After more than 5 months without a post...it's time.

So, I must say, I was inspired to blog again after seeing my friend Ilee's blog. It is such a wonderful idea, to have a travel blog, but I never stay motivated enough to write entries. I guess I have never been consistent and motivated about a journal, even in paper form. So, I will write whenever I feel like it...and today, I feel like it.

So much has happened since the last post. I will TRY to write some things...in quick format, for the day I look back on this and forget things, and so I can be surprised and smile at my little adventures and pleasures in life.

Dublin with Dan...our crappy hostel with the water issues (the maze-like shower, the dishes, the sink, the kitchen), the crazy Irish kids, Howth, Kilkenny with the crazy bus driver who sang "I want you Back," without stopping, bog bodies

London for a day and walking 12 miles and eating too much fish and chips, only to feel like I had blogged arteries.

Segovia (Alcazar!, aqueduct)

Madrid (2x, with Dan's family and for our puente, the lights in the plaza mayor, the mexican food every night, the cat's hostel, thyssen, nose piercing, tapas and beer and dunkin coffee (oh god, never again, pumpkin crepes with guac)

Barcelona (marathon, ran 20 miles, walked off course after 20 miles, hahaha, carnaval parade at our balcony, gaudi (la pedreda, the crypt, finca guell), crazy tampon man running with me during marathon, spinning outdoors, delicious vegetable tortillas)

Vetutsa....hiking in Arenas de Cabrales, conversations with Carlos and other members, hiking in Proza

The Lupulo!

Running a ton!! Training for the half marathon, the fuso!

Making lessons every weekend for the kiddies....working hard and getting frustrated a lot at them but also really loving everything I've learned from the job
(punctuality, flexibility, responsibility, improvisation, creativity, public speaking, giving directions, motivating and encouraging others, patience) The kids loving the chocolate chip PB cookies!! Pen pals with Hartford, 3A is my favorite class!

Getting REALLY into organic food and local farming...WWOOF in Tenerife for a month in June!!!

Days of getting bored of sitting around, poor

But days of loving our ability in live in Spain and speak Spanish and connect with others from another culture...and learn about ourselves and our culture in the process.

Aunt Vic and Naunie visiting...going to get cocktails, Naun getting drunk at every meal, Tierra Astur, Playa Aguilar, Naun getting dizzy in the cold water, and getting lost while trying to find the Playa del Silencio..I know why it's called the silent beach. Driving the car in Oviedo with Dan and not being able to park the car...hahahaha...Dan wanting whiskey and a cigarette.

Ilee's house and the big screen TV and youtube videos....late night bar night with Ilee with old men hitting on us and free beers!!!!

Fondue party, Thanksgiving, Pizza Party

Meeting Jesus and Merche...Lupulo every Thursday...PICOS!!! Semana Santa!

Jesus, Merche, Fernando, Dan=Someido, driving up the steep hill to the parking area, hiking in the freezing cold with no gloves, getting lost and not finding the trail markers, having a generally wonderful time, speaking Spanish all day, playing "el culo" and figuring out that it was the same as "asshole"

Lissa's apartment, meeting Koki at Ilee's and chatting tons about music! Ted Leo! 40 euros cab home from Gijon because buses suck.

Ron and his team at Tierra Astur!!!! Getting tons of great food, great conversation!! Seeing family.

Things I love about Spain:

Cheap beer
Cheap fresh fruit
Membrillo and burgos, casadielles, carbayones
Fresh fish
Sidra
Fabada
Beautiful landscapes
Taking your time, learning patience and to appreciate slowing down your pace in life
Not having a car
Being eco-friendly by not having a dishwasher, not having a clothes dryer, and no car
The food, the wine
The relaxed pace of life, I must reiterate it again.
The independence we have here.
Having Spanish roommates
Learning TONS OF SPANISH!!!
Being challenged by living in another culture, getting along with people from another culture, and realizing we really aren't that different at all.
Nothing open on Sundays. Nothing open 2-5. Forces you to relax.
Car rides with Laura, Oliva and Jose Luis back home from school. Time to chat, complain about the kids, and practice more Spanish.
My breaks during the day at school, time to read books and go online and write emails!
TONS OF TIME OFF!!!! SO MUCH TRAVELING.
Learning to live on a small salary.
Learning to live with a small group of friends. And starting from scratch.
Starting completely new....like a rite of passage.
Seeing progress in private lessons...Alfredo, Juan, Fahia, Carlos. Chatting with Alfredo in Spanish every week, and teaching English in Spanish..pretty crazy.
Learning about the kids I teach by teaching Fahia and Carlos one-on-one
Great clothes...Maximo Dutti, Zara, H and M
Candy stores
Cafe con leche
Pinchos...free pinchos all the time

Things I don't like about Spain:
No fans in the gym
No taking off of socks in Pilates classes....wtf
Nothing open from 2-5. Nothing open on Sundays...how do you get things done?
Crazy kids who dislike paying attention. But I think this is universal.
Feeling like a foreigner all the time.
People staring at you when you speak English. People staring at you for your accent.
Slow women and men on the sidewalk who don't move for runners.
Hard sidewalks.
Washing your dishes in the sink. They never get clean!
Shitty landlords who make up random rules as they see fit.
Candy stores
No second hand shops


I'm sure there are more things...I will add as I remember.

Things I miss about home:
Family
Friends
Buffalo chicken wraps
Second hand shops
Running through the forest
Large coffees
PAM
Whole Foods


UP NEXT....
ALICANTE...APRIL 14-16 (visit with Alicia, Roberto, Andrea and Allie!)
PICOS...4 days, with Fernando, Merche and Jesus!
SEVILLA ROAD TRIP...with Ilee and Lissa!!
NUDE BEACHES IN ASTURIAS...PLAYA DE SILENCIO....BEACHES EVERY WEEKEND! HIKING LOS LAGOS WITH VETUTSA....(MAY)
TENERIFE- JUNE!!! WWOOF
HOME! COMING HOME PARTY!
WORKING AT ICR JULY----NOVEMBER
MOVING TO AUSTIN!!!


Will write soon!