(3 weeks)

First Snow

Madrid-Barça Game at La Pinta de Oro

Celebration in the streets

Fireworks

(welcome to authentic Espain)

24?

There are far and few between who are reading this, but I owe it to someone (maybe just 1 someone) to explain myself. Internet just isn't as reliable here and blogging everyday will probably never work. However, I still love spain so lets get on with the countdown.

24 days.

thanksgiving has passed, Thank the Lord, and I no longer need to remind myself that this would be my first thanksgiving away from family, friends and that perfect Texas fall weather (haha). But actually, I had a really fun thanksgiving with the group of students here in Zamora. Everyone brought something unique to the table and to realize at 4am that I had spent the nearly the entire night in Castellano was a fabulous feeling. (lets work on saying it correctly: In Spain, they speak Castellano. Not spanish. There is a very nearly invisible line between the two, but its there.)

Anyways Mom, thank you so much for calling me from turkey day lunch! It meant so much to pass around the phone and talk to everyone. Thank yall for thinking about me!

Refent discovery: EuroGrill. Fries and mayo (dutch style), texas-sized burgers (rhode island sized patty) and its is located next door. literally i went in sweat pants and a pea coat.

Another thing, this weather is GREAT! blue skies and sunshine. Loving IT. LOVE LOVE LOVe.

29 & 28

So you know what is so great about Spain? Unsolicited help. Everyone here in Zamora is so nice! I always buy my produce at El Cid -- a little store front on Calle Amargura. They are usually pretty packed with old folks but if you can get there before the crowd hits, it is so lovely to just walked around in circles and read labels and oogle things you've never seen before. This week however, I walked in with a goal: I wanted to make a pot of beans. I asked where the beans were and voila I had a personal shopper and recipe book at hand. The lady (I've got to get her name!) explained every type of bean, their origin, and how they cook. We settled on Pintas and as I checked out, she began to tell me the best way to do it. Then, the two ladies in line behind me chimed in and within minutes, I knew what to do, what to avoid and a request for me to return with my results.

And to let you know, the beans turned out wonderfully. They are the perfect meal for the fall-turned-winter weather :) Here, friends and family, is some unsolicited help for you:

Beans

Soak beans overnight in water.

saute garlic, onion, red and green peppers, carrots in a large pot. cook them down until the carrots are almost tender. rinse and add beans. add WARM or HOT water (never cold says the El Cid lady) and add chicken broth until everything is covered. add cumin and bay leaf. bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and cook for 2-3 hours until everything is tender, and desired juice is left. Add salt only at the end to prevent the beans from breaking.

que aprobeche!

THIRTY

When in Spain, there is plenty of time to do nothing :)

I love spending Sundays catching up on the girls above Charlie, finding Vera Neumann scarves that I ADORE and laying in bed watching movies.

hint: I LOVE THE VERA FLORALS! :) (merry Christmas, anyone??) They can also be found at ETSY and Ebay!

Hope you are all doing great and getting ready for Thanksgiving!

31

The excitement of a new place is always just a bus ride away ....

My shopping day in Valladolid (an hour and a half north of Zamora) went fabulously.

32

loving the wind and rain tonight. cold weather and clear skies. the promise of hot coffee and good shopping tomorrow make me a happy giiirl :)

harry potter in Spanish also made me a happy girl tonight! I understood most of it with the help of a good bottle of wine. In spain, 'botellon' is when a group of friends get together in a public place (in the park, by the river, in the square etc.) and pass the bottle. We did our own little botellon in the theater :) I really think wine, dark chocolate and the theater are some of my favorite things ...

33 33 33

Today as I was walking home from a private lesson, I decided to forego my usual route and chose a road I never take. I walked for a bit, enjoying the cool weather and fading sun, when I turned the corner and suddenly was "on the other side of town" (or so I thought my head.) I couldn't stop laughing at my mistaken shortcut! It was so great to feel completely part of the city. I linked together every section of Zamora in my mind and realized, "I really do live here."