chocolate for breakfast

classy couple
classier couple
sisters

I think I've eaten chocolate for breakfast every day the past week, because I'm HOME! And it's Christmas! I've also been catching up with friends a lot, hanging out with my grandpa, Seth, my family, etc., which has been just wonderful. Highlights of the week: seeing Seth and my dad at the airport! Dad is doing really well, by the way. He looks and acts just like himself. Oh, I love my dad! Jennie's two parties the first two nights after I came home, and getting to see my sisters and Ellen at them (the second night was a "tacky Christmas sweater party"--great fun). My grandpa coming into town--he's the best grandpa in the world, seriously. Dinner with Seth, his mom and the Shalom House ladies Tuesday night--seeing them exchanging Christmas gifts was so exciting. Sister night at the Melting Pot Wednesday night! We have so much fun together. Gosh. Seeing Rebekah and meeting my new fairy godson, Jonas, on Thursday. He is adorable--one of those babies with long eyelashes. Pretty boy. Getting to catch up with my dear friend Hannah, back from Sweden for Christmas. Catching up with / facebook-stalking people with my dear friend Ellen last night! Hanging out with Seth in general. Finding out I don't have mono! But I'm still taking my strep medication... or, I'm supposed to be. I always forget to.

Tongight Amy E.'s flying into Greenville from Chicago! She's back for Christmas. I've missed her this year. She'll spend the night here then go to Ashville in the morning.

the fastest update ever

1. I'm home!
2. I think I might have mono. I DO have strep!
3. It's Christmastime!
4. I went to Portugal last weekend--it was awesome!
5. I'll have to tell you about some other little daytrips I've taken in the last few weeks.
6. I love my family and friends! :) It's so great to be back.
7. Call me--I'm back for a whole month!

Sola picturas

Seth and me in Toledo

Cathedral in Toledo

helado... mmm...

the girl across us on the train

from the train to Marrakech

Market in Marrakech

Fruit stand

Woman and fruit stand


Right before a scary man ran out of his corner and grabbed Seth


Dried fruit stand

Seth, me being the popular kid, and a story (for the very dedicated only)

Seth's visit to Madrid was phenomenal. I can't believe I haven't told you about it yet! The first night he was here we went to the San Gines Chocolateria for some chocolate con churros with friends (chocolate: a mug of dark, pudding-like warm chocolate; churros: long, skinny, crunchy on the outside but doughy on the inside pieces of heaven). He fell in love with Spain immediately. We went to Toledo the first weekend he was here, which we both agree is much nicer than Madrid. Even when you get lost in its labrynthine streets--more like alleyways. We got there late Friday night and walked to a hostel that's actually a 14th century Moorish castle, but sadly, it was booked. We ended up walking about twenty minutes in the dark and finally came to an obscure alleyway with our much cooler hostel (we need to remind ourselves of this) in a house that smelled like cats, owned by a sweet elderly couple. It was incredibly cheap, and pretty central, so we were happy campers. The weekend was spent getting lost, eating ice cream and marzipan, gawking at architechture, and watching the sunset and the city light up.

The next weekend I took off school for us to go to Morocco! Seth and I visited this cool girl Rebecca (one of Jennie's friends--and mine, now, too!) who's teaching English in Casablanca. The first night we went to this really fancy restaurant with Rebecca and Chris (her boyfriend who moved from CA to Casablanca to be with her). The food was amazing--I had lamb with apricots, dates and almonds in this kind of sweet sauce. We talked about what a contradictory culture Morocco is: faithfully praying to Mecca five times a day, but a high percent of men cheating on their wives. It made waking up to the call to prayer at five the next morning a beyond eerie experience. We went to Marrakech our second day, which is south of Casablanca. It's famous for its market: a huge, open-air plaza filled with snake charmers, henna artists, dried fruit stands, horse-drawn carriages, and lots of European tourists trying not to get completely ripped off.

Seth and I got to our hostel from the train station on a RICKETY horse-drawn carriage, which we shared with an amiable black man. It turned out he was a member of the French parliament and he was in Morocco for a week studying its economy with members of parliament from other European countries. He told us that 45% of Moroccans live on under $2 a day and pursuaded our coachman not to rip us off to bad because "They're students! They're students! (You ought to be ashamed of yourself.)" At first he had wanted to pay for us altogether, but we wouldn't let him. I like French people. :) Seth and I walked around the market our first night there, quickly realizing that the best way to resist being harrassed by people trying to sell you their products (food, a monkey show, sweet leather slippers) was to just avoid all eye contact. You have to keep walking constantly or you'll be antagonized by another merchant. It can get exhausting. Rick Steves describes the people as "oppressively friendly." Right on, Rick. Seth and I were watching a beautiful older woman painting henna on some younger women's hands. We planned on coming back the next night to get henna tattoos ourselves, but when the woman finished with her clients she approached us and started painting a flower on my hand. "Just a little one"--a demonstration, she made it seem. The flower kept getting bigger and bigger until a vine spread over my whole hand. I had told her I couldn't pay tonight--I didn't have any money. She said, "No problem, no problem," and kept painting. When she finished she said, "That's twenty durham." Seth and I were shocked--she had seemed so nice--so maternal and sincere. I grabbed Seth's hand and we booked it to another stand, appalled at what had just occurred, without paying. My friend Mike didn't get so lucky--he ended up paying 100 durham for henna art in Marrakech. What a rip off. We loved Marrakech, though. It was just so non-Western. So foreign. Not many Americans experience such a completely different culture--and whole mentality.

Back in Spain Seth and I enjoyed long talks, picnics in Retiro Park, going out with my friends, celebrating Halloween at Biz's place, eating amazing Galician food at Seth's new favorite restaurant :), having a surprise two days off from school--I didn't have my schedule yet, and none of the teachers told me we had a holiday. It's too bad, because we would have gone to Granada that weekend if we'd known I had that much time off. But staying around Madrid was amazing, too.

I love living in this city. The night Seth left, my friend Melissa and I were sitting on a park bench when a garrulous (hehe--new GRE word) old gentleman approached us and told us he was 100 years old. He told us that he'd fought in the war (the Spanish Civil War) and showed us a battle scar on his head where he'd been shot with a bullet. I think it just nicked his head, way back 70 years ago--in a war most people have forgotten. I saw him later talking to some other strangers--three 30s-ish men on a bench. I loved his uninhibitedness. I'm reading a phenomenal book right now: Anne Lamott's "Traveling Mercies." In one part of the book she talks about seeing a movie about gypsies--the young and the old women dance in the movie. The young ones dance because they're beautiful and the old ones because they're uninhibited, but what about the middle-aged ones? "Coming out of the movie that night, I realized that I want what the crones have: time for all those long deep breaths, time to watch more closely, time to learn to enjoy what I've always been afraid of--the sag and the invisibility, the ease of understanding that life is not about doing." The invisibility is what I've been thinking about lately--someday I'll be old an invisible. That might be nice. Now I'm kind of a self-conscious people-pleaser, a lot of the time. Self-conscious: like, feeling awkward speaking Spanish with my roommates, or other people, or just socializing in general. Feeling very visible, like my mistakes are very visible, and that people even care about my mistakes. It was cool thinking about how uninhibited that 100 year old man must have felt. Unembarrassed--he had nothing to lose talking to people I'd be intimidated talking to.

If I felt how I do with the students I teach with everyone, I'd be so much smoother. I am so popular at school. The little little ones, with their wet, snotty faces, love me. They grab onto my legs, five at a time, and I walk them around the classroom. The older kids (12-16 year olds) love practicing their English with me--but they feel self-conscious, too! And they shouldn't! Yesterday I talked about American food with my older kids and showed them Michael Jackson's "Beat It" video on YouTube, then Weird Al's parody "Eat It." They ate it up (haha--get it?). Then some of them practiced their English with me after class--I think my Spanish is better than their English, but they communicated fine.

Tonight I'm having a girls-only potluck here. I bought my plane ticket to come home for Christmas--thanks to a gift from my very generous grandpa. Gosh, I love that man. I can't wait to be home. I wish I were going to be home for Thanksgiving, which my family's celebrating right about now--early this year because Dad's having surgery Tuesday. Pray for him, if you think of it.

