My Cup of Tea.

     I didn't have school today since it's All Saints Day. I slept in this morning and wrote some emails and stuff oh and of course I ate my Nougat Pillows. Around one o'clock Merche took me to the cemetery. In Spain the cemeteries are packed on All Saints Day. People go to pay respect and place flowers on the graves. It's not a sad celebration (or at least it's not supposed to be). It was simply gorgeous. I can't exactly explain how different it was from the cemeteries I know, so I will post some pictures here. While there Merche explained to me that her husband died one year ago, her best friend fours years ago, and her mother seventeen years ago. Once I heard all this I just lost it. Usually when I'm in public and I feel like crying I can associate colors and objects and make it go away. For example: Blue sky...red building...brown dog...yellow door. But at the cemetery it a went a little more like this: Blue sky...green grass...pink flower...on the grey tomb stone...on the black tomb stone. I just hugged Merche and I told her that I was so sorry for all her losses and that she is such a strong person.
     I don't regret this happening at all because I think it made us much closer. It's moments like these in life that it's just so nice to know that there is someone beside you that cares...they may not know your past, but they know your present and they're here for a hug. Life is short so live it to the fullest and love all that you can.
     After the cemetery we headed to the grandparents house for lunch. PAELLA! I am absolutely in love with paella. It's a good thing that I made my mom make it for my graduation party this year...she'll have to be making it all the time next year. I'm going to miss this yumminess made of rice, saffron, and various meats. Oh and Grandpa still thinks I'm from France. He's ninety-two though so I just go with it. Before lunch he left the room to replace the battery in his hearing aid so we all waited at the table for him to return. He was talking like fifteen minutes so Grandma went looking for him. He was watching TV! This makes me laugh so much. I mean we could think of it as a sad story, but it's better to laugh about these things, right?
     Once we returned home from lunch I sort of lost it again just because it was such a sad day. I called my dad and he helped me through it. I had a pretty emotional day. This happens. After awhile Merche asked me if I wanted some hot tea because she now knows that I love it. I said "of course!" It was so cute. She set a place mat out and placed my cup and saucer with a little spoon and napkin. I felt like I was in a little cafe! It was Earl Grey tea and it just made my day. It honestly made me really happy. She told me that she's going to show me where the tea bags are and she'll explain how to work that thing for the hot water. Haha. It shouldn't be too difficult.
     Around 7:30 Merche and I left for church. We went to the church that I go to by myself on Sundays. Tonight there were many more people. When we walked in they were praying the rosary and then mass started soon after. After mass there was an a cappella performance in Latin by a group of old men in white robes. They were amazing. It was so nice to hear a cappella again. I'm glad that I am really getting a feel for the music here. It means so much to me. It is the universal language. And something that I just though about today: Last Halloween I saw RENT in Cincinnati and this Halloween I watched West Side Story. Both musicals...love it. I don't know what I would do without music, especially here. Today my iTunes shuffle decided to play three or four of my Spanish songs in a row and I thought this was some sort of sign: something encouraging me. So I made a playlist of all my Spanish songs and I listened to it and practiced Spanish flash cards online.

     I would just like to say that I did not shed a tear in mass tonight. I think the tea right before hand helped! Hahaha. After mass Merche and I caught the bus home since it was raining and she, Maite, and I ate dinner and headed for bed. So here I am. Time for bed. Time to get ready for another amazing week in Pamplona. Happy Birthday to Hannah! Besos everyone!