It's official in less than a month I will be on a plane flying back across the pond to home! I have no idea what my culture shock is going to be like, but I've been told that all I've learned while I've been away will mean so much more when I look back. I have come to love what our country represents while I've been away, and diversity is something we have that I miss. I need prayers for continuing perseverance because I know most of my friends are coming to the end of their semester in only 2 weeks! So my friend whose card reader I normally use to post pictures, well she can't find it...so that means I'll have to spread out the pictures I've been taking in Oviedo so you can see some of the stuff I've been talking about. I do owe ya'll some pictures from Dublin still. Sorry I won't be able to post Greece or the Canary Islands, but I can post those once I get back for those of you who I won't be seeing right away.





Check out this castle! So it'd been raining all week in Dublin, but our 1 day it was super blue and sunny. It was still a bit chilly, but still a great day for our FREE walking tour. Our tour guide was totally Irish, you'll be seeing him shortly.

I love asking questions, and our tour guide challenged us to ask him a question he couldn't answer. Our prize: the brelly (umbrella) which was huge that we would use if it should start raining. As we were walking along I noticed all the doors on this one block were brown except for #7, so I asked if this was a common theme in Dublin. Unfortunately, later we figured out it was not, but thankfully it did not rain until later that night.

So after we all successfully walked over this bridge, we learned that this was made by the same people who built the Titanic! It's still going strong. How cool is that!













Here we have Trinity College or their version of our bell tower. Students don't walk under this because the story is that if they walk under this they will fail they final terms. Our tour guide suggested that over lunch we come back and try and push a student under it for fun, but alas we didn't have time.















Here is our tour guide with some of the rosiest cheeks I've seen. Sadly, I can't recall his name. He was pretty funny and boy did he know his history! Here he told us the story of why #7 is significant.














And...finally this is what happens when you get stuck in an airport for a long time ;-) My next few posts should be pictures from Oviedo, school, that gorgeous view behind my apartment finally, and Parque San Francisco.










Overall I really do need prayers for wanting to keep working hard on my Spanish. It's been challenging getting back into it after traveling to countries where they speak English or a language other than Spanish. I hope I can get back into it and really work hard these last few weeks! I love you all and miss you.

Hasta Luego ;-)

She Can Fly! She Can Fly! She Can Fly!

[Wendy:]
But Peter, how do we get to Neverland?

[Peter:] Fly, of course!

[Wendy:] Fly?

[Peter:]
It's easy! You think of a wonderful thought!

[The children:] Any happy little thought?

[Peter:] Uh, huh

[Wendy:]
Like toys at Christmas?

[John:] Sleighbells,snow?

[Peter:] Yeah, watch me now, here I go!
It's easier than pie.

[Wendy:] He can fly!

[John:] He can fly!

[Michael:] He flew!!

[Peter:] Now you try!

[Wendy:]
I'll think of a mermaid lagoon.
Ahhh, underneath the magic moon!

[John:] I'll think I'm in a pirate's cave!

[Michael:] I think I'll be an indian brave!

[Peter:] Now, everybody try!

[All:] One, two, three!

[Children:] We can fly, we can fly, we can fly!

(they all crash)

[Peter:]
This won't do. What's the matter with you?
All it takes is faith and trust...
Oh, and something I forgot! Dust!

[Wendy and John:] Dust?

[Michael:] Dust?

[Peter:]
Yep, just a little bit of pixie dust!
Now, think of the happiest things...
It's the same as having wings!

[Wendy:]
Let's all try it... just once more.

[John:]
Look, we're rising off the floor!

[Michael:] Giminee

[Wendy:] Oh,my!

[Wendy:] We can fly,

[Peter:] You can fly!

[All:] We can fly!!!

[Peter:]
C'mon everybody, here we go! Off to neverland!!!

[Choir:]
Think of a wonderful thought
Any merry little thought
Think of Christmas, think of snow
Think of sleigh bells Here we go!
Like a reindeer in the sky

You can fly! You can fly!
You can fly! You can fly!

Soon you'll zoom all around the room
All it takes is faith and trust
But the thing that's a positive must
Is a little bit of pixie dust
The dust is a positive must

You can fly! You can fly!
You can fly! You can fly!

When there's a smile in your heart
There's no better time to start
It's a very simple plan
You can do what the birdies can
At least it's worth a try

You can fly! You can fly!
You can fly! You can fly!