Quick Update

Seth and I had a lovely week touring Madrid and Toledo, teaching my classes, getting confectioneries from a convent where we couldn't see the nuns (just as exciting as I'd thought it would be!), meeting my friends, taking videos (yay!), having good conversations, saving turtles, noticing details, etc. We're heading off to Casablanca tomorrow to visit one of Jennie's friends Rebecca! We'll also be spending time in Marrakech, which is supposed to be touristy, but offers more of an "authentic" Moroccan experience. We will post pictures soon!

Hiking

Today's a holiday in Spain so my friend Ginny and I got up bright and early (8:45! :) ) to go hiking again in Cercedilla (an hour and a half train-ride above Madrid). We felt so liberated from the confines of concrete as we ate our fresh bocadillos (sandwiches) on the trail. The weather couldn't have been better. Ah! I need to get out of Madrid more often than I'm doing right now! Anyway, it was a lovely day, with lovely conversation.

On Monday I start my new job with a bilingual charter school called Artica. There are so, so many benefits to working at this school: the teachers own and run it, and care for it like it's their own baby, I'll be in ONE place for four to five hours straight instead of an hour at a time, I'll have insurance (whew), and I'll be learning a lot of Spanish, hopefully! Wednesday Seth comes!!! I'm pretty excited about being his tour-guide, and just seeing him, of course! We bought our tickets to Morocco for the second weekend he's here and we're planning a trip to Granada before he leaves (using CouchSurfing.com--this site could revolutionize my world). Goodness, I can't wait.

More soon!

Sweater Weather

Taking photos while waiting in line 2.5 hours at La Noche en Blanco. We were about 10 minutes from getting a theater tour when they closed the line down!

Chris and Melissa at La Noche en Blanco

a corner near a convent where they sell cheap confectionaries. You aren't allowed to see the sisters, so you have to give your money / receive your treats via a Lazy Susan! Seth and I are going here.

on my walking tour of Madrid

a cathedral

Today is the epitome of a "sweater weather" day. Well, it's cold and it's rainy outside. A real "sweater weather" day shouldn't have rain, I guess. But, it's not too bad inside my apartment. I have a couple candles burning and I'm listening to Sufjan Stevens' "Songs for Christmas"--which always make me feel warm and fuzzy inside :). I'm missing home a little. By the way, I think it takes living abroad the second time to really appreciate home and the US. Maybe it was the perpetual beautiful weather, but I wasn't that homesick in South Africa. I've been homesick here even when the sky is crystal-clear.

Do you want to hear about the mail I've been receiving lately? I just got a care package with JEANS, CANDY, napkins :), birthday balloons, a Clemson cup, a shirt, an address book, etc. from my family! It is great to travel. And it's great to have a month-and-a-half extended birthday! I've also received the sweetest letters from Seth--always arriving on just the right days. Seth will be here 2 weeks from today!! I'm so, so excited about seeing the world with him: Morocco, Paris (maybe), Granada, and Madrid, of course :). The other day I went on a walking tour of Madrid with my Rick Steves' guide in hand. Basically, Seth's visit is going to be sweet if we do half of what Rick says to do. I'll update in a few weeks. Oh, also, the Wikes sent me a paper cutout of a boy named "Flat Stanley" to travel with me for the week and share adventures with me (it was for a project Miles was doing for school). So I've intentionally had some extra-cool adventures this week: like visiting the Prado Museum (HUGE) and the Reina Sofia Museum (most famous for Picasso's "Guerrnica"). The art museums here are free every week! So, I definitely need to take advantage of living in a big city and going to them. Y'know?

Classes are going pretty well. Tomorrow I'm going in for an interview with a company that a few of my friends are working with. I'd be working with a day school, working from 9-2 instead of working at night like I am now. But I would have to accept a contract to work till the end of June if I worked at this school--which I wasn't necessarily planning on (I'd planned on staying only till maybe the beginning or end of May--1-2 more months?). There are a lot of benefits of working with the school, though--so, pray for me as I make this pretty big decision in the next few days.

Party + bangs = a very good evening

The view from my apartment--sweet

Me and my new bangs--and my room

Last night I had a little "going away party" for everyone to say "adios" to our TEFL course (which I'm so happy is finished! I'll have so much free time now!). I was pleasantly surprised that most of the class decided to come :). I've been cleaning up from it all day, actually--a true sign of a successful party (just kidding).

Well, I'd been thinking, for a while now, about getting bangs: about how much cooler I would become if I had them. I'll never be as cool as Ellen K., but maybe if I get bangs like hers, I thought, I could come close. So last night I decided to ask my dear friend Melissa if she would cut them for me (she herself has marvelous bangs). And she did: there in the bathroom at the height of the party. It was a great night. Now I've accomplished step 2 in becoming a hip, happenin' European woman: getting bangs. Step 1 was getting pointy shoes. I think step 3 is getting a mullet, so I don't think I'll ever really reach Western Europe's standards of enlightenment.

Too bad.

Tonight I, and the whole city of Madrid, are celebrating a fiesta called La Noche en Blanco--basically the one night a year during which museums and shops are open all night. So, I'll be visiting the Prado at about 2 in the morning. Isn't that exciting? I hope that churros restaurant is open... Maybe a kebab wouldn't be so bad, either.

I'm a godmother!

Two of my dearest friends, John and Rebekah, just had their first baby in Prague (congratulations)! And I asked Rebekah before the baby was born if I could be the fairy godmother--so now that little Jonas is born, it's official: I'm a fairy godmother. :) Isn't that exciting?

The goings-on in Madrid: I've been here for almost two months, will be finished with my TEFL course tomorrow, have been teaching 2 sets of siblings for two weeks now, and am poor :(. No, I'm surviving. But--one thing that was kind of misleading of Canterbury: we (the students) were all under the impression that our 400 euro reimbursement for our TEFL course would be given to us upon completion of the course (or, at the beginning of the course) (PS--TEFL=Teaching English as a Foreign Language). Actually, we won't be reimbursed until our 40-hour teaching "internship" is completed, which could take up to twelve weeks after the start of the TEFL course. Hmm... a little shady. Since Canterbury also pays pretty poorly, compared to other schools, a lot of us teachers are looking into working for other companies in addition to working for Canterbury. It is nice to be able to use Canterbury's resources: printer, computers, a library full of teaching materials, etc. Plus, they host really fun events every month for teachers to meet each other, which sets it apart from other schools.

Anyway, I'm glad Biz and I decided to take the TEFL class this month instead of in August. We've met some great people: Melissa, Sarah, Sara, Robin, etc.

Muchos Besos para todo!

La Tomatina/Flamenco

Last week was exhausting--I'm so glad it's over, honestly! Biz and I had TEFL class from 9:30-3:00 every day, and afterwards had to go to Spanish class from 3:30-8:00. Except for Wednesday--about 25 of us teachers went to a huge (1 million people) festival called "La Tomatina"--the biggest tomato fight in the world. It's hosted in a small coastal town called Valencia. The group split up and my friend Elise and I tried to stay together amidst the crowd of sweaty people packed in the streets like sardines. Really--you could almost have lifted your feet off the ground and still have been standing. Tomato trucks would slowly cruise through the crowds of people and locals in the trucks would chuck tomatoes at eager tourists. Some of my friends ended up in tomatoes up to their shins, but I guess I was in a low-level tomato area (which is now a little disappointing). Anyway, after tomatoes, we all went to swim in the Mediterranean, which was lovely, though it smelled strongly of fish. It was such a hot day, though, and the water was cool and refreshing.

Yesterday Biz's friend Maria came in from the Netherlands, so we all went out to see a Flamenco show (along with one other girl, Ginny). It was really beautiful. The hand motions reminded me a little of hula dancing--very graceful and story-like. And the music definitely has an Arabic influence--the vocals are all over the place--kind of chant-like. So beautiful. At the end some of the guitarists/vocalists got up to dance, too--I love multi-talented artists!

Tonight we showed Maria what tapas (little plates of food that come with your drinks) and churros (fried doughnuts dipped in melted chocolate) are. Now she's an official Spain lover, like the rest of us. :)

I visited an Anglican church this morning. I liked it--it reminded me of one I visited in South Africa. But, I met a girl there who's been here a year and still hasn't learned Spanish! That SCARES me! I wouldn't consider that a complete waste of a year, but... why only hang out with English-speakers when you travel? That makes me want to go back to my friendly Spanish church. We'll see.

The next three weeks we have TEFL class from 9:30-3:00 four days a week. That's exciting! I can get some sleep! Tomorrow I have to give a practice lesson (20 minutes long) which will be video taped and critiqued. How nerve-wracking. :(

Exciting news

I'm such a nerd--I get so excited about things like this. But you would, too! I decided to go on a quest for free internet in my apartment complex, and at the moment am on the fourth floor using someone else's wi-fi. That's how desperate I was. Biz's roommates are coming back home this weekend, so I won't be able to depend on her apartment for much longer! Of course, I'll still visit Biz all the time, I'm pretty sure. Well, this will work until I figure out something else--like, going in with neighbors and using their internet? Or finding the owners of one wireless network my apartment gets everywhere and paying them to use their internet. We'll see.

Biz and I had our first day of TEFL class today--it flew by a lot more quickly than we were expecting. But it was from 9:30-3, and our Spanish class was from 3:30-8 (only for one week). Yuck. We (Ben, Biz and I) were all so exhausted afterwards. We looked like zombies walking down the street. I was craving thai chicken and rice with peanut sauce, which I think means I needed protein, or something. How weird. I made rice and mixed in some salsa, garlic, and fresh lime juice, with pinto beans and grilled green peppers on top. I embellished on a recipe I found online, and it was delish! I'm excited about cooking!

Wednesday all classes have been cancelled for "La Tomatina"--a city-wide (plus half a million tourists) tomato fight in Valencia. After we've become drenched in tomato pulp, we'll all jump into the ocean and wash off. I'll update soon :) with pictures, hopefully!

Birthday!

A couple days ago I celebrated my birthday for the first time in a foreign country! It was delightful, actually. The night before my roommates and I had gone out to a Chinese place for dinner and scrumptious desserts. When we got back it was already 12:15 so they sang "Cumplianos Feliz" for me and lit a candle for me to blow out. They're so sweet. Oh, and my one roommate's name is Bea (as in Beatrice), not Bear, or whatever I said earlier :).

I came to Biz's the morning of my birthday to check my email (she has internet and I don't!) to find a pot of beautiful lantern-like flowers for me from Seth--he had gotten Biz to go out and buy them for me. I love when people scheme behind my back to do sweet things... Biz and I went to class then went out with some people for the best kebabs in the world (for only 3 Euros) and sangrias. Mmmmm...

It's been a month since I've been here--I can't believe it's been that long, but in some ways it feels like it's been a year already. Biz and I noted that we can suddenly understand some of the dialogue on Spanish TV--that's really remarkable! At first I was completely lost--now I understand some of what people are saying. I need to be much more bold about speaking Spanish with people. Sometimes it's just easier to speak in English. And some people would prefer to speak in English with me. But, like my teacher said, if they want to speak in English, they can go to the US. I need to speak Spanish here.

I miss y'all back home! Hopefully I can come home for Christmas? We'll see.

Address

I just (re)posted my address on facebook, so if you want it and aren't my facebook friend, email me :).

I looooooove mail!

Graduation

So, as of today I'm an "official" college graduate :)! Yay! I graduated in August instead of May because I'd originally thought about taking more classes at Clemson this semester (maybe PA school prerequisites?), but around spring break decided I wanted to be in Europe this year--graduating in May would have meant I'd be paying a steep late fee. Anyway, now I'm a true grown-up, I guess. I'm still thinking of PA school, or some kind of grad (or more undergrad) work. Family counseling, perhaps? Teaching, if I like it? History? Psychology? Art? Still just as many varied ideas as I had in high school--why haven't I narrowed it down by now? :) What do you think I should do next?

This afternoon Biz and I went to the most delightful part of Madrid we've experienced yet--a place called Retiro Park. It's a huge public park with miles and miles of walking trails, well-groomed gardens, fountains, waterfalls, statues, and woods. And a big "pond" you can take a row-boat on. We strolled around a couple hours, eating sweet popcorn and corn nuts we'd bought there, then found a grassy place to read. Biz lent me a book called "In the Name of Jesus" by Henri Nouwen. It's short and really thoughtful so far--Nouwen left a life at Harvard to become a chaplain at a home for mentally handicapped men. It's a book about Christian leadership. I think it's one I'll have to read over and over again.

Right now Biz and I are watching "Lost" and agreeing how awful it is to see it dubbed--no Southern accent on Sawyer? Kate with that voice? Mmm mmm (shaking my head).

Ch-ch-ch-changes

at a fountain in Madrid (and see below for new photos!)

I remember, as a seventh-grader, being spellbound by David Bowie's lyrics while surfing Encarta during computer class: "Time may change me, but I can't change time."

Now I think they sound a little cheezy--but they still ring true. The emptying of the nest happened too fast, I think all the sisters agree. Alice is the only little bird left at home :). And here I am, living in a foreign country (it was bound to happen someday), waiting for time to change me.

I moved into my new apartment two days ago. I love it so far--the view of Madrid from the 11th floor is really stunning, especially at sunset (which happens around 9:30 here). One of my flatmates (Bierd? I don't know how to spell it, actually) lived in London three years and speaks English with a South African accent because all her friends there were South African--I love it! The other one (Laura) probably speaks English as well as I speak Spanish--which isn't saying much AT ALL! So, I think it's a good Spanish-learning situation--I can practice Spanish with Laura (well, with both of them) and Bierd can translate for us if need be. The only drawback to my living situation is that there's NO INTERNET! Which is NOT COOL! And, also, no landline phone (which would allow me to call home for much cheaper than my cell phone)! Maybe I'll work out some wi-fi deal with the neighbors--I could pay them 10 Euros a month to use their wi-fi? Something will work out. It's got to.

This morning Biz and I visited the friendliest church we've ever been to. The sweetest teenage girls were coming up to us introducing themselves during the service and spoke with us in Spanish for an hour afterwards. We were so impressed at how kind they were, and we definitely want to visit again. Most of the people at the church were South American--South Americans, by the way, are so friendly. That's what we learned today :). No, Spanish people are, too. But South Americans are exceptional.

I think I'm going to go take a siesta. Hasta luego!

a late night in Madrid

It's 2:40 am here, and I'm surfing the internet, which means I'm facebook stalking people, actually. No, I'm writing a letter, and facebook stalking people :). You don't know if you've been stalked--but, honestly, you probably haven't been. Don't worry.

I've been in this city for two weeks--over two weeks, actually! And tomorrow I'll finally move into my new apartment (what a relief that will be! No more living out of suitcases!). I want to blog now because we actually don't have internet in my new place (but Laura--my new roomie--said the neighbors have it, so that should help us out!). I've been living with Biz in her flatmate's bedroom (fortunately, her flatmate is gone for the month--many Europeans take off the whole month of August for vacation). Her other flatmate, Alejandra, just left today to visit her boyfriend in some cool-sounding coastal town. And I move into my apartment tomorrow. It's in a commercial area of the city called Cuatro Caminos (Four Streets) and it's on the 11th floor! I fell in love with the view and, out of the probably ten apartments I visited, this one was my favorite (despite the lack of internet and landline phone). Alejandra found the ad for it posted on a Spanish website and told me that two girls were looking for a roommate who was at least 26. That intimidated me, but I wrote down their number anyway. On Sunday I was scheduling an "apartment viewing" appointment with someone for 9:30 the next night when the minutes on my phone card ran out. I called back that number and the person who answered hung up on me, so I decided to give the girls looking for an older roommate a try. I met them at 9:30 Monday night, loved the place (oh, I will post pictures of the view, etc.), loved the girls, and added my name to their list of prospective roommates whom they would call on Tuesday. The next day I was planning on them not calling me, and was about to confirm a room with someone else, actually, when Laura, in her slow, patient Spanish, told me they wanted me to move in this Friday. SWEET. I hope it's a good Spanish-learning, friendship-making situation.

