Lovely Day

Yesterday, everything went wrong.
Impossible paper, impossible cold, impossible weather, impossible host mom
AND
I couldn't pull myself out of the slump!!!

But, I woke up this morning to a much healthier body and the sun shining brightly!
(I am so thankful for how a night's sleep can make everything better)


Photo credit Becky Forrest

This quote was a nice reminder for me
"Joy requires freshness, newness, stimulation. Joy thrives on the unboxable largeness of life in all its bewildering variety. Depression feeds on sameness..."- Mike Mason

I Am Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving



I love Thanksgiving, I mean who doesn't, but I have been dreading it this year because I knew I was going to miss out! While I would love, more than anything else, to be home in North Carolina, eating my ritual 2 meals, and being with family; spending my first Thanksgiving away from home has made me ESPECIALLY thankful. As it turns out, the day hasn't been as depressing as I thought it would be! I napped, read, and spent the evening chatting and eating chestnuts with Encarna's family. All of the women (daughters, daughters-in-law) and grandchildren come over every Thursday and spend hours chatting and laughing; I guess they don't need a 'Día de Gracías' to get together!!!

To remind myself of all the I am thankful for I made a list, so here it goes...

I am thankful that:
1. I know God can deal with the things I cannot handle
2. That I have been blessed with a loving, wise, and generous family (you all mean the world to me!)
3. That I have always had much more than I need

4. For all the important people in my life who think I am special (all you lovely best friends+Walt that I can' live without)

5. For all that I have learned while living in Spain

6. For all the doors that are going to open up
7. For my normal everyday life that I took for granted and will soon get back!
8. For ruffles, netflix, and peanut butter
9. For skype!
10. Next year I won't have to miss Thanksgiving and I can tell you all in person how important you are!

I hope that everyone makes a list, it really helps to remind you!
At least I have continued one Thanksgiving tradition while here, my Thanksgiving day cold!!!
It followed me to Spain (despite the fact that I eat 3 oranges a day)

ps: I was lazy last week and didn't upload all of my Morocco photos BUT, they are now in the last post so take a look!

Tangier, Tetuan, Morocco Mash-Up!

The last day and a half of my trip to Morocco was a blurred medley of cities and activities.



I had lunch in Tetuan (top left). Enjoyed a BOTTLE of Coca-Cola with Arabic writing. Spent about ten minutes seeing the Caves of Hercules, near where the Atlantic and Mediterranean meet (middle left). Rode a camel, briefly...and reminisced about the first time I laid eyes on a toilet like this in Paris (I was slightly less horrified this time around).


This has to bring a smile to your face (photo by Brittany Mangold)




In front of this lighthouse is where the Atlantic and Mediterranean meet


(photo by Brittany Mangold)
It has come to my attention that some people found the tent to be a really important part of the trip so, here is a picture of the tent (where we saw the not so fantastic fantasia show) and Hannah, Irena, and I inside of it!

Chefchaouen, Morocco

Pronounced like Chef-showen
This little city is up in the mountains outside of Tetuan. What is most notable about it, are the painted blue walls and doors throughout the city. Everything is blue and it is gorgeous!
(there is a practical purpose for this too, apparently the blue keeps mosquitoes away)

There was nothing much to do except wander around the city and shop. We had a native guide, who led us around for a bit and took us to a rug makers shop. These were the highlights, ha ha.


These narrow, uphill alleyways make up most of the city






Hannah, Brittany, Irena, and I


This cooky little man was our guide, I was impressed that he knew English and that I could kind of understand it! These are also some of the rugs made in the city.


Inside the rug shop


These were my favorite! This is paint for sale.




This guy was trying to get all of the girls in our group to dance, too funny!

The rugged landscape in Northern Morocco is very beautiful; the slopes are rocky and barren. It is different from the lush green mountains I am used to.

Chirimoya

I was eagerly waiting for my after dinner orange, when it became evident that Encarna was doing something different in the kitchen this evening. She presented me with a plate, a spoon, and a large green fruit that she proceeded to cut in half.

When she saw my quizzical look, she told me with nonchalance that it was a chirimoya. A what, I said? A chickymoya??? This name meant nothing to me and as I looked at the white flesh of the fruit I was skeptical. I decided it was a fruit and that nothing could go too wrong with a fruit. But as I took the first bite, I thought of a Jamaican fruit my roommate had once told me about that tasted like ketchup (or maybe they ate it with ketchup), either way, I was hoping it wasn't this particular fruit. Turns out it wasn't!!! This weird, white, seedy fruit has an oddly delicious flavor. It is very sweet, but sometimes spicy and just a little salty. I did some research and us American's refer to it as a "custard apple". I suppose the texture is similar, but I thought of it as a pear meets pudding.

The point is, if someone places a chirimoya in front of you, give it a whirl. However, beware of how incredibly stuffed you are going to feel afterward (I may not be able to move for a while).

Gibraltar, UK

I don't believe in celebrating Christmas before Thanksgiving
BUT,
I am in Spain and we don't celebrate Thanksgiving
(guess who is drinking chai and listening to Christmas music and loving it???)

Last weekend, I visited Gibraltar, which belongs to England. It felt very strange to walk across a border and discover that everyone speaks English (especially since we were literally 5 minutes away from Spain). Gibraltar is small and relatively unexciting; except for the monkeys of course.


This is the rock


Hannah, Brittany, and I with Africa in the background


There were monkeys everywhere!!!


One climbed into the bus


A more successful monkey picture (this time it didn't jump on me)




We also tried to be English by drinking Strongbow
(this goes out to Rachel and Miles)


and yes...there were pictures with the telephone box!

All in all, I would say it was a great trip to the UK...
If you could call it the UK?

Barcelona II

Monday, again.
I'm pumping myself up to get through the last 3 weeks of real school
(this doesn't include finals...)
My motivation is waning and I'm turning to exercise and inspirational readings to keep my spirits high, ha ha ha (or ja ja ja, since I'm in Spain)

Here is some inspiration
Montserrat
definition: serrated mountain or a girls name


I can't tell you how happy seeing these mountains made me!
(I so miss this while living in flat Sevilla)



Since we were outside of Barcelona, stopping at Montserrat was on our way! We took the Cremallera (zipper train) to the top of the mountain and explored the area on top of the mountain. I am so impressed by the beautiful monastery that was built so high up. There were cute little gates, ponds, and doorways tucked away along the little trails that wound around the mountain.




Carlos, Brittany, and I

Lastly, here is La Sagrada Familia



It is a truly incredible cathedral and definitely worth visiting
Pictures just don't do it justice (especially mine, that's why there is only 1)
Unfortunately, the Pope was visiting Barcelona and ruined my visit
AND
I saw the cathedral in the dark
BUT
I am so, so glad that I could see it in person; the details are INCREDIBLE
Also, I added some new photos throughout, check them out