January 29, 2010

Well, we finished off our first week of school by making it to Friday alive! After class we went to the bank to exchange some more U.S. money into euros, then we went back for lunch. After lunch I got to call my mom on the phone because I figured out a really cheap way to do that, so that was great! Later on we did some more shopping because the stores here are so cute, and they are everywhere! There was an outdoor market going on friday night and I bought a new purse and wallet, that are really different. I know I wouldn't find them in the U.S., and I love them! Also, I really want to get a new pair of heeled shoes because I am starting Flamenco dance lessons on monday! I don't really know why I'm doing that, but everyone says it's really fun, so I thought I might as well do it now, I'll never get to do it anywhere else! After that we headed back for dinner, and first our senora brought out a really good soup and orange slices with chocolate, which are so delicious! So we thought we were safe with dinner, then she brought out fish sticks, which I can handle, but they aren't my favorite. THEN....she brought out clam! Oh dear! It looked so gross, I don't know how I put it down my throat! They were not good at all, I'm not sure how people at those at their own will. But we finished them, and moved on. We met up with our friend Jess at McDonald's to get some ice cream, and they have a euro menu just like our dollar menu. They have "cono kit kat" which is a cone of ice cream with a kit kat on top, and it's delicious! They also serve beer at McDonald's. I just think that's so crazy! But everybody drinks and smokes everywhere, and all ages! We were almost ready to leave, and there were some high school boys fighting, and the McDonald's workers called the police, and then we kind of saw a police chase! It was kind of scary. But we made it back home safely, and plan on sleeping in late tomorrow!

January 28, 2010

Well, I was about to say that nothing too special happened today, but I've realized that everyday this semester should be incredibly special! I am living in SPAIN for crying out loud! I don't think it has truly hit me that I am seriously here! My life is completely different, and the way life is lived here is completely different. In the U.S. people live to work, and work to live. Here, people live to work, and work to socialize and make relationships that last! They are never too busy to stop and chat. Everyone is much more relaxed. These people get a scheduled nap! People walk everywhere, and everyone goes to cafes, and they do it to relax and meet up with friends, not grab their drink and go. Americans don't know how to stop for 3 hours and relax at a cafe without checking their watch every 10 minutes. I am a very timely person, and I can't stand when people are late, but I've come to realize what they do here. If they see someone they know, it is better to stop and chat for a few minutes. Work can wait. We need to take time to stop and smell the roses! Living so differently is already starting to open my eyes a little. It's okay to take a day for yourself. We don't always have to be on the go. Seeing how beautiful the trees and lights and rivers are in Seville is only a daily reminder of God's creativity! I love this city, and I already know that it will be difficult to leave this town 4 months from now. I am living an adventure of a lifetime, and I love it! Today after classes I went to a cafe with my friends Jess and Carrie to do homework, then we went to Parque de Los Principes, and it is gorgeous! We took some pictures and goofed around. It's good to do that sometimes! Then we had a noche de Chicas (for you non-spanish speakers, that's "girls night") at the Chocolateria which is a chocolate shop/restaurant. We had churros dipped in chocolate, which was amazing! After we went back to school, and had a time of all the girls sharing their ups and downs of the trip so far, and it was good to hear other girls mention things that are hard for them too, so that we can all relate to each other. After I just did some homework, and got ready for bed. Everyday I find myself more excited for what's to come this semester! One thing I do know if that no matter what comes, and no matter how far away I am from friends and family, God is never far away!

Verse for the day: Psalm 139: 7-10 "Where could I go to escape from you? Where could I get away from your presence? If I went up to heaven, you would be there; if I lay down in the world of the dead, you would be there. If I flew away beyond the east or lived in the farthest place in the west you would be there to lead me, you would be there to help me."

