I'm a Princess

I was Ana from Frozen. I was a Disney Princess! I wore the dress, the shoes, had the hair, sang the songs, I was a princess!

So, this past Thursday a handful of people from my university here in Sevilla volunteered to go to a local elementary school and hang out with the kids; play some games, sing songs, take pictures. Also, my friend Monica and I dressed up as Ana and Elsa from Frozen to surprise the kids. I honestly don’t think I’ve had more fun in my entire life. I’m pretty sure I was more stoked about me being Ana than the kids were.

We walked down the streets of Sevilla to the school having multiple people stare at us and a few people ask if they could take our pictures. We also had another classmate dressed as Olaf. When we entered the school the kids began to freak out, laughing, screaming, clapping. Man it was great!

We then attempting to sing ‘Do You Want to Build a Snowman’, but that somewhat failed because the kids were way too excited. Then we split them into groups and Elsa and I (Ana) walked around meeting all of the little kids.

75, 3 to 5 year olds in a small room. Interesting and very adorable! I wanted to eat them all right up! (They do say that here all the time, so for all of you who think I’m weird saying I want to eat children’s faces, that is completely normal here!)

During the craft time, Elsa, Olaf, and I posed for pictures with each of the little kiddos. My face hurt so much afterward from smiling so much! Also during craft time we went around and visited a few classrooms with the older students to say hi and get a few pictures with them as well.

At the end we all sang “Let it go” in English and then in Spanish. Hearing all of the kids shout “sueltelo” or “let it go” in English.

I have honestly never been so happy in all of my life! I swear I had more fun than the kids. I never wanted to take that costume off.

My dream of becoming a Disney princess came true! Even if just for a few short hours!

Dear Disney, you shouldn’t discriminate against tall people being princesses at Disney World. It’s not our fault we’re tall!

Thursday was a pretty great day.

This week I have classes on Wednesday and Friday and then next week is my last week here. WOW. I’m ready to be home, but I’m also not ready to be home because I love this place and these people. Yesterday my friends and I completed our goal of eating at every ice cream shop on the walk to our apartments. A grand total of six. Now only if we could do it all in one day I would be in Heaven. Friday night I went to my first discoteca (club) and finally felt like a real Spaniard! Saturday night I had a sleepover with two of my friends. A sleepover! In Spain! They don't usually do that here. I felt like an American again. This week with only have two days of class I'll be working on some projects, studying for my finals, and exploring parts of Sevilla that I still have to see.

Anyways, I'll be home in 11 days so I will see you all soon!

Forever Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Yes I know I'm late, but my computer hasn’t been connecting to the internet.

So life in Spain has been pretty darn awesome and I can’t believe I only have less than three weeks left here. So bittersweet…

Last week was Thanksgiving, as most of you know. Usually during Thanksgiving my family and I head up north to our cabin to spend the weekend together; hunting, cooking, and cutting down our Christmas tree. It’s a tradition that I hold so very near to my heart and one that I cherish dearly. However, this year I spent it away from my family, in a different country, with people I’ve only known for three months. Man oh man was that food delicious though! I do have to say, it was the best Thanksgiving I spent away from my family.

We started the morning off with an American breakfast at school. I got to help fry the bacon on top of the roof. I fried bacon. On a roof. In Sevilla! So happy! I love cooking and miss it a lot! I ate seven pieces of French Toast, scrambled eggs, and three pieces of bacon. Pretty sure I gained a thousand pounds, but it was totally worth it. After breakfast we watched a movie in the school and then returned to our houses for the afternoon where I took a solid two hour nap. Thanksgiving night our school invited us to a restaurant call Las Lapas for an American Thanksgiving dinner; turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, corn, stuffing, dinner rolls, pumpkin pie, and apple pie. I’ve never eaten so much for Thanksgiving in my life! We also exchanged Secret Santa gifts and nice things that we said about each other. It was such a good time and I’m so thankful that the school invited us. SO GOOD! Afterward my friends and I explored Sevilla for a while and then returned home.

Friday we didn’t have school, so I spent my weekend relaxing, working on homework, talking to my family, and walking around Sevilla.

It was hard being away during an American holiday without my family, but the Thanksgiving I had here sure was one for the books.

