tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484353759945492002024-03-12T17:08:51.925-07:00Pearls in EspañaPearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-17867423729717758832012-06-15T05:15:00.001-07:002012-06-15T05:19:37.906-07:00Hasta luegooo...<br />
Monday is the day! Monday I fly out of Spain and head towards Texas! I still can’t believe it is over. I have experienced so much in the past 9 months and I cant even begin to believe how it has changed me in more ways than one. From the things I have see and done and the people who have enriched my life for the better, I am truly blessed to have been able to live in Spain this school year.<br />
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As I have been thinking about this blog and how to try to express anything about my experience, I am truly overwhelmed as I am now putting it into words. This blog was never about me, not one bit. This blog was and is about sharing a journey about trying to figure out how to live life in this crazy place we called “the world”.<br />
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This so called world is way bigger than I ever thought. Of course size wise, but more importantly people wise which means heartwise to me. There are so many different types of people out in the world, but those people I learned the most from about life, myself, and others. People are so important to me. They hold such an impact in your life that you don’t really truly see or appreciate them until some type of dramatic event. This dramatic event could be under just about any condition, happy, sad, accident, or on purpose- no one chooses the condition of which one sees why that person made such an impression on your life. They just see it one day and that’s simply it. It is simply that moment that you realize how rich your life truly is from the inside out, and in that moment, you smile. So as I write this particular blog, I am smiling about the days of the past, the days now, and the days to come.<br />
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As I look back at all the places I was lucky to see and be in, I still am in shock that it all even was real. Starting my traveling adventures as a student 3 years ago to being an English teacher in another country, well let’s just say I could not be more happy with how life unfolded thus far. This adventure aboard I have taken the opportunity to see London and Scotland for my Christmas away from home, gone down to Africa to have a taste of Morroco, some more British culture in Gibraltor, a new Andaluz experience in Jaen, a night with friends in Malaga, too many adventures in Cadiz to physically count, quick weekend trips to my beloved Sevilla, and last but not least, some island fun in Mallorca to finish it off. That is a lot of stories, a lot of adventures, a million memories to keep forever, new friends, lots of Spanish, and a lot of Spanish tapas. <br />
Even though I have written about all these adventures through out my time here, the most important and precious part of my experience has been the people I shared it with. I came here to serve precious Spanish babies and I had so much fun doing that. I didn’t fully comprehend how much I meant to those kids until they showed me in their homemade cards, jewelry, artwork, and infinite amount of hugs and kisses during my last week. I fell head over heals with my sweet kiddos and they knew it! After long breaks, I would always be so excited to wake up and see them the next day at school. Im such a nerd that way with school and teaching.<br />
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Those kids still run after me in the streets and yell at me from a mile away simply to say hi or blow me the sweetest kiss. I’m incredibly unworthy of this treatment, but they seem to think other wise.<br />
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Anyone who knows me, knows that I have lots of moods and they change just about as frequently as the weather in Texas. This being said my roommates are definitely the next set of people who I have shared a lot of time with through this adventure. Living with people teaches you a lot about yourself, others, and everything in between. I think I learned the most about roommates than I ever learned about them in college. I would not change this experience living with an American and a Polish girl for the world, maybe some moments yes but the overall adventure no way!<br />
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Haley, you of all people have learned when to talk to me and when not to talk to me through my change of moods. You have learned the smallest things about me that people don’t always recognize or see, and that is why I am most thankful for you in my life. I don’t have to say how you know to cut my apples in small pieces for you to know how much I love you. You know.<br />
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Lu, never thought I would meet a Polish girl in my life. My life was not ready for you, but I don’t know what it would be like without you now. You annoy the crap out of me with your flip flops and your potatoes from a box, but you and I can dance the night away and be the last ones out of whereever we are at the end of the night. On a serious note, I knew after that crazy 5 year old birthday party, with the same song playing the whole time, that you would do anything for me. Not many people would have done what you did that day, but I love you for it.<br />
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Kristin, I don’t even know where to begin with you. We have been through so much in our friendship, but somehow the Lord keeps blessing me with you in my life and I love Him for it. You have been my very good friend when I have wanted to pull my hair out this year, and you have always been an encouragement daily. I think I am most thankful that you shared this program with me. Thank you for sharing this opportunity, your friends, your home, and your life with me in Spain. One of my favorite days is hands down the day we talked in the park in Jaen. I loved that day.<br />
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Encarni, I am so lucky I had you as a coworker. I learned a lot about teaching and being a professional from you. Most importantly, I learned about your generous heart, which in my opinion is your most valuable quality and I was lucky to see it. Thank you for being my friend away from home and sharing your life with me. I will be emailing you so be ready.<br />
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Kaitlin Paige, you are my person. We could be in the same city, same state, different state, different country…anywhere and you are still there for me. I can’t believe you asked me to be your roommate 3 years ago and we knew so little about one another!! God had a plan, and He knew…He knew. You remind me daily about why we are across the world loving on others and teaching sweet babes no matter their situation or status. This is our passion, and I’m lucky I have a best friend who gets that and shares that journey with me. We have been through so much but we both know no one is going anywhere. I could care less where we are in the world, because I know we will always have some way for a weekly chat I love you as much as guacamole.<br />
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Liz and Chessa, thank you for being our family away from home. You girls have been there for me through a lot this year. I will always be thankful for our new found friendships. You both have distinct, but sweet personalities and I'm blessed to have gotten the chance to know you.<br />
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Mama and Daddy, I have no words to describe how thankful I am that you did not fight me when I said I was going to Spain for 9 months. That was a miracle! We have been through so much in the past 9 months, and I still am blessed to call you my crazy parents. I love you and cant wait to see you!<br />
John, my favorite skype date in the past 9 months was with you. You may not remember the time change and when I am sleeping, but you know the perfect time just to call to tell me you miss me and love me. I cant wait to hug you and annoy you daily. Be ready.<br />
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Amigos de Barbate. Estoy super afortunada para conoceros. Mi tiempo en Barbate estuvo mas divertido con vosotros. Entonces ven pa’ca a los Estados Unidos en el futuro. Me gustaria veros en mi pais!! Recuerda que el mundo es tuyo y te puede ser que tu quieres. Me voy a echar de menos todos!<br />
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Kelsi, I love you my sweet Nurse! Thankful for you in my life. You are a constant joy and I could not be prouder of your accomplishments. Thank you for loving me a million miles away from home and always being there for me. You are an angel from heaven for being my friend! I cant wait to be with you way too much in Lubbock and eat lots of soy ice cream with you.<br />
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LP, life without you equals impossible. You have been such an encouragement to me from day 1 of this adventure. God really has outdid himself with our friendship. You have such a kind and sweet heart, and I am so blessed to be in your life. I am overjoyed that we will get to live in the same city again so soon and share a new adventure together in this crazy life, 2nd year Med School and First year teacher! I love you.<br />
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To wrap up, I am so thankful I could share my Spain adventure with these people and all of you. Thank you for reading this blog and I pray you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. It has been such a rewarding experience to write it all down and share it with my family and friends. Without sharing it with you, it would not be as significant. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and love these past few months!<br />
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Get excited for my new adventure blogging about life as a first year Special Education teacher. Oh let the fun begin!<br />
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<br />Pearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-71804036410224322762012-06-15T04:41:00.000-07:002012-06-15T04:41:37.493-07:00Cuando las personas estén en paz en su interior, el mundo estará en paz"<br />
Malllllorcaaaaaa! You could say, I had been overly excited about this trip for about a month, but when it finally arrived it was bliss!<br />
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Kristin’s birthday is in June and we decided to take a trip to the island for a fun girls weekend. It just so happened to fall on the first weekend of my summer vacation! So it was a perfect start to summer fun!<br />
After an emotional last week at school, I did not want to dwell on saying goodbye too long. So, I am thankful this trip lifted up my spirits.<br />
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It was hard to say goodbye to all my teachers and students. I have built great relationships with many, and I am so lucky to have had such a positive school experience at Juan XXIII Primary School. I will never forget my time here, nor will it not hold a special place in my heart. Those kids stole a part of my heart, and I’m pretty sure I’m not getting it back.<br />
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My last day was Thursday, May 31 and then Friday, June 1 I headed to Sevilla to meet up with the girls. I met Kristin at the train station in Sevilla, and it was like we were back studying! Crazy feeling, being in your study abroard city after studying abroad!! I still feel completely at home in Sevilla, but I think it will always be like that.<br />
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We got on the usual 32 bus and we went to school! So nice to see some familiar faces of the staff and the new, but exciting changes to the school. There are several different groups of kids this summer there for Summer I and they have diverse schedules. Made me super thankful to have my study abroad family. We are soo different, but we were always together. No one could understand how such a small group of 60-80 college students from different lives could become a family away from home, but we could.<br />
After seeing the school, we went to Darthe to see my bosses! I had come the day I arrived in September and saw one of my bosses but his wife was not there. So, thankful she was there this round! Kristin and I had some Tintos and reminisced on how life was, is, and everything in between. I loved catching up with my boss, Ava, and get her sons phone numbers to meet up with them before I headed to Mallorca the following day.<br />
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After our stroll down memory lane, we headed to the hostel to check in. At this point we were starving, so we headed to Nervion for some lunch. FYI: Just because I speak English with my friend does not mean I don’t speak Spanish as well. Our waiter turned out to be super rude, but I got that change. No worries Daddy, I am still fiesty in Spanish! Haha<br />
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We had lunch at the mall, so we walked around in hopes of finding a book store or some sunglasses, but those were my necesities before leaving Sevilla. As you would imagine if you have ever shopped with me, I was a fool with the sunglasses. Found a pair and then we headed to Happy Hour in hopes of seeing our favorite waiter, Tino!! Sadly, Tino was not working that Friday- soo weird without him at TGIFridays!! Despite the absence of Tino, Kristin and I still managed to have a great time and we proved to ourselves once again that the game of people watching is always worth it!<br />
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Of course we made a quick stop at my favorite Corte Ingles for a book for my Abuela. After buying the book, we got on good ol’ 32 bus back to the hostel to put the book up and go to dinner before our flamenco show, just like old times!<br />
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Dinner was at a place I actually had never been, surprise surprise! Levis en Sevilla, really good- but be careful with the garlic, they realllly like it there. Then we meet up with some of the girls, Emily and her cousin, Frannie-yes yes I am completely aware of the same name situation, never in my life. But she worked that name well, I completely love her and her sweet heart! We were soo death at the flamenco show, and I was still not feeling that feel from dinner so we went home before the show was over. It was nice to go to a place we went to regularly just to chat and have girls night. I miss you Denae, and I cant wait to see you so soon and hug KING-that sweet baby boy!!<br />
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The next morning I had plans for breakfast with one of Ava’s sons, Jairo. It was so great to catch up, and find out he learned English! So sweet to hear how well he was doing!! Before we knew it, it was time to end to Mallorca!!<br />
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Mallorca was absolutely what you would expect. Gorgeous. Precious. Clean. Natural. Clear Waters. Absolutely a wonderful place to be in, visit, and devour. Go. Just go.<br />
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The first night we meet up with some of Kristin’s friends for some tapas and a good time. It was a lot of fun to make new friends, as always!!! We had some great food and company, good night minus being completely exhausted. The following day was Kristin’s birthday!! We rented a car and drove to Valldemossa and Sollér. It was a windy ride through the mountains and we had a lovely picnic with a fabulous view. We reached the Port of Sollér before sunset and it was breathtaking. We had some good laughs, played in the sand, and went in the water in our dresses! We were simply so carefree and loving life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghddpst9oTGhCRggQkW47sMsXdD-heSQEjpfak-q5_r9tmeIx9hIK4q96NCwA6XveEI2j_3Z1Dvpkz3UE6fWf96qSVUMUhtlpQDzZ9dXcWKv2iLPNXndEO7or7-nefFn9W-jeUqTmWoGM/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghddpst9oTGhCRggQkW47sMsXdD-heSQEjpfak-q5_r9tmeIx9hIK4q96NCwA6XveEI2j_3Z1Dvpkz3UE6fWf96qSVUMUhtlpQDzZ9dXcWKv2iLPNXndEO7or7-nefFn9W-jeUqTmWoGM/s400/008.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valldemossa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVxgiBP8L3HDNN5CUH9eAPRz_xuTKPPVGbQ6mM5WjDTfH-T-RQanofPQLyWiK7fP2mMJ8HO56RnzO-zw4T4Zh0dO0FWN5xwcEssw0TRrwe2OuuAZ9cnVmbGGE-XoHfpzqZpVrxfm9dhA/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVxgiBP8L3HDNN5CUH9eAPRz_xuTKPPVGbQ6mM5WjDTfH-T-RQanofPQLyWiK7fP2mMJ8HO56RnzO-zw4T4Zh0dO0FWN5xwcEssw0TRrwe2OuuAZ9cnVmbGGE-XoHfpzqZpVrxfm9dhA/s400/011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carpe Diem</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrinXZyQHnMZE64NAXIx4IZmzM-inReVZprkrg73NeJLxZ3zmwLRSle7VWE9GfqFKATBnPVA1DDuEgRgCgG1qXKUYbd_WagXZlyzdvr4i7cAO-E897q3xjtzHaLJUF3acFhNX3lM5UbQ/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrinXZyQHnMZE64NAXIx4IZmzM-inReVZprkrg73NeJLxZ3zmwLRSle7VWE9GfqFKATBnPVA1DDuEgRgCgG1qXKUYbd_WagXZlyzdvr4i7cAO-E897q3xjtzHaLJUF3acFhNX3lM5UbQ/s400/015.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls. Frannie, Emily, Kristin, Lauren, and I.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCURtHNtS5bGpsTgcXmpePEsrmA4kCHEZigOP-MdVW1S7-8OnQvxp1fo812VgH70V_BwkAbqFUeZyiZG7qjJT7O8oQpjvr4bLvkmvlnVkpsRDcLnQdkDy4ylrdDffDmhVuIwYolbpgbLQ/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCURtHNtS5bGpsTgcXmpePEsrmA4kCHEZigOP-MdVW1S7-8OnQvxp1fo812VgH70V_BwkAbqFUeZyiZG7qjJT7O8oQpjvr4bLvkmvlnVkpsRDcLnQdkDy4ylrdDffDmhVuIwYolbpgbLQ/s400/017.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihMeASosZcaf35vx_-d3ia9mOtfgWuzasZ-7smLw6bbeJSoSaRt-m8q_kS98fWj-_5PXh_LRmFy5mteB_Y7JSrB2WPVdi4qyB2-rfG2zyj8rMxUHwr6PozbryxMqnf6PVrCn0o6eL0DA/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihMeASosZcaf35vx_-d3ia9mOtfgWuzasZ-7smLw6bbeJSoSaRt-m8q_kS98fWj-_5PXh_LRmFy5mteB_Y7JSrB2WPVdi4qyB2-rfG2zyj8rMxUHwr6PozbryxMqnf6PVrCn0o6eL0DA/s400/019.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valldemossa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckucVhw9usKmDvi6k-JVPgVQkmjRPz-a5jYApTggYJ9NAMzjbO42KqH_NUXqnHhveoXkqKwyz10iJs6jqZG3qXTGhrNj1OMBBekWW6UeNU5bFAkSAQJqmofVSlLczEPzR6dQUheF69CI/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckucVhw9usKmDvi6k-JVPgVQkmjRPz-a5jYApTggYJ9NAMzjbO42KqH_NUXqnHhveoXkqKwyz10iJs6jqZG3qXTGhrNj1OMBBekWW6UeNU5bFAkSAQJqmofVSlLczEPzR6dQUheF69CI/s400/020.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valldemossa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97B3vtGwuJiefBxl-UX3Ek5tXn9qpPjCLuehcLu-NKiBCec29ks8BYssciAxRf0u5HvAVDUdnBels_KG_nquh_oFqwkJp6EsYflcWA4FUCan7zX4UMDwAnnbuGErBRRNnjc86UzB4ctw/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97B3vtGwuJiefBxl-UX3Ek5tXn9qpPjCLuehcLu-NKiBCec29ks8BYssciAxRf0u5HvAVDUdnBels_KG_nquh_oFqwkJp6EsYflcWA4FUCan7zX4UMDwAnnbuGErBRRNnjc86UzB4ctw/s400/021.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valldemossa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qhnI_omPtwR-Nu0RUfNZByACdpbadXoMt_AA70j8ko5ErLkosvIqPhPMWKXCFaRyKEqMRpOtVealjbfK0sFtJap0bMwdhqaz_daefGdsl41OUqKso0OFpA38ZJEEW-k9eKPB9dopqrQ/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qhnI_omPtwR-Nu0RUfNZByACdpbadXoMt_AA70j8ko5ErLkosvIqPhPMWKXCFaRyKEqMRpOtVealjbfK0sFtJap0bMwdhqaz_daefGdsl41OUqKso0OFpA38ZJEEW-k9eKPB9dopqrQ/s400/026.