I do wish that Biz and I could room together, but it was so hard finding two rooms available in the same flat--especially when we don't know the language here. We will be visiting each other a lot--don't worry. We'll see each other most days this semester, too. If no more of our Spanish classes get canceled, that is! In the last week and a half, two classes have already been canceled. But today we had class at the pool to make up for it ;). No, we'll make up our lessons next week, I believe (but, it's too bad because I was thinking of taking a long weekend trip to Grenada or somewhere cool next weekend) (but there will be plenty of time for weekend trips in the coming year).

I am so glad Biz and I chose to come to Spain. The weather is hot, the sights are mesmerizing, the culture is diverse (each state is like a different country, they say), Madrid is pretty cheap to live in--especially compared with other capitals in Europe. You can buy a pair of jeans here for 9 Euros (on sale) as opposed to 100 elsewhere :). And Madrid's Metro system is one of the best, and cheapest, in the world. The people are so nice here, too. Especially the South American immigrants (like Biz's roommate--so hospitable and sweet). I really love that it's a cheap city--I mean, even with the Euro, it's a very doable city to live in.

Here are some of my goals for the year: learn Spanish, build relationships with Spanish-speaking people, try my hand at teaching, see as much as possible in Europe, save enough money to visit Drew in China next summer (or sometime!), make friends with my roommates, start to understand the Spanish culture, take good pictures, find a church with people I can fellowship and minister with, become a more giving person in general. The last goal is recent--lately I have been thinking about giving my time to people--I don't think "quality time" has necessarily been one of my top "love languages" (look it up! so interesting!) in the past several years, or ever. I'm often rushed, very last-minute (you know this already, most likely). But I do think it's one of the most meaningful ways to show you care for someone--giving them your precious time. Doing something cheap, but special--like talking with a friend over for tea at your apartment. Or volunteering at a nursing home. I just finished "A New Kind of Christian" by McLaren (read it, please!) and was struck/stricken? struck (my grammar's getting bad!) by an idea in it, among others: "Generosity [is] one of the most important spiritual disciplines [and] greed [is] one of the soul's worst poisons." Ooh--I hate the idea of my soul being poisoned! That's so--frightening. I do think the Christian concept that this world is not our home and storing up treasure here is ultimately vain is really important. Revolutionary--at least to our nature as humans.

Dude, it's getting late, so I better go to bed. But I'll be in touch (oh, that's another one of my goals--to be in touch with all of you dearly loved ones).

Love, love, love,
Your Cate

Apartment

Gooood news! I found an apartment that I like, and my roommates picked me as their roommate out of a list of people. So, that's exciting! I move in Friday.

More later! I'm going out with Biz and her AWESOME Colombian roommate tonight. :) Yay! Espana!!

A week in Spain

Toledo at night

It honestly feels like I've been here for a year already. Or, at least a month. I'm a bit homesick today :(. I want my mommy! Just kidding--that's always how traveling is at the beginning. Then it starts flying by.

Biz and I are really tired of forking out money to hostels, so tonight will hopefully be our last night at Residencia La Luna. We're looking at two apartments tonight then making a decision about who will take which one among all the ones we've seen. I'm going to miss Biz--we usually talk for a good while every night, but I'm sure we'll still do slumber parties or something when we're apart. I bought the second season of "The Office" before I left, so we'll definitely have Office marathons, or something fun. And potlucks with the other English teachers--we've already planned on those :).

I'm just growing up right before my very eyes. Moving to Spain and living with Spanish people? This is exciting--but scary, honestly.

Yesterday Biz, this guy Ben and I had our first Spanish class--it was GREAT! All immersion, but slow and understandable! I'm hoping to keep taking Spanish classes after this month. Hopefully by next month we'll know not to order pig brains on the tapas menu... Of all the selections, that's what Biz decided to point to in Toledo over the weekend. I don't recommend them--the texture... is unbearable.

But, Toledo was awesome! It's a really historic town with a diverse background. There's a lot of amazing Muslim architecture, plus gorgeous cathedrals and Jewish mosques. The streets are narrow and labrynth-like. A lot of people say it looks like the Middle East. I loved it. I want to go back for the world's only Visigoth mass in Mozarabic--doesn't that sound intriguing? It used to be the Visigoth capital, then it was the Spanish capital. It's also been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. I'll take you there when you come visit! ;)

I miss you guys! :( I hope to post pictures soon, but I need to invest in a power converter before I can charge my computer, which is a lot of Euros! Also, I'll post my address as soon as I know it so I can start getting REAL MAIL! Yay! hehehe

Twenty-four hours in Madrid

at Jessica's the night before I left

Greetings from Madrid! Biz arrived here yesterday morning and I came later on in the afternoon and met her at our hostel. I came later than her because #1 my flight arrived later than hers and #2 they left one of my bags in London! Fortunately I have backup clothes! It was supposed to arrive last night, then this morning,but... I haven´t seen it yet.

Biz was definitely a sight for sore eyes! The plane ride was long, and "plane sleep" just isn´t the same as sleeping in a real bed. And seeing another American was refreshing--especially my friend ;). I had a long layover in Chicago, which allowed me to call people and say my last goodbyes. That was nice. I looked out of the plane on the flight from Chicago to London a couple times (window seats rock) and saw a beautiful waxing gibbous moon over misty clouds far below. It was enchanting. Flying into Spain was similar--foggy mountains by the beach in the morning, and, closer to Madrid, Olive orchards and houses with tile roofs. Madrid had a dusky pink cloud above it from the plane , which was charming from a distance, not so charming to be in it. It´s so dry here! I took the Metro from the airport to my hostel, because it was $35 cheaper, and had to carry my one sixty-eight-pound bag plus a backpack full of books all the way to my hostel, up stairs and everything. I asked a police if he knew where my hostel street was and he didn´t, so he asked another man who happened to speak great English (which is very rare here, unlike most of Europe), who ended up walking me all the way to the hostel and helping me with my bags! What a great first impression of the city! But, by the time I got there, my throat was just parched--you know the feeling. It´s just so hot and dry here. I´m becoming thankful for my humid roots in the South. ;)

I really think I´m going to love it here. We had orientation today and got to meet some of the other people in the program--a few really cool girls. Biz and I are probably two of the younger people teaching, but they´re all around 22-27, probably. I feel much more comfortable with Canterbury now that I´ve been to the first day of orientation. It seems like they treat their employees well, though we´ll probably be pretty busy with classes for the next several months. Most of the classes are offered from 5:30-9:30 at night. By the way, Biz and I are seriously considering taking a Spanish class for the month before we enroll in the TEFL course. We want to be able to eat (we tried to order at a restaurant last night and were brought surprise dishes--fish, octopus, and rice soup and a mystery meat...)!

We´re staying in our hostel till tomorrow night--then we need to have or be finding an apartment. We would prefer to share an apartment with Spanish people so we can practice our skills (or, acquire skills?). There are some sweet parts of Madrid we wouldn´t mind living near, too--the Plaza Mayor or near the city center would be nice. Canterbury´s been pretty helpful, just by letting us use their internet! We don´t have to wait in line at the hostel for the single computer :).

My impression of Spanish people so far: they´re less intimidating and more casual than I was expecting. A lot of people have dark features, but some of them don´t at all. My mom´s Black Irish--she has dark hair, light skin, and light eyes--from Spaniards settling in Ireland hundreds of years ago. A lot of people have that look. There are also a lot of South Americans who have moved to Spain, and I´ve noticed several Asians here, too--speaking Spanish, which always throws me off guard. It´s awesome--hopefully I´ll be speaking Español by the end of this :). I see a lot of thin younger people, but not all of them are super hip, like I was expecting. They dress European :), but they look pretty middle class. Our orientation leader, John, was telling us that when the Euro came to Spain, prices for everyday goods went up 60% but salaries never increased. I don´t know how or why that happened. But that also means that if we´d come here six years ago, the US Dollar would have had a GREAT exchange rate. It´s ok--we´ll be paid in Euros and get used to the price difference. Esta bien.

