Update on Daily Life.

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days-now I'm going to post 3 times in one day to make up for it. Makes sense, right? haha.

So after Carnaval, I had nothing to do on Sunday. The weekends that I am here in Oviedo are fun, but mostly at night. During the day everyone just stays home and watches TV, and the stores are all closed Sunday. Being a crazy American, this drives me nuts and I get so incredibly bored until it's time to go out. I mean I appreciate the emphasis on family, but I can only watch so much TV... So, Sunday a few of us decided to go to Gijon, the nearby beach city. We hoped on a bus for a mere 2.35 euros and half an hour later we were in the heart of the city. I didn't realize how big Gijon is until I got there, in my head it was a smaller town. We asked which direction the beach was and started walking. Once we were almost to the harbor, we saw a very American diner and had to stop to gawk. Every time we see anything American I feel like everyone just immediately gets attached. This one is called Tommy Mel's and is decorated as a 50s diner with aqua trim and pink decorations. And the waitresses wore little pink dresses and pink converse. So cute! We decided we had to stop for shakes on the way back, then we kept on walking. We had fun taking pictures and talking and enjoying the beach air (something I could smell everyday and never get sick of), then we came back as it started raining and enjoyed a delicious shake. Laura and I split fries cause I'm trying to be good about spending money, and it was definitely more than enough food haha. I came home and didn't eat dinner cause I was stuffed, but after skyping my lovely Little, Clare, for a couple hours Marisa made me eat a little bit (she still thinks I'm anorexic, although it is getting better).

Laura and I! (Taken by Jessica :))

Random stairway we passed with band names/songs. This "stairway to heaven" doesn't look so heavenly at the top, just saying...

The restaurant got super busy and it was really good! Definitely going back!

On the way back from Gijon there were some kids we go to school with, and one of them is named Luis. Luis is Chinese and probably the most adorable guy I have ever met. He joined our class about a week late, and the first day he was there we went up to every single student before class and said "Hola, Soy Luis. ¿Como te llamas? ¿Puedo añadirte en Facebook?" (Hi, I'm Luis, what's you're name? Can I add you on Facebook). He then proceeded to write down all of our names and that night I got a friend request from him. On the bus, I talked to him in length for the first time. He remembered my name without me reminding him, and he started asking me questions. I was sitting next to Laura and she joined the conversation. Luis speaks a little English and was telling us about China in Spanglish. I now want to be best friends with this kid, I just think he is the cutest thing ever!

On a different note, School is going fine. Boring, but fine. The classes go so slow that it is excruciating, but I also understand that they have to go slow since they are taught in Spanish and we are not native speakers. The language aspect is fine, but it is so hard for me to pay attention when we read one paragraph of a book each day for a month. I just get bored. Even in English I can't pay attention to this style of teaching-I would much rather just google it or read it on my own and be done with it. Emily and Victoria make fun of me cause I'm always playing Flow on my phone (level 145 babyyy), but I have been trying to pay attention a bit more recently. I got an A on my first test though, so no worries Mom and Dad!

Finally, I have been trying to talk to Marisa and Lucia more since I feel like I am constantly in my room by myself. I've started comparing it to a prison cell, so I'm trying to come out to the TV room more. It is always awkward in the main room with them, cause I feel like I'm imposing and I don't always know if they're talking to each other or to me, since many times they don't look at me when they talk. However, since I have made more of an attempt things have been better (crazy how logical that is, huh..). I told Marisa at the beginning of lent that I was going to work on my Spanish more, and we've been talking much more at each meal. I am trying harder to think of conversation and to volunteer information/bring up a subject. It's gotten better and I am feeling like I am improving much faster as well.

Last night, I came out and watched the Spanish version of Big Brother with Lucia and Marisa. Most TV shows I see them watching look really old school and stupid, and there are many game shows or Judge Judy type shows. I don't watch TV much at home so I'm not very up-to-date on the current US shows (although I have become obsessed with PLL and GG since coming here, guilty pleasures...), but I watched the Spanish version of Big Brother last night. Lucia and Marisa love it, and it is on every Monday. In fact, this is season 14! Last night was the 2nd episode of this season, and it lasted like 3 hours. I watched it with them and actually became kinda interested, as Lucia explained to me who was who and Marisa commented on what she thought about each thing. It was the best bonding we have had so far, and I am excited for next Monday night!

Also, I found out that Lucia had an interview this morning, and their friend Carmen came over to help her get ready. Carmen is the host mom of another student in my class, and she immediately told me I was pretty like 10 times, then whispered it again to Marisa when they left my room. So of course I immediately liked her! haha. Lucia was really nervous about the interview, and interviews are a big deal here since unemployment is really high and she is young. She didn't get the job, but I was really hoping she would cause I really like her! It was for a flight attendant position and I feel like she would have been really good at it. However, her major was economics and now she is taking health classes, and I know that ultimately she wants to go into business. Also, Lucia is absolutely gorgeous and she tells Marisa that she is ridiculous all the time, and I can't stop laughing when she makes jokes!

I am currently sitting in the main room with the 2 of them, and Marisa and I just had a long conversation over dinner about family, weekends, and what not. But enough for now, this post is long enough already!