another day to re-coup

Luckily, today has turned up for me, as i am giving this bug a run for it's money. I'm hoping that tomorrow i wil be on top and not it.
The morning started out slow, as I slept for more than 10 hours last night...which is amazing considering how much i slept the day before. I then ate a good breakfast, was able to shower, and drink more alkazelzer. I continued my morning by searching for tickets/trip planning, and then had lunch with Julia. She made arroz Cubana which is Cuban rice..it is white rice and it had fish, sausage, and a hardboiled egg in it. I was able to eat the white rice (nice n easy on my tummy) and the hard boiled egg. I also ate bread and drank a lot of Green tea today. She gave me a chocolate cookie today too (i think b/c i've been sick :) it was really cute!
Then i took another nap (in which when i awoke felt drowsy some more, but it was good b/c i had to get up), My friend Kristen came over and we bought our tickets for Paris! I am so excited as we found some train tickets for very inexpensive. We will be traveling there Wed Feb 10 and returning Sun/Mon Feb 14/15. Plus,,we got in on a special deal on the way home in which we got upgraded to 1st class on the train, and so we are not bothered at all by the late 11:30pm time we will board or the 730am time we'll arrive back in San Sebastian (we think 1st class sleeping accommodations sound quite nice!!!) Then, we went for a nice walk around the park 2 times. I definitely needed to get out of the house and move my body. It felt SO good. We just walked and talked.
When i returned, Kristen went home, and Julia and i had supper. I was so hungry (this is such a good sign!!!) and so i ate noodle soup (so good on my sore throat) and then i had empenadas i love them..they are those creme cheese/garlic/jam filled things..oh they are good i will take pic next time. Then i had bread, and another alkazelzer..yuck..but i think it'll help. Then after supper, Julia is so cute, she grabbed an old photo album and we sat for an hour on her sofa as she showed me pictures of her husband, herself, her kids when they were younger, her parents, her grandparents, and many other family members. It was SO amazing and fun to listen. Then she showed me more photos in her room, and we enjoyed laughing and sharing stories. It was really heart-warming for me...and i just feel so blessed to have her in my life. She is definitely making a mark in my heart that will light me for the rest of my life. I just wish i could take her along...but i will in my soul forever.
Then, we watched some tv (a movie was on) and i had my laptop and was showing her prom pictures, friends, family and christmas pictures, and then it was cute b/c Rafael came online and we skyped, and he got meet her too! It was so cute,,she really enjoyed talking to him, but i did all of the translating..but i enjoy this :)
Now i am just going to go to bed..the weekends always unfortunately go by so quickly, but i know that more fun and experiences will present themselves to me this week...when u least expect it. Tomorrow i plan on going to the travel agent to talk with Andrea about our booking problems witht the train in Italy and also the bus in Madrid. Keep fingers crossed that we get what we need :) we are so close to having everything booked! Oh, and kristen and i found the cutest hostel to sleep in! Yay..!! now we are excited to buy eiffle tower jewelry b/c it will actually have real meaning to us :)
All my love,
Lauren

flu=lazy day

Today has not been particularly one i will want to remember. Unfortunately this flu-bug has come back to bite me for the weekend..ugh..it's been crappy. I slept in today, ate breakfast, studied, and then ate lunch , slept again, and rested. Really borring..feel sluggish!--but i guess that is what i have to do. Haven't had to throw up but feel like it all the time, tummy ache, chills, headache, sore throat, runny nose, and more chills/dizzyness. It rained today so that's nice b/c i am not missing beautiful weather.
I went to Maribels just for 1 .5 hour or so and she gave me orange juice and helped me study. It was painful to sit up (u know how that is when ur sick), but i did it anyhway b/c they are gone tomorrow and i NEEDED her explanations for my homework b/4 my exams that i have this week. so it was helpful,,but you know..no fun :(
They were going out to the movies tonight and invited me but i had to turn that down too ..bummer...i hope that there is another time!
Congrats to Ben though and the game vs. Benilde. It sounded like u guys did well. I look forward to reading in-forum tomorrow to hear about today's game.
Tonight i watched a nice movie on tv with Julia..it's an old one from Spain...i really liked it...it was from this series called "las peliculas de Marisol". I am definitley going to look for more. I was wrapped in a huge blanket..we tried to take my temp but the thermometer doesn't work..so maybe it's better i don't know idk!
I got to skype with a wonderful friend/familiar face briefly tonight which helped, then ate soup, alkazelzer (yuck yuck yuck but i'm glad i packed it!), empanadas (cream chesse things), n bread of course. I'm forcing myself to eat to try and get better. and drinking water. Luckily today is only Sat so i have 2morrow to re-cupe too and prep for my busy week. I can't be sick!!! I hope all is well with you,,don't feel sorry for me...it's building my character :) i guess it wouldn't be right if i didn't suffer a bit here... :( ...nahh..i'll live!
All my love,
Lauren

I am so happy :)

Hi all,
I hope that you are all doing well, and staying warm in the not-so warm minnesota/midwest weather. I am doing really good, despite having the flu this week, sore throat, headache, etc...grrrr...but it was nice b/c i didn't have school yesterday so i could rest, and will rest somemore this weekend amongst planning trips, and studying for my first round of exams which occur next week. Maribel invited me to come over tomorrow (sat) to eat la comida (the big meal of the day around 2pm) and then i will study with her and Inoa. They will help me with my grammar b/c that is the hard part for me hehe! And they have stuff to study too so it'll be a nice 'girls-study' afternoon :) I love them so much. oh, i just can't desribe all the feelings i am experiencing here. i am just so happy. I am meeting new friends, establishing wonderful relationships with the girls i am planning my trips with, trying so many foods, learning SO much vocabulary and history of Navarra and Spain, and Europe, experiencing emotions that are invigorating, exciting, scarry, amazing, frustrating, all of the above,,,even love :) This really is the best thing i could have done for myself..coming here to Spain.
Today was fun. I had two classes which went fine..they are my favorite classes so I love Fridays. And i got to have my tortilla de patata y cafe con leche with Kristen and we visited. Then i had a great talk with my friend Lise. I am so blessed to be with these people. I came home for lunch and visited with Julia (it's my favorite routine!) She gave me soup, and ...gosh now i do't remember what i had after that...haha..bread for sure, fruit,,and ?????? oh yah it was pasta with a hard boiled egg. it was pretty good..it's so cute now,,she let's me serve myself.Speaking of Julia, i love her so much. We have definitely established an amazing relationship, i don't know how i'll leave her! She's already told me i'm welcome to visit anytime ...to stay with her, and even bring my 'someday' significant other if i want :) We can get to talking, and she talks with me for an hour or more,,to the point where we can be laughing really hard. She is just the cutest old lady i wish everyone of you could meet her~!!! The other day i was leaving for classes, had my period, not feeling well (flu coming on), hadn't showered, and she didn't know any of this...and as i'm leaving she says to me "You look so beautiful today"...it was just so special..and made me feel so good. I was reminded of junior high/highschool days when my mom used to be home in the mornings at times and send me off. It's so wonderful having her here all the time. So i kissed her on the cheeck, and i think i had a skip in my step the rest of the day...she is just like a grandma and mom in one. I don't remember if i told you this..the tradition of kissing when you meet people here. it is so cute, when you meet someone, they kiss you on both cheeks..it is very sweet..but you have to be here and experience it to really understand and respect it! It's not weired at all.
Tonight, i went for a walk/run to clear my head, and half-way out it just started POURING! it was one of the funnest moments i've had b/c i was in the park, it was dusk, and it's pouring rain...all i could do was laugh and keep going. When i got home 20 min later, Julia see's me walk in the door (i was hoping she wouldn't see HOW WET I HAD GOTTEN!!!) and she says "Tu ....ayyy Estas LOCA!!!" (you...ayy you are crazy!!!) and laughed! Then later tonight Kristen and I went over to Megan's piso and had a productive night making more italy plans. we booked our hostil for Rome and for Florence. We are def making progress slowly but surely!
I returned home tonight to have my ham sandwich and water and fruit, and now will go to bed. Like i said, raining and a bit chilly weather here and that is the forcast until Tue or so so I will be relaxing and trying to get better.
I start dance class next week so i have that to look forward to, and i've been tutoring the little neighbor girls for 2 weeks now and i'ts wonderful
! I got a care package this week from mom, dad and Ben on Thurs. It was so nice to get a piece of home, especially when i was sick.
All my love,
Lauren

