vale, vale!

Lessons learned in Spain:

--My host family is probably the best. Maite and her 6-year-old daughter are incredible! Irene is very cute, loves Justin Bieber and Hannah Montana, and is quite hilarious. She will get in little spouts where she just talks so fast and I can hardly understand her, but it is entertaining to watch. Last night I turned on my iPod and she danced to Justin Bieber in my room, singing little parts of the songs. It was cute. We asked her if she loved Justin Bieber. Her answer (so matter of factly) was, "Claro!" (of course). Some people are with host families who are old ladies that are very strict ... I am lucky!

--Sometimes one letter can make all the difference in the world! Case in point? Irene was eating cherries one night. I was showing her that I could tie the stem in a knot with my tongue. She was first horrified that I put the stem in my mouth, shouting not to eat it. I was telling her that my name in English (the way it is pronounced here) sounds like cherry. But, I mistakenly called the cherries cervezas instead of cerezas. Yeah, cervezas = beer. She had a good laugh about that.

--The city is beautiful! And, no matter how much they feed us or how much bread we eat, I don´t think it compares to the amount of walking we do. Yesterday a few friends from my group and I just went exploring, saw an AMAZING view of the city, and tried granazado de limón (basically a lemon slush drink). We also saw gorgeous architecture. I can´t wait to show you pictures! Unfortunately, the computers here at school don´t allow that.

--Here in Spain, "vale" is a slang word meaning "OK". Spaniards say it ALL THE TIME. Also, they drop the S's from words quite frequently. I felt like quite the Spaniard yesterday when I said, "Buena noche" to my host family instead of "Buenas noches".

Ok, this post was long, but I wanted to share some of my adventures! After the first two nights, things definitely were looking up and I don´t feel so homesick anymore. I am here to enjoy and explore! I also met a very nice girl in my class today from Virginia. Hopefully we´ll become friends here!

Vale, vale. Chao!

hola, me llamo es cheri.

estoy aqui en españa. that's right. I am here in Spain, which is why I can do things like Ñ, Ç, €, ¡, and ¿ on my keyboard with one little button. It is also why when I make a smiley using the same keys (by habit) it comes out like this Ñ)Yeah, not quite the same.

Day 2 here. We leave today for Granada. Just an airport shuttle, subway, and 5 hour bus trip away (plus another bus ride and a taxi). Haha...oh man. I will be happy to get "settled". Being 8 hours ahead of MST is quite the adjustment to make. Try going to bed at 10 p.m. when you body feels like it is the middle of the afternoon! It is basically terrible. And makes you do weird things like wake up at midnight and not be able to sleep again until 4 a.m. And then when your alarm goes off at quarter-to-seven, you feel incrediby tired! But, all in all, I think it will be an awesome experience.

I felt a little homesick yesterday. It was a sick-to-my-stomach, can´t sleep kind of thing. It was miserable. I still feel it a little today. I think it just comes from thinking about things too much and not being able to use my phone. It will be a good thing...I know. But, it will take a few more days to adjust I feel. Well, I better get going! Sorry there are no photos on this blog right now.
Adios!

boston.

i went to my dream city this week.
and this was one of my favorite parts -- the boston temple.
PLUS i've been taking polaroids everywhere i go which is AWESOME. I'm so glad my mom saved the 7 packs of film from going in the trash at work.

i'll try to update more before i head off to Spain, but it's kind of busy until then! goodnight :)

happy & plans.

....leaving in 30 hours.

for NYC.

and Boston.

and SPAIN!

can you believe it's here?? i can't. i'm packing. going to the store & getting everything finalized. buying travel size hairspray. cutting down half of the stuff i want to take. printing maps and tickets. holy cow. my summer adventure is here!

also

remember the other day when i talked about a date? well, going on dates with this boy started my summer off perfectly. here is a picture from our recent date to a Thai restaurant (i enjoyed both the food AND the company immensely). i'd love to continue getting to know him when i get home. we'll see! doesn't he have the greatest smile (and eyes...and dimples too!)? Shoot!

well, back to work. i'll update you in NYC!

love,

the little traveler.

hello there.

this is my face:

this is also me:

now, why am i posting random pics of my face taken on photobooth? because, people. I love my hair! I cut it three months ago. And I think it's finally to my favorite length. It was fun to cut it...but this is definitely the length I prefer over the shorter one (seen here).

Also, I am wearing red lipstick! That's big. Why? Cause I've always loved it. I wear it around my house. But, never would I dare wear it in PUBLIC. Until now. Cause I feel sassy. And also, can you see that blazer (or at least the top of it?). Yeah, I got that for free at an awesome clothing swap. I bet you didn't know that I even wanted a blazer. But I did. And I love it. Is it coming to Spain with me? You bet. