Week 2!

I wrote this on Sunday, but I am just now getting it up here for you all.  Enjoy!

Well helloooooooo there world. 

It's Sunday the 6th and things are going a lot better.  I think getting into a routine has helped with the culture shock a bit.  I do find myself already making America out to be a place of ideals where people actually drive on the road, and don't use their horns every time someone so much as pauses at a stop sign.  If I don't get hit by a car during my stay here, it will be a miracle.  (and if I don't get run over by a soccer team it will also be a miracle.  Although that wouldn't be so bad :) )

I got some postcards and am trying to get them written, but I find them to be similar to homework, something I need to do, but don't want to write so I put it off.  I have 3 out of the 18 I have done.  

I apologize if my grammar is terrible.  I have been writing in Spanish only lately and speaking in English is different than writing it down and I keep thinking in Spanish.  Which I guess is a good thing.  

I actually have some pictures for you this time.  I'm gonna add one to my last post since I wanted to but couldn't then.  We haven't done much except go to the park, to school, and to the Centro.  The Centro is a big walking street with a bunch of shops and every other one is a shoe shop.  All the girls have given into the 12€ boots and we are trying to keep ourselves out of the clothing stores.  

Kristin and I went to the Plaza de Toros yesterday and walked around.  It was really cool.  KSU has nothing on these guys.  The engineering of the chutes to push the bulls through is amazing.  And there are doors for people to get out of the chute areas that only people can fit through, and then only sideways.  In the ring there are a few doors out and they are blocked by fencing so the bull can't see them and then there are fake fences too so they are all equally spaced.  They also have another section past the main fence so if the bull jumps it then it doesn't get into the crowd.  For it being the first bull fighting ring in Spain, they knew what they were doing and though of everything.

Next weekend is Carnaval in Cadíz and the school is doing an excursion there.  Then Carnaval comes here to Ronda on March 1.  Paqui my host mom is really excited.  She was putting a ribbon on a kazoo the other day (like a lanyard) and then trying to show me the Carnaval Song.  I never expected that out of her.  And apparently she is a flamenco dancer as well!  Also didn't see that coming.

As for me, I've been alright.  Better than I was.  I got really sick yesterday with a bad stomach ache and my lungs felt like an elephant was sitting on them.  But today is better.  A bit of a cough but nothing else.  Paqui has been giving me different tea depending on what I am doing.  If I'm gonna lay down I get this kind, if I am eating I get another kind.  But it has been helping.  Also getting out and about for a few hours instead of the whole day definitely helps too.  We went to the park for a bit and that was nice.  And I took a few naps during the day, which also probably helped. :)  No one frowns upon napping here.  It's almost encouraged.  Since everyone stays out so late and gets up early, that 3 hour siesta is sometimes very welcoming.

Well.  Lunch is going to be ready soon.  So I will wrap this up and try to get another written as soon as I can.  And I will try to get pictures on Facebook soon too.  Just need internet, and that is even harder to find on the weekend, so we will see (I'm writing this in Word since I am at home).

I Love and Miss You All!!

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!

-Erin

PS- Our Super Bowl party was fun.  Small group, but we got the game to broadcast in English so it was all good. :)