just a cross-section of my life...

Typical... so my roommates teach a Sevillanas class on Tuesday nights. (Sevillana is a dance that's pretty much like flamenco.) So clearly, sometimes they practice at home. One night around 9:30 Reuben (Sylvia's boyfriend) was over, and we were standing around in the kitchen eating our make-shift dinner of cheese omlettes and various bocadillos... and Mari started to practice for the upcoming class.

Now, Reuben is fantastic. He is incredible. He works at a juvenile delinquent center as a counselor. Baller. He's got the kindest heart, he cares for Sylvia like none other, and he has the greatest sense of humor. When Mari began practicing... clearly he joined in... mimicking her dancing... somehow keeping a straight face while Syliva and I laugh our heads off and I literally fall to the floor. THEN, Reuben puts on this flamenco-dress style apron that we have for some reason (so cheesy, I know,) rolls up his pant legs to reveal his dark socks, and stuffs a flower behind his ear. Mari, also inspired, runs and puts on another cheesy flamenco apron and they continue.

We are a family. Sylvia came into my room the other night to talk. She gave me a hug and the next thing I know there are tears in her eyes. When I asked her what was wrong, she told me it was because she started thinking of how hard it would be when I eventually leave. That is the depth of our friendship. Same with Mari. And we've never had a conversation in English.


Sooo, as I mentioned before... Día de Andalucía... my Spanish family and I went with Sylvia's church to a public part of the National Park Donaña near where Reuben lives. My new Columbian friend Loyda also came with us and we continued to bond on a "we're not from Spain" level. It was a beautiful day. Loyda and I brought our own bocadillos, but there was so much overflow food from everyone's barbeques that we ate more than enough. We walked around the beautiful naturaleza , took silly pictures, and I held babies. Oh... and I officially sold myself to the Madrid Marathon in April as Reuben's brother offered to get all my info in, and I gave him the 40 euros. Aiieee!!


Let's see... I also went on a weekend jaunt to Geneva, Switzerland to see the infamous Whitney Roach. WOW. Our reunion was absurd... and I say that not because of the amazing surroundings (who is going to complain about an enchanting city with gorgeous architecture set on a lake surrounded by the Swiss Alps,) but because the profudidad of how we were able to reconnect... I think we only stopped talking to sleep. We cooked, we ran, we went to the market and bakeries, she introduced me to the RIDICULOUS people at her church... I was floored by the teenagers she works with, I went to a teenage heavy metal concert, we watched the lunar eclipse... I mean what didn't we do? It was the Lord... that's all I can say. When you know, you know. Unfortunately, I'm a nunu and I took like no pictures... so I only have one of the two of us... and the rest are from city... one is the view from her apartment... a-MAZ-sing.

Oh... and this weekend I'm going to the beach to try out that new bikini. :)