17 February: Holy Bacalao!

Hola! Yes, Daddy, you read that right- bacalao. Because that's what we had for lunch today woooooo! Trust me, way more fun said than eaten.

So I know it's been awhile since I've been on here but I really don't have that much to add. Life has been...good! Cáceres is slowly and steadily becoming "home," my compañeros more like friends, my classes more like real school-- kind of :)

For Valentine's Day I got a very special package in the mail! All things pink and random  and words of love from my sweet mama at home. Nothing could have made the day more perfect! That evening, I went to Manómetro (my fav café here bc it's cheap and has wifi-which I know you're reading as "why-fye" but in Spain they say "wee-fee") with three other girls where we split a "brownie" (some divine chocolate cake with almonds? covered in ice cream, whipped cream, and fudge) and a plate of patatas con ali-oli (french fries covered in cheese, some rich garlic dip, anddddd I think bacon?). WOW. Can you say Valentine's Day of champions? yes. It was.

Also, the other day I took a three hour nap. That was some big news. AND I slept through the night that night! I think I determined the cause of the problem: the different eating schedule here. Eating huge meals at 10pm was not doing me well. So I've been eating less, and earlier, at night, and I think that's helping.

Last night we finally met Toñi, our program coordinator who has some serious family emergency going on so we barely have any contact with her. She was super sweet though, and took all of us out for dinner on her! It was great fun to spend the evening with everyone all together before this weekend when we're all splitting up, becauseeeeeee...

This weekend is Carnaval in Spain! A big deal in some places. So, some people are going to Cádiz (in the south) to celebrate and others to Badajos (in Extremadura)-two of the biggest Carnavals in the country! This weekend also happens to be the trip to Toledo, so I am doing that instead. More of my kind of thing anyway, but also I wouldn't miss Toledo for the world!

This evening, a few of us went to a "filmoteca" in old Cáceres where we paid 1€ for a movie! It was an animated movie called The Illusionist (but in French). There was hardly any words, but the music and the artistry was gorgeous. It was a beautiful, if melancholy story. I really enjoyed it. Oh, and I finished my book this morning! If you haven't read it, you absolutely must. So beautiful.

Also: today I bought my Eurorail pass for spring break! So I will officially be going to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany! Exciting and scary all at once.

Tomorrow, I think a few of us may be renting bikes and taking the trails around and outside of Cáceres. We shall see!

Praises to God for:
-good health
-good weather
-good friends
-sweet family, here and at home
-pets (I got to meet someone's host dog and cat yesterday!- and they had a piano!!)
-the freedom and blessings of travel
-good sense
-patience with me
-YOU
-Cáceres

Hablamos pronto!