we're all in this together

me gustan las patatas.

the first day of school was so intimidating. after not taking spanish for 3 years many people asked why in the world i was going to spain especially since i am majoring in chinese i didnt really have an answer for them but my love for travel and exploration :) with a desire for exploration the need to be independent comes with some vices. doing things by yourself and trekking though unknown territory lends itself to a bit of loneliness but god blessed me with a roommate that i can share my silly ramblings to here in sevilla. i digress. first day of school with my newly notebooks and freshly sharpened pencils (well not really…who still uses those pencils anyways) i was ready to tackle the next challenge in the adventure that was sevilla. the first class was super scary when the professor told us we would have to write 6 or more essays in espanol (prob gonna drop that class) but the rest of the day went smoothly and i returned to mi casa and ate the delicious spanish food prepared by mi madre espanola (spanish mom) followed by a routine sieta nap :) which is totally culturally acceptable. 

that night we went sevilla’s downtown (el centro) to meet some locals and do some spanishy things. there i met tamara who worked at a shop in downtown called el trucco. she tried to take us to one of her favorite bars but it was too earlier and it hadnt opened so we just settled for the next nearest cervezaria and chilled and chatted (most like they chatted and inserted a few words here and here and practiced my nodding and smiling skills). we walked over to the river that separates sevilla into two parts and took some silly polaroids then went to a local pub to watch the real madrid v. barcelona futbol game. it was super intense and i surprisingly enjoyed it despite the loud yelling and frequent smell of smoke everywhere. barca won and half the bar stormed out in a fury and after a few more conversations we took a taxi home. but not before having to cover my spanaird friend while she so gracefully popped a squat in a nearby shady alley. 

first week of classes came and went and then the weekend arrived! it is spanish sale season so the sales are endless :) along with my roommate and our friend kerrie we shopped til we dropped. sadly my roommate has been getting a little sick but hopefully my determination to take my vitamins will withstand the my tendency to be lazy…

tanks for the prayers friends! the encourageograms were awesome as i boarded the plane although i admit i forgot about them until after i had already arrived in spain but they were awesome nonetheless. cant wait to open the other ones! praying for all you guys back home :) skype with me if you get the chance! username: ashmepooh

vale. the spanish filler word that i have heard many times since being in this foreign land with foreign people.

yesterday was chinese new year and although i havent really been able to celebrate chinese new year since leaving for college, but it is different this year not even being able to eat the delicious chinese food that usually lies in my dorm fridge. watching tv with mi familia espanola i see the few chinese new year celebrations around spain and makes me miss houston and trinity :). on to happier happenings in spain!

me and mary (my new roommate from indiana, land of corn and cow tipping) got to our home for the next few months to find two cosy little beds and dressers. it is no where near as big as my room at trinity but its nice and homey. the past few days have been filled with traveling here and there and exploring the little wonders of espana. our first destination was madrid which was filled with many museums and attractions like the palace and museos de jamon (yes, ham museums). they love their ham here its like a mixture of procuitto and beef jerky. in madrid i had my first experiences of tapas and tostadas washed down with a pitcher of sangria. next stop was toledo! toledo is a beautiful city filled that is mantained in a semi historical way with cute little paths, cafes and stores. its main industry is tourism and it is one stop on the don quixote tour en la mancha. toledo is the result of the culture clashes between judaism, christianity, and islam. the cathedrals are magnificent and so detailed!

finally in Sevilla we got to meet our familias. our mom is an elderly lady who has three daughters who live with her. her cooking is yummies and healthy. we had some simple spanish meals with lots if fresh bread and potatoes. more to come laters :)

after rebooking my flight two times and a five hour layover in frankfurt i am in madrid at last! :) oh how different it is on this side of the world. water costs money. that is far from the only difference but meeting people so far has been difficult since i did get here pretty late but i can’t wait to get to sevilla and meet my host mom and see the city that i will be calling home for the next 5 months! another day to explore madrid and then its off to toledo :)

i am very tired but must seize the day (or minute as my mother would say :))

espana.

the whole break back in the land of sugar has been good with the reunions, seeing my best friends again, eating delicious food, spending time with my family, having good convos and catching up with everyone’s lives. these last few days have been so unreal. going to san antonio one last time before leaving just showed me everything and everyone i will miss so much as i go abroad. to name a few…

• my suite :) i love those girls.
• bible study with badney and friends
• international students and their silliness
• discipling
• breakfast tacos
• alamo city church. jesus. period.
• iv
• and all the friendships that i have made this semester.

but this semester is a new season of life :) with new experiences and new challenges. few have the opportunity to put life on hold to travel/study abroad and i fully intend to take advantage of every chance to experience something new! thanks to everyone who will be praying for me and rooting for me in my adventures.

ps. thanks everyone who made my birthday awesome with surprise cakes, undrunken sake, mabee breakfast, ride to the bus station, lots of hugs, late night convos, pasta and tiramisu, cheesecake with numeric representation of my age, and prayer for an awesome semester. god has blessed me so much with 21 years of laughter, tears, wisdom, friends, and fulfilled promises.