK YOU to my momma for the awesome package I recieved Friday! From the deoderant to the First season of GLEE on DVD, I loved it all!
Prayers for my grandma who is having back surgery today and for my Aunt who had eye surgery last week! Pray for quick recoveries!
Other than that...not to much more. I know everyone is wondering if summer will ever come...I really think it will, and the sun that we have today gives me hope!
Abrazos y Besos.
-Mel
My test on thursday was ok....ok meaning not stupendous...but not awful. Thursday night made up for it though. We started our ¨pre-party¨ at the apartment dorms...than after being there for a couple hours we went to a bar that was having an Erassmus Party...they have those parties every thursday night. A lot of dancing...a lot of fun...but a late night, 430am. Friday was a sleep in until 11...get up eat breakfast....work on homework....eat lunch...and then went to the library to make final plans on our Egypt trip. We found all of our hostels that we are staying in (and acutally booked them today) and made a plan of what all we are going to do in each city. We are getting pretty excited...only 11 more days. Friday night I went out with friends to this dance club called Fever...its a couple metro stops away...big club...again lots of dancing...but a late night...6am. When i woke up Saturday morning I felt like I was hit by a truck....I honestly wondered how my body hurt so bad haha.
Saturday I layed low the whole day...caught up on some sleep. Then that night me and the two couples (Joy and Javie and Michaela and Ish....yes I am now the 5th wheel)...went to Crazy Horse, a really chill bar close to our house...we ordered drinks...(well i had a coke)...and sat and talked for a couple hours.
Sunday is where things turned...I woke up worse than i had felt on Saturday night....Saturday I started to get a sore throat and cough...but thought it was just a little thing....well I was wrong...Sunday was filled with a 101 temp, coughing yellow stuff up that nobody should ever cough up...and ive gone through about a trees worth of Kleenix. Today is better...but still coughing up crap like nobodies business...I know, probably too much information...sorry.
But we have sun today and that makes everything better! Its supposed to be pretty nice and warm all week! Tomorrow night my friends and I have planned a Bakery Hop for Joy´s birthday which is on Wednesday....instead of bar hopping and getting drinks, we are going to Bakery hop and get pastries. Sounds like a good idea to me :) haha....Then I think we will maybe go out Wednesday night for supper for Joy´s actual birthday and St. patricks day :)
ALSOOOOOOOOOO I want to send out a HUGE THANK YOU to my momma for the awesome package I recieved Friday! From the deoderant to the First season of GLEE on DVD, I loved it all!
Prayers for my grandma who is having back surgery today and for my Aunt who had eye surgery last week! Pray for quick recoveries!
Other than that...not to much more. I know everyone is wondering if summer will ever come...I really think it will, and the sun that we have today gives me hope!
Abrazos y Besos.
-Mel
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Well grab a coffee or a coke, take a seat, and enjoy what will probably be a looong blog about my weekend.
This weekend we had our last excersion to Madrid and Segovia. It was A LOT of fun. We left at 8 oclock in the morn on Friday to head to Madrid. From Bilbao it is about 5 hours by bus. Half consisted of ipod in the ears and looking at the back of my eyelids...the other half consisted of Ish, Michaela, Joy and I playing would you rather/ 20 questions....its very entertaining. For example, Would you rather go swimming in a pool full of snakes or break your leg, or if you had to only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? You get to learn a lot about a person this way....haha. Once we arrived to Madrid we checked into our hotel and settled down. Michaela Joy and I shared a room....we have awesome luck. We were the only ones on 8th floor out of the whole group and we had a laaaarge room. The first part had a sitting area with a tv and bunks beds...then that was seperated by a half wall and the other part of the room had a big king size bed with tv and such...and then a bathroom of course. Did we use the bunkbeds? of course not!!!!! we all fit so swell in that giant bed:). After getting settled we headed down to lunch. We ate most meals in the hotel...they had a nice buffet.
After lunch we went on our walking tour of Madrid...and of course it poured the whooooole time and of course I didnt wear the proper boots. Lets just say there was so much water in my boots, fish could have survived. But it was a fun time so I tried not to care. First we went to the Palace. So much history, loved it. After the Palace we went to the church that is right next to the Palace, so beautiful. Then after the church we continued our outside tour around Madrid...we went through the older part and it was really pretty...very wet...but pretty. Then the last thing we saw was the marking of the 0 Km. of Spain that is in Madrid. After that we had free time, so Robert, Joy, Michaela, Javier, and I went to go get churros at the place where Joy has gotten her first churros the last time she was in Spain. Appearntly its the place to be, because it was packed. After that, since it was still pouring rain and my feet were close to prunes, we headed to the metro to go back to the hotel...had supper there and then went back to the room and hung out.
