A brief (for real this time) update!

Hello, loved ones!


I'm sitting in Cafe&Te, a cafe in the central plaza of Palma (the Plaza de España), which has become one of my friends' and my favorite spots for a snack or a coffee. I just have a few minutes because I have my first Spanish language class at 6pm (and I need to allow extra time to get there because I've become notorious for being constantly lost here), but I thought I'd write a quick update! 


I've finally been able to attend all of my university classes and I feel really good about them! I think they'll be a bit of a challenge, just because of the differences in format and structure (for instance, I haven't received a single syllabus, I have no idea what books I need to buy or where to buy them, and I only know one of my professors' names), but I feel pretty comfortable with the level of the language, at least thus far. John and I also introduced ourselves today to two Spanish girls who are in almost all of our classes; they were incredibly nice and friendly and they even offered to add us to a email chain they have going with their friends where they all share/compare class notes. It was John's idea to introduce ourselves to them after we noticed they were in most of our classes, and I'm so glad he thought of it!


Actually, today is John's 22nd birthday, so extra love to him today! A few of us went out to tapas last night so that we could be with him at midnight, and tonight I think we're just going to go out to dinner, since most of us have class until 8:30 or 9. We're taking a big group of friends and international students out to a club to officially celebrate on Friday, though! Here are a couple photos from last night:

I'm trying to remember what else I've been up to since I last posted...every day has been so busy that it's hard to keep track of it all! I went to the beach for the first time this past Friday. It was cold and rainy but we still played a little soccer and went for a jog; it's always nice to feel sand between one's toes! Monday through Thursday, John and I spend all day at school, and then usually spend the nights having friends over for dinner or shopping or watching movies or going out. We don't have classes on Friday, so our weekend starts right away with more relaxing and spending lots of time with our new "family" here (it's been decided that I'm the mother).


Overall, though there are continued problems with administration and bureaucracy and the lack of Internet continues, the fabulous family I have here and the non-stop fun we have together and love we have for each other has made this experience absolutely amazing so far. The weather has finally been starting to get a little nicer (it's been in the low to mid 50s this week), and I'm sure things will only keep getting better as the sun gets stronger.


Sending all my love from Palma!


PS I just realized I forgot to tell about my weekend this past weekend! It was Carnaval this weekend, which is similar to Halloween in that both adults and children dress up in costumes and celebrate and go to parties (the elementary school directly across the street from my apartment with blasting music all day and all of the little kids were dancing on the basketball courts in their costumes on Friday afternoon). Friday evening, a large group of international students went to a club and it was a pretty funny juxtaposition to see people in their "dressed to impress" clubbing clothes dancing next to girls painted blue and dressed like Smurfs. On Saturday night, my friend Corinna had a party at her flat, and there were some great costumes. One of her roommates dressed up as a table, complete with a lamp, glasses, place settings, and a basket of bread. That roommate's friend dressed up as a ghost carrying a baby in a cage. My friends Freddy and Robert dressed up as sailors while Fabio, another friend and our resident Italian, was the infamous Schettino:

You can't really tell from this picture, but I'm dressed as a cheesy fitness video instructor, complete with crazy 80s eye makeup.