Sometimes I just can’t believe I left the shore, but I never wonder why it took me this long to get here. One of the greatest lessons to date is how everything falls into place because it’s happening for a reason. Mark Twain said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” If I come off cheesy, it’s because this trip to Europe is more just that – it’s a lifestyle and it’s slowly changing my way of thinking. For instance, here I am, 3 months in today and the things I’ve learned so far are amazing: I would have never experienced anything nearly close to it – that’s not okay :-) So here's my experience in December and our trip to Malaga, London, and more Cadiz.
8 Lessons So Far:
London actually LOOKS like this at night. The moon was shining for you Mandy. I miss my besties in San Antonio.
1. JUST LET IT COME TO YOU. Within the last few weeks, Europe caught me off guard with a unique happiness when I least expected it. As my roomies and I wandered the famous Picadilly Circus in search of the perfect pub for lunch (on OUR time, not the 2 pm/8pm rules Spain haha), SantaCon 2011 invaded the streets. We were left buzzing with real Christmas Spirit and too many hugs… then yesterday, my good friend Nicole and I were suddenly serenaded in front of the majestic cathedral by 20 members of a flamenco performance after wandering around as she showed me more of Cadiz’s nightlife. A beautiful brunette woman beat on a drum, little kids ran around, a young girl danced with just her hands, and the Christmas lights laid out the three wise men ahead of us in an alley. Incredible.
Pictures: Google SantaCon 2011! It's an event all over the world with silly rules. Also, a previous night in Cadiz this month. This one felt like Alice in Wonderland, because we stumbled upon it at a small bar and no one outside was aware of the party going on. The bottom right is me in Malaga's city center with a unique Christmas tree :)
2. TRY SOMETHING NEW. Food, enough said. I’m all about meeting new people, so that experience just continues to make me happy. However, the food has been a slap in the face as I’m faced with the face of a fish on the plate (to name a few). It’s just a refreshing reminder to live in the moment because you may not be around a moment like that again, i.e. real sangria :-D! London’s bangers and mash were way over-rated on that note. Indian food turned out to be a “spicy” I could handle and basmati rice is great!
To the side: Dunkin Donut's menu in Malaga featured their version of Spanish breakfast, which involves ham pate, orange butter a.k.a. flavored lard - not with orange, etc....I'm not there yet. Below: My roomie took a stab at making "berenjenas con miel", eggplant lightly fried and served with local honey! They're a great tapa here in Southern Spain and sooooooooo good.
This is the group that went to London on the right at Food Network's Chocolate Festival in South London! Below is the classic meal of Steak Ale & Mash. The bartender with a great accent served us samples of ale but it just wasn't for me - however that strawberry cider is another story and craving! c 
3. BE PATIENT. Oh man, kids. Childreeeeeeeeeeeen. Life in Chiclana de la Frontera, Spain. Where do I begin? I needed this. There’s nothing like a roomful of adorable 6 year olds at 9 am asking you if they did the assignment correctly, individually. In Spanish…even though you can just tell they understood you in English. Just in time, the 6th grader’s class is next and you’re filled with a pride you didn’t know you could have over listening to someone read a second language carefully. It’s been a beautiful experience. I really lucked out at “home” too because my roomie situation is a fun balance of youthfulness, silly kitchen adventures, deep conversations, and alone time.
4. DON’T OVER-STRESS. I had a 3rd grader run up to me in tears at Physical Education Day a few weeks ago at the school. Apparently Alejandro had hit him and I was going to be the judge. Ummm… so I turned to a teacher I hardly talk to for help. Quick Spanish lesson: “pegar” means hit OR glue something. She told both of them that if they were so intent on “pegandose” then she would go look for glue and they could glue at their emotions…or something like that. I’m a terrible story teller, ask my friends haha. Anyways, it was great! They laughed, and practically ran off holding hands. Or take the situation where I needed to teach the difference between the Earth’s orbit and rotation to my 4thgraders. I used Simon Says to get the kids acting it out and before I knew it, one of the teachers came along to play too! She’s so short that I didn’t notice…
5. EMBRACE THE CLASSICS. I’m listening to Bob Dylan as I write this. It’s important that future generations remember the good ones. The Cure. Johnny Cash. The Beatles – just like my cool bilingual director who is having my 6thgrade class learn Happy Christmas (War is Over) by John Lennon for the Christmas Day at school this week.
We got to visit the Picasso Museum in is birthplace; it's actually built on an old Moorish palace. I'm so glad I read "The Paris Wife" because it prompted me to research him more and all in all, seeing the art throughout his years really brought it to life. There are quotes from people that saw him become this man, such as Gertrude Stein, and more. It's just incredible. I'm excited to see Guernica in Madrid!
6. LIVE IN THE MOMENT. Here’s a day in the life of Liz in Spain: wake up around 8, read a few things (books I brought along to finally cover), eat a breakfast with the stuff I bought at the mercado this week, walk down 4 flights of stairs from my piso, walk to school for about 20 minutes, socialize with the teachers during break, keep teaching, and walk back home for lunch at 2:30 pm. Throw in a few tutoring classes that I love from about 4-6 pm and make dinner or go out for tapas. Weekends are all over the place :-) but this past week, I noticed the Christmas music playing in the center of town I pass everyday, the musicians on the street competing with said music, the bustling families walking all around me (5 more months without a car…) the endearing old men with newsboy hats on sitting around in clusters on benches. Well, note to self.
The local man in this picture went on to tell us about this view. It's Malaga from a small hike we took, in all her glory. Franco had his soldiers plant all that green you see when things were slightly at peace, if you will, to make the place a beautiful home to be proud of. He gave them a job when there was nothing around so...there's a little good in everyone?
7. APPRECIATE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. I got sick this past week. I got a strong taste of independent adulthood when I went to the doctor in a foreign country alone and at night. However, my mom was waiting by the phone back home to hear from me, my friends were an email away, and my boyfriend was supportive. It's the little things that count. My mom, dad, brother, and sister have never felt closer to me in my heart. This just really took our relationships to another level when I thought we were already great. By the way, YES, this is mariachi greeting us at the London airport.
8. EMBRACE HISTORY. Westminster Abbey. WOW.
Christmas in Belgium with some friends from CIEE is around the corner! I want to plan more trips next year of course, but save money... So who wants to go to Greece for my Spring Break?! 
These pictures are all over the place. Nightlife in Cadiz with a mannequin, Plaza de Flores covered in poinsiettas with Nicole, a "bunuelos" food stand with Christmas lights in my town of Chiclana, a view of Cadiz from the walkway out to the beach while another local musician fills the air with Spanish tunes, and a traditional scene in Jerez de la Frontera: a zambombazo performance of Christmas carols, which involves a drum that I can't describe/do justice on...