Saturday: Early morning...up at 730....in the bus at 9 headed to Segovia. Segovia is only about an hour away from Madrid, so it was not a far ride...although we were all tired so it was shut eye time. One time during the ride i opened my eyes and I am not even kidding I could have been in Nebraska during a winter snow storm...it was white EVERYWHERE and still snowing....and of course just like the boots, I didnt bring my winter coat on this trip...just a sweat shirt and a jacket so at this point I realized it may be a VERY cold day. So I closed my eyes, said a little prayer for warmth, and fell back asleep...When we arrived and I woke up it was sunny and there was no snow to be found! We got off the bus to walk to the Roman Aqua-ducts and it was not that cold at all. It ended up being a very nice day. After taking pictures of the aqua-ducts we walked through the town awhile...bought some postcards...and then went on a tour of a castle that is in Segovia...it was really pretty. We went throughout the rooms and then when we were done with the tour, we could go up in the tower to see the view of Segovia if we wanted. So my friends and I headed up there...the way up was quite interesting...it was a very tight, stone, circular staircase with high steps.....it was quite the workout for us...and it seemed never ending. Also it was a 2 way path that should have clearly only been one way...so half way through we had to squish against the sides to let a family pass by. Once to the top it was totally worth it. It was so gorgeous. We took more pictures, caught some fresh air, and then headed back down. Going down was a mixture of being claustrophobic and wanting to vomit but we made it....Michaela led the way...and once we saw light we were very happy. Exiting Michaela, being a whole 5 feet tall, did not need to duck at any point of this...well forgetting that we needed to duck on the way in and not seeing her duck on the way out because she obviously didnt need to, I nailed the stone arch exit with my head pretty dang hard...basically the 5 or 6 people behind me all heard it weather they saw it or not. Lets just say it didnt feel very good. After telling my dad this he asked if it knocked some sense in to me.....my guess is no haha. After that we headed to a little cafe for lunch. It was the normal lunch....bread, some sort of soup/stew...mystery meat, and then dessert.
I would now like to take a little break and talk about some food that I have consumed in the last week or so....lets just say this should make my momma proud. So first last week, Amelia called me in for supper....she began laughing as soon as I got in there because of what was on my plate. It was allll black and inky looking. She started laughing I suppose because she wasnt sure what I was going to say. Turns out I was having octopus in its own Ink (they use the ink as the sauce) for dinner. It wasnt horrible, but the fact that Amelia was telling me how she takes the little sac out of the octopus and pops it to get the ink while we were eating made it a little hard to swallow. But what doesnt kill you makes you stronger.
The second thing was on accident..while on our Segovia day trip, our first corse at the cafe was some sort of soup. We couldnt really tell what was in it besides giant beans...so after discussing what might be in it, most of us decided to try everything...one thing was really chewy, but not thinking much of it we moved onto the next corse....a little while after that, one of our friends from another table came over and said oh hey guys did you try the pig ears in the soup. Yep pig ears...dont worry, it did stay down even though I was thinking it should come right back up. Then someone else at the table said well at least it wasnt blood sausage...and I said ohh whats that? and someone said its this round sausage looking thing that is really just packed with rice and blood....I may have dropped my spoon i dont know...but I realized that Amelia serves that to me quite often....I wasnt to fond of it, but it was awful...I guess next time its on my plate I will just have to chew faster haha. Im usually not that picky, but I would have to say Spain has def made me step out of my comfort food box....first mushrooms, fish, and green olives..and now pig ears, octopus, and blood sausage.....I beginning to think that my mom should meet me at the door with grilled cheese and tomato soup :).
After eating, we all got back on the bus and headed back to Madrid. The plan was to drop us off downtown so we could have some free time to do what we wanted before we had to be back at the hotel for supper. Javier, Joy, Ish, Michaela, Robert and I decided to go to the Archiology Museum first...it was very interesting and neat to see. It is currently being re-done so the selection they had displayed wasnt huge, but neat non the less. After that we went to the Sophia museum where Picasso´s painting of Gernika/Guernica is displayed. It is soooo large. We couldnt take pictures, so we litereally just stood there for 15 minutes and stared at it. It was really neat especially since we had been to Gernika and knew the history behind it. OHHH I forgot! On the way to the Sophia Museum we stopped by Starbucks to get our very first American coffee....it was glorious. Felt so normal to walk around down town with a coffee in our hands. After the Museum we headed to the metro to head back to the hotel for dinner.