I’ve found myself enjoying my time here so much more knowing that I only have three weeks left. The sunrises every morning, working out on my rooftop, meals with my host mami, time with my friends, every ice cream eating opportunity, and even my classes.

Last night one of my professors invited us to her house for tea, coffee, and Christmas cookies. She even made us an American coffee cake! I tell ya, the people here are so attentive and hospitable.

I am so thankful for my time here in Spain. It has been something I will never forget. Every experience has been a new one and a great one. My transition into a new country, living with a new family, sharing a bedroom, attending classes all in Spanish, and walking everywhere could not have gone more smoothly.

I will forever give thanks for this opportunity, these people, this country.

I come home in a few short weeks where I will resume my life as a typical American for two weeks and then embark on another journey to Ecuador for two weeks.

Until then, I plan on enjoying my time here in Sevilla, exploring parts of the city I still have not seen, spending time with my friends, studying hard, but mostly enjoying every opportunity God gives to me.

Side notes: The weather here is changing; cold in the mornings and warmish in the afternoon, but it is funny to see everyone, including myself, dressed in winter coats and scarves. The days are shorter, but the sun still shines pretty much every day. I have two projects and four tests to do/study for for the last week of classes. This coming week I only have school on Wednesday and Friday, so hopefully I can get a lot of my studying out of the way then and do a little bit of traveling and exploring Sevilla.

Well, that’s all for now folks, sorry it’s been a while since my last update.

Life is good, God is good, and my family and friends are great.

See you all soon!

Everybody Wants To Love, Everybody Wants To Be Loved

I am now entering my 11th week here in Spain with only 5 more weeks to go :( Seriously, why does time fly by so fast?! I don't like it!

Life update:

The week I had off from school was so very much needed and wonderful. I think I honestly forgot what it felt like to relax and do things without an agenda. Although getting back into school was a bit rough. I had two tests this past week that were supposed to be back to back on the same day, but (thankfully) one of our profs was sick the day before so it was pushed back a day. Thursday was our last Flamenco dance class :( But our "performance" is tomorrow and I'm super stoked! I haven't performed a dance routine since high school and I've missed it!

Friday we left for a school excursion to Granada and visited La Alhambra; an Arabic Palace that is extremely breathtaking. Hiked about a thousand miles uphill to get to a lookout point over the city with an amazing view of La Alhambra, the sunset, Granada, and part of the Sierra Nevada mountains that had snow on its peaks! Ahhh! Snow! The next day we visited the church where Ferdinand and Isabel's bodies are; that was cool and kind of gross all at the same time. Then friends and I went shopping in the stores that are very similar to those in Morocco. Then we went to a grocery store and bought a Granada (which means Pomegranate in English) so we were eating a Pomegranate in the city of Pomegranate; that was pretty awesome. We also didn't have a knife or anything to cut it open with, so I was going to take out my credit card knife that I always have in my wallet, but unfortunately had to leave it in America. So instead I cut it open with an actual credit card. I was fairly proud of this little innovative moment of my life :)

This past week was a very interesting one with the results of the elections. Living in a foreign country, where everyone hates our future president, attending a school where not everyone is a conservative Christian like I am used to is challenging. I'm not even in my own country where it is all going down and I feel the side affects. I know you're all sick of political posts, so I'm not going to tell you which side is right and which side is wrong.


Today my devotions were talking about the cooperation of teams, and man do I know that life well. I played sports starting in Kindergarten all the way through Sophomore year of college, that is fifteen years of my life. I know what it's like to be on a team. Even if you've never played sports you know what it's like to be on a team too; for school projects, relationships, or jobs. We've all been a part of a team at some point in our lives. My devotions pointed out that if we all cooperate then together we are invincible. We are a team, a country, the body of Christ, His children, a family. We are living with each other; in the same house, street, town, city, county, state, country, world. Like it or not people, we're kind of stuck with each other until Jesus comes back. My devotions then went on to say that if one fails, we all fail.

SO TRUE!

