It's official, back to Alcala for me!

**These are photos of Kat's visit last week**

Okay, first of all I have to give a Miguelito update. When I go to Alcala every M, W, and F usually Miguelito is there because Carmen has German class. Today when I got there, Miguelito had just returned from a walk with Elias and decided we should play tag over and over and over. After a while I told him that I had to change my clothes for class and he didn't want to leave my room so since he is only 2.5 years old, I thought "no pasa nada" and decided it was okay to let him stay. Well, that might have been a mistake because when I was putting on my sports bra he said "Que haces? (What are you doing?)" and I said "putting on my sports bra" and he said "este no cabe (It's not big enough)". So basically he was commenting that I need a bigger sports bra because he thinks the one I have doesn't fit because it's not big enough! I busted out laughing and he just smiled. He is so darn cute but I think next time I will make him leave the room!

So while I really enjoy living in Madrid and experiencing the life in the city, I have decided that my heart is with my Spanish family and for the rest of the time that I will be in Spain before returning to the US for Xmas, I will be with them in Alcala. I'm so thankful for them and they had offered many times for me to return to live with them so when I asked them if it was okay Paquita said "Of course, you can move on Monday if you want" and so I explained that I will be in Madrid until November 5th because I have paid rent until then. I'm really excited about being with them again before I head back state side!

This past week my friend Katherine Solano was here visiting and what a week we had! There was a lot of walking, some cool things that we saw and did, and actually a lot of English, surprisingly. Kat got here on Saturday night, on Sunday we saw the Rastro and Reina Sofia, on Tuesday we went to Toledo, Kat saw the Palacio Real, we traveled to Alcala to meet my family on Thursday, Kat saw the Prado on Friday and then we had a picnic in Retiro Park, and on Saturday we did more shopping and FINALLY got to experience the Teleferico after 2 previous attempts. I'm so thankful that she came to visit and saw some of my life here in Spain as her very first trip with her brand spanking new passport! And she was very nice to take some of my summer clothes home for me since I have no idea how I'm going to get this all back into the two suitcases I came with.

Also this past week my Spanish brother Mickey was so nice to get me a chest protector because I was kicked by this kid in my TKD class and it HURT! Kat and I had gone to a store one day that Mickey found in Madrid but they just didn't have what I was looking for. But when we went to Alcala on Thursday he surprised me with a great one and I tried it in class on Friday and it worked great! Oh, and the best was when his wife Ana told us this story about a cartoon that they used to watch as kids, and it sounds like it was Japanese, where this character named Aphrodite used to shoot rockets out of her chest and Ana told me that now all I'm missing are the rockets. She is hilarious! She even demonstrated it for us for the full effect of how the rockets were in the cartoon.

I can't believe that it is less than two months until I come back to CO! And then I have to figure out what the heck to do with myself. I am certain of a road trip to Ohio being in my future to reunite with my (now much slimmer) doggie and also a quick flight over to NC to see My Girl. Other than that, not really sure. I miss you all very much! Take care and email me!!

Con amores y flores,

Estefania

Where I get to throw around Spanish men....

There is so much that has happened, where do I start? First, tomorrow my friend Kat from Colorado, USA arrives in Spain for a week full of fun in Spain! I'm very sad that due to things going on with her familia, Andrea and her son Anthony are not able to come. But that just means that we will have to plan another trip to Spain together and you all know that I am always looking for an excuse to come to Spain. Right now, any prayers for their family would be greatly appreciated.

On another note, I got some wonderful news from my best friend Mandy this week that was so good it brought me to tears. All of the worrying is over and it turns out that our prayers were answered. Edu and Carmen left to Peking, China a couple of days ago for a couple of weeks. Miguelito will be with Elias and Paquita after spending a few days with Edu's mom whose name is Blanca Nieves (Snow White) Brandin, I'm not kidding. My Spanish dad, Elias had surgery on his eye yesterday to fix a problem that he was having with his tear duct. Everything went well and I think he is not used to everyone worrying about him and all the attention that he is getting. He is too cute. This week I stayed in Alcala de Henares with my Spanish "brother" Mickey and his wife Ana. Mickey had invited me to go to one of his martial arts classes to see the type of stuff that he does. I don't remember how to spell it but it is a type of Kempo self defense technique. So on Wednesday, I went to TKD class and near the end of the class this new young boy kicked me VERY hard in my side right below my armpit. It HURT! So when Mickey picked me up, I was a little hesitant to participate in his class. The dojang was in the bottom of his instructor's house (VERY cool, I want one) and after a little encouragement I decided to join in. I'm so happy that I did! Pretty soon I had Mickey in various holds that allowed me to toss him around on the floor and against the wall. It is more self defense than my TKD class and I really enjoyed being able to throw around Spanish men for about an hour. You better believe that if that kid in my TKD class kicks me again like that I will have a few new moves to try on him. :) Also, I should mention that now Mickey has made it his mission to get me a chest protector and even looked up two places I can go to buy one in Madrid. I'm so thankful for my Spanish family!