restful day

Today was windy and cold here again!--thank goodness the sun came out though! It was nice b/c i only had 2 classes this morning and was done with school by 11:30. On my walk home, i stopped in a grocery supermercado that i walk by everyday just to explore and compare/contrast things they sell. It was really fun..i just walked up and down every lane, thinkin and looking at the different foods. I miss baking!!--but i've become accustomed to the meditteranean cusine...you just have to take a bite despite what it looks like. Often times it's so good. and i think they cook with a lot more water, so alot of the entree's are healthier in that respect.
When i got home, i went for a short jog/walk/PT in the park.
It was interesting..well cold first i should say, but today was the first time i saw a person 'peeing' outside right in a city where there are lots of others around. i can understnad in the mountains or woods, but not in the park in open space!!! I couldn't believe my eyes..and it was an older guy. I was running along a sidewalk, and you have to first understand everday at EVERY HOUR of the day this park is hustling and bustling with tons of ppl walking/running/playing soccer, orjust walking to and from their houses or jobs..so for this older man to be taking it out to pee was very odd. I looked away right away, but i'm sure that's what he was doing! ha.
I returned to shower and then Julia had sopa de frijoles, (similar to the garbanzo bean soup) and then some meatballs with bread. It was good. It's nice b/c she's serving me smaller portions too b/c she knows i can't eat it all! i did a little homework and waited to skype with britt,but when she didn't come on i decided to 'rest' for 20 min or so. ...well 20min turned out to be 3 hours! I couldn't believe it. I so needed it htough. I have not felt good all week, sore throat, head ache, stomach ache,so it was good to rest. Then tonight, i had a GREAT talk with britt!
Julia and i had soup and bread and then she gave me this other thing it was break with this egg salad stuff on it but i couldn't tell what was in that salad, so after i ate one, i couldn't eat anymore. i felt bad, but she didn't care at all and said she would bring it over to her grandson hehe!!! Then she gave me my coconut yogurt and a little cookie.
Maja and I walked over to Megans piso 2night which was nice. We visited in Espanol, and tried to find some good t/v shows/movies to watch. There wasn't really anything on but it was fun to surf the channels. And Mom and Ben, guess what...??!! We ran across Little People Big World with the Roloffs, and it was in Spanish, and they had it on the disney channel here! So funny...but i just had to tell you that :) i had wished i could pick up my phone to call u and tell you this, but it was interesting! we didn't watch it though/ b/c i jsut was so tired again. i assumed i wouldn't be, but apparently i need more rest, so i plan on goin to sleep soon.
Tomorrow is a vacation day for all University students in Spain, so i don't have classes. I am looking forward to sleeping in, studying in the morning (since i have exams next week and lots of homework), and then i will get together with Megan, Kristen, and Maja and we are going to walk around Casco Viejo and go to the candy store we saw the other day. we want chocolate :) haha. n then prob explore more, go to a pasteleria and plan more for Italy, and Kristen n i will purchase our Paris plane tickets tomorrow too. WE found some for 22 euros there and 50 back so that's not too bad! i am excited..and will prob be in Paris over Valentines day weekend.
Other than that, not much else,,just hoping this gall-darn sore throat goes away soon..and the aches! I hope that you are all healthy. I think the rest and water and more rest will do me good.
Until tomorrow,
All my Love,
Lauren Beatrice

playing catch-up!

