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Days 48-54
This week was a really tough week for me, and I wouldn't tell anyone that coming to live with strangers is an easy thing to do. It really is a challenge! I didn't imagine that part of it being so difficult, but so far it's been good and I'm really grateful for all the things that they have done for me. In situations sometimes you have to experience the rough patches to really find the good.
Day 49: Tuesday, February 18th 2014
The only exciting thing I have to share is that my blog won travel blog of the day. I was surprised at that because honestly, I think my blog kinda blows, but hey, something new and exciting! hip-hip hooray!
Day 50: Wednesday, February 19th 2014
50 days without being in my own country, here we are! It was a MUCH better day than the last 2. First of all, I didn't have to get up to take Nico to school or pick him up. The sun was out all day and I stayed outdoors to enjoy it. It's finally becoming Spring here, yayy! I didn't see anyone in the family until 5pm so I went up to the third floor and sat under to sun roof soaking in the warmth. We went to Chechu's mom's house later where she made her cake. I HAVE TO GET HER RECIPE. She makes it all the time, and it is honestly to die for. No, like really, I would die for the cake. I would die so that someone else could taste that cake. I have absolutely head-over-heels fallen in love with that cake. Okay brb now my mouth is watering.
Day 51: Thursday, February 20th 2014
Today I went to my Spanish class. Everybody there is African or Arabic and I'm just this little blonde American lol. It's difficult responding to questions because I understand, but I don't know how to respond the way I want. It is what it is. I was having a conversation with a woman about weddings, when suddenly she asked me how long I've been in Spain. I told her almost two months (casi dos meses) She couldn't believe it. She was SO surprised, and she told me how AMAZING I'm doing for 2 months. Yes, it is true that I have been learning the language very quickly, but sshhh, we won't tell her that I was actually studying it before I came to Spain, and that I also had Latin American friends for probably 6 months that spoke Spanish all the time when we were together. So I had already picked up a lot just from that, and with a little practice. But I'm okay with just letting people think I've learned all I know in 2 months. :) haha
Day 52: Friday, February 21st 2014
I am SO tired. But what a good day. Today I went to Marian's school. (She's a teacher at an elementary school) It was good. I moved around 3 times. So I was with 6th graders, kindergarteners and then Marian's class, the 3rd graders. Here in Spain, instead of students moving from class to class, the teachers move from class to class. I wouldn't like this because you have less opportunities to meet other people. Anyway, I was with the 6th graders during their English class, and I have to say that I was shocked at how the English was being taught. I basically took over the class, and had to erase what had been written on the chalkboard and explain why it was wrong. The teacher kept asking me "That's correct right?" and I was thinking to myself, "What do you do without me?!" If this ENGLISH teacher didn't know how to correctly teach ENGLISH, it made me wonder if I've been taught a lot of false things in my Spanish 2 class back in the States. In the schools here, they learn the British English, which I'm not much of a fan of. For example we would say "The bird has wings." British would say "The bird has got wings." They use the word "got" too much. Anyway, I'm going off on an unimportant tangent.
My favorite class was Marian's class, the 3rd graders. I decided that if I do pursue a degree in Social Work, this is the age I want to work with. They were all over me and all just wanted to talk to me at once. With children I speak the same language with is hard enough. But I really liked them and for some reason they seemed to all really like me! I'm not sure why kids like me so much. I don't feel like I'm THAT exciting, but my whole life, I have always had kids surrounding me, and all the neighbor children wanting me to come play with them. I guess that can be something to be proud of.
Later I played with Nico all day in Aloevera and gramma's. Finally we returned home and had a nice Friday night of pizza, coca cola, and tv.
Day 53: Saturday, February 22nd 2014
3:20pm and I'm already exhausted! But good day so far. Today I took the bus to meet for my institute class but Melisa and the teacher didn't show up. I wondered if it had been cancelled or changed time and I didn't know because my phone hasn't been working. I decided to walk to the mall. I hadn't mentioned before, but I met a girl named Carmen over Instagram through hashtags before I even came to Spain. She's 26 years old. Today I ran into her at the mall! It was funny because we both just stared at each other because we recognized each other from our pictures. We shopped around a bit and then exchanged numbers. From there, I walked home. ALL the way home. From the mall!! It's a long walk, but it was such a nice day, I couldn't resist. One thing I"ve noticed in Spain, or at least in this city are all these little boxes. They seem to be popular (or not so popular) because they're everywhere in the stores. Some are beautifully, carved wooden boxes, others that are cardboard with a picture of design etc.
Day 54: Sunday, February 23rd 2014
Today was my Sunday usual. Church. Spend all day with the Placencia family. Come home. Go to bed. I love it! Today at church during my YSA class I was praying to really feel the spirit and that I could understand what this woman is saying. (she's one of the hardest people I've met to understand because her accent is heavy and she speaks really fast) She turned to me, and I understood so perfectly, I swear she was speaking English. In Spanish she said, "What does your Patriarchal Blessing mean to you?" In reponse, I said "Es un regalo. Es una relacion personal con nuestro Padre Celestial. Cuando estoy triste o sola, que me levanta. Aqui en Espana, estoy muy lejos de mi casa y ha sido reconfortante tenerlo." I felt like I said it just perfectly, and I know I was not the only one feeling the spirit. It was really nice! Later, Jon (aka Mr. Handsome) texted me and said "We are all here for you if you need help" (in Spanish) and that was such a comforting thing to hear because I'm very far from my home! And the fact that people from the ward have been embracing me, and taking good care of me makes me feel like I'm in a place where I belong. And I am! It's been a really, really good day.
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