It's Been A While, Sorry!

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Oh, so much has happened in these (almost) three weeks. I have gotten into the swing of things, am much better and communicating, and am really enjoying my classes (for the most part, anyway). It's much easier to do homework when you don't have to look up every third word! I have even successfully given two oral presentations. I am completely settled with my family, too. This Sunday, Belen and I are going to bake cookies and dye her hair. She was excited about the cookies because the cookies here are very different, much more like graham crackers. Angelito has attempted to teach me how to play his favorite computer game, and we watch Pokemon together sometimes. Angel and I debate politics and talk sports and about whatever is on the news. Esteban is still shy, but there are definitely improvements. We have gotten to the "weather talk" stage now. :-) I have also become really close with a lot of the other students and staff from the "Fund" (fundacion).

Most of our weekends have been spent hanging out and going to discos and/or bars in the evenings. A lot of the students travel during the weekends, but I can spread my vacations out as I will be here for the year. Most of the kids are only here for one semester and feel like they have to pack everything into a short period of time. This past Friday, my friend Andrea and I took a day trip to a little town in the area, Cuenca. It is supposed to take about two and a half hours by bus, but our bus ended up breaking down and it took us about four hours. In the old part of the city (el casco historico) there are houses that are built right up to the sides of the cliffs. They are very neat, but kind of scary because they look like they are going to tip off the edge. There is also a neat art museum, so I've been told, but it was siesta while we were there and the museum was not open. Even though our time was shortened, we got to see a lot of the city and can go back a different time. On Sunday the two of us hiked around the city and up onto large hills and rocks. It was a very pretty view of the city, and very peaceful up there. We decided it would be a good place to do yoga if the rocks were a little bit flatter.

This Saturday we are planning to go to Warner Brother's amusement park in Madrid. Some kids were talking about roller coasters and decided that we needed to go. I love roller coasters, so I am pretty excited.

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Photos

Cena de Bienvenidos
The welcome dinner for a group of students from Chicago that came. The started later than us because they are on the quarter system.

Hanging Out
Luis, Naty, Erin, Mandy, Edmarie, and Freddy at a cafe/bar area.

At the Disco
Freddy and I dancing at El Circulo de Arte

Claire and Ashley
The girls were waiting for everyone so they could walk home.

O'Briens
This is my favorite sign in the Irish Pub in Toledo. We also have gotten to know the bartender, Emilio!

Poligino
The "barrio" (neighborhood) that I live in. This is the view out of my bedroom window.

Clouds
The sky looked cool that night.

Erin
In Cuenca

Cool Building
I'm not quite sure what this is, but it looked neat. Cuenca

Casas Colgadas
Oh no, they're going to fall!

Andrea and Erin
We actually wanted us with the house behind us, it was a really cool shade of blue. It didn't work, but we look good.

Toledo
This is part of the view from the giant rock we were on.

Erin and Andrea
We are "between" the cathedral and Alcazar.

Shadow
It's my shadow on the tree.

Erin
It was so peaceful!

Todos esta bien!
Everything is wonderful.

Toledo
This is a bridge built by the Romans when they still ruled in Toledo.