Quick Update

It's been so long since I've written/posted pictures, almost a month. So, in order that I do not let any more time pass without an update, I'm going to quickly list what has happened since my excursion with the other foreign exchange students.

In March, I met a missionary and some students on Spring Break from the United States here on campus when they asked me if I wanted to take a free English class. I declined, but went and helped out with one of the classes and they also invited me to go to see Castillo de Javier, Foz de Lumbier (canyon) and a monastery. That was a Friday and the Sunday I visited the bigger evangelical church in Pamplona with a girl whom I met through the English class.

The next week (23 March) I started teaching a English conversation class to a 16 year old named Maialen. I look up exercises and conversation pieces to read on the internet, prepare lessons, and then tutor her an hour each Friday. I get paid for my efforts, which is nice. So far I've only met with her twice, but we start up again next week. The weekends otherwise I pass with my flatmates or go to the Veldts (the American family) to play ultimate frisbee, eat, and talk.

The 23rd of March I went to Toulousse, France, with some friends because there was a banquet at my friend Frédéric's university. We stayed in his friends' apartments and besides the dance, we toured the city. We went there in his car and returned that Sunday night.

I had my spring break (Semana Santa) from the 5th of March until the 15th of April. That Saturday we had a girls' night at the Veldts, just Jodi (mom), the two youngest kids, Emily (an au-pair from Ohio) and I. Earlier in the day Ximena came with me too and there was another student, Lucas, from Brasil. I didn't pick a very good day to invite Ximena to come with me, since we were watching the 6 hour version of Pride and Prejudice, which doesn't have Spanish subtitles. That night I spent the night at the Veldts in one of the beds left empty since the older kids were at a conference, and Sunday morning we had a little Easter celebration in the house. Nick, who is about 9 years old, explained the Easter story to us while while we ate pancakes and drank coffee with lots of milk. We also colored hardboiled eggs and drew on them with crayons. :-)

Sunday night at 8pm I left for Portugal to travel during the vacations, but I'll tell you about that adventure later. I don't have the time right now to do it justice. I'm going to Paris this weekend (this evening) to visit the city with a friend, Whitney, from the United States. I get to see her in 9 hours!!!