Necessary Update

I don't know where the summer has gone, but it's already Monday the 23rd of July and I'm leaving for the adventure of a lifetime this Wednesday morning! And I haven't written in ages! Shall I start now and go backwards? Last night I had a going-away party at my house. It was just lovely catching up with friends I hadn't seen in months. Conveniently, it was a pot-luck and all my friends are great cooks, so we had plenty of goodies to much on. Have you tried Michael C's mom's Oreo pie? I LOVE it. Or Leigh H's pita bread and hummus... delicioso! (my favorite Spanish word at this point.) Jessica M. mentioned how strange it was that a lot of the people I usually have over for parties were missing: Michael G. in New Hampshire for the summer, Heather B. in China, etc. There were some refreshing new faces there, and I love it when my friends meet and befriend each other. Ellen is especially good at that! If you haven't met Ellen yet, you should! Seth and Jared, accompanied by my dad on the violin, closed out the party serenading us with James Taylor and Jump Little Children covers--I think they play them better than the originals. Anyway, last night was bittersweet--saying goodbye is always sad. But I do know that I'm going to look back fondly on the next year with Biz for the rest of my life. And that's exciting.

The past week has been spent saying goodbye to dear friend near and far: Drew, Amy, Justin and Erin in Clemson, Anna and Jason in Columbia, and Joy in Atlanta. Hannah came to Edisto Island with my family last weekend (which feels like aeons ago). At the end of June we had our Sisters-No-Misters vacation in Orlando--the farthest we've gone thus far! Oh, it was such a blast. Highlights included Downtown Disney at night, hanging out by the pool, and the amazing land of Epcot. It's really cool, if you haven't been. Epcot/Disney hires hundreds of students from around the world to work in the different "countries" represented. Each country has a couple buildings dedicated to it--like a restaurant and a shop with products you could actually buy in that country. My favorites were Morocco and Norway--two countries I hope to visit in the next year. There were no Spain or Sweden, two other countries I hope to get to know in the next few months :).

Things I've been thinking about lately: life's brevity, transcendent truth, human nature, how I want to garden like Hannah, characteristics I admire in people: humility, transparency, vulnerability, security (aka, my friend Joy who I just saw). The ability (or inability?) for people to change. I think ability. But it ain't easy. I want to be an early bird someday. Right now I'm a late-night owl, and I don't think Spain's going to help with that. I think it's so interesting when people realize they don't want to be where they are now in 20 years and suddenly change (I was just talking about that with Seth), and it's interesting that people become more moderate as they get older (ie: the sixties). I've also been thinking about something my great aunt Edy said--when she was a girl, she thought her step-sister was a little on the weird side, but now they're best friends. I think about the girls I know I just don't "jive" with. Maybe I'm intimidated because they're too cool for me so I don't feel in my element around them. But someday we'll all be old people, wearing dentures and high pants, and the playing field will be levelled out--and we'll be friends. That's good to think about if I'm ever intimidated by someone.

Now I've got to pack!

Shelley

This is by Galway Kinnell--my dad showed it to us over Thanksgiving and I've been thinking about it ever since.

Shelley

When I was twenty the one true
free spirit I had heard of was Shelley,
Shelley who wrote tracts advocating
atheism, free love, the emancipation
of women, and the abolition of wealth and class,
a lively version of Plato's Symposium,
lyrics on the bliss and brevity
of romantic love, and complex
poems on love's difficulties, Shelley
who, I learned later--perhaps
almost too late--remarried Harriet,
then pregnant with their second child,
and a few months later ran off with Mary,
already pregnant with their first, bringing
along Mary's stepsister Claire,
who very likely also became his lover,

and in this malaise a trois, which Shelley
said would be a "paradise of exiles,"
they made their life, along with spectres
of Harriet, who drowned herself in the Serpentine,
and Mary's half sister Fanny, who, fixated
on Shelley, killed herself, and with the spirits
of adored but neglected children
conceived almost incidentally
in the pursuit of Eros--Harriet's
Ianthe and Charles, denied to Shelley
and sent out to foster parents, Mary's
Clara, dead at one, her Willmouse, dead at three,
Elena, the baby in Naples, almost surely
Shelley's own, whom he "adopted" but then
left behind, dead at one and a half,
and Allegra, Claire's daughter by Byron,
whom Byron packed off to the convent
at Bagnacavallo at four, dead at five--

and in those days, before I knew
any of this, I thought I followed Shelley,
who thought he was following radiant desire.

Leah and Reagan's nuptials

Leah and Reagan running to the moped


photo shoot with Leah and Reagan


I'll start with this past weekend's BIG even and go backwards: Leah and Reagan were married last Saturday, June 2. They are now in Hawaii on an island-hopping cruise. The wedding was "the most beautiful indoor wedding I've ever experienced," said Jennie, a bridesmaid and sister to the bride. Jennie also said that Anna, another sister, had the most beautiful summer wedding and Jessica, sister number 3, had the most beautiful fall wedding she has been to. Someday Alice will have the most beautiful winter wedding, Jennie will have the most beautiful spring wedding, I will have the most beautiful, and only, destination wedding Jennie has been to--if Dad isn't broke by then, that is.

tired little princesses

The bride stunned the celebrants as she proceeded down the long aisle of First Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC. I, personally, did not cry, unlike most people in the church (brides are breathtaking--aren't they?). I did, however, tear up at the rehearsal the previous night. The groomsmen wore a Reagan-esque combination of striped green ties and patterned shirts with navy blazers. Bridesmaids wore olive green strapless dresses that belled under at the knees. They brought to mind an era when women vacuumed their houses in pearls: the fifties. But Leah really stole the show--I mean, she looked smashing! From head: Jessica's veil (the "something borrowed") to toe: pink high heels. Yes, she pulled them off splendidly.

spoiled little princesses

The reception was at the church and was catered by Linda Abrams, who is also, I have heard, a phenomenal history teacher. I wish I could have had her for a class (preferably her class on Napoleon). The family of the bride is still eating leftovers like spinach artichoke dip, brie & apricot delights, and wedding cake (would you like a piece? Come to our house and we'll give you a generous one!). The immediate family of the bride and groom enjoyed mingling with their most amazing extended family, who came in from MA, NM, OH, FL, PA, etc. Little Olivia, the bride's two year-old niece, was especially popular with the family. The family also enjoyed catching up with old friends from high school and beyond. The self-serve candy bar (table to fill your own bag of candy) was a big hit with the guests with special appearances from Runts, m&ms, Reese's and Skittles (Reagan's favorite). Pictures of the nuptials and rehearsal dinner are to come.

Dad with his granddaughter Olivia

all the cousins but Leah and Kayla

OK--other than that, I started working with an interior decorator part-time on Tuesday. I'm mostly just running errands for her--taking her kids to the pool, organizing stuff in her office, finding fabrics that she has to return to a fabric library (they have those! Isn't that cool?). Well, it's really tragic, but I got to work this morning and there were a ton of cars parked in front of the house and some of her friends sitting outside to tell me that Cindy's ex-husband had just passed away this morning from a heart attack. They had two children, a boy, 10, and a girl, 14. It was really shocking. Everyone was/is mostly concerned for the children. I'm really thankful they have a great support group around them--really, a lot of people praying for them and trying to comfort them. It hit me as someone who's just met this family how strange it is that life just goes on for other people who don't know them. People are having road rage a street away from them. I felt like the whole world should stop and mourn their loss with them. Be kind.

Jared and me on the Boston metro

A couple weeks ago I took a road trip to Boston to visit my friend Seth (and see the relatives!). Other than rain the whole week, Jared (my road trip buddy) and I thought the trip was quite nice. We learned a good bit about Boston traffic, which is horrendous. I'd never tried to navigate the roads there before! Use the Metro system, if you can! And, go on a sunny week! I got to see my dear friend Emily, who is now back in Yellowstone. I talked to her and Lindsay the other day and mourned that I'm not there this summer--but I honestly think very good things are in store for me here and now. Joy, another Yellowstone friend, and I made a pact to do some cool expedition together in three years (when she's out of dental school)--either biking across the country or hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Hold me to it!

