Classes, activities, planning, budgeting, job applying, more classes: life’s been a little hectic lately. I’ve finally gotten into a regular schedule and now that I look at it, I’m probably a little over involved. The current list consists of five classes, cooking class, Kung Fu, teaching ESL and intercambio (soon to be two); it’s more than enough to keep me busy. Not to mention I’m obtaining this strange new thing called a social life, ever heard of it? They’re a bit nice to have sometimes. Okay, sorry, I’m done being stressed.

This week has been fantastic! The sun is finally making an appearance and flower buds are beginning to peak their heads out for the first time meaning it’s SPRING!! Time to bring out the dresses, sit in plazas, and enjoy the fact that it’s now possible to eat ice cream without your hand freezing. Now that it’s actually possible to do so, I’m beginning to understand why the Spanish love their paseos (walks around the city) and spending time in plazas. With the motto of ‘life is in the streets’ the cities are made for people to spend all of their social time in public; the city is absolutely full of great walks, parks and plazas and people are hired to keep it all scrupulously clean. I can only imagine what they all think when they come to New York, the difference is a little sad for NYC’s end. Vegas might have been a bit worse though if only for the fact that the trash isn’t just unseemly, it’s also covered with things I’d rather not see.

After the trip with Jamie to Guadix, the pueblo with caves and the castle we discovered, was such a hit my friends and I decided to take another day trip last Saturday. I had the idea that we should show up in the morning and take the first bus out of town. So, like Journey sings in “Don’t Stop Believing” we took the first midnight train (bus) going an-y-where (please tell me you all read that with the melody in mind). Don’t stop be-liev-in, hold on to that looooovin’ feelin. Ok, I’ll stop now. The first bus out, after a bit of problems with tickets, ended up taking us to Salobrena, a cute little pueblo next to…..THE OCEAN!!!! Have I ever mentioned exactly how much I love the beach? When it was finally in sight I gave my bag and jacket to Ruth and made a run for the water, barely taking the time to de-shoe and roll up my pants before jumping in. And you know what? The Mediterranean really is that blue, it’s not just photoshop on postcards. After the initial plunge, Ruth, Daniel and I spent quite a bit of time climbing around a huge rock pile that jutted out a bit into the sea. The white stone in contrast with the aquamarine of sea and sky were absolutely gorgeous, much more than picture perfect as I was actually able to see for myself the beauty of it all. For the rest of the day we lost ourselves in the hill of the city and explored the castle that overlooked it all. Europe has some of the best lunching places. Honestly, where else on earth would you be able to each your boca-d (sandwich) while dangling your legs over castle ramparts and looking at the Mediterranean? Ruth, Daniel and I headed back from the day very tired but very happy.

ESL is one of the biggest highlights of my experience here. Jamie and I still only have two students, but we’ve been able to accomplish much since the class started. Today while teaching the class alone Ricardo, a Peruvian immigrant around 40ish, read out loud a few pages of The Last of the Mohicans to me—I never thought I could ever be so proud of bad English. It was amazing! Knowing that he’s learned so much in such a short amount of time, it’s incredible. He couldn’t even pronounce ‘purple’ a month ago and he was reading off Indian names like nobody’s business. Maybe this is what it’s like to be a parent and somehow find yourself absurdly proud of your child’s slightly hideous glitter-glue-feathers creation. Either way, the fact that I’m having such a direct influence on the betterment of people’s lives is empowering and something I plan on being involved with long past I’ve returned from Spain. Especially after myself being in a country where I don’t know the primary language, I understand just how frustrating not being able to communicate can be. ESL is more needed than one might think and is a necessary step for immigrants to improve their lives in their new countries of residence.

Life is finally feeling more normal here though American food is still terribly missed. I also have been missing silence and a place of my own, wherever I go I’m being talked at whether it be by my host mom, roommate or people at school. It’s not that I want to be anti-social, but not having silence anywhere I go is starting to get old very fast.

Hope you’re all doing great!

P.s. all pictures stolen from Daniel as I let Nikki rest for the day

Shout outs:
Kate-you might as well come to Spain with how much we’ve been talking, I love it :]
Mo- Skype?
Lisa- I’m working on London plans, I’ll be sure to find out about our guest of honor while there
Ben-ya, a helmet might help