Back to our Roots in SALAMANCA!

Salamanca-the city that changed my life.  The summer of 2010, I did a month long study abroad course through the University of Rhode Island to Salamanca and my life has never been the same.  After that trip, I was determined to come back to Spain and live for at least a year and it sparked me finding the program I am currently enrolled in today.  I know that what made that program so special were the amazing people I met during it - Jen Crowly, Morfia Efthimiou, Missy Karen, Blair Flynn, Emily Villa, Casey Aubin, and Jacklyn made that experience so memorable and I am thankful that we all still keep in touch today. 

Another person who made that trip so amazing was the Madre I lived with during my time there.  Even though my Spanish was so awful I could never understand what she was saying, I knew that she had such a warm heart and we had a very close bond. 

This past weekend, Jacklyn and I decided to go to Salamanca for a night to visit our roots.  It was so surreal walking around a town we never thought we’d visit again!  During our walks we strolled by my Madre’s house.  Jacklyn was like ‘Sarah, ring the doorbell.’  I was unsure because I wasn’t sure if she’d remember me or not…After all, I was only there for a month!  Jacklyn gave me the push and I rang the doorbell.  All of a sudden I heard Nacho’s voice and he remembered me immediately and let me up!  He told me that Madre wasn’t home but that she would be home around 10 if I wanted to come back. So of course, we went back on our way for our fiesta and when I buzzed the doorbell my Madre said ‘SUBE SARAH!’.  When I saw her, we had such a warm embrace.  It was like we both new how special we were to each other and how memorable that moment was.  Jacklyn and I sat with her drinking wine and chatting for about two hours just catching up on everything.  One of my favorite experiences in Spain so far, hands down.

After that, we met up with Jacklyn's friend Marcos and went to all of the usual bars we hit up when we were in Salamanca.  El Sabor, Vagalume, Peter’s—It honestly felt like a twilight zone!!  We stayed out dancing until about 6:30am (typical Salamanca night J ) 

The next day we went on a long paseo all through Salamanca—literally.  It was about 2-3 hours long.  We hit up some cafes and then hung out with Jacklyn's friend Marcos again! 

Overall, it was just such a fun and wonderful way to go back and see our roots J  I am so thankful that I had that opportunity and to all my Salamanca girls – I was definitely thinking about you all!! J MISS YOU

Agueda turns 5 and The Comenius Project

We have had some busy weeks! 

The Three Wise Men came!  The girls put their shoes near our windows and Valentina gave the Reyes her pacifiers as a present!  The next day, there were a lot of presents for everyone! How lucky!

 Agueda is now 5 years old!  Her birthday was January 8^th and we celebrated it twice!  The first time was on the actual day of her birthday with Julio’s family.  We went on a walk and then we ate a pasta with clams and a chocolate cake.  Then we celebrated it the second time the next Saturday with Agueda’s friends from school at a bar called Caprpanta.  She had a good time dancing and playing with her friends!  All of my girls are growing so much!

In my school there is a program called Comenius and it is a program through all of Europe.  In this program, professors travel to difference places to learn how difference countries teach English.  My director asked the president of Comenius if I could go on a trip and she told Anita yes!  So, the last weekend of January, I am going to Belgium with Anita for four days! J

Pues, hemos tenido algunas semanas ocupadas!  

Los Reyes Magos vinieron!  Las niñas pusieron sus zapatos cerca de nuestras ventanas y Valentina les regaló sus chupetes.  El día siguiente, habían muchos regalos para todos! Que suerte! 

Águeda ahora tiene 5 anos!  Su cumple era el día 8 de Enero y lo celebramos dos veces!  El primero vez fue el propio dia del cumpleanos con la familia de Julio.  Fuimos de paseo y comimos almejas con pasta y una tarta de chocolate.  Luego, lo celebramos el siguiente sábado con amigos de Águeda en un bar se llama Carpanta.  Ella  paso un rato divertido bailando y jugando con sus amigos.  J Todas mis niñas están creciendo muchísimas!