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valldemossa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyrx4_TCHdDr0pQpgLlEClipixyebKiWKm7lgqLyZ7OBBluf8ua0t4ztl26YeYdZ-kxC1Cztnnzz9rWIGvvLeyS-tMc3Px3Hvfh0YbvW4QtKxt2yRHphsgwDi9CI6bFhrMUMh2vzsV-Q/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyrx4_TCHdDr0pQpgLlEClipixyebKiWKm7lgqLyZ7OBBluf8ua0t4ztl26YeYdZ-kxC1Cztnnzz9rWIGvvLeyS-tMc3Px3Hvfh0YbvW4QtKxt2yRHphsgwDi9CI6bFhrMUMh2vzsV-Q/s400/028.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lauren and Kristin. Valldemossa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeSym4RJYD0G0agTIgIU4ND36KBCLLvJJzOqw_EbTgGX0dnCZkTV6RpGQNyq5RnGca9hHh86TPLKdeCgxWCKRpd1fWR9CXk4OTyu3fZfh7tNH-Ag86IPqbZlPMKUddbh_ROlxwXY0HTs/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeSym4RJYD0G0agTIgIU4ND36KBCLLvJJzOqw_EbTgGX0dnCZkTV6RpGQNyq5RnGca9hHh86TPLKdeCgxWCKRpd1fWR9CXk4OTyu3fZfh7tNH-Ag86IPqbZlPMKUddbh_ROlxwXY0HTs/s400/033.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love Diversity of Languages</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-XbvTL-zlDTbr-0i11DkjTzT6dbF0qNWX3FPv0pNWDZC1FsrN8tpgrLOGqRCKNKw-Tpax3L0cnrBmsCCpwrbVRBLEE0GU_-lxJK3zRNOIrYNM_xiSVVa8wgZaWrweGpQzQNu9pkEPGY/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-XbvTL-zlDTbr-0i11DkjTzT6dbF0qNWX3FPv0pNWDZC1FsrN8tpgrLOGqRCKNKw-Tpax3L0cnrBmsCCpwrbVRBLEE0GU_-lxJK3zRNOIrYNM_xiSVVa8wgZaWrweGpQzQNu9pkEPGY/s400/034.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chatting with the sweet old man in Valldemossa</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1 euro Naranjas, yes please!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving along the coast </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picnic date</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Car!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFLP1VumTJFrcCjkctqexW5OPhhbgsTPPeNh1Iee94PMeiVnsRW7er8jkhLoEHJJjymWpU39Qh6J4_BzO1BBU7ajxVxKpa7af6hmd1-sd0MWFvqcbiAxUcGBu0ZRnwpYqv2wCFN7Rc2I/s1600/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFLP1VumTJFrcCjkctqexW5OPhhbgsTPPeNh1Iee94PMeiVnsRW7er8jkhLoEHJJjymWpU39Qh6J4_BzO1BBU7ajxVxKpa7af6hmd1-sd0MWFvqcbiAxUcGBu0ZRnwpYqv2wCFN7Rc2I/s400/065.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port de Sollér</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiii38ADzpl4VJnIDA1JbWbVjWGRI7KTmVvuc-SNTxaOowL5TuQi5IJjJkxoaPt137ixiB64tkvFHhTBuCQ_NeVFjtBFtowiAW-xMYgBpHf-rSbmxkcXTHLYk3lO75Ats5f14ErWPirOTo/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiii38ADzpl4VJnIDA1JbWbVjWGRI7KTmVvuc-SNTxaOowL5TuQi5IJjJkxoaPt137ixiB64tkvFHhTBuCQ_NeVFjtBFtowiAW-xMYgBpHf-rSbmxkcXTHLYk3lO75Ats5f14ErWPirOTo/s400/068.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port de Sollér</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ae6PlC8zZZs3oUz-LCDsGKK-es2ZuXEmFE29AdyRrvGtoncViI66PgFKzun3O7MJCiNI4uOLMPgsxtGt7TeT1IFbuKTHYWtShf02799Ra45xlE7KffS2tl4N0cWWNy5-FW6CRv0bgoI/s1600/069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ae6PlC8zZZs3oUz-LCDsGKK-es2ZuXEmFE29AdyRrvGtoncViI66PgFKzun3O7MJCiNI4uOLMPgsxtGt7TeT1IFbuKTHYWtShf02799Ra45xlE7KffS2tl4N0cWWNy5-FW6CRv0bgoI/s400/069.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port de Sollér</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfzfaqfFMEe2WImGqAJ9gzakJ-J6QnYseZ0ObCab85VfGU9W99Id1-gCtw9i-S8QZliPZ5oF9f6fOEIQQjq-fWBkn6PbOELUsqJaqZ1S-Y5KhUR-f6BEWNGLtUKMxVDEnQdKtamAaBu4/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfzfaqfFMEe2WImGqAJ9gzakJ-J6QnYseZ0ObCab85VfGU9W99Id1-gCtw9i-S8QZliPZ5oF9f6fOEIQQjq-fWBkn6PbOELUsqJaqZ1S-Y5KhUR-f6BEWNGLtUKMxVDEnQdKtamAaBu4/s400/071.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port de Sollér</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfTiXB_A1iOExBRCJ7lVvc-_2i2V4ohlQSu91raLRuwUURKM10BhbjVXClSXbDn7Qk0vvr-udKhQ6Wr0z2tfEApwQkpAWu4C9i5t_T51sFY8aYVH2lO7ZyZm9lq6hOlcFf-mesS_dMlg/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfTiXB_A1iOExBRCJ7lVvc-_2i2V4ohlQSu91raLRuwUURKM10BhbjVXClSXbDn7Qk0vvr-udKhQ6Wr0z2tfEApwQkpAWu4C9i5t_T51sFY8aYVH2lO7ZyZm9lq6hOlcFf-mesS_dMlg/s400/073.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port de Sollér</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdorpf6AcSX9-CIz8EFiiT4byK4tGwBp-Rb8ISqYePl1JwbcXe4ae5EU8pymD4vBv0zaL8Z6TCrZKCKxtMES9cF8ga6GvFmS6VKaQnRjt2JCkHj7GIaFjFK9B24qfv4tV2fuPV-CTNA4/s1600/078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdorpf6AcSX9-CIz8EFiiT4byK4tGwBp-Rb8ISqYePl1JwbcXe4ae5EU8pymD4vBv0zaL8Z6TCrZKCKxtMES9cF8ga6GvFmS6VKaQnRjt2JCkHj7GIaFjFK9B24qfv4tV2fuPV-CTNA4/s400/078.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frannie, Emily, and Lauren on the beach.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlakmbYhrtBpnmcRV7ga3JgSMLSUZqAZ_A4H9re6GiDDwoVnHtde_pcW_0j6qsxCdfr2RPiqW7XVdx3lOp_Q8uKedYu5uHwmGqg_uTiL9pjRncje_7bGuA4UGBKXJgTTUFeCAsC803t0/s1600/082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlakmbYhrtBpnmcRV7ga3JgSMLSUZqAZ_A4H9re6GiDDwoVnHtde_pcW_0j6qsxCdfr2RPiqW7XVdx3lOp_Q8uKedYu5uHwmGqg_uTiL9pjRncje_7bGuA4UGBKXJgTTUFeCAsC803t0/s400/082.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTF8ARZadE-Af8h8JnWxsyCaf-M0ukjq5zQj4IAEFczK4WYz2RQlRBubtsJ2q0pRaprfcMh9C16bfNwZ68wyuVDCPZX7fT88P2uHtM9sOnxuuqgT_gheJrELq8yHomuts2Do7L6QpBF4/s1600/083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTF8ARZadE-Af8h8JnWxsyCaf-M0ukjq5zQj4IAEFczK4WYz2RQlRBubtsJ2q0pRaprfcMh9C16bfNwZ68wyuVDCPZX7fT88P2uHtM9sOnxuuqgT_gheJrELq8yHomuts2Do7L6QpBF4/s400/083.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kristin and her new friend who I chased after so she would not go unattended in the street. She was super chatty! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IFvCODIEEuTns_oNPJxHcGVOwbpEev1QIMvWwDa7OC6sXv6iVQHxsu6eXcMN4s_780sP1oYUK_Va_fNVU6Eek_7AJ6b194xOvASx43xlptZlGWDo4YZdbYg2mTgaiHmi1jAKTWW2fwk/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IFvCODIEEuTns_oNPJxHcGVOwbpEev1QIMvWwDa7OC6sXv6iVQHxsu6eXcMN4s_780sP1oYUK_Va_fNVU6Eek_7AJ6b194xOvASx43xlptZlGWDo4YZdbYg2mTgaiHmi1jAKTWW2fwk/s400/086.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lauren!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAr7grNDWa5JMVFaZawGLu5W88XODbfFflAP-wG_Y5-NOPMCR0M4ZewawGn9xXo41lMQpqdR5AdvKeHAXewQOY4T9zJh_vIWLczHP8f7fzif1hAtvBExNKUK9uT_nrbGN1h2CcQhSP9AU/s1600/090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAr7grNDWa5JMVFaZawGLu5W88XODbfFflAP-wG_Y5-NOPMCR0M4ZewawGn9xXo41lMQpqdR5AdvKeHAXewQOY4T9zJh_vIWLczHP8f7fzif1hAtvBExNKUK9uT_nrbGN1h2CcQhSP9AU/s400/090.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have I said the water was crystal clear?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hog0UZgTPN6F2ScdFMwyoYQQdqdzqu9O3FnnwA703PBVbKTLY552MGCMMRQ6zOioWhuruJzleUm-sTXh7Eu1AhwWDQ26fwxLNrTzQLKDYC4EdYxgimAx4Zqobr_uFmZTJm_z96H6HK8/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hog0UZgTPN6F2ScdFMwyoYQQdqdzqu9O3FnnwA703PBVbKTLY552MGCMMRQ6zOioWhuruJzleUm-sTXh7Eu1AhwWDQ26fwxLNrTzQLKDYC4EdYxgimAx4Zqobr_uFmZTJm_z96H6HK8/s400/092.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls loving life.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zPJDlqJAuXHRlNl75aHs1a_fdgCEuov4spiD9tQjXl_au7RgCd4Del7m6P8DpaKci_jMNLS7aG53jC6wGZNRHvXTURRZ_GMLInpqRMTQUcdQvJV5HNAxWTEPXxVivGlUuolCC568TrA/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zPJDlqJAuXHRlNl75aHs1a_fdgCEuov4spiD9tQjXl_au7RgCd4Del7m6P8DpaKci_jMNLS7aG53jC6wGZNRHvXTURRZ_GMLInpqRMTQUcdQvJV5HNAxWTEPXxVivGlUuolCC568TrA/s400/095.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toes in the sand.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuVBc0098zYh8J47kQtdR0dDAGa1d_Cn76SKbzgLWR5EGNt95jDZ11FRkQOIo1iccSlogbBF82ScrLDR1n4ddW6BaHsQj97UnWP_olHsJ37XInAjJ0zOWLpjqqYstnobHt3jEzpQUipQ/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuVBc0098zYh8J47kQtdR0dDAGa1d_Cn76SKbzgLWR5EGNt95jDZ11FRkQOIo1iccSlogbBF82ScrLDR1n4ddW6BaHsQj97UnWP_olHsJ37XInAjJ0zOWLpjqqYstnobHt3jEzpQUipQ/s400/101.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 palms=2 hours until sundown haha!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifO6Xstu5n7jT24yu_cpBvkoEhtNg-UNg9LKNUFMyYHrtdWtzT8I9rmhq3j8l3DKRzilCNVZgomh25YjnBYc24uf5qVE1ELq2whlD89J-bNlJNgvLRBO6PkxPiuv0wxZNYEuMtxt5WSFg/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifO6Xstu5n7jT24yu_cpBvkoEhtNg-UNg9LKNUFMyYHrtdWtzT8I9rmhq3j8l3DKRzilCNVZgomh25YjnBYc24uf5qVE1ELq2whlD89J-bNlJNgvLRBO6PkxPiuv0wxZNYEuMtxt5WSFg/s400/103.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving life.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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After we drove home, birthday girl did not want to do anything for her birthday night but shower and bed. So as she showered we made tapas and a cookie cake for her, to surprise her! It was super sweet and she loved it as did I with my Momosa!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hX0BXo4vOTslHa055OGGZSwSgEN0PHBTJkI4votp4Jv5IASdBQiKnbg7AXDXQoSz8o6vo-CEup4_awU7Hz-MJKkmBL_5RYP2qs4TmdjnjV-0kEKD4bYA_yNqt6V2by4UmVHGyc7kh6o/s1600/110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hX0BXo4vOTslHa055OGGZSwSgEN0PHBTJkI4votp4Jv5IASdBQiKnbg7AXDXQoSz8o6vo-CEup4_awU7Hz-MJKkmBL_5RYP2qs4TmdjnjV-0kEKD4bYA_yNqt6V2by4UmVHGyc7kh6o/s320/110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our next full day we kept the car for another 24 hours and drove to Pollenca, the northern point. The beaches were incredible! From the cliffs and crystal clear waters, who wouldn’t like it?!<br />
We ate lunch in Pollenca and I had “Pez Espada” (swordfish). It was ridiculously good, just try it before you die if you like fish.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraI40cM6C_Xcv9tR9Oc8dkHT9ucXjAb1wmtPyl_iMlVdOal5Tp9UtDB_lObBXVwsFSVCiSQxWXX37IGg8K_ti9EmSH3a9TKG5EjJxrNifi8a4Z6xFlCvVNN5mpsLIY1ePfXutGSmSGp8/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraI40cM6C_Xcv9tR9Oc8dkHT9ucXjAb1wmtPyl_iMlVdOal5Tp9UtDB_lObBXVwsFSVCiSQxWXX37IGg8K_ti9EmSH3a9TKG5EjJxrNifi8a4Z6xFlCvVNN5mpsLIY1ePfXutGSmSGp8/s400/116.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pez Espada</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4S9oWTitQbKmhSP8gyvxjIzeWo740iSM6PYZoLV4d86pF0boAK7rL93Zq_MPdGdbdocb_7L1lb7LcUK9YxqpuDSGXdxz5n8HOZ61xA2Hzj0TY4jvRbosEIGr8RK_8toOSx-WNyz0UEdY/s1600/119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4S9oWTitQbKmhSP8gyvxjIzeWo740iSM6PYZoLV4d86pF0boAK7rL93Zq_MPdGdbdocb_7L1lb7LcUK9YxqpuDSGXdxz5n8HOZ61xA2Hzj0TY4jvRbosEIGr8RK_8toOSx-WNyz0UEdY/s400/119.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pollenca</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYZ10IKxa3tp52PimgzY-Mo-UVdYqMSXBwX3zGayDSXIEIgbpKZiYOxumFESKZTdeVVq0oU17KkvDaZStMN2DoLSqCAm2QaBhRfvP5KhmWGtq15mulMuaH-lE-69gBd2cuqDX4JEmLwM/s1600/120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYZ10IKxa3tp52PimgzY-Mo-UVdYqMSXBwX3zGayDSXIEIgbpKZiYOxumFESKZTdeVVq0oU17KkvDaZStMN2DoLSqCAm2QaBhRfvP5KhmWGtq15mulMuaH-lE-69gBd2cuqDX4JEmLwM/s400/120.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pollenca</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThsd6gveaXTtz_IJA2Zy-RFca2dSdoAgL8Uoft093FYEaYPQMewc35DbYNImiQYEecGuLYRlYPHz3C00V2J43qnQd_5XmxQGkhlcUPWUI3srmsfTDBh3kv7ceqblqTb4D6ys4bpj7W3Y/s1600/122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThsd6gveaXTtz_IJA2Zy-RFca2dSdoAgL8Uoft093FYEaYPQMewc35DbYNImiQYEecGuLYRlYPHz3C00V2J43qnQd_5XmxQGkhlcUPWUI3srmsfTDBh3kv7ceqblqTb4D6ys4bpj7W3Y/s400/122.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pollenca</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSX6DTfsuJbRlWlp3HKcif1mH49i0VZriZZhCJ0KU1E0WvhqDwzTap9y0dQQuAIQWV1Cy2V5yFeeP7qW_-9yCQU0yZifITOOV8WfzMWNZQXrDNbUFX3TPcg7-durwzEgRwUz3mmy8nPA/s1600/125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSX6DTfsuJbRlWlp3HKcif1mH49i0VZriZZhCJ0KU1E0WvhqDwzTap9y0dQQuAIQWV1Cy2V5yFeeP7qW_-9yCQU0yZifITOOV8WfzMWNZQXrDNbUFX3TPcg7-durwzEgRwUz3mmy8nPA/s400/125.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pollenca</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTn5G5z8yQ-aEhBKNWJXXWqvcsfZ4irf1affAtLvKxqY_aU0Zitc2F7Rc_7pPdm1ZTL77eRciXmwHZw1RfFNFcfdgJvQ2i9tlUNjVnGnFXjWmx4HmOPsM1AEmNw8yJDHoS_6JVYYTtgIE/s1600/127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTn5G5z8yQ-aEhBKNWJXXWqvcsfZ4irf1affAtLvKxqY_aU0Zitc2F7Rc_7pPdm1ZTL77eRciXmwHZw1RfFNFcfdgJvQ2i9tlUNjVnGnFXjWmx4HmOPsM1AEmNw8yJDHoS_6JVYYTtgIE/s400/127.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOU_LIFSyvyg5pGcAROPmWlMedcgnfR6qJx9nhntcTDAzh1UBLXKSthxltqcIEZ1nIuG5eogTGWs9coArD8OYFfBeaVK4u6yObiX46A-P-xlcMP_rUqZu4YmWK6QVmZIF6kOArtVMvPLs/s1600/130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOU_LIFSyvyg5pGcAROPmWlMedcgnfR6qJx9nhntcTDAzh1UBLXKSthxltqcIEZ1nIuG5eogTGWs9coArD8OYFfBeaVK4u6yObiX46A-P-xlcMP_rUqZu4YmWK6QVmZIF6kOArtVMvPLs/s400/130.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everytime I look at these pictures, I still can't believe this place is real:) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls on a cliff.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Sadly, Lauren had to leave that day because she was flying home to Jersey . So we had to take her to the airport that afternoon. She was so much fun to be around on that trip, and I hope to see her sometime in the states!<br />
<br />
After dropping that sweet girl off, we drove on to Cala Pi for a full on beach day!! Were we ready for the most gorgeous views ever? NO! I still cant even try to put into words how unbelievably breathtaking every direction of Mallorca is.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cala Pi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3OR9QyNX88GEzFgnx2dZa3wvbX6Kr9g-SKkHuMApfiRXqysXnALzjgbW-GrSJ2mXGT8LPKXxY3fqB2_mAyE1JtzxOsQhYfBfWzgG8kQG-4DT7mHrX1GOq0hLsF2K0QA7k2rUaw8IK-U/s1600/147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3OR9QyNX88GEzFgnx2dZa3wvbX6Kr9g-SKkHuMApfiRXqysXnALzjgbW-GrSJ2mXGT8LPKXxY3fqB2_mAyE1JtzxOsQhYfBfWzgG8kQG-4DT7mHrX1GOq0hLsF2K0QA7k2rUaw8IK-U/s400/147.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Torre</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCgKOvJyKId4eBHMTr9c4fDf4r4ytY12t3Ql-GaWIgI_XijAvHsePmlBvjkb8XHSal2tVMJX9KKZoFNMXfAbsdyS1IzcB89mZ_enqayzI6CZURrEESJbkTFrg_HhvB87KwOIE0t7T1hY/s1600/152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCgKOvJyKId4eBHMTr9c4fDf4r4ytY12t3Ql-GaWIgI_XijAvHsePmlBvjkb8XHSal2tVMJX9KKZoFNMXfAbsdyS1IzcB89mZ_enqayzI6CZURrEESJbkTFrg_HhvB87KwOIE0t7T1hY/s400/152.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cala Pi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXkuBIUkUG-jGuw7QjyFzLIGfJ4MWVKnUI4m9y3hE_msDdyEBeaZsVk3HSWJqNBvL2SC1tOtYDglNNnOt9Dz8gZgAWHiBDwx-eaODXqNINUY8J-RW_CWxUEb9oyXtm_KzVdRNVwyzk4o/s1600/153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXkuBIUkUG-jGuw7QjyFzLIGfJ4MWVKnUI4m9y3hE_msDdyEBeaZsVk3HSWJqNBvL2SC1tOtYDglNNnOt9Dz8gZgAWHiBDwx-eaODXqNINUY8J-RW_CWxUEb9oyXtm_KzVdRNVwyzk4o/s400/153.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cala Pi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gKYlo60wYH4Lr5ItfxhNO93v8MAPVUIGjOjWjBAHcj88DYJWFb9QTnrSoL20HCEoGMw4hMo2-aLLgqLnuspsJiDr-AJFMangs7YjUx3p9slBjPOmorKH70Q_xfxgGcIsgxT2bd1iGfw/s1600/155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gKYlo60wYH4Lr5ItfxhNO93v8MAPVUIGjOjWjBAHcj88DYJWFb9QTnrSoL20HCEoGMw4hMo2-aLLgqLnuspsJiDr-AJFMangs7YjUx3p9slBjPOmorKH70Q_xfxgGcIsgxT2bd1iGfw/s400/155.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cala Pi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To end our day we went on a search to find the San Salines “Faro” (lighthouse). Mallorca is like a mini Barcelona with its art influence and culture. At the Faro, people had made mini “faros” that reminded me of Gaudi’s artwork. I love Gaudi and think he is brilliant, though some of his art is gothic.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Salines Faro</td></tr>
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<br />
After returning to Palma that night, we got ready for dinner with Kristin’s friend once more. Alison took us to a tapa place that was really good, sadly I don’t remember the name. We had great food and interesting conversations in Spanish and English. Life was good.<br />
<br />
The following day went by so fast that all I remember is being at the airport for 3 hours waiting for my flight. Then a 1.5 train and a 1.5 bus ride. Putting me in Barbate around 1130pm, and making me a tired/cranky Fran! I was extremely exhausted, but I still got up the energy to skype with a really good friend, Jaclyn. I am so happy for her, because John, her husband, is home for some R and R! Thankful for all of our men and woman who serve for our country! I pray you stay safe and know we love you!<br />
<br />
In the end, I'm thankful for a good time with some new friends from this year and another birthday worthy of celebrating!! <br />
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<br />Pearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-5970804256817314222012-05-12T11:51:00.001-07:002012-05-12T11:51:33.921-07:00Una Vida<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I never thought I
would know exactly how my life would unravel, but I think that I would have to
say I am so thankful it is going the way it is going. I didn’t think I would be
sitting on the southern coast of Spain writing a blog nor did I think I would
ever leave it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well as all things,
this too is comes to an end. The past 8 or 9 months, I mean really who is truly
counting I’m too busy trying to overwhelm myself in the immensity of it all. I
still don’t think it all has sunken in. I have learned to love myself in a new
way, cried at the things that really pull my heart strings, opened my heart to
friendships I never would have come by before this, learned different things
about myself and how to handle things, but most importantly, I have laughed joyfully.
I could not be happier with myself, how
gracious the Lord is with me, the opportunities I have been given, the
relationships I have made and kept, and the chance to truly grow into a better
person. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With that being said,
Spain is somewhere where I grew-mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. The
first time and the second time, and I hope the next time I come back (which God
willing will be within the next year for a nice vacation). It has been and will
always be held in a special place in my heart, which is how it makes it a little easier for me to say
adios for a little while…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I made a “big girl”
decision last week all by myself. I was offered a Special Education teacher
position at an elementary school in Texas. It just so happened to be the same
school I student taught at and in the same city of my university. There is
history and this history is good. I was also talking with another school in
Houston, which is the city I grew up by and the city where my family still
lives. And to top it off, I was accepted
to Andalucia (southern Spain) once more.
So, you could say I had some praying to do.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had 2 interviews 2
weeks ago, for 2 different schools and in 2 different cities. I received a call
back 2 days after my Monday interview.
Since I am in Spain, I could not be in my parent’s house to answer the
call. So I called back not really knowing what to expect and fearing an offer
would come up. I feared it, because I then knew I would be making a decision
sooner than I had anticipated. The insecurities were setting in “I’m not old enough
to have a real job”, “What am I going to say if they offer me a job?”, “Am I
ready?”, “I havent gotten a peace from God…will I know when they say those
words “We would like to recommend you for a position..”, etc. I just let
everything sink in, and I just continued to hold out for my peace in something.