My next adventure begins in London where I learn how to fly! I have the best teacher. You'll be meeting him soon enough. My adventure contains every sort of transportation possible, plane, boat, taxi, train, the "tube" or metro, and an English car [you know how they drive on the left side of the road and have their steering wheel on our passenger side]. So many pictures where to begin?




Here we have the classic red telephone booth in London. What's really funny is that this was our meeting spot for our Fat Tire Bike Tour, but we realized this after we had finished taking our pictures. For another pose, P and I were in each phone booth pretending to talk to one another and I actually started talking to myself to get into character...;-)









Here we have a youth getting a head shake from the "Bobby." P and I learned this phrase from P's cousin who we stayed with while we were in London. Can you believe these uniforms are for real? I just couldn't help but giggle every time I saw them. Actually, I would often stand in the street in a fit of giggles or I would try to decide if it was okay to take pictures of them.















Here we have the famous Rosetta Stone! I learned about this in my Humanities I class at UNI. This was just so cool to see in person.















Now as I mentioned earlier my travels included using the train. Who can pass up platform 9 & 3/4? I must tell you that this was in a pretty ridiculous location, but P and I managed to find it on our own. It was cool to see, but not quite what I had expected. In reality, P and I used the train at St. Pancreas not King's Cross.









This was too pretty to pass by. So I thought I'd play Alice and pose amongst the daffodils. It was a bit chilly though so I only had my winter coat of for the picture. This was in Kensington Gardens which were beautiful. I would have loved to have just strolled through this park more or just leaned up against a tree and read a book.




Alright here we have him. Peter Pan! I can't believe that I walked through the very park where Peter Pan was written. It was a fabulous park for inspiration and exercising your imagination. I enjoyed taking flight even if it was briefly.














Yes here I am imagining myself as Robin Hood. I think I look pretty natural don't you? Although I need to get some green going. This was at the Tower of London. What a fun filled day of history and loads of stories!






More pictures...Sherlock Holmes are you home?, London Bridge, The Eye, and my good friend P!



Hasta Luego!

Where's Carol?

Ah yes Paris known as the city of Romance and wonder. 13 of us piled into a bus for our 17 hour ride to Paris. I rather enjoyed the great view of the mountains, valleys, and the ocean. I met so many wonderful people from Australia and New Zealand! Every day my friend B and I met a family or couple from Australia. We saw so many things and used our energy up to the last drop everyday, and I thought Disneyworld was draining...

The first stop B and I made was to Notre Dame. This would be the back view. Notice how the one tower is really black, well just a few years ago lasers were used to clean the centuries of dirt that had accumulated on this noble structure, but they decided to leave this one tower untouched to show the contrast. We didn't have to wait long to reach the bell tower of the infamous Quasimodo. It was a pretty chilly weekend in Paris, probably the coldest we have been since living in Europe.









See if you can find me! Here is the front view which I'm sure more of you are familiar with. At this point my legs were shaking because the decent with the winding spiral staircase made our leg muscles go nuts. From here our journey continues, but where you might be asking yourself? Follow me.








B and I spent 4 hours in the Louvre and still didn't see it all! Oh yes here is the famous Mona Lisa. For those of you who are educated this size probably doesn't shock you, but I was a little shocked considering that they used this huge wall for this very small painting. Across the room there was another painting that covered a wall this size. I have to admit though seeing this in person was really cool!







I couldn't resist posing with this great noble. Actually I don't know who he was, but I thought he looked pretty sweet so I'd join him in looking dignified. Sadly, I didn't have a sword so I improvised. This was in the Palace of Versailles.











Here we have Marie Antoinette's estate. Pretty sweet. I found that this estate would suit my best friend J. It had both her fav colors pink and yellow. I liked her taste because each room was so colorful. This was Day 2. I feel like there might be something I'm forgetting...hmmm...






Sweet crepes sooo yummy. I know that A will want some when we go to Paris in a few short weeks. I think I'm starting to remember that thing that was buggin' me earlier, but still can't quite put my finger on it. It'll come to me.










Ohhhh yeah that's it, The Eiffel Tower! I took so many pictures of it and will show some more off. I've grown a few inches since I've been in Europe as you can tell. This could be a problem fitting on the plane when I fly back, but I'm sure they can find room for me. Actually my clever friend J took this picture. My feet were exhausted since we walked and walked and just for fun walked a little more.





