Good days, bad days, and the inbetween

Exactly one week has passed since I had to say good-bye at the airport. That actually feels like a long time ago, at least, longer than one week. A lot has happened since then, along with so many emotions. The second day of classes this week was even better than the first. I talked with the grammar teachers and they said I could do either one, and I chose the intermediate! I’m so glad I did. I really like what I’m learning and the professor is so helpful! It’s review right now, which I’m thankful. However, I hope one day I won’t have to review. [Professor Luis took us to the Market today, which happens every Thursday from 9-2. They had lots of fresh produce, fish, clothes, and flowers. It was so colorful! Even though it’s a market, I learned they never barter. I guess that’s good to know! I definitely want to go back.] I also got my first letter on Tuesday, which made my day!  Then our site director told us a little about internships. She said each week we could teach English and get paid a little bit. I was thinking I have no idea how to teach or where to start, but when she explained it would be loose and just for kids I was excited. To top it all off, it was Sam’s host mom that wanted two people to teach each of her kids. Not only did that mean I would be with Sam, but I would get to go over to her house!! We were hoping to find some way we could hang out in our houses, but none of us wanted to ask our host families. (If you didn’t read the earlier blogs, people in Spain go out to spend time together. It’s weird to hang out in someone’s house to them.) Now, Sam and I teach Martin and Juan at 7 on Wednesdays and Thursdays! I’m so excited because I was missing kids. I thought the day couldn’t get any better, BUT it did. After we talked with Marian, we found two papers from former students giving directions to 2 protestant churches. We were hoping to find one soon-and it was pretty much put in our hands, which is such an answer to prayer! (I shouldn’t be surprised!) More people are interested in going with us than I thought. A group of us are going to check one out this Sunday. We hope to get involved with the people of the church so we can know the community more while practicing Spanish!
Anyway, that was just Tuesday. Not all days are great. (But, I don’t have to tell you that) Wednesday, was just one of those “blah” days. Basically just a day that I spent missing people and feeling bad for myself. Lots of people are planning big trips while they’re here or lots of little ones. I would like to travel, but not a lot. I want to be careful with my money. I thought I would be the only one not traveling every other weekend, but I’m sure that’s not true. I just need to find others to encourage, instead of looking to others to encourage me. I’M IN SPAIN FOR HEAVEN SAKES-who needs to travel!? I still haven’t gotten to know most of the other students, but each day I get to know one or two more. We have about 24 here, but I guess I have a while to get to know them.
I’ve gotten pretty comfortable with my route to and from the school. Now I don’t have to always be looking for familiar sings and shops. I can actually look around and enjoy my walk. I don’t usually wake up thinking, I can’t wait to walk to school, but when I get to school I feel refreshed. I’m glad I don’t have the choice to walk or ride in a car. One of the first things I learned in school is that the people here are like people in New York. They don’t greet or smile to just anyone. If they say anything, it’s to people they know or have met a few times. If you say hi to them and you don’t know them, they will think Do I know her? When they do greet people, they don’t usually say hola, they say “Taluego”-which means see you later. Most the time they have no intention to stop and talk. The first time I walked to school, I was smiling at everyone who looked at me.haha I don’t do that anymore. Someone said Hola to me today-and I have to admit, I did think “have I met him?” I hope it doesn’t rub off on me, because I really appreciate a smile or wave.
Even though people here don’t seem very outgoing or social on the streets, if you take a look in the “escapates” or windows of the cafes you find that’s where the people are. I have noticed some of the same people in the same café at the same time of the day. I guess they have their favorite spots-and if you’re brave enough to walk in, you will quickly be able to tell that they are enjoying themselves immensely. I do like the feel of all the people walking on the streets and meeting in the cafes. It’s more open, rather than staying cooped up in a house and never bothering to meet the people around you. There are so many customs I like here that I wish I could bring home. However, there are many things I don’t like as well. There’s no one place that’s perfect-I miss home while I’m here, and I’m sure I’ll miss Spain when I come back. Life is so temporary, for that and many other reasons, I’m so glad to have a relationship with God! -Thanks for reading!!

PS>HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JULIE MICHAEL/best friend!!