I'm learning Spanish right now! I'm getting excited about teaching in Madrid for the next year. Who knows how I'll grow and change? That's an exciting thought. Pray for me. I leave at the end of July with Biz! Adios!

VA Tech victims' profiles

(click title)

I just read these, with tears. Gosh. All such wonderful people.

Packing up

Today I'm packing my stuff up, then I'll paint my room back from "Chinese Lantern" orange to white. I feel nostalgic going through all my old stuff—all the way back to Yellowstone days—and thinking of how much I’ve changed in the last year. I feel like I’ve grown exponentially with each year of college, so this year maybe the most. There was South Africa—that grew me more than anything else could, though. I didn’t think I’d miss college till I saw a lot of college students in Chicago last week—I think I’ll miss the college culture. It’s such a fun time, and big learning time—of course. Today's graduation--I'm not graduating till August, technically (so, I'm not walking, because I'll be out of the country), but I'm ALL DONE!

Chicago at dusk


Update on Chicago: the Greyhound bus was an eye-opening experience. Kind of depressing, actually. I wanted to adopt the dysfunctional families I saw—a mom leaving her boyfriend of seven years, with whom she’s had four children, two of whom are with their grandpa—leaving him because he hit her, arguing with him on the phone but assuring him she still loves him. I felt so sorry for her sweet little girl Chastity, whose first birthday is May 19th, and whose dad will miss the celebration. I’m so afraid she’ll turn out sad, like her mom. Anyway, I wanted to adopt the mom as a friend and teach her to read with her kids, take them to the zoo, learn how to swim, go to summer camp—all the things I took for granted as a kid. Teach her to get a good job. Anyway—depressing. Sorry! But, I’d recommend the Greyhound experience. It was fine. I felt safe—especially once I stopped being self-conscious. I slept and read most of my trip, and talked to some pretty interesting people.

The Ba'hai temple in Chicago--beautiful

Chicago was amazing—such a clean, friendly, smart city. Seriously, people seemed smarter than average ☺. There are a lot of good colleges around, so maybe that’s why. And Oprah lives there—I’m sure that has something to do with it. Kind of kidding—but I do love Oprah. Highlights: hearing the Dalai Lama speak (such a down-to-earth PERSON! And such a great laugh!), an acoustic concert with Ben Gibbard and David Bazan, eating Ethiopian food (which you must try before you die! Add that to your list immediately), going to the Art Institute (awesome), visiting the Ba'hai temple, deep-dish pizza, Chinatown (where I lost my favorite green sweater that I wear every day… so sad!), wind (I love wind!), Lake Michigan, eating well, shopping. Johnna was an exceptional hostess. Did you know that to become an Illinois state resident, all you have to do is have an address in the state? Then you can get in-state college/grad school tuition. Sounds like a plan to me ☺.

Dinner with Ashley, Biz and Hannah

Hannah, Biz, Erik and I tried to go strawberry picking in Anderson yesterday, but the strawberry farm closed early because there are no berries left due to a frost in April! We were so disappointed. So we went to downtown Anderson and had strawberry smoothies instead. Biz’s parents took us to dinner in Greenville last night. It’s official, by the way, that Biz and I are moving to Madrid in the fall! We’ll both be teaching there till June of 2008. I’m so excited. Biz is so fun, and we’ve both studied abroad in South Africa and have friends scattered across Europe whom we plan to visit. I’m excited about a new chapter in life. And the tomato festival in Madrid. Yay! Come visit me! And teach me Spanish if you know it!!

PS--today's my dad's birthday! He recently won FIRST PLACE (out of 900 entries) in the Emrys Journal for a poem he wrote called "Apple Picking." We're so proud.

My Penultimate Exam Ever

I just wanted to use the word "penultimate"--but you probably already know that. I did just have my second to last exam--it was in Chemistry! And, I really hope I did ok on it. I have had the best classes this semester--my chemistry teacher is amazing. I never thought I would say this, but I truly enjoy chemistry (you can quote me--in a really nerdy voice). Not quite as much as biology, but, it's cool!

Want to know what else is cool? I'm going to CHICAGO this week, after my "ultimate" philosophy exam tomorrow. I'm actually not leaving till Thursday. You know that Greyhound ticket I bought last summer to take me to Yellowstone that Dad ended up buying me a plane ticket instead of? Well, I have to use it by June 1, and I thought next week would be the perfect time to use it. I'm visiting Jessica's friend Johnna there--just stopping and getting out in Chicago instead of going on the way to Yellowstone--then coming back home. Let me just read you the email Johnna sent me today, and you can get excited along with me! (you won't believe it!) Don't the words "Windy City" just sound magical? :) Wow! I'm in such a good mood today--and I pulled an all-nighter last night! I'm going to Chicago!

The email from Johnna:
So Friday I have the potential of going to see Benjamin Gibbard (lead singer from Death Cab) and David Bazzen (Pedro the Lion), would this be something of interest or no? We could go either to the late show so you could nap first, or the earlier one and just crash soon after it let out. If you're not into the idea, we can crotch it and do something totally different. So, Saturday I was thinking we could do a little architectural tour, focusing primarily on Frank Lloyd Wright's home, studio, and houses around. Those are mostly in the burbs so we'll be spending some time in the car. I was thinking it would be cool to go to a show while you're here. Wicked is the ever popular choice, though I was thinking about Blueman Group. Being the tight wad that I am, I am proposing we usher and get free seats, just a thought. Sunday is the Dalai Lama which will occupy the majority of the day and will get you downtown to Millennium Park, a big attraction. We can cruise Michigan Ave and State St. after though most of the shops close up early on Sundays. Monday I will most likely be working, so I will send you via the train to museums. There's a really good exhibit at the Art Institute right now so that will be good. Then I can't remember what day you're leaving then, either Tues or Wed., either way we can keep you hopping... We have it all here in Chicago. I am a real foodie, my focus would be cheap, ethnic, hole-in-the-wall locales but I can branch out depending on your taste.

Um, isn't this going to be fun? YES.

Last class

I'm currently in my last class as an undergraduate. It's Philosophy 102, Logic. We're talking about W. K. Clifford's "The Ethics of Belief." Stegall is one of my favorite professors here. I'll miss college, a bit. I'll miss learning as much as I am right now. But, dang, I'm excited about the next chapter in my life. Teaching in Madrid or Prague? :) I'll keep you posted.

The Rape of Nanjing

Everyone should read this--though it is really disturbing. Note, especially, the line by one soldier: "I thought then, it's been only one month since I left home... and 30 days later I was killing people without remorse."

Click the title to read article.

Toothpaste you can eat!

This week Hannah and I are visiting her sister and brother-in-law on their organic farm in Beacon, New York, about an hour north of NYC in the Hudson River Valley. This has probably been one of my favorite single weeks ever. Hannah and I started spring break out right by attending her roommate Colleen's wedding, which was fantastic. Hannah's dad married Colleen and Dan with a simple ceremony in a field of tall grass. Their reception was at a barn nearby where Colleen and Dan served their guests pig pickin's and the most amazing dill potato salad. We danced to a bluegrass band till 11:00 that night. Hannah and I hit the road the next morning, making great time to Fredericksburg, VA, where we spent the night with the son of the family Hannah's boyfriend is living with this year (his name's Erik and he's studying abroad from Sweden year). Fredericksburg is a cute little historic town. Nice little shops and sweet Southern smiles. We went to church the next morning, where we met the Elliotts, the lovely family Erik is staying with. Janka Elliott is originally from Holland, and I loved hearing her beautiful Dutch accent! It brought back so many memories of my great Dutch friends in South Africa. Hearing Erik's Swedish accent is also fun. Being around these people is pushing me towards going to Europe next year rather than taking more classes. But we'll see :). Anyway, the three Elliott children (who are about my age) all speak Dutch and English, and ein bisschen Deutsch, perhaps? It's fun talking in German again.

