#WhyImSingle

Two recent major pieces of news in particular have revealed divine purpose in my being where God wants me to be:

1. A new friend I met and have shared the gospel with has decided to be baptized (on my birthday!!!).
2. My brother and his wife have had a baby (awesome!) and found out that he has a serious congenital heart defect (not-so-awesome).

My role in #1 and the importance of my having moved is somewhat obvious. If I hadn't moved, I wouldn't have made the new friend and I wouldn't have been able to share the gospel with her.

My role in #2 is less obvious, but still simple. Where I live if halfway between the hospital caring for my new nephew and where my brother lives with his family. My convenient location provided me the opportunity to serve my brother, his wife, and his mother-in-law by opening my home to them as a way station from the hospital and babysitting their toddler so they could focus on their newborn.

I often wonder aloud or to myself how I've come to be where I am today. More recently, the wondering wanders to why I felt I should move; after all, my life still mostly consists of work A, work B, church activities, friends, and family (not in that order). Almost as soon as I ask myself why did I move? I think of the benefits I now enjoy as a result: less time commuting; easier access to family & friends in multiple towns, the temple, and work; new friendships; more independence. My musing of how and why also tend to be answered through life's twists and turns. Maybe this is #WhyImSingle !

If I'd had my way, I would be a married stay-at-home mom with a few kiddos of my own by now, and maybe a concert flautist or world-renowned author. Then again, if I'd had my way, I would have also missed out on some of the best experiences of my life, would have missed out on meeting my new friend and sharing the gospel with her, and would have had a harder time being available to serve my brother and his family. I would not have an MA in Spanish, nor would I be influencing young minds through teaching. In short, my life would be drastically different than it is.

My birthday is coming up and I'm excited. However, as I hear of friends' birthday plans, such as staying in a 5-star hotel or traveling to Sweden, I think, "Wow, maybe I should do something more exciting..." But wait--my birthday is going to be one of the best because on the anniversary of my physical birth, a friend of mine will be reborn spiritually and there's almost nothing better than that!

What's more, some of my friends and family have reminded me of small moments I've shared with them and I'm reminded yet again that who I am is not found in the rare big trips or luxury experiences (as great as those are), but in the everyday interactions I have with those around me. When I'm old and gray, those who know me will think first of what I said to or did for them. So far, what they have to say is pretty positive, so I must be doing something right with my life.

I'm so grateful for the heartfelt conversations that allow my fellow brothers and sisters on earth and me to get to know each other as well as share in struggles and learn together. I'm so grateful for my family and the support we bring to one another. The family is truly "ordained of God" (The Family: A Proclamation to the World). He has a plan for me. He has a plan for you. Maybe you're single like me, married like my friends, and/or raising children. No matter the situation, know that God knows why you're single, why you're married, why you have your children, why you are where you are. He knows. And His plan is glorious!

Trusting the Master Gardener

See that plant there? It's mine. :)

See that leaf shooting out of the top? It's a symbol of life and growth in times of drought.

Drought? Yes. I hadn't watered the plant the entire time I was gone for Christmas break, for 2.5 weeks.

Honestly, I was shocked that, rather than wither away and die, it grew--in fact, it flourished! (See photo for proof.)

One of my first thoughts was, "I have to blog about this; it has so much relevance to life!" Another thought was that my plant was overdue for more water, so I gave it plenty; it had waited long enough. And guess what happened to it in the next few days? To my dismay, it became sick. The usually healthy leaves turned brown towards the ends and one entire leaf withered up!

I knew yet again that I needed to blog about my little plant. In a very real way, in doing so I'm blogging about myself and each one of us.

God is the Master Gardener: He knows each of his plants (us), He's planted each one in a specific place, and He knows how much sunlight (inspiration) and water (spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental nourishment) each of His plants needs in order to not only survive, but thrive. He is ever aware of His garden's well-being. This means that if a plant needs more water, He'll give it more. more sunlight? Done. The opposite is true, too; the plants that do better in dry or indirectly lit areas will receive less water or sunlight. If too much water is given to a desert plant like mine, for example, it can actually hurt the plant more than help it.

What I'm saying doesn't mean that He favors one plant over another. Instead, it means that He takes perfect care of each one in a specific, purposeful, and careful way. 

The day I came back to work and saw my plant after Christmas break was just after I'd moved. I felt lonely, frustrated, stressed, and worried about being forgotten. I knew God loved me and that I still had my family and at least some friends. I knew Heavenly Father was aware of my needs and that I'd moved for a reason. But I wondered if God would keep His promises in the way I interpreted them. I mean, He is perfect, but I'm not and I very well may have been misinterpreting what He was telling me through prayers, scriptures, feelings, the Spirit, and others' words. In a small but profound way, seeing that my plant was thriving on the water I'd given it a couple weeks beforehand was a message from the Gardener to me: This is a time of growth for you. You'll flourish. I'm paying attention. And you know what? A cup with water was right next to the plant the whole time, ready for the next watering.

So, the next time you feel stuck and feel like God isn't hearing your pleas for more, think of my plant. More importantly, think of the Gardener's message to YOU: This is a time of growth for you. You'll flourish. I'm paying attention.

Joshua 1:9 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

Follow-up: Test Worries (or the Lack Thereof)

I rocked it. I wasn't perfect, but I did my best and I felt like my abilities were at their peak, thanks to divine help. Family and friends prayed for me, which is touching to know in its own right, and it helps, too, that I know I'm where God wants me to be in my life. (Aside: If it were up to me, I'd hurry up and change a few things, but there's a reason why the Man Upstairs is in charge.)

So how did I do?

• OPI: Advanced-mid That is to say, my speaking ability in Spanish is advanced--not the Superior or Advanced-high I was hoping for, but it's still an improvement over last time. I think what prevented me from reaching higher levels was a lack of organized arguments in a discussion/presentation of ideas, but that's not exactly how I speak even in English. I'm better with writing when it comes to that. At any rate, I surpassed the Advanced-low state requirement.
• PRAXIS: Passed! On a scale of 100-200, I got 189, and Utah only requires 168 to be able to teach. Again, my presentational speaking was weaker, but I aced the written portion.