En mi colegio, hay un programa se llama Comenius y es un programa entre toda Europa.  En este programa, las profesoras viajan a sitios diferentes para aprender como en los países diferentes se enseñan ingles.  Mi directora le preguntó a la presidenta de Comenius si yo podria ir en un viaje y le dijo a Anita que si!  Entonces, la última semana de Enero voy a Belgium con Anita durante cuatro días  

Yo sé que a vosotros os gustaría conocer Bélgica.  Y posiblemente vosotros visitaríais Bruselas—entonces podréis leer mi blog.

Bastate cosas.

The month of December has been a BUSY ONE!!

1) Christmas with the girls
The week before Christmas, Celsa had a party at her daycare.  The girls got all dressed up and had a chance to tell Papa Noel what they wanted! :)  They looked precious!

Papa Noel visited our girls!! We celebrated Navidades with Belen's family and had a delicious dinner that was prepared by Belen's sister Maria Jose.  We were joined by Belen's Uncle Manolo, Belen's mother Celsa, Belen's two nephews Inigo and Elias, Maria Jose and her husband Elias.  The girls stayed up until about 12 o'clock when Papa Noel put presents in their rooms!  They were so excited!  Papa Noel also visited me :) I got a new pair of gloves and a new wallet!  For the family, I made a book with some of the photos I had taken of the girls and when Belen opened the book, she started crying with joy :)  That night we stayed up playing card games with Inigo and Elias until 3 in the morning!  It was such a fun Christmas!

2) Updates on the girls
After a few nervous week of walking, Celsa is finally getting a little more secure in her steps!  She is walking all around the house solo! :)  She is growing up so fast!

Agueda is still learning so much english!  Now she is putting sentences together like 'Sarah, can I have a chocolate please?' Obviously, the most IMPORTANT things!! :)  She is also learning the months of the year! Right now she goes "January, February, Marchuary, Aprilary" haha but she is getting it :)

Valentina is also learning a few words but my favorite part about Valentina is that she is just so sweet.  Sometimes Agueda will say she doesn't like something I am wearing, but Valentina comes up right after and whispers 'Eres guapa' :)  Love her!

3) Day Trip!
My friend Hector took me on a little day trip to what I think is the most beautiful part of Galicia I have seen so far!  We went up on top of a mountain with spectacular views of the little pueblos below and the bay surrounding the mountain.  It reminded me so much of California!  Then we went to the Ramon Sampedro site where Ramon Sampedro jumped and broke his neck, thus leading a crusade in Spain for the right to live or die.  His story was portrayed in a famous Spanish movie starring Javier Bardem that my family and I absolutely love called "Mar Adentro."  It was one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen.  Then we went to a beach that is placed in a natural park so it had no buildings or houses around it. Just the beach and nature--Just the way it should be.  Absolutely breathtaking.

4) Happy New Year!!
I decided a fun way to spend new years was in Madrid with my favorite person in Spain -- Jacklyn!  She lives with a wonderful family who welcomed me into their home with open arms!  Jocelyn's dad and his fiancee were visiting Madrid for New Years so Jacklyn and I ate a delicious meal with them.  We had lobster, steak, Salmon, and a delicious Caramel muffin for dessert.  It is also a tradition in Spain to eat twelve grapes of good luck while standing on your right foot to make sure you 'start your year on the right foot.'  Of course we participated!  Eating twelve grapes in twelve seconds is way harder than you'd think!

The best part of the trip over all was the night that Jacklyn and I went salsa dancing until 4 in the morning!  At this point, we are pretty much professionals :)  We met a super sweet girl from Louisiana who was spending the week here and we all had a blast dancing Salsa, Meringue, and Bachata!  It was a blast!

That is about all the updates I can think of now!  We are preparing for the Reyes Magos tomorrow and then Agueda's birthday on the 8th so more updates to come!! :)