Navidad

"Christmas is a time when you get homesick, even when you're home"''


Once again I am lucky enough to be home for the holidays.  I have to say thank you to Santa and the Reyes Magos (Three Kings...spaniards celebrate/receive most gifts from them)...aka My Parents, for being generous enough to fly me home.  It was a long trip...24 hours! I left  my apartment in Valencia at 12:30am on monday morning Spanish time, and arrived in Rochester, almost exactly at the same time the on tuesday (6:30 pm here in the states!). I literally used every form of transportation, minus a boat... taxi, bus, metro, plane! 


Before I start rambling about how good it is to be home, I have to fill ya'll in on what I 've been up to.  I went back to Mérida again, and every time I go back I just love it more and more.  VLC is fun, it's a city and Mérida doesn't compare in terms of shopping, things to do, food and going out but... I still choose Mérida and Extremadura.  I guess that's where the above quote comes into play, "Christmas is a time when you get homesick, even when you're home,"' while I am home in Rochester, I am missing Spain a little bit and even sometimes feel homesick for Mérida when I am in VLC.  Anyway, Mérida was fun as usual... a birthday party with my favorite extremaduran food, MIGAS! And of course, lots of Jamón...Def started the holiday weight gain a few weeks early. 


The last week of classes was low key as usual, I showed kids holiday films or just had conversation classes, as they really just need to improve their spoken Spanish.  Like last year, the school had a Christmas Comida (lunch) and enjoyed delicious spanish food and some wine.  I also had the chance to have dinner with one of my college professors who's family lives in Valencia, it was great to meet her family and see her again. 


I also went on a mini field trip with one of my private classes's family to the Monastery of Puig, it is whee Rey Jamie 1 first conquered the Muslims to regain Valencia to the crown. Anyway, it was great to be with a family and actually do something on a saturday morning other than sleep in or go shopping! 


Well, time to enjoy being home....

Madrid: Lacrosse and El Rastro

Yesterday morning I got up bright and early to head to Madrid for a day filled with lacrosse.  I was up at 5:15 am ( and no, I was not coming home from a night out).  Had my back pack packed and Lacrosse sticks ready to go.  It turned out only 3 of us were making the trip from Valencia...Jose, who was driving, a new kid from Sweden and myself.  We left VLC at about 6 am for what should be a 3.5 hour ride. Well, about an hour into the trip, it sounded like we had a flat tire.  So, we pull over look at the tire, using cell phone light because it's still only 7 am and dark...and one of the bolts had come loose.  We remove the bolt, and attempt to keep on trekking.  The rattling tire sound continues and to make a long story short, Jose has to tighten all the bolts on the tires and we make it safely to Madrid (in the end, the van had to be brought to a shop and was towed back to VLC...thank goodness for spain's version of triple a!)

We played with a team from the European University of Madrid and ended up winning all three games.  The team consisted of 3 or 4 spanish guys who are solid players and play for the Spain National team, a boy from the States who plays goalie at Amherst, 2 kids from germany (one had a SICK shot and the other a Long Stick D) and the Swedish kid (who had played for the national team in Sweden).   I played alright, but it's still pretty awkward with helmets and just not being prepared for the quick check or push..but overall, a lot of fun..scored 1 goal and some ground balls so I was happy.  Also, met the girls that play in Madrid  and they are sooooo nice, made me wish I could live in Madrid and train with them.  They are going to play in Munich in February, so I may make the trip with them!

After a full day of lax, we were lucky to find a hostel during the holiday weekend thanks to Spain's airspace being closed and people missing there flights.  We had a low key night..pizza and beer... followed by deeeeep sleeeep.  Sunday morning there was lacrosse practice for any of the teams that stuck around and wanted to train...so the boys went to that, while I passed as I was going to head out later in the afternoon.

 So, I couldn't leave Madrid without doing something cultural or touristy, so I hit up the "Rastro" with a girl who I had met last year in Extremadura (she was randomly staying at the same hostel and also had some time to kill the next morning).  The Rastro is between street market/flee market/cheap stuff.  It was cool to walk around and see the different stands, from "designer purses" to a stand of rubber bands to antique shops.  We also had some vermouth as is the custom for Madridians before after or during their trip to the Rastro (read the guide book!)

After the market, I couldn't help but do a little shopping and hit up Zara before returning to my hostel, grabbing my b-pack and lacrosse sticks and heading to the bus station.  A bus ride and 4 hours later, I was back in VLC, still tired and ready to just plop down on the couch.... A very fun day/night trip but always good to be home.

So, off to Mérida on tuesday for a week, one more week in VLC and home for christmas...JODER time flies!

Perdón el retraso! A quick update on life...

So, I am fairly lazy, once again, in my posting's.  I wish it was because I was SO busy and didn't have time to waste on the web but.... I just never seem to remember to write anything and spend all that free time reading up on whats going on in the world (aka facebook).
So since my last entry I have played in a lacrosse tournament (1goal, 1 assist, some ground balls and 1 face off control on my first try the guys way.... wooo!).  I am going this weekend to Madrid to play in another tourney, so hopefully that will be fun again too.

Classes have continued to go well, especially teaching about Thanksgiving.  It was great again this year as we celebrated with our friends, this year though the girls were in charge of mostly everything and if I can be so humble, our Turkey Day ROCKED.  Caitlin cooked an amazing turkey, we pulled together an awesome gravy...Sara's mashed potatoes were a hit and Lucy's Apple Pie was fabulous too.  I made mini pumpkin pies that were popular with both my teachers at school and the Turkey Dinner Invitees and I also made the Sweet Potatoes, equally as yummy.  We of course had lots of wine flowing to make the mood very merry.  All is all about 20 people came.. maybe 11 from spain, 6 from the US, 1 from each Australia and Canada and even a Croatian guest!  

Other than that I've kept busy by checking out a Ski Expo (hopefully taking a ski trip in Jan or Feb). Enjoying various visitors (MEG HALL AND NORA!!!!) as well as Enjoying a local bar's themed Gin Tonic Night (Best tasting ones:Rose Petal and Gummy Flavored). And I made rabbit again, using the recipe from last year, this time for my roomates for a lunch one day, and it was yummmmmm.

Last weekend we went to a concert of the group "Fito y Fitipaldis." One of the best concerts I have ever been to in regards to the show, the group I went with and the atmosphere created by the people around us....would go see them play again for sure! 

As I said this weekend to MADRID for some more Iberian Lacrosse and next week headed to Extremadura for a Birthday Party and of course, a lil reunion..can't wait...


Hopefully I'll be better in the month of december....no promises though!!