Okay, despite all my seeming confidence and apparent nonchalant attitude conveyed in my last post, I did get nervous, just not as nervous as I would have been without having prepared a decade for this. I learned from my scores that I'm not perfect, but I would've been lying to myself to say otherwise. Like I tell my students and am trying to put to words, perfection isn't everything. My students won't learn how to conjugate all verbs overnight, but they can master a few -ar, -ir, -er verbs for now. However, mastery≠perfection.

Hear me out! I say "mastery" and "perfection" are not necessarily synonymous with one another for a reason. See, "mastery" could mean over a concept, a small portion of a greater whole. Now, "perfection" means "wholeness, completeness." I teach, hoping that my students will master present tense verbs in Spanish, but by no means should I expect them to speak perfect Spanish by the end of the unit, or even the end of the year. 

Moral of the story: The same mastery≠perfection concept applies to you and me; we're here to learn and grow, and our trials, our joys, and even the mundane everyday moments of our lives help us to master skills we acquire, whether by necessity or choice. For example, I've mastered Spanish well enough that the state will allow me to continue teaching. I see that I still have room for improvement, but I was blessed to do well enough and I'm sure God will continue to help me improve. By the end of my life and yours, odds are we'll be pros in many ways, having mastered a number of skills, but we won't be perfect human beings. That's what eternity's for. That's what the atonement is for. Christ makes up the difference, as long as we do our best and let Him help us along.

We don't have to be perfect. What matters most is our willingness to try, to do our best. :)

Here's to 2015! Let's make it one of mastery moments. 

God bless you, my friends.

“Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” ~L. M. Mongomery, Anne of Green Gables

Test Worries (or the Lack Thereof)

...I'm not all that worried, really.

See, I am taking two tests tomorrow to show I'm making progress in earning my Spanish teaching license. To many people, one alone would be worthy of stress; I'm taking two. The cost alone is daunting and would motivate a person to make paying for it worthwhile by doing well. Combined with that is the fact that I need to do well (whatever that means exactly) in order to get my licensure, or else I'll have to retake them and pay all over again.

How, then, am I not terribly worried? The first is the Spanish PRAXIS. I've heard it's not all that bad and besides, I have an MA in Hispanic Linguistics. If a decade of learning, using, and teaching Spanish hasn't taught me what I need to know to succeed, I don't know what will.

The second test is the ACTFL oral proficiency interview (OPI). I passed it once already and have to retake it simply because it's been too long for it to count for my license--and I took it before my MA. Again, if a decade of learning, using, and teaching Spanish hasn't taught me what I need to know to succeed, I don't know what will.

In school, we learn that procrastinating and cramming can suffice for getting grades on written tests for semester-long courses. However, learning a language teaches you that when the day of the oral test comes, it all comes down to whether or not you've already put in the practice time consistently for quite some time in advance. I'm so used to the school mentality that I think perhaps I should cram, but I realize that at this point, I either know it or I don't.

PRAXIS, OPI: Bring it on.

I guess life is like taking these big tests: We live, making choices on a daily basis. If something really matters, we'll make time for it. When the tests and trials come, a decision made the day before won't be nearly as helpful as one made and lived by weeks, months, or even years since. Obviously, I wouldn't be prepared for tomorrows' test if I just started studying this school year; the hard times have been specially designed to make me stronger for the bigger tests to come, just like all the small oral and written exams have prepared me for big tests such as those I face tomorrow. Because I've put in the practice regularly over years and years (and even have a degree to prove it now!), I feel at peace.

It helps that I know I've prepared and God has helped prepare me. I know I'm where He wants me to be and He will help me to be successful. You, too, have prepared for this life and God knows exactly what He has in mind for you. Yes, temporary failures come, but everything happens for a reason to get you to where He thinks is best for you. Personally, I'm inclined to believe that an omniscient being's plan ought to be trustworthy and reliable. Tests will come, and if we follow God's counsels in the simple choices we make on a regular basis, we have nothing to fear!

Everyday Courage

Recently, a friend wrote me a letter, saying that I'm powerful. At that moment (and in many others), I felt pretty far away from powerful. I trust my friend and know she tells the truth, and yet I questioned her words. Me, powerful? But...how???

In another situation recently, I received a Priesthood blessing in which God blessed me with courage to endure. Reflecting back on it later that week, I again questioned, Me? Courageous?

Do YOU consider yourself courageous?

I soon turned to the wisdom of my Facebook community, asking my friends how they define courage. Below are their responses.

Do you see it? Can you tell who has courage?

• The father who takes the passenger seat so his teen can learn to drive.
• The mother who manages a household and children while her husband is away for long periods of time.
• The son who watches the horrors of 9/11 and two weeks later leaves home for a mission in a country filled with terrorists because he knows it's where God wants him to be and he has faith he will be protected.
• The daughter who gets married and moves to another state with her new husband.
• The son who, though still in college, chooses to get married and begin a family. He works and goes to school to provide for his family, struggling to make ends meet, but has faith it will all work out.
• The daughter who travels to a foreign country by herself. (And her parents, for letting her go!)
• The daughter who leaves friends at college behind because she feels like she is needed at home.

Are you getting the picture yet? If not, I'll give a few more examples.

• The man who musters the guts to ask a girl out.
• The girl who musters the guts to ask a guy out.
• The person who stands up for him/herself, regardless of what others might think or say.
• The friend who announces he's gay but still chooses to stay true to the morals and standards he believes in.
• The young couple who falls in love and saves sex for marriage
• The young adult who believes in and supports traditional marriage, whether he/she is married already or is waiting a special someone still.
• The couple that chooses to raise children in today's world.
• The couple that fights day after day, hoping to one day be blessed with a child of their own.
• The woman who takes the chemo medication weekly, week after week, month after month, because she hopes it will help her body beat the disease within.
• The young man who loses his health to cancer and a stroke, but chooses to find purpose in his trials and strengthens those around him with encouraging words.
• The overweight kid who says no to that piece of pizza.
• The addict who relapses and still fights to be drug-free.
• The recovering porn addict who turns to a spouse for support so they can build a stronger relationship and manage the struggle together.
• The foreigner who seeks to gain a grasp of a new country's language and risks sounding stupid in an effort to learn the language.
• The missionary in an area close to violence and yet continues to work on in faith.
• The young adult who stays home from a religious mission, serving as a missionary in his or her own right.
• The teen who waits to date until he/she is 16.
• The teen who is an example of modesty and clean language, no matter what their peers are doing.
• The individual who doesn't give up, no matter how fruitless his/her labors seem right now because they will eventually pay off.

Who has courage? Who are the brave ones? Let me tell you, courage isn't reserved for superheroes in the movies or soldiers, firefighters, and policemen. Courage is in each of us. Let me rephrase that:

WE ARE COURAGEOUS.

The first set of examples are from my own family. In addition to the examples listed by my friends in the image above, the second set represents everyday people I know and the struggles I've seen them confront and that I've confronted, too.

What do we learn from these words of wisdom in the above images? Fear is a common factor. Goodness knows, I have my fair share of fears, but I've learned the truth behind these words. I find myself often faced with something that scares me, but it usually comes down to telling myself, Stop thinking about what could happen and just do it. I force myself to stop thinking of the "What if" scenarios and act. We think so much about what could go wrong--what about what could go right?

Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

Are YOU strong? Rather, are you moving forward, despite fear? Do you have faith God has a plan for you and is helping you along the way? Are you getting back up after you fall? Are you doing hard things? Are you doing your best (not someone else's best but your own)? Are you trying in your own (albeit small) way to make the world a better place?

If you've answered, "Yes," to any the questions in the last paragraph, then yes, YOU ARE COURAGEOUS. I don't need superheroes; I have courageous friends like you. You are my everyday heroes. What's even better? We've got God on our side, helping us move forward. WE ARE POWERFUL.

What You Need

She hurried out of the meeting, down the elevator, and out the doors into the bright sunshine of a warm October evening. She had to get home. She needed to cry, but outside was too public. She wanted to get home as quickly as possible, and while her car was temporarily out of commission that meant she should make it to the TRAX station pronto to then catch a train home. It would take an hour, maybe more.

Try as she might, the tears sprang to her eyes, streamed down her cheek, and caught in her throat as the thoughts swirled. This was the umpteenth time she cried in a matter of days and she felt weak for it. How much money did she have saved? She'd checked earlier that day. How much would the car cost? And now, she had to retake an oral proficiency test because it had expired? Then, too, there was the PRAXIS to think about for her subject area, not to mention the courses that would be required. At least her lack of finding housing closer to work meant some money saved there... But what of savings? So much for that ever elusive future wedding, money for a new apartment and furniture,  and savings in general to fall back on.

She thought of her sister, who at that moment was likely in greater pain, laboring through childbirth and felt a mixture of sympathy for the sister and a twinge of regret for her own dreams yet unrealized.
She'd pictured college graduation, marriage, and children by now. Reality was college graduation, more college and another graduation, work, and now a new teaching job. She'd hit the ground running and now she felt herself faltering, which made her even more frustrated.

In her heart of heart, she cried out, hoping heaven would hear, "This isn't what I wanted! This isn't what I wanted!"

Heaven did hear, and answered, "But it's what you needed. It's what you need."

This was the same answer she'd received when she'd asked why her siblings had the dream she'd yearned for and she was the one denied it. Why? Because it was what they needed and her path was the one of experiences she needed. Needed for what? To grow. To progress. Her time would come.

The tears lingered, but her rapid heartbeat and breathing slowed as she reached the TRAX station. She'd arrived with minutes to spare, even. Her problems weren't gone; far from it. But she was on her way home and she knew she'd make it. Exactly how was uncertain, but she was certain she was where she needed to be and for the moment, that was enough.

3 Ne. 13:30-34
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, even so will he clothe you, if ye are not of little faith.
 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
 32 For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. 

Humor in the Scriptures

On Monday, I was discouraged. My friend (the very same who said I should have a blog) recommended I take a break from work to stop at the Salt Lake Temple, which is on the same block as my FamilySearch job. I had considered it myself already and agreed that it would help me, whether to find comfort or inspiration.

A half hour was all I needed, as it turns out. Sitting quietly by myself, I said a prayer, at first filled with the turmoil of my thoughts as I thought of all my worries, concerns, and uncertainties. Somehow, as one thought confusedly spilled over another, the raging flood slowed into a calm stream and my thoughts shifted from me to those I care about. My pregnant younger sister, my aunt and injured uncle, my friend struggling against Lyme disease... I prayed for them and in doing so found peace.

I also picked up some scriptures. If I'm not picking up where I left off, I often flip open to a page at random to see what piece of revelation awaits me. The later was the case this time and the book I held fell open to Alma 26.

"23 Now do ye remember, my brethren, that we said unto our brethren in the land of Zarahemla, we go up to the land of Nephi, to preach unto our brethren, the Lamanites, and they laughed us to scorn?
24 For they said unto us: Do ye suppose that ye can bring the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth? Do ye suppose that ye can convince the Lamanites of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers, as stiffnecked a people as they are; whose hearts delight in the shedding of blood; whose days have been spent in the grossest iniquity; whose ways have been the ways of a transgressor from the beginning? Now my brethren, ye remember that this was their language."

I smirked; my modern-day Lamanites are my middle-schoolers. My friends and family certainly aren't laughing me to scorn, but there seems to be a general sentiment that those kids are crazy and just very well may eat me alive!  Really, I've seen how poorly kids who learn Spanish in secondary schools speak Spanish when they reach the university. Why should I even hope to teach my kids much? How much are they going to retain?

Go ahead. Reread the passage, replacing "Lamanites" with "middle school students."

See what I mean? Yes, God MUST have a sense of humor to show me a passage like the one above to cheer me up! It also shows that He knows my sense of humor, too.

I read on, wondering what gem would reveal itself. I wasn't disappointed.

"26 But behold, my beloved brethren, we came into the wilderness not with the intent to destroy our brethren, but with the intent that perhaps we might save some few of their souls.
27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.
28 And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God."

Like the Lord comforted them, at that moment, through their words and wisdom from their trials, He comforted me. I can succeed and with Him, I will. I don't know how I'll get to school to teach for the next couple of weeks, but I don't need to know the end from the beginning. And every day I have seen God's mercies for me through others' kindness and service. Yes, He has a sense of humor, and He uses it to bless His children in every stage of life.

Can Life Be Too Interesting?

At this moment, I'm tempted to say, "Yes." Can I please have a little less interesting than no apartment, a long commute, a broken down car, and now--to top it off--an unreadable USB that has the best versions of my lesson plans and family history?

