"When You're Happy Like A Fool Let It Take You Over"

My happiness is taking over. I love my life here in Spain. I am absolutely in love with the nature, beauty, culture, and my host family. This week has been a little crazy. We started classes last Thursday and my schedule has changed :) My days go by a lot faster now that I have so much planned. I have four classes on Mondays/Wednesdays and then only one class on Tuesdays/Thursdays. I love my schedule, my teachers, and my new volunteer opportunity. On Tuesdays and Thursdays for one hour in the morning I am going into a classroom full of fifteen and sixteen year olds and just talking. Here in Spain, English is a required subject and students start taking it as young as five years old. Which I think is a wonderful concept and I would love to carry this idea over to the states. Meaning, I wish Spanish was required and students started learning it at that young of an age. I will definitely be incorporating Spanish in my future classroom, as much as possible. 

Last weekend, we traveled to Nerja Beach. It was not very sunny, but I still enjoyed the time spent with my program. We ate delicious paella, played volleyball, walked the beach, drank café con leche, and met our new five new members to the group. It was a great Saturday :) Sunday, was my birthday. Everyone would think, what a great way to spend your birthday in Spain. Yes, I loved it. Yes, I enjoyed going out and celebrating. Yes, I am so blessed and lucky. BUT it was not the same. I missed Nick. I missed my parents and brothers. I missed my friends. I missed the stupid little jokes, gifts, and things we do special in the states for one another. This was a birthday I will never forget because it was different. I won't ever forget what I did, who I was with, and how lucky I am to be able to be in Spain for such a special day. Thank you all for the birthday wishes, cards, skype dates, texts, and prayers. I am not kidding when I say these are the things that get me through each day. 

Five Random Thoughts:

1. My host sister, Yasmin is the sister I have never had. God works in mysterious ways, and she is one of those ways. She calms me and makes me feel at home. We cry, laugh, and talk for hours on end. I love her and I've known her for a little over a month. 

2. This week we have two girls from Holland living with us. They are actually from Amsterdam. How amazing are they, they know how to speak five different languages. Dutch, German, Spanish, English, and French. :) They are so sweet, they gave me some popular cookies from Amsterdam for my birthday!

3. This week in my Civilization and Culture class I learned that "siesta" is not as common as we think. Very few natives actually have time for a "siesta", like Americans they are very busy with work, life, school, and the daily tasks of living. Most people have just enough time to close their stores, go home for some lunch, check emails/mail, run a few errands, and then head back to work. 

4. Today is the last day for "Los Italianos" the famous gelato here in Spain. (Sorry Nick Powers, I know you were very excited to try this when you come in December.) It's the best ice cream around :)

5. Last night I learned that children live with their families until 30-35 years old BECAUSE as long as the children are attending college or some sort of schooling the parents will continue to pay and support them. It is NOT common for children to have jobs before they leave their homes. Yasmin, my host sister, said that she had a job working at a club when she was 16 and her mother wanted her to quit because she didn't like how late she got home and it wasn't a good idea for her to have a job like that. They are supported by their parents and do not work. WAY different than in the states, by age 18 most children are itching to get out into the world of college. 

"Every Day Is A Start Of Something Beautiful"~It really is. I take one day at a time. I wake up and pray for something beautiful. I am so blessed and love the life I have. I very proud and happy. My life is changing before my eyes and I can't wait to be back in the states to express this to all of you!! 

I miss you all & love you all!!

Thank you for all the thoughts & prayers.