I'll have to play catch-up a little to fill you in on the last four days or so. Things are going well for me here in Pamplona, been very busy all of a sudden, but i guess that is a good thing! That's what i've wanted!!!! Last friday i believe is where i left off. I had a great day with my girlfriends..between classes we enjoyed cafe con leche with tortillas de potates, and enjoyed visiting and getting to know one-another better. Friday night we went out to Bar Burgales, as the unniversity was hosting a welcome for the exchange students. This was interesting..(it was very odd beng able to order a Sangria with my pinxto!..but all the same kindof fun!!)We then enjoyed visiting and meeting several new pp as well as meeting new faces and people from Spain, Czech Rep, Poland, Germ, etc! There was a going away party that we also stopped at, and this was very interesting! It was fun, but we didn't stay too long! It' amazes me how late these Spaniards love to stay up...basicaly ALL night--they go home at 6 o 7 in the Morning!! not me n my friends..130am was good enough :)
Saturday was wonderful, as I went to the pueblo Salinas with Julias (my host mom) daughter Maribel, her husband and their two kids Inoa and Inaki. We were celebrating Inoa's 14th birthday. The pueblo (house ) was SO incredible words can't even describe it. We had birthday cake (spanish style) called torta..which didn't have nearly as much frosting as american cakes, but tasted wonderful! and then we had homemade pizza and bread, and some other interesting things. It was so wonderful! oh man i just wish i could have a video of the entire experience. One of julia's 3 sons' was also there with his wife and 3 kids so that was fun b/c i met them , and enjoyed visiting the Jon, who is 17. He is interested in Medicine, so it was fun talking with him about differences b/twn US and Esp. It was like hangin with my brother, so this was kindof nice! It was so fun b/c I haven't laughed as hard as i did wih their family that night in so long! Maribel especialy is just a hoot..and they would all make fun of me and laugh when i'd make mistakes speaking..but that's b/c i'm at that point where i WANT to move faster with my tongue b/c i hear and KNOW what i want to say, but i'm just not quite yet there...perhaps in another month or so!!..but all the same i've reached the point where i just laugh too! It's great! We sat around the table visiting, and a fire was crackling in the living room. The entire house is made out of these beautiful stones..reminded me of the house in the Holiday movie in England..only 3 x bigger. I will post pics on Facebook. I loved it so much i asked if we can go back in march to celebrate my birthday there, and so that is the plan. I am so excited!
Sunday I went to church with Julia in the morning. It was just wonderful. It was so great to pray again in church, and listening was awesome b/c i could pick up on the prayers and what was being said in Spanish. The mass was So quick, only 45 min, but it was wonderful. And,,one thing that was SO cool was that the entire liturgy/mass was led by kids. NO adults whatsoever did anything but help the kids. They sang all the songs, read all the readings (except gospel), and brought up the gifts, etc. During communion, members of the parish didn't hand it out, but about 6 other priests that came out. It was a beautiful church..i fell in love with it right away and thought..how gorgeous it would be to marry in a church like that. The architecture is amazing. I will also take pics as I plan on going with Julia as much as i can.
Oh, forgot to tell you, on Friday Megan and i purchased tickets to Rome Italy and Venice Italy. WE are ecstatic, and will be travling there over easter break. WE will go to Seville first to experience the processions, and see the town and then fly to Italy. We will return 10 days later and spend a night in Barcelona b/4 returning to Pamplona.
The rest of the day sunday i studied and relaxed. Was a bit ill this weekend, but i'm glad to say i've recovered..:) nothing too major.
School is going fine..tryin to get Concordia to except a global com class i want to take here for credit for a social science since it's very similar, but they've been telling me they don't know..so again, i'm figuring will prob just stick out the spanish. I won't b taking translation anymore though, so that's why i wanted that class! we'll see what happens!
Other than that, it's cold and windy here. No snow..like at home. I talked with mom the other day and I heard abou all that snow..I am sorry!!! i really don't miss the weather. At least hopefuly you can snuggle in were it's warm and crank the heat.
It's a holiday here on Thursday, so that will be nice as we don't have classes. I plan on maybe going to see Avatar with Maja and Kristen, and then we want to walk around and explore some more :)
Life is good otherwise, moving fast...it's kindof scary how fast time will go. But i'm happy here in Pamplona :)
Haven't received the notice for mom's package yet, but Julia and I are watching the mail every day!! I love you mom
Until next time,
xoxo Lauren

nice day

Hi all,,,
I first have to write about some interesting things i've noticed about Spain that i do not want to forget: first, they don't have 'school-buses' here. Believe it or not, the kids are picked up on coach busses. No joke...i just HAD to write this b/c i've been meaning to b/c everymorning as i walk to school i see mom's and dad's waving goodbye to their kids as they are sitting all comfortably in these huge, posh, nice busses! But you know what:??...they are ALL sitting down. Maybe the bus drivers in the US wouldn't have to holler for kids to 'Siddddowwwnnn!!!" like they do now!--but kids actually WANT to sit down cuz it's a nice bus haha!
The other interesting thing that I LovE is that Cars STOP for you. Yes..i'm not kidding with this either. You walk across the street, and if they are driving towards you, they will come to a complete stop. At first, i didnt really believe this was true so i would wait and then when they'd stop and look at me as if to say "WALK...GO" then i'd hurriedly cross...but i just get a kick out of how everyday when i walk to and from the unniversity, they stop for ME and the rest of the ppl! Gotta love that...don't wory tho..i still look both ways b4 crossing the street!
Classes were good today besides the fact that I got LOADED with grammar homework..but i guess that is good b/c the more i practice the better. I also officially registered today! So now i have my official schedule set which is a wonderful feeling. I am taking 5 classes, and i believe i wrote them in a post just a few days ago :)
I got home early, and b/c the sun was out and it was pretty nice i went for a run in the park. This was my 3rd one and i'm happy to say my legs are carrying me ok..so i'm just gonna take it slow and easy. i dn't go far and i don't go long..but it's a start !
I showered, and Julia and I ate lunch together today which was nice. We had a really good Garbanzo bean soup again that has rice in it and is in the sausage broth..it sounds weired but you guys i'm telling you it's amazing...especially with bread in it..ahhh. And then i had again the same 'hija de la vaca' the daughter of the cow meat! which was better today :)!!!!
This afternoon, i had to write an essay for my literature class, so i did that and i am happy with it. Then i took a 45 min siesta which was nice. I have decided i LOVE my bed...i think its b/c im just so tired after how busy or how active (walking everywhere) i am each day. I just sleep so good now which is nice. It's hard to get up in the morning!..so anyway the siesta was nice...i didn't want to get up from that either.
At 6 i went to tutor/teach/play with the girls next door. This was wonderful! I officially met their mom..her name is Mercedes, and she is just beautiful and So nice. She told me that she wants their home to feel like mine, and i don't have to ask i can just go in the kitchen, etc, etc, (& im thinking,,well i'd still ask...) but she's so cute she was offering to cook for me, (American food if i want..she'd said..oh i can make you a hamburger sometime)..it was just cute..bless her heart. The little girls were so excited. I love them already. They are 9, 6, and 4 like I said, and their names are Leire, Iraiti, and Saioa...a bit hard for me to remember so i wrote them down b/4 i left to make sure i'll get them down. It's wonderful too b/c Mercedes said she wants to be flexible with my schedule. so that is nice b/c week by week we'll go..not every Friday night like originally so i was happy about that! She was offering for me to come over any other time too just to play with her girls, talk etc while she cooks etc. I think like babysitting sometime..which i would be fine with. and it is very nice of them b/c I believe they are going to pay me b/4 i leave. I didn't expect this since i'm doing this as a thankyou, but i think that is what she said. Either way, it is such good practice for me too b/c the girls are SO fluent in Spanish and they are so attentive to me and want to learn. It's cute b/c Mercedes closed the living room door (it's like this big sliding door that is just gorgeous in their piso), and then after one hour, she comes in and she says..ok girls, well how was class? Class is done now!! They treat it really like class, and i love that!!! I wish i could have a camera on me just so you could see how interesting this really is :)) The 4 yr old was very shy the entire night, but i new i'd gotten on her side when as i was leaving she RUNS up to me with a cute drawing that she wanted me to take. She plastered it with stickers, written on it, drew pics, and stamped things! :) so cute !
I was their from 6-7 and then i walked to Corte Ingles (which is like a Macy's here) and I bought some nice Jewelry for Inoa for the fiesta on Saturday night in the Pueblo. I believe she was 15 this week, not 14, but anyway i found some really awesome stuff, and i got some bracelets for mi tambien :))
When i got home one of Julia's sons Carlos came over while I was eating supper, so i met him, and he and his fam. will be in Salinas at the fiesta on SAt too, so that was good that i could meet one more person i'll know. His son is 17 and interested in going into medicine, so that is good to know too b/c i'll have someone that i can talk to about a similar interest to break the ice with things!I had tortillas de patatas, a salad, bread of course, and coconut yogurt for supper tonight. It was good.
Now i am just waiting till 11pm (4pm your time) for the possibility to have a skype date with my mama :)
I don't know if i will be able to update you 2morrow night, but you will for sure hear from me within the next 2 days.
xoxoxo
Lauren

sometimes the unexpected is THE best :)

