But that’s
all. Just chilly.
And that’s
just in the mornings.
Once noon
rolls around, it’s warm again and I throw my cardigan in the bike basket. The
sun feels so good on my face and I want to stay in it all day; I’ve never known
a mid-October that was so deliciously sunny. However, facebook reminds me that
all y’all back home are experiencing my favorite season with your pumpkin spice
lattes and crunchy leaves and hoodies, and I am super jealous. Sevilla will eventually
get cold, but the palm trees don’t change colors and there are no American
football games to bring blankets to. I have been denying the fact that Zach and
I will be missing out on autumn this year, but now I think it’s finally time to
accept it.
...accepted.
And now I
shall go run in the park in my shorts and t-shirt.
No but
really. Things have gone back to normal now that the exciting family week has
come and gone. After the fam left, Zach and I enjoyed the rest of the weekend
quietly by ourselves in our apartment. We decided to make Sat night a date
night and walked to the movie theaters to see this:
Portrayed
the true story of a Spanish family who barely survived the Thailand 2004
tsunami. Before it started I bought a whole bolsa of gummies and could hardly
finish them because I got so intensely wrapped up in the horror of the events
unfolding. Was a very good film that I totally recommend. Made me think a lot
about the bonds of family, where God is in crises like that, and the role I
could valiantly claim as a nurse during a natural disaster someday.
Sunday
morning we decided to rest. Slept in, bought groceries to make a simple lunch
on the balcony, and got caught up on Modern Family. When nighttime fell we
ventured across town to Sevilla’s annual month-long Festival of Nations. I
bought Zach a Columbian beer and he bought me pretty Indian pants.
This week
has consisted of the usual: Zach at class and myself at La Caridad in the
mornings. Flamenco class on Monday night (we are so not graceful people, Zach
and I. But it’s great exercise and we get to laugh quite a bit at ourselves—a
win-win.), Encuentro, our student worship service held on Wednesday night, a
Bible-study I attend with some of the girls from the school on Thursday night,
and my English tutoring sessions four nights of the week. Here is my youngest
chico giving me a special recorder concert during our half-hour together:
He’s the 10
year old with the cutest dimples, Ignacio. When he found out I hadn’t tried
Gaspacho yet (this was at our very first meeting—like a month ago) he begged
his mom to make some for me sometime. Since then I’ve tried it and discovered
that it happens to be the only Spanish meal (besides octopus) that I have a really
hard time eating. On Monday, he was so excited to let me try it, as his mom had
made it the past weekend and had leftovers. Of course, I didn’t tell him that I
already tried it and hated it, so as he and his mother sat close by and eagerly
watched I forced the cold, orange, tomato-onion-vinegar slimy stuff down my throat and
marveled, “Oh, it’s different... but I love it!”
How could I
tell them I didn’t like it? I just couldn’t.
Tuesday
afternoon I participated in a small cooking class put on by Ana, the day
receptionist at Zach’s school. So much fun! She taught us how to make some
traditional foods: paella con pollo (rice with veggies and chicken), a green
bean and tomato dish, and tortillas (not the kind you’re thinking but the
Spanish kind—you use eggs and potato slices). We chopped and peeled a lot of
vegetables and didn’t spend too much time in the kitchen actually cooking, so I
don’t know if I’d be able to reproduce exactly the finished product from
memory. But I have the recipes! Am definitely holding on to those.
Sandra
finally let me help her make lasagna this afternoon after I pleaded, but sadly
this is the end of my Spanish cooking experiences thus far. Sandra and Juan Lu
hardly ever let us help them prepare meals (understandably so—there is just not enough room in the kitchen. Also they are super fast and we’d probably slow them down.)
Thus my wifely cooking duties are delayed for the time being. I know you have
all been just dying to know if Spain has turned me into a better cook, so,
there you go. So sorry. :)
Hey, happy
weekend! If you’re reading this, a great
big beso for you. xxXXX!!!
Kristen
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