A something I knew would be “right” for me, for my family, and for my career as
a Special Education teacher. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, it wasn’t a
fairy tale story, because lets face it. This is real life. I had called back
maybe 4 times via skype trying to get a hold of my HR guy. I think its
difficult with the time differences and our busy schedules, but finally we set
up an appointment and I had those words said to me “we would like to recommend you
for a position” and I was in shock. Not
shock that I froze and could not say a word, I was in “big girl” shock mode. I
didn’t even know I had that in me! Haha I asked for time to think about the
offer, and I received 24 hours. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the time, it felt
like those single 24 hours were the “end all be all” of my life. I took the
time to talk to people in my life who I valued intently for their advice and
most importantly their prayers. What I
wanted more than anything was to make sure this was what God wanted. I trust
that He has, is, and will continue to lead my life in a wonderful direction. So,
I continued to think and pray. I took some time on my terrace overlooking my
breathtaking view of the ocean and mountains as the sun was going down. I read
my Word and journaled. As I look back at my journal entry, I see what I see myself
doing and failing everytime. I was trying to control my decision for selfish
reasons, and I put a wall up and was scared to hear what the Lord was telling
me. Well after the Lord shows you an amazing pink/purple sky (which is my
favorite…best ones are in Lubbock, Texas hands down), I let Him in. I read the
next chapter in my devotional about humbling your heart and letting Him be in control of my life,
which led me to a great scripture in 2 Kings about a man who learned to humble
his heart and he accepted the Lord into his life. The last verse said “Go in
peace” as the man left the healer. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It hit me at that
moment. This was good. This was God. And this is right for me, my family, and
my career as a teacher. So, I said yes to God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t say yes to
anyone yet at that point, not even my daddy who I talked to before I went to
bed. I’m not going to lie he did try to influence a US job over an overseas job
a little bit, but he didn’t know what I was doing either at that point. I would
have loved to talk to my mom, but she was at work when I called. So, it was
harder but maybe it was the way it was suppose to be. I learned that I can make
an important decision on my own with the Lord’s guidance, and that was the
sweetest joy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I said yes to the
job. I will be a Special Education teacher for Lubbock ISD for the upcoming
school year of 2012-2013. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People have asked
questions like, “are you happy with that decision?” “are you sure you will
still be at peace with it when you know your city in Spain?” “are you going to
regret it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I have told them…Yes,
I’m happy. I have been lucky enough to live in Spain twice, not just once, and
who gets to say that. Not many! And I won’t regret it, because there is nothing
to regret. My passion for life is serving children with special needs. I’m
ready to do that full force. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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But there is something
that won’t change and probably will never change….I will always travel. I am
already brainstorming a Europe trip next summer!! You may think I’m crazy, but
you only get one life, just one, so live it BIG and never stop doing what you
truly love and makes you utterly happy.<o:p></o:p></div>Pearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-85753318652182046572012-04-07T10:24:00.000-07:002012-04-07T10:24:43.681-07:00Es mi vida....<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Its been a while since I sat down and wrote about life. My life has been fast, slow, fun, silly, hilarious, joyful, sad, happy, exciting, nervous, and of course moody. I’m just this american girl trying to figure out life in this world with some many things happening around me. I guess what I’m trying to say is…this past month has been a prime example for me that life is ever-constant, ever-changing, but somehow everything you ever need at the same time. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">March has been a wonderful month. Haley’s best friend from Texas came to visit us during her Spring Break and boy did we have a blast! I really enjoyed having another Texan around and there was truly never a dull moment! We took her around the town. Throughout my experience living here in this “pueblo”, I selflishly wish I was in a bigger city at times even though I adore the little quirks and the people. It was such a joy to see how the little things that I definitely take forgranted daily were once more appreciated. I think I needed that</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I did do some traveling to Sevilla, my beloved city in Andalucia as well. Though it was for a couple of days, it was worth every penny and every Starbucks for that matter (it’s a sweet blessing when I can order a coffee and drink it was soy milk, so I like to savor those moments). We spent a lot of time in “el centro” by the shops and the “Catedral”. Also, we took some time to see the “Universidad de Sevilla”</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnzwxeqh0YMs-HRwRYIfIeyq3wAB5ngc7LJebrfQ7wXEl6-F_kKRXLHZQ8WrB5UwAVLScbO4I_feRnycm3iIn_ymycE6O_hm7NeHRcNqukMOdCvRt5goIgOzYUZl8PsIwd1pJlT6rAmM/s1600/cathedral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnzwxeqh0YMs-HRwRYIfIeyq3wAB5ngc7LJebrfQ7wXEl6-F_kKRXLHZQ8WrB5UwAVLScbO4I_feRnycm3iIn_ymycE6O_hm7NeHRcNqukMOdCvRt5goIgOzYUZl8PsIwd1pJlT6rAmM/s400/cathedral.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roomies at the Catedral, Sevilla</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbS-10CTLaZrqnYAao3zIrSm0BkJSZ9yR66Bpj_vwTbEX6dMy6KSw5Jjm8RWI2fX9Kt-lJzxT8gmZMu9_HXq4YHioTW_qqXy8r9NDG5HHw6GDa4kyg_zOkFJixMyygGyx3Jv6AZkcGm58/s1600/starbucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbS-10CTLaZrqnYAao3zIrSm0BkJSZ9yR66Bpj_vwTbEX6dMy6KSw5Jjm8RWI2fX9Kt-lJzxT8gmZMu9_HXq4YHioTW_qqXy8r9NDG5HHw6GDa4kyg_zOkFJixMyygGyx3Jv6AZkcGm58/s320/starbucks.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving that Starbucks!</td></tr>
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It’s a fact that people who you ask to take your picture, 1 out of 3 will make funny comments to make you smile. Our photographer was a clever one. He told us he didn’t know which one was the monument (us or the university that is haha). Love the little English that Spaniards throw out from time to time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVz4okUY0hapM1snz7vTHbz09M7L3gjb63x2sDLSJ-mu5qrWFSUyJcSelCn7plq1wVMcfhz6uZL2ZrQi6qxfXT3JprJ7fsu_Hm5WMTmoPe1i9bfn5bE2e8Uj39JI0oWQNTMXLP6jjYUE/s1600/university.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVz4okUY0hapM1snz7vTHbz09M7L3gjb63x2sDLSJ-mu5qrWFSUyJcSelCn7plq1wVMcfhz6uZL2ZrQi6qxfXT3JprJ7fsu_Hm5WMTmoPe1i9bfn5bE2e8Uj39JI0oWQNTMXLP6jjYUE/s400/university.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous girlies at the University</td></tr>
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After Haley’s bff went home and we returned to the “pueblo”, life got back in routine. I have classes at school Monday- Thursday and I hold private lessons twice on Monday afternoon/evening, once Tuesday afternoon, and once Wednesday afternoon. So, I’m a pretty busy girl helping babes with their English while having fun! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Of course we could not let St. Patty’s Day slip away without some sort of celebration, so we had an Irish Girls Dinner with the other “auxiliares” in our town. It was so yummy too! It was an Irish beef and veggie stew, mm mmm good!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As quickly as March came it went just as fast! I have another interview with a KIPP Houston Elementary School next week, so we will see how that goes</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Also, I have reapplied for another year in Spain, but hoping for a bigger city. We will see what God’s plan is, which I am excited about where ever life takes me. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I still have moments where I think “omg, I live in a different country”, “I speak (or try more like it) in Spanish”, “I get to teach those precious Spanish kids”, and of course “I can’t believe its almost over….” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If this isn’t living life to the fullest, then honestly I don’t know what is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Pearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-28015142310672111042012-02-29T10:21:00.000-08:002012-02-29T10:21:23.686-08:00Everything a Girl Needs...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I feel like I blogged yesterday about how I started off 2012, but now it’s the end of February!! Time flies when you are loving life that is for sure. This month I have continued my private lessons, celebrated Valentine’s Day with my third graders, gotten close to my “vecinos” (neighbors), I have experienced Carnaval in Spain, and had a few health issues.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love holidays, big or small, I just love celebrating life with people I share it with daily. I feel<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that things deserve to be celebrated and shown some appreciation every once and a while. This month, of course, was Valentine’s Day. To be honest, I knew most people think it’s a commercial holiday, but I truly think those people may be thinking about it differently. Yes, there are lots of gifts, chocolate, cards, flowers, dinners etc. Yes, people may be obligated to do these things, and that is exactly why those people think its commercial. It is not an obligation to show love and appreciation to your loved ones. This act of love and kindness should and needs to be done regularly, and when I say regularly I mean daily. No one should just know on their birthday or a holiday that they are loved, but life is about enjoying everything even the days that surprisingly bring people closer. Valentine’s Day is one of those days, if you want to look at it in a more positive way.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Growing up, Valentine’s Day has always been a positive day in my life. It is a day full of sweet little bags stuffed with friendly valentine cards and candies to class parties and fun gifts and love from family and friends. So, on Valentine’s Day, I presented a little powerpoint on the importance of Saint Valentine’s Day in different parts of the world. Sadly, Spain does not really celebrate Valentine’s Day. After the powerpoint, I played a love song that definitely stirred up the classroom and we played the “Yarn Game.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This “yarn game” is just a little something I learned from Raider Sisters for Christ (Christian sorority at Texas Tech University). As much as I do miss Tech and my sisters, I love how I have learned so much from them that I use it now in my daily life. To play, we passed the yarn around to all our friends and said why we appreciated them. So the kids said things like, “you are nice” or “you are kind” or “you are pretty/handsome” etc. At the end, we were all connected and wrapped up in “love” for Valentine’s Day! (of course, Encarni and I were in on it too!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0F8uOjfboCKlSRxS9Am8arVe5J1hRU68NKtkr4nxeKJ4py9iPBhadpaBXiOuGt9b0YEUQrCJh-1PUG-ZwaM0ZojjsLeBK7amboT7G8ohwbDDhVrP5itenlZEwneVoCzJDk4Z6DfucvZw/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0F8uOjfboCKlSRxS9Am8arVe5J1hRU68NKtkr4nxeKJ4py9iPBhadpaBXiOuGt9b0YEUQrCJh-1PUG-ZwaM0ZojjsLeBK7amboT7G8ohwbDDhVrP5itenlZEwneVoCzJDk4Z6DfucvZw/s400/003.JPG" uda="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Y4GVlRP5OLzI-xFO8gSoffqfPb9KpafeuX63Qdp2oANQrL75RVMQhqUNszcFhgswlQIFITERUweUf16e7p8hgnxRcHyaw6VFcBRr8vbT2ourfDTHLYeMeaOS3J8EH-1ZPrnI-uZw_Ag/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Y4GVlRP5OLzI-xFO8gSoffqfPb9KpafeuX63Qdp2oANQrL75RVMQhqUNszcFhgswlQIFITERUweUf16e7p8hgnxRcHyaw6VFcBRr8vbT2ourfDTHLYeMeaOS3J8EH-1ZPrnI-uZw_Ag/s400/005.JPG" uda="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also, I made some “mariposas” (butterflies) for my 25 valentines! Here is how they turned out! In Spain, the kids love Chupa Chupas, especially my students! I sure do miss a good baby lollipop that you can have in every fruit flavor and especially when you go to Visible Changes</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLEXAQ7b2wn6Ohw3r9Oat4nW_9aIxW-2Q-zeqGPnDaE2HvzG2EGCQqX-vyn_60dRSaYarc4ivWNs-VDkoAUfanVEjYuv-gAGg7swRKSMo4ZTyz6WgB9U7y6VaGJjvHULumdP2nGB0KqU/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLEXAQ7b2wn6Ohw3r9Oat4nW_9aIxW-2Q-zeqGPnDaE2HvzG2EGCQqX-vyn_60dRSaYarc4ivWNs-VDkoAUfanVEjYuv-gAGg7swRKSMo4ZTyz6WgB9U7y6VaGJjvHULumdP2nGB0KqU/s400/024.JPG" uda="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyOLJK5kjATgMdRFPeYAMwb5ojnZcS1wOcdLN1EPwVwUxYW7uG5ukN1lDSgnw41XTQfgqenI-f-Q0IYifGpBMvj4RJItWu6dEdGo70yZibKSGqIIgoJxZtYaSsog3HvBM66mwDPm-AuE/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyOLJK5kjATgMdRFPeYAMwb5ojnZcS1wOcdLN1EPwVwUxYW7uG5ukN1lDSgnw41XTQfgqenI-f-Q0IYifGpBMvj4RJItWu6dEdGo70yZibKSGqIIgoJxZtYaSsog3HvBM66mwDPm-AuE/s320/025.JPG" uda="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Carnaval (Carnival) rolled around as well this month. Our “amigos espanoles” (Spanish friends) are in a “charigota” (similar to a small male choir that sings “carnaval” songs”). So, we have been to a few “ensayos” (practices) and their street shows to watch them sing during this festive time. This year they dressed up as Tortugas to go along with their songs about Tortugas and being under the sea. Carnaval songs are made up songs based on a specific theme, and the every Charigota sings about some completely different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Charigotas sing in streets and in competitions as well. While they are singing, the audience is probably drinking as they listen. It’s a huge party! Also, people dress up for Carnaval, and by dress up they make their own costumes. They are very creative at that!! It is all very different, interesting, and fun at the same time. I was definitely very cultural this month, which is always a good thing. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Check out some interesting costumes in Cadiz for Carnaval that we got to see!</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4nnn2aquf5PYvJKGwTo8M0JgBqDHJR2tkosIaiRalrG_H6loBgfNUebtdNgQVSfs6XtWCl6H4T_k94BBtYkQG15QMbkGtmWFYYCNT1WI5tgqAK-_xnloATCtbjADAyXsCt7ectVETXE/s1600/carnaval+cadiz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4nnn2aquf5PYvJKGwTo8M0JgBqDHJR2tkosIaiRalrG_H6loBgfNUebtdNgQVSfs6XtWCl6H4T_k94BBtYkQG15QMbkGtmWFYYCNT1WI5tgqAK-_xnloATCtbjADAyXsCt7ectVETXE/s400/carnaval+cadiz.jpg" uda="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends at Carnaval in Cadiz!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOHHv7SIprWes8FpC2xAuoZOrfWlmRE-nMvSHdjM9gJcfEh4PblGPOPZxWXZIudCsKQfgZ4e9y-zpeXP9907SZTwW9iX7uz8Hgv3RYpy-fWK6gL6H8f4vbI54uSgqhyphenhyphenhk85oSmwND2CI/s1600/carnaval+cadiz+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOHHv7SIprWes8FpC2xAuoZOrfWlmRE-nMvSHdjM9gJcfEh4PblGPOPZxWXZIudCsKQfgZ4e9y-zpeXP9907SZTwW9iX7uz8Hgv3RYpy-fWK6gL6H8f4vbI54uSgqhyphenhyphenhk85oSmwND2CI/s400/carnaval+cadiz+2.jpg" uda="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rJ6NXcMn2f5gxayYJer9RHgrB_3PfeVqvpfdZx5jc2pUvZIvqoT66OJtpPICwGT3Wq-M9bOSXp4hEjV0rny1k4FnqkuPOfYNgA_fE3FZYAZXWaLElebHrVw5TX2dXom4aVAkLwFUkuk/s1600/carnaval+cadiz+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rJ6NXcMn2f5gxayYJer9RHgrB_3PfeVqvpfdZx5jc2pUvZIvqoT66OJtpPICwGT3Wq-M9bOSXp4hEjV0rny1k4FnqkuPOfYNgA_fE3FZYAZXWaLElebHrVw5TX2dXom4aVAkLwFUkuk/s400/carnaval+cadiz+3.jpg" uda="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were geishas!</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also, I celebrated Carnaval in my school. The young students in the 3 year old, 4 year old, and 5 year old classes all dressed up as ladybugs to march in the Town Parade! The moms even joined in, which was so cute! The morning of the parade, I dressed up as a cheetah and headed down to my “vecinos” to paint the kids’ faces like a ladybug</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Their faces weren’t perfect, but those kids were stinking cute for sure! Then, on the way to school, we stopped at the kiosk called the Diario and I helped paint a few more sweet babies’ faces! Please look at how precious my students are and how much fun they had marched in the parade for Carnaval! Every Primary school participated in the town parade, and the 1<sup>st</sup>-4<sup>th</sup> grade students got to watch the parade on the sidewalks! I was helping Encarni with supervising the 3<sup>rd</sup> graders on the sidewalk. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAzX6gWsuZrsgHQhnKYZKj5RyfPLWRNMxmLMFC2SE6TTg-fEbi4-o7yuBxzJ96L0bX34PeDJQ9MyGUFzpO2i-xbOpKlLLFiE7SLR3WW1X9GFhabJM-yZ4WvNKkWiAlS_pMS-Ip1dXoXU/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAzX6gWsuZrsgHQhnKYZKj5RyfPLWRNMxmLMFC2SE6TTg-fEbi4-o7yuBxzJ96L0bX34PeDJQ9MyGUFzpO2i-xbOpKlLLFiE7SLR3WW1X9GFhabJM-yZ4WvNKkWiAlS_pMS-Ip1dXoXU/s400/007.JPG" uda="true" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet ladybug</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's roll!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the girls in 3rd grade</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiia1Lq3nS1o0bIwP2hKwovDxZmzpArvjLR80-KZk4KZe-LFGNQTjUaJxNb-SWLKDKKSdAxzRItVKgCrAn-O6w_wBOjUeUSGce4pExf9NDB2kkt3u9iGSMD90MZlB-lcF6ic8f6RjIUM-0/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiia1Lq3nS1o0bIwP2hKwovDxZmzpArvjLR80-KZk4KZe-LFGNQTjUaJxNb-SWLKDKKSdAxzRItVKgCrAn-O6w_wBOjUeUSGce4pExf9NDB2kkt3u9iGSMD90MZlB-lcF6ic8f6RjIUM-0/s400/028.JPG" uda="true" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sweet 1st grade/private lesson boys</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaJY5OzGXh-WXRwr_WBQ926glhaSHJ8oL-ehaZzB3dqOdWwxcPVCwO0BIlfA3NS-MVQ6reBnBRoOLOJgNAEC6A7AtVNCPQyvAR3nJdXE4PKZuipXl0XVi49zA24Tfx8yzzmpaqwFjloE/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaJY5OzGXh-WXRwr_WBQ926glhaSHJ8oL-ehaZzB3dqOdWwxcPVCwO0BIlfA3NS-MVQ6reBnBRoOLOJgNAEC6A7AtVNCPQyvAR3nJdXE4PKZuipXl0XVi49zA24Tfx8yzzmpaqwFjloE/s400/038.JPG" uda="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the parade!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a blast and something new for me! The schools really get creative for this parade! It was great to see so much school and town spirit</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So yes, this month has been busy with festivals and teaching. You would think how else would I really have time for anything else. Well, I actually had another unique experience this month. Through all of Carnaval and teaching, I had a cyst erupt in my ovary. It was quite painful, and I am happy to say that after almost a month of it occuring… my ovary is back to normal and inflammation and liquid free!! Also, this month the doctor think I have a kidney stone. With both of these medical issues, you really just have to wait it out and take lots of pain medicine and drink a lot of water. I went through lots of pain pills and 4 rounds of injections for the pain. Basically, I went through a lot of new experiences this month-good and unfortunate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life always is going to throw you anything and everything, but life is not about the good and the bad. Life is about how you handle the good and the bad, and that shows the type of person you are.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Through this month and now as I think back on it all, I still can see how God worked through it all- in small ways and in big ways. I’m very blessed to have a loving mom and dad, true friends, my landlords here, my sweet nieghbors, and my school. They all gave me what I needed when I needed it, whether it was talking to me, driving me to an appointment in another town, giving me time off, cooking for me after school, lots of hugs for my kids, and sweet encouraging messages. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As of now, I just got back from visiting Kristin ( a friend from Tech who is teaching in Spain as well) in JAEN!! This week is a long break due to some Spanish holidays and some province holidays as well. So, especially since I haven’t been feeling my best and I have been waiting for a long break to go visit her- This girl needed a nice relaxing, fun girls trip! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Jaen, we walked the town and been to some great places! The girls took me to some great local bars and tapa restaurants. Some of these tapa places have been there since the 20s!! It was so neat to be in some historical places that were still running!! The food has been great and so rich! Something new that I learned was that Jaen grows olive trees, so they are very well known for olive oil and olives. It was fun to have some girl nights on the town, lay around at the park, eat at some great authentic places, and see some great historical sites (like the Cathedral, the Castillo de Santa Catalina, the famous lizard fountain, and the Arab baths). Also, we went to a couple of neighboring towns, Baeza and Ubeda, to do more sightseeing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have really enjoyed the trip, and can’t wait to see more great towns with fabulous character!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Until next month, adios! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div>Pearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-38195305653934205762012-02-04T06:27:00.000-08:002012-02-04T06:27:59.853-08:00Discovering the secrets of life...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This New Year has just come along so fabulously! So great, that clearly I haven’t had time to share with you all about it faster! So first off, I’m so sorry! I love your support, love, and kindness on my time away from home. So I hope you will enjoy my month of January as I am about to share it with you</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Haley’s sweet mama, Mrs. Debby, was here during Christmas and New Years. So, it was a nice warm Texas welcome for us! We took her all over. We took a trip to Vejer de la Frontera, Gibraltar, Morroco, Malaga, and Barcelona. We spent New Years Eve in our town in Spain, and I would say our holidays were successful! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rrrr, baby! Barcelona 2012</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sagrada Familia Barcelona 2012</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7S2pSj4e2OwfJLElqzdTua-SS6oRb5mMelnOwGkqnhwy6PXVB6FcJm4TXqiGgO-YIUy0dCNP3WDnlgL7C3Nn88Rj35LjXqfGTW3QB1pcM3gVtxNmFo9G9EfsHtsh9FhA4SGZCUaqNTUw/s1600/058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7S2pSj4e2OwfJLElqzdTua-SS6oRb5mMelnOwGkqnhwy6PXVB6FcJm4TXqiGgO-YIUy0dCNP3WDnlgL7C3Nn88Rj35LjXqfGTW3QB1pcM3gVtxNmFo9G9EfsHtsh9FhA4SGZCUaqNTUw/s400/058.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barca, Barca!! 2012</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snake Charming? Once in a lifetime. Morroco 2012</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camel Ride Morroco 2012</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Monkey See, Monkey Do" Gibraltar 2012</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7h77W-yQTdKv6rVNjdEhvK21jUbBZUIYCrE-05DgjsHr4wbQkbE6-nNLfhq9uFgS22wpvmQs9NSS3CaoArP97zj7qX9tUDAyNCvJIJJcHPKBGIWk6EwOG8IvGN-8gjlZvglNR2y5cqg/s1600/Pots+in+the+Streets.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7h77W-yQTdKv6rVNjdEhvK21jUbBZUIYCrE-05DgjsHr4wbQkbE6-nNLfhq9uFgS22wpvmQs9NSS3CaoArP97zj7qX9tUDAyNCvJIJJcHPKBGIWk6EwOG8IvGN-8gjlZvglNR2y5cqg/s400/Pots+in+the+Streets.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vejer de la Frontera 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Travelling is definitely a hobby of mine, and I got to spend most of my time doing that during the break. Through the hustle and bustle of buses, taxis, planes, ferries, and everything else in between, it definitely took my mind off of feeling homesick. (Homesick being the last thing I wanted during my first holiday season without my family.) God definitely worked through those two weeks, and comforted my heart tremendously. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, I admit there are days I miss home, wish I could just hop in my car to go places, or hold Bella, but those turn out to be the days that I am most grateful for. Those days turn themselves around and the people I love the most that are so far away seem to surprise me and make me feel so much more loved than I think I would feel if I was home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I don’t think I make much sense, but then I feel like I make perfect sense. Days you are away from your loved ones or norms of life, help you see how very valuable and precious they truly are to you. I think this aspect of my experience in Spain has really grown me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every day here is a new, interesting, and surprisingly beautiful day for me. I love getting up every morning for school, because I know I will get to teach and love on my students. I know I will probably be smothered with kisses and hugs during playtime or just simply when I walk into a classroom on a good day haha! This is what I love. I’m extremely thankful for being able to live life passionate daily! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So during the month of January, I realized that life is so beautiful. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started my school district applications as well for teaching back home in Texas next school year, applied to KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program), and I plan to reapply to Spain. I will just see how everything plays through, and where God gives me a peace on where to be next school year. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This month has been a great month of love, friendship, family, and enjoyment. I started a flamenco dance class as well. I would not say I’m great yet, but it’s a challenge and sometimes it’s a good thing to challenge yourself from time to time. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Where ever you are in life, remember to stop and enjoy where you are in that moment. The things, the place, the people, the food, the culture, simply everything. I mean don’t you want to play on the beach when the sky is a million different shades of gorgeous?!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SpGaaGMSK2O_zNMmPjQ30dNw8E9P_p2kbbULfopBmSLBq1exr-TpAQNBpj6RMPoruJSsLBxNmH5cWmkaeYdz-2QWgXbg_WVrHFDz8LakBTgyooWwa8wnWaSLmlrFYnhgKvxZWZRE8Io/s1600/beach+life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SpGaaGMSK2O_zNMmPjQ30dNw8E9P_p2kbbULfopBmSLBq1exr-TpAQNBpj6RMPoruJSsLBxNmH5cWmkaeYdz-2QWgXbg_WVrHFDz8LakBTgyooWwa8wnWaSLmlrFYnhgKvxZWZRE8Io/s400/beach+life.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hi Mama! Miss you! (see those yellow bldgs, thats my apt!) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-HM1aZHVMKiUomNnQefaDTll380c84XsBBdGHPOE7sFJNwY1n_-2GawbY2Fe9lsOl-MSjU66JZPIUWCQJrYLH-sN7i8DPpX_oWyJ1gBpGRyoiTGdu28wL0nd3wTqzRbSXLH6zHmpv5A/s1600/hal+and+i+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-HM1aZHVMKiUomNnQefaDTll380c84XsBBdGHPOE7sFJNwY1n_-2GawbY2Fe9lsOl-MSjU66JZPIUWCQJrYLH-sN7i8DPpX_oWyJ1gBpGRyoiTGdu28wL0nd3wTqzRbSXLH6zHmpv5A/s400/hal+and+i+beach.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Lets run like fools on the beach!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQMcfw1sJMB_ns0Oj48dlaZ8brJ95RsNpWz9PLugKxV0Gy0fNaVyrD7NrY_VIYjIaxKIY9V5pVhxKmWM5oThGWbC8tfiAPHP_JEjIgZsTI4i966ciT9YuYJTJz_IL7q3X33KIf4RfBlI/s1600/heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQMcfw1sJMB_ns0Oj48dlaZ8brJ95RsNpWz9PLugKxV0Gy0fNaVyrD7NrY_VIYjIaxKIY9V5pVhxKmWM5oThGWbC8tfiAPHP_JEjIgZsTI4i966ciT9YuYJTJz_IL7q3X33KIf4RfBlI/s400/heart.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love you, Daddy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love love.</span></div>Pearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-9113603604168735952011-12-30T17:05:00.000-08:002011-12-30T17:05:45.037-08:00No Pasa Nada...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is crazy to think that I have been here since September and that I have done so much already! I really already feels like a year ago that I packed 4 luggage carriers and hopped on the plane. I have been really lucky to meet some great friends in my town to just enjoy life with. It is like I have a little Spanish family here, including all my students who I see all around town! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hope your Christmas was nothing short of being merry and bright, and I cannot express how excited I am about a New Year! I completely understand that the world is not pretty and lovely right now, but I think improving your life starts with how you look at it. Be positive about 2012, this could be your year of new, great things! So welcome 2012 with your biggest smile that you know I miss, and embrace life to the fullest</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During my Christmas break, I have been pretty busy! I had a great last week of school with my babies with singing at the Community Center, the School Christmas Show, festivities around town, field trips, and lots of love everywhere. We were welcomed into our Spanish mom and dad’s house (aka our landlords) for Christmas Eve Dinner, and we ate great food and laughed a ton! </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yfj4i77tw4E/Tv5agnal08I/AAAAAAAAAJs/69g0xqCQwBw/s1600/261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yfj4i77tw4E/Tv5agnal08I/AAAAAAAAAJs/69g0xqCQwBw/s400/261.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Primer Plato </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x3LRcYJKVE4/Tv5apZnbpHI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/TnUM2wnwepQ/s1600/262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x3LRcYJKVE4/Tv5apZnbpHI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/TnUM2wnwepQ/s400/262.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Table</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WcS1M7-qiC4/Tv5aygLIJ7I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/WywalLXw8bM/s1600/263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WcS1M7-qiC4/Tv5aygLIJ7I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/WywalLXw8bM/s400/263.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Spanish Mama and her girls! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nYpOL03jULs/Tv5a7FQEHfI/AAAAAAAAAKE/HdWYifUiEIo/s1600/266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nYpOL03jULs/Tv5a7FQEHfI/AAAAAAAAAKE/HdWYifUiEIo/s400/266.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying new foods!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sI2IBRiu6Fc/Tv5bD7SosEI/AAAAAAAAAKM/7zuP2GMF0E4/s1600/267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sI2IBRiu6Fc/Tv5bD7SosEI/AAAAAAAAAKM/7zuP2GMF0E4/s400/267.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Segundo Plato</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qZHXBFzDeQQ/Tv5bM3eE11I/AAAAAAAAAKU/W8Vj9azH2Ks/s1600/269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qZHXBFzDeQQ/Tv5bM3eE11I/AAAAAAAAAKU/W8Vj9azH2Ks/s400/269.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Postres</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After time with the family, we went home to change and enjoyed the night with some friends! We had a blast and a half! Christmas day was what I had been dreading, but God-willing it went so great! I thought for sure I would be moody that day, but I was in great spirits. Haley and I enjoyed a nice Texas Style Breakfast for Christmas Dinner, which we made in our kitchen together. We are super precious sometimes haha! Then, we watched “Life as we know it” to end our Christmas day! The next day, we traveled to Sevilla with Patrice, Haley’s coworker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was really nice to road trip it to my favorite city in Spain with the funnest teacher! It really worked out perfectly, because she was flying to Barcelona the same day that we needed to pick Haley’s mom up from the airport. So, we helped Patrice check in and waited with her until she went passed Security, then Haley’s mom arrived!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We spent the night in Sevilla. We stayed in “barrio de santa cruz” at Hotel Murillo. They were very nice, and helpful from extra sheets to taxi calls. It was a very nice area, and the hotel was lovely and quiet. Also, it was very close to the center of the city. We were at the Cathedral in about 10- 15 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you know Sevilla, you know it was a gorgeous walk.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our second day in Sevilla, we had a shopping day! It was so nice to have some girlie time, especially after our long, busy work week. After shopping, we took a taxi to the train station for our train to Cadiz. The train ride was about 2 hours, and then we had a layover at the Cadiz bus station for about an hour. So, we spent some time in the café in the bus station. Haley and I ate a tortilla and drank some “zumo natural” (homemade orange juice) and Mrs. Debby showed me all of her fun pictures of Haley before we left for Spain. It was some great to chat it up in PERSON!!! Finally, our bus came and we rode it for about 2.5 hours to our beach town!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the first few days, we have showed Mrs. Debby every detail of our daily life from daily routines, Spanish schedule, grocery shopping, etc. Also, we took her to Vejer de la Frontera and Gibraltar the first week. In a previous blog I traveled to precious Vejer, so I will not bore you with its elaborations again. But I will tell you all about my time in the British colony called Gibraltar!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, to be honest, going into this day trip I did not know much about this place. I only knew about it due to our friend from England, who told me it was English territory. I did not know about the monkeys or that is would so interesting! I always get really excited when I can get a new stamp in my passport, and I didn’t realize that would happen either! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the some of you who were like me and don’t know much about this place, I will give you a quick summary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First off, it’s not Spanish land…like I said its English territory. So, that means English and Spanish are spoken there and diverse currency is accepted there as well. It’s known for the “Gibraltar Rock”, which is where the apes live!! This is a place with a lot of history for military as well. I truly enjoy traveling, cultures, history, and diversity...soo this was a pretty neat place to visit! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I did get to see a few monkeys on the Gibraltar Rock today, and to do that I needed to take a Cable Car to the TOP of the mountain. Yes, I was a little nervous, but I did it!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We also walked the streets and ate a few patio restaurants to simply enjoy the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned that lots of Spaniards go to Gibraltar to buy clothes, alcohol, cigarettes, toys etc. since its a little cheaper. So, we checked out some stores and just really soaked in Gibraltar! It was a nice, calm day for us and I’m not gonna lie it was lovely hearing English around</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are some pictures of our day in Gibraltar…</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8lVx3ll2uZc/Tv5cwqnyE5I/AAAAAAAAAKg/wGdS65b1cdA/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8lVx3ll2uZc/Tv5cwqnyE5I/AAAAAAAAAKg/wGdS65b1cdA/s400/027.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Gibraltar Rock</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sduf7OKftIM/Tv5c18edQ7I/AAAAAAAAAKo/MVKAjgxRRYo/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sduf7OKftIM/Tv5c18edQ7I/AAAAAAAAAKo/MVKAjgxRRYo/s400/028.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Gorgeous Shot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pQI_litc1R4/Tv5c6d-OUVI/AAAAAAAAAKw/U71vzOXyDEE/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pQI_litc1R4/Tv5c6d-OUVI/AAAAAAAAAKw/U71vzOXyDEE/s400/030.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where is the Monkey?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--RQLBN4vlu4/Tv5c_4KM0cI/AAAAAAAAAK4/ijhAxnTTidI/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--RQLBN4vlu4/Tv5c_4KM0cI/AAAAAAAAAK4/ijhAxnTTidI/s400/031.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gibraltar<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As for our New Year’s Weekend, we are staying on the beach to bring in the New Year! Stay classy, merry, and enjoy bringing in 2012! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love love. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Pearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-86308200836056118112011-12-23T14:50:00.000-08:002011-12-23T14:50:07.656-08:00On being blessed...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am completely in love with the month of December. I try my hardest to start the Christmas season as quickly as I can, like right after Halloween. Sadly, people I live with won’t let me until around Thanksgiving. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So when the month of December rolled around the roommates and I made our way to the closest Chino store to get our Christmas decorations for our Spanish apartment. It was like Christmas threw up in that Chino store, we had to work to find the good stuff! After debating on tree sizes, we decided on the medium one. Clearly that was compromise for me…but I still love them none the less!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">From the tree to ornaments, poinsettias to twinkle lights, the star for the tree top to the snowflakes for the terrace doors, and plenty of ribbon for my heart’s desire, we had a potluck dinner with our girls and a Christmas Decorating Party with my roommates and one of our Spanish friends, Pedro.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvGnuo_wHhLaNmq7zLeO6H06SnGMtti2GyfI6xLwLtPnfBK7HiMlwFQWbr6F47W7eGLHIsSFer18wfIX-wIdFxN6BoGbX898rjTjiJK-VnF2e9zlcCbVXqum1dprffqM3CTWeEjIEHFA/s1600/Christmas+dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvGnuo_wHhLaNmq7zLeO6H06SnGMtti2GyfI6xLwLtPnfBK7HiMlwFQWbr6F47W7eGLHIsSFer18wfIX-wIdFxN6BoGbX898rjTjiJK-VnF2e9zlcCbVXqum1dprffqM3CTWeEjIEHFA/s400/Christmas+dinner.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potluck Dinner with Liz, Chessa, and my roommates!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2hDhkhnv20e7Xy5UCkJ5O8tyYsO2bTLMMm2BDCRQG_MTg40-O3c-lRVhzmTZRyqP_OO5WG3kQE6bJepmVivM-3XXoP8VmTkSE1sgKpe7osg6_N9nNrJvh184ocnOCOCredU6EdH9R64/s1600/spain+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2hDhkhnv20e7Xy5UCkJ5O8tyYsO2bTLMMm2BDCRQG_MTg40-O3c-lRVhzmTZRyqP_OO5WG3kQE6bJepmVivM-3XXoP8VmTkSE1sgKpe7osg6_N9nNrJvh184ocnOCOCredU6EdH9R64/s400/spain+tree.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3vQF3ju2GcDLE5OwPBa-IC8LfnRQSf36hqgqhL4ZfIN5wHMPIBMEGVJLMrdTH0syyME8q2BiNME-WjjOqKr6kRb1ElXzSb7-lvZ06OHonowyTm35uqCmojoG1VLav7Ee3hEVZi_qSQg/s1600/pedro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3vQF3ju2GcDLE5OwPBa-IC8LfnRQSf36hqgqhL4ZfIN5wHMPIBMEGVJLMrdTH0syyME8q2BiNME-WjjOqKr6kRb1ElXzSb7-lvZ06OHonowyTm35uqCmojoG1VLav7Ee3hEVZi_qSQg/s400/pedro.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haley, Pedro, and I after decorating the apt!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As many of you know, I will not be going home for Christmas. This is my first Christmas without my loved ones, but it’s one of the sacrifices I made when I left for this opportunity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second week of December here was a holiday week for Haley and me, so we planned a grand Christmas trip to London and Scotland (And it was a grand trip indeed)! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To begin our trip, we headed to Malaga Sunday afternoon for our flight on Monday morning. We took a 3 hour bus from our town to precious Malaga! We were exhausted from the past few nights with our crazy friends, so we slept for the majority of the ride. When we got to Malaga, we ate at our beloved McDonalds!! Guess what? McDonalds in Spain have “Pan sin gluten” (Gluten Free Bread), which is a perfect compliment to my hamburger!!! Of course after our meal, we shopped around the mall! Then we meet up with my friend, Lauren, who I took the road trip with during Halloween! It was so sweet to see her city at Christmas time with all the lights and decorations! Simply gorgeous as you can see…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">**MALAGA CHRISTMAS LIGHTS</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We strolled around the city center in awe of the gorgeous lights, because sadly the only Christmas lights in our town are in our apartment. Ok, I take it back…there is a strand of hot chilies near the doctor’s office, and I think I have seen a gold star on one street. They are trying</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we were walking around the city, we ran into Lauren’s roommate and his friends in the street. I love meeting new people, especially when they are from different countries as well! Lauren has a German, Polish, and Spanish roommate, which is super cool in my book!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To end our Sunday, we had some tapas in the city center with our fabulous host, Lauren. We stayed at Lauren’s place that evening so we could catch our plane the next morning. She lives super close to the train station, and the train is about a 15 minute ride to the Malaga airport. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Monday morning, we had to make a quick stop at the bank before heading to the airport. After taking a taxi to the bank, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a taxi to the train station, and running around like headless chickens, we were waiting for the train. The only tiny detail missing is that we were waiting for the train at ohh 10:00am and our flight to London was at 11:15am!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We had the “what are we going to do if..” talk, and I just kept saying “we are getting on that plane, oh sweet God!” haha. The train came and we hopped on, ready to get through the next craziest hour of our life! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Within 15 minutes, we were running into the airport. It took us what felt like forever to find the check-in counter for our bag. We asked a million people, and remember this is all in Spanish. Sometimes in the moment, it just comes and I am thankful it comes! After asking the security guard and her pointing us in the direction of our airlines, we came to the longest line known to man! I mean longessssssssstttttttttttttt line known to man. Haley and I saw that there was a shorter line, just for baggage check in. We didn’t have our boarding passes printed out for this flight, but we were checked in and they were visable via Haley’s ipad. So, I processed to cut the lines and walk right up to the counter. I asked if we could be in the short line just for the bag, even though we didn’t have a paper boarding ticket. She said yes! Some airlines in Europe are really picky about these things, and it’s just better to have it printed. We just forgot to print it prior to leaving our town. Then, right as I turned around to run back to Haley, Haley was with another airline worker coming to me!! The worker found Haley and we got first class treatment with our bag and they let us sit together! They were really so sweet, as we were super apologetic about our tardiness. At this point, we still needed to get through security and border control before boarding the plane, and the time was 10:45am! We bolted with our carry on bags through the airport to security! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of my least favorite things about airports is taking off your shoes to go through security. I wore my boots, so it would not make the check in bag overweight. So it’s a workout to get them on and off quickly with a million people around you. Somehow we managed to get through that moment and me having to get “wanded” …just my luck on just my day, right?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I learned real quickly that when traveling with Haley and I, you better be ready for anything and everything. I did not think I could sprint the way I did through that Malaga airport, but I was getting on that plane and I was going to have a “very merry Christmas” trip. The line for the Border Control was long, but surprisingly went super fast. Check, STAMP! And guess which gate was the first one, our gate!! God was working for us for sure, and as always taking care of us</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thankful, tired, and laughing we sat together on our OWN row as we flew to London! Oh, clearly we were starving…I mean of course we didn’t eat yet, and if we did, we would have worked that food off in our marathon to catch the plane. So we had to order some breakfast, European flights do not include meals, always be prepared and have cash…it’s just easier (but they do except cards, I don’t really understand that, we are in the air?!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After waking up a million times and not sleeping well on the plane, we finally arrived in London!!! The airlines we used to fly to London from Spain was Aegean, which is an Irish airline…wonderful airlines!! We strongly recommend it, from check-in to leaving the plane! Wonderful customer service and great plane music! Seriously, Michael Bublé is always precious!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In London, we did a million and one things in a few short days! We had a nice stroll in Hyde Park and saw the “Santa Winter Wonderland”, we did a Double Decker Bus tour, saw “Chicago” featuring America Ferrera, ate Thai Food every day, took a boat ride in the Thames River, saw Big Ben, Parliament, The Abbey, London Eye, Platform 9 ¾ at the Kings Cross station, walked the streets of Camden Town, visited Sherlock Holmes, spent a morning with the Royal Guards at Buckingham Palace, shopped on Oxford Street, and drank tea every day. I am completely smitten with London, and hope to go back with our dear friend, Liz and spend it with a true English native. After all, she is from Surrey</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfElYrqMBTxcQkJ3mtlQqUAbNSQQY8sCE-y54uv1F3U7-yX-VRad3Yw-Ux4K3YzQVLyMNjTjnhpwcYzvx0659EnZaZ87nYykaK37wLpm84t-QJm-YYVOMZ03ItWoukBeSC27qQn9ITPU/s1600/abbey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfElYrqMBTxcQkJ3mtlQqUAbNSQQY8sCE-y54uv1F3U7-yX-VRad3Yw-Ux4K3YzQVLyMNjTjnhpwcYzvx0659EnZaZ87nYykaK37wLpm84t-QJm-YYVOMZ03ItWoukBeSC27qQn9ITPU/s400/abbey.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Abbey..just a little late for the Royal Wedding:)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEjhLcZDc-HqVYeCdofNAFYcu51VuWspMxkgiJCmc_1kuwlGczlquG7pqukV1ruDA8CX6ldPKJevxYD8ECxx7MBPEa3UzY_PTwvAtvIgy3uQCHZxIrkdMclKSGPKwIKnUGp6J9dn4p34/s1600/big+ben+london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEjhLcZDc-HqVYeCdofNAFYcu51VuWspMxkgiJCmc_1kuwlGczlquG7pqukV1ruDA8CX6ldPKJevxYD8ECxx7MBPEa3UzY_PTwvAtvIgy3uQCHZxIrkdMclKSGPKwIKnUGp6J9dn4p34/s400/big+ben+london.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Ben and Little Fran!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKpefJv_PbDOsrD7Cv9Na9ubbvaPyndE-Kiizr4d1mKco3C9yHSdZkXcoUk84cWVQriqmDzIpRMRTTO3-amgrZbvS7oK6miHp3rff4aqZifHY7I1jGmCm-AHKWHZncSzi7AijO6NfITg/s1600/bp+and+band+london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKpefJv_PbDOsrD7Cv9Na9ubbvaPyndE-Kiizr4d1mKco3C9yHSdZkXcoUk84cWVQriqmDzIpRMRTTO3-amgrZbvS7oK6miHp3rff4aqZifHY7I1jGmCm-AHKWHZncSzi7AijO6NfITg/s400/bp+and+band+london.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royal Marching Band</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioM0zoAODAL_K7SKzRgYrX7lM03r10-ukJFUIwl-MlnjNQflFGv98efZDuVJ1-UyOKTsQ0z7Oce4WRSZqODmf4OSwpzXcufD8t12AIy0dlGjeMHAMi3MzguPENkK_5z9G2qVL6Pin6lm0/s1600/band+london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioM0zoAODAL_K7SKzRgYrX7lM03r10-ukJFUIwl-MlnjNQflFGv98efZDuVJ1-UyOKTsQ0z7Oce4WRSZqODmf4OSwpzXcufD8t12AIy0dlGjeMHAMi3MzguPENkK_5z9G2qVL6Pin6lm0/s400/band+london.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwsAHjo_6dHYrxn_6ppUnG8zKwobNi3gK7iL5WpgLl9fH7QaCDBkU5Ep8tdgg-8iwLU_B1zSUQ8Cei-UBrcR8dBXcvzjwUzulvAUVGRyDh0-gem8wx_iMaaWP_9pJ0XrDCe21PAysUrU/s1600/bus+london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwsAHjo_6dHYrxn_6ppUnG8zKwobNi3gK7iL5WpgLl9fH7QaCDBkU5Ep8tdgg-8iwLU_B1zSUQ8Cei-UBrcR8dBXcvzjwUzulvAUVGRyDh0-gem8wx_iMaaWP_9pJ0XrDCe21PAysUrU/s400/bus+london.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double Decker Bus!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-uKTkzDuVT8A9qnzFY6sTS1DfZmnv6phX-eyVxdd2MaHdtaPd0ojW5pc2sQA_y22ods7MQnP9lYtiI3hRQ3_IaoOIoI8LBwtQNyKnVI98wegJs9_hqOSrdCYqNlKJ69kkFwfnR1_HWQ/s1600/camden+town.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-uKTkzDuVT8A9qnzFY6sTS1DfZmnv6phX-eyVxdd2MaHdtaPd0ojW5pc2sQA_y22ods7MQnP9lYtiI3hRQ3_IaoOIoI8LBwtQNyKnVI98wegJs9_hqOSrdCYqNlKJ69kkFwfnR1_HWQ/s400/camden+town.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camden Town!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">English Breakfast!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoRWv_ctaApJVfq5GJFBZysgpa_cj31Ffo4G54LJ_w9wKdJVf8cEPH0BYA7D3OyzbVJP5OP3iyTha9vShmQQ8lfTNBnuBa6l6hsETEuimztxRlK2Hu3FSBxmk-qZYC8Zo2QIAr50iTfw/s1600/garrick+theatre+london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoRWv_ctaApJVfq5GJFBZysgpa_cj31Ffo4G54LJ_w9wKdJVf8cEPH0BYA7D3OyzbVJP5OP3iyTha9vShmQQ8lfTNBnuBa6l6hsETEuimztxRlK2Hu3FSBxmk-qZYC8Zo2QIAr50iTfw/s400/garrick+theatre+london.