I voted. Many people are worried about what will happen. Many people are ecstatic about what the future holds. People, we all live in the same country! We were all created for the same purpose-to serve God and love His people, even when we have different political views. Let's stop rioting and hating on people who are "different" from us. We were all created as children of God, in the image of God. I know we can't all be perfect all the time, actually that can never happen, but we can strive to be our best. I know there is sin in the world, I face it and fight against it every day, I'm not perfect, I have huge struggles, I judge, I lie, I think badly about myself, I don't trust God- I am a sinner. We are all sinners- yet another thing we all have in common. If we dug deep, we would find a lot of similarities. We want what's best for our families and generations to come. We want the hate in this world to stop. We want to change the world and make it a better place, but think that because we are only one voice we won't be heard; What if we added hundreds, thousands, millions of voices, then would we be heard? Maybe why not instead of fighting against each other we join hands and fight against the only thing truly evil in this world? Sin. Maybe I'm too optimistic or too sheltered to think this could actually happen, but if God can change my life and pull me out of the deep dark holes of sin that I have lived in, I know if we allowed Him, He can do that for everyone.

I mean it when I say I love all of you; if you're homosexual, a different skin color, religion, social class than I am, if I've met you one, if we haven't talked in a very long time, I still love you, because you are my family.

I usually share my blogs on Facebook, so in order to be my Facebook friend I had to have met you at least once, that means that at some point in my life you had significance and changed my life, even only for a single moment. I love you all.

Let's do a little more lovin' and a lot less hatin' and see where that gets us.

Don't Worry, Be Overjoyed

I’ve been here in Spain for two months now! Two months! WOW! I have so much enjoyed my time here and I don’t want it to end, but I’ll admit, I miss home and I’m ready to be there, but I know I will never have this opportunity again, so I’m trying not to wish it away.

This past week was my last week of school before our break! WE DON’T HAVE ANY SCHOOL NEXT WEEK! Woot Woot! This past week was pretty normal and chill. I didn’t have much homework, thank goodness! Tuesday afternoon I worked tutoring two little girls in English; very tricky. Wednesday after classes our school had an early Halloween party and I dressed up as a CRIME MAKER, AKA “burglar,” but because I’m Michaela and I couldn’t think of the work for criminal/burglar in English I kept saying Crime Maker! I think I like that title better anyways :) Wednesday afternoon, I helped lead worship night at school. Thursday night we went out for Pizza at Domino’s and for ice cream with our mami. Delicious! I honestly don’t think I’ve ever had Domino’s pizza before coming here to Spain. Ironic huh? Friday: last day of classes! And the day that practically everyone in my school and even my teachers left to travel other parts of Europe.

We have this week off and I’ve heard that it’s because our profs want to give us time to travel the world without having to miss 500 days of school. I’ll admit I’m completely jealous of all my friends who are currently traveling in Italy, Ireland, Switzerland, and other countries around Spain. I decided to stay in Sevilla for a few reasons; I’m saving money, I’m going to Ecuador at the end of this semester, so I couldn’t necessarily justify going on a $300-$500 trip to Ireland, even though that’s all I wanted to do here in Spain. I’m also spending the week exploring this beautiful city I live in, spending more time with my host mom and sister, learning to cook traditional Spanish meals (like my favorite, Tortilla de Patatas), and spending time with the four other people who decided to stay here. I know now is the time to do the world traveling that I want because I’m here and I’m single and not tied down, but honestly, I have my entire life to travel! I’d love to travel with my husband and family and friends! I have (hopefully) 80 more years for traveling! And if not, heaven is 1,000 times better.

I want to talk a little bit about being content where we are.

My current situation; although I would rather be traveling Europe, I am happy staying here in Sevilla. This city has so much to offer! And a lot of it is free thank goodness. Yesterday my friend and I spent the afternoon exploring parts of Sevilla that we’ve never seen or only seen once or twice. It was wonderful! We had no agenda (other than to eat ice cream), we had no time frame, we walked aimlessly throughout the small streets, took the time to snap pictures of things we walk past every day, we even people watched! (I was thinking of you mom.) It was nice. I have plans to visit (FREE) museums, parks, and even go to the zoo one day! I’m excited to know the city I live in better. I may rather be traveling, but for now, I’m content being where I’m at right here in Sevilla.

If you would have asked me a year ago if I was glad to be single I would have laughed in your face. I went through a break-up, and as much as I played it cool and didn’t care, I cared. A lot. It sucked! It still sucks! All my friends kept telling me there are many fish left, it was his loss, you’re going to enjoy being single and I honestly just wanted to tell them all to shut up and that they didn’t understand what I was going through.