Now I've put a few more pictures in that I thought ya'll might like.






Hasta luego! ;-)

Sunny with a high of 75 ;-)

I have so much to catch you up on anddddd lots of new pictures. After many hours, I have finally freed up the much needed memory space on my laptop. Last Friday we reached 75 degrees, but if you had gone out in the streets and not known the temperature you would have thought it was still winter. Upon seeing me in shorts, a t-shirt, and sandals you would have thought I was nuts. I enjoyed giggling as people gave me funny looks or when I looked at how warm they were dressed sooo denying this warm weather. Here I am with my bear friends while I was in the mountains. Apparently, my friends and I have a knack for going into the no trespassing zones in which this is the 2nd incident. For the record, we had no idea until we were kicked out so I shouldn't have been able to get this close ;-)




Clearly our non marked secret path we took caused us to miss this sign. Whoops!









So this is my best picture from the mountains which were huge! It was pretty chilly up here. My friend J and I started a snowball fight which the Spaniards thought was immature or totally crazy. We just laughed saying, "We're from Iowa, this is how we roll."








Seriously how can you top this? This was from Carnival weekend and the great parade that I watched with B. Oh my goodness they go all out here. This was one of the coolest costuming jobs.







Here are the coolest kids I know in Spain. Last weekend my host parents and I went to a small town where we had a 40th surprise party for their oldest, Miguel. I had a blast playing with the kids all day. Afterwards I was worn out. So from left to right we have Roberto (8), Marina(2), Jose(3), Miguel(5), and David(4). Normally, I see Miguel, Marina, and Jose quite often. Oh and Jose just gets so excited when he sees me too!

So big prayer request for me is that I would continue to run hard and forget what is behind me. (Phil 3:13-14) I am halfway done and also need prayers for continuing to trust God's will for my life here. I had a very difficult day yesterday in which I felt weak and weary, but God has brought peace and a new hope to my soul. This week we should be hitting the 70s and I went running this morning!!!!! Ah yes, love those endorphins ;-)

Hasta Luego...

March Madness!!!!! The Tar Heels and Panthers are saying, "Let's Dance."

Here's my boyz! So sorry I haven't posted in over a week. I haven't gotten a camera cord/card reader yet. I am so thrilled it's March!!!!! For those of you who don't know[which is not possible] I was born a Tar Heel and this month is one of my favorites for several reasons, March Madness, J's birthday, A's birthday, spring time, just to name a few. However, since it's pretty much been spring time since I arrived, I won't be experiencing a major change in season maybe some higher temps I'm sure. So how is Spain you may ask? Swimming in another language is exercise for sure. My comprehension is getting better with each day even though I feel it's a bit slow. I love hearing, reading, listening to, and speaking Spanish so much. These are the 4 basic elements that my translation professor keeps reminding us to do. What I get out of this experience is what I put into it.

Here is what the scene has looked like for you since I've been here. However, my scene has not been like this so I'm not sure if I'll get as stir crazy about spring as the rest of you. Actually, I would say I've just been ahead of the game for a few months. Oh I almost forgot, I need to post some pictures of my 80s weekend.






So here are T, B, and me. B lived next door to me last year. Why don't we dress like this anymore? Seriously, I'm bringing back the 80s, colors galore. This weekend was fun but very challenging for me. I was called to serve in a way that was trying on my spirit for sure. I took care of friend who couldn't take care of herself. I experienced my 1 night of partying and decided that is enough for me. I thank God that He is providing me with other areas in which I can grow in relationships. I had fun busting some moves to some of my favorite tunes.



Here's another cool group picture from Barcelona while the 10 of us were on our Fat Tire Bike Tour. I will be going on another in Paris at the end of this month. Wow, I can't believe I'm going to Paris so soon! Today was beautiful and sunny, and after what seems like a long time I got to look at the mountains behind my apartment. Even though it's been super sunny, it's been misty so I couldn't really look at these mountains. Albi has been joining for meals lately, and I am enjoying visiting with her more. She made apple/lemon sorbet the other night which was fantastic. Oh and sometime she is going to teach me how to make Spanish tortillas! I will be making these once I'm back for sure. Something, I realized walking home today is that I need prayer coverage for my initial shock when I arrive back in the States. I'm not sure what this will entail, but am glad that God will understand.


