Weekly News and Small Victories

Just thought I’d mention, in case you don’t watch the news, that on Friday the 3rd, the air traffic controllers went on strike and there were no flights in or out of Spain. It was insane- President Zapatero declared an “estado de alarma,” (state of alarm) throughout the country. It was announced on a loudspeaker throughout my neighborhood. I must admit, it was kind of cool being here for what was definitely a historical moment for Spain.

In other news, on Wednesday, since I still didn’t have school, I went over to Stephanie’s house to help make a French dessert for her French class. When I told my host family I was going over to cook with her, my host dad joked that it might be a bad idea. His exact words were “Cooking? Given your past experience, you’re allowed to cook with Mika, but not Stephanie.” Haha : )

I got to her house and we made a delicious lemon tart that turned out great! We did some “improvising” again, which made me a little nervous, but it actually worked this time! (unlike a certain pumpkin pie…). We even made fresh lemonade from the leftover lemon juice. Yum!

I then had to rush back to the city from her house because we were eating around 2:00 at my grandma’s house. My host dad’s brother came as well, with his wife Ester and of course baby Julia. I hadn’t seen Ester for a while because since she’s a doctor, she’s been studying for a test to enter in a program to specialize in something. It was good to see her. I love Fran and Ester- they’re both hilarious. I brought one of the lemon tarts Stephanie and I made, and everyone loved it! I’m thinking Christmas cookies are up next!

Paula and I at a park in Valencia before lunch at Grandma's

It was back to school as usual on Thursday, although I did surprise myself in History on Friday. The teacher asked, “Paige, what was the reign of Isabel II like?” and at first I kind of blinked stupidly at him (teachers don’t really call on me here, for obvious reasons). I was hoping he would just ask someone else, but he was persistent. I was about to revert to “Lo siento…no lo sé,” when I realized ‘hey! I actually know this!’ and answered, “Well, it was very difficult, with many changes in power between the progresistas and moderadistas.” Yes!

Hey, small victories are what count here : )

Besitos

Paige