My family is amazing! I can not tell you enough how much I love and adore them. They always jump to include me in everything we do! Tuesday evening Lidia and I went to pick up Ariadna from school about two blocks away. We began having a serious conversation about religion and how she and A (Ariadna) are Catholic but there are some things they don't agree with that the church in Rome does, when her friend Ana walked up. I recited my repeated speech every time I meet someone new: Me llamo Hilary, Soy de los Estados Unidos en Iowa. Voy a vivir aqui para 5 meses..etc. If you can't figure this out it's your first chance to practice Google translator :) The three of us were chatting and laughing until school was let out and then Lidia, A and I went to the Mercado (grocery store). They do things a big differently in Spain with their fish....see below. Nothing like getting stared at by the animal you are trying to eat.
The photos messed up when I posted them. Above in one of the walkways through all the shopping. And below is the fish.
After the market we came home to put the food away and then Lidia asked me if I wanted to go shopping. Not even a question in my mind. So we headed out once again only to run into Ana and her kids David, Natalia y Labaudia. Labaudia is only 3 and when I squatted down to introduce myself and smiled and my and said, "Mano? (Hand?)" My heart melted. We held hands all the way to her house, about 5 blocks away. I also met Belen, Lidia's best friend. She is crazy hilarious. Her eyes were really wide when she saw me and she spoke soooo slow. Lidia gave her a playful slap and said (in Spanish) "Hilary can understand you, Belen. She's not stupid! You don't have to talk slow!" We all cracked up. I also met Pedro, Belen's son. He's another beautiful child. All the kids were asking me how to say stuff in English. Meanwhile, I am still hanging on to L's hand. Cody told me I could get a job babysitting here. Everyone finally retreated to their houses after I promised Natalia and L that I would see them again soon. After 4+ hours of shopping and A and me trying on wigs and sunglasses, Lidia, A and I returned home to eat dinner and settle down for the evening.
On Wednesday I had class until 1:30 and then came home. On the bus ride, Sara, Allison (two girls in my group) and I decided to go for a run around 5:30. Little did I know that a) I was going to die from and b) that we would be out for 3 hours. BUT IT WAS AMAZING! I live 10 minutes away, walking, from the beach so we ran down to the port and then on a path along the beach. Allison and Sara were runners in high school and I made the mistake of telling them I ran the Chicago Marathon. While running along the beach, (besides almost running into people because I was looking at the water) we stopped to marvel at a beautiful and legit sand castle made by this guy from Alicante. We also met two boys from Ireland (I about fell over when they started talking...accents get me. Sorry Cody :) And they are working here in Alicante for 2 months. Continuing along the beach we decided we were going to "run" to the castle which sits on a huge hill/mountain right by the beach. Google image Alicante and I guarentee there will be a picture of it. I didn't have my camera with me but no worries, we are going again next Monday with our class so I can take pictures then. I said "run" because the ascend is basically vertical so I figured we would stop and walk. Nope. Al and Sara ran up the entire thing!! I made it about 50 feet and walked the rest of the way. It was a workout walking! You can see all of Alicante from the top and it's honestly the most breathtaking sight in the world, besides looking out of the Cathedral in Ecuador. I can't wait to show pictures!! Oh and rewind. So once we decided to run/walk to the top, we thought we would find our own way. We literally went through someone's back yard, scaled rocks (not even kidding, it was probably not the safest thing to do- Mom, chill...I am fine), only to find that it was the wrong way.... SO we went back down ran around to the other side and found the actual opening and path uphill. It was dark once we reached the top so we descended and headed for home. My legs and butt were KILLING me today and I didn't even run to the top! Lidia kept telling me to stretch when I got home and asked if I could walk today. I think attempting to run up to the top of the castle every day should get me in shape in no time. Or kill me. We will see.
Finally, today- Thursday- (It has been a week since I left the states!) I was exhausted when I woke up at 7 probably because I didn't go to bed until 1. I clearly need to change my sleep schedule. Dr. Jose was wearing an Georgio Armani scarf today. He always has worn a new watch every day this week. He's adorable. In class we watched clips of "Quimica or Fisica?" (Chemistry or Physically) to practice for our test tomorrow where there is a listening section. All of us girls LOVE this show now. It's a series about teenagers in highschool and the drama that is certain to ensue. Today, we watched a clip where Yogi slaps Cabano (who is gorgeous!) because he has a chupetón (hickey- this is what we are learning in Spanish class) on his neck and she knows he's cheating....with his best friend's girl! Ayyyy dios mio! It's sooo corny but we all love it and Jose gets into it to. He let us watch like 5 clips today. After class I ate lunch outside with Jules and Moosh (Michelle) before my advisor meeting with Paco. I had to change my direct enrollment class at the University of Alicante but I am excited because I got in a History of Spain class with two other girls in my group! After that, I explored campus by myself which was liberating since I feel like I have been in an American bubble since I got here. There are 65 people in my group! I went to the library and set up my wi-fi account (note: here they pronounce it wee-fee), saw people making out in the grass (PDA is very common around Alicante) and finally headed to the bus stop after getting lost and walking through a parking lot. I went home, took a siesta (nap), and then went shopping with Sylvie for 3 hours. I got a pair of black boots, a bag for school and a super cute dress for only 10 Euro!! So like $13 maybe?? I'm still bad with the exchange rate. Rebajas (sales) is my new favorite holiday and it lasts an entire month! Mom, don't buy another thing in the US, trust me you will want to do ALL your shopping here!! :)
Well that was a long yet successful update on my life overseas. Each day I feel a little more comfortable with the city, language and breaking out on my own. The only downside is the size of our group because everyone wants to do everything together but then I feel like we take over where ever we go. We have our first exam tomorrow, yes I should probably be studying, and then more shopping and then El Barrio and the beach tomorrow night! I will try to take more pictures this weekend of the beach and its surroundings, although no pictures will do this place justice. I hope everyone is staying warm (so crazy to think you all have snow ;) and enjoying life! I read this quote on a friend's facebook page and wanted to share it with all of you. I want to try and live by this.
You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.
Albert Camus
Loving Spain but thinking of you always,
-Hilary
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