Newsflash!

So it's been awhile since I've posted and I figured I should update ya'll on how life in Spain has been since I returned from El camino!

Upon returning from el camino I was promptly told to pack my bags and get ready for a family vacation! A Spanish family vacation! I had no idea what I was getting into and there are parts of it that I still can't comprehend. Like the part were my 44 year old host brother, Javier, my 36 year old host sister, Mencia, her husband , and their family friend Raquel, that I should take a solid 3 shots of peach snapps? Haha it was quite the interesting situation, we had just finished getting all 8 children to bed (phew!) and were eating the adult late night dinner when there was suddenly this idea to break out the peach snapps and then rapid fire spanish conversation of which the only part I understood was something along the lines of "it's her spring break!" and then it was concluded that I should take shots of peach snapps, while they were allowed to sip on their Baileys. The only conclusion I can draw fromt his situation is that they felt bad about me having to spend spring break with their crazy children and hence thought it would balance out if shots of alcohol were included somewhere in my Spanish Spring Break. Very strange but very hysterical at the same time because my elderly much more experienced drinking companions seemed to have been hit by their sauve Baileys on the rocks much harder and quicker than I with the schnapps and before I know it there is laughter about things that I can't understand and a hasty decision to call Mercedes, their mom and my host mom, so in a not at all intoxicated state I participated in my first Spanish drunk-dial. It was beyond bizarre and I have never laughed that hard about the sheer fact that I had NO idea what was going on.

Continuing on with the vacation all I can say is that my family owns a beautiful home in a small town in the mountains outside of Madrid. They are kind, funny, and very Spanish. I came back to Madrid on Easter Sunday too late to catch a mass and therefore missed my first Easter Mass in my entire life.

Life quickly returned to "normal" with classes starting up again but this time "normal" got even better. The sun came out and for 4 solid days in a row I spent the afternoons relaxing in El Retiro taking in all the Spanish sun I could get! That luxury was quickly put out by this sudden rainstorm that has decided to continue on through the most of this week and is continuing into the next. Even though the rain has damped not only shoes but also my spirits I cannot be too upset because Mercedes oldest daughter, Macarana decided to buy our apartment and BRAND new flat screen. and its enormous! So while the rain continues to pour down on Madrid I've spent some wonderful evenings watching american movies dubbed in Spanish with my family. Its quite the sight with 6 of us on the 2 loveseat couches in our 15 x 15 foot living room watching a tv that is entirely too large for the tiny place.

I have also contracted this very rare care of productivity. May you all read the next sentence with serious care and may this be the "Rachel" the world remembers after I am gone. I...am...writing...my...papers...for...2 classes...that...aren't...due...for...a...A MONTH AND A HALF!!!!!!! I hope no one just had a heart attack because that sort of news is earthshaking. I rarely get around to papers 5 hours before their due, anyone who has ever lived with me can attest to this. However given the results of mid-term exams I thought it best to get on top of things so I can be free to study for finals and prepare for the fantastic arrival of Lindsey, Kirsten and Sara!

More anecdotes from the daily life to come soon. Os echo de menos! (I miss you all!)