2008 is gonna be GREAT!

Christmas Americana with Megan, Maggie, and Ryan

My Irish Christmas with the Devlin Family


Melodie and I in Madrid

Mel, Andrew, and I in Segovia

Hey Folks- Literally. My dad emailed me to tell me to update this since my phone calls home are mostly about my credit card bill, money, or just to inform the fam what country I'll be in for the weekend. This blog was not a good idea, it's WAY more like a chore now, haha.

I'll go fast: I spent Christmas in Scotland/Ireland. I spent two days in Scotland with my friend Megan and her fiance Ryan. We were joined by our friend Maggie who also was a volunteer in Malawi. It was so odd to be together in the first world and do all the things we talked about in Africa. The main event was our Christmas dinner made my Ryan. It was fantastic! Then, Maggie and I took the ferry over to Northern Ireland for Christmas. I stayed with her family and they welcomed me as there own. We stopped at her brother's house in Belfast for a night which was a real trip. The next morning Anne Marie (Maggie's friend) gave us a ride to Cookstown (their home town) where Maggie's family opened their home and hearts to me. Christmas was different but so amazing. I really felt like I was at home listening to stories of the Troubles, being called a Yank, and enjoying all the traditional food of the homeland. It was just lovely. Her whole family (aunts/ uncles) and friends welcomed me as well and I got some AMAZING Christmas gifts from everyone to help me remember my Irish Christmas.

I flew home on the 26th and had an 8 hour layover in Barcelona. I did quick run through of the city hitting up all the tourist spots. I got back to Madrid at 3 am and was back at the airport to pick up my friends Mel and Andrew at 11am.

They flew in from Chicago to come and see me! Actually, Mel is the principal of Nativity Jesuit Middle School and Andrew teaches in California, but I know them both from working at Nativity's summer camp. We had SUCH a great time. They are just wonderful people and it was amazing to start the New Year with them. (Mel of course led us in a 2007 review and 2008 goals/predictions meeting!) We zipped through Spain taking overnight buses to Granada and Sevilla and toured Segovia. Along the way we ended up waiting in line and freezing for 3 hours in the mountains trying to get tickets to the Alhambra in Granada, sharing one bed in Sevilla to save money, and eventually returned for New Years in Madrid. We had so many laughs. We headed to the Puerta del Sol at 10pm but after eating our traditional 12 grapes at midnight for good luck, we had to go to the bathroom soooo bad (maybe it was due to our CruzCampo 40's). It was literally like "Happy New Year....run!!!!" What a great start to 2008. BUUUUUT, the whole holiday season away from home really made me think how great 2008 is going to be....friends from around the world have made my 2007 fantastic and I know that 2008 can only get better with so many people who love me in my life. In fact, on Saturday my best frined since middle school, Katie, gets to Madrid to study for the semester.....oh the stories we'll have to tell. My 2008 blog goal: keep this thing updated so my daddy isn't mad. Feliz Ano!