Yeah, I have a roof over my head still. I simply am worried about the traffic once the snow comes and the possibility of getting in an accident. It doesn't help, either, that I stay up super late (like tonight), getting lessons ready and papers graded, only to have to wake up early to commute. If/when I find an apartment, I'll be able to save myself time and avoid potential accidents.

...Oh, my car.
...Oh, my USB.

My brother, the family computer guru, was the one who told me the USB was unreadable. I hoped it was just his computer's problem. Nope.

My cousin, a family mechanic pro, was the one who told me my engine was probably detonating (igniting gas too soon). I hoped the rattle was not really a big deal. Nope.

Thankfully, I have some of my teaching materials saved elsewhere.

Thankfully, my car lasted as long as it did; my cousin said the detonating could've ruined the engine and that the timing belt was about to break.

Sometimes, I want to run away from my responsibilities, and for once I can for a few days this week because it is the school's fall break. What will I be doing? Spending time back home with my family there because my baby sister and her husband are having a baby! Goes to show that when all is said and done, at least I know I can fall back on family. When everything else seems to fall apart, they're there for me.

New Adventures

"Your life is so interesting! You should have a blog. "

So said my friend/coworker, who was surprised to find out I already do.

My blog started as a travel log as a grad student. Three and a half years and countless decisions later, here I am again at last. I wish it were for another travel log to a far-off country, but for now it'll be about my adventures closer to home. Before, I was a graduate student and graduate instructor; now I'm graduated, I've spent almost a year and a half in the workforce with FamilySearch.org, and (as if that weren't enough) I'm a middle school Spanish teacher!

My work with FamilySearch has been in-depth and varied, and I love that I get an insider look at the system. I've also been blessed with unique opportunities to do family history research.

My time with FamilySearch as a contractor has been terminal from the outset, and a turn of events led me to consider being Profe Bean again--and after more turns of events, here I am, fulfilling both roles!

My student instructor days were helpful, but boy is teaching pre-teens and teens a new ball game! And yet, I don't regret it.

New teacher supplies from my mentors, including "Teacher Kibble" AKA Cookies 'N Cream candies. ☺

Let me tell you, I was scared for my first parent-teacher conferences yesterday as the teacher, but it went splendidly. I talked with parents of struggling students as well as of excelling students. They don't know I was hired a week before school started, that I'm still in the licensure process, and that I am constantly swaying back and forth between feeling like an incompetent novice and a confident instructor. I was pleasantly surprised to find that none of them blamed me for anything. No; in fact, some even thanked me for my work and communication with them!

Validated? Oh, yes, and it is sweet.

And now, time to grade papers...

Dear John--er, Provo

Dear Provo,

I don't know if you saw this coming or if I'm about to completely blindside you, but it’s over. I'm done here and it’s time for me to move on. I'm not moving too far away; just enough to have some distance. It’s true that we've been seeing each other constantly for almost 6 years, but you never could really commit. I see that now. You called me your way and I obeyed. It was love at first sight when I first met you in Junior high, but then when my parents left me on your doorstep as a newly graduated college freshman, I was scared. It wasn't all warm fuzzies then, but next I knew you provided me with a network of friends and mentors. You truly became my world, bedazzling me with your vast array of interests, from sports to music to cooking to linguistics to the sciences. You helped me learn and grow by encouraging me to value lifelong learning, faith in God, and the simple pleasures in life, from education to nature. You're what so many young people dream of: intelligence, spirituality, and attractiveness all in one package. Plus, with all your talk of mission, marriage, and family, I knew you had your priorities well placed. And yet I should have known that, despite all your talk, I was always just a friend to you. I've been holding out hope, but God has helped me to move on and see you as you see me: as a close, dear friend. In fact, I guess I'm the sister you never had.

Buddy, the feeling's mutual.

You always said, “Come forth to learn; go forth to serve.” I've learned what I've needed to with you, to be sure. You have helped me grow in countless ways from a young, dependent teenager to an older independent woman. I'll never forget you. Don’t think this is easy for me; every time I see you, I wish it could stay like this forever because you are so wonderful and six years  of memories is hard to walk away from! But this move is for the best. I will look back on our time together in fondness and treasure it for decades to come.  Thank you for having faith in me and for helping me see what I'm capable of. I've “come forth to learn” and now it’s time for me to leave and “go forth to serve”. You'll always have a special place in my heart.

See you around,

Ariel

PS Thanks for introducing me to Salt Lake; he’s so established and spiritual, but fun, too! The three of us should hang out sometime. ;)

Challenge Accepted

So, there’s a Sunday school teacher in my ward that makes a habit of closing each lesson with a challenge to help us apply the week’s lesson into our daily lives, causing what we discuss and learn to truly be incorporated into everyday life. Now, the challenges aren’t exactly typical, nor are they of his own inventions. No, he prays to know how to present the lesson to us and what to challenge us to do as well as what blessings we can expect from following through on said challenges.

For example, one week’s was to ask someone we liked in our congregation on a date that week, promising us that if we were to do so, we would experience a change of heart the way we needed it and that as a consequence to fulfilling our side of the bargain, an eternal companion would be led into our lives. I did my part and I am still very much single, but I did indeed have a mighty change of heart (Alma 5) in a way that only God could’ve worked in me. As a result, I am much happier with where I am in life and I can see that this time as a young, single adult is a gift from God to help me grow in ways I couldn’t have had I already married or had I not lived in the singles complexes I’ve lived in.

Another challenge was to smile at every person I make eye contact with, regardless of your relationship as friends, enemies, or strangers. It made me think of the Berenstain Bears story where the little girl and her brother are nice to each other to spite their mother, or the game, Quelf, in which one of the curses is to say, “I have you now!” every time you make eye contact. I haven’t been so good at doing that consistently, but it was fun when I did.

But I stray from the topic at hand. This last week’s challenge (from yesterday’s lesson) was to read the entire Book of Mormon in 2 weeks. 40 pages a day. Honestly, my first reaction when I found out was, “I’m busy; I have my thesis to work on.” Which is true. I just started working on it again in earnest. I also just had this urge to resist. And what is the promise, might I ask? That is between me and God, apparently. Hmm. And then my friend informing me of the challenge added a clincher: The teacher issuing the challenge will take everyone who accomplishes the goal out to eat. Okay, I’m a sucker for free food and I'm often not one to pass up a reasonable challenge. Plus, it has been a year since I read the Book of Mormon cover to cover; I need to refresh my knowledge so I can more intelligently discuss the book’s principles with friends who may ask. Besides, I've been slacking off in truly taking time to study and ponder the scriptures rather than simply read a few verses regularly.  I could probably use the spiritual boost in my life--who doesn't! (Who knows; it just may be what brings other blessings about!) And if I get physical nourishment as reward for spiritual work and growth, all the better.

