Steps of "positivism"

Hi All,
Again another week begins, and a cold one at that here in Pamplona. We are in this 'incredibly deep' cold front that is expected to last about a week and a half, and boy let me tell you with the wind it bites. I pulled out the winter ski-jacket from Maribel today to walk to and from school, and even put the hood up b/c the wind was taking my hair everywhere. Today i had literature class from 8:30 am until 10 and i was a bit sad to learn that it was my last day with este professora. Me gusta ella mucha (i like her so much) she is my favorite. Her name is Palorma, and she is a graduate student here. I will be so sad for her to leave b/c she is just so caring, interesting, and such an amazing professor. I can't believe it..seriously she's one of the best spanish professors i've had, (next to Leonora Sillers :) but she is so positive and encouraging. I asked her if we could meet to have coffee sometime and she said next week, so i will meet her in Pamplona and we will talk. It's very neat b/c even though she is my professor, she is only a couple years older than me, and i think that we could be great friends. I really look forward to talking with her as well about writing: she wants to be a writer/teach writing, so,,,i want to talk to her about my book :-) !!
Conversation class was fine as usual, and then spent some time with marion, Eva, Saskia, and Melanie while they ate lunch. I love those girls. They are all from Germany (Alemania) and It's just amazing how these relationships can form. I feel so blessed. I walked to the post office today then after class to mail a letter to grandma. It's about a 40 min walk from the universidad, and b/c it's cold this was a bit uncomfortable, but i had my ipod on and sang the whole way. I think it was probably funny to the people around me because they were looking at me hehe.
Anyway, as I was walking through the park (la ciudadela), as i was looking down, i see this message written on the sidewalk that says..."Do well." It reminded me of those messages on the bilboards in Fargo that say "SMILE" or "SAY Thankyou" or whatever. So, it made me smile and i continued on.
Well then about 2 minutes down the way, i see another message that says "Be thankful". So by this time i'm intrigued, and it' became sort of a game! As i continued, i stepped across "Be truthful" and then "Don't stop". It really amazed me how something as little as this impacted me at that moment. Painted somewhat 'crooked' across my path, just these simple statements changed my whole tune for the day. It really goes to remind me that so often it's so easy to be influenced by others--at times negatively, but at times positively. Seeing something like this goes to show there are still good-hearted people in this world, and i think we need to see that more often. There are things i haven't written about in this blog, but someday you will know the whole story, and i can explain how some experiences here /influeces from others have impacted my life, and changed the way i see things, the way i think, and added to the amount of strength i have in my heart to move forward. I just want to explain so much to you! the most important thing, is i'm a better person for these things, and i am getting practice from the best situations, and the shitty ones too. It's almost like i train my mind...it's a bit sad at times b/c i think,, "well, i should have known this all along" when something didn't work out let's say, but what i'm starting to see is that it was more important that i took that path, that i through my heart out there, that i took the risk, despite the fact that it probably wont work out. At times i feel i should be more careful to protect my heart, but then how do u EVER experience the amazing things life has to offer if u don't ever take the risk? I think that is so important, and that is someting so grand i'm learning. So if/when im grieving, i think the best thing to tell myself is.."Yah but Lauren,,,think about what would be if you never even would have TAKEN that chance,,gone on that date, danced with him, taken the trip, said what was on your mind"!!! I would much rather have experienced and be sad for a short while then wonder and wonder and wonder for the rest of my life "What if"...All these moments i'm having are steps of positivism for me ...even if they hurt at times. You have to do things that scare you, (keeping your sanity of course) but you get what i'm trying to say. I also think there's a lot to be said for 'letting your "hair-down" sometimes'. More on this in the future.
This afternoon i took a 3 hour nap. It was amazing. I even crawled under the covers, and was so warm and cozy. I figured i'd sleep 1.5 hours or so, but i didn't set my alarm b/c i wanted to just relax. 7 pm i wake up and everything was dark outside, so for a moment i freaked. I wasn't sure if i missed classes, if i'd slept the entire night, or what! But all in all, it was good :) I never allow myself to do this when i'm studying at Concordia.
Tonight was interesting: i was able to talk with some friends, write, write, write, nd skype with mom and Lady for about an hour. It's always nice to have a piece of home :)
Im gonna cut this short now, but i promise this is only a taste of what is going on, and you will get more in the future :) I will still write about Friday and Saturday. I promise.
All my love,
Lauren