We left for NY Monday morning with Erik coming along to join us for his spring break. The very first meal Becca made might clue you in on our week: vegetable soup with carrots, kale, potatoes, onion, collards, cauliflower, turnips and parsnip straight from their garden. In other words, it's been the best week food-wise I've ever experienced. We got a nice snowfall Monday night. Tuesday we helped out in the greenhouse, seeding and labelling flats of pepper plants. We had to trek through the snow to get to the greenhouse, but inside it was 90 degrees. I took off my coat and sweater and got a little sunburned in my tank top. Hannah and I decided everyone needs a greenhouse in the winter. It just feels great to go to a place that feels like summer all year round :). We took work breaks by stepping out into the snow, me in my crocs. We had the most perfect picnic lunch in the greenhouse: french bread, fresh cheeses, homemade hummus, pickled green beans and garlic Becca pickled over the summer, apples, and plenty of other delights. I feel like a changed person--like I need to evangelize the world about organic eating. Oh, and Becca's pretty big into fermenting, so I tried a black tea drink that she fermented with a mushroom on top of it (the mushroom wasn't still on top of it when I drank it). And I tried ginger ale she made herself. I'm inspired. It's so interesting how much Becca and Joe's lives revolve around food. They talk about food a lot because they are always working with it. I think that's wonderful--that seems really normal.

Wednesday we had a wonderful, but very different from Tuesday, day in the city. Becca, Hannah, Erik and I took a train into Grand Central Station (it was Hannah's and my first train experience in the US). We shopped in Chinatown and had lunch in Little Italy--some produce we'd bought at a farmer's market on 14th St. We shopped in Brooklyn (this second-hand store in Brooklyn--Beacon's Closet--was a lot of fun). We met up with Erik's cousin for coffee in Williamsburg, this really artsy section of town where my friends Rob and Sarah also live (too bad I couldn't meet up with them!). Anyway, the rest of our trip has been oh so relaxing, and we head back tomorrow (sad, but true!). I haven't had time to think about spring break ending and school re-starting. I have so much work to do. :) But, this was definitely a deserved break. I just love the way Becca and Joe interact with each other--so affectionately, but down-to-earthy. I was thinking, farmers are kind of the epitome of "down-to-earth" people. Non-pretentious, non-condescending, very respectful and gracious. They do things so carefully, too--as in, caring for the earth, saving things that could be reused. They're responsible in a way I haven't seen much of. They're also looking for an intern to work with them this summer, so... I don't have summer plans yet. NY would be pretty sweet :). Que sera, sera.

Alice and Rumi

Something interesting I forgot to mention last week was that I met my language partner for the first time the week before. Her name is Fereshte and she's a medical doctor for Iran. She's beautiful and pleasant. Hannah and I went to pick her up at her house and she served us chocolate milk on a platter--very hospitable. Hannah and Erin had their Indian language partners over (all of whom speak perfect English--they've been taught it in school since they were five) and I had Fereshte over for chili one Tuesday night. We had a lovely time together. Fereshte told me to look up the poetry of Rumi and I did--it's delightful! Here's a favorite:

I wrote a poem that made my love angry
At me, or at the measure of my verse.
"Tell me then," I said, "What should I write?"
"Tell me", said she, "What poem could contain me?"

And another:

The face she shows me is a little sour,
Though sugar has never tasted sweeter.
Sugar would be bored by its own sweetness
If it ever came to know that sour flavor.

http://www.iranian.com/Arts/rumi.html Check this out for more

Exciting news! Alice is back from Australia/India! We had a family party for her Monday night. It was so nice having all the sisters together again for the first time in half a year. With plans for Leah's wedding, that might be happening more often (I hope so!). Some of my favorite memories of growing up with five sisters are when all of us end up in someone's room, gathered together around and on someone's bed, talking about all sorts of things--the family, each other, guys, etc. That happened the other night. I wish I'd tape recorded it--lots of laughs going on. Those moments are priceless :). Alice drove me back to school Tuesday morning and it was great having one-on-one time with her in the car for an hour. She's grown up so much! She's not my baby sister anymore! She loved Indian and Australia, and California, where she's been for the past week or so. And, when I say she took me back to school, I'm implying that I'll no longer have a car at Clemson, which kind of makes me sad. But my bike still works. It'll be fun, just kind of limiting :).

Today Rebekah and John leave for Prague, Czech Republic. I'm going to miss those kids! I didn't mention this already, but I think the word's out by now: they're having a baby! In September! I'm praying about moving to Prague to teach English with them next year or going ahead and getting PA school pre-requesites out of the way this fall, then traveling in the Spring. Whatever I decide to do in the next six months--it's weird--will definitely put me in a different place in the next twenty years. I mean, the next few months could determine the rest of my life. That's scary, but kind of exciting! I've always liked open-endedness: having multiple options, then deciding something at the last minute. Maybe it's time to not do that? :) To just decide the fate of my life? Pray for me, if you're reading this.

Other really exciting things have been happening lately: good stories to tell at my next story party. You should come.

This one's for Anna :)

Because I know Anna's one of my faithful few who actually check this. I'm so flattered by her.

So, nothing unusually exciting has happened in my life recently. I've been kind of sick (will accept flowers and or chocolate--though my mom and Gatorade were what I craved last week). I'm figuring out how to balance school and friends, and one way I've discovered to do that is (this is the ultimate nerd thing to do) by having STUDY PARTIES! Last night Hannah, Erin, and Erin's sister Ashley and I all sat around our living room drinking tea and writing papers, taking an occasional long facebook break throughout. Ha--tell you the truth, writing this now is a study break for me. I have a make-up paper to write! My professor was kind enough to extend my deadline!

I realize I need to utulize my weekends better for doing homework. I think what got me off track in the first place was going to a party a few weekends ago and not getting any homework done that weekend! Then pulling all nighters and getting sick trying to catch up. Now I'm doing makeup work! :( So, if I'm caught up on schoolwork, I can have fun during the week. If not, I'm staying in. Oh, but it's always more complicated than that. I usually get things done, somehow--whether I see friends that night or not. Sometimes, the less time I have, the more productive I am. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, right? BY THE WAY--I have a good friend who goes to Harvard and HE says that (I almost feel bad posting this!) the school has a stipend for students to throw parties there, so they can increase student life! Clemson would NEVER have that problem, I'm [proud?] to say :). But, seriously--can you believe that? I think he's going to go for it the next time he throws a story party--one where people sit around and tell life stories. (Doesn't that sound fun?)

Home

Ellen and me, after a deep conversation

I didn't realize how much I missed home till last weekend, hanging out with my family. (Oh--that's called homesickness! I thought I didn't get that!) I've seen the fam here and there--at church, a trip to the beach--but hadn't spent a solid weekend with them at our house for much too long. This weekend was much needed. :)

Ellen and I hung out with a couple friends till the wee hours of Saturday morning, watching a movie and later, Ellen and me talking about things only girls can talk about with each other. She's an encouraging friend. When I got home, to my delight, Mom was up doing some cleaning in our spare room downstairs. So, of course, we stayed up and chatted a good half-hour (this was... really late at night). She was surprised I was home :). It's always nice when you are a pleasant surprise for someone, and they are for you, too.

I decided to stay again Sunday night, after a lovely day at church and lunch with Ellen, Jennie and friends. I also hung out with Leah and Reagan and their friends that night. Reagan and his family were staying at Embassy Suites. The Embassy Suites hot tub was so relaxing! Ah--it brought back Yellowstone memoires--soaking in the hot springs there is something I could literally do forever. I have thought about the Boiling River many a time this year, during the most stressful periods of school.

This week was a bit stressful, actually--last week, too. That's why the weekend was so needed. Emotionally, this week was rough. Tuesday a girl at Clemson got hit by the CAT bus (Clemson Area Transit) and I saw her on my way to swing dance class, just as the ambulances were pulling up. I thought she was surely dead. I couldn't stop thinking of her all day; I definitely didn't want to dance just then. It was raining all day, too, and started thunderstorming later. I remember thinking, "Where's the sun? I know it's there--but I need it now." It's good to know the sun's there. It was a beautiful Wednesday (Valentine's Day). That girl is alive, too. She's in serious condition--she was almost paralyzed. But she's ok. She'll live.