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garrick Theatre! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyl8zNueCkYsXY1hsORMRKq7ygkRpcUBX4vsXmX_inAQhQSVyaus0W4tgTVQbwXvjXMJ6oI_-6ZorRG5ZH2cQZ-xcMgXbBrghWY3Z44Wno16K7pknOWVb-ZbEjkBg6arCxKTRp19zaNPM/s1600/chicago+london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyl8zNueCkYsXY1hsORMRKq7ygkRpcUBX4vsXmX_inAQhQSVyaus0W4tgTVQbwXvjXMJ6oI_-6ZorRG5ZH2cQZ-xcMgXbBrghWY3Z44Wno16K7pknOWVb-ZbEjkBg6arCxKTRp19zaNPM/s400/chicago+london.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicago Feat. America Ferrera</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWaFEdhk3q6zXT9dAeE_JXA4Xxmc9L0Q-FQOGEiwZVhaoZmoxovv3k5XhqJ6lYLzz3S3SSkR5TJKZjz1rwlRHmlFpvRrGrJTNiRWPYD_yTFMSLp3IWYFNyNYCwXmfB2iIWbraG06un4k/s1600/guards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWaFEdhk3q6zXT9dAeE_JXA4Xxmc9L0Q-FQOGEiwZVhaoZmoxovv3k5XhqJ6lYLzz3S3SSkR5TJKZjz1rwlRHmlFpvRrGrJTNiRWPYD_yTFMSLp3IWYFNyNYCwXmfB2iIWbraG06un4k/s400/guards.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royal Carriage!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvetoVNlKcBNG-Fy2IENVQUOsrWvM_-I2Il8Grhpzq2U5UGXa1FzQa8QjZwHpLf-6YANjm8oHd5WRYMUbKg_4IFjEkFfTc6in3XuWddqwOTGAlJL-jO7Q6lswnm91ThhAaT_lerAE-n4/s1600/guards+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvetoVNlKcBNG-Fy2IENVQUOsrWvM_-I2Il8Grhpzq2U5UGXa1FzQa8QjZwHpLf-6YANjm8oHd5WRYMUbKg_4IFjEkFfTc6in3XuWddqwOTGAlJL-jO7Q6lswnm91ThhAaT_lerAE-n4/s400/guards+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best seat to watch the Changing of the Guards!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfMpQrUMEGAGAi-zcyzpGzKd9IkJouh4TjDgfrg_dxbWSTq-5mAHeZW72O014SiA6Vbz-OSLOMVojhUGuXwh5MaTghAHgrgQ_OxaWrzpY-6V0TSlhgdf7rXD4gwoiMtroMBnu478ZDpY/s1600/guards+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfMpQrUMEGAGAi-zcyzpGzKd9IkJouh4TjDgfrg_dxbWSTq-5mAHeZW72O014SiA6Vbz-OSLOMVojhUGuXwh5MaTghAHgrgQ_OxaWrzpY-6V0TSlhgdf7rXD4gwoiMtroMBnu478ZDpY/s400/guards+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royal Guards!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vNhTgkF4e9PqYZoLv2sf5vRtbrrv9uLmkOFU0PnL37DoIveu3tmwf8hfon4_F1BPEW2pM43RkgArRWb63RTxBBI7gaayq0Npzw2dgnCiIT9FoodBU_ipZvXA8DTl49ofjgEi2Nmr_Wo/s1600/guards+and+bp+london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vNhTgkF4e9PqYZoLv2sf5vRtbrrv9uLmkOFU0PnL37DoIveu3tmwf8hfon4_F1BPEW2pM43RkgArRWb63RTxBBI7gaayq0Npzw2dgnCiIT9FoodBU_ipZvXA8DTl49ofjgEi2Nmr_Wo/s400/guards+and+bp+london.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Changing of the Guards </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAiW-grxIyaHVRB0zjujhZIXR8YxMBf1ZSUDURjQbDki4qSpQkNthwkQkgpqLKAsHWuPZQncApnSWjxurTbbEfr8M58Gjb1Syp9YzT_yd7wvD6tD0XhEULhHzv3IgE-nX6JAPuZ2byS3U/s1600/hp+kings+cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAiW-grxIyaHVRB0zjujhZIXR8YxMBf1ZSUDURjQbDki4qSpQkNthwkQkgpqLKAsHWuPZQncApnSWjxurTbbEfr8M58Gjb1Syp9YzT_yd7wvD6tD0XhEULhHzv3IgE-nX6JAPuZ2byS3U/s400/hp+kings+cross.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going to Hogwarts!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4lah3KBp6yUynsjBi7ZXv4GDmnwD2AcWafjY5Du59ms6S-eeNVsjcORVsypq7IVrkNsRRMqRMpyw5MB8qe_5mZfPTS0VLiu0iczaiBK7RIo433M9qAcdYfWQBDerD4GajLHhqhUIT_s/s1600/hyde+park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4lah3KBp6yUynsjBi7ZXv4GDmnwD2AcWafjY5Du59ms6S-eeNVsjcORVsypq7IVrkNsRRMqRMpyw5MB8qe_5mZfPTS0VLiu0iczaiBK7RIo433M9qAcdYfWQBDerD4GajLHhqhUIT_s/s400/hyde+park.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strolling in Hyde Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hY4QGnSOmBaKZIq_m3OSd-kUSIWaoNG78Z8AmJsuR27SgwaoREb3urF_G0-PzpmP-kCmCqulAlrtGNSzo8cWeZ_Cjq5fuNjF7WYuX6wZLdc6JjhPfjRcyKfgpkPbHCV-7i9bw22JvOY/s1600/london+eye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hY4QGnSOmBaKZIq_m3OSd-kUSIWaoNG78Z8AmJsuR27SgwaoREb3urF_G0-PzpmP-kCmCqulAlrtGNSzo8cWeZ_Cjq5fuNjF7WYuX6wZLdc6JjhPfjRcyKfgpkPbHCV-7i9bw22JvOY/s400/london+eye.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh hey, London Eye!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-88rRzQExsCNJm6mgwL8GDopWT4saNuVP2lWPaGiOXXjiaBZg5DMLXaSJa0w2BmJaG3RZiCWyb2xYTNF6UxS9kjJ8VEKl0udZ8KFnT-xcdz38CfkXdzrLgMcJYBJgAbOfuxAOcDUykA/s1600/look+rt+london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-88rRzQExsCNJm6mgwL8GDopWT4saNuVP2lWPaGiOXXjiaBZg5DMLXaSJa0w2BmJaG3RZiCWyb2xYTNF6UxS9kjJ8VEKl0udZ8KFnT-xcdz38CfkXdzrLgMcJYBJgAbOfuxAOcDUykA/s400/look+rt+london.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look the other way! You are in London, darling!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnseG2pYB4d2UvPe11mR0Ijnj_MKMvjAxmK1X8DKxRVWP5KDXhS5ccBlrGhK99GCjvOnxbwIqNPizWaWW5fOqNn5-jUacyowK8_sknovE2GpjyF7IAumk9jb7Uegv87nPvagIvq0eyMqs/s1600/oxford+st+london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnseG2pYB4d2UvPe11mR0Ijnj_MKMvjAxmK1X8DKxRVWP5KDXhS5ccBlrGhK99GCjvOnxbwIqNPizWaWW5fOqNn5-jUacyowK8_sknovE2GpjyF7IAumk9jb7Uegv87nPvagIvq0eyMqs/s400/oxford+st+london.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oxford St. at its finest!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomp_-VWKbGuZpxntv4BK-dOV0UbF-g1x7YlPPUlg5OoaOWpLAdi9FAUB-H_r5GSawTeSk1cBGEd-HNWUYYkrX12asVQ_hvb4feVtjQ2YUf-ybcEwYfNi5GtqN8s47TnO9lE_BFVsq2zY/s1600/parliament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomp_-VWKbGuZpxntv4BK-dOV0UbF-g1x7YlPPUlg5OoaOWpLAdi9FAUB-H_r5GSawTeSk1cBGEd-HNWUYYkrX12asVQ_hvb4feVtjQ2YUf-ybcEwYfNi5GtqN8s47TnO9lE_BFVsq2zY/s400/parliament.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haley and I on the Westminister Bridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBKBmESlDZsfRa-8nXg9LBYAdB-H4vGoHeZaSpDYSwlJHd6GNKwTjABVirHIo61i1hA6CVKUS8vgdpvNuuCmvznQ7r63S5XjIcLX16S-ppJYk1aNcLlMK2Ml6w8TvUHHy1j8MWepYE5Y/s1600/telephone+booth+london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBKBmESlDZsfRa-8nXg9LBYAdB-H4vGoHeZaSpDYSwlJHd6GNKwTjABVirHIo61i1hA6CVKUS8vgdpvNuuCmvznQ7r63S5XjIcLX16S-ppJYk1aNcLlMK2Ml6w8TvUHHy1j8MWepYE5Y/s400/telephone+booth+london.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cherrio!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktxP6G-Kb_-GhyphenhyphenCDMgXLMXf-9ZI8M5RWC8WllFHViKYGSHeDt4ae3ARki76T7mR4uu0EWmRFznrXNDxwVJC_C4ZTsMEzFINPwsFrTOL2vujrFoZWXhaF2sxQMstz240DGL6CcdEjW4c0/s1600/thames+river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktxP6G-Kb_-GhyphenhyphenCDMgXLMXf-9ZI8M5RWC8WllFHViKYGSHeDt4ae3ARki76T7mR4uu0EWmRFznrXNDxwVJC_C4ZTsMEzFINPwsFrTOL2vujrFoZWXhaF2sxQMstz240DGL6CcdEjW4c0/s400/thames+river.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous, cold day in London!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFrJxTVqYJST5lYIOPfx69u3yzG0wwnN-EqnVZ6LCh1HbJaKGJnIcn0AnMzuDgskXz7QRxSLfB7I0Oa8AsNcNFfEbOBI1DDe0zv-NEbOsDGgfAXYgZ2DtDTX-5G2TepDV-BTBIFGuHB8/s1600/topshop+london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFrJxTVqYJST5lYIOPfx69u3yzG0wwnN-EqnVZ6LCh1HbJaKGJnIcn0AnMzuDgskXz7QRxSLfB7I0Oa8AsNcNFfEbOBI1DDe0zv-NEbOsDGgfAXYgZ2DtDTX-5G2TepDV-BTBIFGuHB8/s400/topshop+london.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shopping on Oxford St.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAbl1qg8JfQxpWd5k7DGUppEQ5v5RzTiKzKZiZd4-HeAa8bjvvK65kulkKpw-6Io2eBeifZpqKgCD3B1iFDO63btY2aCXJNGqRt3UqBgI9-dxQHtYpRPRGzteqE7I3jA2bAB0m2JWG5c/s1600/winter+wonderland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAbl1qg8JfQxpWd5k7DGUppEQ5v5RzTiKzKZiZd4-HeAa8bjvvK65kulkKpw-6Io2eBeifZpqKgCD3B1iFDO63btY2aCXJNGqRt3UqBgI9-dxQHtYpRPRGzteqE7I3jA2bAB0m2JWG5c/s400/winter+wonderland.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park! </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After falling head </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">over heels with London, we checked out around 4am to catch our train to Glasgow, Scotland. Little did we know it would be the longest day of our life #2! Sadly we went to the wrong station first and had to take another taxi to the right station, then a few hours later and a few more ups and downs...we finally were on the train to Glasgow!! To be honest, we were so exhausted that it was hard to act excited about going to Scotland in that moment. As most people know, I am NOT a morning person!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After about an hour and a half, we were informed that there was extreme flooding on the way to Glasgow, and the train was called to stop at the next station. We stopped, and they processed to tell us that there was another train going to Edinburgh in 5 minutes at a different platform. Edinburgh is about 45-60 minutes away from Glasgow, but close enough in this situation! So we got on that train with everyone going to “Glasgow”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After about 40 minutes, we were informed that yet again that train was being terminated. There would be a direct to Glasgow Central in about 45 minutes. So, we freshened up in a train station bathroom, somewhere in Scotland!! Then eventually we were on the train for good, and the water has fallen from the tracks. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What we didn’t know, and learned on the train was that there was a severe high speed wind warning from 2-6pm in Glasgow that same day. It was said to be over 100 mph, and I do believe it was!! We thought we could walk to the hostel, yet we were very, very wrong! Haley was pulled into the street by the wind, and little ‘ol me went after her to save her…yes there was a car coming too! So, when I tell you severe high speed winds, I mean severe high speed winds! And Lubbock, Texas, had nothing on those winds!!! I was not prepared, nor was I ever in Lubbock…I became best friends with light poles on windy days</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So clearly our first day in Glasgow was not the best, but we decided to see the town the next day and prayed for better weather. And the next day, there was SUN, Starbucks, and gorgeous nature!!! Scotland is really breathtaking, and I am glad we got to see its true beauty while we were there</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P08KGTmb0kM/TvUCbG4dl_I/AAAAAAAAAHs/NuOUBT9cNxE/s1600/glasgow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P08KGTmb0kM/TvUCbG4dl_I/AAAAAAAAAHs/NuOUBT9cNxE/s400/glasgow.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gorgeous church near the park!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kE4rypKirVA/TvUCelhCS3I/AAAAAAAAAH0/0Qk9Mns0Q4Y/s1600/starbucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kE4rypKirVA/TvUCelhCS3I/AAAAAAAAAH0/0Qk9Mns0Q4Y/s400/starbucks.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">silly faces and starbucks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On our second day in sweet Glasgow, we took tons of pictures around town, the park, the university, and so much more. We also made it in time for a Christmas play! If you are even in Glasgow, you must go to the Oran Mor Theatre for “a play, a pie and a pint.” Yes, its not great for people that are gluten and dairy free like me, but there is wine and the play is so funny!!! I would highly recommend it to everyone traveling through Scotland</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> The play showing for Christmas was “Snow White," how precious! We got some great laughs and we had so much fun with the theatre family we made!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wQC6mQETgEk/TvUC5c1atcI/AAAAAAAAAIA/DhSzGzjVG7s/s1600/snow+white+play+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wQC6mQETgEk/TvUC5c1atcI/AAAAAAAAAIA/DhSzGzjVG7s/s400/snow+white+play+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Play, a Pie, and a Pint</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bzhsW1J5kH4/TvUC8_27VDI/AAAAAAAAAII/JfI3MDtVGkA/s1600/snow+white+play.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bzhsW1J5kH4/TvUC8_27VDI/AAAAAAAAAII/JfI3MDtVGkA/s400/snow+white+play.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We saw Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs, so of course we took pictures!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the show, we window shopped in the centre of town. Glasgow has some cool vintage shows, and there were some fabulous things in every store! In Glasgow, it gets darker earlier so that was new for us. We got to take more fun Christmas pictures, and enjoyed a nice dinner in a traditional Scottish restaurant in the centre of town. This precious restaurant included….waiters wearing kilts, Christmas crackers for every guest, and amazing food (gluten free pasta)!!!! We were even there when it was a 16 year old girl’s birthday, so the whole restaurant sang to her</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is my very first Christmas cracker! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aQKGp0PvV5U/TvUDVZfnKAI/AAAAAAAAAIU/13cWckVYDKc/s1600/christmas+cracker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aQKGp0PvV5U/TvUDVZfnKAI/AAAAAAAAAIU/13cWckVYDKc/s320/christmas+cracker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our last day of being tourist, started off ver</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">y rough. I was completely dead and it took me foreverrrr to get out of bed. The week before leaving for our trip, I went to the doctor and found out I had bronchitis. I guess the cold weather and being an intense tourist wasn’t the best way to recuperate..but I like to live my life in the moment</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I literally felt like I had a building on my back pushing me down haha! Poor Haley was sick with this horrible man cough, so she was a trooper to deal with my morning blues! Needless to say, I finally got ready and we headed to the train station for our day trip to precious Edinburgh!!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Guess what??? It was snowinggg!!! It was like we were in Harry Potter going to Hogwarts and it was breathtaking! (thank you Haley for not giving up on me on that morning!!) It was a fabulous day seeing the famous Edinburgh Castle, shopping, walking the cold streets with millions of people, and simply enjoying our sweet Merry Christmas in the snow!!!!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xJ9bzZ9HE28/TvUDnXoN2JI/AAAAAAAAAIg/moQUEBEIt3U/s1600/edinburgh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xJ9bzZ9HE28/TvUDnXoN2JI/AAAAAAAAAIg/moQUEBEIt3U/s400/edinburgh.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MZGMJKoHllc/TvUDpfpe6xI/AAAAAAAAAIo/LBmJCwCF8fE/s1600/edinburgh+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MZGMJKoHllc/TvUDpfpe6xI/AAAAAAAAAIo/LBmJCwCF8fE/s400/edinburgh+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haley and I in Edinburgh</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VhF667TgEvM/TvUDr3SQ5MI/AAAAAAAAAIw/67Zq4vKK4Us/s1600/edinburgh+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VhF667TgEvM/TvUDr3SQ5MI/AAAAAAAAAIw/67Zq4vKK4Us/s400/edinburgh+3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the streets of Edinburgh on a Cold day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RaZxlccsrWk/TvUDvYJh7_I/AAAAAAAAAI4/JzdCjY71efQ/s1600/edinburgh+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RaZxlccsrWk/TvUDvYJh7_I/AAAAAAAAAI4/JzdCjY71efQ/s400/edinburgh+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Knight in Shining Armor:)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yhsLgNZmNBU/TvUDyqHhlHI/AAAAAAAAAJA/xJR5m7MG5Og/s1600/edinburgh+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yhsLgNZmNBU/TvUDyqHhlHI/AAAAAAAAAJA/xJR5m7MG5Og/s400/edinburgh+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kilt Making Machine!! </td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh yes, we definitely took advantage of the Scottish Whiskey Experience in the freezing cold weather</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> They say a picture is worth a thousand words….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bNLUQBgqP9g/TvUEVHAKXyI/AAAAAAAAAJM/4oK8BhWw5X4/s1600/whisky+experience.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bNLUQBgqP9g/TvUEVHAKXyI/AAAAAAAAAJM/4oK8BhWw5X4/s400/whisky+experience.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nervousss!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u7EGF0TBaEY/TvUEWi3LvyI/AAAAAAAAAJU/mHS9sfRyhv0/s1600/whisky+experience+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u7EGF0TBaEY/TvUEWi3LvyI/AAAAAAAAAJU/mHS9sfRyhv0/s400/whisky+experience+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super Strong, but warms you right up! haha</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6T4FT_9g4hI/TvUFfRBUnkI/AAAAAAAAAJg/vzMONmdrKb4/s1600/haley+whiskey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6T4FT_9g4hI/TvUFfRBUnkI/AAAAAAAAAJg/vzMONmdrKb4/s400/haley+whiskey.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haley's turn!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a fabulous day in Edinburgh, we returned to Glasgow just in time for the next showing of “New Years Eve”!!!!! If you haven’t seen it yet, GOOOOOO!!! So good</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> But then again, I’m a sucker for a holiday movie. On the walk home, we stopped in this Indian BBQ Chicken restaurant to eat. Surprisingly, fabulous food!! Loved their spicy sauce, and lots of locals were there so we knew we were in good hands</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The long journey home was definitely something I don’t want to repeat, but so happy we are home. We had to take a 4am bus to the airport to catch our 9am flight, because there was not another option to be there before 9am. Then, we played the waiting game for our flight for a couple of hours, since the bus was only an hour ride with not the most sober people in the world…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After napping on the plane, we arrived in Malaga and headed to the train for a quick 15 minute ride to the bus station. The next bus going in the direction of our town was in about 40 minutes, so I grabbed us some McDonalds for the bus ride since we had not eaten yet. This bus was to Algeciras, which is an hour or so away from our town. There was not a direct bus in the middle of the afternoon, so we had to take what we got. After arriving in Algeciras, we discovered that the next bus to “La Barca” (the bus stop 15 minutes from our town) was not until 8 or 9pm, and it was around 5ish so we were going to have to play the waiting game yet again in the San Bernando Bus Station. Thankfully, we connected with our Spanish friend, Pedro, and he did not want us to wait and he drove an hour to pick us up and another hour to drive us all home to our town. We really did well on making great friends!! We got home sooner that if we waited for the bus!!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To end our fabulous Merry Christmas trip, we got home just in time for our friend, Liz’s Thai Dinner Party</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> As if I didn’t get enough Asian food every day on our trip; I got to end it with MORE!!! Liz, if you ever want to cook more Thai food, I’m coming over!!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clearly, I had a wonderful time visiting London, Glasgow, and Edinburgh for my “Merry Christmas” trip to myself</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I am still in awe that God placed me here this time in my life, so I can love on precious Spanish babies, make incredible new friends from all over the world, and really get to see the world. This girl is so blessed!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although, I have missed a lot of things at home since I have been here in Spain. That was the sacrifice I made when I said YES! I have missed brother’s birthday, Thanksgiving, new babies being born (Congrats Girl Scouts and old neighbors!!!), weddings (Annie, Allison, Kasey, Rachel, and more to come!), Patrick’s 16<sup>th</sup> birthday, sweet Donovan (you are precious, and I love you), Kaitlin’s Graduation for Tech, and so much more. But please know that I am thinking of you always, and I dearly love you all!! Thank you for caring about my life and wanting to know how I am doing a million miles away, you have no idea how special it makes me feel</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am truly and completely blessed, and I feel it every day. I have received not 1, but 2 Christmas packages this week for friends!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you oodles and bunches, you are precious!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love this quote from one of my favorite movies, so I will leave you with this...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s funny, the human race can really surprise you sometimes. It slows down just enou</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">gh for all the pieces to fall into place. Fate works it's magic. And you're connected.- The Switch</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">love love.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Pearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-2091710489789953372011-12-03T06:57:00.000-08:002011-12-03T06:57:54.579-08:00Soy fortunada para mi vida...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s getting “chilly willy “here. ( pretty sure, I made up that word or my mama did</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">) I love chilly weather, because I get to wrap a scarf around my neck, wear my warm boots, and long-sleeves…I could really go on and on! I’m ready for Christmas lights, cinnamon anything, stockings, candy canes, and hot cocoa. Clearly, it’s the middle of November, but I seriously cannot help it. I already am wearing my Christmas pajamas and my warm booties around the apartment! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I may or may not have already purchased a cinnamon candle for the living room, that I light every night to smell its sweetness! You could also say “pinterest” has been already looked at for Christmas decorating, school ideas, nail polish colors for winter, and of course new recipes. Is that bad or what?! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, I said school ideas! I’m not completely obsessed with only Christmas and its joyfulness. I have really been impressed with its great resources for lesson plans, crafts, bulletin boards, and every teacher thing in between. I have recently used it for the 3<sup>rd</sup> and 4<sup>th</sup> grade bulletin board. I am really excited to see how it all comes together! I have made a fun turkey for each class, and the students are going to make the “thankful” feathers to go around each turkey. Seeing as Thanksgiving is coming up, thanksgiving lessons will begin!! American culture is being shared at Juan XXIII! We have many fun things planned for the week of English classes this week!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m incredibly thankful for my students</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Also, I’m so thankful for my new friends here to share Thanksgiving with in Spain. Here are some pictures of our dinner</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtN6mI161cI1yI-R8s3YOFVrFirZn3bDFS8QAFNN93oqHeuzHhypABZ4wS7YNbFRBj8htBlh7KECpeuDqOaIMLmY7Dl9omUcHRFMh89okI5T_rHTL7rg2XZHdZLsFfe6UAIGRcIT_IH10/s1600/thanksgiving+buffet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtN6mI161cI1yI-R8s3YOFVrFirZn3bDFS8QAFNN93oqHeuzHhypABZ4wS7YNbFRBj8htBlh7KECpeuDqOaIMLmY7Dl9omUcHRFMh89okI5T_rHTL7rg2XZHdZLsFfe6UAIGRcIT_IH10/s400/thanksgiving+buffet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKZ6hi_In5MEDGMyvrCQ08RugB_Mv2KRATxBh-lSet9W4s7zdPI-FM_vO9h-cQbUDMQmrBr9RiJ5SV0lfO6S3FUyt87BcpcjFyYcntuw-yyiecJbq7T03yEk8okLrPzEC4faVtTNwCeg/s1600/thanksgiving+dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKZ6hi_In5MEDGMyvrCQ08RugB_Mv2KRATxBh-lSet9W4s7zdPI-FM_vO9h-cQbUDMQmrBr9RiJ5SV0lfO6S3FUyt87BcpcjFyYcntuw-yyiecJbq7T03yEk8okLrPzEC4faVtTNwCeg/s400/thanksgiving+dinner.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hungry, Happy People ready to eat!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvimV_nMQNJmLnx03UhY-yDDspBTVUK7v9b6WFpBb3bEBtUtcpyLqUNrZ68l9bafUIfcos8pp7kXr5oK1nTSXGSSyv0ynVPsGDgxf1sPmUlxTUws4O_EiOnOuTMkHZtJvVPskYzfyeJp8/s1600/thanksgiving+girls+with+food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvimV_nMQNJmLnx03UhY-yDDspBTVUK7v9b6WFpBb3bEBtUtcpyLqUNrZ68l9bafUIfcos8pp7kXr5oK1nTSXGSSyv0ynVPsGDgxf1sPmUlxTUws4O_EiOnOuTMkHZtJvVPskYzfyeJp8/s400/thanksgiving+girls+with+food.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucyna, Haley, Liz, Chessa, and I with our Potluck Food</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSu29KRRqaLkuWoC55NDsn5Sl3tblU-V0xomHiqDSQ-IvbfnjXg-y2qcqyaX8TQ7OfQLJTo2ex0yaMhQlBb1zoXFerfRp9EWS5MzoCNJLs5bCSmxY1ApZVj-oRY4lN9RMyV52taQN0_aw/s1600/thanksgiving+plate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSu29KRRqaLkuWoC55NDsn5Sl3tblU-V0xomHiqDSQ-IvbfnjXg-y2qcqyaX8TQ7OfQLJTo2ex0yaMhQlBb1zoXFerfRp9EWS5MzoCNJLs5bCSmxY1ApZVj-oRY4lN9RMyV52taQN0_aw/s400/thanksgiving+plate.