Pictures!

Here are some pictures from the past couple weeks!

The Cathedral at night.. so incredible.

Out at a American Restaurant for a birthday dinner!

The whole group in Madrid

Chicas!!

Beautiful ceilings in a Cathedral in Madrid.

It is all made from wood.

At the Reina Sofia.. (Modern Art Museum)

The next two were in the Reina Sofia

^^tasted delicious^^

Streets in Madrid

besos :)

26 days?!?!

^^^ That's how long I've been here?!!? Almost a month!! That just blows my mind, days have really been flying by lately.

Today is wednesday.. which means this morning I had to wake up bright at early (7:30 am) to catch a ride to my internship at Ontex. I drive with a very, very sweet woman named Ana who lives in Segovia and is nice enough to let me join her on her way to work one day a week. Usually, I am supposed to be at Ontex until 3:00 pm, when I get on the bus (on days it decides to come) and come back to Segovia in time for my 4:15 pm class. Today though... I caught the 11:00 am bus back.. because there wasn't anything for me to do! And not be honest... I did not really mind that one bit. I was able to come home and relax, go for a run, and continuing watching the Smallville DVDs I got from the library! Watching American TV shows dubbed over in spanish will always be funny to me. I'm currently on episode 11 from the first season.

Last weekend we went to Madrid for two days. We left early on Saturday morning and came back Sunday night around 8:00 pm. We went to two museums (Prado and Reina Sofia) which I wish I could say I really enjoyed, but I just don't know very much about art history soooo it's hard to understand any of it!! But it was still a good time walking around with friends pretending like we knew any of the artwork. We ate WAYY too much and walked around Madrid a lot. Of course, like always, Ricardo knew everything about everything. We always got to do some shopping and experience the metro.

I have officially decided that I am going to stay in Spain for an extra month (J-Term/Interim). It is just going to be me and one other girl, and I am soo excited for how much I am going to improve in my spanish through that month. There won't be anyone to speak english with (besides you lovely people at home) so I have heard it is a great idea to stay! That means I will be spending my Christmas and my New Years over seas. I'll be back in the states around the 8th of January.

Well.. I've got to run. I need to stop at the cell phone store (Movistar) before class! I hope you all have a wonderful day and the MN weather warms up.. my computer is telling me that its 50degrees there... and supposed to rain tomorrow.

besos... Amanda

PS. its 75degrees here and sunny ;)

Un Domingo en España

Hello Everyone!

Sundays are a day that I definitely miss home!! Because I know if I was at home right now.. I'd be waking up in the next couple hours to get ready to go to church at Hope with my wonderful roommates/friends! Or I'd be at the cabin with my great family waking up to a most likely blown out lake .. and it looks like its only in the 50's right now!! But I would still enjoy my time with them :) and cookie delights (thanks for that picture jason.. haha).

Anyways.. my past week has been pretty good.. although I did end up getting kind of sick! But Tuesday night I slept for about 15 hours.. and felt much, much better. My days have been consisting of going to class, hanging out in either the center or going to a café to do homework or talk. Eating lunch sometimes a wonderful siesta more class, more friends, dinner and going out depending on the night! It's really fun when we go out and get the chance to talk to Spaniards, because then we are forced to speak spanish!

Yesterday (Saturday) we went to tour "El Escorial" .. which is an enormous royal palace. It's not very fancy or luxurious like other castles, it's more serious. But it was very cool. Ricardo knows just about everything there is to know when it comes to Spain.. so he would explain EVERYTHING to us. Hahah which was very interesting... it was just a lot of information to take in on a Saturday morning. 

You are all missed very much. I would very much appreciate prayers for our group and the chance for everyone to draw closer to God during our experience over seas. 

Un Abrazo y Un Beso

Here Comes Week #2

It's strange.. on one hand I feel like I've been here for SOOO long, but on the other I can't believe this is already our second week!

Classes have ACTUALLY started now.. and well, Classical Literature is difficult. Last night when I was finishing up my reading I showed my host mom the story and she like Wow, you're going to end up knowing more words for Old Spanish than I know (she said this in spanish, for those who always ask me that.. haha). To say the least, its hard. But the professor is very nice (and extremely intelligent).

Our first weekend here was very fun!.. and exhausting. These Spainards just have a different body clock than Americans. They go out from like midnight til 5am (or later...). Sleep til 11 then siesta from like 3:00pm-4:00pm. But it's fun!!

On Sunday we celebrate my "grandma's" birthday. We went over to her house.. it was my host mom & brother, my host aunt, uncle, 2 cousins, and my host.... great aunt & uncle?? I think. We just ate lunch (which by the way is around 2:30 or 3:00) talked, watched some TV.

And now... I just got back from a walk with my friend Heidi! I ate some delicious yogurt and now... it's time to shower. Later today..  I'm planning on going to a class called Advanced Communication. I'm not in it, because I already took it at Bethel, but It is a good class to sit in on because they talk about dialogue used in Spain.

On the left is Heidi and in the middle is Emilie!

Con mucho amor.. amanda

Day 4

Hello!

Its now our 4th day here.. and it's still great :) I know my way around Segovia decently.. I can get everywhere I need to and know all of the major streets! Its a great town.

Yesterday (Tuesday) was our "first day of classes" but it wasn't REALLY class.. it was more just meeting the professors, getting the syllabus, and talking about what the class entails. I already knew one of my Prof's because he's our program director, Ricardo. I'll be taking Modern Spain from him. Also, I'm taking Classical Literature, and the professor seems very, very good. He seems intelligent, passionate, and nice! And finally, my business class - International Marketing & Management. She wasn't able to come to the center, but I've heard is she a very good Prof! And then.. we went to "Prisma".. a store that does photocopies and stuff.. to get all of our "packets" for classes, basically books. And for Lit we'll have to buy some actual books later. Then.. me and some friends sat and drank iced coffees.. :) ¡Qué Perfecto! After Lunch.. at about 4 we got to tour the CASTLE in segovia. its one of the two castles that Cinderella's castle was modeled after.

There it is.. sorta! hahah

there ya go.. its beautiful.

and here's our group  on top of the tower!

After we were done with the castle.. some friend got helado!! it was only 1 euro.. a special price! hahah. And we sat on some steps at chatted until it was time to go home for dinner... so like 9pm. After dinner.. we meet up at 11:00 to go out for a couple hours! It was a blast! There are very many different types of people here. Some really like to meet Americans or anyone from a different country, there are a lot of people here from different countries. And others who just don't really want to talk to you. We met some people that didn't really speak any english, which is good because it forced us to speak in spanish more. 

Today I woke up to thunder and lots of rain! It has REALLY cooled off now. But its nice. I don't have class until 4:15 today sooo me and some girls went to coffee at around noon and then walked around and looked at shops. Now, it is time for almuerzo (lunch) and then off to class. 

Adios Amigos :)