After dinner we went to go get prettied up because tonight was our going out night. A lot of us decided to go to the famous dance club there called Kapital. It is a 7 floor dance club and each floor is a different style. I almost cant even put this into words...I have never experienced such a thing (although my Uncle John said there is one opening up in Omaha but it closes at 10 pm....bahahahahha...dont take that seriously). We left the hotel around 12:45am and headed that way...it is open until 7am or so...so we were right on time lol. We got there around 1:45am and I have never seen so many people in a club...I mean I know its huge, but still....there where people from all over the world...a lot of Americans which for some reason surprised me ....but def people from allll over. Aftering getting a drink some girls and I went to the first floor. It was pretty sweet...it was the ¨main dance floor with a stage in front...sometimes performers would come out on the stage and do different kind of dances...mostly breakdancing....but the floor was shoulder to shoulder with people. We danced down there for a couple hours....ohhhh and the coolest thing about it was about every 3 to 5 minutes a huge burst of dry ice and something else could come out of the ceiling so much that you couldnt see who was right next to you and it was a large cooling device...would cool you right off...so awesome. After being down there for awhile we decided to go back up stairs and find other people. We finally were able to find Joy, Michaela and Ish on the top floor because we had been split up earlier....for Joy and I it was basically a running hug haha....stayed a little bit longer and then decided to get a cab and leave at 530 am. Got back to the hotel, washed my face, brushed my teeth and hit the pillow with the intentions of getting up in 2 hours.
The next day all we had planned was the Prado museum and then home. As you would probably guess most of us were pretty wiped from the night before, but the museum was good to see...lots of paintings with lots of history...pretty neat. Then after a couple hours there we loaded the bus up again and headed back to good ol´Bilbao. Its weird how coming back to a home away from home feels sooo nice.
Well it is now Wednesday...and it was been cold allll week....sleated/snowed on Monday and its supposed to snow again tonight or tomorrow. I am not sure what happened to our 65 degrees, but Im thinkin it should return....reallllly sooon. I have another test tomorrow so I need to continue to prepare for that...classes have been good...I had a midterm last Thursday and I think I did really well on it. Other than that, not much new there.
This weekend will consist of some going out, some Egypt planning, and some homework. Sounds like a winner.
My friend Chris leaves for the Czech Republic on Sunday....so it´s exciting that we will be in the same continent even though we are a couple countries apart....Hope travels and arrival go a little bit better for him than they did for me haha.
Well other than that not much more....
Hope God is in your heart in the preperation for Easter.
Live, laugh, love and enjoy life
Peace out
-Mel
This weekend we had our last excersion to Madrid and Segovia. It was A LOT of fun. We left at 8 oclock in the morn on Friday to head to Madrid. From Bilbao it is about 5 hours by bus. Half consisted of ipod in the ears and looking at the back of my eyelids...the other half consisted of Ish, Michaela, Joy and I playing would you rather/ 20 questions....its very entertaining. For example, Would you rather go swimming in a pool full of snakes or break your leg, or if you had to only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? You get to learn a lot about a person this way....haha. Once we arrived to Madrid we checked into our hotel and settled down. Michaela Joy and I shared a room....we have awesome luck. We were the only ones on 8th floor out of the whole group and we had a laaaarge room. The first part had a sitting area with a tv and bunks beds...then that was seperated by a half wall and the other part of the room had a big king size bed with tv and such...and then a bathroom of course. Did we use the bunkbeds? of course not!!!!! we all fit so swell in that giant bed:). After getting settled we headed down to lunch. We ate most meals in the hotel...they had a nice buffet.
After lunch we went on our walking tour of Madrid...and of course it poured the whooooole time and of course I didnt wear the proper boots. Lets just say there was so much water in my boots, fish could have survived. But it was a fun time so I tried not to care. First we went to the Palace. So much history, loved it. After the Palace we went to the church that is right next to the Palace, so beautiful. Then after the church we continued our outside tour around Madrid...we went through the older part and it was really pretty...very wet...but pretty. Then the last thing we saw was the marking of the 0 Km. of Spain that is in Madrid. After that we had free time, so Robert, Joy, Michaela, Javier, and I went to go get churros at the place where Joy has gotten her first churros the last time she was in Spain. Appearntly its the place to be, because it was packed. After that, since it was still pouring rain and my feet were close to prunes, we headed to the metro to go back to the hotel...had supper there and then went back to the room and hung out.