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuffing, Sweet Potato Suffle, Tortilla, Green Bean Casserole, Chicken </td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To be honest, Thanksgiving is really exactly how it sounds, a time to give thanks. In my personal opinion, I feel like we are not just blessed one time a year. Every day we receive unexpected surprises, joys, glimpses of happiness, in other words, blessings. I love that we can come together, and be thankful one time a year with our family members and close friends. It is a wonderful time to be thankful, but I think that since this year I will not be able to attend thanksgiving with my family I have thought about it a bit more deeply. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every day is a day to give thanks, and love on others around you. So, I am taking it as a personal challenge to thank God daily, 365 days of the year, for the blessing and lessons He has taught me in life’s journey. As you read this, please know, I am thankful for you. I love journaling, traveling, following your dreams, and enjoying the little moments in life….but I don’t get to love those things as much, if you didn’t have people like you who love and support me. I am truly the luckiest girl in the world, to have you in my life. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For that I am thankful. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">p.s. I’m also thankful for my new grilled cheese avocado sandwiches. A girl loves her grilled cheese no matter where she is in the world</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">love love.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div>Pearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-77938697614239641802011-11-07T14:34:00.000-08:002011-11-07T14:34:22.337-08:00Para vivir...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Life has been quite adventurous the past few weeks in Spain. I have celebrated Halloween at school, travelled with some friends across the coast, and fallen more in love with my students every day. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the week of Halloween, we focused on the American culture of Halloween. In Spain, the children do not celebrate Halloween. It is only celebrated in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South America, and East Asia. So, it was fun to introduce them to different ways we celebrate this fun holiday in the States!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Each class was taught a Halloween song to perform at the festival to the school, which was so much fun! Some of the classics were “Monster Mash”, “Dem Bones”, and “Trick-or-treat”</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> They had a blast singing and dancing at the festival with my coworker, Encarni! Also during the week, we read them fun interactive Halloween stories with creepy dialogue to help them with their reading and speaking in English! I really have the cutest witches and Draculas in Spain, hands down! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The baker in me, well sometimes it comes out, decided to bake some fun goods for the kids to try as we celebrated Halloween! I really, really wanted to make pumpkin bread but I could not find pumpkin for the life of me in my town</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> So I made banana nut bread, which was perfect for my kids! My kids are not used to pumpkin and many don’t like pumpkin. So it was nice to make new lovers of Banana Nut bread in the world!! Don’t worry, I made enough for all the staff as well! That could have been my last step of initiation, haha! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the festival, there were 3 stations of Halloween fun. Mine was story telling or “Cuenta cuentos”. My heart for books came out, and I don’t think I would have wished to do anything else on that day. It was such a joy to share a fun Halloween story with them, and since they are ESLs (English as a Second Language) there was a ton of acting and silliness to help with comprehension. The story I read was called <u>The Big Pumpkin</u> by: Erica Silverman. I strongly recommend it, for ESL students! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQeIwjzXbDMaIlg1Tu4pXRuYIdLzY42PF6XZWRyURsCHkxIlrDk7ngPLrOa8Oyvl0mM1-Wb6Xoh4S17sbV_qGOdlbLLapaFCMtzZ16JT5LQh_nq5d836Vd54ab2S146z2V0duTeCl7F8/s1600/SAM_0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQeIwjzXbDMaIlg1Tu4pXRuYIdLzY42PF6XZWRyURsCHkxIlrDk7ngPLrOa8Oyvl0mM1-Wb6Xoh4S17sbV_qGOdlbLLapaFCMtzZ16JT5LQh_nq5d836Vd54ab2S146z2V0duTeCl7F8/s400/SAM_0125.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After reading/acting out the story, I had our Halloween picture cards ready to review some characters and to see which character was their favorite. I am happy to announce that all my students at Juan XXIII love Dracula!!! They think he is the coolest Halloween character ever! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then, I re-told the story with their help</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could say they told about the majority of it back to me, success!!!!!!! Then we played a fun game to end the session! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The other 2 sessions were lead by my fabulous coworkers, Encarni and Melissa. Encarni did singing and dancing, while Melissa did Science Experiments! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The day was a full of laugh, joy, silliness, creepiness, and lots of sweet tooths!</span></div> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIW_f2TXdLKdtiOpYyWJ_c44E9kH1FCM8gRUMkVIZsB6k-_JGIGGBZn6aMCa8hhyphenhyphenQYKkVNCVwuOkREj_CO6w0mEjX1rf-f3caBGSc0subX4WtA37EzCkRD1kRagO7hXm0tVwmT6jke-I/s1600/halloween+spain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="321" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIW_f2TXdLKdtiOpYyWJ_c44E9kH1FCM8gRUMkVIZsB6k-_JGIGGBZn6aMCa8hhyphenhyphenQYKkVNCVwuOkREj_CO6w0mEjX1rf-f3caBGSc0subX4WtA37EzCkRD1kRagO7hXm0tVwmT6jke-I/s400/halloween+spain.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few of the teachers at Juan XXII </td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the Halloween festival came to an end, I was not even close to being done with my day. I came home for a run on the beach and to de-stress. Then, I began cleaning the house with the roommates for the arrival of my friend, Kristin and her 2 fabulous friends, Lauren and Emily. It did not take too long until I was instant friends with these fun girls, and we painted the town everywhere we went that weekend!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That Halloween weekend we had off Monday and Tuesday, as well as the previous Friday. For me, I showed up for the Halloween festival on that Friday just because I couldn’t bare without it after the planning of it all!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They arrived after midnight Friday, so Saturday we started fresh for our travels! They stayed at my apartment comfortably Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night-which was so fun to have them stay!!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saturday we drove that roomy rental car to Chiclana and Vejer de la Frontera for the day! To our surprise, Chiclana was having a festival for All Saints Day and raising money for children for Kings Day or “Reyes Magos”. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #111111; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The “Reyes Magos” day is based on three wise men who took gifts to Jesus. In celebration of this event the Spanish traditionally give and receive presents, just like Santa brings presents on Christmas Eve. The “”Reyes Magos” deliver presents to all the children throughout Spain on the night of the 5th and the children tend to leave food and drink for the “Reyes Magos” and their camels. On the 6th of January the children open their presents and eat the sweets that the “Reyes Magos” have left. Some other countries call it the “Spanish Christmas.” </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, this is Spanish culture at its finest!! From the food to dancing, we had a great afternoon with in that town! We caught some flamingo dancers and our favorite, the Dancing Diva!! This precious little girl was not afraid to show us her moves, and I for sure used them later on that night! </span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I only hope you enjoy it as much as I did... view my Facebook page for this classic cinemark!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After our fun dance party, we trotted to Vejer de la Frontera. Vejer is a small town conveniently located on top of a mountain. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am not completely convinced this picture gives it justice, but you can definitely have a glimpse of it for now</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaapL8GX-0TPU90gHtO2YhVAcW8gUAJd7vmRJDJsShmfsxbw2Yoz5yDrGT7h5AIEr7iLIWOplX8Eu-K3g3n3iuiUJzvN5neCwhfUqD9pgDABwkWKdGOuTBX7qEa5EEShG1KCXgiGJUgwY/s1600/vejer-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaapL8GX-0TPU90gHtO2YhVAcW8gUAJd7vmRJDJsShmfsxbw2Yoz5yDrGT7h5AIEr7iLIWOplX8Eu-K3g3n3iuiUJzvN5neCwhfUqD9pgDABwkWKdGOuTBX7qEa5EEShG1KCXgiGJUgwY/s400/vejer-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vejer</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plaza de España in Vejer</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The girls and I spent a few hours seeing the town, and we had a refreshing drink at a local “restaurante jardín” (garden restaurant). It was nice to have some simple girl talk and get to know these lovely girls. I’m thankful Kristin, shared her friends with me! They gave me some great insight on working here and traveling. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">restaurante jardín</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvusvpOFsivvUERSIMTemnYdxmBQ0Tqf3A8J7cASxIn4ikE2iGDwUAAqQto5BUIi1vPmqrarl8xT_iuBgeFN80nINC8Qo09wQz5bemB55gQjEeuzt-VOu-yMu7-Cef3EcUF9xxH24tA6U/s1600/garden+rest+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvusvpOFsivvUERSIMTemnYdxmBQ0Tqf3A8J7cASxIn4ikE2iGDwUAAqQto5BUIi1vPmqrarl8xT_iuBgeFN80nINC8Qo09wQz5bemB55gQjEeuzt-VOu-yMu7-Cef3EcUF9xxH24tA6U/s400/garden+rest+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lauren and I chatting it up </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To end our day, we went to Los Caños de Meca for the sunset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m all about taking in God’s beauty and sitting in disbelief that such beauty is even possible. That’s the best part of it, it is so possible! Beauty is something you can’t always describe or put into words, but you can feel it and experience it always. Maybe that’s why it called beauty…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgL7gYsgoRhk5306xY4mhotVrcofwV7ZbgSgNIHROl_y9KWD6K_DhP2YPjdULHXsKTflcwns45RzoKQeQ3UiB7wa-dFauNt1kWAydtBRWPyrhFTkcrbwrTdUx6lY-1CzW7iAdH44yoTo/s1600/los+canos+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgL7gYsgoRhk5306xY4mhotVrcofwV7ZbgSgNIHROl_y9KWD6K_DhP2YPjdULHXsKTflcwns45RzoKQeQ3UiB7wa-dFauNt1kWAydtBRWPyrhFTkcrbwrTdUx6lY-1CzW7iAdH44yoTo/s400/los+canos+sunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lauren, Kristin, and Emily</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As night began, we headed back to my town to cook dinner and get ready to dance the night away. We went to Mercadona “HEB” and got everything we needed to make a dairy- and gluten-free meal. I made an easy appetizer I ate in a restaurant the past week. It was simply tomatoes, goat cheese, and balsamic vinegar. It’s delicious! Kristin made a gorgeous and quite colorful salad, while Lauren breaded the chicken cutlets with rice flour and gluten free bread crumbs. Also, Emily started to make a Spanish sauce/mayonaisse called “Aioli”. Sadly, after all of us tried to whip it up it never reached full texture, but we used it as our pasta sauce instead. It was a yummy dinner after a fun day of sightseeing on the coast!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQkTvzXPUMbuythmVnKPPpyJpt7W_kWpF1uhzBKTzeCpKD7EC21je23p8D0VbRZxT4L0qZbAF3TBMinK12n0cFEAJ6OGHPsrPYOBxMtCHN7g55Wj852_9_ZkytACN3Cn7cVSWuhU0RnY/s1600/dinner+barbate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQkTvzXPUMbuythmVnKPPpyJpt7W_kWpF1uhzBKTzeCpKD7EC21je23p8D0VbRZxT4L0qZbAF3TBMinK12n0cFEAJ6OGHPsrPYOBxMtCHN7g55Wj852_9_ZkytACN3Cn7cVSWuhU0RnY/s400/dinner+barbate.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Cena</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After dinner, we had some downtime which was much needed after our long day! I devoured my dark chocolate peanuts, which were wonderful!!! As the other girls took a quick power nap while Kristin and I cleaned the kitchen</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Then, before we knew it…we were all ready for a night with Spanish friends! We practiced our Spanish, hit up botellon, and had a fabulous time!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next day we woke up and headed to Cádiz! Cádiz is the one of the oldest cities in Spain, and it has that “big city” feel that just makes me feel so much more comfortable!! We decided that we had been doing so great at saving money on food, we should go had a seafood meal for “lunch din” (that’s one of the many words my daddy made up). We found a place that we could get 2 entrees, a drink, and dessert for a little over 9 Euros. It was located in one of the many precious plazas in Cádiz. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While eating and enjoying our meal, Emily saw a friend of hers walking the street. So, we meet another person from our program here in Spain. We decided to meet up later that night before we headed back to my town!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After sightseeing in Cádiz a bit, we decided to see the sunset here as well. Kristin and I were extreme on our people watching skills. There were many precious couples simply coming to enjoy the sunset as well, as there were moms screaming at their toddlers for who knows what, and the dog walkers who I always greeted with a warm “hola.” This is simply a typical atmosphere in any Spanish town on any given evening.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNLcuDkoeG_y_RyInhws_q-alw_NunWJbBvmDbd6cRG7NPoaTuI_lbkySUXiZbNZNtne39n4-buuk6GttbhHdazL3qEqRgLID7gTmB48aUSOlC6iwe3FDMsvVgyROC0hzCk1OgEG4ldA/s1600/cadiz+sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNLcuDkoeG_y_RyInhws_q-alw_NunWJbBvmDbd6cRG7NPoaTuI_lbkySUXiZbNZNtne39n4-buuk6GttbhHdazL3qEqRgLID7gTmB48aUSOlC6iwe3FDMsvVgyROC0hzCk1OgEG4ldA/s400/cadiz+sun.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After taking pictures at the sunset, we decided to find a good place for a quick drink. Of course on our way, we found some English speakers who were from the States as well. They also were in the Navy. So we invited them to join us, and went to a few different places in Cádiz to eat some tapas and such. Emily’s friend joined as well!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the Navy guys was a skater, and taught me how to skateboard. I am not going to admit if it was the best or worst idea ever, but I will admit it was extremely fun! As the night continued and the Navy guys had to leave to make curfew, I started talking to this guy from Peru! He works for Royal Caribbean, and has been for about 6 years now. So, it was fun to talk about different trips and places around the world. Cádiz was a great time, and I will have to confess I would not mind living there</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next morning the girls woke up, and I was super sad they were heading back to Málaga. We had a wonderful weekend in the different cities we visited, so they of course invited me to go back with them. And I did!! Halloween in Málaga, yes please!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After packing a quick night bag, we headed out to drive to Málaga!!! Along the way, we stopped in Tarifa, which is on the coast and super close to Morocco like 35 minutes on boat!!! Tarifa is actually quite unique, because there is a part of it where it touches the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. We took some time to take some fun pictures and draw in the sand, until we met yet another person in our program who took a group picture of us. He went to BU, Boston University, and was convinced he knew me from somewhere…but seriously how could that be! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VjDgsVy-wCBPCgUgxCH_XZqy2ls9A7cKd653JkIxhsC9-TOy2tcLbmoERoJSAp0CUFaI8QAPUrLBhXvCeZsKbCX3Ngnkv-FiFeDpJ8F5QP5UnPTEdXDFJmtP8MWJ4inHEssoryZOBxc/s1600/tarifa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VjDgsVy-wCBPCgUgxCH_XZqy2ls9A7cKd653JkIxhsC9-TOy2tcLbmoERoJSAp0CUFaI8QAPUrLBhXvCeZsKbCX3Ngnkv-FiFeDpJ8F5QP5UnPTEdXDFJmtP8MWJ4inHEssoryZOBxc/s400/tarifa.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tarifa with the girls</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we drove on, the route along the coast was breathtaking. How can there be everything from mountains, sea, and forest all together! I loved everything from the views to our jam sessions in the car...and at some points we had some random music!! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJGXH9ISBbVUkDKvNp429OEUAIw2YKt1ERdwmg_-eRY1h_SXbaRy0xYIbqzSxfVELooNZXkgmZsC3jV07G6QYI525UZNNyUT9k1bgr-CKCVAQudlXyOTuviwf2yV87ACraoA3Z6EH_D4/s1600/kristin+and+i+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJGXH9ISBbVUkDKvNp429OEUAIw2YKt1ERdwmg_-eRY1h_SXbaRy0xYIbqzSxfVELooNZXkgmZsC3jV07G6QYI525UZNNyUT9k1bgr-CKCVAQudlXyOTuviwf2yV87ACraoA3Z6EH_D4/s400/kristin+and+i+car.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kristin and I were back seat riders!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8OqUge665mc78KLbtuKFX1fR_u7_0C60i_VIFM7nLs_q_rxXz_nMeIOjnsQX5Rr7vcHxgqi-lTBVAL2tn8P7H7EH-mUcH5H3fQm4sC9g-18a95bN4TuxKqqeHJLE6Wrz9RScNbt7hcM/s1600/emily+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8OqUge665mc78KLbtuKFX1fR_u7_0C60i_VIFM7nLs_q_rxXz_nMeIOjnsQX5Rr7vcHxgqi-lTBVAL2tn8P7H7EH-mUcH5H3fQm4sC9g-18a95bN4TuxKqqeHJLE6Wrz9RScNbt7hcM/s400/emily+car.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily was our GPS and DJ!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After we arrived in Málaga, we had to return the rental car and take a train to Lauren’s apartment. It was super quick and we were in the city before I knew it! We decided to purchase our bus tickets for us to return home the next day. I had planned on riding home with Encarni, because she was flying home to her hometown that night (which was an hour away from Málaga) and was driving back to our town the next day. Sadly, the only bus to her hometown was super late and it is a 3 hr drive to our town. Instead, I took the 730am bus straight to La Barca which is 10 minutes away from my town, and my wonderful landlord, Meli, came to pick me up</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I called Meli the night before to ask if she wouldn’t mind, and she graciously accepted! So, that was a blessing! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My night in Málaga was Halloween, and I was a “pirata” (pirate). There were so many people in the center of town, and it was a bit difficult to get into any place due to all the long lines. But at the botellon, we met some different people. Some were Emily’s roommates, who came to Málaga for the night as well, and others were law students at the university in Málaga…yes, they were cute</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxjuGZvliyV912w802kTHWMQHNhbOvHbOyauWX9-4ehJN9KO8NT1Z2PqdrHVoDSTJZxuyLVXYzRx_265jMXwhF3aF_39fxYW_GmmP3FoI-3OrIBnUFcUeQeisOAWiyiF1xgQKH4YaSFo/s1600/halloween+malaga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxjuGZvliyV912w802kTHWMQHNhbOvHbOyauWX9-4ehJN9KO8NT1Z2PqdrHVoDSTJZxuyLVXYzRx_265jMXwhF3aF_39fxYW_GmmP3FoI-3OrIBnUFcUeQeisOAWiyiF1xgQKH4YaSFo/s400/halloween+malaga.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Streets of Halloween </td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, the night was still fun and I may or may not be waiting anxiously to have another night out in Málaga! But really, who’s to say? </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, this past week I have been recovering on my sleep after my travels. Thankfully, I only had to work 2 days this week. We are teaching the kids about different activities and sports, which has been so fun with all the songs and stories we have been using during class! Vocabulary building is key for learning any language</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also, I got my first present from one of my students this week!! She painted a ceramic of a child with a box, and told me to keep my rings in it</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Very sweet thought! I was completely caught off guard!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I guess life is always going to be full of surprises, new people coming in and out of your life, new experiences, new joys, new laughs, but most importantly, some of the best memories to hold onto for a lifetime. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tu vida es para vivir. </span></div>Pearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-42003489318103407612011-10-23T07:14:00.000-07:002011-10-23T07:14:47.158-07:00las maravillas del mundo...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This past week has consisted of brainstorming trip discussions/meetings, trying different methods of teaching English to Spanish speakers, making new friends, birthdays, babies, domestic-ness, and new adventures.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I am now starting to feel like Spain is my new home. I’m really comfortable with my schedule for work, and the Spanish daily routine. It has become like second nature for me now. Although, I will be honest...it has hit me this week that Christmas will be a bit different this year. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Christmas is my all time favorite holiday. I love everything about it…from the lights to the Christmas trees to cards in the mail to candy canes and Poinsettias(flowers and the drink</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to warm coats and scarves and warm socks and hot cocoa (soy milk and dark chocolate of course </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">)…but most importantly, Christmas with my family. But this is all part of the moving to Spain for a year, so I know I will make the most out of it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So feel free to send me Christmas cards here in Spain, and if you heart desires I won’t deny candy canes or a dark chocolate bar in the mail</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Just let me know if you would like my “dirección" (address) and I can email it to you!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, on my free time I have already started up on my Christmas movies! I love love love Christmas movies! I’m a bit obsessed with the Holiday at the moment, and if you know me that last for a week or so then I’m on to the next movie obsession. So one day during siesta while I was watching my movie, Haley said, “Where is one place we can go that will be almost like American Christmas, with lights and trees and everything??”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I thought and thought...then it suddenly hit me and I replied, “London!” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Then, Haley answered, “Yes, we need to go there for Christmas!” eee!!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So we found super cheap flights to London in December, and I could not be more excited!!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We also planned for Haley’s birthday in Paris in January, which will be so precious! I cannot believe we will be at the Eiffel Tower celebrating away!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Those are a few of the trips we are working on right now for the future, but I have a trip for next weekend with a dear friend who studied at Tech with me. I cannot wait to see her and catch up on life while having a fabulous time in coastal cities! It’s even more wonderful that I don’t work Friday, Monday, and Tuesday due to Halloween weekend!! So it will be a nice long weekend!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As for teaching, we started a new method for enhancing English for the 6<sup>th</sup> graders. Once a week we are going to pursue reading bilingual picture books to improve vocabulary, comprehension, and pronunciation in the English language. So far, I believe it is a good tool for learning another language. Every student is different, which means each individual student has unique learning styles especially when it comes to learning a new language. In my experience studying in Sevilla, I took a literature class and we had to read Spanish chapter books. Through reading and looking up new vocabulary, I felt that helped my grammar while writing and speaking in Spanish. So, I hope that some of my students can get something out of reading with these bilingual books. Our first lesson went really well. The students were very engaged and enjoyed the story, even though we only read half of the picture book. So, I think they will be engage to see what happens next with the 2 monsters next week</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Also, I finally worked with the 3 year olds! Sweet, sweet..crazy, all over the place, eager to learn, easily distracted babies! Haha. I don’t think I will ever forget the first words, Cristian spoke to me when I first laid eyes on him, “pee-pee, caca” After helping him with toilet paper, we became instant friends. Oh the joys of the young ones! We taught them 3 body parts today and I read them an interactive story about the 3 body parts! You can official say that ¾ of the 3 yr olds know what ears, nose, and mouth are in English and know where they are on their body! Cannot wait to keep working with that crazy bunch!! Lots of practice and love for those precious babies!