God totally reads my blog...

My last blog I was complaining about how stressed I am with all these papers and stuff coming up. God must have been reading this thing because I just found out I got into the School of Education at UW (#2 in the country!). It's pretty competitive as a World Language major so thank goodness I got it. I feel like a huge load is off my back since I'd have to fail 4 of my 5 classes to not be let in come fall... haha doubtful that will happen. (knock on wood). So I am officially de-stressed in a matter of minutes...and it FEELS GREAT! Might go out to night with the girls to celebrate! Why not....it's Madrid and it's totally socially acceptable here...better do it now before I'm a teacher, right? Hope you all are having as good a day as mine. Isn't it great how God sends those little blessings just when we need them?

un poco de "estres"

So I can go for pretty much years being stress free....the problem is when it hits me, it HITS HARD. I don't know why all of a sudden this week has been so terrible. I actually skipped class today because my stomach in such knots I was doubling over a bit in pain. So bizarre...I'm sure it will pass. I have been sleeping terribly dreading these 8 papers I have to write in the next two weeks so I think this afternoon I'm taking off and going to try to sleep it off a bit. I think it's my body’s reaction to the coming abuse of FAR too many trips, little to no sleep, and lots of work to be done in my last 50 days in Europe.

However, don't think my tossing and turning is going to stop me from being pumped up. No way. I am super excited today that my cousin AnnMarie and her husband Nick legally became the parents to their newest son from Ethiopia. With that and my other cousins who are prego right now, I am already getting pumped to meet all these new kiddos when I come home!

Fun story of the week: Was at the local pharmacy here today to pick up my contact solution. **Note: there are no over the counter drugs in Spain. Everything from Tylenol to contact solution has to be bought from the pharmacist.** I had my hands full with my grocery bags and my contact solution as I made my way to the glass doors. I stood there for about 10 seconds before I realized they were not automatic. I had been waving my foot, etc. trying to trigger the sensors and must have looked like a TOTAL fool. Automatic doors are practically non-existent in Spain and here's the weird American dancing in front of the doors. The worst part is, I’ve done that once before at a restaurant!

do not click on comment links!

It finally happened. What I have been drading for almost two years overseas....THAT phone call. You know, the one with a choked up voice on the other end trying to tell you something is wrong at home....yeah. So far, my bad news has come by email since it's happened in the middle of the night both here and in Africa. At least the title "sad news" gives me a heads up so I know it's coming but the phone call was the worst. I was at a carnival festival on a trip in the west of Spain when my cell rang. My dad finally choked out that my grandma was sick and if I wanted to I ought to say "goodbye" to her now. Can you imagine that? Terrible. The fact that it now is looking pretty good for her to pull through after a couple of surgeries just makes it awkward ....haha usually the thing about saying "goodbye" is that the person "peaces out". Grandma, however, has decided to stick around for a bit longer and knowing her I'm sure I'm gonna get crap for such a weak goodbye when I see her in two months!

It was quite the scare though and the next time she pulls that crap I'm totally calling her bluff. Let's face it, the woman has more lives than a cat!

In other news, I got the worst haircut of my life yesterday. Luckily my friends are kind enough to pretend it is ok, but secretly I know they're all thinking "I wonder if two months is enough to grow it out to fix it before she goes home!" I thought I was golden since my Spanish is developed enough now that I explained I wanted JUST A TRIM. This new confidence meant that yesterday I wasn't as scared as I was in September that I'd end up with a mullet...boy, did that come back to bite me on the bum. There will be no pictures posted here for the next 59 days, okaaaay? haha

I'll post a few pictures from our trip this past weekend (pre-haircut) to Extremadura (west coast state of Spain). I only have only 40 days left in Madrid and the rest I'll be in Santander, Portugal, Ireland, and Morocco! It's flying by....I'm home on June 16th but off to camp shortly after...so get your resrvations in now :)

ALSO...IMPORTANT...DO NOT CLICK ON ANY LINKS UNDER "COMMENTS".....IT MAY BE A VIRUS!

A serious change in life plans....

Nah, not really. At least not for me :)

Some of you may know, but I am still waiting on my response for my application to the School of Education in Madison. In the meantime, I had to register for classes "just in case". So, of course I have been looking into "backup plans". Turns out, if I don't get into the School of Ed, I have already earned three degrees in my first three years:
Spanish, Global Cultures, and African-Studies.

Haha, this cracked me up! I'm already a triple major if I graduate today:) I wonder if they have "shoe-tying" or "bike-riding" to add another one onto those....they seem to be in the same catagory as Spanish, Global Cultures, and African-Studies. REALLY?!?

I was really debating calling my dad to tell him the great news: that I could graduate in four weeks and be free from him and his $ forever! Think of it: three years, three degrees, two years abroad...in and out...like every parent dreams, right? The fact I would then spend the rest of my life in a cardboard box or his basement is the only real corkscrew in the plan.

In other news, it rained in Spain today and you would have thought Franco had returned to power. People were running, screaming, and throwing themselves into the street to apparently avoid melting. Chaos! It is one of only a handful of times (honestly like 6 or less!) that it has rained all year and it was MAD. The fact the sun came out literally 5 minutes later meant nothing, all the news channels will be covering it for weeks to come. Wow, people.

Hope you all are doing well! Miss you guys lots :)

Funny Story

Ok, Ok. I'll admit it: this next story is not mine...but I was there for part of it and everytime I hear it I laugh so hard. I thought you all could use a pick me upper...I need one because I'm sunburned and you all need one because you most likely won't be sunburned until August.

Characters: my friend Katie, her roomie, Alexandra, and their "senora", Victoria,(lady who's house they live in while they are here)

Friday afternoon. enter Alex, the apartment mate, frantically saying something about Victoria, the Senora.

Alex: Katie! Oh no! Victoria just called me and told me that she is in Barcelona and that she wants me to come! I can't go to Barcelona and I think that she is mad at me!

Katie: uh?

Alex: She said that then I need to go to Acuna with her...did she call you?

Katie: uh?

Alex: Well, I will call her....

Katie is now thinking...who's gonna make me my dinner?! shoot!
Alex calls Victoria but her phone suddenly runs out of minutes...so Katie steps in and calls Victoria...(plot thickens)

Katie: Hola! Are you in Barcelona right now? You never said anything about leaving and we are a little confused.

Phone voice: Yes I am in Barcelona, working! I am going to Acuna and I am expecting you to come.

Katie: Uh....well, I am going to stay here this weekend because I have a class trip. I didn't know that you had a job. So....what about dinner...can we use food in the kitchen to make something?

Phone Voice: What! Where are you from, and where are you right now!

Katie: I'm at the house and I'm from the USA...awkward laugh...this isn't Victoria, is it.

Phone Voice: No!!! This is Marcos.

conversation ends in a frantic and extremely awkward apology...Katie now realizing that she asked a random man if she could eat the food in his kitchen.


I was dying and thought this was so funny that the girls were so confused.... we laughed, yadayada. Well now enter me (Bailey). Katie, Alex and Bailey go to the movies downtown two weeks later to a theater Victoria recommends, but the girls get lost on the way. They call Victoria for directions.

Katie: Hi. It's Katie, Alex, and Bailey. We're lost! Can you help us?

Phone Voice: Sure. Where are you?

Katie: We're in Sol right now looking at the clock. Which way is the movie theater?

Phone Voice: I'm not sure.

Katie: Well, what is the address again?

Phone Voice: I don't know. What theater are you going to?

Katie: The one you told us to go to! The one with the movies in Enlis.....wait. (long pause....the girls all realize what is happening) Who is this????

Phone Voice: Marcos.

(click)


I was dying that they had called poor Marcos... again!!! But the plot thickens.
Two weeks later Alex's dad comes to visit her.

Alex and Dad at airport after a flight delay.
Dad: Hi, honey! I tried to call Victoria to tell her I would be a bit late, but some man answered the phone.....

Somewhere in Spain there is a man at Vodaphone changing his number...



My other favorite Katie story was this summer when she called me to tell me her bike chain broke while out on a ride. A kind elderly man saw her on the road, fixed it for her at his house, and then sent her on her way. Not more than two pedals later and Katie broke the bike AGAIN as she rode RIGHT into his CAR while waving goodbye!!!

I LOVE THAT GIRL!