Today was a nice, but unexpectedly nice day. Classes started out well, as I just had grammar class, and after conversation class..I like Thursdays :) Don' get me wrong, they are classes with work, but just less time to be sitting down in class like yesterday :) After clases, I met up with some of my friends from Concordia as we were trying to plan our trip to Paris which was to be next WEdnesday the 27 b/c we have a long weekend! I am So excited, however it is too bad b/c we were not able to book the train tickets, so we decided to scratch the trip for that weekend. Paris is on the top of my list of places tovisit, so i wil def go at some point, it is just figuring out when and being able to book it! it'll happen. But something else may come out of that lng weekend..so i will keep you posted :)
It was so nice i got to skype with Dad today..just so nice at times to see a familiar face and voice :) and recieve his awesome advice. Dad you're seriously the BEST dad and i love you so much. so i hope you know this..i do so much.
Julia made me macarones (macaronie noodles) with tomato sauce that had a twist to it,,it had like a pepper flavor that i actually really like..however this is the funny part..so just wait!...
so she's serving me, putting the macaronie in the bowl, and she fills just PLUMP full,,i can't even describe to you how much pasta there was in this bowl.prob 2000 calories worth haha! so of course i started eating ,,but i had told her, Julia, este es demasiado!!..(meaning too much!) it tasted great, and I ate bread with it b/c of course that is always wha we do at our house when we eat pasta and i love bread with the sauce,,but when she saw me do this..she said..'que terrible' no con pan! (how terrible..not withbread!) they don't do that here apparetnly i learned ! but i told her that i like it like this..i apologized cuz i didn't know if i was being disrespectful, etc lol and she said "oh no,,esta bien! esta bien!..(that's fine eat eat!!) But when she wasn't looking, (she was washing dishes and had her back to me,) i dumbed like half the bowl back into the serving dish b/c it was just WAY too much..prob could have fed 3 ppl ahahha!!! She didn't notice :)
This aftrnoon, it was wonderful again b/c i walked over to my friend Maja's piso to study. It's so nice to study with a friend. we do do our own thing, but it's nice to be with someone else. Then i got to do a little more skyping which was nice too.
I returned home around 8:00pm and i had some soup and an apple. Julia tried to feed me more (bless her heart) but i just couldn't :) !!!
Then, what the unexpected but awesome part of my day was was after la cena (supper) we walked over to Maribel's house..it's just down and around the corner. I didnt realize how much i missed her..i hadn't seen her since my first weekend here when she wasrunning around everywhere with me trying to get my suitcase, toilettries en as tiendas (stores), etc. It was SO good, and you guys,i feel so at home there. Her two kids are so wondeful too. --they both greeted me excitedly, and yesterday it was Inoa's birthday, so she shared some of her birthday treats with me (of course i loved this!) i had this amazing little choc. cookie that had choc frosting in the middle, and another little sugar ccookie type ofthing. If i can i will buy some b/4 i come home so you can see what they are like!
But what is really awesome is how they just welcome me into their home. Now I TRULY understand what it feels like to be a college student away with no one from home and then how amazing it is when a family invites you to be with them. Inoa is 14 now i think, and her brother Inaki is 11. They are just adorable, and Inaki was so excited --we talked about soccer (me getting barcelona , madrid, materials for friends, etc)and this is another funny thing i HAVE to tell you! so
Maribel and I were tlking,,it's so nice b/c i can tell her anything and she wants to do her best to help me..so i was telling her to offer my availability to tutor to families at her school, etc, etc, and we were sitting on Inaki (her son's ) bedwhile he was at his desk doing his homework. I'm impressed wth the spanish school system b/c his homework was a bit intense for an 11 or 12 year old, butstill :) so we're talking, and then he wanted to show me this project he'd just finished, and then Maribel noticed in his notebook that his teacher and made many comments about him lacking certain exercises,not finishing some things, etc..and boy let me tell you..Maribel ws not happy, scolding him, etc. Then he felt bad i think cz i was there, but i told him that if i were him i'd be nervous, and he seemed to smile then.But it was jut funny to see how another mom will scold her son (all in spanish which was amusing for me to listen too b/c i picked up on words thati don't usually here alot!) about laziness, ec..so i took notes! Then when their dad came home from work (he got home around 9pm..so late!) Inaki had to show his dad his lacking in his exercises, and do them..he is so cute though. Their dad greeted me too, and then Maribel and Inoa invited me to come on Saturday to her birthday celebrations.
I cannot tell you how excited i am to go do something with them! They are such a nice family, and it is so nice to have something to lookforward to and be included in, and plus i will learn somuch and be able to take many more photos!!
We are going Salinas, which is a small pueblo (a small little village) outside of Pamplona. I think it is a little drive, not toofar, but far enough. I am so excited to experience this. The house is in the family, was owned by Julia, and now she has her children owning it. They all go there for holidays, festivals, vacations, etc, and it has so many rooms that it can house all 4 of Julia' kids and their families.! I have heard so much about it but now can't wait to experience and see what it will be like, and with real spanish families! It sounds like we will play games, eat to celebrte Inoa's birthday etc. and she is just so nice, and wantsto help me..it's great! I am not sure yet if i will stay thenight there or return with Maribel on Sat. prob the latter. I will definitely fill you in.
But i am just so happy to be able to go here and experience this this weekend, since i really didnt have much to do! And it wil be great practice!
Tomorrow, i have classes, and then i want to run and walk in the park. I plan on studying in the afternoon, and then i will tutor the neighbor girls at 6pm :)
That is all for now, i better finish my literature homework and then get to sleep.
Lots of love,
Lauren

a little behind

Hey All,
Sorry that I haven't updated this very well over the past few days. Shame on me :) i gues you'll be glad to know i've been using that time to study..and or skype :) But things are going fine. Very busy now that school is in full swing. It's a little overwhelming, but to be expected. Tuesdays are my busy days, so I had 3 classes today which began at 8:30 and i end at 2..the crappy thing is they are 2 hr long classes, and i really don' have much of a break between them b/c they start and end one after the other! But it's all good :) The other days of the week aren't too bad. I am seeing how time is starting to fly now that i am busier..and how i am tired!!!!
Right now I am at my friend Maja's piso (apt) working on homework on her bed while she studies at her desk. You just get to the point where you have to 'Seek' out people to be with..otherwise it just get's too lonely by urself :)
Today for lunch Julia fixed me garbanzo /rice soup that was in this sausage/pepper type of broth. It was actually very good. then i had some meat that she cooked..and the funny thing was..at first, i didn't know what it was..and it's so cute...she described it to me as 'la hija de una vaca!!' which means the 'daughter of the mama cow!' i had never had that before, but it was very light in color and tasted all right. I ate it with bread b/c the flavor was..well you know..new :)))
This afternoon i tried to study a bit but was just going stir-crazy after having sat all morning, so i went to the gorgeous park across the street again. I ran and walked, stretched, and just breathed in the air. For some reason i got a little sad..i think it' was just a bit overwhelming as it hit me that i am really here. I hvae these moments frequently, were i really can't believe that it's hapening,,,that i'm doing it...livng it..here you know ?! It just goes to remind mehow life passes so quickly, and we have to enjoy every moment of it. I also had some nice time to think and reminisce about things in my life..it was a very nice moment...
Aftr that,,which was very deep and a bit hardat the same time, i really wanted to be with people, so Maja and I made a study date. It's a bit late so i want to walk home b/4 it gets any later, and i know Julia will have cena (small supper) waiting for me. I don't want to worry her either. I told her i was coming over here earlier but i don't know where she went tthis afternoon..she didn't say..prob to Maribels!
Until tomorrow xoxoxox
Lauren

