Missed

Here are the things I missed while in Spain:

Neo. I miss him when I'm in Rexburg all the time, Spain was no different.


Cha, Cha, Cha, Charmin. Spain is not great at making TP, I sure did miss the softness of Charmin every time I visited el bano.


Ice cold milk, that isn't off the shelf and has a freshness date less than 3 months.



Jamba Juice. I missed my fill of an original Orange A Peel. Right when I got off the plane, I sped walked to the Jamba in the Airport, first meal back home.


My comfy, large bed. I love my huge comforter and missed it on those cold nights in Spain.


And a little piece of me even missed Fartie (aka Jake).

Glad to have you all back in my life!

Top

So I'm kind of stealing this idea from, my roommate of 3 months, Kailie. Just letting you know.

Nevertheless, here are my top 7 things I loved about these past 3 months.

Number 1: Food
The food in Spain is unique compared to what you find in the States. I heard that the best pastry chefs are in Spain and my waistline is a testament to that statement thanks to these:

Napolitanas. They are doughy on the outside, and on the inside you have delicious chocolate. That's another thing, the chocolate in Spain is SO much better than the chocolate in the US. There's something to it, you just have to try it to see. That brings me to my next loves:

Bueno Bars and Happy Hippos. Another reason I've been working out so hard now that I'm home. It's the chocolate, that's it.
Kailie and I were also blessed, the third time around, to have a wonderful cook for a host mom. Which brings me to my second love of Spain.

Number 2: Family


Boni and Mariola were so great to us. They showed us so much love and cared for us all the time, we felt like one of their kids.
I will/do miss they so much.

Number 3: Friendships
I made lasting friendships with all 5 of these wonderful people: Kailie, Michael-Ann, Luisa, Laura, and David.

Click on them to see them better. (Now these are the only pictures of all 6 of us, I have plenty of us 5 girls cause David would always be taking the pictures :):))
We did EVERYTHING together. I can't really remember a time when I wasn't with one of these people. We are all completely different, but we made it work and grew so close over these past 3 months. Yes there were points when we all didn't get along, but that's how it is with any kind of family. And that's what we were/are, a family.

Number 4: Shopping
Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to shop. And Spain provided me with just that, the opportunity to shop.

(See those signs, "Rebajas," the sales will get you and your wallet)
H&M was my go to place. But don't worry I shopped elsewhere, causing me to stuff my suitcase to the brim.

Number 5: Spanish
My love for this foreign language grew so much. I had only had taken it in high school, so needless to say I was rusty when I came to Spain. But I learned and practiced, failed quite a few times, but nonetheless, my love for the language has grown.

Number 6: Traveling
I loved having the opportunity to travel. Through our program, we went all over Spain. I got to witness what we read in our history book. Then through the funding of my parents, I got to go to:


Portugal


and Paris. All of it was amazing and I'm so grateful for all those opportunities.

Number 7: Learning
When filling out the customs form on the way back to the US, I was about to add knowledge to the list of things I am bringing back, and adding its worth to be priceless.
While in Spain I learned so much. About myself, Spain, Spanish, friends, the Church, and Host Family. I'm grateful for all the knowledge I've gained and for the opportunity to go on a Study Abroad.

These were my top 7 things. If they seem a little like Kailie's, that is because we spent most of our time together.

Visit

Guess who came to visit my last week in Spain?


My mom and dad!


And Grandma and Uncle Roel (who's not pictured)

I had fun playing tour guide, showing them around my home for the past 3 months, and then we all went to Barcelona to finish out the week.

I am so happy I got to share this wonderful country with them!

Trabajo

For the past month I have been looking and looking for a job for this next semester. My funds have diminshed since I came to Spain, and I need to some how replenish them.

I would look and look and then look some more to see if there were new postings on the campus website. I finally memorized the page, knowing exactly which each job was, why I wasn´t qualified for some and why my schedule never fit with any of the ones I was qualified for. So one day I finally sent my resume, schedule, and reference list to pretty much every supervisor on campus. They all were polite and said they would send it off to their hiring manager, ut none of them said anything right away.

