Two Down, Three To Go

I did the whole fall-asleep-with-the-light-on thing last night. How miserable. So I woke up this morning around 6:30. I couldn't go back to sleep (which NEVER happens to me) so I just studied some more, and then went down to breakfast. Both Matilde and César were up, too, so we all had breakfast together.

Afterwards, I studied some more, then got ready for school. I headed out to catch the bus around 8:45 and got to school around 9:20. SUCCESS. Our first class was Culture, and the test was great! I feel so good about it. I should get a 10. In between this class and our next, Megan, Katye, Anna and I went outside and quizzed each other. At 11:45, we went back upstairs and took our second test of the day, Literature. But before we got started, we got a class picture with our professor... can you pick out which he/she is?

The lit test was fairly easy, although there was one random question about some obscure piece of information we never actually talked about but was in one of our handouts somewhere. Other than that, I got every other question, so I should get a 9.75. Hopefully.

After school, I walked home. It was another gorgeous Valencian day. I listened to my Spanish music the whole way. When I got home, Matilde was cooking lunch, and proceeded to tell me all the steps of Arroz Marisco (similar to paella but without the vegetables). While in the kitchen, Marta, my host sister, comes in. She works at a bookstore, and last night, when I was asking about the book fair and buying a dictionary, she told me she'd check for me. Unfortunately, the good dictionary that I was hoping for cost about 60 euros - completely out of the question. Well, it turns out, sweet Marta bought me a small Spanish dictionary, as a gift. And not only that, but she bought me another Spanish book just for me to read. I started crying... it was the sweetest thing in the whole world.

When lunch was ready, we all came down to eat. The whole family was here: Matilde, César father, César son, Marta, Miguel and me. We had rice with sepia, shrimp, and jumbo shrimp, salad, bread, and for dessert, and nice little pastry. We had so much fun - and they told me that, out of all the students they've had, I've reached the highest level of Spanish! I was so flattered!!! They said I could be a teacher. I don't know about that, but I still took the compliment :) We just talked and enjoyed each other. At the end of lunch, I took advantage of the opportunity at hand and grabbed my camera. Here's my sweet family:

After lunch, I came up to my room and studied for my History test. As a break, I watched the latest Gossip Girl episode. Sarah - I can't wait to chat all about it with you soon. Around 4:30, I headed to the Plaza de Toros to meet up with Jessica and Macy, and we went souvenir shopping. It was a successful afternoon. We also went back to FNAC (Spanish Best Buy) and listened to music for an hour and a half. So fun.

I headed home around 8:15, taking in the surroundings I've become so accustomed to.

The police station across from my street

Calle Molina (my house is the first yellow one on the right, 3 down)

I saw this beautiful cross on the way, too. Sunday was a special holiday in Spain, and so a lot of cross are up on the street corners. It's a neat tradition. 

Shortly after I got in, we had dinner, Matilde, César, Miguel and me. It was spinach with raisins and crab meat. Sounds weird, but it was actually really delicious. We also had ham and cheese sandwiches and fruit.

Since dinner, I've been packing and studying. The whole packing thing is stressing me out. I took stuff home when I went to Dallas, and still I'm having trouble fitting everything. It's so annoying. Maybe it's a sign that I should just stay here....

Reflexionando una vida en España,

Leigh