I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move. ~Robert Louis Stevenson

So. I cant believe the first semester is already over. I think I would hang myself if I was only here for a semester and not a year. They say time flies when you’re having fun—well apparently it also flies when you are studying extremely hard and going the extra mile to do well in school while trying to be all you can be. Because boy has time flown here. Is flown a word? Hmm. You get the point.

Anyway

I went to Belgium a few weeks ago for a music thing called I LOVE TECHNO. Apparently it’s the biggest event Europe has every year….it was in an inside stadiumish thing in Gent---sold out at 35,000. ya it was crowded. My once greenish shoes are now completely black. I love when ppl step on my feet. It was absolutely insane. Sooo much fun. Very claustrophobic at times, but totally worth it. Everyone was just sweatily jumping and dancing around to intense beats that stir in your soul and may or may not change your life. And thankfully, a lot of people took E so they were real friendly and pretty nice. I was using some guys shoulder to jump up and see over the crowd, and he turned around and I thought he was gonna punch me, but he bent down and put me on his shoulders. See? So nice. I started a kick line with another guy and then he gave me his glow stick after! Such generosity.

We flew in to Brussels, and then took a train to Gent….where we accidentally rode first class—its times like those that I love being a foreigner. When the conductors came around to check out tickets they started blabbin away in French and we were like uhh…English? So the girl attempts her broken English with specks of French thrown in between and informs us that we need to go to TWICE class….not second, but twice. Haha ahhh I love it. Now I know how I sound when I speak Spanish…We walked around Gent the night we got there and then the next day….so beautiful. Definitely unlike any other place I have been…the buildings and streets were so…different. It was invigorating to see another part of this marvelous world we live in. our first night in Gent, our cab driver took us through the red light district bc we told him we had never seen it before…but I think it was more for his benefit than ours…he was quite knowledgeable—prices, what you get for that price, how much it costs to take a girl home, how much time you have, etc. I said sir, you sure seem to know a lot about this…where can I sign up?

We were staying at a holiday inn, in a room booked for two, but there were 5 of us…so we found the back door. Quite a talent, I must say not getting caught for 3 days. So there was this complimentary breakfast thing, and we couldn’t decide which two would get to go, and we didn’t have time to go in shifts, so we all went together. Discretely, of course, not drawing attention to ourselves, hoping they don’t ask for our room number. And being sooo sneaky, im waiting for my toast, and I drop my plate. Throw it on the ground. The loudest crash you have ever heard. It broke into ten thousand pieces. I chucked it. Of course. I would. That would happen to nooobody else. So much for going unnoticed.

We went back to Brussels to fly home, but we only had a night there. The main plaza….wwwaaauuuuu. it was goooorgeous. It was all lit up with lights eeeverywhere going all kinds of directions. Breathtaking. We asked some guy to take our picture bc he had a nice camera and a tripod with him so we figured he could handle it. After he took a few with our cameras, he asked us if he could take a picture…and we were like umm you just did..? but he wanted a picture with his giant camera so we were like uh ok sure why not. And then he starts having us walk toward him, then back up, then jump, then crouch, then stand up….basically he was Nigel from America’s Next Top Model. Kinda weird, but all in good fun. We were walking through the plaza trying to find some statue, and 3 of my friends had to go pee, so I was waiting outside with one other girl, and this old irish man comes up to me and asks me if I’m American. And clearly I answered yes—and then he says, oh well I wont hold that against you. And he was serious. I said I didn’t mention anything about the fur coat growing out of your ears, now, did I sir. But I wont hold that against you, either. Then he went on and on about obama, the hotel he was staying in, how his wife gets mad at him when he doesn’t stop talking to random strangers….then he made me walk over and see the hotel he was staying in….? thankfully his wife (who he called old faithful?) walked up with a box of pizza and I was free. Oh, meeting new people. How I do love it.