Saturday: Early morning...up at 730....in the bus at 9 headed to Segovia. Segovia is only about an hour away from Madrid, so it was not a far ride...although we were all tired so it was shut eye time. One time during the ride i opened my eyes and I am not even kidding I could have been in Nebraska during a winter snow storm...it was white EVERYWHERE and still snowing....and of course just like the boots, I didnt bring my winter coat on this trip...just a sweat shirt and a jacket so at this point I realized it may be a VERY cold day. So I closed my eyes, said a little prayer for warmth, and fell back asleep...When we arrived and I woke up it was sunny and there was no snow to be found! We got off the bus to walk to the Roman Aqua-ducts and it was not that cold at all. It ended up being a very nice day. After taking pictures of the aqua-ducts we walked through the town awhile...bought some postcards...and then went on a tour of a castle that is in Segovia...it was really pretty. We went throughout the rooms and then when we were done with the tour, we could go up in the tower to see the view of Segovia if we wanted. So my friends and I headed up there...the way up was quite interesting...it was a very tight, stone, circular staircase with high steps.....it was quite the workout for us...and it seemed never ending. Also it was a 2 way path that should have clearly only been one way...so half way through we had to squish against the sides to let a family pass by. Once to the top it was totally worth it. It was so gorgeous. We took more pictures, caught some fresh air, and then headed back down. Going down was a mixture of being claustrophobic and wanting to vomit but we made it....Michaela led the way...and once we saw light we were very happy. Exiting Michaela, being a whole 5 feet tall, did not need to duck at any point of this...well forgetting that we needed to duck on the way in and not seeing her duck on the way out because she obviously didnt need to, I nailed the stone arch exit with my head pretty dang hard...basically the 5 or 6 people behind me all heard it weather they saw it or not. Lets just say it didnt feel very good. After telling my dad this he asked if it knocked some sense in to me.....my guess is no haha. After that we headed to a little cafe for lunch. It was the normal lunch....bread, some sort of soup/stew...mystery meat, and then dessert.
I would now like to take a little break and talk about some food that I have consumed in the last week or so....lets just say this should make my momma proud. So first last week, Amelia called me in for supper....she began laughing as soon as I got in there because of what was on my plate. It was allll black and inky looking. She started laughing I suppose because she wasnt sure what I was going to say. Turns out I was having octopus in its own Ink (they use the ink as the sauce) for dinner. It wasnt horrible, but the fact that Amelia was telling me how she takes the little sac out of the octopus and pops it to get the ink while we were eating made it a little hard to swallow. But what doesnt kill you makes you stronger.
The second thing was on accident..while on our Segovia day trip, our first corse at the cafe was some sort of soup. We couldnt really tell what was in it besides giant beans...so after discussing what might be in it, most of us decided to try everything...one thing was really chewy, but not thinking much of it we moved onto the next corse....a little while after that, one of our friends from another table came over and said oh hey guys did you try the pig ears in the soup. Yep pig ears...dont worry, it did stay down even though I was thinking it should come right back up. Then someone else at the table said well at least it wasnt blood sausage...and I said ohh whats that? and someone said its this round sausage looking thing that is really just packed with rice and blood....I may have dropped my spoon i dont know...but I realized that Amelia serves that to me quite often....I wasnt to fond of it, but it was awful...I guess next time its on my plate I will just have to chew faster haha. Im usually not that picky, but I would have to say Spain has def made me step out of my comfort food box....first mushrooms, fish, and green olives..and now pig ears, octopus, and blood sausage.....I beginning to think that my mom should meet me at the door with grilled cheese and tomato soup :).
After eating, we all got back on the bus and headed back to Madrid. The plan was to drop us off downtown so we could have some free time to do what we wanted before we had to be back at the hotel for supper. Javier, Joy, Ish, Michaela, Robert and I decided to go to the Archiology Museum first...it was very interesting and neat to see. It is currently being re-done so the selection they had displayed wasnt huge, but neat non the less. After that we went to the Sophia museum where Picasso´s painting of Gernika/Guernica is displayed. It is soooo large. We couldnt take pictures, so we litereally just stood there for 15 minutes and stared at it. It was really neat especially since we had been to Gernika and knew the history behind it. OHHH I forgot! On the way to the Sophia Museum we stopped by Starbucks to get our very first American coffee....it was glorious. Felt so normal to walk around down town with a coffee in our hands. After the Museum we headed to the metro to head back to the hotel for dinner.
After dinner we went to go get prettied up because tonight was our going out night. A lot of us decided to go to the famous dance club there called Kapital. It is a 7 floor dance club and each floor is a different style. I almost cant even put this into words...I have never experienced such a thing (although my Uncle John said there is one opening up in Omaha but it closes at 10 pm....bahahahahha...dont take that seriously). We left the hotel around 12:45am and headed that way...it is open until 7am or so...so we were right on time lol. We got there around 1:45am and I have never seen so many people in a club...I mean I know its huge, but still....there where people from all over the world...a lot of Americans which for some reason surprised me ....but def people from allll over. Aftering getting a drink some girls and I went to the first floor. It was pretty sweet...it was the ¨main dance floor with a stage in front...sometimes performers would come out on the stage and do different kind of dances...mostly breakdancing....but the floor was shoulder to shoulder with people. We danced down there for a couple hours....ohhhh and the coolest thing about it was about every 3 to 5 minutes a huge burst of dry ice and something else could come out of the ceiling so much that you couldnt see who was right next to you and it was a large cooling device...would cool you right off...so awesome. After being down there for awhile we decided to go back up stairs and find other people. We finally were able to find Joy, Michaela and Ish on the top floor because we had been split up earlier....for Joy and I it was basically a running hug haha....stayed a little bit longer and then decided to get a cab and leave at 530 am. Got back to the hotel, washed my face, brushed my teeth and hit the pillow with the intentions of getting up in 2 hours.
