El presidente?

The gang of some of my favorite all-yearers!

Jacque (played golf with her in HS!), Taryn (my workout/study/dinner buddy), me, Michael (my Asturias/Santander travel buddy), and Reider (guy with the coolest name)


The Plaza de Cervantes in Alcala where I got sunburned (about an hour outside of Madrid)

Wooooo- where to start?

Friday night was super success as I went with my roomies to a hole in the wall theater production. It was an "abstract" piece and they were sure I wouldn't understand, but I got the whole thing! It was nice since they knew the two actors and the director so we got to stay after an have some "vino" with them. Made me feel good that my Spanish is up to that level.

Best part of the night was a chat I had with Andrea, my roomie. I was telling her how I don't understand why people approach me for directions when I have white tennis shoes on and look supppper American. She was asking if all Americans have shoes like that and when I said "most", she goes "yuck, they're so ugly!" hahaha as I'm WEARING them. As soon as she said it she knew.....her face...priceless. Before she could say anything I said "don't worry, you have two last names that are the same and you eat uncooked legs of ham that hang in windows. We're both pretty trashy."

Then last night was a big birthday celebration for 4 American friends of mine. I started the evening by studying grammar with my friend Taryn and then we made fajitas for dinner. About 10pm my friend Jacque came over (we played golf together in HS) for a little red wine before the party. When we finally did get to the pub, it was great! All of the year-long kids were there so it was great to have us all in one spot together. We had so many laughs! It's funny how fast we've all become friends in just 7 months and how close we all are now!

Anyways, enough of that boring stuff. On Wednesday night my friend Michael and I are going hiking in the mountains in Asturias (northern Spain)! Our hotel is a 5 hour hike from the base of the mountain and not reachable by car :) I am super excited to be out in nature again...I am getting a little sick of the city. We'll be there together until Saturday night and then Sunday morning my family arrives!!! I cannot wait to see them even though 7 months doesn't feel all that long with easy communication. We're hitting up Italy for a week and then spending 3 days in Madrid. will write all about it for you guys. Got a few more trip planned, too. In April, Michael and I are hitting up the beaches in Santander, Spain which should be a blast! Then in May to Portugal with two friends and then Ireland to visit volunteers I worked with in Malawi. Only three months left....sooooo sad this is going so fast.

(Oh, ps elections were today so tomorrow Spain will have new president. The elections aren't really "secret" from what I could tell when I went to watch. You pick up your party's paper and put it in an envelope. The ballots are sitting on a table out in the open so even though you go to the booth to put your party's paper in the envelope, everyone already watched you pick what party you're voting for. Only in Spain would that be a "secret" ballot haha.)