On the way back to the airport in Brussels, we sort of forgot the fact that we had to take a train at a specific time, and plan for the tram and taxi ride with enough time to get to that train on time….the time of which we had no idea what it was, all to get to the airport in time to catch our flight. the only flight going back to spain that day. Real smooth. But thankfully, when we got to the train station, there was a train leaving fairly soon—in 6 minutes to be exact. And of course the machines weren’t working, so we had to stand in the huge line that says IF YOU ARE A DUMB FOREIGNER STAND HERE SO PEOPLE CAN STARE AT YOU AND MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE CRAWLING IN A HOLE AND EATING HAMBURGERS IN AMERICA FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. And that line was abouuuttt 459 people long. So we are like nervously standing there freaking out bc they wont sell you the ticket after a certain time (aside from the fact that you still have to find where the train is down the long hall and up 62 flights of stairs) but thank God it moved quickly—we got our tickets exactly one minute before the train left and got on as they were honking the horn or whatever that awful sound is that blares that means its leaving. Once we got to the other train station, (I think we left the north one and went to the south one—or maybe vice-versa) we had to take a bus from the train to the airport…another chunk of transportation we sort of forgot about. At this time it was about 8:30, and our flight was at 9:25. (With Ryaniar, the airline we were flying with, they don’t allow you to check in after 40 mins before your flight). We ran on to the bus, and being a little flustered with a huge backpack, I miss-judged the space I had to sit, and as I swung my backpack around from my back to the front of me while sitting, I totally landed on the guys leg next to me. THAT wasn’t awkward or anything. We got to the flight window at 8:44, one minute before they closed the flight check-in. now if that isn’t impeccable timing my friends, I don’t know what is. After that, I only had to be held up at security-- (the ONLY one in the entire line of 20 ppl) so they could check my empty carry-on 16 times in their stupid machine—for another 11 minutes. Good thing my cholesterol is low (it probably isn’t) because I would have a heart-attack right then and there. Everyone else but sara decided to run and get some breakfast at a stand before we had to get on board, so I was all on my lonesome with sara slowly inching towards the gate, but being my loyal late friend. Finally they told me to have a good flight and I said, oh you mean now that you made me miss it? And I was off. Bounding through the airport scanning the signs hoping for my gate number to appear, sprinting to the counter, not drawing negative attention to myself at all, to get the utter privilege of being the last one on the plane. Thank goodness its free seating on Ryanair, because otherwise I may have not been stuck next to the smoker with sars, herpes, Chlamydia, whooping cough, and whatever other diseases that are highly contagious, who decided to scratch his dandruff all over me. What a TREAT! When the plane finally landed, he made a fist, pounded his chest twice, and then shot his arm straight in front of him. A move that was a mix between a G from the Bloods, and Hitler. Then he said something to me in who even knows what language (it was probably spanish and i should have understood...) after looking at me like why the hek aren’t you doing this too? All you can do is smile and nod. With a slight chuckle and exhale. That is key.
The more I see, the less content I am with not seeing more. And by see, I mean go. A picture wont do it for me. Which is why I kind of hate taking pictures. Cuz it never turns out how something really is, or how you see it in that moment. Which is sorta the whole point of a picture…ironic.
All the Christmas lights are finally lit after 3 weeks of being up, but not lit—apparently they were conserving energy this year. A lot of the nativity scenes are getting put up, or are opened to walk through. Haha I heard the song “Drummer Boy” in Spanish in a store the other day—quite interesting. Everyone is out all the time now going shopping like crazy, despite the fact that it is freezing outside. Literally. It hurts. When you walk you try to go fast so you can get out of the cold, but the faster you go, the more breeze there is on your face, so it’s a lose lose situation. So painful. All the street “entertainers” are comin out too. I hate it. Yesterday this mime guy was on the sidewalk and I saw him from afar so I was like ok don’t look don’t look but then they have these squeaky things that they squeak at you bc they know you are scared of them and you cant ignore the squeak so then you HAVE to look and it’s the worst thing ever and then when you make the dreadful eye contact, they squeak again. A;ldkfjas;dlkjf freaks me out. Then they like wink or make a heart shape with their hands oohh its horrible. So creepy. Like I thought mimes couldn’t make noise you cant just change the rules and start squeaking, freak. I was obviously avoiding looking at you for a reason. Keep your squeaker to yourself. Squeak freak. Or the girls that paint themselves all gold or all silver—but then they don’t even hold still to at least make it look cool they like scratch or sigh or do whatever non-statues do—like whats the point? Or even worse…sometimes they wink at you. gaaaaaaah. Ya and the other night it snowed here—not hail, not sleet, snow. There was like 3 inches of snow on the cars all down my street. Like did choose to live in the sierras, or Granada….sometimes I get confused. It was absolutely gorgeous nonetheless, just even more freezing.
Well now that all my finals are done and I have no class left for the semester, I think I’ll study some of the wine they rage about. Im kidding mom. I’ll clean my room. Ive been working on it since abouuutttt last month. We’ll see what happens.
Well that’s it for now…other than that its just ordinary Spanish life getting yelled at by old men on buses who cant figure out where the bus is and somehow think it is my responsibility to tell them where and when to get off…but damn with the kind of canes they use around here, you do anything they tell you to.

I wish you all the merriest of Navidads. SPREAD THE LOVE PEACE AND JOY! Forever and ever Amen…or somethin. i love you all. from the bottom of my heaaarrrtttt. feliz navidad prospero ano y felicidad. dadadadadada i wanna wish you a merrrryy christmas, i wanna whish you a merrryyy christmas...k im done. good song though.

Instead of being a time of unusual behavior, Christmas is perhaps the only time in the year when people can obey their natural impulses and express their true sentiments without feeling self-conscious and, perhaps, foolish. Christmas, in short, is about the only chance a man has to be himself. ~Francis C. Farley