Then one day, while sitting on the top of a tour bus in Barcelona, I recieved a call to schedule an interview. I could barely hear the person on the other line, except that she was with Student Records and Registration and wanted to schedule an interview with me, I said yes, calculated the time difference to when she wanted and waited anxiously. Then I sat there thinking about which job this was and realized it wasn´t one of the ones that was posted but from when I sent my resume out...

At 10 PM that night I had my interview. It was done by a fellow student who had been working there for a while so it wasn´t as nerve wracking. But the first thing she said to me was that she wanted to explain how graduation work and what not. My first thought was this: Oh she didn´t want to interview me for a job, but she´s mistaken that I´m going to graduate and she wanted to talk to me about how it works. I was about ready to tell her that I wasn´t graduating this semester and say thank you and goodbye, but then she kept talking about what the job duties would include. I´m glad I bit my tounge and didn´t say anything. I thought it went great and it sounded like they wanted to hire me, but I had to wait until she called me back.

While sitting down for dinner in Barcelona I recieved a call from the same, nice girl. I got up away from the crowd (aka my family) and walked and listened, hoping for the best but expecting the worst. She said that her office would like to hire me and I would start on the 18th of April. I gladly accepted, trying to contain my excitement :):)

I officialy have a job at BYU-Idaho, in the Kimball building, in the Students Records and Registration Office, in the Graduation Department.

Sorry for the long post, but this is what has been on my mind and I had to share!

Late

I know I am a little late, as in waiting until the last couple days, but let me introduce you to our host parents, Boni and Mariola:


We took another pictures, on their camera, of Kailie, Mariola, and I; Mariola insisted she stand on a pillow so she looked as tall as us :):)

They are the cutest old couple in Spain. Boni used to work for the Church, helping in the construction of chapels all over Europe (as in France, England, and Spain). He also helped construct the Temple here in Madrid with President Uchtdorf. Mariola is the best cook in Spain. Every single thing had a flavor I loved, or at least liked enough to eat, that is except the green beans... They both now work at the Temple, Boni on a daily basis, Mariola every Saturday.

I love them both. They were so patient with me and my Spanish. Mariola would always tell Kailie she couldn't go shopping at Zara, because she wouldn't have room in her suitcase. She would also scold me for not eating my vegetables. Acting like our mom away from our moms. And she wouldn't forget Boni, calling him hombre whenever he ate his food impolitely.

They are on the top of my list of people I am going to miss...They're just too cute, I love them!

Remember...

...This post

Well I found these on one of the blogs I follow:






Win!

Fallas

As I mentioned on my B-Day post, I was in Valencia on the 19th for my birthday. What a crazy day it was...

A shout out to Kailie...I'm stealing your "schedule of the day" format
6:15 AM: Walked to the bus station, because the buses don't run that early on Saturdays

7:15 AM: Begin the 5 hour ride to Valencia

7:19 AM: Watched Michael Ann attempt to tell the people on the bus it was my birthday so they'd sing

7:24 AM: The people on the bus sang "Happy Birthday" to me

12 Noon: Arrived in Valencia

1:14: Began our wait for the fireworks





2 PM: The mid day fireworks went off


2:06 PM: Stood in amazement for 5 seconds as to how awesome fireworks can be in the middle of the day. The sound was so loud it shook your bones and the ground. Along with hiding the 3 story float in the middle of the square.



2:07-6:15-Walked around Valencia

7:00 PM: Parade started



8:00 PM-12:59 AM: Waited for the finale to start

1:00-1:11 AM: Finale:



There were fireworks before this (twice as good as the ones in the day cause you could see them and feel them). Then they lit the fuse to the huge float (as seen 3 pictures above this) and fireworks were shooting out of it while burning. Sorry, I turned the camera to the side...Just pretend the side of your computer is the ground

1:12 AM: Walked back to the bus


This was what was left of another float that was 2 stories tall, burnt before the finale.

2:00 AM: Drive back to Alcala

6:17 AM: Get to Alcala and begin our walking cause the buses don't go that early on Sundays

7:00 AM: Arrive at home

It was a long day filled with fun, fireworks, firecrackers going off everywhere, standing around, turning 20, enjoying Las Fallas, and exhaustion.

I would go again in a heartbeat though!

B-Day

Friday (the 18th) we celebrated the day of my birth. I am now 20 years old, I find that to be too old for my liking...But I have a whole year to get used to it.