January 27, 2010

Today was a much colder day. I feel like it hasn't been as warm again as when we got here! But it should soon, and then I'm sure it will be really hot! In the mornings the sun doesn't come up until around 9 am, so it is still cold and windy, and definitely hard to get up when the sun isn't even out! Classes were okay today, kind of boring, but oh well. I'm taking Advanced classes in history of Spain, Spanish Art, Short Stories, and Grammar. I'm learning a lot in my grammar class, and it's nice and small, so it's okay if we don't get all the questions right, we just ask for help and my teacher will guide us. He's really nice, and understands that we still are learning a lot! This afternoon Carrie and I went running, then went to the store "Lefties", and a lot of their clothes are under 10 euros. I got a new sweater and tank top. Then we had our first "Encuentro" which is a praise and worship time in Spanish and English. It was nice to sing songs that we know in both languages, and have a time of worship in English! I really liked it! It was also fun to get out and see everyone outside of school, and spend some time in worship. After that we just went back to do homework. Nothing much today, although when us students were telling our professor about the store "lefties", he cannot pronounce it, so now he calls it "izquierdies" which is kind of saying lefties in spanish! It was really funny!

Verse for the day: I Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient, it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record or wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail."

January 26, 2010

Today was the second day of my classes. It is going okay. I'm beginning to think that my favorite class will be grammar just because that is my favorite teacher. After classes, around 1:30, we went back home for lunch and had some lentil soup, which was okay, and I'm getting more used to it. Then all afternoon until about 7ish we worked on homework at a cafe with a few friends. After that we walked to the city, La Campana, with our friend Arielle to go shopping, but I didn't find anything and the stores were starting to close. When we got home around 9:30 it was time for dinner, and Maria Luisa, our senora, had made us pizza! I was so excited to eat that, and it was so delicious! It tasted just like the pizza I have at home! And she had fresh oranges, and some other little things to eat too! It was a great dinner! Also, tonight was great because Carrie and I were both in very good moods and were laughing about everything! I felt very relaxed and at home because we were joking around with Miguel and Maria Luisa, and just having a lot of fun! So far I am just loving this semester! I already don't know how I'll ever be able to leave this beautiful city!

Verse for the day: Psalm 116:1-2"I love the Lord because he hears me; he listens to my prayers. He listens to me every time I call to him."

January 25, 2010

Today was the first day of class. I went to advanced, and I think that I'll stay in that. So far I like my professors. They talk pretty fast, but I think it will be good practice for me. That afternoon after lunch, I took a siesta, and finally finished organizing my room! Later that night Carrie and I decided to go for a run. We want to continue our schedules of running that we had at home, so hopefully we can keep that up. We ran through the city of Campana, and it was just beautiful! There are so many lights, and people everywhere, also a lot of little shops that I can't wait to go to! After that, for dinner we had dinner which was a chicken burger and then fried mushrooms and fried tomatoes. I have never eaten either of those, but I tried them. I didn't really like either, but I am willing to try almost anything she puts out. Anyways, after that I did some homework and went to bed. I have been so tired lately!

Verse for the day: Malachi 4:2 "But for you who obey me, my saving power will rise on you like the sun and bring healing like the sun's rays."

January 24, 2010

Today was the first Sunday that I was here, and it was weird to not go to my church, but we went to a church called Prosperidad, and I really liked it! It was contemporary and a very relaxed atmosphere. We even sang some songs that I already knew in English, so that helped a little bit. We met two new friends that go to the University over here, and they plan on coming to our school on wednesday nights now for our Encuentro, which is a worship time. I've been meeting so many new people lately! After church we went to a cafe to continue searching out places on the map for our photo scavenger hunt. We had to be home by 2 for lunch, and this was probably the weirdest meal I've ever eaten! We had Paella de Moriscos, and it was rice, but it had a bunch of different sea food in it, and there was something with tentacles! And, I swear that there was little eyeballs in my rice! I actually ate most of it, but against my will. It was not very good. After that we went to start our photo hunt, but instead ended up walking into a lot of shops. I bought a new sweater and scarf. There are scarves everywhere, and everyone wears them! Later on we went to another cafe, and us girls ordered Tinto del Verano, which is half red wine and half fanta. I haven't really had wine before, but it was okay. I might have to acquire that taste! As we were walking back home later we saw a silver statue on the sidewalk and I was looking at it as I walked past, and it was real man, and he jumped to scare me! I was laughing so hard, but that will be the last time I ever stop to look at a statue! Later that night we had dinner, and it was actually good! We had these ham and cheese things that are like cordon bleu, and then fresh strawberries. After dinner I got to skype with my mom, and catch up a little bit! Right now I'm just now sure if I should do the advanced classes that I am signed up for, or do the intermediate. There are so many students here that are in advanced, and I feel like they are much more fluent than I am. We'll see! School starts tomorrow morning!

