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....