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Continuing, I have stated we have made some “amigas nuevas” (new friends). My roommates were having a tea at our favorite café off the beach with Encarni, my coworker, when I saw this girl wearing Chacos and a NC Chapel Hill Shirt. So, I knew she was American and I went up to her and asked, “Hablas Inglés?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She is from North Carolina and we have a mutual friend there. How crazy is that! Also, she is in the same program as I am here in Spain. So after some time chatting, we started hanging out with her and her roommate from England, who is in the program as well. We have met up to talk about trips and places we wish to go see, as well as gone on a 3 hr hike with them through the “parque natural” (natural park/forest). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, it’s been really fun getting to know them and practice our Spanish with new friends. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This past weekend was full of adventures! From hiking through the “parque natural” to salsa dancing and having a tea with some new Spanish teacher friends to a Spanish birthday…and drum roll please….I mopped the apartment today (Mama, I’m becoming domestic)!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I really enjoyed the hike in nature, because sometimes it’s good for your soul to be separated from the real world and all its obligations. It gives you a slight nature high, and appreciation of the beautiful of the God’s creation. The views I saw on the hike were not just forest, but ocean and beach as well. It was simply a peaceful, breathtaking landscape that I think is the cure for anything going on in your busy life. Sometimes it’s okay to take a few hours to stop and simply enjoy yourself wherever you are in the world. Because it’s simple, beauty is everywhere and everything has the potential for beauty. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So I will leave you with this quote that a sweet Spanish friend of mine wrote in a Spanish book I am reading right now…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“De todas las maravillas del mundo, tu sin duda las superas a todas.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Pearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-77803511685951213252011-10-16T10:54:00.000-07:002011-10-16T10:54:05.297-07:00Everything I need<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This past week has been eventful, fun, homey, and filled with laughs. I feel like I have already been living here for a few months, which is crazy because it’s only been about 3 weeks.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To begin my week, I had work Monday and Tuesday. I created a PowerPoint for my students called, “Francis’s life, family, and friends.” It contained pictures from childhood memories, members of my family, Bella (of course, she had her own page!), friends, fun adventures through college, etc. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I loved showing each class, because their excitement and curiosity about me was precious! Every class has an assignment now after watching it. Since I told them about my life now I want to know all about their life! For example, one class is making mini posters about their life, family, and friends with a picture and decorations! I cannot wait to hang them up next week! I have the coolest students!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I also have some homework for the school. My principal wants to make a bulletin board about me, so I have to make a poster about myself, my town, etc. Then around my poster will be little biographies about me from the 6<sup>th</sup> graders based on my PowerPoint and Q/A session. The 6<sup>th</sup> graders are way too much fun!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This week my coworkers and I started planning for “Halloween!” I am super excited to start teaching about this tradition, and have a blast during our Halloween festival! We have planned to teach every class a different Halloween song/chant for them to present to the school at the festival. Also, we have other great lessons to help them understand Halloween, and what it’s all about! So, I’m collecting material and resources for this topic, but most importantly, I have been trying to figure out with I’m going to be for the Halloween festival!! I have had a couple suggestions/requests…Blanca Nieva (Snow White), Minnie Mouse, etc…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beginning next month, I will be tutoring some students after school in English for 2hrs per grade levels. So Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4-6pm, I will tutor grades 1-3 for an hour and then grades 4-6 for an hour. So, I have been trying to collect resources and materials to help my babies as best I can! Phonics is soo happening! So, my wonderful mom is sending me some of my teaching stuff for my tutoring sessions! I’m so thankful!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, the first half of the week was pretty busy, but productive. Oh goodness, I cannot believe I forgot something realll important… We picked up our internet!!! I received a call from the internet company, and they needed me to show them my “tarjeta de residencia” (Residence Card). Well that is what I have been trying to apply for in Cadiz, but they were closed due to a “fiesta” ONLY in their town! So, I told the roommates, and we weren’t super happy since they never asked for this before! Long story short…I called Meli, our “madre Espanola” aka landlord/Spanish mom, to ask her if we could use her “tarjeta” to pick it up and such. Of course she was so nice and agreed! We went to pick it up, but they needed to check the information and we could official walk away with our internet in about 30 minutes, “no pasa nada” (no worries, right?). So we had a drink in the “calle”, meet Meli’s brother-in-law, visited her work, visited her sister and niece, and hung out at her house for a bit (I know the town is super small!). It was the sweetest thing to meet her whole family, and spend some time with them! It made me feel super homey, and I loved every minute of it, but my favorite part was her job. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She works in a “pensionista” (community center). So we meet the cutest old women who were best friends!! They were making table clothes and dollies, precious! They thought we were “muy guapa” and loved that we had all our teeth! Ha I really want to visit the “pensionista” more during my time here, because I got to practice my Spanish and maybe I can learn to make a table cloth or something…domestic Fran!!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Then came Wednesday…guess what this day was? A HOLIDAY!!! Lay out in our backyard? Yes please!! It was a wonderful beach day, no wind!! In the evening, we went next door to play “loteria” with some Spanish friends. Basically, the Spanish form of BINGO! It was so nice, to have a chill night with some friends! Sadly, I did not win a single game…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally, my last work day of the week arrived, Thursday! I know I’m really roughing it, right? And yes I taught 2 classes with my coworkers, 10am-12noon! I love working with my students, it really is exactly what I want to do in life! Today actually was significant, because my principal, Julia, was supposed to have a meeting with the secondary coordinator. The secondary school wants me to work an additional 4 hours at their school. So Julia and the coordinator needed to work on my schedule to best benefit the students at my school and the secondary school through their English classes. Sadly, the coordinator did not show up, so I’m sticking with my schedule for next week at my school. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thursday night, I went to Cadiz with my Spanish friend/coworker, Encarni. She had a doctor appt and asked if I would go with her. It was so nice to have a chill evening out of town for a change. We talked about everything in our life, and I learned a lot about Encarni. After her doctor appt, we had a cup of tea! The tea I picked was a fruit tea, and it seriously tasted just like a tea that Kaitlin brought back from Australia!! But overall, I’m thankful I get to work with her every day. She is a really great person, and we have had some great laughs together! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So far my life in Spain has been a great adventure, for what feels like over 2 months. I really am so happy to be at Juan XXIII Infant and Primary School! I thought the other day about how God works and realized that…Juan means “John” in English which is my brother’s name and XXIII is 23<sup>rd</sup> which is the day I was born. So I think that is God’s way of telling me…this is my will for you right now! I would think of that, right? </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">No matter where I am in life, God has a funny way of giving me everything I need from family, friendships, joys, reassurance, laughter, and so much more. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div>Pearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-29488024156928718582011-10-10T13:37:00.000-07:002011-10-10T13:37:34.028-07:00Para una razón...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After the past few weeks living in Spain, I have realized how different I spend my time. In Spain, people work for about 9 am until 2pm. After working for the morning, siesta begins. In a typical Spain household, everyone comes home for “la comida” (lunch, meal). They eat, talk, and watch “las noticias” (the news) with their family. And yes, as you guess, everyone rests or takes a nice afternoon nap. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When I studied in Sevilla, I experienced this type of siesta with my precious Spanish family. Now living with my 2 fabulous roommates in Spain, it is not much different. Depending on the day I stop working around noon or 2pm, I head home, prepare lunch, and wait for the girls to get home so we can chat it up about our days. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">During siesta, I definitely take that nap. If you know me, I love my naps! I take one pretty much every day, even in the States. I pop in my desired movie to fall asleep to and I enjoy my lovely siesta. Oh how I love Spanish culture!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My “fin de semanas” (weekends) are a pretty chill so far. Our first weekend in the “piso,” we went out both nights. On Friday night, we went out with one of my sweet Spain friend, Encarni, who I work with in my school. She showed us the strip where people go out in town, and we caught a Flamenco Concert. Then, we ended our evening at a bar off the beach. Loving the beach!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On <span class="st">Sábado (Satur</span>day), we got ready and spent some time with another Spain friend, Nazareth. We began the evening her “piso”, which lead to going to the “botellon” and the “discoteca” (club). We hung out with her sister, Zaida, who was so sweet to us as well and introduced us to some fun people in town. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I know, I know…what the hell is a “batayon”?! It is a lot by a boat dock where people park their cars and play music loud, dance, and pregame before the “discoteca” and bars open around 2 or 3am. It is pretty insane, but I really liked “botellon”!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After enjoying life until 6 or 7am, we came home and slepppttt forever! Sundays are our lazy, house days. We clean, organize, read, watch movies, lay out on the balcony, or really whatever we feel like since every store is closed. The bars and cafes open around 3 or 4pm, so we go for a walk on the “paseo” (walkway in between the beach and the cafes/bars). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It is a sweet feeling to hear the little kids say “Francis, Francis!” when I’m walking with my roommates on the “paseo.” Most of the families are on the “paseo” as well. The parents are drinking coffee or tea with friends and family, and the kids are playing with their friends. They ride their tricycles, bikes, rollerblade, or play “fútbol” (soccer) in the “paseo.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This week was my first week at my school, and I loved it! There were some ups and downs with my program and all my paperwork, but God got me through it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There was another girl placed at my school, and there is only one person from the program at a single school. So if she showed up that first day as well, they were going to have to move me. Why me? Well, apparently they didn’t receive any of my paperwork after accepting the job. So they gave my school position to another person. Basically, it was like a horrible nightmare, and I was awake through all of it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Here I am, a million miles away from my home, my country, my family, and my friends…and I didn’t technically have a school to work in. After talking to the head of the program, we realized it was miscommunication-I wasn’t getting their emails and they didn’t get my paperwork. Julia, my coordinator at “my school”, was a great support through that first day. She didn’t think the other girl was going to show up, and she wanted me to stay calm and asked me the question that I think made my day… “Do you pray?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She told me she was going to pray for me. I told her, “of course, I do!” So a million miles away from my home, my family, everything…my sweet God was holding me. It was such an encouraging moment for me…I don’t think I can express how much it meant to me in words. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, the next day was my orientation for the program. It was a huge day for me. I holding in a million feelings and emotions, but I knew no matter what happened…there was and is a distinct reason the Lord has placed me here, in Spain, in this town, at this specific moment in my life. Knowing that was my constant comfort, and I was ready to get through that day. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The orientation was in another town, Jerez de la Frontera, which was 3.5 hours away. So 6am bus right to <span class="st">Cádiz</span> and a train to Jerez was what we did to get our butts to that meeting. During our coffee break, I talked to 4 different people to solve my situation. The other girl didn’t show up the day before at the school, so as promised I get to stay at the school! I just needed to sign a new contract and send it in the mail back to them. Hopefully, this time it will all arrive since I’m in the same country</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">During the orientation, we were informed about many things. We learned we needed to get more paperwork together for a NIE card, since we are foreigners and our visas expire in 3 months. We need to get our NIE paperwork in ASAP, because it can take up to 2 months to receive. It is recommended to get it in the first month you are in the new country. Also, we learned some ideas on how to teach English through diverse activities, resources, and tools.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thankfully, they provided “la comida.” After all the traveling, Haley and I were happy campers about that on the itinerary. We sat with another girl from Texas, and a girl from Ireland! Super exciting to meet some interesting new people! I hope we can travel together in the future, and visit each other!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After the meeting, we journeyed back to our small town. To say the least, we were exhausted!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The next day, Wednesday, I arrived to school to hear about a new situation with me and my program. Julia had received a super early email from the program about how they also wanted me to work 4 additional hours at another school in town. So, at this point, my schedule may change to accommodate both schools and their English schedules. In addition, to my work schedule, I accepted the invitation to tutor students 2 afternoons a week (separate pay-Extra money!). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My last day of work last week was Thursday. I worked from 10am-12noon. Then, I began preparing for my trip to <span class="st">Cádiz</span> to turn in my NIE paperwork. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So we went to <span class="st">Cádiz<strong> </strong></span>this weekend, but of course it was a Saint’s Feast day so the office was closed. I check the office hours online, the feast day was not on it ha. But I couldnt think of anything else, but we are in <span class="st">Cádiz</span>…let’s see the town! So we did, and we loved it! We are off work this upcoming Friday and we will try again, oh and it will not be a Feast day...but Wednesday is</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I have had a pretty busy week, I know! I try to think about the joys in my week though…learning about my students, learning/observing what they need to work on to help them learn easier, building relationships with my coworkers at school, but simply enjoying my time with my students. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Maybe that’s why I’m here, in Spain, in this town, at this specific moment in my life…for that distinct reason</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Pearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-71841252797294167732011-10-01T08:00:00.000-07:002011-10-01T08:08:57.251-07:00El piso y la playa!Since our arrive to our beach town, Haley and I started looking at "pisos" (apartments). We didn't have a spanish phone to call people for viewings, so we used skype! No pasa nada, right?<br />
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We had MANY conversations via skype with spaniards! A few of our conversations went like this..<br />
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Me or Haley: Hola, (insert name)<br />
Persona: Digame<br />
Me or Haley: Tiene un piso para aquilar?<br />
Persona: Si, digame<br />
Me or Haley: Con tres habitaciones?<br />
Persona: Si<br />
Me or Haley: vale, quiero ver su piso. A que tiempo es mejor para ti?<br />
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or....<br />
Me or Haley: Hola, (insert name)<br />
Persona: si si<br />
Me or Haley: Tienes un piso para aquilar?<br />
Persona: que?<br />
Me or Haley: Quiero ver su piso. Que tiempo es mejor para ti?<br />
Persona: Que? Que? Quien es? No entiendo. <br />
Then they hung up on us haha..<br />
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Well after what felt like a million nervous phone calls, we got 3 viewings!! We did the happy dances A LOT!! eeeee!! We did it!<br />
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So the first piso we went to see was on the street before the beach. Que perfecto! It had 3 habitaciones, a spa tub in the bathroom, all new appliances in "la cocina" (the kitchen), and the breakfast area had a great view of the beach!! Que preciosa!! It cost 400 euros/mes (month), and we needed to pay for agua and luz (water, light bills). It was a family owned apartment as well.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.milanuncios.com/alquiler-de-pisos-en-barbate-cadiz/alquiler-29802053.htm">http://www.milanuncios.com/alquiler-de-pisos-en-barbate-cadiz/alquiler-29802053.htm</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">El segundo piso was a bit farther from the bus station, the huge grocery store (aka HEB), and my school, but we thought why not see it. It had 3 habitaciones, 2 bathrooms, a sala room, and a living room. Super spacious!! The landlord spoke English as well, and introduced us to her friend who works at Haley's school!! The price was 350 euros/mes plus agua and luz.</div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.milanuncios.com/alquiler-de-pisos-en-barbate-cadiz/alquiler-29802053.htm">http://www.milanuncios.com/alquiler-de-pisos-en-barbate-cadiz/alquiler-29802053.htm</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">El final piso was right on the beach, as in water front and private. It had 3 habitaciones, 1 bathroom with a huge tub, a dishwasher, washer, and a terrace to la playa!!!! The price was 450 euros/mes plus luz. The landlords were precious!! We adored them, and we met their sweet daughter (in college) as well!! </span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.barbate.net/alojamientos/6.htm">http://www.barbate.net/alojamientos/6.htm</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So after 3 nights in the hostel, and 3 pisos...we made our decision!!! But we went back to the cafe to make our pros and cons list, and it definitely confirmed that we had made the right choice!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Drum rolll por favor.....We like in the last piso!!!!! For drum rolllll por favor.....400 euros!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Then our Polish roommate came to town! It was the sweetest thing, because after searching and finding an apartment in another country...Lucyna was so grateful!! So, Haley, Lucyna, and I have been loving our backyard...la playa!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So yes, the americanos found a piso in Spain! They start work Monday, and could not be more excited to meet new espanolas!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"></div></div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"></div></div></div>Pearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-27287089226799439722011-09-24T03:38:00.000-07:002011-09-24T03:38:05.326-07:003 planes, 1 train, 1 bus, 3.5 taxis, 2 hotels, 8 luggages, and 5 cities...So we are finally, finally in our tiny sweet pueblo off the coast of Southern Spain! It's gorgeous, the bus ride along the coast...ohhh my lord! All my roommate and I kept saying was, "we are soo lucky!" and "is this real, like really?" <br />
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Oh but this final destination was a bit of an adventure, and now that I think about it "a bit" is not the exact words to describe the past few days of traveling. <br />
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On Wednesday, I headed to the airport in Houston with my parents. Time to finally return to my beloved Spain! I flew out with the rooms at 1030am and we landed in Miami that afternnon..."bienvenidos a Miami" yeah its okay to sing it out loud to yourself! haha<br />
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This was our 1st lay over, and we decided to have a nice meal before leaving America. We walked off the plane and headed in the direction of our connection terminal. After hoping on and off the tram, we met our worst nightmare, a broken escalator. So we took the stairs, we can do anything after this trip...as you will read on. Ironically, right after we finished the stairs the maintenance man turned on the escalator!!! I mean he could have told us, right? Then, we ate at cute restuarant near our terminal...well in the next terminal since ours was like a ghostland literally!<br />
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We have a few hours to eat, relax, and get to know each other. It was really nice to have that relaxed moment, since we had no idea how long the next few days could get for us. Dont worry she got the stomach talk, geez louise!<br />
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After our layover, we got ready to board the plane to Madrid. So we took a few minutes to call the fam, and some friends...one last "see you later" before leaving the homeland. <br />
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This flight was the BIG one and it was "overnight"due to the time change. My roommate and I didnt sit together on the flight to Miami, but we decided to try for the long flight. It worked out and I moved to her row, which was a blessing because that is when we met the most chatty old man alive..Arturo!! Roll that "r"!!!! (dont worry, I cant stilllllll...its a goal before I leave)<br />
