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!