I feel like I´m a vagabond.....

Is that how you spell it? Oh well. This week is pretty crazy for me with my simple little life here in Spain because Paquita and Elias went on vacation for 9 days and while I have my own key to the house, Paquita insisted that I stay with my Spanish siblings because ¨she was worried that I wouldn´t have enough to eat¨. :) I started at my Spanish sister, Yolanda´s house, who is the mom of Sergio and Sonia and it was fun to be with the kids. Sonia was excited for me to stay in her room and has started calling me her ¨hermanita¨ which means little sister in Spanish. Then I went to Paracuellos to stay with Carmen and Edu and Miguelito which was nice to be back there since that was my home for a while. The dog, Aena gave me such a great welcome, she almost did like 25 circles when I came in the door she was so excited! Hard to believe at one time she used to just growl and run away from me. Tonight after my first TKD class (as I normally do two on M, W, F) my Spanish brother Mickey is picking me up to go to his martial arts class with him and then I will stay the weekend with him and Ana. He graciously offered for me to stay with them the entire time (without asking Ana first.....MEN!) but I told him that as Paquita says ¨family and fish are similar, they both smell bad after three days¨. Haha! Then I will go back to Yolanda´s and back to Carmen´s before my Spanish parents come home on Thursday. I´m so thankful for my Spanish family to welcome me into their houses so easily and for all the effort that they go to for me!

When I was with Yolanda, I went with her to take Sergio for a check up at the doctor´s office and learned how the socialized health care system works here in Spain a little more. Usually about 2 months before the date of the appointment, Yolanda has to call in to reserve a time. Then, on the day of the appointment you walk into the facility and push a button to take a number. The piece of paper tells you what ¨Zone¨ to go to and then there is a television that tells you in what room you are to go. It is kind of like the DMV in Colorado where you have to wait until your number is called and then you go to that room. We waited for about 2 hours before they saw him and there were A LOT of people there. Then, they tell you when to come back and the process repeats itsself. I wonder with all the talk about the socialized health system and the changes that Obama wants to make, how Americans who are so used to getting an appointment that same day or same week will handle having to wait. Obviously the process for urgencies is a little different but I imagine that it would still be the same waiting time the day of the appointment. The only good thing was that there was no bill to worry about since the very high level of taxes that Spanish people pay (normally around 20-25% for middle class) takes care of that. I have some pictures but since the wifi that I was ¨borrowing¨ from the cafe seems to be down and I´m using Elias´ computer, those will have to wait for now.

Then one day Yolanda, Ana and I went for a walk and had one of the funniest conversations ever mostly about the tendencies about older people but also about how to delicately explain particular things in another language that are sensitive subjects. Ana´s gestures to help explain were sooooo hilarious!

I´m thinking a lot about what it will be like when I get back to the US in December and what the heck to do with myself. I really miss my doggie and am thankful to my sister, Elisa for all the great photos she posts. Even though I can never actually get her on the phone but that´s okay since she is out helping the chitlans. I miss you all and am excited to see and talk to you. Oh yea, I´m looking forward to my trip to Paris, France the last weekend of November! Anyways, take care and I will upload some photos next time.
Con amores y flores,
Stephanie