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. ~Roy L. Smith

For the spirit of Christmas fulfills the greatest hunger of mankind. ~Loring A. Schuler

so i'm in the middle of midterms, and what better time is there to update? the desperate hunt for distraction continues as i do everything in my power to avoid studying...thank God i created a blog. three of my teachers are gems, though one does not have quite the same magnetic pull to be around her any time she hands out papers or comes to check on your work as the wind flow gently yet oh so surely confidently blows her beloved B.O. into my awaiting nostrils. among many perks, that is one downfall of having a hippy for a teacher. the fourth teacher. i've only gotten in three fights with her so far. no big deal. i can handle this. my native tongue or not, i will bring her down. shes lit my fire and i'll be damned if i dont let it burn. everything would be fine if she wasnt a prideful hypocrite that can never admit she is wrong or just accept the fact that i am not, in fact, a native to spain. like c'mon if you hate Americans then what the hell are you doing spending all your time with them for a living. and sorry, but my inability to speak your language with fluidity will not stop me from calling you out and standing for what i know you're wrong about, or at least from speaking my mind. lord have mercy on her soul-less body. she gives us these packets to study from and at the beginning of the semester she told us the parts with the ''i'' next to them we didn't have to know for the test, and it was just extra information. so one day as we were reading it, i was clarifying that we did not need to memorize it, and for God knows why, that set her off. (Could have been because the last time i said something to her i wasn't exactly complimenting her on her blouse. but thats beside the point) she went off on some rage about how "you americans'' only ever care about whats on the test, but here in spain we actually learn AND do well on the tests. i said "oh really? your ears are huge"
great. now im gonna wake up with big ears tomorrow.
i really do love it here. i am aware of and learning things that i would never have imagined--not necessarily because they are so incredible and extravagant, but because i just had a bit of an idea of things i would or would not get out of this year. i love the mystery of it--in this case, at least.
a few weekends ago me and some friends got the chance to get over to the beach--aaaaamaaaazzziinnnggg. we went to Nerja, on the costa del sol in Malaga, and it was absolutely gorgeous. id spend any day on the beach as it is, but there was something so breath-taking about this one. whether it was because i hadnt been to the beach in a while, i saw a new end of land that my eyes had never touched before, or because this one was truly spectacular, i will forever have its images vividly painted in my memories. unfortunately, among those vivid memories, are bare old lady teets sadly hanging to her knees, too-tight old man banana hammocks, and other not-so-pleasant memories. apparently nude beaches have no age or body shape requirements. the old, the ancient, the foreign, the HUGE, the hanging, the hairy, the wrinkly, the disturbing....all included.
id say im getting fairly used to the way of life here...the rude and pushy yet lovable Europeans, the endless amounts of dogs roaming the streets, all a different breed, and all of which i pet like my own. im sure i have every kind of herpes by now. its been raining here quite a bit more than normal for Granada...although i often mistake a raindrop for someone watering their plants above my head or a puddle of dog piddle i have stepped in that has splashed up on my face. which is always a pleasant surprise. always. i moved pisos, so i no longer have to listen to my neighbor talk about how her arm hurts from falling, which im sorry but the image of that is just too funny. you gotta see this lady. every time she tells me its as if its the first time--how many more times can you come up with a story, senora? cut your 12-inch toenails and maybe you won't trip over them anymore. no one knows why, but i always seem like a good person to ask for directions from....little do they know i cant even figure out a street name in my own country in my own language....but somehow it always works out and they seem to think i have told them the right thing. once a french lady came up to me and was asking me where she was on her map in half french, and half spanish...i said "shave your legs. " and once, a BUS DRIVER even asked me how to get somewhere.... a bus driver? public transportation officer? like come on isn't that your job? you get paid for these things, senor. no one knows how i understood him, and why i knew the answer.
speaking of public transportation, when i was on the bus the other day, it was quite crowded and people just kept pouring on. the lady standing next to me was in quite a bad mood-i could tell from her flared nostrils (you could have made a fur coat out of all her nostril hair) and her snooty stance. she kept giving me dirty looks as if i was the cause of her discomfort. i said i know my arse is huge and takes up a lot of space, but at least it stopped moving after the bumps were over. more than what your stomach can say. so as she got pushed more and more, and hence aggravated, she decided she would rudely lean up against the seat someone was sitting on . well when the back doors opened, due to her current position, she got slammed back by the doors, and smashed in between them and the pole. funniest damn thing i have ever seen. im sorry, but could it have been any more perfect? serves her right. hahaha if only you could have seen it. the face she made. ohh i'll never forget it.
i really love my new piso. its so peaceful now without the arab moaning i mean music. it was getting a little out of hand at my middle-eastern convention center. i tried, thought it was where God wanted me, but each day that passed took that thought from my head more and more. and at my new place, i dont have to do some weird contorted dance move to get to the toilet without taking the corner of the sink to my rib. such luxury.
the blessings i have had with this unreal opportunity are already numerous and it hasnt even been 3 months. although it is so hard to be away from my friends and family and what is comfortable and familiar, i could not imagine being one of the students only here for a semester and going home in 4 weeks. there is too much to take in. my life has accelerated in ways i can't explain, and i have a new zest for life and learning that i am not willing to give up. not that leaving spain would change any of that, it has just put me in a place i would not have gotten to without being put in the situations i have had to deal with. i have found a completely new personal meaning to prayer. God has come through and through, just when i think there is no way out, no change, no renewal. no matter what, i know the path or plans in my head mean nothing without the divine intervention that life can so desperately require. God is so much bigger than i tend to give him credit for, and he has revealed that to me in an unexpected faith-building way. two words: earnest heart.

besos

i love and miss you all

Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind. ~Seneca

missing grandma...

