Aww.. YA'LL!!

Ridiculous Generosity

Wow, the past two days I have truly been over flooded with incredible surprises and just the simplest series of favors has turned into two spectacular days. Overall, the weekend was pretty chill. I slept quite a bit- still adjusting to the time zone difference and getting back into the routine. More than anything, I think the fact that I knew I could sleep, made me crave it more. Thursday night I didn't set an alarm and I woke up at 4 pm Friday afternoon. I was totally shocked I pulled that off. I should correct myself and say instead that I hibernated a large percentage of the weekend. Saturday, I met my wonderful roommate with some of her friends at this grand apartment in downtown Madrid. The balconies were open, there was delicious food, great music and lots and lots of dancing. To complete the afternoon of festivities, we went to a bar to experience the highly anticipated Real Madrid-Barcelona game. This game was "for the league" and was a super, super big deal. Not planning very well, we started looking for a bar to watch the game about fifteen minutes before it started. Needless to say, we stuck our noses in about ten bars before we found one that had enough room where the four of us could stand. Real Madrid scored first and at the half it was 1-0. In the second half, Barca scored tying up the game. Things were getting tense in this bar. Even several of the African men that sell random African trinkets came in off the street and were sitting together with their trinkets on the floor glued to the screen. It was quite a sight to people watch so I found myself caught between observing the crowd and participating in the argument over which soccer player was the most attractive. This is what happens when four girls go to watch a soccer game. Anyways, Real Madrid came back to score again and WIN! It was rather exciting and Im super glad that we went out to watch it. The four of us ended up in a chain restaurant here that promotes rip-off American food, but it was actually pretty good. Free refills? I will take it!
Sunday, I didn't even leave the apartment. I just knocked off some to-do list items and was in a strange, strange mood all day. That's why, Monday seemed particularly awesome. Monday's classes went smoothly and at the end of the day was a party for "The Day of The Book" which is celebrated in Spain because it was the day Spain's most famous author died. Cervantes death has inspired various celebrations but at this high school, all the teachers exchange names and do a sort-of Secret Santa thing the week leading up to April 23rd every year. Then, on April 23rd, you find out who has been sending you messages all week at a big reveal. Each "Invisible Friend" gives their person a book and a little trinket or flowers or something. So although I didn't participate because I am only at this high school two days a week and wasn't nearly confident enough in my Spanish to leave secret little notes around the school for a stranger (I only know maybe 10 teachers at Las Canteras), I was there for the reveal. It was quite exciting. And to my SHOCK, Melania had bought me a book AND this pretty pot of yellow flowers. SO SWEET! Everyone was walking around discussing their new books, those of others that they had read, etc, etc. After, Silvia (my boss) invited me for lunch. I played hooky from Spanish class and headed to her house for a very very intense lesson in Spanish. I was there EATING from 3:00 until 7:30. Silvia's family is simply AWESOME. They are each funny, kind, gentle, and so smart. The way they interact with each other is like a group of best friends that all contribute to the meal, to cleaning, to the commaderie. Well, either that or Silvia has them all very well trained in front of guests. This is not the first time I have been invited in her home and I hope that I am invited more often now that I am not working at the private academy in the afternoons. When Silvia was driving me home, she pulled out a surprise for me- these silver and pearl earrings she brought me from Barcelona to congratulate me on my acceptance to law school! This is the third incredibly, incredibly kind gift Ive been given since I got here from friends saying they're super proud and excited for me. Mohammed brought me cookies from France, Cande and Gab gave me this shirt I love and then Silvia's earrings. I am totally overwhelmed and blessed by their generosity.

As if Monday wasn't already a super great day, I finished it off by going for a run with my roommate that frequently travels. Running with a partner is better than running by yourself by leaps and bounds. Not only are you encouraged to work harder, but you can share tips and advice. Since I have no idea what I am doing when I run, Mohammed was mainly sharing with me, but I will never run the same again! He only has a month left living here and I know I will miss him when he is gone. That, plus, let's be honest. I am TERRIFIED of who may move in and replace him. Madre Mía...
     Today has been great too. In my first class this morning, it was the last class I will have with this particular group of students because they finish earlier so they can study for their high school exit/university entrance exam. This group is special to me because they're equivalent of high school seniors that take this English elective in addition to their required English course. I like all the students in that group and several in particular, I really love. I stayed up last night working on a special lesson for them with music videos and popular songs so they would remember me doing something "cool" my last day and when I walked in, they gave me these GORGEOUS flowers AND a HUGE jar of Nutella because I love Nutella and I talked about it during one lesson. I just kept repeating... "Aww... Ya'll!!!!!" because I was so shocked! I have been so inspired by the generosity I've been shown and definitely need to remember how incredibly special these people that have given me something have made me feel so that I can remember to be more giving as well.
    I also read my email today saying I have officially been given a new Pepperdine email address! It's all becoming so official that it's starting to feel real. I have been practicing "I am moving to Los Angeles" in my classes, hoping that one of these times it comes out of my mouth- it will hit me. So incredibly exciting.
   Now, I just have to get through Spanish class tonight and tomorrow then Cathryn lands Thursday morning and we go to Barcelona to meet my Dad and the whole Biolase extended family! WHOOOHHOOOOOO!
What a great day!