Last week I saw the YouTube video "Pais Mes Brebis (Feed My Sheep)," and although it is in French, the English subtitles and the general spirit of the vid share the power of the word of God (whether it be the Bible,   the Book of Mormon, or other scripture) in our everyday lives to change us. In the long run, if I am to "feed [his] sheep," why not start with myself, one among the sheep also seeking guidance from the Shepherd. Only after nourishing myself and knowing of its reality and goodness can I be a powerful guide and influence in helping others find their path to God.

So, Brother Sunday School Teacher, there are sheep to be fed, starting with me. You’re on. Challenge accepted. 

Imagine...

A warm house with soft lighting and comfortably worn-in chairs.  Hot, delicious home-cooked soup and cold, fresh vegetables.   A low murmur of conversation and bubbly laughter of friends and toddlers, forgetting the cares of everyday life in the simple pleasure of being together.  The truest image of a picturesque moment, the kind you relish and wish to live in forever.  If only I’d had a camera…

Sometimes they come as I sit and watch a young couple play with their young child or a young man offers his seat to an elderly woman.  Sometimes the time-resistant picturesque moments come as I walk to campus and ponder on the wonderful blessings I’ve been given.  Sometimes they come as I sit in my office and talk about linguistics, teaching, Spanish, or any combination thereof with my colleagues.  Sometimes they come as I teach and bask in the delight I see in my students’ eyes when they finally understand and can’t help but blurt out, “I love Spanish!”  Sometimes they come as I sit in the temple praying, at my desk reading the scriptures, or singing hymns with fellow Christians.  Sometimes they come when I’m with my friends and stop paying attention to what’s going on to admire their beauty and goodness.  And sometimes they come when I’m with my parents, siblings, and cousins reminiscing on the past, celebrating special occasions, or simply spending time with them.  More and more lately, I feel pressure to hurry to finish, to make plans, to get my future plans in order.  But almost just as much, I suddenly feel the pure joy of being in the right place and marveling at God’s goodness.  Regardless of when they come, I love those moments and can’t help but smile and think, “How can life get any better than this?!” 

I was talking to a friend about such moments tonight, and he mentioned the ending of a movie where the hero encourages a comedian to tell some jokes on a train to brighten the passengers’ lives before they die, and the filming slows as it pans the individuals laughing, being united in the simple, pure joy of being together in their last moments.  The way he described it, I could picture it and it evoked memories of Christmases and birthdays filled with joy.  Or even that last scene in The Giver when Jonas sees a family celebrating Christmas and singing carols together.  I realized that it’s not the complexity or cost of the activities themselves that make time seem to slow, but the simplicity thereof and the joy brought thereby into the lives of those participating.  In those moments, heaven seems closer and rather than distorting time and momentarily forgotten moments of “real” life, priorities regarding what’s of most worth come into view and sharpen.  Life is filled with little moments. If we miss those, we miss the essence of living!  Life isn’t about accomplishing great feats—it’s about acknowledging the grandeur of ourselves and each other as God’s creations, creating and strengthening great relationships with those wonderful people placed in our lives, and striving to become more Christlike and godly.  How?  Worry less about the future and make the most of each day, each time-stopping moment granted us by God.  And maybe, just maybe, you should keep a camera on hand.  Who knows but when a picturesque moment will present itself?

Words of Encouragement and Advice

So, I recently got a new phone and I finally went through my old saved texts yesterday--you know, ones I liked and never looked at but could never part with.  Well, the timing was perfect, because Heavenly Father knew I needed to read them once and for all to remind me just how much love I received, even in something as simple as a text.  Among all the little, "You're sweet" and "You're the best!" from friends and family I found some sweet,  moving words of comfort and encouragement from one of the wisest people I knew who was acting on promptings as she kept her daughter in her prayers.  I thought I'd share--you know, just in case you need a bit of encouragement like I often do.

• I love you! 
• God bless you! 
• You are a helper in our Heavenly Fathers kingdom and will be a great mother in Zion.  I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE!
• You’re the best! 
• Heavenly Father knows what he is doing.  As for me he is being kind because I am not yet ready to let you go.  This is mom by the way.  I lost my phone.  I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH! YOUR PRAYERS WILL BE ANSWERED AT THE RIGHT TIME.  PATIENCE IS A GODLY ATTRIBUTE HE DESIRES US TO ACQUIRE.  IT IS PAINFUL AT TIMES BUT WILL BE WORTH IT.  YOU ARE OF GREAT WORTH!
• Just remember many men have loved you.  You are waiting for the one that your heart will recognize and say “THERE YOU ARE!”  You will be blessed :)  Your ancestor-Your future posterity and your family here on earth are all praying for your success in finding that special companion. 
• I love you!  YOU are a blessing to all that come in contact with you.  
• We love you very much and will be praying for you.  
• You are never stuck we are ever moving forward.  Our bodies are always under going change.  Two years ago I could not lift a glass yesterday I had strength enough to mow the front lawn.  Last year I was on chemo now I am not. 
• Get some rest it helps with coping and dealing with individual challenges.  We love you very much. 
• We are all a work in progress.  A marvelous work and a wonder :)
• Three simple things we all need to remember:) to love God- to love yourself- to properly love others :-) 

And if that isn't enough, well, think of the forget-me-nots.  

Un dia triste para mi...

So, last Saturday, I was going about my own business, innocently shopping for food to subsist upon for the start of the school year.  My first mistake was thinking about what a good driver I am and how simple my life has been lately.  The second mistake was to trust the oncoming car's right blinker that was supposed to turn into where I was so I could take a left onto the busy road.  Not so.  And the oncoming driver, ignorant of his blinking light and why I was pulling out, supposed I would move out of the way in time.  My car was too slow.  He braked at the last moment and swerved what he could, probably saving my life.  Thankfully, the damage done was only emotionally to me and the physical blow was suffered by my dear '97 Geo and the other guy's '11 Toyota. I'm guessing his car'll be taken care of.  Mine will, too, but I'm not sure exactly how just yet.  According to Maaco, mine's totaled.  :(

It's still surreal that the accident happened.  That it happened to me.  That I may be carless, just after having updated the tabs, replaced the brakes, fixed  the CV axle, and gotten a new paint job and transmission just a year ago.  That I almost avoided it.  That I almost died.  