My Angel

You were always there to bake some cookies or play, no beat me, in a game of checkers

You never failed to far surpass your duties like knitting my school sweaters

Your method of breaking up a fight between me, my sister, or brother

Was always simple—“have some fudge, just please don’t tell your mother”

The lessons you taught me about life and others I will always know

And don’t worry, I will never forget to collect my 200 dollars whenever I pass Go

I’ve never lost someone so close to me, but at least now I am assured

That I will never go hungry in heaven, and when I get there I will hear a welcoming call of “Hey Sug!”

Whether it be Christmas, graduation, Thanksgiving or a dance recital,

The presence of a grandma like you was, to say the least, vital

You’re no longer here in your physical form but your presence we will always feel

Because the lives you changed and hearts you touched we know were done so for real

Your tender heart and spirit of compassion was not only evident in your own life

But poured out into those you cared for to ease and end so much of others’ strife

You were always eager as we dragged you and Grandpa out to see our forts down by your stream

Because for us city kids a yard like yours to play in was quite the dream

On your behalf, whenever I’m asked if I have completed a marathon I can confidently say

“Why yes, I went shopping with Grandma the morning after Thanksgiving day”

You’ve left me with many memories and an endless supply of scarves

But most importantly I have all the priceless lessons you taught me that will forever fill my heart

God let me borrow you for all things a girl might need a grandma for

But now He took you back so you could be in peace and harmony, singing with the angels forevermore

When thinking of you being gone, it’s hard to not ask God “Why?”

But I know it’s because your job down here is done, and it was time for you to join Him in all His beauty beyond the sky

Whenever I played dress up, your shoes were too big; I always thought my feet would grow big enough but they never will

And clearly so, because the footsteps you left and the shoes you wore no one can ever fill

But don’t worry Grandma, we will take care of each other and listen to all you said

We will always have water in the car, give all glory to God, and of course keep Grandpa fed

As one of your only three grandchildren I am eternally thankful

That I was blessed with your attention and could be selfishly joyful

They say light from space can be seen for years, even the light from a small star

But the impact you had goes beyond that distance; besides, your soul is hardly that far

I could go on and on about all you’ve done and what you meant to me

But words cannot express nor can people explain, the world will just have to see

Because a woman like you does not go quietly or without a bang

You have left this world a better place, one with an undeniable change

So for now I say, “see you soon” and with this poem try to carry on

The legend you have only begun, because to me, you will never be gone

And now that you are dancing with Jesus and looking down from up above

I hope you see the legacy you left of pure, honest, and unconditional love

Now each day I face whether soon or in years to come and I find myself in a tangle

I will look to your example to follow and hold you close, because you always have been, and always will be my ANGEL

famous church...forget the name
liffey river in the day (separates nothern and southern Dublin)
Trinity College
Outside the Dublin Bunkhouse (one of the hostels we stayed at)
yes, the bathrooms were co-ed. THAT was a new experience....interesting to say the least
me and sara in a pub with one of our hostel roommates. grand fun.
the famous Molly Malone statue in Dublin
me, sabrina, and sara on the Trinity College campus with my friends from ireland, Aoife and Niamph (both on the outside)
liffey river at night
part of Trinity College...so green!!!
morning we left for the airport

at aoife and naimph's house just outside the Dublin city centre
inside a gorgeous park in Dublin
feeding the duckies in the park!

so. ireland. wow you guys it was amazing. sooo fffrrreeeereezing and pretty rainy on some days which i definitely wasnt prepared for in my rainbows and tanktops, but hey who doesnt want frozen snot? then you dont have to buy kleenex. the pocket knife will work just fine to chizzle it off.

our journey began on wednesday, otober 1. we had to walk from our apts to take a bus to the bus. that may have been the most miserable part of the trip. when we first got on, it wasnt too crowded. however with each stop, abouuuttt 327 ppl got on. so that was real fun. standing room only for us, bc our backpacks that made us look like we were smuggling children did not permit us to sit. so we decided to stand in the handicapped area, which was a real good idea when the man with no legs got on the bus and we looked like ignorant imbeciles. so we had to break our separate ways to wherever we could fit our bodies and backpacks....i eventually got shoved to the back doors which i had to dodge at every stop bc they shot open and nearly gave me re constructive face surgery evertime. and then there was this old man. im all for respecting the elderly, but there is a certain point at which i dont care who you are im gonna push RIGHT back if you nudge me every second so you can be more comfortable he kept pushing me further and further from the pole and i was there first, im sorry old man but give me attitude and you just be praying that i dont use that cane for somethin else....and the hair. oohhhh the hair. no, not on his head, not on his arms...you would NOT believe the hair that was sprouting from his ears and nose that was reaching out and attacking me. it was all i could do to not vomit out the window. oh and his arm. he kept trying to get the upper arm on the pole to hold on to, and every time we hit a bump his disgusting old man arm flab would loom above me and brush my shoulder. i finally had to lean over so it wouldnt touch me. it was THAT bad. the torturous ride finally ended and we got to our next bus 4 mins before it left. that bus was from granada to seville. we stayed the night in seville, bc we flew out of the airport there on thrusday, october 2. oh that plane ride. may have been the worst ariline i have ever flown with. it was ryaniar, which is pretty cheap, but you get what you pay for. im sorry but if you take up so much of the aisle that you launch the person sitting on the end into the person sitting by the window, you probably shouldnt be a flight attendent.....and you also shouldnt bend over in a skirt in heals that you cant even walk in. but anyway. the flight was kinda rough and the landing left much to be desired, but all in all it could have been worse, so i'll stop there and i wont mention the 8 yr old wearing pumps spinning her baribe doll in front of my face that took everything inside of me not to punt across the plane. after the plane was stopped, everyone suddenly had huge coats and the flight attendants put on long snow coats and we were so confused as to why. maybe this was a lay over and they were going to Antarctica after? but after i got off the plane, i realized why they had them. it was for the weather in ireland. when i got off of the plane and stepped outside, only a few select words came out of my mouth. it was freezing butt cold.