The next day all we had planned was the Prado museum and then home. As you would probably guess most of us were pretty wiped from the night before, but the museum was good to see...lots of paintings with lots of history...pretty neat. Then after a couple hours there we loaded the bus up again and headed back to good ol´Bilbao. Its weird how coming back to a home away from home feels sooo nice.
Well it is now Wednesday...and it was been cold allll week....sleated/snowed on Monday and its supposed to snow again tonight or tomorrow. I am not sure what happened to our 65 degrees, but Im thinkin it should return....reallllly sooon. I have another test tomorrow so I need to continue to prepare for that...classes have been good...I had a midterm last Thursday and I think I did really well on it. Other than that, not much new there.
This weekend will consist of some going out, some Egypt planning, and some homework. Sounds like a winner.
My friend Chris leaves for the Czech Republic on Sunday....so it´s exciting that we will be in the same continent even though we are a couple countries apart....Hope travels and arrival go a little bit better for him than they did for me haha.
Well other than that not much more....
Hope God is in your heart in the preperation for Easter.
Live, laugh, love and enjoy life
Peace out
-Mel
Monday, March 1, 2010
WELLLLL the sun has been shining for a couple days straight, I just cant believe it!!! it just perks everyone up!
So I suppose the weekend should be first.....Well Friday was a shop day. Joy, Michaela, and I went out for a couple of hours to try to find some good sales. Our intentions were to look for clothes for Egypt. While in egypt we need to be dressed conservatively...so not showing anything above knees and usually keep shoulders covered. We were all successful in finding things. That night a group of 7 of us went to Crazy Horse which is an American pub...it was a lot of fun. We each ordered a drink and all crammed in a both and sat there for a couple of hours and talked...there was also a live band...made me miss the Stewart John Band...but none the less reminded me of them...they sang some spanish songs, but also some american covers in english..those are my kind of nights :)!
When we returned from the bar on Friday, there was a paper posted to the front door of our apartment. Joy and I read it and it said that there were going to be awful winds starting the next afternoon and lasting until sunday. They said not to leave unless necessary and that they were supposed to reach 90 mph. Well Joy and I were supposed to go to Michaela´s Saturday night because we all had skype dates planned with the parents :).
Well the wind ended up being nice to us....we arrived to Michaela´s safely, but while we were there it sounded like a tornado was outside our door. Felt like home...haha. Saturday night was good. I was able to skype with my parents...mom and Lexi for the second time, Dad for the first. I was also able to skype with Chris for a bit. Good night :), technology is so amazing. Love it so so much :). After skyping and chatting, the three of us girls made some hot cola cao (like hot chocolate made with milk....soy milk in our case...so yummy) and watched a movie. Joy and I did not want to enter out into the crazy wind to go home, but we decided since it was 3 am, we should get a move on it. Well when we opened the door is was like Jesus calmed the sea...I mean the wind...cause it was not windy at all. Made it to the metro station, waited for 15 minutes, joined the crazy drunks on the metro...got off the metro, joined the crazy drunks on the street, waited for the bus for 30 minutes, got home, took my lovely zyrtec, and hit the pillow.
Sunday was a homework and catch up on sleep day....like usual I suppose...oh and of course attend church on my computer, Mosaic church in LA, Cali...Erwin McManus...great stuff.
And now its Monday and back to classes....my parents requested that I talk about classes so people know why I am actually here haha...
Classes are going really well...I am in my language class...which is 10 credits...because it is really made up of three classes...grammar, conversation, and writing. My teacher is amazing...the best spanish teacher I´ve had...he is 25 so young but so so smart, and fun which helps a lot.
My second class is Spanish Culture. I love this class as well. My teacher is actually an American teacher from Green Bay but was raised in Spain. She is very nice, and teaches very well. Teaches both in spanish and english so she knows that we are really learning the material, but at the same time growing in understanding spanish. The Spainish history is really interesting to me...and how it affects how Spain is today.
I cant believe that it is already March!! I thought it would never come. While all of you are thinking that you may not reach summer or even spring until the 4th of July, my spring is finally coming, and I could not be more thankful :)...how time flies....91 days and I will be back in the good ol Cornhusker state.
This weekend we are going on our last excursion to Madrid and Segovia....hopefully it doesnt rain, although I think it is supposed to. I am excited to leave for the weekend, shall be tons of fun!!
Thats all for now...more later!!
