Thanksgivings

In response to your question, Mom, the early Thanksgiving dinner was very good. We ate an early dinner, about 9:00 pm. There were 22 of us family and family friends at the table, eating wonderful Thanksgiving food and talking whenever our mouths weren't too full. Mashed potatoes, the biggest turkey you've ever seen (not kidding), gravy, stuffing with nuts in it, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole. Only things missing were Brenda's molasses cookies, lemon fluff, layered salad, and Margie's wonderful pumpkin pie. There was pumpkin pie, but it couldn't compare with Margie's pies. At the end of the dinner, we all placed our place tags in a bucket and drew to give thanks for the person who we received. That was a bit nerve wracking since I didn't know the person very well, but I wasn't the only person in that situation. It was a nice idea, though and created reflection on the meaning of the day.

Speaking of Thanksgiving and pies, my small group is having a Thanksgiving dinner tonight as well. Two Thanksgivings in one year! Neither with my family, but I try not to think about that. Yesterday I was a bit sad, realizing that all of my family was at Gary and Margie's together. Guess that means I love and miss them. But, today, there will be too much joy and celebration for melancholy. I have just finished making two pumpkin pies, completely from scratch. Completely. Let me tell you.

First, buy the pumpkins. Cook them in half with a huge knife, cook them in the microwave for 20 minutes each, scoop them out, puree them, and then add the spices. The spices were a bit tricky. I went to an Arab produce store in Lavapies to buy fresh ginger (which I then squashed the best I could). I bought whole dried cloves, since I couldn't find it in powder. Crushed that with the pestle and plate too. And 30 minutes ago, putting away the spices, I found powdered cloves. That was a little crushing. The mixing then with the other ingredients was easy. While I cooked the pumpkins, I made the crust too. I guess that wasn't that hard. I got to mix it with my hands, which was fun. The hardest part was cutting the pumpkins in half and crushing the cloves. And I didn't find out until after making it that you're only supposed to use the top part of the whole cloves. Hope the rest isn't poisonous or something, because I definitely crushed that as well. After I finished cutting, mixing, and mashing, I'm sure that anyone surveying the kitchen would swear that a hurricane had swept through the room. Now it's a little calmer, the multitude of dishes are washed, and the last pie is out of the oven, cooling on top of the stove. I stole an itsy bitsy piece out of the smaller pie...just to make sure it's edible. I dare say it is. It takes a lot of willpower not to steal more, but I remind myself that Thanksgiving dinner is waiting for me tonight, complete with turkey, so I should behave myself.

In other news, I have now seen the new James Bond movie. Pretty good, though I'm wondering what I missed that I would have caught in English. My curiosity isn't strong enough to go see it in English, though. I also met the new 5th grade English teacher at the school. He's young, studied in Ireland, and can cook American food better than the other auxiliar from the US (Erika) and me. How many 25 year old guys know what to do with fresh ginger or how to stuff a turkey for Thanksgiving...especially when turkey with stuffing isn't their tradition? Well, at least I know who to talk to now if I need to find something in Madrid or have a cooking doubt. With his skills, I'm sure that the other teachers at the school will have him married off faster than you can blink. Poor guy.

Nameless blessings

Every morning, before I run to catch the bus to the train station, I greet and say goodbye to the cleaning lady on my way out. Today, to my surprise, she asked me about Angelita, or more specifically, "the lady with the knees," I believe she said. I don't know how she knows I live with Angelita, or how she knows that Tuesday Angelita is having knee replacement surgery. Probably she talks to Angelita as well. Irregardless of the information source, her thoughtfulness made me examine our daily encounters more closely. Everyday I say hello, perhaps "How are you," and then go on my way. Everyday-like part of my routine, I expect to see her polishing the windows or the floor. Even more, as I hurriedly skip down the three flights of stairs, I look forward to hearing her friendly greeting and seeing her smiling face. It is the first ray of sunshine I see every morning. As I realized how much her seemingly inconsequential actions affect my life, I began to think about the other little things that make my day good, other people that bless my life. How do I bless other people's lives? Whom do I make smile, that I don't even realize that I touch? It's interesting to think about, but I realize that it's not just a cerebral thought. It's tangible, the blessing that the cleaning lady is in my life. I think I'll make her a Christmas gift to thank her. It's funny...I don't even know her name.

