The Final Siesta

I can´t believe tomorrow is our LAST day in Madrid.

I have really started to love it here and will miss the people tremendously.

Even though they are EXTREMELY blunt: The other day Beth and I bought dresses at Zara... when we came home, we tried them on for Carmen because we thought she would like that. We went into the kitchen where she was and she got excited and then said ¨I like Beths better¨. Ouch. She said that mine was happy and colorful... but Beths was better.

We also had Robyn and Meredith come meet Carmen and Padre and right in front of them she asked ¨Beth, who do you like better Meredith or Robyn?¨ We all just kind of laughed. She is so funny. And she REALLY loved it when we told her how we had misunderstood the Michael Jackson thing. She laughed the hardest I´ve ever seen and then proceeded to act out what we told her happened when Robyn told us that he had died.

¨Did you hear Michael Jackson died.¨

¨No it´s his birthday¨

She has this special voice she uses when she imitates us. It´s really quite entertaining. I´m going to miss that lady!

Today, we took our last siesta because tomorrow we are going to be trying to squeeze in as much as we can! It was a GOOD one and much needed....

Last night we went to Kapital... a 7 story club. It is just kind of one of those things that you should be able to say you´ve been to when you go to Madrid. They have this one floor where sporadically throughout the songs it sprays this HUGE gust of air/fog. It was really neat. And it´s hilarious to get me, Beth Ann, Robyn, and Meredith in a club.... I wish you all could see the dynamics of THAT. Although we had a ton of fun last night, I have learned on this trip that I´m kind of a home body and would rather stay in reading than go clubbing all the time.

VBS has been going great and on Saturday I tie dyed over 106 shirts! I have no desire to ever tie dye again in my LIFE. I´m REALLY sad that we didn´t have VBS sooner because we have met so many cool people through the church. We have also gotten a few offers for housing, should we decide to come back to Madrid!

We went to the bull fight tonight...they say the meat from the bulls goes to an orphanage... it still didn´t quite justify it for me.

The first bull really wasn´t too bad. (they kill SIX by the way)... I think I handled it well because I mainly watched it through my camera.. it kind of felt like watching it on TV. (I got some cool pictures PRE stabbing of the bull). Then the second one got me. It was so horrible. I really thought I was going to be able to tough it out, but when the bull started throwing up blood I lost it. Beth and I ended up leaving... and our really kind hearted professor that is leading this trip made us each pay 5 euros to leave early. Even though that was kind of a crap move, I think it was 5 euros well spent. I just don´t know how people can enjoy that stuff. I can say I´ve done it but really, I would have been fine with not going at all.

Well, I fear this is the last Madrid update I will be giving!

Hasta nunca!

Spain Lesson #19: Do NOT go to the bull fights.

and just to round things off...

Spain Lesson #20: If you choose to go to spain... follow these Spain lessons very carefully.

Lo Siento Michael Jackson

As I´m sure you all have heard by now, Michael Jackson died.

Well, Beth Ann and I, not having access to much television or internet had not been informed.

That is... until Carmen informed us at breakfast.

But what do you know? Communication breakdown...

It was early,We were getting ready for VBS and she was telling us something about Michael Jackson and then she said he´s 50 years old.... and something about him living in California....

We thought she told us it was his birthday.

It wasn´t until we got to the church that we discovered just how wrong we were. Someone asked if we had heard about him dying and we both said ¨no, it´s his birthday.¨

Sorry Michael, that we did not mourn accordingly.

Speaking of VBS, I am having a blast. It is an English speaking church that we are working at. That does NOT, however, mean that everyone there speaks English. They said a lot of parents put their kids in VBS to LEARN English.

If you speak to them in English and they just stare blankly at you, you try your hand at Spanish and you can USUALLY get a response.... except for this one time. I had a little boy in the arts and crafts room and I said ¨Hablas espanol?¨he said no... I said ¨so you speak English¨he said no... at that point I just gave up and went straight to miming. I suppose I could have guessed at his language but it wouldn´t have mattered since I really only know those two..... well one and half if we´re being technical.

Working in the Arts and Crafts room has been a blast and it has just been such a cool experience to work with these kids. The Pastors wife said she would count how many countries were represented at VBS tomorrow. But it is incredible how many different kids there are from different countries. One of our professors always says that it is what heaven will look like.

I was really ready to come home the other day, but now I am starting to get that bittersweet feeling about it. Last night we went to a Flamenco show and it really sank it how AMAZING this experience has been and how I am going to remember it for the rest of my life. I´m so thankful to have had a chance to get to come here.

Oh, and as if we weren´t hated enough already, USA beat Spain in futbol. Perfect.

I can´t believe I only have a few of these left.

Hasta Luego.

Spain Lesson # 18: Do not react too strongly to any news you may recieve in another language. Even if you think you understand... you can be wrong. You can be SO wrong.

Crusty Old Finger

Today was the final day trip of our Spain schedule... we will be getting to finals soon. (pray for me.... its going to be rough)

Today we went to Salamanca and Avila. In Salamanca we went to a two for one special Cathedral... Oh joy. Just what I love... two cathedrals at the same time.... BORING

We tried to go to Salamanca University, but it was closed for renovation: translation... closed for Americans. We saw people going in and out of it the whole time as we were standing there. Salamanca was pretty much a bust and we actually spent most of our time there sitting in a McDonalds reading our books reveling in the fact that there was ice in our drinks!

Avila, however, provided a little more interest. We went to the Monestary of St. Theresa... It was pretty much just like a Cathedral visit... that is UNTIL we saw her ACTUAL ROTTING CRUSTY OLD FINGER. Yup. Religious relic... rotting finger in a fancy schmancy case...

So. That was the highlight of the day.... a crusty old finger. Needless to say, I am glad we are not having any more day trips!

We start Vacation Bible School at the Baptist church tomorrow. I am so excited that they are letting us help! It would have been nice to sleep in because class isnt until 4 tomorrow but I really think it is going to be A LOT of fun. I´m sure I will get a funny story or two out of it. I just love little kids.

Anyways, our rivetting trip as made us slightly late for dinner. So I better go!

Ciao

Spain Lesson #17: There is nothing for you in Salamanca.

Something I miss today: Free Bathrooms.... you can´t go unless you buy something.

Something I am thankful for: In spain they listen to English radio stations like Kiss FM... All of the songs are in English. I am thankful for that. But I am also VERY grateful that in America we do not listen to Spanish radio stations in every store, restaurant, internet cafe... etc.

burnt to a crisp

I´m back from Santander. It was amazing and I´m am burnt to a crisp from a beautiful day on the beach. Who would have thought you needed to put sunscreen on your legs?!

we went to Bilboa to see the Guggenheim today. It was amazing. I´m kind of weirdly obsessed with it now. Can you have a crush on a building? I think I do.

Happy Father´s Day, Daddy! Love you! You can open your card now! WishI was in America to hang out with you

Well I have to go do some homework... Beth and I have been feeling a little bit under the weather lately... We are going to try to get to bed early tonight.

Today, I miss America... more importantly Texas.... and even MORE importantly good old Waco!

Until Next time.

Spain Lesson #16: When you are falling on the metro or bus because of an abrupt stop, be careful of what you grab for. People don´t really like to be groped by a foreigner.

Im famous

When we got home from the park yesterday Carmen was so excited to tell me something.

It took me a while to understand what she was saying but she told me that Padre saw me on TV! I'm pretty much famous here now! He said they zoomed in on my face while I was rowing a boat.... He said he was sure it was me because of my green headband! He told me about 15 different times just to make sure I understood. People will probably start asking me for my autograph soon! haha Probably not. But I must have looked pretty spanish that day to have made it on the evening news!

We finally worked up the courage to give Carmen the peanut butter that we bought so she could use them in our lunches. She was really confused by it and thought we wanted it for breakfast. We ended up making our sandwiches for lunch at the breakfast table. We explained that we actually wanted them for lunch.... then she thought she needed to make us some.... well she ended up putting peanut butter on the OUTSIDE of a sandwich that was already made..... she got so flustered and Beth Ann and I couldn't stop laughing! So, she just added another piece of bread. Oh Carmen!

I think we may have been TOO excited for tortilla espanola the other night. We had it again for dinner last night.... and on bread today for lunch.... in addition to my triple decker peanut butter sandwich.

We have sneaking suspisions that Carmen is going to try our peanut butter this weekend and really like it! She hasn't had it before so we are hoping she does! We'll see.

We made it to Santander today! Our balcony overlooks the ocean. Don't worry. It's beautiful.

I love relaxing weekends!

And speaking in English all weekend.

And sleeping in.

and cereal for breakfast.

It's going to be great!

Spain Lesson #14: Hotel bathrooms sometimes don't work as well as the bathrooms at home, right Meredith?

Spain Lesson #15: The Spanish word for laxative is Laxante.

Heraldo

Lo siento!!! (Sorry) I haven´t posted in a while!!!

However. I come back with very important news.... Padre´s name is HERALDO!

Carmen mentioned it casually at dinner last night... we asked who Heraldo was and she said it was Padre! I feel more enlightened, however, it was kind of fun not to know. Now I find myself conflicted as to what I should call him.

Well, we have a new roommate.