so we stayed our first two nights in dublin at the dublin bunkhouse which is less than a year old, but the building itself was over 300 years old. so the location was really great, and the facilities quite nice. my two friends i met in the states when they went to school there for two years, aiofe and niamh ( twins) met us outside our hostel the first night (they live just outside the dublin city centre). we went to their house, then their friend's house, then to some bars, but went back to the hostel pretty early so we could have a good day the next day. so ireland is an hour behind, and somehow we just couldnt figure out how that would work with setting our alarm, and we ended up waking up 2 hours early (at 730 am) on friday, october 3, and couldnt figure out why the other 14 ppl in our room were sleeping so late....we didnt figure it out until we were eating breakfast and realized we were way more tired that we thought we should be and some guy at our table was like ''its only 830". we had already been up for an hour...so emb. my friends met us at our hostel again that afternoon, and showed us around dublin. we went to the famous molly milone statue, trinity college, this GORGEOUS park with a pond where we fed the ducks, and saw this old lady feeding pigeons. i cried. old ppl like that just get me. its the ones that push with their hairy flab on a bus and disgusting dencher breath that i have no tolerance for. but this one was quite a sight. it was like the birds knew her. i personally hate pigeons and want to do nothing more than kick their mangy feathers, but she really had a way with them. that night we had a nice familiar dinner at TGI Friday's, quite a nice change from our deLECtable spanish cuisine, and stuffed our faces till we had hangovers--from our stomachs hanging over our pants, not from alcohol. after walking around a bit with the girls, we made our way back to the hostel. about 2 hours after we went to sleep, we had some delightful scottish drunks (**side note** there are two ppl sucking each others face off right now at the table next to me what the hek take it easy on the PDA, COMPOSURE PPL!!) somehow get into our room, they werent staying there, and start screaaming at the top of their lungs. that was quite a treat. they were looking around counting all the guys in the room, asking where the women were for the orgy. so at that point i stood up and screamed OVER HERE, HERE I AM! jk. i hid under my blanket as if it was the only thing i knew how to do. finally they left, but about 10 mins later they sent the drunkest one back in to sing. i nearly got up and took his man-hood straight out of him, but another guy in the room jumped out of bed and pushed him out of the room and bolted the door. so that was fun. on saturday, october 4, we took a 4-hr bus through the countryside to galway. it was absolutely breath-taking. exactly how i imagined it. cows, sheep, and horses grazing in the GREENEST grass you have ever seen, in the yards of beautiful houses, lined with rock walls. i couldnt stop staring. it was as if i was inside a postcard. so when we got to galway it was poouurrrrinnngg rain and we had no umbrella, or a clue as to where our hostel was. we shamefully stopped at a tourist information center, got directions, and were on our way. as we were shleping through the streets, we saw a guy that was in our same room in our hostel in dublin, who had also made his way to galway, and was meeting up with another guy we had all met in our hostel in dublin who also came to galway. we found out we were not only in the same new hostel as one of them, but in the same room as well. what are the chances. after we found this out, he told us we were walking in the complete wrong direction and told us where it ACTUALLY was. freaking irish information center. when we got to our hostel, woodquey hostel, the precious lady at the desk gave us a memorized speech on the history of galway and some pointers on some good places to go. she wasnt too savvy with the computer, so she gave our reservation to someone else by accident and asked if it would be okay if we were put in another room, without the same accommodations, but with a bit of a discount. having the experience i do with my mother and computers, i had a bit of sympathy and we all decided that would be just fine. she was so relieved it was presh. we made our way up to the room, met some of our roommates who were from switzerland, and then headed out for the night with the two guys that we met in dublin. we just picked a random pub that had a sign advertising live music later on in the night, and thankfully got a table. after a bit of time holy hell it was crowded. getting up to go the bathroom was quite a feat to accomplish. when the band started to play....wow. it was the most incredible experience. irish men swinging their pints of beer from side to side, singing and dancing along to the traditional irish music, becoming friendlier as the night went on, teaching us words to the irish songs. it was a total blast. i cant even put to words what an awesome experience it was. i took some videos on my camera, but it hardly captures the enthusiasm that was in that bar. one of the best nights i have had. i felt so irish. that night when we got back most of the ppl in our room were already sleeping, so we couldnt meet the rest of them. two of them however came back once we were in bed and left the light on. the person in the bunk above me decided