Dont worry be Happy

Sorry that i have not written in a few days. Everyone has finally become very busy with midsemester papers, projects, and exams to prepare for and to be honest, it's sad!!! B/c it's harder to see them. I won't lie when i say that these past few days/or the week in general has been the hardest 'mentally' on me since i've been here. I think it was a combination of things, but i do such a good job of worry about things, so from now i will approach things with the 'Don't worry be happy' motto when i start to analyze something (you ALL know how good i am at doing that!) haha. Plus, i think what is starting to happen, is as i continue to learn the differences in people, i have to understand that not everyone is going to be exactly like i expect them or do or act like i would expect them to act..b/c maybe what i've always known is not what is common for them to do in their culture..so with that...it's an adjustment. I find i really have to think 'loosely' if that makes sense..or not have any set assumptions or ideas and just go with how things are. At times that can be very hard b/c you just don't know how things will turn out, u just have to go with the flow. I think that is SUCH a good life skill that i will and am getting the opportunity to practice. It's still difficult though.
On a brighter note, i did have a wonderful night out on Wed night with my girlfriends from Concordia. We went to the bar call Singular, and we had such a blast dancing and singing (hehe and we hadn't drank anything ha!) I really just needed to get out and let my hair down with my girls..and they are so good to me and for me. We all are. We can talk about anything, and our worries, and we all understand each other b/c we are all going through similar emotions if that makes sense. (to a certain extent). I went out on Thurs and Fri as well for short whiles, and it was alright--just too much smoke for me in those bars. Thurs i met up with some ppl who are med students here, and i was talking with them and i'm going to go to their classes with them at the clinic next week. I'm excited for this since "believe it or not!!" i've been missing med/science topics alot!!! I guess i should! hehe. Anyhow, that will give me another outlook and something to learn and think of also.
This morning i woke and went to tutor the little ones. I just am so enlightened and rejuvenated when i get to work/be with them. They were so good today, and we read books, played head, shoulders, knees and toes, and learned about the names of different animals (with the younger ones). The older sister and i read a book about cities in the world, and we covered Paris, New York, and Amsterdam. It was lovely, and she is such a great reader. Next week i'm gonna bring my laptop to show her my oodles and oodles of pictures of Central Park b/c we talked alot about this today. Oh how i love Central park..man,,def one of my favorite places on this earth.
Today i will study until lunch, or try to work on my powerpoint presentation, and then this afternoon i may go shopping for a few hours to the mall with my girlfriends to get out. It is just nice to look and be with them :)
I am getting very excited for Italy trip, and Megan and Kristen and I are going to continue planning this when Meg get's back from Morrocco. She is there this weekend with her mom b/c her mom came to visit :) I told my mom i wanted her to come to visit hehe..god that'd be so awesome but b/4 i'd left we'd decided no. But now i just want to show her SO much and teach her and introduce her to all of these amazing people and places. Thank goodness i can talk to her through skype. My time here has really strengthened our relationship and made it for the better :) and i am so rejuvenated after i talk with her b/c she grounds me and reminds me of what is true . I love you mom.
Probably my favorite part of this week was dance class. Oh how i wish i could just have it every single day instead of just tues/thurs. I love the teacher Nerea, she is so bubbly and funny, and so nice, and i laugh so hard during the class that i start to cry sometimes hehe and my face turns all red and all the kids make fun of me haha! It's so good for me though, just to let loose and dance. I just love it, and i'm really getting to be great friends with the ppl in the class. I especially like dancing with this one guy in our class b/c he is so funny..he tries to practice his english with me..and whenever he see's me he says "Hello how are you", and i'm like well you can talk to me in Spanish i DO understand haha! but it's complicated talking about dance-moves together ...i guess it's great practice for me though! Anyway, i love it, and i love the Tango. I'm getting SO much better at it, and Kristen F and Kristen M are too. It's just so much fun, the music is awesome, the danceroom is gorgeous, with one side all windows that look out over a huge park withlights, and part of Pamplona. (so i feel like i'm kindof in some cool studio hehe). We open the sliding door, the cool breeze comes in, and i just never want to quit. I think this is prob one of the best things i could have done for myself while being here,,and i almost didn't do it! I'm SO glad i did. When i get home i'm going to continue with it so that i don't lose the skills, because now i'm getting it down! I just have to find someone who will go out with me for a night and dance hehe!
Mercedes gave me the weeks worth of newspapers today so i am excited for that, and i am just sitting here drinking my green tea. it is rainy and windy again (what's new haha!), but when i think of it i will take this over 20 degrees farenheit and oodles of snow anyday. I prefer this kindof winter. Yesterday i went for a run in the ciudadela (central park here) and i had capris, a t-shirt with light wind coat, and my running shoes! that's it! Gotta love that, and the sun was out and it was about 50 or so i would say. So nice.
Anyhow, i am thinking of you all, and i appreciate your prayers and support always. I miss you, but am growing so much here..it is good for me :)
All my love,
Love Lauren