Ashleigh, who I met during my week with Pueblo Ingles, is trying to convince me that I need to go to Thailand after the holidays. As tempting as that sounds, I'm not sure that I'm prepared to be THAT far away from my family. I mean, Spain is far enough already. It does get me thinking about what I will do with myself when I get back to the US. There are so many possibilities.

I hope this finds everyone doing well and warm in the cold weather you have been having in the US. Here, the weather is still really nice where we can get away with short sleeves during the day and a light sweater during the cooler mornings. :) Take care and talk to you soon!

Un beso y un abrazo a todos,

Stephanie

Photos: In Alcala with my Spanish sisters and nephews, photo of my doggie Reyna sent by my sister Elisa

Current address: Madrid, Spain

It's only my third day living in Madrid and I'm amazed at all that you experience in the city. So far, I've heard about every single language possible riding in the metro, I've seen a man that was really a woman.....and a woman that was really a man, I've been asked by SO many people for money from people playing music in the subway to a woman who made a speach to everyone on the metro about why she needed money to a guy with no arms holding a plastic cup in his mouth and shaking his head back and forth to make the coins inside make noise to get people's attention. I'm happy to be living in a place that is very centrally located and even better that I can live here month to month in case I decide to leave and I didn't have to put down a deposit. Another wonderful thing is that there is a woman from my week at Pueblo Ingles named Julie who also lives just down the hall from me and the woman running the place has a very good heart. As always, they do things a little differently here in Spain but overall I'm excited to be in the city. My wonderful Spanish mother has told me that I should bring my laundry to her house when I go to Alcala on M, W, F for TKD and she will wash my clothes for me. Not to mention that she said that on the weekends I am always welcome to go to her house to eat some of her wonderful food. This Sunday I'm going to her house to have lunch and also see a Renaissance Festival that will be in Alcala. I'm so incredibly blessed to have such amazing people around me here in Spain! Yesterday was my Spanish sister Yolanda's birthday as well as my new friend Ashleigh's birthday and I'm happy that I got to celebrate a little bit with both of them. Even if I only get to live in Madrid for a short time, I'm really excited about being here! I know one person who will be shocked to learn that I have become a coffee drinker (well at least sometimes) because when I don't get my nap in at siesta, I'm struggling through the rest of the day. One thing is very true that the Spanish people sure do know how to enjoy life. I hope everyone is doing well! Email me please! I miss you all very much, un beso y un abrazo muy fuerte!
Stephanie

Pueblo Ingles

I got back this past weekend from my week with a program called Pueblo Ingles which is a week long intensive English program for Spanish people looking to improve their English but can't travel overseas. At the end of the week, there were a few things that I came to realize:
1. My English is pretty darn bad compared to the very proper Brits that were there.
2. It is exhausting talking every day for about 14 hours, and I'm one who can TALK.
3. No matter what language, you can have a lot of fun with people when you are secluded in a tiny tiny town in the middle of Soria, Spain especially when there is NO cell coverage!

Here are some photos:
Javi doing his VERY funny presentation about how to take a shower in the showers that were so tiny and badly organized.
One of the many funny theater skits that we were pretty much gently forced to do. (I had to be Little Red Riding Hood)
Carmen and I - she spoke very good English
The area of Valdelavilla where we were, reminded me of Southern CO
One of the many delicious desserts - they were so good and a new one each day
One night our amazing chef made a HUGE paella
El vallejo - another abadoned Spanish village that we hiked to one day
The gals from many different countries
One night we had a "Quemada" which is where you burn alcohol in a special way and do a certain incantation to get rid of all of the bad spirits. After that, you drink the alchohol!

I made many wonderful friends during this week and although I wasn't paid to do this (but it didn't cost me a dime) I feel like it was worth it to experience something unique during my time here in Spain. Also, it was quite weird to be in the opposite situation where I'm the one helping others speak my language since most days in Spain, I'm trying to figure out what the heck I'm saying! All in all, a great experience!