Little Blessings

"Prepare to be amazed," says the tagline of this blog. I think I have been forgetting just how God can amaze me. This weekend was not very eventful in terms of travel or big new experiences, but more like lots of little new things, and little blessings that made all the difference.

Sarah, one of the girls in the Iowa State group, celebrated her 21st birthday last Friday, so we went out on Thursday in early celebration, as well as Friday. Thursday we found a neat bar called Divina Comedia (can you guess what that means?) and took it easy there until the "discotecas" (bars with dancing) opened up at 3 a.m. We met a few guys on their way to one place, so they led us there and because they have connections, let us cut in line to get in past the bouncer (discotecas can be as picky as they want, and the belief is that they first judge you by your shoes). So that was the first one I´d been to in Cáceres, and our group enjoyed being silly while we danced to American pop-dance tunes. One expectation or stereotype I used to have about Spaniards was that they like to dance a lot, like Latin Americans. Turns out that´s not so true--they may dance, but not very well, and nothing specific like merengue or anyhting. I still don´t know anything about Spanish popular music; it´s certainly not a big genre.

On Friday I worked on my homework, and struck out to go to the fitness center pool. I paid for just the pool (1.5o€ with a student card) and eventually figured out how to work the lockers and that a swim cap is mandatory--oops! A lifeguard kindly lent me one, but I might have to have my own cap next time. I hadn´t swam (swum?) in a pool for a long time, so it felt good, very relaxing. After that I went to the central shopping center, called Eroski for the big Walmart-type store attached to the mall, though it refers to all the little shops too. Spanish shopping is all about boutiques. I bought a sweet purse and some nice, useful clothing items, so I was pretty happy about that. That night our Iowa State group went out again, purposely dressed up in honor of Sarah´s birthday. (This is the picture our host mother took of Autumn and me before we left the apartment.) We checked out a bar that´s very popular with Spaniards our age, judging by the line that´s always outside it... got inside to see that it´s tiny! I left before most, sick of smoke and tired from the late night before. Walking home at 2 a.m. isn´t bad though, because the nighttime temperature is still very pleasant and the streets are well lit.

Saturday late afternoon (this means after siesta and when stores open up again, so anytime after 5:30) I agreed to meet up with a Spaniard I had met at the discoteca to go to a cafe-bar and practice Spanish. It´s nice to hear Spanish in those informal situations and not just in the classroom, because one learns such different things! I think I´ll stick to meeting up in groups from now on, however.

Other highlights from the weekend:
-- I am a fan of taking time just to wander around town. I have stumbled upon several things this way and it improves my knowledge of Cáceres´ layout. For example, I had found a music store, with instruments and sheet music, a few days earlier, so on Saturday I decided to see if it was open. I went in and found a book of music I wanted to buy, but since the guy working was busy, I shyly sat down at one of the upright Yamaha pianos and began to play.
Praise God, I love playing piano.
Yeah, that made me very happy. Eventually the register was open, so I walked up and bought my music. I told the guy in Spanish that I don´t live with a piano, so it was nice to play that day. He responded that he´s glad to hear someone play who can, and that I am welcome to come in anytime to do so, especially now that I have new music to practice. "If they aren´t played, the pianos go out of tune," he explained, and I told him I am happy to help fix that problem! Ha! So that made my weekend. See what I mean? Little blessings.

-- I went walking on Sunday morning to find the other park in town, El Rodeo. It was a beautiful day, and I had brought my journal, Bible and iPod to have a devotion time when I got there. There´s even a man-made lake and waterfall, and it was so refreshing to see so much greenery, since this region is pretty dry in general. I was there for at least two hours, nothing else I had to do, before I left around noon. Now, I was dressed up because I was hoping I might find a church to attend that day, and I had an address for an evangelical one, but no idea when services might be. So I walked to the street I had a name for, quite close to the park, and saw the sign for the church in a nondescript building. I passed by, unsure if it was open, when I saw a woman enter, so I followed. Lo and behold, the service was going on! So I sat in the back and followed along quite well, aided by my English Bible. Afterwards, someone introduced himself, then the pastor, who speaks some English. Turns out that was their only service of the day (Catholic churches have many, many masses each Sunday), and they were surprised to hear I had come alone, not having been told by anyone about their little church. Sweet. I will definitely go back. Didn´t see any people my age their, mostly parents with kids and some older folks, but I don´t mind. Thank you, God!

As long as I´m on the subject of Things I´m Thankful For, I´ll mention the use of Skype to communicate with friends and family. The thanks go to my roommate and her laptop, and I skyped several times this weekend. I try to be pretty independent and focus on making connections here, but I do appreciate catching up with people who know me and whom I know!

Next weekend is a four day weekend because it´s a national holiday on Monday, celebrating Pilar, the patron saint of Spain. For me that means it´s definitely going to be travel time! I just have to decide where and with whom I´m going...soon!

Until I blog again, Ellen

P.S. If anyone reading this wants to send a response or note about something they´d like me to blog about while I´m here, please do! My email is lnprov@iastate.edu