he wasnt going to put up with that, and jumped down to turn it off. i looked up just in time to see zebra panties hovering above my head making their was down to the floor. no one knows why they werent wearing pants, it was about negative 100. the next morning that same person got up before we did, and it was a guy. and yes, i am positive. the zebra panties? im still trying to figure that out. id rather not talk about it. on sunday, october 5, we moved to one of the top-rated hostels in ireland, to the kinlay house. it was huuuuuge and very nice, and only ten bucks a night for the room we were in. after we checked in, we made our way to the city. the day before someone told us that it would definitley rain that day bc in 7 years it had never not rained on a sunday. well let me tell you, we brought the sunshine! it was a beautiful day. still as cold as a witch's titty in a brass bra, but sunny with blue skies. we were sooo thankful. the day before we wanted to kill ourselves walking around like wet cats trying to figure out what to do with ourselves. so when the sun came out, we were ecstatic. we walked to the beach...wow. there was a promenade walk with a lighthouse at the end, rocks all around and the stillest ocean water youve ever seen. it was soooo pretty. we then went to a street market, got the irish claddagh ring, and some delicious chili, then a crepe, then some dinner, then a ''naughty crepe''. i got one with banana and melted chocolate. we need to get those goin in spain. me and sara then encountered the drunkest Australian you have ever seen in our hostel, chattin up a storm about life. it was actually pretty enjoyable, and he surprisingly remembered us the next day. that night's sleep was the worst. the guy in the bunk right next to me....the snoring. i have never heard such noises come out of a single human being. he may as well have been inside my brain. it was sooooo tortuously loud. i tried doing the loud SHUTUP cough or the sigh..i even pushed his bed. nothing worked. it took everything inside of me to not get up and punch the stranger in the face. monday, october 6, we took a bus back to dublin, hung out in the city a bit, and we met up with the girls again that night and they drove us around the town, then to another ocean point, and then we parked and had a nice irish chat. we loved it. we got to bed at about 130AM, and had to wake up at 330AM to catch a bus to the airport at 430AM, which didnt get there until 5AM. we werent tired or annoyed at all. cheerful morning people. when we got to our gate at the airport, the screen had a different flight number and destination, but our tickets still said that gate so we just stayed. we were supposed to board at 715 and finally at about 730, one of the flight attendants came and took us to another gate. you would have thought that the first person to get there would win the lottery. it was a MAD HOUSE. ppl were RUNNING, pushing, trampling to be first bc it was free seating on the plane. ppl were taking advantages of having elderly in wheelchairs, but that didnt phase me, i just gave them speed bumps to go over. after all the ridiculous rude ppl pushin me around, i suddenly found that i had to keep my elbows out at all times, i just couldnt get them to go in... it was pouring rain when we boarded too, so that didnt help the my-life-is-coming-to-an-end-hurricane status. some ppl behind us pushed and raced ahead of us to get to the back entrance of the plane bc the other line was miles long, but they got there and it was roped off. but i was like eff this im goin anyway. there was no way in hell i was gonna trek back in the rain and wait for all those beezys to get settled as i slowly but surely became a soggy mess in my flip-flops. i wobbled over to the other set of stairs and began ascending. i asked the flight attendant at the top, and shes like sure come on in. GOLDEN. haha serves ya right suckerrrsssss but they saw us get in and turned around and followed. what leaders we are. once i got on the plane, some smelly lady decided it would be best to lean on my from the aisle, no one knows why. it wasnt crowded yet, and she kept boobing me with her triple G's as she loomed over me as if i asked her to rub her meat hooks on me and to please hide me and if i had begged her to smell her breath. like really? is that necessary? sit down. and not on me, for a change. after the plane landed, we took a bus to the bus station, i got in a fight with the man serving me salad bc he wouldnt listen to me that there were 3, actually 3, bugs in the vinegar and kept telling me that the leaf was to preserve it. i freaking know, im talking about the dang insects swooshing around in it. i wanted to pour it on him. THESE BUGS, senor. our bus back to granada finally came, and there was a nun on it by herself while we were waiting and the second we all got on she started ''praying'' with her rosary. right. WOW YOU ARE SUCH A DEDICATED GODLY NUN! noooot, i saw you sleeping this whole time, ya lint licker. after nearly pissing my panties, literally, on a 3 hour bus ride back to granada, we finally reached familiar grounds, made it up to our pisos, and showered. it was great. well, due to the lack of sleep/warmth/water in the past week, i still have snot launching out of my nose and its not as freezing cold, so it wont freeze and i gotta go get a kleenex. slash i might as well use a toilet seat cover because they are the same material here, im convinced.

