Although my upcoming adventures are fun to anticipate, they are not quite as exciting as our Emily's plans. This email was so breathless I just had to share part of it.
Hola! I had such an amazing weekend in Granada! We toured the Alhambra (one of the 7 wonders of the world, an Arabic palace..SO cool!) Then on Saturday we took the bus up to the Sierra Nevada mountains! It was so beautiful, and it was snowing, which was fun...it reminded me of home
I’m pretty sure that over Semana Santa (spring break) I’m going to MOROCCO! There is a trip through a travel agency for students (that my school recommends), and it sounds so awesome. We take a ferry over to Africa, spend a day on the coast (beach), then go to the jungle for a day (monkeys!) , then a day in the mountains, and then we’re going camping in the Sahara desert at a campsite that is only reachable by camel! So I get to ride a camel and then watch the sunrise over the Sahara desert!
Isn't that just simply amazing?
Showing posts with label Emily in Spain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Emily in Spain. Show all posts
2.04.2009
1.19.2009
Spain Update #1
Received our first email from Emily this morning, and she sounds awfully happy! I hope we get her back some day! I only x'd out her senora's name, and her last paragraph which was full of personal info. Anyhow, here's her update. Since I included you all in the worry part, I thought I should let you know she sounds great.
Hey! I had my first class today! And now I have a break for two hours before my next class..so i'm in "la biblioteca" (library) catching up on email and facebook and uploading my pictures. I'll attach a couple "fotos" for you too :). I am LOVING spain so far! I've met some really cool girls, and we've done a lot of exploring in Sevilla already. One day we toured the Cathedral and the Palace of Alcazar. They were both so beautiful, and I took lots of pictures! This weekend (Friday and Saturday night) I went out to some bars and clubs with friends. It's so weird being old enough to do that! But it was really fun. I had Sangria, which was muy deliciosa, and I talked to a lot of Spanish people. I'm really excited because I met four Christian girls and we had a little Bible study yesterday, since it was Sunday and we couldn't really go to church. It was a beautiful day (60's and sunny) so we met down by the river and just sat in the sun and relaxed and talked most of the afternoon. Then we went to the Plaza for some "helado" (ice cream) which was really good! The Spanish lifestyle is so different here than in the US, and I love it! Everything is so relaxed and everyone is so nice. We eat on a kind of weird schedule too...a tiny breakfast of toast or fruit and coffee at like 9, then we don't eat again until "el almuerzo" at like 2:30 or 3:00, and then "la cena" (dinner) is at 8:30 or 9 pm. It's REALLY important to be home on time for meals because they value meal times with the family so much. Sevilla is known to be an outdoor city, which is really cool, and a lot of families meet at the parks, plazas, or the river for lunch. Around 2:30 or 3:00 the streets and plazas get really busy because the dads come from work to meet the moms and kids for lunch. And the Spanish children are so beautiful! They wear such nice clothes too...little briches and tights and sweaters and peacoats. I love people watching here :) After lunch everyone takes a "siesta" (nap) and all of the stores close for an hour or two. I love siesta because I have time to relax, unwind, read, journal, or whatever. Today I have class until 3:30 so my senora packed me a little "pocadillo" (bag lunch). And by the way, my senora is CRAZY, but really funny. Her name is xx, she's probably about 60, kind of a bigger woman, and really loud and outspoken. And doesn't speak a word of English, which has actually been good because it forces me to speak Spanish and I feel like I'm already learning more.
Hey! I had my first class today! And now I have a break for two hours before my next class..so i'm in "la biblioteca" (library) catching up on email and facebook and uploading my pictures. I'll attach a couple "fotos" for you too :). I am LOVING spain so far! I've met some really cool girls, and we've done a lot of exploring in Sevilla already. One day we toured the Cathedral and the Palace of Alcazar. They were both so beautiful, and I took lots of pictures! This weekend (Friday and Saturday night) I went out to some bars and clubs with friends. It's so weird being old enough to do that! But it was really fun. I had Sangria, which was muy deliciosa, and I talked to a lot of Spanish people. I'm really excited because I met four Christian girls and we had a little Bible study yesterday, since it was Sunday and we couldn't really go to church. It was a beautiful day (60's and sunny) so we met down by the river and just sat in the sun and relaxed and talked most of the afternoon. Then we went to the Plaza for some "helado" (ice cream) which was really good! The Spanish lifestyle is so different here than in the US, and I love it! Everything is so relaxed and everyone is so nice. We eat on a kind of weird schedule too...a tiny breakfast of toast or fruit and coffee at like 9, then we don't eat again until "el almuerzo" at like 2:30 or 3:00, and then "la cena" (dinner) is at 8:30 or 9 pm. It's REALLY important to be home on time for meals because they value meal times with the family so much. Sevilla is known to be an outdoor city, which is really cool, and a lot of families meet at the parks, plazas, or the river for lunch. Around 2:30 or 3:00 the streets and plazas get really busy because the dads come from work to meet the moms and kids for lunch. And the Spanish children are so beautiful! They wear such nice clothes too...little briches and tights and sweaters and peacoats. I love people watching here :) After lunch everyone takes a "siesta" (nap) and all of the stores close for an hour or two. I love siesta because I have time to relax, unwind, read, journal, or whatever. Today I have class until 3:30 so my senora packed me a little "pocadillo" (bag lunch). And by the way, my senora is CRAZY, but really funny. Her name is xx, she's probably about 60, kind of a bigger woman, and really loud and outspoken. And doesn't speak a word of English, which has actually been good because it forces me to speak Spanish and I feel like I'm already learning more.