Now if you’d ask me if I’m glad I am still single, I wouldn’t laugh, but I still wouldn’t say “oh yes, I’m ecstatic”. But being single can be a great thing. I honestly probably wouldn’t be here in Spain if I was still in that relationship. I wouldn’t have some of the friends I have today. I probably wouldn’t be as close to my parents as I am now.

I’m 20, I’m single, two of my friends just got engaged, and all but one of my friends are dating the people they will most likely marry. That sucks. Don’t get me wrong, I am so overjoyed for them! Seriously guys I’m so happy for you! They’ve found their person, the one they love and will marry and that brings me so much joy.

I’m 20 and I’m single. My mom was married for two years at my age. I feel the pressure! But over the past year, even the past six months, I’ve learned to be content with being single. Enjoying my time to be myself, to spend as much time with my friends and family as I want, to focus on my relationship with God rather than a guy. Yes, I desire to be married and have kids someday (hopefully not too far away). But for now, I’m content being where I’m at in this stage of singleness.

Two years ago I was in my first semester of freshman year at Grace College; my home away from home. I had never been so happy than I was at that school. My roommates instantly became my best friends. My friends were my family. My team was always there for me. The campus was beautiful. The town was perfect and quaint. However, two years ago, when I went home for fall break I decided that I was going to change schools and move back home all to save some money. I hated the decision I made and even today I wish I could go back and decide to stay at Grace. Leaving my home away from home was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I miss it so much. I miss my friends, my team, my small town of Winona lake. Even now it makes me tear up.                   Miss you cuties :) 

But God has a plan, right? He brought me to Cornerstone for a reason. I met some amazing friends, I live at home with my awesome family, I met a lady who has changed my life, I had an amazing volleyball team, I learned how to adapt and step out of my comfort zone, I’m here in Spain! I have resented my time at Cornerstone, but for now I’m content being where I’m at in a new and different school.

I’m a college student; that almost automatically implies that money has, is, and will always be an issue. I’m a huge worrier. The “what-ifs” in life constantly consume my thoughts. What if I can’t pay for college? What if I don’t graduate? What if I don’t get a stable job? What if I don’t get married? What if I can’t have kids? What if my parents die? What if…? God has taught me so much patience and trust in the past six months. I had no idea how I was going to pay for this semester in Spain, and I still don’t really know how I’m going to. But I know God does and I know He will help me every step of the way. I work in a nursing home, I love my job, my coworkers, my residents, but I don’t like the pay so much. Money, why do you exist? Yeah, I don’t know either. But for now, I’m content being where I’m at with my financial situation.

Like I said in a blog a few weeks ago, joy is not dependent on our circumstances it is dependent on our attitude about our circumstances.

Don’t just be content. Be overjoyed.

Thanks for reading my blog! I love you and I’ll see y’all soon!

An Update On My Life!

Hey guys! Sorry I haven't written about my life for a while! I've just been so busy soaking up everything SPAIN! Wow, I just looked back and it's been almost 20 days since I last wrote an update about life here. Well during those past three weeks I've done a lot! Here's the scoop:

Two weeks ago I traveled to Toledo with my school for a two day trip and that was awesome! Toledo is a beautiful city with winding and steep streets, so the leg workout there was definitely one for the books. We visited a couple churches/cathedrals, explored the city, and took some great photos! Friends and I went out for pizza for supper which was DELICIOUS! Then we returned to Sevilla the next day. On Saturday a group of friends and I went hiking in a place called El Torcal. Holy Guacamole was that place gorgeous! It was simply rock formations, but it was so beautiful! The leaves were beginning to change colors, I climbed a freakin' mountain, and had a picnic right in the middle of the beautiful place. Man, I still can't get over how breathtaking it was! I seriously just want to go back and spend a week climbing every single rock/mountain.


The following weekend I was sick :( so I stayed inside all weekend, slept, and I finished a book I've been writing for 10+ years. Yes a book, like a novel, and yes I'm going to try to get it published so y'all will have to wait until you see it on the bookshelves! :)
This was a huge accomplishment for me. I've been working on this book for so long, never having the motivation, time, or excuse to finish it! But since I was stuck inside for two whole days, in a foreign country, with no appetite, I sat down and wrote the 30+ pages I needed to finish it. Not saying that it's any good or a best seller or anything, but I'm proud of my work.