love to you all

besos

“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.”

--samuel johnson

some rad somethin i found when walkin around
MMMmmmm love me some Tinto de Verano. and yes, that is a wheely basket. they are so lazy. i love it.
TAPAASSSSS
for those with a double ass. i had to get that kind.
i found his home! it was under the cabin we stayed in. so cute.
view from the top of the mountain on the way home in the bus. pretty sure those are all olive trees down there.
oh she was so precious. but every time i tried to take a picture she would move so i couldn't, the little brat. this was the best i could do.
more beauty where we went camping.
where we went camping. this one is for you, dad. :) don't worry i didn't see any bark beetles.
apparently not everything is in Spanish
cool alleyway by my piso
The CUTEST dog. i hugged him.
yes, it says museum. it was an accident. but aren't you proud?!
yes, i ate that. no big deal, you just take of the scales and dig around the guts.
dinner one night with my roommates. i don't wanna talk about it.
another cool building
another cathedral in Granada i think?
the most precious in love old couple walking in front of me

helloooo all!
yes yes i know i haven't exactly kept this ''updated'', but here we go....
I am now living in a piso with three guys.... i know, sounds a little, well you know, but so far so good. its actually working out QUITE nicely because one of my roommates works in a Kebab King which is a chain of these pita sandwich things which one of my favorite foods and lets just say i've had my fair share of them....its good to have friends who have friends. Finally finding a piso may have been the most satisfying thing i have ever experienced, despite my unexpected roommates or strange sounds coming from the neighbors. let me just explain to you how ridiculous i must have looked. first of all, i can't read maps. its something i have inherited from my dear mother. its an actual handicap that i have. yet, its the only way to find your way around. so i would be walking around with the most embarrassing look on my face, in a foreign country, trying to find street signs of WHICH THEY HAVE NONE and if you are lucky you will find a sign posted on the side of a building at one end of the street(0f course the end you are farthest from) hoping its the correct street name, calling people i don't know asking questions in an unknown language, only to get responses at the speed of light, and then trying to ask for the address of the piso (as if i could even find it) and telling/asking them where to meet praying to God you will understand. and if all that works out its OF COURSE the piso that is 100 flights up with no elevator in a building with no windows. then you get to the actual room that is being rented out, only to find that is the room that either Ann Frank lived in, or the room in which Emily Dickinson wrote suicide poems. so when i found where i live now, the unknown yellow liquid that so tauntingly penetrates EVERY wall in my room looked quite delightful.
anyway.
i knew that i would like it here just fine on the second night we were in Granada because there were people dancing in the streets....like actually dancing in the streets. there was this portable stage set up with a band singing ''Que Sera, Sera'' and the most precious old people dancing in this plaza with chairs set up all around for those who wanted to watch. i have never seen anyone so in love. it was adorable. and let me tell you them old folk here do NOT mess around when it comes to ''going out''. it was about midnight when i discovered such activities and these grandmas were lookin all fly in their sparkle dresses and loads of makeup. i was so inspired i joined in on Maria Jose's conga line. it was a blast.
speaking of old ladies that don't mess around...my friends' (sabrina and sara) duena (the owner of their piso/apartment) (who i live next door to) has this AMAZING hot pink lipstick that she insists on wearing. one day i commented on it and told her i liked it. she then went off on a tangent of who the hell knows what because she has the strongest Andalucian accent (which, by the way most people here have that same accent and i freak out every time they say a word with the letter ''j'' in it because it sounds like they are hacking up a hairball and i immediately try to resuscitate them until i realize they were just asking me if i wanted some jugo de naranja) but i did understand that she was telling me she wears the hot pink in the summer when she is more tan and goes for more of a red in the winter....so she changes her lipstick when necessary, but can't seem to change her nappy green tank-top with the tag still on it that so magnificently shows off her armpit hair that she probably hasn't shaved off since about 1912. i have never seen sara or sabrina run as fast as they do when she comes into view. needless to say, encountering her is always a GREAT joy.
i went to a music festival the weekend before last and it was a total blast. after walking for years trying to find the place, i saw one of my teachers on the streets all rearin and ready to go, so she took us there and told us to get ready because we wouldn't be leaving until 7 am....now tell me what teacher in the US would ever encourage such blaspheme, let alone be the ring leader. i love Spain. so when we got in, there were hippies and gypsies everywhere (no surprise there, they alone could populate all of Granada and by could i mean do) and people from all over the world. i met a bunch of rad people. the had a mix of groups there who played flamenco, rock, ska, and whatever else they played after i left at 5:30. it was probably there that i really started to be fascinated by the unity that a language can bring. when you have people from all over the world and none of you can speak the other's language, you can't help but appreciate the trusty "me llamo emily" or ''como estas''.
this past weekend i went on excursion with the CSU group i came with. we went ''camping'' in the mountains in Cazorla. on the way there we stopped in this adorable town (of which i forget the name of) with these cute old people having sewing circles and sitting under trees. it was some historic town because we got tricked into taking a walking tour. i've never wanted to die more. as if hearing historical facts about something that doesn't matter isn't bad enough in English, we had to listen to a lady for HOURS who was wearing see-through white pants (much like the ones my teacher wore the other day with polka-dot underwear underneath) and a neon green tank-top with earrings to match, speaking Spanish at the speed of light and saying ''eh'' every second as if we understood. not to mention i had nnnever been hungrier. but finally i heard ''gracias'' as she was thanking us for coming AS IF we had a choice and wanted to be there, and relief swept over my body and i began to sprint to the nearest tienda to buy a bag of chips. and then we were finally on the road to the campground. after about 2 more hours of driving, i was about to kill the bus driver after he took the wrong road like 3 times...and i don't mean a wrong turn a couple minutes back, he full on went down a windy road for miles and miles and didn't know he was lost until we got to a dead end and had to U-turn in a GIANT bus on a road that was about the size of my pinky toe with oncoming traffic and no rails to stop us from tipping over the cliff. i actually thought i was going to die. but alas the treacherous journey finally came to an end and we arrived at our destination. it was so beautiful there, you could tell a total difference in the air without cigarettes in your face everywhere you turn or the farts of a bus overtaking your lungs. they had a group of people that lived up there, a good number of who were deaf, and saturday night we had a dance party with them and it was some of the most fun i have ever had. it was sooo cool seeing these people totally get down with their bad self without even being able to hear a single beat of music. some even got up on chairs to dance! but the one black girl in our group took the challenge and showed them a thing or two. the crowd gathered and was absolutely ROARING as she was dancing. ive never seen anything like it it was awesome.

