Lent

Portugal was fun. Look at my pictures on Facebook, I may post about it later but right now that idea just sounds way too exhausting.

Today starts lent. Every year I try to pick something to improve myself on and usually I suck at sticking to it. However, this year I actually intend on following what I pick. I have decided I am going to start studying Spanish on my own for a little bit each day, and I am also going to try to eat even healthier and stop spending money on junk.

Classes here are really easy and sometimes I feel like I am not even in college anymore. The one class I'm taking from the professor from UO, "David's class", is actually hard. But the rest are a joke. Homework is optional, and if you do bad on the few assignments that actually count, the teacher will let you redo it. I also had my first test on Friday and it was ridiculously easy. The only real requirement is that you go to class. And I have yet to skip one, even after nearly a month and a half-go me! Because classes are so easy and are full of Americans, I feel like my Spanish isn't improving as much as it could be. Don't get me wrong, I've learned a lot. But I still have more to learn and a lot of it will just take me sitting down and reviewing the basics and vocabulary myself. So for the next 40 days this is what I am going to do. Hopefully by Easter it becomes a routine and I keep it up!

Also, I eat really healthy here when Marisa cooks. Everything is based off of a Mediterranean diet and it is all fresh with very few fats and preservatives. However, when I'm with my friends it's very easy to stop on the way and get a pastry. And I mean very easy-there are cafes and pastry shops on every block and they rarely cost more than a euro or 2. I've already lost weight so it isn't that it's a huge issue or anything, but randomly spending money on pastries is not good for me, or for my bank account. I know this goal won't make a drastic difference, but it will make a little one and that's all I want. So I am going to limit the amount of money I spend on food. I'm not gonna say I won't do it, cause that's how we socialize here, but I'm going to start picking and choosing what I want to buy. And I am going to consciously try to eat as healthy as I can-when I'm craving chocolate or sweets I am going to make hot chocolate or grab a fruit rather than buying a candy bar or a pastry. However, I am not giving up coffee at the cafes. Cafe con leche is keeping me sane. And awake.

:)