This past week I had two exams; one I didn't do horrible on and I thought I was going to and one I hopefully did pretty well on-fingers crossed!

Yesterday our school took a day trip to Ronda (another beautiful small city here in Spain) and we explored the city, climbed down then up 300+ stairs to the bottom of the ravine next to the river, ate our lunch in a park overlooking a huge cliff/drop off, then visited a bull-fighting ring!

This coming week is my last week of school until I have a week off. Now most of my friends/everyone in the program except me and one of my friends are leaving Spain and traveling around Europe. I'm completely bummed and totally jealous of everyone that is going somewhere, but at the end of this semester I'm going to Ecuador for two weeks and I need to keep reminding myself of that. Plus having a week to explore Sevilla and hang out with my host mom isn't so bad!

You know, God has a funny way with timing. But also a great way with timing. If I lived my entire life on my own time schedule I wouldn't be enjoying half of the things I am doing and enjoying now! God knows everything that we need and when we need it and He does a heck of a lot better at caring for us than we do at caring for ourselves.

God is also so creative. He is the best artist in the universe and I think that says a lot. Whenever I am out in God's creation, that is when I feel closest to Him. He has created every little thing in this world and how lucky am I that I get to experience it.

I may not be rich, I may not have a high paying job, I may not have a boyfriend, I may not have any pets (except for my lovely fish JC), I may not have a brand new wardrobe or new modeled car, but I am spoiled. I am blessed. I'm studying in Spain! I'm living with a host mother whom I love and a roommate whom I get along with! I have fantastic friends here and this country is beautiful! I have fantastic family and friends who love me and send me love even when I'm 4,000+ miles away. I am so blessed.

God, thank you for this opportunity, thank you for your creation and your people, and thank you for your unconditional, never ending, perfect love!

I return home in T-55 days!!! I miss you all and can't wait to see your faces!

50 Things I'd Like To Say To My Big Brother

To my big brother:

1. Thank you for picking on me and calling me names. I actually secretly love being called rat.

2. Thank you for teaching me common sense and survival tips…

3. …and how to shoot guns. I am now the most BA chick I know.

4. Thank you for the nightly burping and farting contests when we were younger. I'm a champ.

5. Thank you for teaching me patience. Not that you taught me how do be patient, but you give me 

the practice I need.

6. Thanks for being the naughty child so now I can get away with anything :)

7. Quit walking around the house without pants on, I don’t care for your white legs.

8. Thank you for being the protective brother we both know you are, even when you don’t show it, I know you care.

9. Thank you for giving me hard shoes to fill in high school. All our teachers always liked you better.

10. Thank you for letting me borrow your clothes when I feel the need to wear your comfy sweatshirts and/or not killing me when you find out I do

11. Thank you for not dating my friends…

12. …but anyone you do decide to date has to be pre-approved by me.

13. I need your fashion advice every now and then…

14. …and your relationship/boy advice.

15. I can now become a lawyer because of how good I’ve gotten at arguing with you, so thank you for the practice.

16. I will always like the same things as you. No matter what.

17. I’d pick you as my person in a zombie apocalypse.

18. You’re paying for mom and dad’s nursing home.

19. I can’t wait for you to get married so I can finally have the sister I’ve always wanted. Get on that soon please.

20. I can’t wait for you to have kids so I can spoil my little nieces and nephews. I want at least four.

21. I’ve always got your back.

22. Sorry about the times that I tattled on you…

23. … and got you in trouble.

24. Your secrets are always safe with me.

25. I’ll always volunteer as your designated driver.

26. I never mean to embarrass you in front of your friends…

27. …I honestly just want to hang out with you. All the time.

28. Your opinion matters to me…

29. …and I love receiving your advice.

30. All those times of locking me in my bedroom and tying me to trees has really paid off. You’ve made me a stronger person.

31. I will always help you hide the body or bail you out of jail.

32. Growing up, I always wanted to be just like you and do everything that my big brother did, that’s probably why you find me so annoying.

33. I don’t like it when you’re hurting; physically or emotionally…

34. …so I’ll gladly beat someone up for you. Just tell me who.