my sunday :)

well my day ended nicely knowing the vikings won tonight, and also skyping with my bestfriend n sister Kallie. How wonderful :)))
My morning began wonderfully also. I woke about 930am, and had the usual speacial k and milk with a postelleria with Julia. Then, with my workout clothes on, my running shoes, and ipod, i headed over to the beautiful park called la ciudadela kitty-corner and across the street from my house. It is like central park beauty with oodles of trees, sidewalks, and murales..which are tall rock-castle looking structures spread out/built all throughout the park. It is absolutely amazing..b/c they are prob. 100's of years old. There were many people running and walking, soccer practices occuring, and it was just SO wonderful to be out and amongst the native people of Spain in the park. It had been a solid 6 months since i'd taken a run, so those first few strides were a bit awkward, but i found my way :) I was able to go for 10 min intervals b/4 i had to stop and stretch the leg out a bit, but I was SO proud that i could run today..and you will be so happy to know that I haven't had pain in that area at all today.
After i did 3 10 min intervals, i took a walk all around the park--and between the murals..again, it is so hard to describe to you how amazing it looks, so i will have to take pictures to help me describe and show you. During this walk i was thinking about how badly some-day i want to take you here and show you these things! Sometimes it's hard cuz u just wish you could pick up the phone to tell ppl :)) Thank goodness for this!
I did my physical therapy and showered, and then began my studies. Julia made me arroz con pollo (or paella) the TRADITIONAL MOST TRADITIONAL I SHOULD SAY!!) dish in Spain for lunch. It was SO good. then we had banana's for dessert, and i of course had my dark chocolate too.
I studied some more this afternoon, and then at 5pm met up with Robert a concordia alum who studied abroad in Pamplona in the same prog. about 10 years ago here. He met his wife here in pamplona and now lives here, so it was very nice of him to meet up with us and answer or questions. We walked around Casco Viejo and he told us /showed us some hot spots, and also gave us alot of information about the Running of the Bulls! He RUNS with the bulls! i have some cool pics we took tonight i will show you soon.
Then i walked home and watched a cooking show for awhile with Julia. It was very interesting to watch, and it's such good practice to listen i figured that could justify my not studying too much tonight (i didn't have much anyway tho). I was able to skype like i said again and it was so great to see another familiar face from Cord :))) All in all, a good day, and a busy weekend. This week should be much better than last as my classes will be figured out now! I am taking Literatura del siglo XX en espanol, Conversacion en espanol, Traduccion (translation) de ingles a espanol (from english to spanish), Espanol Grammatica, and Civilizacion y cultura hispanica. I have 5 classes in all, so it'll be a busy sem, but it's good for me :) I also started looking for a part-time job today to work as an english tutor for kids. The university has a place you can sign up..so i am keeping my fingers crossed that i can get a paid job so that i have a little extra money for my traveling i'll be doing.
Enjoy the rest of your night. I am off to bed as i have 830am class tomorrow.
All my love,
Lauren

mysterious phone friend and San Sebastian

I have a lot to tell you all about my experiences today..but first i have to go back to talking about the mysterious phone friend that i talked about a few days prior. I forgot to tell you that 2 nights ago, i recieved another message saying 5 Euros were added to my phone for use!!?? Idk what the deal is but i like it! :) lol...i think it's the woman who sold me my phone and she is giving me promotional deals that she might recieve for being an employee..all in all tho, how kind of her :)
Today was a wonderful day. I was at the university by 9am and all of the foreign exchange students and some spaniards (we took two coach busses) went to San Sebastian, a beatiful city located on the coast of the Bay of Biscay. It was breathtaking. It was about 1 hour to get there, maybe less, and we had the entire day to explore!
When we first arrived we were given a small tour of the area around the coast, and then the large group split off into smaller groups of your own to do what you please. my friends Maja (from Norway) and Megan (USC) went on an amazing hike up to the top of this peak ST. Teresa that looked out over the Bay of Biscay on one side and San Sebastian on the other side. There was so much vegetation on the way up, and it was all green and smelled so fresh :) Even tho it was cloudy and drizzling a bit, we were so blessed that it didn't start to rain until we were down from our hike! Today total I took about 115 pictures, so you will have to look at them with me when i return. I posted some on facebook, but not all. After spending about 1.5 hours on this hike, we descended and found a small pincho bar to eat lunch at. (pinchos are like appetizers). It was expensive,,but a very good spanish experience :) we all tried new things! We then enjoyed walking up and down the streets of San Sebastian..so quiant and close together, yet with SO much going on down each one of them! We shopped at some unique stores to spain, and I bought a great new pair of skinny-jeans ..trying them on,,i ended up having to buy the pair 2 sizes smaller than what i wear??!! I don't know how this can be when i eat so much bread here ..but it's gotta be the walking lol !!! That's all we do here--but i LOVE it! Maja and Megan bought some great stuff too, and then we found a cute pasteleria (dessert shop) where we bought a sweet, and then sat and rested . This walking/resting pattern became our routine for the rest of the day as we realized we were quite tired! We walked around all of the bridges, and took many pictures of the architecture. We also enjoyed watching all of the little people playing in the streets. Today i just couldn't get over how adorable the kids are here in spain. There parents dress them so cute, and hearing them running around yelling and laughing and talking in Spanish is so amazing to me!
I arrived home around 9 and had a nice cena (supper) with Julia. I told her all about my day and then had some tea and have been relaxing in my room. It was so wonderful tonight b/c I got to skpye with my parents and also a great friend from Concordia..It is SO amazing what technology allows now!!and it was SO AWESOME to see these faces :) and here these voices.
I should probably get to bed since it's 1:10 am here now! I've had so much fun uploading all of my pictures and talking tonight! Tomorrow i will hopefully go on a run (my first one in 6 months since breaking my leg last summer!) i'm nervous, but Dr. said "When ur in Spain, i give u the go ahead to try it out!!) so here i go. itll be short and slow..but it's a start right?! Then i will study, and relax in my room. The concord. group is meeting Robert Whittington, a cord alum who lives in Spain at 5 for info about Pamplona, so that should be helpful too.
Hope everything is well with you, and i will write again soon. Go spuds and go vikes.
p.s...i watched the soccer game tonight! and listened on the radio..was pretty cool! :) It's so funny b/c even my 80 yr old host mom was getting in to it!!!
All my love,
Lauren