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Arturo basically talked to us the majority of the flight minus the sleeping times. This 77 year old man told us stories about his life. We learned all about his brothers and sisters from Spain to Italy, his children in North and South America, his Columbian wife, and his travels when he was our ages via boat to South America! They could all be stories, but it made our trip for sure. He was such a precious old man, who we came to adore by the end of the flight. He even taught us a bit of his first language, which was Italian! He pulled out an English-Italian pocket dictionary and it was wonderful! I definitely would love to learn it after I have mastered Spanish! <br />
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After we landed and said our goodbyes to Arturo, we went through the long line at customs. We talked with some Americans in line who decided Bobby Knight was the most important thing to talk about in line ahha. The older couple wished us luck on our time teaching and we trotted through the most confusing airport of our life! On the way to our connection terminal, we had to go through the most fast-pace security ever!!! They actually had to pat me down, because for the first time ever I beeped walking through. Everything was fine though!! We had a couple of hours until the flight to Sevilla so we freshened up in the bathroom and ate at the cafe. The cafe had gluten and dairy free muffins, so I grabbed them as quick as possible haha. YES! Also, I had my espresso that I have been dieing to drink since I left. So goooood!! The rooms and I had another good talk about family and other traveling adventures, as we played a game on her ipad. Time went by faster than ever, and before we knew it we were on the flight to Sevilla.<br />
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This third and finally flight was super quick. It was about an hour! Best hour nap of my life!!! Definitely woke up to find my mouth open, which is typical if you know me haha. After we landed, we hurried to baggage claim to see if all our luggage arrived as well. Praise Jesus, we received all 6 checked bags!!!! Then, we got our first taxi of many on our trip. They weren't happy about all our luggage. The taxi driver told us that he couldnt go all the way to the front door of the hotel, because the roads were too small so he was going to take us about 10 kilmeters away. Well it was wayyy more than 10 kilometers away!!!<br />
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We were suppose to go straight and make a left. So we made a plan to prepare for our Hike with 8 luggages!! Thankful all my bags connect so no biggie, but the rooms had 2 large luggages that didnt connect. So I connected all 3 of mine to pull with one arm, and pushed her baby luggage with the other. The rooms pushed the 2 large luggages forward, and yes we also had our backpacks on our backs. Try to picture us on baby streets in Europe will all this luggage, no one offers to help, cobble streets, etc. I have never sweat that much in my life!!! After walking an extremely long way, we made it to Hotel Abril. Then 2 seconds later, a taxi stopped right in front of me and asked if I needed a taxi. SHUT UP! So we had a lazy driver before. I stopped and asked the rooms to check in and expressed that I thought I was dehydrated haha. We still are laughing at that moment, with my curls every which way and my face sweaty and red...it was hilarious!!!<br />
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Once we were settled into the sweet cute Hotel Abril, we rested and skyped home. We started the search for a hotel in our town for the next night, and wrote down all the numbers for hotels and "pisos" (apartments) we wanted to go see. Then I confirmed plans with a sweet friend that was studying abroad in Sevilla at the Tech Campus there. The rooms and I went to the cafe that I worked at while studying abroad, and spent some time with my old boss and a few other Tech students. After some sangria and "chupitos" (shots), we were super happy and hungry. So we said our goodbyes and went to eat "la cena" (dinner). We stopped at a cute restuarant in front of the Universidad de Sevilla in El Centro. We enjoyed some yummy paella and a pitcher of sangria for our first Spanish dinner!!! Then I showed the rooms the Cathredral and the palace. After walking around town and seeing precious stores, we decided to head back to the hotel. <br />
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Sadly, I had a hard time sleeping. We got in around 10ish. After, we had a pitcher of sangria with dinner along with a "chupito" with my old boss at his cafe...so add that to traveling equals done!! I woke up in panic mood and asked the rooms what time it was and it was 1am...i was ready to start my day after 3 hrs! I never really rested well at all the rest of the night, but my body will get adjusted soon enough. <br />
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The next day we woke up a few hours later that we planned. We wanted to run some errands before our 1250 direct bus to our town, but we ran behind. We ended up taking a taxi to the train station instead. The next train was in 20 mins when we arrived, but we bought the one an hour later. We were starving and needed time to do some hotel searching. We looked the afternoon before, but some were too pricey and most didn't have online booking. In this case, we were smart and wrote down the names and numbers of each to call. <br />
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One of our errands was to get a phone but it was a bit more complicated to get it in Sevilla. The phone company I used when I studied abroad couldn't use my phone that I had, and they aren't even located in my new town. So my roommate put money on her skype and we planned to call the list of hotels in the train station. Sadly, we learned the station did not have WIFI (pronounced "wee-fee" in Spain). So we needed a new plan, and I looked up and saw a pay phone!! So you better believe I called 2 different hotels on a PAY PHONE before we found one in our price range! I almost booked the 1st choice, because I just wanted something at that point. But my roommate stopped me, because we need to think about multiple nights as we search for "pisos" (apartments). After 3 euros, and maybe a disconnection or 2 I booked it, yes in espanol! <br />
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Then we ate some meat and tapa type foods, but before we knew it we were on the train...which is where we met "corazón de oro" (heart of gold). Yes he was a spainard, yes he was the first one to help us on our trip with ALL 8 of our luggages...so he is now knew as "corazón de oro":) This all happened, while the train tendant joked about us being "americanos." The looks we got were funny, and we joked with them along the way! "hay muchas maletas...claro claro" haha. <br />
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Finally, we arrived in Cadiz! Just 1 more form of transportation, yes you guessed it....BUS! After loading the taxi up with all our bags...we discovered that the bus station was literally in the SAME parking lot as the train station! Just to be even more literal, it did not LOOK like a bus station AT ALL! The ticket place looked like a trailer! So we unloaded and walked to the "bus station." I felt horrible that the taxi driver loaded and unloaded all our 8 luggages, so I tipped him. <br />
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We rode the bus for about an hour and a half until we made it to our PUEBLO! We were blessed with the sweetest taxi driver, Fernando!!! We chatted it up in Spanish all the way to our hostel! We saw his "amigo bueno" in the "calle", who is in "la policia"....basically, Fernando gave me his card for anything! Perfecto!! Such a sweetie!<br />
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After checking in, 3 people helped us take alllllll 8 luggages up 2 flights of stairs to our room! Then we talked with them a bit, and they are going to possible show us a "piso" tomorrow "a la una en la tarde" and perhaps eat lunch with them afterwards. Hopefully we got that right, we are meeting them in the cafe tomorrow. The cafe and the hostel are together. <br />
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So after resting and skyping home, we finally ate after a long day of traveling! We had tortilla de camarones, which was soo soo good! There may or may not have been a precious spainard tending to us, and he ran out in the "calle" because we cant count money after all the traveling! You could say, we will be back to that bar!<br />
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So the "piso" search is underway, through the past few weeks we have been in contact with a few possiblilities. So hopefully we can see a good variety and make a wise decision. We want something practical, well kept, good "barrio" (neighborhood), in our price range, has to have at least 3 bedrooms, good tub and plumbing, etc. Bonuses would be wifi already, and a "terraza" (outside patio). Seems like a lot of things, but its definitely possible...we have a good amount we are seeing soon! <br />
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Thanks so much for caring about me as I embark on this adventure, I'm so happy my life can make you smile or laugh which ever works haha. I will try my best to continue to keep you updated on everything España, but until then chao!Pearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-4279810218030912222011-09-15T09:39:00.000-07:002011-09-15T09:39:53.209-07:00Con mucho cariño y amor... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The past few weeks have been soo crazy, busy, fun, exhausting, and memorable in my life. Oh man, oh man! Im a bit behind on keeping youu lovely people updated! Cant wait to tell you about....Spain seminar, the new roomie, passport stuff, etc etc etc.<br />
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So a few Fridays ago, I attended a seminar for auxiliares, who returned from Spain, that discussed what to expect or be prepared to do to get a J O B in the states. Basically, how to market your experience the best! The program invited fresh meat to come as well!! So I trotted to Rice University for this 2 hr event! I love love love Rice village...from its museums to cute houses to fountains to the precious green trees...its a really neat district in Houston! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwjaADxPEeuXsnmL4qizNh7M6k1KfFqJb_GuEAQoiCsFaHCuaUirwgJP0uUX5MnpKG5q__2ljG4pJ8dZixVLPWVONat9Pz4r6AgbVMbnlL30C5_HJlzYnwx6-nAed-t7nh2r2tKoasNY/s1600/fountain+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwjaADxPEeuXsnmL4qizNh7M6k1KfFqJb_GuEAQoiCsFaHCuaUirwgJP0uUX5MnpKG5q__2ljG4pJ8dZixVLPWVONat9Pz4r6AgbVMbnlL30C5_HJlzYnwx6-nAed-t7nh2r2tKoasNY/s1600/fountain+2.jpg" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round about Fountain, which of course reminds me of Europe</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9I-85DkMEFum-SLKxtgND-j1CsxASG2kaVG9muKBRuec8BMRfhyphenhyphenqefH3dYbVfAjgeCXqCrn-YR9F5kjAu49PBlXc2DEAgHwhyphenhyphen4iI0_17KDwKf7FcOs4Ty04Txu5RZakbjqsvpSb-SjWw/s1600/rice+village+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9I-85DkMEFum-SLKxtgND-j1CsxASG2kaVG9muKBRuec8BMRfhyphenhyphenqefH3dYbVfAjgeCXqCrn-YR9F5kjAu49PBlXc2DEAgHwhyphenhyphen4iI0_17KDwKf7FcOs4Ty04Txu5RZakbjqsvpSb-SjWw/s1600/rice+village+2.jpg" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gorgeous trees leading to Rice </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnoEyXx_tFTHoAjY_Y38X6WlJEPrRo7JA3MBZwdQqKGcPQ8wVFK5Lwb_dcgRbZQVH_OcOKSTehtKsh2DGWYSAIyAMwn1XlhYOyWhtMBcz9_BkBtPwqdpooL2nSFuJ_yXVLMyyqT02Q_c/s1600/rice+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnoEyXx_tFTHoAjY_Y38X6WlJEPrRo7JA3MBZwdQqKGcPQ8wVFK5Lwb_dcgRbZQVH_OcOKSTehtKsh2DGWYSAIyAMwn1XlhYOyWhtMBcz9_BkBtPwqdpooL2nSFuJ_yXVLMyyqT02Q_c/s1600/rice+home.jpg" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Similar looking homes in walking distance to Rice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After I parked in one of the visitor's lot, I walked and walked and walked. Of course I didnt know where I was going at all!! haha. I even asked a person, and they didn't even know where the Hall I was looking for was!! Really? But then I noticed, there was another girl wandering too!! So she stopped me and asked if I was going to the Spain seminar and I said yes, do you know where it is? We used her gps on her phone and we finally reached the specific hall.<br />
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The seminar went super quick and was super informative. After all the presentations from a school district in the area and a graduate program, we got to minggggleeeee! Always a favorite part in any setting like this for me! Im a social butterfly! The first person I talked to was this guy sitting beside me, he had been doing this for 2 terms and was about to start a 3rd! So I got a lot of nerves smoothed as we talked about schools, age groups, and private tutoring. So glad I meet him! Then the sweet rep from the program came up to us to chat, and she talked to me about how she learned English in England! She gave me some more comfort about learning a new language, especially when you are immersed. Then we went up for drinks and food. As I was walking up, I overheard a girl talking about being close to Morocco, so I turned around and asked her where she was placed. I honestly do not remember her city which is so rude, but then she asked mine. After I told her, she explained to me that she was told it would be better to live in my town since it was a bit bigger...it was only 10 minutes away! So after chatting it up with new found friend, we decided to try to fly together and be roommates in Spain!!!! What a huge blessing, you could say my parents were happy! haha<br />
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Moving along to this past week, I picked up my passport!! Woo hooo!!! Also, I found my roommate's flight and booked it:) I know what you are thinking...wow, how great everything is finally coming together and that is soo wonderful! <br />
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Well, the sweetest blessing and surprise is about to be written:)<br />
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Here goes the story...<br />
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Once a upon a time, specifically 22 yrs ago hehe....two precious parents had their first child and daughter baptized in New York. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOSq92a29NeU6DEbQIxQcrFTUOgzn0KnYecN97KCUOVrWnOmMEo3pu0UbNbxltEgkQLjtHosfBbA1LZfyuguNmosSSKQHeZtMtury_0UqNsqLf9wwBw1D2VWWjYIYzzUUM60-bG0qKMI/s1600/baptism1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOSq92a29NeU6DEbQIxQcrFTUOgzn0KnYecN97KCUOVrWnOmMEo3pu0UbNbxltEgkQLjtHosfBbA1LZfyuguNmosSSKQHeZtMtury_0UqNsqLf9wwBw1D2VWWjYIYzzUUM60-bG0qKMI/s320/baptism1.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baptism Fiesta</td></tr>
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The parents received gifts of blessing for the little girl and her life to grow up in the church. They decided to do something important with those gifts for the little girl, so one day it would be used for the something meaningful in the girl's life. So they made a special form of investment for her.<br />
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This girl grew up to love many things....God, her family and friends, traveling, languages, cultures, Special Education, and children. Some people may even say, she especially loved pearls;) <br />
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So she graduated college and hoped for a new exciting adventure....she was blessed with teaching in Spain!! Now a month before she was expected to move to Spain, her loving parents told her about this special gift. So, the sweet mama went to the bank to figure out how much it invested. The sweet daddy, former banker, did his calculations and discovered that....<br />
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After the flight cost, taxes, extra baggage fees....it was EXACT AMOUNT:) <br />
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So, now the "grown up" young lady can go do her dream.<br />
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The end.<br />
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Some Dates to Remember:<br />
I fly out Sept 21st, and will start searching/looking at "pisos" (apartments) my first weekend in Spain with my roommate(s). My first day is Oct 3rd, and I cant wait to meet my students! I will keep everyone updated on fun, new things about my first few weeks settling into my town! Thanks for your continued interest in my life and support!!!Pearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-59552179620957802802011-08-03T17:31:00.000-07:002011-08-03T17:46:04.643-07:00Buena SuerteFinally, I had all my paperwork in order and ready to turn in to begin my visa process!! So, this morning I got up early. I hate waking up early (bottom line). I had a million nerves, but so excited at the same time to finally get this off my shoulders and move forward in the Spain process.<br />
My parents and I drove to Houston together, but of course we had to make a pit stop for food. I freaked out because I thought it would take forever at the Consulate, it was an hour away, and it closes at 1pm...but my parents laughed at me because it was 830am...PLENTY OF TIME! Im a worry wart, but I definitely got some hash brownsss....YUM!<br />
After the pit stop, we started our mini roadd trippp!!! Family history: My dad likes to trick me, any time and all the time. At dinner time, he would always say things like, "OMG, look at that in the backyard! Is that an elephant??" and I would always believe him haha. Several years later, I learned his true self, which was a Food Stealer. So, in the car, he said, "omg, what is that on your shoulder?" and I said, "no, im not looking this time!" haha...but this time he was actually telling me the TRUTH. My mom was like, "no, look look its a ladybug!!" So, I looked and it was a sweet little ladybug!!! My Abuelita ( grandmother) says ladybugs are for good luck. <br />
Being me, I felt bad that the sweet ladybug was stuck in the car and wanted to let it out. So, my mom gave me a piece of paper (sweet stationary haha) to help me pick it up. Sadly, when I opened the window, my plan backfired!! The air blew it in the car and I lost the ladybug (I though it for sure was a goner)!<br />
An hour went by and we had arrived at the Consulate! As we parked I unbuckled my seatbeat, and guess who was there?! The ladybug on my leg, just simply chillin':) What a sweet blessing of luck!!! So, once again I let it free and it flew to the car haha. I guess it likes us:)<br />
We walked in and rode that elevator to the suite!!! I was soo nervous, but was soo ready to get these papers to them! There was one girl there picking up her VISA to study abroad, just one! PLENTY OF TIME! <br />
The sweet lady who took my paperwork said everything was in order, and that I would have to come back to pick it up when it was ready in a few short weeks!!! She was so excited for me, and wished me LUCK for teaching in Spain:)<br />
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It is a great feeling to be moving forward with the Spain process! Please pray for some friends of mine, who are waiting on some required documents to get to them so they can turn in all their paperwork for their Visa to begin processing!! <br />
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I just know it will be all worth it, and we will be in Spain before we know it!! <br />
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I will continue to keep you posted on new and fun things about Spain, as the time comes, but until then buena suerte:)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2EieTVhyphenhyphenkhcLX7YvD_v5boU-linmxIaT6sOTv9Iuuj5HeTKf6ScNQyUiKCrXXh7U-kV8zwXMLMI1nPgdqsp_3ToPJYO70oEaSlvLCW8NyjgqO-y7GVFvTvlrXDzae-lbuP5FCvfvIUg/s1600/ladybug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2EieTVhyphenhyphenkhcLX7YvD_v5boU-linmxIaT6sOTv9Iuuj5HeTKf6ScNQyUiKCrXXh7U-kV8zwXMLMI1nPgdqsp_3ToPJYO70oEaSlvLCW8NyjgqO-y7GVFvTvlrXDzae-lbuP5FCvfvIUg/s320/ladybug.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div>Pearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-42808978998136091112011-06-27T17:10:00.000-07:002011-06-27T17:10:04.825-07:00Oh the places you will go....Today has been a precious dayyy!!! Today is the sweet birthday of a sweet boy in my life that I have been spending all my time with this summer:) This sweet boy turns 6 TODAY!!! So after a fun day of donuts, library, black light mini golf, Sonic, Lego time, and pool time.....I'd say I spoiled him rotten!!!<br />
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After I returned home, I arrived to the letter I had been waiting for!!!!! My placement letter!!! The wait game is over:) Now I have to get my paperwork downtown for my Visa and get my plane ticket!!!! eeeee!!!<br />
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My placement is in Cádiz!!! Its gorgeous!!! It's off the coast of southern Spain and I couldn't be more excited about it! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOYrrQsfW4zw66ejfIGcGasbEOM5azxDMDt5xE5Ijm-zhcJnOU16AoEKPjH3borVTORfPhZy79EV6KvZN1MdpyC09OSp9WJaWiAx4D95jWUGaNN9MBYdZZIjb1lNHmvpx7f8QTw-vnss/s1600/barbate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOYrrQsfW4zw66ejfIGcGasbEOM5azxDMDt5xE5Ijm-zhcJnOU16AoEKPjH3borVTORfPhZy79EV6KvZN1MdpyC09OSp9WJaWiAx4D95jWUGaNN9MBYdZZIjb1lNHmvpx7f8QTw-vnss/s320/barbate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlwcvRLEKZsT_6yNu-AvLWGsA5wzTDD7yCLxHu6v2CkyHM2kdAr9XPeFEwB5PqVHtcqAKxtb18yHbaeQHRiupG9uq7xU90DzWDpQPRNh-ZDqxtxMj9D83DhJPZ1KRSM1OFHUdnmeoZ9g/s1600/beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlwcvRLEKZsT_6yNu-AvLWGsA5wzTDD7yCLxHu6v2CkyHM2kdAr9XPeFEwB5PqVHtcqAKxtb18yHbaeQHRiupG9uq7xU90DzWDpQPRNh-ZDqxtxMj9D83DhJPZ1KRSM1OFHUdnmeoZ9g/s1600/beach.jpg" /></a></div>Pearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648435375994549200.post-12017971106058756342011-06-20T09:47:00.000-07:002011-06-20T09:47:03.340-07:00A New Chapter to be written...A year ago, I found out about a program in Spain to teach English. A good friend of mine, whom I studied abroad with, applied and got accepted to this program. From the moment I heard about this program, I knew in my heart I truly wanted to pursue that after I graduated. <br />
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During my sophomore year of college, I studied abroad in Sevilla, España. I lived in Sevilla for 4 months and completed my Spanish minor there. I feel in love with everything there-from the way of life, the food, the people, the clothes, the traveling, and shamefully the sweet pastries (which if you know me, I can not eat due to my health). I lived with a host family, who became a wonderful blessing when a high school best friend passed away. Also, I was given the opportunity to have an internship while abroad. I worked in a Café, just around the corner from school. I truly believe that blessing was what helped me become more comfortable holding better conversations in Spanish. In all, if you have never been abroad, you need to go!! <br />
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On May 14, 2011, I graduated college and I didnt have a definite for any teaching opportunities. I prayed about the Spain program for about a year, and applied for the school year of 2011-2012. Also, I applied across my state for district and private teaching jobs. All the emotions of joy, hope, nervousness, and "hot mess" episodes happened during the waiting period. The Wednesday after I graduated, I began a new list of districts to apply to, which was a moment of panic and trying to take control of my life once again- despite the fact that the Lord has a wonderful plan for me! I like to think this wednesday He was laughing at me, and saying "why do you try so hard, I have this under control!" See, the reason this particular Wednesday is so important is due to the fact that the Spain program sent me my acceptance via email during the 5 o'clock hour I was working away on my list:) But I didnt check my email that sweet Wednesday, bc I wasnt letting God in due to my obsession of being in control of my job situation. <br />
So, the next day, I woke up and as any other morning, I let out Bells and I sat around in my haze haha bc I am never fully awake when I wake up (sweet friends, that have lived with me or travelled with me know this...i apologize but apparently I have always done this). As the morning continued, I broke from the haze and made breakfast and let Bella in the house. At this point, it dawned on me that I hadnt checked my email in a few days, so I decided to open it up...<br />
I saw that I was accepted and the sweetest feeling in my heart told me that this was where I needed to be and it was soo soo right! So yes I am moving to Spain for the school year of 2011-2012!<br />
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This blog is to keep family, friends, mentors, teachers,and students updated with my life in Spain!! I will post as often as I remember, bc this is all new to me:) I hope you can enjoy reading about my new chapter in my life and it encourages you to follow your dreams where ever they lead you!<br />
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love lovePearls in Españahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05881435724267605453noreply@blogger.com0