A series

I finally have all the pictures from my trip, yay! Now I just have to adjust all the ones I want to show you... but first, here's a funny series of pics I found of me and Whit just before diving into the surf in Conil (I think that's where we were)...

We discover the Yucca plant and can't quite decide what to do with it. It looks like I've decided to poke it and Whitney is bracing me in case something poisonous shoots out...

Next, I've actually touched it and Whit moves in to inspect it a bit more closely...

Here, I think I've actually extracted some type of liquid from the spine and am doing various tests like smelling, tasting, etc. Whitney is still fascinated as am I...

Fianlly, we discover we are being watched...

A few more pictures that I think would go nicely in this blog... This is a picture of the beach in Conil. The one sunny afternoon we had and Whit and I took advantage by jumping in the waves for a while.

This is a picture of me that Whit and I both liked, but I think Iñaki was a bit grossed out by it. I put my clothes on over my swimming suit and it looked like I peed my pants. If Steph is reading this, I hope she knows this is an ode to peebutt.

This is a snail we met on the way home from the beach. I ended up picking him up, but realized that probably bothered him, so I put him back down. He just sort of rolled over and laid there for a while, poor fella.

Not much more to blog on I spose. Alexis' communion is this weekend, so we're having a big bash on Sunday. Oh, on Saturday I'm playing in a "streetball" 3 on 3 tourney in the Plaza del Castillo. I looooooove 3 on 3, so I'm really pumped. Plus, I find it hilarious that it's in the Plaza because it's such a touristy spot and all "old Pamplona" and I sort of feel like streetball is not what it was meant for. I mean, it has a gazebo. But, it's gonna be really fun. Last night I ate some really awesome food that GPJ would be proud of. Two fried eggs (which I will have to learn the technique for because they are different from home and delicious), two sausages, 3 slices of pork, tomatoe sauce and fries. Mmmmmmmmm. It's still sticking to my ribs as I write.

The actual dinner conversation was a little rough on me though. There are times when I understand and times when I don't. I understood enough last night, but I kept saying what, or huh and felt like an idiot. I dunno, writing about it now makes it seem like I was all twisted up for no reason. After all, I should just tell people to slow down a tad, but dumb old pride gets in the way and before I know it, I'm on autopilot and nodding and smiling when I don't know what to ask. I started thinking about dinner at Shari's or Red Robin with college buddies and how everything just flowed and I could talk and be funny and laugh at jokes and the fact that I was speaking in English never even crossed my mind.

But, I know I can speak and communicate and get the important parts when I need to. I wish I'd push myself a little harder though. It's my experience and I'll only get out what I put in. I'm putting in, but maybe I want to put more in. I want to be able to chat, not just speak.

Sorry, I guess that was a bit of a downer, but don't worry, I still feel happy. I'm starting to work on getting a visa for next year and find out if I can teach english here so send me good vibes as it's a lengthy process! Love you!