Correction: notwayzata..minnetonka

correction..Ben..kick a** against Minnetonka 2morrow cuz that is who ur playin...Wayzata the next time u gettum...n cheer on the vikes too..Brittany that is Ridiculous that u cheering for the cowboys lol..what is this???!!!! u are too silly :) xoxoxo

10 days come n gone

I have been in Pamplona for 10 days now...(it feels much longer hehe!!) Today the weather was absolutley beautiful. It's amazing what 1 day can do. I woke up and EVERYTHING was beautiful and green. Blue skys, and the sun was out. It was such a great feeling to walk to school, and look out the window all day to see this. I had a very busy day today b/c i was again trying out different classes as I'm still trying to pick my final class to take. This morning I went to Cultura y Civilizacion, and i LOVED it. A grad student teaches it, but it is very useful info to learn, b/c she teaches us all about the geography and culture and government of Spain,,(things that locals think you know,,when you dont but really want to learn!!). Plus, my friend Maja and 4 other Cord. students are in the class. Plus, the class takes several trips throughout the semester to Madrid and another city (so this is a perk!! Free travel guidance..well almost..there's a pricetag on everything!!). Me and my friend Ellen were just talking about how amazing it is that we feel we are always paying for things..Spaniards seem so non-chalant with their money..we don't understand were it all comes from. It's so different b/c you can go practically 3 weeks in moorhead without spending a penny on fun, etc,,but here it's everyday. But we are conservative :) but also have fun. In between classes, we walked to a bookstor in the neighborhood of Iturrama. It was a beautiful walk..i took pictures of the mountains, etc, and even was sweating a bit when we finally got there! i had to take off my coat :) Ahh..now this is the Jan. i like !!! The bookstore was out of our books, so we placed an order and they should be there next week. I had literature class this afternoon from 1-230pm. I also liked this class alot. It will be work, but it will be fun i think. Then, my friend Ellen and I planned on staying around campus to attend an Ethics II class that started at 4pm so we went to the cafeteria. Our mom's had made us each bocadillos (sandwiches...on their amazing, thick -hard break..they had pork and another type of ham on them :) I bought a coca-cola light (their 'diet-coke' here). I hadn't had one since New years eve, so it was amazing..mom their diet cokes are better here!!! They use sugar cane in them for sweetner. i wish u could have a sip! Then we went to this ethics class.
Unfortunately, it was very challenging. It's a level 2 course, plus entirely in spanish. I realy give us credit, as we have been trying ALL week to sit in and find a course we like and can handle in which to get a 'core-curricula' crdt accomplished, but they are just so challenging. After the course, a nice guy named Pablo who is a student at Navarra but his parents live in CT, befriended us and told us the prof. was terrible (a bit**) and that we should pick another class! Ellen and I were thankful for his honesty and help. But at least now her and i can say we really did try. ..sociology, ethics, and filosofia. I think it will be best for me to stick directly in the foriegn exchange ILSE program and take my spanish classes as planned. --afterall, that is what i'm here to do..improve and continue to study the language and culture :)
By the time i got home, it was 645pm, and I was starving. Julia made me a soup tonight that wasn't my favorite (another veg. type) but I ate it up anyway! Then she'd made me this meet stuffed with cheese. i didn't lik the cheese..lol..but again i ate it :) and an orange of course! It's wonderful to be treated to the traditions tho! I remind myself that i won't get this again...so i savor the moments. She always sits and talks with me while i eat (she always eats before or after me..she told me she prefers this b/c then she can serve better). She is too sweet.
At 745pm, i met my friends Maja and Kristen at Corte Ingles and we sprayed on perfume (this has become a daily routine, and my fave fragrance is this Clinique Happy Heart,,besides my beyond paradise..) so we always joke that by the end o the sem the store won't have any of this perfume left cuz eveytime we go in we put it on lol. We dubbed it 'our' scent tonight..it was a special initiation!! Then we walked around Casco Viejo. It was fun b/c the weather was beautiful for walking..so it wasn't too cold. We discovered the movie theater is very close to my house, & on Mond. night's it' cheap so we want to go see Avatar, and also the Morgans, and It's complicated!!! They are all playin ghere in Spanish! will be fun! Then,i was craving chocolate SO bad, we found this really cute cafe called Cafe Iruna and bought two pieces of this chocolate pudding-type cheese pastele ..with choc shavings on it. I feel like such a pig cuz i basically just ate my whole own lol but just hadn't had 'real' dessert for awhile lol!!! no more for me his weekend lol!!!!but it was amazing. We also bought awesome coffee and put choc. in it. I will never forget our night :)
Then Maja and I walked home b/c tomorrow we have a very big day!! I am so excited..it is supposed to be gorgeouse, and the ILSE/ERASMUS foreign Exchange students are going on a trip to San Sebastian, a city on the coast of the Bay of Biscay. very close to France. We are taking a bus and it leaves at 930 am so i will walk to the university at 845 am. It is about an hour drive, and we will get a tour an then have the rest of the day to walk and discover the city and beach and views. (and food!) Not warm enough to put our swimsuits on, but we plan on going in April or May on a SAturday to soak up the sun! I will get back about 9pm tmrrow night.
I have some homework, but it's a weired feeling b/c it's not what i'm used to. I plan on studying on Sund, and then in the afternoon i am going on a tour with a group..i will tell you more about this soon! I also plan to go for a morning run on Sunday since the sidewalks in the huge park across from my house are finely dry. I SO need to move my butt and get those endorphins flowing !!..it's funny tho..we were saying our legs are a bit sore from all the walking we do!
Today was also wonderful b/c i recieved a very nice email from a close friend of mine back home. It is nice letters like this that make my night :)..and help sustain me as I adjust :)
Julia washed my clothes today. It was so cute b/c when i got home tonight she had some folded and carefully placed on my bed. Shefolded them a different way than i usually do, but i put them away that way b/c it's special b/c it's 'her' way. I really do like her.
This week seemed to drag on forever, but i think that was b/c of all of the adjusting and learning about how the semester will work. I am looking forward to a set routine, and getting into my activities soon. volunteering should start next week, and dance first week in Feb.
Mom,,thank you for that note too today. I love you so much.give lady a kiss for me, and Ben kick a** tomorrow against Wayzata. I'll be thinking of you. Have fun.
I love you guys, and
i'll keep you all posted on San Sebastian tomorrow..w/many pics of course :))
xox Lauren