now for a short personal reflection...
it has been a little difficult so far trying to adjust to a new way of life without familiarity and family, but overall i am absolutely ecstatic to have this experience. there is something about being thrown out of your comfort zone into a new place with a new kind of people that is so terrifying and thrilling at the same time. i love meeting new people from all over the place with different views and backgrounds, yet finding a common ground because we all desire to build relationships--because what else is there to do in this world but just that? when you take everything else away, all we have left is people...and the relationships we build. seeing their relaxed way of life here is so refreshing, because all they really seem to care about is each other. i always see groups of old men just sitting at a fountain together or women out walking with their kids. they even set out a block of time in the day just to chill, and don't care about losing those business hours (and money). there is so much in this world that God has given us to discover and enjoy, and my desire to do just that has truly grown since being here. i really believe that just because we were born in one place or grown accustomed to a certain way of life, that doesn't mean that we have to live that way forever and that our lives can't change. it seems there is so much more to life that the combination of our set ways and what we our comfortable with hinders us from experiencing. Despite the uneasiness i feel at times, i know there is nothing better for me than to stand on my own and rely on nothing but God and the abilities He has given me. We get one life. I'd hate to spend it all in one place without ever stepping off the common grounds, seeing as how this entire universe is full of stories and incomprehensible beauty. Within this short yet long month, pushing my own boundaries and stretching myself, not always by choice, is the most uncomfortable thing i've done and at times i want to take it all back and just be home. But i have found that home doesn't really exist. You have yourself, your family, and your friends, and that's it. I think people often mistake comfort for home. All we really need is the most precious gift God has given us--the ability to have relationships; with God, and with each other.

before coming to Spain was even an idea in my head, i found a certain quote about leaving that always kinda provoked something in me. i have found that it has actually brought me a certain comforting peace and confidence now that i am away from everything and missing home; it says a lot about how i feel:

"We get one story, you and I, and one story alone. God has established the elements, the setting, and the climax and the resolution. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn't it? It might be time for you to go. It might be time to change, to shine out.

I want to repeat one word for you: Leave.

Roll the word around on your tongue for a bit. It is a beautiful word, isn't it?

So strong and forceful, the way you have always wanted to be. And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed."

...well, that's all for now...

thanks for all of your prayers and support! i miss and love you all

BESOS

soooooo
After a 5 1/2 hour bus ride from a three day stay in Madrid, I am now in Granada. I have completed one night, one and a half days, and I love it. I´ve been ssssshhhhtarving since the plane ride over...these people just don´t know how to eat. slash maybe they just eat things other than cheeseburgers which i am still trying to understand. last night a bunch of us from the CSU-IP group went exlploring and we found this GNARLY view of la alhambra. it was breath taking...i had been to it before but the way they had it lit up at night looked like a famous painting you would see in a museum...not that i would necessarily see it if it was in a museum because i would not dare step foot in such facilities on my own free will...¡
anyway
there seems to be a lot of opportunities for housing and such where i currently am staying, however its pretty much nowhere near the two schools (that are on opposite sides of the town from eachother) that i will be going to...so i gotta go take a hike and get on that.
the people here so far are really friendly and pretty understanding of my shameful ¨spanish¨...thats the store owners at least. women walking down the street LOVE to stare (as if i look like im not from spain or something?) with the most stone cold face youve ever seen so its like wow this is uncomfortable i guess ill just smile and they give you back an even worse look as if to say HOW DARE YOU SMILE AT ME YOU BABY MURDERER at which point i frantically look around as if i know exactly where i am going and have a very important meeting to get to...its the only way.
they had this tour de france thing (minus it was in spain) through granada today and there were all these cameras and vans and toooonnnss of people waiting for the bikers to come through and finally they did pedalling at the speed of light with cars and biker policemen trying to keep up. it was pretty rad.
everyone here is preeeeeeetty much gorgeous. like the chicks...i dont even know they walk around as if they are going to prom when they are just going to get some water. im like well hell i cant keep up with that i guess ill just keep wearing my embarassing touristy bag and flip flops... even the trashmen are somethin to look at...im like well shoot can i help you lift that trashcan señor?
anwaaayyyy
guess thats all for now....doubt my other blogs will be this long because A i wont remember to write anything and B they just wont be as long. unless they are.

well. time to go get run over by a scooter bolting down the steet.

i´ll try to get some pictures up here ASAP...if i can figure it out...

night before slash morning of

soooooo im gonna try to keep this up to date on my latest adventures and such in Spain and wherever else the wind blows me. no guarantees, because i tend to forget things...a lot...buuuuut i will do my best. LOVE TO ALL!