When we were getting ready for school the other day Beth shouted

¨SHOOT CAIT WATCH OUT!!!¨

The urgency in her voice made me think there was a venemous snake about to attack my vulnerable ankles. Needless to say, I took immediate action and in one swift movement went from the corner of our room to the top of my bed and within 2 seconds I had all my belongings on the bed with me. Beth proceeded to say ¨did you see that spider¨

yup... a spider.

Today we got to lay out! It was incredibly relaxing. Then we went to the park to go row boating... it was the ULTIMATE DAY remake because the first ultimate day got ruined.

In the midst of rowboating and laughter, however, Julie decided to throw a dead fish on our boat. It was legitimately a whole FOOT LONG. I seriously thought Beth and I were gonna vom in the back of the boat. Luckily Meredith got it out, but I had to thwart her plan of launching it on the ore back to their boat because I could just picture Beth and I getting fish slapped across the face. Sick.

We leave for Santander tomorrow. We are being forced to see one more cathedral on the way. (I´m really getting tired of them) BUT then its just the beach for a whole DAY AND A HALF! Heaven. Then we are heading to Bilboa to see the Guggenheim built by Frank Gehry I am so excited to see it! You should definitely Google it right now. I´ll wait...............

Cool, huh?

Last night Carmen made tortilla espanola for us again! We got so excited when we saw her making it that she said she would teach us! She also promised to teach us how to make Paella! So, whoever wants some legit spanish food come eat dinner with me and I will share my wealth of knowledge! Hopefully it will turn out okay. I dont have a good cooking rep thus far.

I can´t believe it is already the 18th! It is just flying by, before I know it we will be on a plane back to the good ole USA!

Well I´m off for another weekend on another beautiful Spanish beach. I´ll be back on Monday! Adios!

Spain Lesson #13: Every metro stop is different. Sometimes the conductor waits for a long time... sometimes you don´t even have time to get from a nearby bench to the door of the metro. Don´t be embarrased if you run to catch the metro thinking the doors might close on your heels.... only to wait 5 more minutes while other people meander on taking their own sweet time.... at least you made the metro... and still have all of your limbs.

Now I know how Gilligan felt

Well, I´m back from Barcelona! It was a fun time, but I definitely found myself missing Madrid... my little home away from home!

Well, the hostal turned out to be alright... having community showers again wasn´t really my favorite part (I found myself flashing back to memories of Collins), but it was definitely an experience!

We got to meet up with Kathryn which was so fun, and Beth Ann´s friend Carolyn got to meet us in Barcelona! I´m so glad she came!

The first night, Robyn slept in her jeans and shoes because she was so grossed out to sleep in out little beds.... Little did she know, the next day she would fall on the floor on the comunity shower! hahaha So much for being clean!

Friday, we went to La Sagrada Familia we spent 9 euro to step inside a gate and be 2 feet closer to the church.... we didn´t get to go inside! What a bummer! Good thing Larson is reembursing us for our tours! It was really neat though. Kind of strange to look at since it is such an old building but still under construction!

Next we went to the Picasso Museum! It was awesome to get to see so many of his works in one place!

BUT I think the highlight of the day for EVERYONE was the CHOCOLATE MUSEUM!!!!!! The ticket to get it was a chocolate bar! They had really sweet chocolate sculptures...quite the masterpieces! They even had a chocolate Jesus.... (Pictures to come as soon as I can fix my computer!)

After all of that we went to lay on the Beach for a while and I had my first experience with the Mediterranean Sea! It was awesome! However it was also clothing optional.... what a trip. Topless was the main trend, however, you could also just take it to the extreme if you chose. We saw many a naked people....

The next day, we went on Fat Tire Bike Tours! It was incredible. We got to hit all the high points of Barcelona! However, what was supposed to be a 4 hour tour turned into a 5 hour tour... Now I know how Gilligan felt! Thanks Amy for popping your tire... not once... but TWICE!

They told us that we had officially taken the longest tour EVER! Excellent!

Last night we met some English blokes, learned some English sayings and had a great time going around Barcelona with them! We have met some really interesting people in Spain!

Well, fun weekend is over. I better get back to real life (that sounds so funny since this whole experience is not anywhere close to real life) and do my homwork!

More updates to come! And hopefully pics! I´m really wish I could use my own computer but, I one of the perks of the internet cafe is that they are always playing Kiss FM... its so funny to hear them singing in English... The Fray with a spanish accent... very interesting!

Well

Balle Balle Venga Balle

(That is a phrase Carmen likes to use when we are leaving...)

Spain Lesson #12: If you do choose to go naked on a spanish beach, you must disrobe yourself in a certain order. It must always be SHIRT FIRST. If you are seen with a shirt on but no pants, you can be arrested. ( this is a real law.... I did not make this crazy stuff up)