Still raining in Pamplona,,and my first fish meal lol

The rain continues to fall here in Pamplona..cold rain now! I guess that is better than snow like on Saturday!! Oh MAN lol!!! but all the snow has melted now from the rain so that is nice.
My day was much better today..despite my TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE Sociology class that was in English. Gosh it was awful. WEds. i have Span Grammar at 9am and then right after i have Span Conversation. I really love these classes b/c i have the same prof and she is AWESOME. And i have some friends from the exchange prog. in the class! But when i went to Sociology, it was nothing like i thought. It's a 2 hour class, and the prof is from England and only speaks English (I have NO idea how he gets by here b/c no one speaks english here while going about their everyday activities!!). Anyhow, he used Goshly-awful terminology for the entire 2 hours, so bad that even the regular students that attend Navarra full-time wanted to switch. There is no text to buy, and he was very unorganized! I think i'll take this class at Concordia.i took an adventure down that road, but after i decided im def gonna stay in the exchange prog. i think. It just will make my life easier and i think i have enough to deal with/adjust to !!! I want to be hard on myself and say "Lauren, suck it up and get it done" but it was awful..and i also want to allow myself to enjoy this time here. I have the rest of my 20;s to be in school para medicina anyway :)))
So,,after this, i walked home and had a pretty good lunch. Today it was this AMAZING soup again..only made with carrots, water, lentils, and rice. I had never had lentils but i LOVED them! I am always served soup for the 1st course. then, for the main (2nd course), i had fish...and guess what..the skin was still on it :0 I wanted to make a face,,but you'll be proud of me...i ate it!!! hahah!!! and surprisingly i liked it! Not the skin of course! i didnt eat that!!! Then i had my tea, and today i took a 2hour siesta. This was very nice...i needed it! And..it really was 8am at home when i laid down here at 3pm so i guess it evens out :)
Tonight was wonderful. I got out of the house and met my 4 friends, Kristen, Lisa, another Kristen (all from Concordia) and my new friend Maja from Norway (the nurse :)!!! We went to the popular store Mangos (it's like Forever 21 back home) and shopped for about an hour or so! I bought a cute top that was only like 4 E!!
Then, we walked around and took pictures in the plaza! (i need to put them up soon!) Then, Kristen and Maja and I went to the top (8th Fl) of Corte Ingles (the Macy's store of Pamplona) and had Pinchos (appetizers and such). I had this really great bruchetta with mushrrooms.
Tonight their is a big party at the discoteca that many of the exchange students are going to , but with the rain it just isn't appetizing for me to walk there and it starts at 12 midnight till 6 am! Things start so late here!! i think i'll save those discotecas for the wknds! i have class at 830 am tomorrow!!!
Julia had a great cena for me. (dinner) I eat pretty late everynite..tonight was 10:30pm. Everynight i have a salad with a tomato and olive oil which i love and tonight i had a fresh cooked piece of turkey (pavo) with the amazing bread of course. So good. now my tummy is happy and i will get in bed to read. and listen to the rain outside my window. Today, i am happy to say i am finally seeing the light and beginning to see how Pamplona is going to be my newhome,,,and i like it for the most part :)
Until tomorrow...
Love Lauren

"Rainy days on Tuesdays"...(not the same as Mondays)

On my walk to school this morning, it was still dark but the sky appeared clear and beautiful. Unfortunately after my first class, i looked out the window and the rain was pouring down. Luckily this melted all of the snow,showing the beautiful green grass, however it made for a cold and wet day here. I had Grammer class, English to Spanish translation class, and also met with my advisor all before 1pm. I was happy b/c I will be able to take Sociology here, and get credit for Sociology 111 at concordia for it, so that will be wonderful as i ws going to have to take it in the fall semester!
My 2 friends and I then went to the bookstore today, which is connected to the library. I was able to buy 1 book for each the grammar and translation. It is interesting b/c instead of requiring students to buy a ton of books and spend oodles of money, instead, they have photo-copies in a 'tienda de fotocopias' also in the library where the prof. indicate what their students need, then you go there, find there name, and pay only about 4 E for approx 70-100pg of photocopied material that you will use for the entire semester! I like this b/c its lighter weight than a book (being I have a 25 min walk one way to school), and it saves a lot of money! So we did this for Kristen as well.
This afternoon, when i got home at 2pm, i was starving!--but Julia had for me another type of soup that i just loved..it was a name i cant rem! hehe..but vegetables..so warm and good. Then she had un chorizo and an egg for me. She explained to me that i am supposed to dip the bread in the yoke, but then when she saw i was eating 'around' the yoke, she said she'd fry my egg a bit more next time lol!!! i explained im not a big yoke eater, but it was orange and fresh as can be!! I also had tea.and fruit for dessert.
This afternoon, i sat at my desk..the ENTIRE afternoon. i guess it was kindof nice, however you know how clouds can make you sad..
i guess it was just a day to make one miss their friends and fam a bit..so that was a little hard. But i kept busy by listening to music, and the rain and cars right outside my bedroom window (we live on this beautiful street i can't wait to show you pics soon!)...i have a beautiful view :) everything is old and European/Spanish looking. i studied and did some homework, but also planned out my activities that i am going to do. My schedule should pick up very soon and i will b bisy..however i constantly remind myself that in Spain, i have to understand;;;life just IS slower. :) I think this is a good thing at times. I am just adjusting :)
I know this is a long one today,,i think i just needed to spill my guts about my un-productive day!!!! And how much i miss all of you...so much!I know i say this everyday..but i mean it,,but i also want uto know i am so happy to be here right now. it's surreal..like a dream..i keep thinking im gonna wake up...but it's real life.
The most interesting thing was tonight, after cena (Julia had my usual salad with olive oil, bread and meats, and fruit, & water,) when i came to my desk, my phone had two mysterious messages. The first was as follows: "Lauren, enjoy Pamplona, and don't worry for money...Everything is going to be ok. Your spanish mysterious friend". So im thinking..ok..."who knows im worrying about money..b/c i'm not!" but i look at the 2nd message, and it says that 5 E were added to my cell phone ( i have the pay as you go). So my 'mysterious friend' (who is really mysterious b/c i have NO idea) gave me 5 E. Just the fact that someone would do that made my night...not that i needed the 5 E but the act of kindness. :) it could be eithe Maribel or Josefina (the girl who works at the Mobil place where i was near tears the other day w/the prob. with my phone haha)..so it's prob her...but if i find out you'll def hear about it!
anyway..i better end this :)mucho amor <3
Lauren