Maggie and me (doesn't that sound like a song title?) ps--check out her shirt :)

Last night Maggie (our RUF intern) had a bunch of RUF girls over for a Valentine's party. We smashed a pinata shaped like a heart, filled with candy and feminine products! hahaha. Oh, Maggie's so creative. It was fun. My roommate Amanda had some of her friends over for dinner and strawberries dipped in chocolate--hot, delectable chocolate. It was delightful.

I've been pulling way too many late/all nighters the past few weeks. I don't have class till pretty late (11, 12, and 2!), but, I need to go to bed early and wake up early. I've always wanted to be one of those people who does that--don't know when it'll happen :).

die Schwestern!

I'm going home for Jessica's birthday this weekend! Here's what I love about home: old memories in boxes from childhood and high school, the security of not having to worry about food or money--seriously, this is a big one, staying up late with my sisters (Leah AND Jessica are home now! and Joel, of course) (and Jen and I hang out a lot, too), talking to my mommy--I LOVE my mom!, getting wise advice from Dad, having adults around. I miss that. I feel so, so secure at home. And I feel so de-stressed. My family is a particularly low-stress family, which helps matters. I love seeing my mom's Valentines sprawled across the dining room table. I know she's been going to the PO all week. I love seeing my friends at home--they are some of the best in the world. But I didn't get to see many of them last weekend because they didn't know I was coming :(. Sorry, guys. I like school, too. Everyone loves Clemson. But there's something so special, so warm, so comfortable about home. Ha--I think I want to live with my parents the rest of my life ;).

Derrida

I've thought this about Derrida and other literary theorists for a while, but didn't know someone said this about Socrates.

Meno: "Socrates, I used to hear before ever I met you that you do nothing but perplex yourself and other people. And now, it seems you are bewitching me--and dragging me and binding me completely with your spells, so that I have become saturated with perplexity. And if you will allow me to speak facetiously, you seem to me to resemble to a striking degree, both in appearance and in other respects, the flat electric ray that lives in the sea. For it numbs anyone who comes in contact with it, and you seem to have done something of the sort to me. For in truth, I feel a numbness both in my mind and on my lips, and I do not know what answer to make to you." (Plato's Meno 80 A)

It's funny--parts of it could be used in a love speech, too :).

Here's a thought.

(click title)

My class schedule

Is very much up in the air right now--as it almost always is at the beginning of the school year. I'm signed up for three classes so far, and on the wait list for four. I'm hoping to get into most of the ones I've requested, but Tuesday's the last add day. I feel like more of a humanities major than an English major. There are SO MANY books I haven't read--I'm ashamed to name them off. And I'd often rather take history or art classes than English classes. Not that I've taken that many history classes.

So, I have a couple of post-graduation ideas: probably grad school, but waiting at least semester first (and I'm not sure what to study yet--art education, journalism? go to seminary?). I feel like I should get another degree before studying something like art! So one thought is to work at a folk school (ie: the John C. Campbell Folk School--Hannah introduced me to it) as an RA and get to take classes for free, building my art portfolio. I could do this for a year or six months. Another idea is to go to Sweden and enroll in free classes as an undergraduate. AnOTHER more random idea is to teach English in Prague with Rebekah and John for six months--not building any kind of portfolio, but just feeling out teaching as a career. Here's another thought: working on organic farms all over Europe this summer, recieving free housing at each village I work in. That'd be sweet--plus, farming is a wonderful skill to have for an aspiring missionary in a third-world country. Oh--my "main" idea is to study at L'Abri next fall. I've been reading through Hannah's journals a little bit and growing in excitement over how much she learned there. Our plan is to type up every page of her journal and make a book of the things she learned there. Oh, one more really random idea is to become a nurse :). Africa needs AIDS workers...

Hm--what do you see me doing in 15 years?

This is pretty random, but awesome: Last night my friend Amy and I made dinner and YOGURT together! It was so exciting :). We just "almost" boiled milk and powdered milk mixed together, then stirred in 1/2 cup of plain yogurt and put our concoction in her yogurt maker to incubate over night. We woke up this morning and stirred in sweetened strawberries. It was so fresh and amazing. You can also make yogurt by putting the ingredients in a warm oven for four hours. Isn't that neat? I'm SUCH a NERD!

Road Trip!

Us at the "Gateway to the North," which is now in a parking lot :)

Amy and I officially decided to go ahead with the trip four days before we departed for North Bay, Ontario. I love last-minute decisions—they’re so final. You have to follow through with them. We’d wavered on whether or not to go to Canada and decided not to after a couple friends who were thinking of joining couldn’t come on the day we wanted to leave. But, after Christmas, I wondered what I’d be doing for the rest of the break. Sleeping in, hanging out with friends, an occasional productive day due to an early breakfast date. It didn’t sound incredibly appealing. So, I called Amy up and asked what her New Year’s plans were. She didn’t have any, like me. How about going to Canada? She got her mom to let us use her Suburu Outback (my favorite car now) and we headed up to Buffalo New Year’s Eve. We spent the night with Emily, a friend I met in Yellowstone, then drove through Toronto and up to North Bay New Year’s morning. The highways were quiet and we found ourselves driving 25 mph and taking pictures of a surreal, dying but beautiful Buffalo on the right with Lake Erie on our left.

Four-wheeling with Ian

We were pretty ecstatic when we crossed the Canadian border, except for the rude border crossing lady who said we couldn’t get our passports stamped. Oh well—so much for a great first impression of Canada. The drive from Toronto was beautiful. The word “bucolic” came to mind—one of those SAT prep words lodged in my subconscious. The opportunity to use it doesn’t arise every day. Amy and I were both a little nervous as we waited for Ian to meet us in the doughnut shop parking lot (BY THE WAY, North Bay has the highest per capita doughnut shops in the world!). It had been a year and a half since I last saw him. I wondered if we’d get along like we had in South Africa, when we were the outsiders in a foreign place. I also wondered what his parents thought of two girls driving seventeen hours to see their son. We weren’t trying to sabotage his relationship with Kristina by any means! Being an outsider can be nerve-racking, but our fears were assuaged when we met his warm, funny family, who welcomed us with open arms.

Amy and me lying on the glass floor of the CN Tower

To make a long story short, Ian did and excellent job introducing us to Canadian culture. I tried a whistle dog (a hot dog split in half with bacon and cheese—not bad!), Amy and I both tried a poutine (french fries drenched in gravy with cheese curds on top—super unhealthy, but delicious), bought some clothes at Roots (kind of an outdoorsey Gap in Canada), cross-country skied, played ice-hockey, “snow-shoed” (ha—just long enough to take a picture, and in only two inches of snow), four-wheeled in the snow, hung out in Ian’s hot tub, ate Canadian chocolate bars, went to “the Moose,” a bar in North Bay packed out on a Wednesday night, and stayed up late hanging out with Ian. We drove Ian to Toronto on the fourth and took the subway into town to go up the CN tower, the tallest free-standing structure in the world. (We also met some pretty creepy characters on the subway, but that’s another story.) Walking on the glass floor of the tower and seeing the tiny play city below us was definitely unnerving. We got dinner and said our goodbyes to Ian, who would stay with his grandma in Toronto before flying out the next day.

The girls at Niagra

Amy and I spent the next two nights back in Buffalo with Emily and company. Our other Yellowstone friend Lindsay got a one-way ticket to Buffalo just to see us, so we had a lovely time remembering our days from the summer, wishing Pete and Joy were there to join us. We hit up Niagra Falls, walked from the American side to the Canadian side, which I agree is prettier, and got our passports stamped on the way over! That lady at the border was lying to us! Amy and I were delighted.

We left Buffalo at 6:30 the next morning, dropping Lindsay off in Baltimore and finishing off the trip with just the Amy and me. We started a cheesy Tom Clancy novel after Baltimore but stopped early to listen to Cake and fun Memphis mixes. Amy and I each ended up spending $100 for the whole trip, plus money for food here and there. Surprisingly, a very doable trip! Even for poor college students. If you haven’t taken a road trip, do it. Call me—I’ll probably come along.

Ian and me on the subway