Prayers for Haiti and Chili
Abrazos y Besos...hugs and kisses
-Mel
So I suppose the weekend should be first.....Well Friday was a shop day. Joy, Michaela, and I went out for a couple of hours to try to find some good sales. Our intentions were to look for clothes for Egypt. While in egypt we need to be dressed conservatively...so not showing anything above knees and usually keep shoulders covered. We were all successful in finding things. That night a group of 7 of us went to Crazy Horse which is an American pub...it was a lot of fun. We each ordered a drink and all crammed in a both and sat there for a couple of hours and talked...there was also a live band...made me miss the Stewart John Band...but none the less reminded me of them...they sang some spanish songs, but also some american covers in english..those are my kind of nights :)!
When we returned from the bar on Friday, there was a paper posted to the front door of our apartment. Joy and I read it and it said that there were going to be awful winds starting the next afternoon and lasting until sunday. They said not to leave unless necessary and that they were supposed to reach 90 mph. Well Joy and I were supposed to go to Michaela´s Saturday night because we all had skype dates planned with the parents :).
Well the wind ended up being nice to us....we arrived to Michaela´s safely, but while we were there it sounded like a tornado was outside our door. Felt like home...haha. Saturday night was good. I was able to skype with my parents...mom and Lexi for the second time, Dad for the first. I was also able to skype with Chris for a bit. Good night :), technology is so amazing. Love it so so much :). After skyping and chatting, the three of us girls made some hot cola cao (like hot chocolate made with milk....soy milk in our case...so yummy) and watched a movie. Joy and I did not want to enter out into the crazy wind to go home, but we decided since it was 3 am, we should get a move on it. Well when we opened the door is was like Jesus calmed the sea...I mean the wind...cause it was not windy at all. Made it to the metro station, waited for 15 minutes, joined the crazy drunks on the metro...got off the metro, joined the crazy drunks on the street, waited for the bus for 30 minutes, got home, took my lovely zyrtec, and hit the pillow.
Sunday was a homework and catch up on sleep day....like usual I suppose...oh and of course attend church on my computer, Mosaic church in LA, Cali...Erwin McManus...great stuff.
And now its Monday and back to classes....my parents requested that I talk about classes so people know why I am actually here haha...
Classes are going really well...I am in my language class...which is 10 credits...because it is really made up of three classes...grammar, conversation, and writing. My teacher is amazing...the best spanish teacher I´ve had...he is 25 so young but so so smart, and fun which helps a lot.
My second class is Spanish Culture. I love this class as well. My teacher is actually an American teacher from Green Bay but was raised in Spain. She is very nice, and teaches very well. Teaches both in spanish and english so she knows that we are really learning the material, but at the same time growing in understanding spanish. The Spainish history is really interesting to me...and how it affects how Spain is today.
I cant believe that it is already March!! I thought it would never come. While all of you are thinking that you may not reach summer or even spring until the 4th of July, my spring is finally coming, and I could not be more thankful :)...how time flies....91 days and I will be back in the good ol Cornhusker state.
This weekend we are going on our last excursion to Madrid and Segovia....hopefully it doesnt rain, although I think it is supposed to. I am excited to leave for the weekend, shall be tons of fun!!
Thats all for now...more later!!
Prayers for Haiti and Chili
Abrazos y Besos...hugs and kisses
-Mel
Monday, February 22, 2010
It is currently 68 degrees here!!! I cant believe it...feels just like an awesome spring day in Nebraska...even windy...the only thing missing is the smell of freshly cut grass and freshly chopped cow.
This weekend was pretty uneventful...since last weekend was to eventful, we decided to lay low. Friday we had an excersion to the Basque country...we went to Guernica. Went to some museums and historical stuff and also ate lunch there. For those of you who dont know, Guernica is famous because of the bombing they had in 1937. Hitler needed a place to test his bombs and so he talked to Franco, the Spanish ruler at the time, and Franco allowed him to use the Basque country area. Hitler decided to choose a Monday to do this which happened to be Guernica´s market day, the whole town was detroyed and many civilians died. After Guernica we went to another small town by the sea...it was absolutely gorgeous, except for the fact that is was raining and SUPER windy of course...so we were all enjoying the ocean until about everyones umbrellas started to flip inside out. fun day :).
After returning home and eating supper, Michaela, Joy, and I went to Ish´s house in Algorta (suburb to Bilbao) to plan our Egypt trip...where exactly we wanted to go and what we wanted to do in each place....The three of them did a great job of doing this...I tried researching, but then my mom got online and I was able to skype with her, and Lexi, for the first time since I have been here. It was great!!! Lexi even waved at me...what a talented dog she is. Anyway...we did get some planning done, and we are very excited...only 32 more days until heat and sun for 16 days!!!
Saturday we honestly did about nothing, the only exciting thing that happened was that I bought a new camera...yay....and I will say now, that this is officially the last camera i will buy in Spain....ever. I got the same one as I did before. It will last me a long time, I promise Mom.
