It's Gonna Be A Happy New Year!

      I've had one of the best New Year's Eve of my life. During the day I relaxed until 8 pm when Merche and I headed for my host grandparents for dinner. We ate and talked and ate amazing turron. I had the option of trying barnacles that night and I had to pass. I just couldn't do it. I've tried everything else...but these looked like brown roots with green dinosaur toenails...just saying. While at dinner, one of my host cousins asked what Spanish food I want to take back to the states and I told him Nougat Pillows and Merche's salads. They all laughed. They were like, "Cereales?!" Hahaha. Yes. Cereal. I love it, and Merche knows it because we have a never ending supply. Right now there are three boxes full of heaven in  the kitchen. After dinner we all talked for a bit and did our own thing. I listened to my iPod and wrote in my journal quickly. I just had too many memories to write about! Ha...or I just didn't really have anything to say.
     Once it was 11:45 pm, we all gathered around the TV with our plates filled with twelve grapes ready for the countdown. In the last twelve seconds of 2010, everyone in Spain shoved twelve grapes in their mouth and ate them before the clock struck midnight for good luck for a prosperous year. After the grapes we all drank champagne and clinked glasses to another great year. Around 12:30 Merche and I said our goodbyes and started walking home (Maite wanted to stay at the grandparents for awhile longer). On the way home, we say lots of Pamplonians dressed up in costumes (like Halloween). They started dressing up about twenty years ago. The cool thing is that they only do it in Pamplona. Yay! The rest of Spain gets really dressed up (as in elegant) for the occasion. Some costumes were pretty interesting. I have to say though, I did not appreciate the serial killer clowns. They scared me. Anyways. Merche and I got home around one. Natalie came here soon after to get ready with me and then Athena and Elle joined as well. We all got dressed up and headed downstairs to meet the others. We were all together, but wanted to do different things...so Natalie, Mitchell, and I went to Merengo right away. When we first got there, there was only middle aged (and +) people. We were shocked because Merengo is always filled with young people. We then asked the bartender when the younger people would come and he told us around four. Sure enough, he was right. We danced and danced and danced until six am. At six my feet were starting to hurt (that's what heels so to you after four hours of being on your feet, I suppose) and I kept procrastinating opening my eyes. That's when you know it's time to sleep. Haha. Natalie and I said goodbye to Mitch and then headed back to my apartment.
      I had such an amazing time. What a way to start the new year! The following day I slept in. As soon as I woke up I washed the smoke out of hair. Eww, que asco! AND I had a warm shower!! I was so happy. As soon as my warm shower was over, I quickly  got ready for lunch at the grandparents. Lunch was delicioso. We had salad (duhh), then jumbo shrimp (yay for oxymorons), and then...and then...and then....drumroll please....we had mashed potatoes and roast beef!!!!!!!! It tasted so perfect. It was a perfect mix of American and Spanish and I was just in love. I ate lunch to Tia Amaya. She's a nun. She is so sweet. We always joke around. I usually sit by her and Yayo (Grandpa) for some reason. They just make me happy. After lunch we came home and just relaxed until it was time for dinner. I can't remember what kind of salad it was at the moment. Oh well.
      I went to bed last night around five am. It's been my regular bedtime over break. Haha. I got up this morning and got ready for church. After church I came home and said Happy Birthday to Merche!!!! We ate a great lunch today. We had salad and paella. The salad: tomatoes, tuna, onions, black olives, corn, oil, vinegar, and salt. Que rica!! Then, in the afternoon, friends and family came over to celebrate Merche's birthday. I had the best time. It was so nice. We ate and talked and just enjoyed each others company. Once everyone left, Merche, Maite, and I cleaned up the mess. Then I gave Meche her present: a wind chime and a bottle of hand soap from B&BW. She loved it! I was so happy! I then watched TV for a bit with Maite until I found myself falling asleep.

     Now that I have to move in a week, I feel so much closer to my host family. I feel as though the holidays gave us something special and now we are closer than ever. I love them. I don't think I'm ready to leave. I'm looking forward to my next family, I'm just going to miss this one. Bueno, there's nothing I can do! I will have another incredible experience with my next family! With that, here's to another fantastic year full of adventure, laughter, experiences, and love! Buenas. Besos a todos!