Okay, so I sincerely apologize about not blogging over these past few days. I really did miss our bonding time, sniff, sniff :( Hmm, where to start?? Well let's see, I tried sleeping in on Saturday morning, but to no avail. Even without the alarm, I couldn't stand to stay in the bed past nine-thirty. Sad, I know. Since my mother did her snooping, oops I mean, detective work on Facebook today, I guess I can tell you what I did. I go dressed and went to pick up my Blackberry. Yes, being a previous iPhone owner, this is like committing treason. However, since Spanish cell phone companies charge for EVERYTHING, I figured the best way to go was getting a Blackberry and using the messenger service on it, which is included in the monthly price. This first month I have been using a pre-paid card, but it's so expensive to keep up. What I've already spent recharging my phone is more than what I pay per month for my contract. So, this was more like making a mature adult financial decision. (If my friend Nette were reading this now, she'd tell me to go ahead and keep lying to myself!) But seriously, I will save more money and with my extra income from teaching private lessons, I can afford my Blackberry. Or, as my friend Edison refers to it, my Whiteberry. Because you see, my Blackberry is really white.
Saturday afternoon, I went shopping with Lourdes, who is the oldest child in my new Spanish family. It was nice to see how close we are to one of the major shopping streets! A blessing or curse for me. Not sure which one yet :) We came back for lunch and then I finally took a siesta! I woke up and went to church and then went to a friend's house for dinner. We ordered Chinese food. My first time doing so in Spain! I played it safe and ordered Chicken Fried Rice. It was really yummy! I then headed home and fell asleep.
Around 5 am, I woke up burning up and discovered I had a fever of 103 degrees. I took some ibprofen and an hour later, it was down to 102 degrees. I slept off and on until 1:30 that afternoon! We ate paella for lunch, and then Isabel, my Spanish mother #2, gave me some medicine that knocked me out and sent me into another two and a half hour coma, err, I mean siesta. When I woke up, I had a blank Word document staring me down. My mid-term essay was due today for Asian politics class. The only topics I could write about were China or Japan. Kinda one-sided to me, huh? I mean, at least give me the chance to learn/write about the motherland! :) Around midnight I finally finished the paper, half drugged up with medicine. Hopefully the results will not be a reflection of my pharmeceutical influence....
Last night, the fever got back up to 102, so I took precaution and called my principal at school and also emailed my professors to warn them in advance of my possible absence. This morning when I arrived at school, Griselda, the head of the primary school, jumped on me for coming to work and made me promise her that I would go home if I felt sick!
I made it through classes both teaching and receiving without any problems. My fever only comes back at night (right now included), so hopefully some more Frenadol will take care of the issue. I'm going on Friday to get my flu shot! Tonight was the first day I started giving my private English lessons, and I can tell you with one hundred percent certainty that my extra hour and a half of work makes a huge difference. I came home more exhausted than ever!
I have realized that the Spanish way of thinking is one of the most brilliant psychological theories ever created. Everything they do is so smart. First of all, I'd like to personally thank the creator of the siesta. Because if not for him (or her), I would not look forward to my weekends. The idea of taking a long, two-hour break in the middle of the day is so healthy for one's sanity. The only thing I wish is that it was a national law that everyone must take a siesta. If this were possible, then I could take on during the weekdays as well. The idea of eating a big lunch and a small dinner is also genius. This is why you see no obese Spaniards. (Although, I can't exactly say I am following this rule. We all know how I am, gotta take in as much food as possible! On a lighter note - no pun intended - I can now fit into two pairs of jeans that I haven't been able to wear in two years! All this while eating and drinking whatever comes my way. But for those of you wanting to try this, please, do not try this at home. Let me remind you that I walk EVERYWHERE, something that is virtually impossible at home!)
Spaniards also iron their clothes after they wash them, thus putting them on hangers nice and clean. That way, when you are in a rush in the morning, there is no need to walk out of the house with more wrinkles on your body than a 98 year-old woman. (Something I was famous for back home, may I add. And proud of it! Yes, somewhere, my grandmother is shaking her head at this....) I mean, anytime I can roll out of of bed at 8:30, be dressed and out the door by 8:45 is more than a match made in heaven.
Okay, enough laughs (or eye rolling) for the day. On a serious note, several of you have expressed your concerns about the recent announcements regarding the possible terrorist attacks in Europe. Kinda scary, but at the same time, I feel a little more comfortable knowing that I don't live around touristy areas and that I don't take the public transportation system. Feel free to throw up a prayer just in case :)
Headed to bed. Mid-terms start Wednesday and I need to get some sleep so I can study!
Quote of the Day: "To live, we must conquer incessantly, we must have the courage to be happy." -Henri Frederic Amiel
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