Verse for the day: Romans 8:18

January 23, 2010

Today was also a great day! We went to a class to learn about the culture here, and then we registered for classes. I still don't know if I'm going to take advanced or intermediate, but we'll see what works out. After that we went to starbucks, which was very difficult because I couldn't understand some of the menu, and when I ordered, the lady forgot to give me my change, and I was trying to ask her for it back, and we didn't understand each other. It was really confusing, but I finally got it back. After, we went back for lunch, and our parents weren't there so we just ate by ourselves. I didn't really like the food, but it's hard to not eat it because they kind of get offended. Then we took a nap, and at 7:30 there was a pizza party for the students over at the school. This was really good because I got to meet some more students, and they did a mixing activity so we would branch out. I met 2 new people in my group, so that was good! After the party, a group of us met and went to the McDonald's to get WiFi because we are doing a scavenger hunt tomorrow, so we had to look up the places that we have to visit. Also, today it rained a lot, and my clothes got soaked. No one here has dryers so we have to hang it in our rooms, but the houses here are seriously freezing because there is no heat, and all the floors are tiled, so my clothes are still soaked, and I don't think they will dry any time soon! Also, a funny story for the day- because my shoes were very wet on the inside, my Senor, Miguel, was trying to explain to us that we should stuff newspapers in our shoes to absorb the water, but we didn't understand, so it took us a few minutes, but it ended up being really funny! Miguel always jokes around with us, and we only laugh because we have no idea what he is saying!

Verse for the day: Psalm 105:4 "Go to the Lord for help; and worship Him continually."

January 22, 2010

Today was a great day in Spain! God truly is good with making me feel at home even though I'm SO far away. We had a class today telling us all about Seville that was this morning until lunch, then we had a siesta, and afterwards we walked around through the city. At 6 p.m. our school group got a tour through the city so we could find new places, and I also met a few new people, which was great! After dinner Carrie and I met up with our friend Arielle, and some of her new friends from the University of Seville, and we walked around some more. There were 2 guys that were from the area and knew of a lot of places, so they showed us the restaurants. The bars there are so different than the ones in the U.S.! There are bars everywhere, and they are full of high school and college students, but they all just sit around and talk or they stand in the streets and meet up with friends. It's a very casual atmosphere, so we ended up going to one. I wasn't really sure what to do, so us girls just waited outside, but there are literally hundreds, if not more, people walking from bar to bar on the weekends...It is just a crazy, funny town! Their culture is so different than ours! Also, in the afternoon I had to exchange my American money for Euros, and I had to speak spanish to get it, which I was nervous about because they speak so much faster than I am used to, but it ended up going great, and I actually enjoyed getting to use my spanish in a real life situation! Later on I got to skype with my parents, and that helps a lot to get to see them! Well, that was all for today!

January 21, 2010

Well, today I arrived in Spain to start off the semester! Leaving yesterday was very scary, and today was pretty difficult too, but I am already starting to see the great things about the semester, and I know God is taking care of my family and I even though we are so far apart! I am very thankful for skype because I already got to talk to my brother, and my roommates at school, and that definitely makes things a little easier! I can already tell that my spanish fluency is slowly increasing just by being with my spanish parents. They are very nice, and helpful too! I got really good ones! Thank the Lord for that! I know that no matter where I go this semester, God's hand is directing me! Praise Him for the blessings so far!

My verse for the day: Philippians 4:7 "God's peace is far beyond human understanding."

January 19, 2010

Well, in less than 48 hours I will be boarding the plane to head out to Spain for 15 weeks! I am pretty nervous, but definitely excited to go there too! It will be a crazy semester, and who knows what it will bring. Let's just say that I will definitely need God's help!