I saw the other guy on campus today, and I'm pretty sure he recognized me; he looked down as we walked past each other.

All I can say is that I don't know what the future holds for me and my car, but I do know thatI am blessed with wonderful family members to comfort me and calm me and hug me, and that Heavenly Father must really want me to be here--he's saved me from two car accidents, preserved my life in Europe, and protected me against many other, unknown dangers!

Tengan cuidado mientras manejan!

"A Little Fall of Rain"

And thus it has ended, at least for this year.  As of today, I have begun my training workshop so I can begin teaching Spanish this upcoming school year, and next week I begin my own classes as well.  All in all, it promises to be a busy but rewarding school year.  Ha, I even have a few former students scrambling to figure out how they can be together and in my class yet again!  That warms my heart.

However, I am not here to write about my dear former students or my new schedule this Fall.  Rather, I am here because I realized it's been awhile and it just so happens that I've thought a lot about life this summer.  Perhaps one particular catalyst for this post is one of my new colleagues, whom I met this morning.  I don't know much about him--only enough to relate with him when he told me he hadn't even planned to do an MA a year ago, because I was in much the same position just before I graduated with my BS.  Had you asked me just over a year before graduating if I expected to be a flourishing grad student in Hispanic Linguistics, I would have told you I was too scared.  Shoot, sometimes it still scares me!  And if you'd asked me when I was a graduating senior in high school what I planned to study, Spanish was a mere hobby, not even on my list of potential foci for a BS/BA.  Not to mention that I would've looked at you with a gaze of sheer shock, eyes bugging out of my head in unbelief had you told me then where I'd be today.  Some of the shock has worn off (both for me, my colleagues, and my professors, to be sure!), but there are still times, I think to myself, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!  HOW DID YOU GET HERE?!"  But believe me that those are moments of awe and wonder, marveling in the wisdom of God's timing and his ways.  Why?  Because despite so many odds, I am where I am and I am here for a reason.

In elementary, my teachers thought that advancing me would make me "average."  Boy, were they wrong.  Besides, as a friend pointed out most of the population is technically "average," so how is that so bad?

In high school, I dared follow my siblings' steps by participating in Running Start, aka concurrent enrollment, allowing me to complete high school requirements by working on my AAS.

In my undergrad, my dad and best friend in particular encouraged me to continue studying Spanish and my mom supported me in my desires to study Home and Family Living and prepare to marry and raise a family of my own one day.  In the process, I followed divine guidance by living in the Foreign Language Residence rather than participate in studies or internships abroad.  By the end, another friend's nudge helped propel me towards ultimately deciding to go for an MA.

Thanks to the good faith of the Spanish linguistic professors here, I was accepted into the program.  Once again following divine guidance, I sought out counsel as to how to fund a trip to Europe.  Enter the FLAS program and all the plans and spontaneities that came to fruition this summer.

I may not be a returned missionary (RM) who served Spanish-speaking, I may not be the most mature or the most experienced, I may not have the best, most fluid Spanish, and I certainly don't have the most concrete plans for the future, but as I said before, I am where I am for a reason.  And as unique as I am, I am not by far the only one whose life heavenly Father has a hand in.  We all make plans, begin to follow them, and accomplish some, totally own others, and are dumbfounded by yet others.  But there always is a way, despite all the turns.  For me, those were not getting married in my 5-year plan, becoming the most inexperienced grad student in Spanish, and learning French in Paris.  And as frustrating as it is for plans to go cattywampus, who's to say they are blessings in disguise?  For me, the extra time being single allowed me to wander Europe freely, the Spanish MA gave me a job and credentials to receive the FLAS grant and have spending money, and Paris gave me the chance to explore Europe.  Oh, I know that not everything is as colossal as it has somehow turned out to be for me; in the case of a former student a car accident and subsequent surgery turned out to be blessings in disguise because the leftover settlement funds are now paying her tuition.  In Les Misérables, the tragedy of Eponine's death turned out to free Marius to marry Cosette, his love.  For others, the hidden blessing comes from married while going to school, realizing that money is tight, but still being generous and suddenly receiving food and gas as thanks in return; getting a hard, last-minute one-semester teaching job that earns you enough money to continue on with your own education; taking extra time and falling "behind" because your big project isn't coming along like the others', only to realize that at least by delaying graduation you are still eligible for insurance; not being able to have children, but actively participating in the community, thereby being able to work closely with others' children and becoming a second mother to many; feeling heartbreak when a relationship (of any kind) doesn't work out, but really it was so you could find someone better or appreciate better what you had and joy in the day it really all does come together (because IT WILL); having to move back home after earning a BS, but finding that you know you are closer as a family as a result; working custodial day after dreary day, finally to one day have someone thank you and it makes your day; or experiencing weakness upon weakness, to see one day how it has made you more Christlike and empathetic towards others who suffer.  In every case, the situation isn't exactly ideal, but the experience builds strength and shows us what we can endure and what truly matters in life.  Coming back to the Les Mis example, Eponine was right when she says the rain doesn't hurt, but that it makes the flowers grow.

So, for every up and down recorded here on my little blog from this summer with its gamut of experiences, there is surely a million other disappointments and joys and blessings in disguise, rains and meadows of blooming, fragrant flowers that you, my friends, are expert in and could tell me about.  And I'd love to be your listening ear.  It's the least I can do, really, as thanks for doing the same for me!  Remember that you are not alone and that Heavenly Father is working hard in your life and that he loves you!  As the songs says, "That's all you [and I] need to know."

How to Answer?