Mon 11 Enero

Today started out very high intensity but ended SO well! I had my first 'classes' experience today which was so nice! it felt great to get back into the swing of something !!hehe!! like learning! I had to take a written and oral placement exam with some professors here so they know what level to place me in for my classes. This week, all of the classes I go to are just to see what i think of them. So i am going to go to alot that i am interested in/want credit for. Then next week or the following, i am able to decide what I want to take. As an exchange student this is very nice! AFter this, my 3 friends and I walked about 1 mile to this store called Correfour! What an experiece!
It is like a walmart, but very cool !! (not that walmart isn't cool..but you get the point!) It was funny b/c we had our backpacks and they wouldn't let us take them in the store, so they have these weired locker things that we had to figure out! man oh man! but we did! Then we bought some Extremely cute boots...( everyone in Spain (all of las chicas i should say) wear these super cute boots everywhere...) so now not only are we speaking like the Spaniards (almost but not as well hehe!) but we are dressing like them! This was fun! Then we all were SO hungry and it was time for comida (siesta time..but you have to know we don't actually have time to sleep hehe!! too busy!)..
So i walked another 2 or 3 miles i suppose back to mi piso where Julia had fixed me an amazing lunch (comida). Lunch is the biggest meal of the day. I ate this soup that is my favorite..it is called el col. Then she gave me a sm. prtn of pasta con carne de vaca. it was pretty good. for dessert we have fruit and then i had coffee con leche and a sm sugar cookie.
After lunch i had to walk back to school (another 1.5 miles hehe) and go to class at 400. this ended at 530 pm..it is Historia contemporanea de Espana y America. I'm not sure i'll take it cuz i might take other class but it was interesting!
Then i walked another 2 mile to Corte ingles and got my cell phone fixed! This was SO nice ! it took an hour though..but i ended up getting my 9 E back so that was good..but u know me.. i don't back down until it's done!So i got it done! For supper Julia had a salad with olive oil and tomatoes for me..(my new fave dressing is olive oil britt!-so that's what it'll be next fall hehe!!) and a tortilla con patatas (potatoes). Then what MADE my night was to follow.
We went next door to the building connected and Julia knows this family. They are young and have 3 daughters 9, 6, and 4. The girls are SO cute. The dad was So nice to me and in exchange for his internet code, i am going to tutor his 9 yr old daughter, and possibly the 6 yr old..in ingles! the 9 yr old was so excited as she was writing everything she new in english to show me and was making un 'examen' for me to take..that included to write my name, last name, address in usa, and such..this will be good for me b/c i'll get my fix of working with kids, as I miss Harshita and Nishita, my girls back home! So all in all, it was a wonderful night b/c now most of my accomodations are complete in perfect time. i have mi maleta (luggage) and internet so that i can connect with all of you!! It makes me feel good that you read this blog! and i will continue to update it! Have a wonderful rest of your day..i better try to sleep now. i have class at 830am!!
xoxoxo Lauren

Mi malleta esta aqui en pamplona!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey all...i just have to tell you that when i left that internet cafe about an hour ago and wen thome, just as i was walking in the door the phone rang and it was my friend Diana who picked me up at the airport and they delivered my luggage to here today! I cried tears of joy! So she is bringing it to my house tonight and I am SO SO SO SOoOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo
excited to see and go through my things. its been a week! Ay carumba!
anyway, hopefully i will be better able to communicate and be comfortable nowª! I am so happy. until 2morrow xoxo Lauren

Sunday here!

Hi all!
Well,,i think my body is finally adjusting to SPain time..last night (sat) i went to bed at 11pm and didn't wake up this morning until 1230 pm. My host mom was so proud of me b/c she just thinks that i need to sleep. She can tell i am worried and still adjusting to things so she says...tu necesitas dormir mas,,mas,,mas!!!" it's kindof cute.
we walked around the town a bit today. She showed me the bus station so I know how to travel if need be to other towns. Then i had soup and tea and an apple and choc. for lunch. For breakfast she bought me Speacial k b/c she knows i like cereal! but the milk is like vitamin D milk. we had a discussion adn i told her i like skim the 'leche delgada' and she said Oh es mas peor!! it's worse she said!!! it was funny! i drink it b/c i know that i need my nutrients..and funny as it is i'm becoming accostomed to it hehe! I drink it!! lol
well, tonight i am borrowing a girls adapter so that is nice b/c i am charging my laptop right now. I don't know how long that will last butwe'll see! Then i am going to Maribels house b/c she is going to hlp me with my cell phone. it doesnt work and i just got it yest! hehe! it's supposed to have 12 Euros as bonus for use and i've only made 2 calls under 5 min..so we are going to get to the bottom of it!
The snow is meltng so that is GREAT! and the sun was out today!
2morrow i have school and i am so excited. I just want to get started and start learning about how i can get involved with dancing. they need at the clinic volunteers so i am excited to do that. a nurse is in my same program here and hse is from norway so we want to work at the lcinic together! it's fun b/c spanish is our commn language ..it's SO good for me to talk ..noone speaks ingles so it's great..although i def. have my moments where i just want to scream in english to express myself b/c i am not able to say everythng i want to in spanish at the moment hehe!!!! but i'ts coming along :)
Well it makes me feel good to know you guys read my blog, and I miss you and love you all! no news on my luggage,,but i am keeping the faith that it will arrive this week or some day i'll just walk home and see that it is there!!!
Love you all,
Lauren

still working on getting this bag..and SNOW????

This morning i awoke at about 2 am and made my plan of attack!!! Today, Julia´s daughter is going to take me to the airport and i hope to talk to the officials about where my bag may be. I really hope that we can find it either in Germany or Madrid...i really feel like God is going to lead us to it today.. i really hope so..my one and only pair of glasses (new too!) my contacts, my running shoes, boots, toilettries, makeup, school supplies, and everything else is in there. Ay carumba. but my host mom is very helpful to me and she really cares about me which is nice. So does her familia!
Then i am going to go buy some toilettries and also buy a cell phone. I am going to get a Vodofone so that Yesterday we had a day of orientation. i am definitely seeing first had how Spain isn´t as type a as me hehehe...they aren´t too organized but they don´t seem to be worried about things either..so i guess the deadline to sign up for clases is march 1 but they start mond__??? how odd right??!! whatever! I´ve picked out most of my classes and will be there so haha!!!
Then we walked around pamplona yest. it is snowing here alot and freezing. luckily maribel gave me a winter coat and boots. man i just can´t get away from this weather!
My time here is alright. It isn´t Spain that i dislike it is my bad luck. I can only hope that things turn my way today or very soon. i miss each and every one of you and think of you ALL the time..Don´t worry about me tho.I will adjust !!!! Adios mis amigos...muchos besos. im off to find my bag!!

im here but not in all one piece

hi all! i am sorry that i haven´t been able to inform you sooner that i am here. things haven´t gone too smoothly unfortunately. i did make it here safely and my host mom is so wonderful to me, however one of my bags didn´t make it and we don´t know where it is! I have contacted the airports and such, and i hope that it arrives soon because it has all of my cords for my computer, camera, etc, and all of my toilettries (i haven´t showered since i left ahh) thank god no one knows me around here!! as i type i am at julia´s grandaughters work at a travel agent place to use the computer. julia my host mom doesn´t have internet at her house, so that is quite an adjustment to not be able to connect to your friends and loved ones whenever you wish. i am going to continue to try and find a way to pay for internet so that i can do homework better too from home this sem
i am happy that the 3 other concordia girls will arrive 2morrow. we have an orientation at the college so i will see them and learn more and sign up for my classes. the weather here is surprisingly cold! i may be having mom and dad send me a few more of my warm things!
But all in all, i am lucky to be here..p.s. i will say that it´s warmer than minnesota tho...i am geting by with a spring jacket hehe.
All my love,
Lauren