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