Catching Up

So I told you guys about Christmas break and Molly's departure from Spain, but for the sake of time I left out the past week so I could get to bed last night! So, here it is.

School was a bit difficult on Monday. My internal clock was still on vacation time, so I was very tired all day. I wasn't alone though - it seemed that everyone was fighting to stay awake that first day back to school! It was nice seeing all of my classmates again though. I didn't go back to school for long though because on Thursday, Molly and I went to Granada! If you're gonna skip school, do it for a good city. ;D Molly and I had planned on going to Sierra Nevada to play in the snow. In the end however, we ended up exploring Granada together because the buses for Sierra Nevada left at times impossible to coordinate with. So, after the 3-hour bus ride from Marbella to Granada, we browsed the rebajas (awesome sales that last for a month or so at all the clothing stores), ate kebabs, saw The Lion King at the theater, bought matching sweatshirts, and walked the incredible streets. How I love that city.

I had to take a picture with this magical street. Doesn't it look like something from a storybook?

Seeing The Lion King and eating kebabs almost made up for not being able to see the snow, but Molly and I definitely want to go to Sierra Nevada in the future -- and Iowa as well! -- for some snow!! Molly has only seen snow one time before! We had a great day in Granada, nevertheless.

On Wednesday it was back to school. That evening I went out to eat with Molly and her family since it was her last night in Spain. Saying goodbye was so strange, so unreal. :( Yesterday, I finally met my host dad, David!! He's in the Navy, so he has been at sea the whole time I've been here. David is actually English, and only speaks a bit of Spanish. As a result, he just talks in English. David is really nice, but it's so strange speaking so much English. I don't want to hinder my learning Spanish anymore than I need to with English, but at the same time, I need to talk with my host dad. Also, the other day, I got an email about choosing a return date to the US. How is that possible?? I don't even want to think about having to leave yet.

This past week at school has been a bit exhausting. It makes me realize why I love vacation so much. School wears me out; it often frustrates me. Not for the reasons it usually would such as exams and homework, but because it is so mentally challenging to process everything for 6 1/2 hours. I can't wait for summer vacation -- everyone says that it's the best time of the year and that you just hang out with friends everyday. I like the sound of that. If it's as good as Christmas break, I'll be pleased.

Surprise!

Hey, Devoted Readers!

I hope November is treating everyone well. Apparently many exchange students go though "November Blues", a period of blah-ness in November marking the 2 or 3 month mark of being in one's host country. I haven't quite been hit by them, but I'm thinking that I may get some December Blues, being a month late and all. It has been getting chilly though, here in the Costa Del Sol. *tear. However, I can't really complain when I compare the weather here to other places - it was about 64* F this afternoon, but it sure felt colder! Spain has taught me the art of the scarf though - it keeps you warm and, come'on, completes any outfit.

This past week has been pretty fun! Last Monday was Halloween and I ended up chilling with Jaime and some friends from his school, as a pirate! Most of us were dressed up, so we went trick-or-treating for a little while! Later that night we watched a half-hour long scary movie and then a Christmas movie, and the whole thing was quite strange. Nevertheless, I had a good time! I miss just chilling with friends, watching movies, playing with plastic machetes . . .

 November 1st was All Saints' Day, so no school! This is week five of Spanish school for me, and out of those five weeks, three have had holidays where there's no school. I like how Spain thinks.

On Thursday I had my Iowa Presentation for the Estepona Rotary Club. It went fine - I gave it in bad Spanish/Spanglish, but I think everyone appreciated my efforts. Also, I found out that I was going to Granada on Saturday with the other RYE students in Andalucia! I love good surprises.

Saturday ended up being a lot of meetings, but the RYE kiddies got to explore the city during most of them. We were only able to walk around for an hour and a half or so by the end of the day, but Granada was still beautiful. I do want to go back sometime though and really get to see the city. The group of exchange students that I spent the day with was so different than my exchange group in Iowa last year. In Granada, there were about 11 of us, all American girls except for Molly (being from Australia) and Matthew. I think it's pretty cool that I live in Marbella with the two different people in the group. Apparently there were supposed to be a couple more people in Granada on Saturday, but I don't know where they were . . .

Most of the group in Granada! I blinked :(

Molly and me at the Granada Cathedral!



As we walked around, I felt -- and definitely saw -- Granada's unique history.



Granada was great except for when I had a "stupid-exchange-student" moment and walked into the men's restroom at the hotel - oops. But honestly, I think the "man" on the door was a little misleading . . .

Don't tell me that at a glance, you wouldn't mistake Him for a woman.

Not much else has been going on. My Spanish is slowly progressing, school is fine, and I continue to make friends. The other day, I was going through a one of my classmate's music on her iPod, and I found "Hosanna" by Hillsong! I excitedly told her that I love Hillsong, and after chatting (err, passing notes) for a while, I found out she's Evangelical too! She invited me to her church this weekend, so that should be cool. I can't wait to see how church is here!

Well if anything blog-worthy happens in the next week or two, you'll know about it!

Hasta luego,

Josie