Sunday was a sleep day...glorious.
And now today is Monday, it is beautiful outside...well until it starts to rain I suppose. I have a test Thursday, so have been studying for that. I hope it goes as well as the last. Not much more to say....
82 more days in Spain, I cant believe it....
Hugs and Kisses
-Mel
This weekend was pretty uneventful...since last weekend was to eventful, we decided to lay low. Friday we had an excersion to the Basque country...we went to Guernica. Went to some museums and historical stuff and also ate lunch there. For those of you who dont know, Guernica is famous because of the bombing they had in 1937. Hitler needed a place to test his bombs and so he talked to Franco, the Spanish ruler at the time, and Franco allowed him to use the Basque country area. Hitler decided to choose a Monday to do this which happened to be Guernica´s market day, the whole town was detroyed and many civilians died. After Guernica we went to another small town by the sea...it was absolutely gorgeous, except for the fact that is was raining and SUPER windy of course...so we were all enjoying the ocean until about everyones umbrellas started to flip inside out. fun day :).
After returning home and eating supper, Michaela, Joy, and I went to Ish´s house in Algorta (suburb to Bilbao) to plan our Egypt trip...where exactly we wanted to go and what we wanted to do in each place....The three of them did a great job of doing this...I tried researching, but then my mom got online and I was able to skype with her, and Lexi, for the first time since I have been here. It was great!!! Lexi even waved at me...what a talented dog she is. Anyway...we did get some planning done, and we are very excited...only 32 more days until heat and sun for 16 days!!!
Saturday we honestly did about nothing, the only exciting thing that happened was that I bought a new camera...yay....and I will say now, that this is officially the last camera i will buy in Spain....ever. I got the same one as I did before. It will last me a long time, I promise Mom.
Sunday was a sleep day...glorious.
And now today is Monday, it is beautiful outside...well until it starts to rain I suppose. I have a test Thursday, so have been studying for that. I hope it goes as well as the last. Not much more to say....
82 more days in Spain, I cant believe it....
Hugs and Kisses
-Mel
Monday, February 15, 2010
Hmmm well where to start??...I guess Thursday sounds good...since thats where it usually starts. Well i dont know about you Nebraskans, but us ¨Spainard Americans¨ were able to enjoy a nice little snow fall...well I guess the kids from california enjoyed it A LOT more than us midwest kids who have been seeing it since October. The kids in my class from Cali were saying OH MY GOODNESS THIS IS SOOO WEIRD...ITS SNOWING SO MUCH....basically it was a mixture of sleat and snow and it wasnt even sticking...just big flakes...They were wondering if they needed to use their umbrellas when they went outside...The girl from Wisconsin and I just laughed and yelled at the snow to go away cause we have been putting up with it since October...but it was fun to see that they were excited since they have seen snow maybe 3 times in their life.
Well Thursday was a good day....I was able to finally book my Spring break plane tickets...SOOO I am officially going to Egypt! Very excited...We are flying into Cairo on March 26th and Leaving April 10th...it will be a good two week break for sure. As of right now I am going with 3 other friends, and hopefully a fourth will join us. We also want to go to Jordan and maybe Isreal if it is safe enough to do so. I´ve already been re-reading Exodus for the Egyptian/ Moses history. Cant wait to see what we are going to see. Then that night some friends and I went out to get pizza and churros since it had been awhile and then Joy and I decided to call it a night.
Friday was a girls shopping day. We knew we were going to go out that night and the next night...so we wanted to look for some more ¨going out¨outfits....after not finding anything in any store we went to I finally found stuff at H and M, our last stop. Got 2 full outfits for about 40 euros...I was pretty impressed with myself. After shopping we scurried home, ate a quick supper, and left to go live the night life. We ended up going to a dance club that we had gone to before, Da Vincis....pretty fun...play an equal amount of spanish and american music...its amazing how some of these spainards claim they cant speak english but when the american songs come on they know the lyrics word for word...pretty funny. We met some new Spanish friends that live in the same dorm as Sarah...David and Pablo, very nice...and frankly better dancers than us Americans haha. Got home at 4 am.
