Andorra

Well, after latino grocery store stop, Columbian meal, and our hot hotel stay in Madrid, we were off at 7 am on Wednesday to drive 7 hours to Andorra. It was an uneventful trip with boring scenery. It is truly amazing how big Spain is, especially when you drive it.

We arrived as the other Madridian Fulbrighters arrived. Our hotel is AMAZING! We have two tvs (not that I'm using them), a huge couch, a huge bed, and a great bathroom. Robes would be wonderful, but this hotel, like the one in Madrid is hot and we cannot get it cooler without opening the window.

We are having great weather here (probably up to 60s in the sun) while Merida is in the 70s! Wow! We have been eating buffet style non-stop, so I will for sure pack on some pound for the great fast of the end of the quarter.

Today we visited a 15th century church, a 19th century rich man's house, and the Andorran parliament. The mountains are snow topped and quite beautiful. I can see how people are happy here...they have a ton of money and there is hardly any crime.

Well, soon I'm off to a cheese and Pyrenee's traditional food tasting! Photos will be posted when I get back to Spain!

Oh...I forgot to mention that I've been able to get a lot of work done while Dan has meetings. This has been a huge relief for me, so I just have to keep plugging away and this quarter will soon be over!

in Madrid

Dan and I had a quick drive to Madrid. It was 3 hrs, but it seemed to go quickly. Though we're a bit on the outskirts, it was still impossible to find parking near our hotel. The place is nice, there is internet, and I'm getting some work done. For a late lunch we had doner kabob, so there is nothing more satisfying than working on a belly full of good food.

It is really warm today! It says it's 68 in Merida, but it must be that warm here too since my light jacket kept me too warm.

Our friends should be arriving soon, so I should work a bit more. We have a 7 hour drive to Andorra tomorrow. I will not get much work done this week which makes me a bit panicked, but I know I'll get my weekly assignments done. I have to!

Photos of Carnaval

drum circle


lots of pork w/ poor little piglets roasting


Gotta have Romans in Mérida


pony rides


my pony :)


21 Euro lunch.

Carnaval then Andorra

Wow, I'm getting my work done, thank you God! I have been diligent and motivated and I have gotten so much work done! I will still have a lot to do on our trip unfortunately, but I am putting some stuff off to enjoy a few tours in Andorra. Everything is paid for, we are staying at the nicest hotel, and one night we'll be enjoying a cheese and Pyrenees food tasting!!! I am thrilled and will thoroughly enjoy it!

Last night I needed to run some errands with Dan and there were ponies near our house. Everything was decked out in Renaissance-looking tents, especially around the 15th century church. Many were, what I call, booze tents and some where full of crafts or trinkets. There are also many things for children intertwined between the booze tents and crafts, so I was a bit taken aback. One interesting thing were the people who were setting up the tents...they were true Carnies. I hope to take photos of some, just so you know what I mean because my words cannot describe them!

What is this? CARNAVAL!

Today Carnaval starts at noon, but I will be busy getting some work done. Dan and I look forward to taking lots of pictures. I think Spain is still conservative enough that they'll all be PG or G photos, though it is Carnaval.


Carnaval ends on Tuesday, but we are leaving that day for Madrid, spend a night there, and then we're off to Andorra and come back late Saturday night! I am thrilled and hope that I can get my work done, so I must work now!

The Quarter System

UC is supposedly going off the quarter system sometime and I hope for future students that it will be soon. I am just now in my weekly routine and it's the 7th week out of 10.

Since I had two exams this week, I have not begun my other assignments that I usually have a good start on them by Wednesdays. I have to shake off that feeling and work, but I'm feeling exhausted. Dan has decided to work late evenings now and I had a test this morning that I had to get up for, so I did not get much sleep.

My Pharmacology exam was ridiculous. 16 essay questions that she calls "short answer". Craziness!

My class is at 7pm my time, but others will be taking the exam in class today, so I won't have class until later. Usually Wednesdays are my 8 hrs of class, and now after today, I have only 3 weeks left!

My eyes are going cross as I write this and now I have to think about writing a couple of papers :P

On another note: Dan and I went to church last night. It has been awhile since we've gone on a Tuesday, but it was nice. We sang and prayed and then after a couple of people shared stories and scripture, they called Dan and me up. I didn't go up, but I told him a passage to read. I got lectured after service by a few people that I should have gone up and Dan should have translated. Dan agreed :) It was cute, so next time I'll go up, but I hate being put on the spot. They are all so loving though. It will be hard to say good-bye.

I was asked to sing a song on Sunday as well. I'm quite nervous since they are amazing musicians. I was going to play keyboard, but the keyboardist is just too good and said he'd play for me.