1.15.2009
Emily Update
When Emily did not call when I knew she should have landed in Madrid, it got me thinking on how out of my control her travel situation is. I am used to instant communication. Being a technology savvy mom - I text. She and I are not in constant communication by any stretch, but we *could* be.
Her cell phone does not work in Spain. Her laptop was tucked away in her backpack, and I knew that it was not going to come out along the way. And so...hmmmm...I just had to wait.
She finally did call. It had taken a while to get her luggage, and then to figure out where Iberia airlines is in the Madrid terminal, having flown in on US Air and needing to recheck her luggage for the next leg. It all took time, and then she had to conquer her first ever pay phone calling card call. All those numbers and codes!
She hung up minutes later, very tired, but needing to stay awake one more hour to ensure not missing her flight to Seville. She'd call upon arrival.
I wondered why she did not call during the afternoon yesterday. By evening I was fretting a bit. By this morning I was considering calling her university. And then she called. She had had a 10 hour lay over in Madrid. I didn't quite follow why...I was too relieved to just hear her voice. She told me that in the airport she had met another American girl and they seem to have become friends. That girl is also in Seville for the semester, and as it turns out is staying in the apartment across the street from Emily. Amazing.
She is on the 7th floor of a rather "dingy" place. There is no phone, no internet and no hot water. What?!? She said that the shower is literally a smallish tub with a hand held sprayer with which to rinse with tepid water. This actually makes me smile (don't tell Emily) because Emily takes the longest steamiest showers that you can imagine. (God does indeed have a sense of humor!) But she said she LOVES the old city, the windy cobblestone streets, and the adventure that lays before her.
Thank you Lord for bringing her safely to Seville. Thank you for phone cards. And thank you for the long hot shower that is available in the next room whenever I want it. Amen.
Her cell phone does not work in Spain. Her laptop was tucked away in her backpack, and I knew that it was not going to come out along the way. And so...hmmmm...I just had to wait.
She finally did call. It had taken a while to get her luggage, and then to figure out where Iberia airlines is in the Madrid terminal, having flown in on US Air and needing to recheck her luggage for the next leg. It all took time, and then she had to conquer her first ever pay phone calling card call. All those numbers and codes!
She hung up minutes later, very tired, but needing to stay awake one more hour to ensure not missing her flight to Seville. She'd call upon arrival.
I wondered why she did not call during the afternoon yesterday. By evening I was fretting a bit. By this morning I was considering calling her university. And then she called. She had had a 10 hour lay over in Madrid. I didn't quite follow why...I was too relieved to just hear her voice. She told me that in the airport she had met another American girl and they seem to have become friends. That girl is also in Seville for the semester, and as it turns out is staying in the apartment across the street from Emily. Amazing.
She is on the 7th floor of a rather "dingy" place. There is no phone, no internet and no hot water. What?!? She said that the shower is literally a smallish tub with a hand held sprayer with which to rinse with tepid water. This actually makes me smile (don't tell Emily) because Emily takes the longest steamiest showers that you can imagine. (God does indeed have a sense of humor!) But she said she LOVES the old city, the windy cobblestone streets, and the adventure that lays before her.
Thank you Lord for bringing her safely to Seville. Thank you for phone cards. And thank you for the long hot shower that is available in the next room whenever I want it. Amen.
1.13.2009
And she's off!
A last Starbucks with mom...
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And into the line for security. Adios Emily! Dios te bendiga!!
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And into the line for security. Adios Emily! Dios te bendiga!!
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Mixed Emotions
Our 19 year old daughter Emily is flying to Spain today. She'll fly into Madrid, and catch a connecting flight to Seville.
I am full of mixed emotions. I am so excited for her to have this opportunity. What an incredible experience - the chance of a lifetime. And yet... Tears are just under the surface. I'm a bit apprehensive about her flights and safety, and am beginning to realize that four months is a pretty long time. When she was going to her college campus, three hours away, that was one thing. She and I are both independent, so we touched base now and then but we made the separation pretty well. But this separation - I can't go for an overnight if something comes up. And if she's sick...well...she's on her own!
Thankfully I know that her Heavenly Father speaks Spanish fluently, and is as fully cognizant of her every move there as He is here. She is in His very capable hands, and that comforts this mother's heart.
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