Saturday was a pretty uneventful afternoon....Joy and I went out to go buy our host mommys valentines day gifts....Valentines day isnt really that big here, but we wanted to carry on the tradition. We went to this really nice chocolate shop and bought chocolate (Yes mom I will be taking you there when you arrive) and then made them cards...with good ol paper and colored pencils...I guess making valentines day cards in high school spainsh really did pay off...though I would never tell me teachers that haha. That night we met up with the same people and went back to the same club....oh annnnd I forgot to mention earlier that this past weekend until tomorrow is Bilbaos big celebration...its called Carnival...it is basically like county fair and Halloween mixed together, but bigger of course. Everyone from infants to old people dress up in costumes and go out and party. In the Casco Viejo Plaza there are rides set up...mostly ones for little kids...and games...they also had a couple parades. Pretty fun to see. That night we went back to the same dance club since we knew they wouldnt have a cover charge....went in danced the night away...decided to leave at 3 am. This is were the blog turns sour. I reached in my purse to get my camera as soon as I got out of the club....no camera. Long story short...went back in, not there, another girl in there said her wallet has been stolen, got out...wanted to scream, punch something, and cry at the same time...Joy then checked her purse...her wallet was gone...luckily the only thing in there was her 5 euro bus pass and about 10 euros in cash....and if you guys have been keeping up on the blogs you would know that I just bought that camera about three weeks ago...I know this crap happens, but all I´ve got to say is that the drunken, floor crawling, sleezy theif better know Jesus and ask for some dang forgiveness. That kind of made me weekend come to a crashing end...except Valentines day was a little bit of a booster. Joy and I downloaded two chick flicks online bought some chocolate and had a celebration that any single girl would fully enjoy on V-Day. Also that morning I gave Amelia her gift and she absolutely loved it!! Was so happy that she did.
Well this is the start of my 6th week. A little less than 13 to go, two of which are spring break... yay.
Still cold here....hope it warms up soon....wearing this winter coat is getting kind of old. Welll I believe that is all for now.
Love you guys. Hope you all enjoyed your Valentines Day
hugs and kisses
-Mel
Well Thursday was a good day....I was able to finally book my Spring break plane tickets...SOOO I am officially going to Egypt! Very excited...We are flying into Cairo on March 26th and Leaving April 10th...it will be a good two week break for sure. As of right now I am going with 3 other friends, and hopefully a fourth will join us. We also want to go to Jordan and maybe Isreal if it is safe enough to do so. I´ve already been re-reading Exodus for the Egyptian/ Moses history. Cant wait to see what we are going to see. Then that night some friends and I went out to get pizza and churros since it had been awhile and then Joy and I decided to call it a night.
Friday was a girls shopping day. We knew we were going to go out that night and the next night...so we wanted to look for some more ¨going out¨outfits....after not finding anything in any store we went to I finally found stuff at H and M, our last stop. Got 2 full outfits for about 40 euros...I was pretty impressed with myself. After shopping we scurried home, ate a quick supper, and left to go live the night life. We ended up going to a dance club that we had gone to before, Da Vincis....pretty fun...play an equal amount of spanish and american music...its amazing how some of these spainards claim they cant speak english but when the american songs come on they know the lyrics word for word...pretty funny. We met some new Spanish friends that live in the same dorm as Sarah...David and Pablo, very nice...and frankly better dancers than us Americans haha. Got home at 4 am.
Saturday was a pretty uneventful afternoon....Joy and I went out to go buy our host mommys valentines day gifts....Valentines day isnt really that big here, but we wanted to carry on the tradition. We went to this really nice chocolate shop and bought chocolate (Yes mom I will be taking you there when you arrive) and then made them cards...with good ol paper and colored pencils...I guess making valentines day cards in high school spainsh really did pay off...though I would never tell me teachers that haha. That night we met up with the same people and went back to the same club....oh annnnd I forgot to mention earlier that this past weekend until tomorrow is Bilbaos big celebration...its called Carnival...it is basically like county fair and Halloween mixed together, but bigger of course. Everyone from infants to old people dress up in costumes and go out and party. In the Casco Viejo Plaza there are rides set up...mostly ones for little kids...and games...they also had a couple parades. Pretty fun to see. That night we went back to the same dance club since we knew they wouldnt have a cover charge....went in danced the night away...decided to leave at 3 am. This is were the blog turns sour. I reached in my purse to get my camera as soon as I got out of the club....no camera. Long story short...went back in, not there, another girl in there said her wallet has been stolen, got out...wanted to scream, punch something, and cry at the same time...Joy then checked her purse...her wallet was gone...luckily the only thing in there was her 5 euro bus pass and about 10 euros in cash....and if you guys have been keeping up on the blogs you would know that I just bought that camera about three weeks ago...I know this crap happens, but all I´ve got to say is that the drunken, floor crawling, sleezy theif better know Jesus and ask for some dang forgiveness. That kind of made me weekend come to a crashing end...except Valentines day was a little bit of a booster. Joy and I downloaded two chick flicks online bought some chocolate and had a celebration that any single girl would fully enjoy on V-Day. Also that morning I gave Amelia her gift and she absolutely loved it!! Was so happy that she did.
Well this is the start of my 6th week. A little less than 13 to go, two of which are spring break... yay.
Still cold here....hope it warms up soon....wearing this winter coat is getting kind of old. Welll I believe that is all for now.
Love you guys. Hope you all enjoyed your Valentines Day
hugs and kisses
-Mel
Monday, February 8, 2010
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!
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!
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