It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

Hola amigos! Just a few things to share about some good times and some bad times here in Toledo!

Let's start with the good things:
1. Sometime last week Paula (6 year-old host sister), Hailey (girl from Tennessee who lives here in my host family), and I all sat singing at the kitchen table. I just so happened to compose one of my best songs yet! It goes as follows... **snap, snap, snap, snap** "Paula, eres mi amiga...Hailey, eres mi amiga...Brittany, eres mi amiga...Paula, Hailey, Brittany, somos amigas!" Now in English...Paula, you're my friend...Hailey, you're my friend...Brittany, you're my friend...Paula, Hailey, Brittany, we're all friends!" As you can tell, I'm very advanced in terms of writing lyrics, but Paula got a big kick out of it! Our host mom even recorded us singing! Hopefully I can add the video to my blog sometime soon and you guys can check it out!

My Spanish is improving!

2. I went with my intercambio to eat at a restaurant the other day. As a reminder, my intercambio is a 28 year-old woman from Toledo and we talk in Spanish for one hour and then English for the next hour. She gave me some great advice about going to Valencia over the weekend and she told me my Spanish has improved from the week before! Yay for that! We also talked about weddings in Spain versus weddings in the US. She said that people in Spain don't feel the same need to get married that people in the US feel. Additionally, she said people in Spain usually don't get married until after their 30s. She personally never wants to get married, but does seem to want a life companion. My host mom confirmed that Spaniards don't get married until later in life--she also believes Americans get married too early. Interesting stuff, right?!

3. I talked to my host brother, Cristian (24 years old), about Lebron James coming back to Cleveland! He's a huge NBA fan! It was funny explaining to him how the "entire" city of Cleveland felt after Lebron left for Miami...especially because Cristian's favorite team is the Heat! I told him how my family burnt LBJ's jersey...but hey, who are we to hold a grudge! Everyone makes mistakes...LBJ owned up to how he mishandled the situation...and now he's coming back to Northeast Ohio! I cannot wait for the upcoming season! Hopefully I can convert Cristian into a Cavs fan before I leave in less than 2 weeks!

Whoop whoop!

Now we'll move on to the "not AS good things":

Paula and her Violeta microphone.

1. In an effort to play with Paula, I brought my laptop to her room to teach her how to karaoke with YouTube videos. She absolutely loves Violeta, a Spanish Disney Channel star, and sings Violeta's songs all the time. Using her Violeta microphone, Paula began belting out the lyrics. She was actually really good! I was genuinely impressed! I began to try to sing along, but quickly was told that I'm not singing the right way and that I shouldn't sing with her. This is the second time my voice isn't good enough for her! Haha! I then turned into her backup dancer, but when I started doing my own moves, I was told to mimic her moves and nothing else. I promise I'm a good dancer though! My singing is bad...but my dancing is good!

So I decided to pick my battles and let this one go....but she became very "grabby" with my laptop and I had to explain to her how expensive and important it is. After becoming a little strict, she got the picture! We then went to pack my backpack for my weekend trip and she helped me fold my clothes--that was really sweet! In return, I gave her a nearly empty bottle of lotion. She got really excited and went to tell her mom about it. That's the last I saw of Paula that night. So let me say again...it was the best of times, it was the worst of times!

2. The other day all the girls who lived with me and my host family left to go back to the United States. It was sad :( I really enjoyed getting to know Michaela, Molly, and Hailey and wish they were still here for my last 2 weeks in Spain. I hope to one day crash Hailey's wedding or have some sort of reunion! It's so crazy how close you can become during a short study abroad trip. I can confidently say that this trip wouldn't have been the same without them, so thanks to the three of you! Best of luck in the future and I hope to see you all one day!

3. The night after all of the girls who lived with me left, my host mom gave me somewhat of a lecture. She told me that I'm very organized, I work too hard, and I'm a perfectionist. I don't completely agree with all of these statements...I do feel that I am very organized, hardworking, and I always try my best. I know I study more often than some of her former host students, but I am determined to learn more Spanish and do well in my classes!

She went on to tell me that her husband is a workaholic and explained how sometimes working so hard can turn into a negative thing. I reassured her that I enjoy myself by traveling on the weekends, spending time with my friends at the University, and occasionally going out on weekdays. I definitely believe I have been taking advantage of my time here in Spain and doing my best to balance fun with schoolwork.

Based on our conversation, I think there may be a cultural difference here. Spaniards typically take a siesta (nap) right after lunch. During this time, nobody works. This is a national practice! In the US there is a stigma associated with taking naps because then one is wasting time in which s/he could be productive! I have yet to take a legitimate siesta here in Spain, and I truly believe that worries my host mom. My viewpoint is that there's so much to do here, that I shouldn't be sleeping! I can rest more when I go back to the US!

After discussing this for a while, we somehow switched topics. I began telling her how I feel when I experience something I really enjoy, such as when I travel somewhere, eat something delicious, or see a famous building! Almost every time I have one of these moments, I think of someone I love and wish s/he could be there with me. For instance, I wish my aunt and grandma could have been at the flamenco show...I wish my mom could have been at La Alhambra or the Arab baths...I wish I could have been walking around Granada with my boyfriend, etc. We ended our conversation with her telling me that she wishes she had a child who works as hard as I do...she apologized for lecturing me and giving me advice...but I really enjoyed our conversation and appreciate her perspective. There was no need to apologize at all! It's nice to know that she genuinely cares about my well-being and wants the best for me while I'm here in Spain!

Now the completely bad things:
1. The cat jumped through the window in my room last night and proceeded to puke on my floor...that is all.

Oh Messi...

2. It was over 102 degrees Fahrenheit in Toledo yesterday. It made the Spanish national news for one of the highest temperatures in the country...I just about died. There is no air conditioning in my host family's house and I sweat 24/7! The temperature isn't expected to drop until Friday. I am trying to be grateful that I'm living in Spain right now, but I am missing the air conditioning in my house! I'm even missing the cold Ohio winters...I NEVER thought I'd say that...but I'd kill for one cold day!

Things that have turned out okay:
1. Because I was so hot, I treated myself to cheesecake gelato yesterday. I may try a different flavor today.

2. My host mom brought a fan up to my bedroom last night.

3. I just found out that Hailey's boyfriend proposed to her and she said yes!

Congrats Hailey!

Picture credits:
http://chicagoagentmagazine.com/nahb-improving-markets-index-reaches-103-housing-markets-in-october/
http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/2014/07/lebron-james-coming-home-to-join-the-cleveland-cavaliers/