35. My friends think you’re attractive and that’s weird.

36. You’re a cool cat.

37. You’re an odd cookie.

38. You’re going to be a great husband and daddy.

39. You’re smart...but not as smart as me.

40. You’re a good singer, especially when you think no one is home and you’re belting it out in the shower.

41. You’re a good dancer...after a couple drinks.

42. Please make wise decisions in life because as much as we fight I never want to lose you.

43. I know you’re headed somewhere important in life.

44. You’re extremely funny.

45. You can do anything with your life because you’re great at everything and very hard working.

46. I look up to and admire you and…

47. …I hope to be just like you when I grow up, well at least somewhat like you.

48. You’re seriously great at anything and everything…

49. …and I’m extremely jealous of that fact.

50. I am SO proud of you.

BONUS

51. I love you little guy. Please promise me that we can still be friends after mom and dad die and we live in different houses.

Miss you mucho!

Hospitality: A Universal Language

Can I just take a moment to boast about how great God is?

This past Sunday I swung by Sao Rafael, Portugal for the day. Yes I went to a different country just for a quick day trip, and let me tell you friends, it was so amazing. I can't even begin to describe to you how beautiful the beach was and the rocks and caves and crystal clear water. It was breathtaking and I tried my best to soak it all in. Of course I took pictures and the pictures turned out great, but there's something about seeing things in real life; they're just so much better.

My friend Monica and I spent hours exploring. We swam around a few cliffs to explore some caves (which we didn't actually go into, but should have), we climbed some rocks and jumped off of them, and we climbed some cliffs and explored those. I can't even describe to you how magnificent the view was. But here's -->
a little view for ya. We were so in awe of how great God is and how beautiful of an artist He is. We just started singing "How Great is Our God". Maybe we sounded awful to the man sitting 15 feet away from us, but in that moment I could not have been more content or satisfied with my life.

Seriously, if you have the chance, go visit this place and bring shoes, sunscreen, and goggles.

The rest of my week last week was fairly good. It was a shorter week with not having some classes, unfortunately due to the death of the father of one of my professors. It was also a week full of exams. I did great on some and not so great on others, but I can only up from here! Right?

It was also a week of HUGE changes and decisions for me.

I have decided to change my major and I am no longer studying elementary education and I am now going for Spanish (major) with a Business Management minor. I didn't feel called to teach or have the die hard passion like most people in the education program have and that was something I had been debating ever since I chose education as my major. I'm not entirely sure what I will do with my major, although my dream is to become a translator in a hospital, but I feel a lot more relaxed about my future now. Until the next difficulty arises.
I have also decided that two weeks after I get home from Spain I am going to study abroad in Quito, Ecuador for 2 weeks!

Yes, I know, I'm crazy and I'm spoiled. But what great opportunities God has presented to me! Yeah I'll be broke when I get home, but I trust God.

HE IS SO GREAT!

So, let's talk about hospitality, the title of this blog post.

Last Wednesday at my school's worship night, our awesome Missions coordinator talked about hospitality. This was Cornerstone's chapel theme for last semester, so I wasn't too enthusiastic to hear yet another spiel on what hospitality is and what it means to be hospitable. But then I got to thinking about my host mom and the people at the church I've gone to. Maybe my host mom isn't a Christian, it's hard to know, but she is so kind, gracious, and very hospitable. I have been blessed by her in so many ways.

Yeah, she may be kind of forced to invite me into her home, since it is where I have now been living for a little over a month (WOWZA!), but the way she makes me feel AT home is indescribable. The other day I was telling her about my favorite american foods and French Toast was something that came to mind (man I miss that stuff.) She asked me what it was and how to make it, then come Saturday morning I wake up and she says she's going to make me French Toast for breakfast.

How sweet is that?! Seriously! They usually just eat toast and coffee here for breakfast, but she took the time to go to the market, buy the ingredients, cook, and serve me French Toast. Yeah, it may have tasted a bit different, and there was no syrup, but it was the thought that counted!

She also tells us we can help ourselves to whatever we want and that we don't have to ever be afraid to ask for something. Which is funny because I'm always afraid to ask for more toilet paper when ours is out because I feel like we go through it so quickly. Yes, I know, I'm strange. But anyways....

Hospitality, that someone in every country can do and something that is understood by all. It is a universal language like love, and it is a way to show love.

John 13:35 "By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Love,
Michaela

PS: When I get back to the states I want everyone to pronounce my name how they do in Spanish, it's much more beautiful. (Me-kai-la)