Oh the Places I've Been

These are a few pictures I've taken in the last three months or so that I found and just love. I chose these cuz they're of nature and they represent a progression of places over time.

1) Iowa. Late Spring. College. A wonderful time of my life.

2) China. Early Summer. Trip of a lifetime. Beautiful memories.

3) Mexico. Mid-Summer. Dreamy clouds. A mission trip of translation was a dream.

3) Salida, Colorado. Late Summer. Hometown. Lemonade from the café where I work.

"Ashes of secret heart,

falling in my lemonade.

Unslakeable thirsting,

in the backyard."

A car, a truce... and Madonna?

Mah first car.

Must say I'm pretty proud of it too. How can I not be? It's not new, it's not fabulous but it's mine. It's like a five-year-old being proud of the Coolest Rock In the World that they bring home to Mom.... it's the Coolest Rock to that kid, anyway.

Also, I want to say that I'm particularly proud of the fact that I have not owned a car before this, the ripe old age of 20, nearly 21. Maybe that's not saying much for some people, but for many of my friends, it's rather old. I mean, it makes sense for me: growing up, my family lived close to all of our schools, so I walked or rode my bike. Or I hitched a ride from a neighbor. Okay, so I've been attending college out-of-state for the last three years and still haven't bought a car, but really the only times I've really wanted one was just to get home and back. Or get groceries, because I've tried the 3 boxes of cereal in my backpack and balancing two bags off each bike handle before, and that was--um, interestingly inefficient. But once in my college town, it's been more than fine geting around: via feet (on campus), bike (off campus), bus (across town) or in a friend's car (out of town). It's worked out very well, I'd say, and I haven't had to pay insurance for all of that time. Anyway, it's been fine without and I've been proud to be without one for as long as I have. So there.

But now, I own one (well, it's considered mine, anyway) and that's good too. Because my parents are sick of driving me and my stuff back to college, and I'm excited to be able to drive out of town or even out of state to visit friends once at college, should I choose. I am so gonna rock that nearly-ghetto car.

By the way, this Oldsmobile is a 1988. Which means I need to make a truce with the 80's. If you know me very well, you'll know that I am not, in fact, a fan of the 80's. At all. Like, what were people thinking? The hair, the clothes, much of the music?? Honestly. But half-outraged but patient friends have subjected me to enough hit songs from that decade that I can't be totally opposed anymore. Nor can I forget that I was conceived and born in that decade. Plus I have these totally rad black lace fingerless gloves, a la Madonna, that I truly adore, and now that I own this car from that somewhat-odd era... it's a truce, okay, Eighties? You've done something decent for the world, I suppose. (Side note: Politics are completely left out of these comments; I direct my complaints to the American world of fashion, entertainment and culture of the time.)

So I'm feeling this car is a start of something new, as the last year of my college education approaches, as I just added a few texts to my cell phone plan (though I'm still not crazy about texting, strange as it may sound to readers of my generation) and as I approach my final step into adulthood, turning 21 this month. No, having a car doesn't mean I'm about to turn into Material Girl or anything... but hey, maybe a truce with the past will progress me toward the future.

A few China pics

I'm back, safe and sound, from China!

I'm debating whether to write a post about the trip, but here are at least a few photos to pique your interest and enjoy some fun moments that we had on our adventurous, educational, surprising and one-of-a-kind trip!

Off again: eastward to China!

Hello again, everyone (whoever it is that reads my blogs)!

Ni hao! (Hello!) It's been a semester since I last updated this blog, and to be honest, I doubted I would ever use it again. But when a friend asked me to join him on a trip to visit American friends in China, I thought...why not?? Sure, I don't know the language (my major is still Spanish and I still speak random Spanish phrases in the States) nor nearly anything about the culture, but why not? China is, after all, a "rather" influential country in our world! So it's two weeks starting today, off to Beijing, Shanghai (the World Expo is there!) and Baoding, where our American friends live. Other than that, we're not positive, but we'll see. Of course, we'll see the Great Wall, Tianamen's Square and eat REAL Chinese food. Should be a blast!

So it's off again, leaving the U.S. into the Wide Wide World (isn't that what "www." stands for anyway? haha). For those of you of the praying persuasion, keep me and my travel buddy in your prayers--for travel, health, language barriers, to encourage our American friends who have lived far away from home for almost a year now, and more. I don't know if or when I'll be able to update this blog while I'm there, but it's not for the un-connectedness of China!
Pictures and stories to follow!

Passport in pocket, and a friend by my side this time, I remain
Ellen P.

How to wrap it up?

I realize I didn't write about the last three weeks of my experience in Spain, and now I'm sitting at home in the US, feeling like I really need to finish off this blog somehow. Somehow.