Picture this: You come back from a trip long enough that friends and family missed you, and everyone asks how it went, seemingly excited and somewhat jealous of the wonderful trip they imagine you've had. They suppose that the normal life you have "resigned" yourself to coming back to is boring and mundane, anxious to hear your larger-than-life version of the world beyond their own.  Everyone asks how you are doing, what you thought, and you do your best to sum up the recent past in a few words, unsure which of all your thoughts and experiences to share.  You begin by describing it as great/crazy/totally worthwhile, or something to that effect, and then either the conversation ends soon thereafter because you don't know where to begin and they don't have time anyway; or their eyes begin to glaze over and they get all shifty as you excitedly begin to answer and continue answering a question they asked, and your excitement fizzles out as you get the feeling they didn't really want that much of an answer; or they are just as excited as you and the conversation goes on, with questions and story-answers flying back and forth, perhaps indefinitely, or at least until you have to drag yourself back to real life and remember time constraints, possibly to continue the catching up soon.

Have you ever had that happen to you?  The trip?  The questions?  The answers?

I know that I frequently give long-winded answers and give people more information than they bargained for, but I'm feeling quite torn and, frankly, disappointed.  I know my colleagues, friends, and family are excited to have me back, but I don't want to give everyone the same one-word sum-up of the past three months of my life, and I do want to share what I've learned and done with them.  I don't want to completely take up the limelight, though, ending up feeling like a braggart of sorts.  So you can see that I have a bit of a dilemma as to how much answer to offer, and if doesn't make me feel any better when people ask questions and I get on a roll as I answer them, only to realize that they are ready to cut the conversation short and escape, as though to put a pause on it, or maybe even to hit the "Ctrl+Alt+Delete" button.  Lucky me, such a button doesn't exist outside of technology in social situations.

 

Okay, so I'm exaggerating, but I do feel a bit at a loss as to how much to say.  Thankfully, closer friends do seem much more interested and don't seem to mind me as much.  Maybe 'cause they know already how much I talk and they expect it.  ;)

I do try to share the conversation in my effort to not hog the conversation or steal the spotlight...

So, how was Europe?

It was crazy.  It had its ups and downs, and I learned a lot.  It was totally worth it, but I am glad to be home in the States.  If you want pics or to hear about what I did, most of it's on my blog.  If you have questions, ask.  It's great to see you again!

How was your summer?

***

Boy, I will be so glad to move into my place for this Fall and finally stop living out of a suitcase and have a ward with Home Teachers and Visiting Teachers to call my own.  In the meantime, it's been wonderful to spend so much time with my bro and new sis-in-law, work on a phonology project with my MA colleagues and professors, and catch up with so many close friends.

Day 96, Home at Last!

The last day of my European adventure, at long last!  We spent our last pounds and pence on the taxi ride, courtesy of a nice Punjabi man, and a few Cadbury chocolates to tide us over for breakfast.  Really, the entire day was one long waiting period, divided into ways of biding the time.  First, it was waiting to get to the airport, then to get through all the security protocol, then for our gate to open, then for our plane to start, then for the flight to end.  Next, it was to get through customs and make it onto our connecting flight, only to wait a few hours more for it to end and finally land in Salt Lake.  Lastly, it was waiting to arrive at my brother-in-law’s grandparents’ home to get my car, for us to get to my sister and brother-in-law’s home, and then stay awake until late MST to help adjust to being in a time zone that’s at least 7 hours earlier than I’ve been in for the past 3 months.  And, what with all the waiting I’ve done on this trip for trains, metros, and whatnot, I like to think that I’ve become more patient and laid-back while waiting…What ARE we in such a rush for?  Maybe slowing down will actually cut out some stress and extend our lives.  Even so, I am grateful that I did have movies and food and a book to help pass the time and distract me from my anxiety to get to my blessed America during my long flight home.

All the same, all the weeks of waiting and longing to come home and the last few hours of traveling to finally get to my destination were worth it, especially when the customs officer told me, “Welcome home,” and the pilot on our flight acknowledged to hard work and valor of our military personnel on flight, ending his remarks with a warm, “Welcome home and God bless!”  No, I am not yet at home in the town I grew up, nor do I have an apartment to call my own, but I am indeed at home in the sense of being back in the culture I was raised in and have taken for granted for all these years!

As we came in for a landing in the Salt Lake Valley, I looked down at the neat, orderly rows of housing of the cities below and wondered to myself whether or not they are in actuality much different than the ones of the metropolises I’ve spent the summer in.  Tout à coup, a realization struck me: Yes, they are different; the ones directly below me had yards, lawns with grass and trees, not to mention that the very layout of the Utahan neighborhoods is more linear and organized than those of Paris, Lisbon, Madrid—you name the city.  Sure, they designed their vast cities with undulating curves so as to hinder attacking catapults, but ours were designed for commerce and transportation.  It is in such simple details that one can see how drastically history has shaped the cultures on these continents separated by an ocean. I have had the taste of Europe on the one side that I for so long yearned for.  I, like my country in the eyes of the world and relative history, am young, but I am grateful to my time in Europe for pushing me to grow up a bit more and for helping me to see what a gem my life in the blessed United States has been.  No, I know that the places I saw were not third-world by far, but the very differences of simplicities such as toilets, toilet paper, and toilet handles or ways to do laundry, or what side of the road and car to drive on and in—simplicities I never really questioned because they seemed so natural—were brought to my attention and appreciated at last.

My sister and her husband feel like the beginning of their two-week long trip was long ago, and my sister has mixed feelings about being back and having to go back to work in just over a week from now.  I, however, am ecstatic to be back.  I even can use my American phone again!  I came back and received multiple texts right away from my brother, asking about where I was, how I was doing, and wondering why it’s been so long since I’ve update my blog.  I’ve got work to do, but after having had a few months of wandering, I’m ready to settle back in!  So, I just want to end this trip chapter of my life with a few thanks.

Merci, Paris, for the crêpes, waffles, pastries, and for being my first European experience.

Gracias, Spain, for fulfilling one of my life’s dreams and for giving me a view into my mom’s youth. 

Obrigada, Portugal, for reminding me of my hometown and for showing me the value of both understanding a language and being able to respond in it (rather than just understand).

Merci and gracias, my French and Spanish friends, for teaching me your languages and welcoming me in for even a brief time.

Thank you, Ben and Ashlee and Bonnie, for teaching me how to ask questions and become more independent while having fun!

Thank you, my dear SPAN 105 and 106 students and BYU and the US Government for providing me with the means to go to Europe.

Thank you, Mom and Dad and my family and friends, for your support and many prayers on my behalf.  I love you.  You are the reason I could look forward so much to coming back.