We spent the day in Madrid, you couldn't ask for more perfect weather!
I was surprised with delicious napolitanas. No, I didn't eat all of these my self, we ate them as a group.

Don't ask what this face was...assume it's an "These napolitanas are mine/I love napolitanas" face.

After that, we enjoyed the sun by renting boats in Retiro Park.


Then hit up Hard Rock Cafe for birthday dinner.


For my real birthday (the 19th) I spent it with millions of people in Valencia. Details on Valencia to come...


Then on the 20th, I celebrated it with my wonderful host parents, their son, daughter in law, and their kids.


Thank you friends, mom and dad, and host family! I had a wonderful 20th birthday!

Lib

She gets an entire post because she came to visit Spain! We picked her up at the airport on Sunday to stay for a total of 3 days. Although it was way short it was GREAT to catch up with her and see her beautiful face again.



We showed her around Alcala on Monday, showing her the plaza, market, treats, and everything. Then that afternoon our mom excused us from religion class (if we missed one we couldn't get an A so it was so nice of her to do that for Kailie and I) and we went to Madrid. Showing Olivia the pastries, market, landmarks, and shopping.

Then on Tuesday afternoon we went to the temple with our little group. It was an amazing experience for all of us.



Sadly she is now gone and trekking back to BYU, her presence will be missed.

Thanks Olivia for visiting!

Mixed

I mentioned in my first Paris post I would talk about my feelings...Well pictures, with captions are going to explain things perfectly

Picture #1: Make a face of how you feel about the hotel.



So Michael-Ann, Laura, and I went to the hotel to check in, because Luisa and David had to wait for Kailie who arrived a couple hours later. Well we took a taxi there (for the record I said we should take the train) and all 3 of us were cringing as we saw the price go up every 10 cents. We finally got to the hotel and walked up to the door in the pouring rain; all three of us were distraught (to say the least) to see what we were going to be staying in...But as you can see in the picture Laura didn't like it, Michael-Ann didn't mind it, and I was leery about it.

Story Time: Our plan was to sneak Kailie and Luisa in because we only told them 4 of us were going to be staying there (a room for Laura and David and then the 4 of us would low-two it all night). But Kailie and Luisa didn't arrived until 1 AM and the creepy front desk man closed the door and we had to ring the doorbell to get back in. Well he didn't let all 6 of us come in at once so Luisa and Kailie had to find their own place to stay. So Luisa, Kailie, and David (the big brother that he is) went looking for a place and ended up staying in a hostel, which was about as good as our hotel. So Luisa and Kailie stayed there all 3 nights, Michael-Ann and I were roomies, and Laura and David were roomies.

Picture #2: The majority of Paris guys are creepy...



Michael-Ann, Laura, and I went to go get crepes while waiting for the other 3 the first night. We asked the man if we can come in and eat them cause it was rainy and freezing. He said yes, only if we go to a party with him when he closes. Well we said maybe and came in to sit down...Pheobe (Michael-Ann), Rachel (Laura), and I (Monica, we gave him fake names, FRIENDS characters) sat down and this creepy man was there with us the whole time. We quickly ate our crepes and left, not going to any parties with him at all.

Paris men are creepy...

Pictures #3 and 4: "Everyone show your feelings of the morning"



This was taken our first morning there. David was taking his frustration out on Michael-Ann, I was excited to go see the Eiffel Tower, and Michael-Ann was just ready to have fun the whole time. Laura was excited cause she was going to see her friend in Paris, Kailie and Luisa were tired and frustrated from a long night in the hostel.

Picture #5: Crepes



My new found food love is crepes. A banana and nutella crepe always hit the spot. But I don't have as much of love as Michael-Ann, she ate a total of 15 crepes in 3 days. She rarely branched out from nutella and enjoyed everyone of them.

Paris has left a lot of mixed feelings in my mind. I thought it was a beautiful city, filled with crepes, the Eiffel Tower, museums and so on. But my first experience wasn't that great, terrible hotel, rainy the whole time, everything on a budget, and lack of sleep.

I would go there again with these conditions:
1. I stay in a Marriott or Disney Hotel
2. I have enough money to eat where I want
3. It's the summer time, no rain but beautiful sunshine
4. I visit EuroDisney

But I love Spain so much more :):)