DONE and DONE

Since I took the exam, I have barely stopped to sit at the computer............

ALright in this picture, Caroline and i are on a corner in la latina.....Can you find us?

This is a super 'artsy' picture of Javi and I in the Rastro (its a big market sunday mornings)

Caroline and I strolling the Rastro. Spending both time and money. Dang I feel like i have lost all english writing/speaking abilities.

This weekend was the feast of San Isidro. These people are dressed up in some sort of traditional costume. A lot of people were, but the best costumes where the kids that dressed up like that, hat and all. Javi used to dress up in the man's costume every year when he was little. When i find a picture, I will post it.....
We stopped by a rose garden to see roses. But soon left......geez it is getting really hot here these days, mostly 80/90's.

This is the train track i travel whenever i go from my house into the city of madrid:

This is a new sort of public transportation/metro system that Madrid built 5 years ago.... To think this is how people really get to work!

Okay, that was a lie. I suppose I dont really need to tell you what you are seeing in every picture. After all, a picture says 1000 words. Let's not go overboard.

Pouring cider. If you have questions ask and i will respond.....

The Day I learned to drive a motorcycle.

So I tried to spend the day studying spanish. With only a few more days until my test, it's officially crunch time! In the end, I learned to ride a motorcycle instead.

My 'cousin' Pablo took me for a ride around Madrid and what not on his motorcycle. I absolutely loved it. I am surprised that that was the FIRST time I have ever been a passenger on a motorcycle. Positive it will not be the last! Then taught me how to ride a little bit in the grocery store parking lot. Well, I like it. I love it. I want one...............

Anyways. i needed something good this weekend and that was it. enough dreaming, back to studying....

Sorry if it gives you a headache, out of focus, as usual:

Studying

I feel like a really boring person. I have nothing to say about anything. Everything is the same and all I do is study. I practice reading and speaking about boring topics. Study. Study. Study. Play with the kids a bit. Study.


Paula has finally solved the rubik's cube:

Oh I had a bad flu last week. Don't worry. I didnt die. It was one of those 24-hour things where you can't get out of bed. Then I got better and went to Cuenca to climb. Oh so its bloody hot here now. Like summer weather. If I wasn't studying all the time, I could be laying out in the sun.

After I finish the exam.... ~MAY 15th~........ I will start my next mission, figuring out all this overly-complicated visa stuff. Unfortunately, I will never let myself rest.

Ummmmm well at least I have really exciting dreams. Last night I dreamed that I was in a spanish class watching a video that teaches spanish. Up on the screen appeared home videos of my childhood. They were of my brothers, sister, and the neighbor kids playing outside in our yard. We were playing all sorts of different crazy things. Anyways, Obviously, I was completely wierded out. After deep investigation I found out that my Aunt had helped to make the vidoes about 20 years ago and used videos of my family.

I could go on about my dreams, but its really not worth your time. I hope that you can find something interesting, or entertaining in the above entry. If not, sorry- I just wanted you to know that I am not writing because I am up to NOTHING.

Oh but the good news is that I think I will easily pass the test.

The World's Oldest Restaurant.

The World's Oldest restaurant is based right here in the center of Madrid. It's called Botin and it is on a street called cuchillero, which means knifemaker. So the story goes like this: My beloved Grandpa & Sweetie Pie. (Thats what I call my grandparents) went to the restaurant when they were in Madrid some years ago and now, years later, invited me and a friend to go to the restaurant as well. Well, the downfall is that we didnt really all get to go together at the same time. But we imagine us all together.

So Javi and I took off our harnesses for a day and cleaned up pretty nice, if i do say so myself.....

These are alll the little "suckling piggies." They are cooked in an oven that dates back to 1725. Yep thats before we had a constitution.

Our dinner, well actually it was late lunch, at like 3:

- ummm i suppose i would call it scrambled egg and esparragus.

-Clams

-Suckling Pig

This update is a little behind schedule. Write again soon.

Back in the Swing of Things

Semana Santa finished off with a rainy friday. We were inside basically the entire day. I used the opportunity to master the rubix cube and study a little. It was nice to have a day of rest from the beach and vacationing.?

Unfortunately, Saturday morning we left. 6-7 hour car trip home.

Goodbye house in Roche. I dont know when/if I will see it again. No this is not in the house.... at a restaraunt. When we are in Cadiz we love the SEAFOOD!
Back again in Madrid. Back to School for the kids. Back to studying. Back to teaching.

I have tried all week to get up early to study before my day starts NO SUCCESS. NONE. impossible. What has become of me? Lazy? Well, it is 10am and I am writing from my bed in pajamas.

In my english class we are working on writing business letters. FUN! :) If anyone has any questions I am an EXPERT. or at least I lead them to believe so....... I think our next topic will be "Welcoming a visitor."

Since we got back to Madrid the weather has been a little colder. Since we are back inside the house, I am using the opportunity to continue working on some of my artwork. Here are some of my latest pieces. Untitled.

This weekend probably crappyish weather. NO climbing plans.

Right now I am listening to Enya. The END.

Spring Break

For spring break we made the trip down to the house in Cadiz. The weather is beautiful and cooler in the evening. The kids haven't convinced me to get in the ocean yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if I end up in the water by the end of the week.

So far I have been catching up on sleep and sun, and successfully avoiding studying. Studying is getting more and more difficult and the exercises more and more tedious. We are gonna be here until Friday or Saturday, date TBD.

Here are some pictures from the beach and a walk that we all took together this morning. It was too cold for the beach today. We are thinking about flying a kite one of these days. Other than that it's just relaxing and enjoying. We have been hooked on Rubix cube, 20 questions and a new game I made up yesterday: I pick a topic and the kids sing a song about it. Hilarious. They are soo funny and creative.

Today

I had the best English class today. "I laughed so hard I broke my butt" (that is a literal and direct translation of what they would say in spanish for laughing really hard.)

I am still not sure I am cut out for teaching, but we are having a good time. Today we were practicing phone calls. One person would go into another room and call the rest of the class (and me) on speakerphone in the conference room. It was, well, ummm, they struggled a lot. But in the end we all laughed a lot. We are gonna have to go back and practice it again another day......... This should be a 1-2 day lesson. So far we have been doing it 3 days...........I am giving up.

I think the next topic we are going to do is hotels. Checking in/out, reserving, complaints, requests etc...... Any ideas you all have are always appreciated. :)

Oh This weekend I saw Grand Torino. I am certain it must have the same title in both English and Spanish. I cried and cried at the end. Not just a little. A lot. I always cry during movies these days. i am no sure what has happened to me. I am not sure if it is a good thing or a bad thing? Well, here's my theory. After being approximately one year without really watching television or anything, I am have become completely SENSITIZED. to any sort of movie or television... maybe? i literally dont watch any tv or movies. maybe a little hannah montana, but thats it. I suppose i could research it. OR maybe it could be i am just really comfortable with my emotions.

Well its been a while since I have studied ANY spanish. i swear, this week will be better........

My sister is gonna have a baby BOY due in August. and Thats the latest news on my mind. See you next time. Have a good day.