And thank you, Heavenly Father, for always being there, always hearing my prayers and those of my parents; always putting the right people in my path to teach me and help me or so I could help them; always protecting me and guiding me; sometimes showing me glimpses of what I might expect for my future; and sometimes filling me with complete peace, regardless of where I was.  I know that the ups and downs were meant to be experienced and that you have shaped me into a better person.  Thank you for blessing me with a home in the United States of America in a loving family, surrounded by loving friends and with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a constant in my life, no matter where I go in this world. 

How did I ever deserve such incredible blessings?!?

Day 80, Unique Beauty

I just went to Córdoba!  Ashlee and I had considered it before, too, when we went to Sevilla, but we mistakenly looked at the guided group costs, leading us to believe that the Mezquita alone would cost 37 euros, so we chucked that idea, only to regret it somewhat later when Ben and his mom found out that it really costs 8 euros!  So then it was a toss up between using a train pass to go there or to break up my trip to Avignon into two days, but I ended up deciding on seeing something new.  My but was it worth the trip!

Once my train arrived and I got some information and a map, I beelined it over to the Judería, the ruinous, old part of the city enclosed in some of the old city walls.  The mezquita-turned-cathedral was my first stop, mainly because it is the one famous thing I knew of before even coming and it was a must-see.  I had seen pictures of it, of course, but all I was expecting was the unique but plain red and white arches.  Sure enough, those were the first things I saw as I stepped through the entrance, but that wasn’t even the half of it!  Indeed, the place had originally been a Visigoth church, complete with familiar Christian images (which reminded me that they were of the Christian faith in the first centuries Anno Domini), images which are now artifacts recovered and set on display within the structure.  It was after them that the Arabs invaded and took control, converting the edifice into a mosque and giving it its reputation as the largest Islamic structure in the West and the 3^rd largest in the world!  However, the conquest of the Catholics eventually led to yet another overhaul of the building, creating a cathedral smack dab in the center of the mosque.  The result of so many years of additions and renovations is a beautifully unique hodgepodge filled with ironic juxtapositions.  Now, I’ve seen a fair amount of Arabic architecture and designs from southern Spain, but I don’t cease to be amazed by the intricacies found in every inch of tiling and marble plaster that have lasted for so many centuries.  The cathedral’s more western contribution is equally elaborate, but a world of its own;  it contrasts its figures of Christ and saints combined with Roman lettering with the winding, intertwining designs and Arabic lettering, void of what would have been sacrilegious depictions of living beings.

 The inner courtyard

Visigoth artifacts

Arabic ceiling

Arabic arch

Spanish Catholic ceiling

American me with some of the mix

 Yes, all of the above pictures were from ONE building!

Leaving the ancient beauty of the Mezquita, I wandered across the ancient Roman bridge traversing the Guadalquivir, coming back just in time to have missed my chance to enter the alcázar and its adjoining gardens.  It turns out I wasn’t the only one who missed the hours, and I soon made friends with an Argentine girl who was also on her own in the city.  Together, we walked around the alcázar por si acaso we could at least get some glimpses into the gardens.  On our way, we found a poor baby golondrina (swallow) that couldn’t fly!  It was so cute and took a liking to my new friend.  What a shame that we had to leave it, probably to an uncertain death.

In the last bit of time I had left before catching my train back into Madrid, I went by a few other smaller sites.  One was the old Jewish synagogue, and it was small but intriguing to me because its structure and design was heavily influenced by the Arabs, but the words and scriptures inscribed in the wall plastering were Hebrew!  I also went to the Casa Andalusí, which has been around since the 600s AD.  Neither cost very much, and I almost didn’t end up paying for the synagogue because it was free for European Union residents and 30 cents for others and the worker told me that “no se lo nota,”—that is, he couldn’t tell that I’m a foreigner.  I took that as a compliment and paid, earning myself a souvenir ticket to go with my little collection.  :D

The rest of my time was spent walking a little and thinking while lounging a lot.  I got to thinking, too, about why people try so hard to create great empires when they have been so prone to eventual destruction.  For example, civilization after civilization had built and resided in that same spot, now only preserved as a souvenir of sorts of the past.  Then again, each civilization came to contribute something of its traditions and knowledge to help create our culture today.  Everything had a purpose.  What’s more, the most important thing is that people live to be happy and help create happiness in others’ lives.  My first thoughts had been defeatist at best, making so many lives seem a waste.  But then, why do we bother to give a few cents to a beggar, an orange to a homeless woman and her child, or care about an injured bird?  Because we are compassionate human beings and all we want in life is happiness—for ourselves, for others, and for our children.  Really, in the end, we are just like that mezquita so well known in Córdoba: an odd mix of past influences, but with a place in the world to bring, if nothing else, a bit of beauty into the life of another.

Day 79, Holy Toledo!

Just take a wild gander at where I went on July 12.  And it only cost me about 8 euros to get there and back.  I wasn’t sure if I would actually end up going with those two girls because it kept getting postponed, but then I went and slept in, waking up at the time I was supposed to meet them on the day we finally decided upon!  Thankfully, they patiently waited for me, and we made it at last.  Like Coimbra, it was hilly, but it wasn’t so bad nor was it so hot.  I don’t recall being overwhelmed by awesomeness, but at least now I have pictures (including one of me and shining armor [knight wanted]) as well as bragging rights.  I wouldn’t’ve even really thought of it, except Ashlee pointed out that now when someone says, “Holy Toledo!” I can say, “Yeah, I’ve been there.”  That and it’s a cultural hotspot near Madrid and my mom and others have recommended it.  I wouldn’t flown all the way over to Europe for it, but it was definitely worth the day trip.

Day 78, Scavenger Hunt

Things to find on a Monday morning in Madrid:

• Cheap Havaianas (flip-flops—turned out to be rip-off knock-offs, but I did end up buying a new pair of flip-flops)
• Find cheap pizza for lunch (Calvin had extra time between Pamplona and Barcelona, so we hung out for lunch)
• Get train info (for meeting Cassi and Eric)
• Take pictures (of my mom and aunts’ haunts from their time in Spain in the 70s)
• Cuzco: Site of Franco passing by Hotel Cuzco
• Ríos Rosas: Seventh Day Adventist school
• Pío XII: Former location of a friend’s home and swimming pool
• Avenida de los Parques: Home sweet home away from their USA home
• May and June 2011 Liahona magazines (for preparing and teaching YSA FHE in Spanish!)