Jazz and Roadkill

Roadkill is normal to Americans...we have so many animals that they just can't stay out off the roads. And so, squish, pancakes. But here, there aren't as many animals, at least that I can see, and I had yet to see any roadkill until last night. After a night in the city with friends, my friend Isma was dropping me off at home when we saw it. Sadly, the dead animal was a kitten. Not even a wild animal! While we were outside the car talking (dropping people off can take a long time), I think two more people ran over the poor cat. In between searching for Orion and different stars (me trying to imagine the names in English), the roadkill was an interesting side topic. Sorry, no picture of this interesting part of my life.

Earlier in the evening, Isma, Kristen (another language auxiliar that is in the photos from English camp), and I set out for Madrid to listen to a jazz concert. The three of us went to a bar first to pass the time, and ate some delicious cheese cake. Then, we met another American, Karin (Karina in Spanish), for the concert. It was buenisimo. There were two groups: Carita Boronska Quintet from Denmark and an Spanish orchestra called Santiago de la Muela. The quintet's singer had an awesome voice and could scat like none other. The guitar player was blind and played wonderfully. The second act was great too, like big band, led by a guitarist. I especially enjoyed a guest artist's take on "I couldn't ask for anything more" by Gershwin. It was enjoyable to hear original jazz music and relax for the night. I think I enjoyed the first group the most, since I was half asleep by the end of the concert. Still haven't quite beaten this cold I have.

Today, another lazy day. Cleaning, sewing on buttons and mending clothes, drawing clouds in the park, grocery shopping, and making a wonderful curry lentil soup. And, of course, writing to you all. Today I've also set time aside to study Spanish. I'm learning a lot of Spanish phrases from reading photo comments on facebook. Some really strange things, that thankfully Isma, who speaks English, helps me translate. Like this: estoy mazo grillo. I'm a mallet cricket (literally). Actually, it means "I'm so crazy." Languages are so intriguing and infuriating at the same time.

English Camp and my birthday

I spent my birthday at an English camp, and one of the my missionary friends gave me peanut butter for my birthday. Mmmm. I was sung to two times on Saturday, and another time on Sunday. It was really nice to feel so special and wanted. The youth group gave me a long, warm sweater...I guess they give birthday gifts...it's a pretty tight-knit group. Eva, one of the young women who lives in my apartment building and is in my small group with church gave me a pretty scarf when I invited her over for hot chocolate. Angelita made me a pretty cream colored scarf.

I had a wonderful weekend at English camp. Well, wonderful and not at the same time. I woke up sick (a cold) on Friday morning, but I decided to go to camp anyway. By Friday evening I had a bad sore throat and I suppose a kind of high fever (I was soooo cold and three coats, a sweater, and a blanket didn't help.) I like to believe I'm on the mend now. This weekend I was very tired, but enjoyed it anyway. The place we went was absolutely beautiful. I forgot to take photos, but I stole some from my friends Tamy and Ismael.

My favorite part of the camp was being in the mountains and having time to spend with friends. I enjoyed meeting the Spaniards too and having conversations with the language learners. It was a camp for high schoolers through adult. Many people said that they could sense a difference in the workers (us) at the camp. We hope that it opens doors to people who are searching for more meaning in their lives. Many did not want to leave at the end of the weekend. I know I didn't!

Some other highlights:
Skipping rocks (or failing, then watching others do so)
Crawdads
Looking at stars
Smores and a campfire
Church service in English
Getting closer to people here
Climbing a tree

English Camp

We're having Thanksgiving here this Thursday, since the lady I live with is getting a knee replacement before the real Thanksgiving. Various of her children are married to Americans, so it will be a real Thanksgiving, I suppose. The trickiest part is getting the turkey here before the Christmas season. You have to order it special.

Oh, and Amy...thanks for writing. Looking at wedding rings must be exciting!

Spanish-isms

Every once in awhile I hear a phrase in Spanish that is so wonderful, I say...this should exist in English too. But, of course it doesn't, so I'm forced to share it with you in translation instead. Here are some Spanish/Spanish language phrases I like.

Madre de los caramelos!! Mother of the candies!
--used like "Oh my goodness!"

Hijo de la mazorca! Son of a corncob! José's phrase...means the same thing as the first one.

Estoy hecho polvo. I'm made dust I'm exhausted.

Tengo ganas... I feel like doing... Except it sounds way cooler in Spanish.

Entre algodones between cotton (sheets? Refers to sheltered kids.