This week is pretty laid back, I took yet another test and got an A! Albi says I'm a responsible student ;-) Well I need to be getting to bed since P and I are running in the morning. Also, I could use prayers for my upcoming travels because once I start traveling at the end of this month, I'm hitting the ground running. Here's one more cool picture of Paris! I hope I have some gorgeous days for this if not this time, maybe in May. That's right I'm going twice ;-)

Oh how could I forget...So the reason I'm going to Paris a second time is because A, my boyfriend, is coming to see me so we are flying home together! I thought since he's coming all this way, we may as well go to Paris since I know he wants to go and he took some French in high school. I'm so glad to have A traveling back with me. So many things to plan for before he gets here though. I know there are some things in Oviedo that I haven't done yet that we can do together. God is good.

Here is the first verse I ever read in Spanish.

Marcos 1:35 Muy de madrugada, cuando todavía estaba oscuro, Jesús se levantó, salió de la casa y se fue a un lugar solitario, donde se puse a orar.
Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Hasta Luego...;-)

There she was just a walkin' down the street...

Finally pictures have arrived! I know you all have been waiting soooo patiently. This was my first weekend to go to the beach [technically my second weekend in Spain]. I am with my host mom, Albi. The waves were pretty wicked this day. This was a fun visit because we drove 20 minutes to walk along the peer/take pictures for about 20 minutes and then hopped back in their French car. I should take a picture of that too! I got to see lots of little towns "pueblos" in the mountains. This was not a day for swimming 1) It was still 50 degrees 2) the waves were huge!!!! Surf's up ;-)


So here behind my apartment building it was snowing like crazy! For those of you who have been wanting to see what my place looks like, its just like this. The snow actually stayed on the ground in slush form, and for some reason I thought I should walk to school in my tennis shoes=bad idea. By the time classes were over, there was no snow to be found. However, seeing my host mom's face and my Lit professor's face: Priceless. They were so excited to have snow because it's so rare here and couldn't get enough of it. I was glad to have 1 snow day.



Here I am in Barcelona on my Fat Tire Bike! These are great tours that are really cheap. I was excited to have a red bike. I could have had yellow but got the color that suits me well. This day was sunny but as you can see I still needed my winter coat.





Ahh yes the Mediterranean Sea. I did take off my left shoe and sock to dip my toes into it and of coures felt it with my hands. For those of you who don't know I'm a "South paw" so I favor the left. Oh my goodness, this is just the beginning of beauty. I have several more trips planned one of which will be spent on an island. Those stories will come later. Here I discovered for lunch that I do not like blue cheese. I did have a sweet dessert though and my favorite European drink Fanta limon or Lemon Fanta as we would say in the States.

Yay! This is my lovely room. I hope you'll all notice how clean it is, and I make my bed everyday! Typically, I have the philosophy that the bed is way more comfortable when I don't make it, but I'm only here for a few months right. Notice: my favorite purse on my bed and another handmade gift which is hung on the back of my chair from someone I like to call, "MOM". I enjoy keeping my window open most days. This week has been 'colder' for them, but gorgeous for me. I keep asking myself each morning, "Am I really living in Spain and this is winter? Bring on spring!"

This weekend most of the UNI students are going hiking in the mountains on Saturday with Paula and Luna who are natives of Oviedo who we meet with each week. We'll all be staying in a hostel, and then that night we'll be dressing up 80's style for a fun filled night of dancing like it's 1999...well the 1980's you know. I can't wait to assemble my outfit and am looking forward to having some fun. Carnival/Carnaval is coming up next week on Tuesday which means class on Monday but no class Tuesday. They give us the days of like Tuesday or Wednesday, yeah I'm going to talk to them about this.

Funny thing I've noticed: When I'm waiting at cross walks people don't mind invading your personal space, especially when there is no one else waiting! I just laugh thinking, "Whew, I'm sure glad you moved an inch in front of me so you can get across the street that much quicker!" However, most people here are really laid back, and everyday is a Sunday walk for most people. I had a blast on Valentine's day hanging out with my friends from church in Gijon, which is where I'm at in the picture with my host mom. After service, they wanted to hang out at...dare I say it...Burger King. There goes my vow to not eat American food here, but don't plan on going there again since it cost about $10 for a whopper meal, and my drink was a small size! I am loving speaking Spanish more and more. My friends and I often interrupt each other saying in Spanish, "What I'm sorry I don't understand English..."It's great! ;-)

Hasta Luego...