Heb 13: 20-21 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Like I said before, I have had a relaxing week. It is time to buckle down a bit and get a lot of work done before the trip to Andorra. I have an exam tonight and one on Wednesday and many papers and projects. I was refreshed to read this passage in Hebrews about being equipped by God. I think the saying is, "What He calls you to do, He equips you to do." I know that I am suppose to be doing this program, along with many other things, and that God has, or is, preparing and equipping me to do these things well. School is difficult and quite challenging, but I have been strengthened to do it well to God's glory!

Dan's Feb 14 posting

Dan doesn't blog too often, but when he does it's enjoyable to read even though it's too lengthy.

Happy V-day!

It's Valentine's Day, but that doesn't mean much here. I'm dressed up though and I might put on makeup for Dan :) We usually don't celebrate and this year will not be any different. I'm hoping to enjoy Andorra though when we go on the 24!

The sun has still be shining and the weather has been just hitting 60s. I have taken it easy this week, sort of doing the bare minimum. I am now rejuvenated to work hard for the rest of the quarter which is only a month. I have two exams this week (Monday and Wednesday) that I'm not looking forward to, but soon they will be done!

Did I mention that group projects are quite unfair? I was so overwhelmed with all my work, but I still got my work in...and it was over-the-top good. Now I have people complaining what they should do. I just want them to get their work done. Silly stuff, but I know it will all work out well!

I was reading a great story in 2 Chronicles 20. God told Jehoshaphat that the battle is His, so Jehoshaphat and Jerusalem worshiped God and it confused the enemy. No matter what storm we are in, we cannot stop worshiping the Lord. That is the first thing to go sometimes, but it must not happen. We can petition our weaknesses and needs, but we must praise the Lord for His strength, peace, joy, etc.

Rebajas

If you can believe it, rebajas (sales) are still going on here! All clothes are 3 euros, but I have to muster up the strength to dig around if I want some good clothes. Dan bought me another pashmina in red!

I got out AGAIN for the 3rd day in a row! It was so warm that I was actually hot in my sweater, scarf, and light jacket! I love that warm feeling!

The sun!

It is finally sunny without rain! The sun cheers me up, especially when I feel it on my face...with sunscreen ;) We are suppose to be in the 60s, but we've been hovering around mid-50s. I just found out that this is the coldest winter that Mérida has experienced in a long time. Thankfully, it was still warmer than Cincinnati.

Dan got the full-blown cold and now we are both sniffling and coughing. We took a nice, long walk around the island yesterday and enjoyed the sun's warmth.

Today is my 8 hours of class, but only 4 more after today! Time is flying!

Dan and I don't really celebrate holidays like Valentine's Day, but I was hoping to get out and buy some dark chocolate or something. Maybe tomorrow!

Thankful for prayers

I had an enjoyable weekend for once. I really didn't do anything out of the ordinary, but I had so much peace. I caught up on my work and actually spent the weekend working on end of the quarter projects which was relieving. Until then, I did not have a free moment to work and to actually start was nice!

I can't thank my family and friends enough for their prayers! I truly lose sight of reality when I'm in school. I was so overwhelmed and could not focus, and now I am getting my work done and do not feel the stress as I did before. My work is still overwhelming, but I just take deep breaths and focus on one thing at a time.

I am getting over a cold while Dan is trying to fight it off on his own. I am hoping he doesn't get sick because he has his own stress from the dissertation. Our Andorra trip and spring break will be wonderful for a well-being!

On a side note: I wanted to buy chorizo but I accidentally bought blood sausage. Usually blood sausage is black, so I really don't believe this had blood in it. Dan and I decided to try it, so he fried it up and it tasted like chorizo, so it was a success. I will be more careful next time, but at least it tasted good. It is gross to think about, but I have to log the few Spanish memories that I'm making!

Redeemed to Worship...not complain

I have been listening to 3 Christian podcasts that are so diverse from one another, it sort of makes my head spin. Greg Boyd is the pastor of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, and I've never heard sermons like his. He's more hippy-ish, but sticks to scripture. I also listen to Mark Driscoll who is the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. He is very loud, hip, and is a Calvinist...ha ha. My 3rd sort of guilty pleasure is a 15 minute daily teaching by Joyce Meyers. She really drives me nuts, but for some reason I really get a lot out of her messages.

All three are so different. My head is swarmed with thoughts of Jesus and applying his teaching to my life. I think the main thing that I get from all the teaching is that my life cannot stay the same. I must continue to grow.

One area of growth that needs a lot of prayer and a lot of Jesus is my mouth. I was redeemed to worship my God, not to complain. School is killing me...almost literally. I am sick, stressed, and am barely making it through each day. God has strengthened me a lot through this and because of people's prayers, I have really been feeling his peace.

I am excited to be able to say I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercies,
To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father's full giving is only begun.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth and giveth again.
--Annie Johnson Flint