Well, there's a simple list of how I spent my time in the last 3 weeks:

--School, especially writing papers in Spanish. I'm a bit better at that now!

--Tutoring and teaching at the language school, as usual. I'm thankful for the unexpected source of income by tutoring and its challenge... because I can definitely say that tutoring was the most difficult thing I encountered during my time in Spain. I do not want to be a teacher, I never wanted to be a teacher!, and yet my internship ended being entirely that. And yet, somehow, it turned out just fine and I got better at planning my lessons. And all the professors of the English department at the language school were wonderful, very helpful and patient, and the students there were a lot of fun--I learned a lot about traditions and random bits of culture from them.

--Go on official excursions to Salamanca and Merida. Both interesting, though not my style of how to see a town in a day.

--Travel around Spain with my family and have Thanksgiving at my host mother's house!

--Hang out in Caceres, especially with my good Spanish friend, Jonathan. He was such a blessing, and so much fun. I expected to have several friends that I would keep in touch with at the end of this semester, but one good one is sufficient for me. We had some great English-Spanish convos, since we're learning each other's languages, and he opened his hou

se, family, friends, church and the town of Caceres to me, which made me feel honored and excited to see other faces of Spanish life. God bless you,mi amigo! (I'm pictured with the church pastor, his wife and Jonathan.)

I've thought of how to sum up my experience in Spain in a hundred different ways, and there's no way I can choose just one. Photos. This blog. My two hand-written journals I filled. The meals I ate. Etc, etc... Or, What I Did and Did Not Do in three months time:

What I Didn't Do In Three Months:

Drive a car. Ride a bike. Eat peanut butter. Lose sleep because I had to study. Skip class. Read a text book. Watch a sport live. Play Ultimate Frisbee, or any sport for that matter! Eat pancakes. Drink root beer or Dr. Pepper. Play worship music on a piano. Go to Barcelona, sadly. Watch flamenco, famous though it is. Leave the Iberian peninsula. Watch a movie in English. Eat Thanksgiving food. Do my own laundry. Bake cookies.

What I Did Do in Three Months:

Eat bull's ear (yuck, yuck, yuck!). Cook my own tortilla de patata. Visit south, west, central and north of Spain, plus Portugal. Attempt to learn some Portugese. Sing Spanish worship songs. Watch a community play. Listen to fantastic classical guitar concerts. Eat Spanish food for Thanksgiving. Show Caceres to my family! (That's my family and I pictured in Ronda, a small town in southern Spain.) Become a pro at Euros and Celsius...well, kinda! Attend Catholic mass. Ride a train. Sing a Christmas carol for Spanish students. Ride Metros. Meet Erasmus students from all over Europe. Stay in hostels. Go on a major trip by myself (to Gijon). See two Colorado friends (Andrew and Kristen)! Get my haircut, describing it in Spanish haltingly...haha! Stay out until 5:30am. Watch Spanish soaps. Etc. Etc....

I could talk about how I wish things had been different, because there are a few things in that category. I'd want: no internship, more Spanish classes, meet more Spanish students, not share a home with another student, bring my own laptop, keep in better touch with my US friends (certain ones in particular!). Also, there were several frustrations related to administration/ coordination that really bothered me, probably more than they should have, and it surprised me, considering that the program isn't new. But don't get me wrong, I have no regrets about going to the specific location through my university.

Finally, as for the spiritual aspect, I went into this semester praying that God would reveal what type of job I should pursue with a major in Spanish, and give me a "heart" for Spain, if that's what He wanted. But instead, from what I can tell as of now, He humbled me by reminding me of some deep flaws of mine that are contrary to His will (for example, a strong rebellion to certain authorities in my life, and my dependence on guys). He showed me the beauty of being totally dependent on Him, though I haven't figured that all out yet! And he showed me clues into the "spiritual climate" in Spain, which I found quite interesting.

You know, I've been asked if I could ever live in Spain, as in live and work there for an extended amount of time. My answer is Yes, I Could... though it wouldn't be my first choice, and in the end, I don't really identify with the people as a whole. But, this just makes me want to travel more, to see more wonders of creation and get a peek into the many cultures that exist on this wide earth. Also, this experience has made me want to travel more within my own country: sure, I have more space cover than Spaniards do, but there is so much more I want to see! And why not? Why not make a list and once in awhile, actually GO someplace new and DO something new and unexpected? Who knows? I might grow from it, might make a new friend, and God most likely will teach me something from it!

Thanks to all who have taken the time to read my blogs. I really do enjoy writing, and it helps me solidify my thoughts, and hopefully it inspired/entertained/taught you somehow. Please, feel free to send me an email at lnprov@iastate.edu if you've got anything to ask or share!

Signing off for the last time, I remain,

Ellen P.