Short Week=Busy Week

First, to answer Mom's questions (see previous entry's comments) re Halloween in Spain:

In Multiva Baja (where the Veldts live) the Spanish kids actually go trick-or-treating. The first year they moved there, there were not very many, but each year the amount of kids has grown. Also, the kids come to the Veldt's because they know that they give out candy. I guess some kids do go trick-or-treating in Madrid as well, but I know not all do. It is not a Spanish tradition; they borrow it from the Americans.
Sorry about not having Andrea in the pictures. Since I took all of the pictures during the Halloween party, she isn't there. Andi can't handle big crowds, so she was upstairs. I'll do a better job next time!!

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This week was short, since I spent Monday in Pamplona. This only meant that I had to pack what normally fits Monday-Friday into four days. A woozy! Here's a summary.

The bad:
Tuesday turned into Monday.
Getting home at 9:15 pm.
Working on Friday.
Sleeping 6 hours Wednesday night.
Disrespectful kids who try to run away from the classroom during after-school program.

The good:
Pretending to be a robot with the kids.
Reading "How to Mail an Elephant" with students.
Eating dinner with Angelita's grandchildren Wednesday night.
Getting pay check for private English classes.
Finishing "Alica Through the Looking Glass" in Spanish.
Playing "sofa" and tennis wii with my small group.
Hiking at la Pedriza with Stephanie.
Climbing all over rocks like kids.
Following cow paths by the trail of dung.

Here's some photos of La Pedriza. Look at the photo of Stephanie. We climbed down the rocks behind her to get to the river. Call us adventurous (or reckless).

Pamplona Visit

I just got back from the Veldts in Pamplona. I was going to be there Thursday through Sunday, but I called the coordinator at the school to see if I could extend me stay one day, which she approved. I changed my ticket and came back on Monday instead of Sunday, spending one extra day with the Veldts and Luccas. I'll make up the hours throughout this week and next.

There was a mix-up and the Veldts thought I was coming Friday, while I thought I was coming Thursday (and came Thursday), but it got straightened out after a few hours of phone calls/waiting at the train station wondering why no one was picking me up. I was really really excited to see them, then I felt abandoned and upset, then when I thought that maybe there was a mix-up, a little panicked (which I had already felt) and searched for their phone number, started on my way to their house alone, and they picked me up where the bus to their town used to stop. I guess in a year and half the bus routes changed, which isn't entirely surprising. At the end, I felt bad because the mix-up had been my fault, and they felt bad since I was waiting so long at the train station alone and panicky. The same day I arrived, ETA set off a car bomb at the private university in Pamplona. Luke told me about it when I arrived. Seventeen people were injured, but luckily no one was killed. It's really sad that they have to hurt people to make their statement. Don't worry, I'm fine. Luckily, the rest of the visit did not follow the same trend.

Friday I met some of their friends and new Christians, Pia and Chino, who were married this past summer. In the afternoon Luccas came over and we all visited until the kids began arriving for the first of 4 Halloween parties that were held throughout the weekend. Jodi and Nate (Colin's age) teach English classes to connect to the community, while Luke, Mr. Veldt, leads a church in their house and Bible Study. The Halloween parties were a huge success. The kids decorated cookies, received and/or carved a pumpkin (depending on age and size of group), played pin the mouth on the jack-o-lantern, and other games. The older ones bobbed for apples, were blind-folded and tried to guess what food they were touching, and ate donuts off a string. In the middle of each party, Luke and Nate put on a little puppet show about the meaning of the Jack-o-Lantern to them. It was a wonderful way to share the gospel. Here is the story (without the silliness and creative script that Nate and Luke created to entertain us more). They hope that through the classes, someone's heart will be opened to God.

What the Pumpkin Means to Me
We are like the pumpkin, filled with yuckiness. Just like the pumpkin can't clean itself out, neither can we rid ourselves of sin. Someone else, God, has to do it for us. The pumpkin, after being carved and cleaned, has a new identity, a new face, even a new name. It changes from a pumpkin to a jack-o-lantern. Then, at the end, we put a candle inside the pumpkin and let it shine out into the night. The candle is like the spirit of God, that fills us and shines into the world.

Besides the parties, I enjoyed hanging out like old times, albeit missing some important people. We played poker and Settlers of Catan, frisbee, watched a silly movie, and enjoyed Jodi's cooking. Sunday afternoon the church met in their home (about 15 people). The are some single guys, Luccas, the Veldts, Pia and Chino, and an Argentinian family.

Jodi and Luccas took me to the train station today. Jodi couldn't come in, so Luccas walked with me into the train station and saw me off. It was sad to say good-bye, but at least I know that I'm going to definitely see them again, unlike the last time I left Spain.

Pamplona Visit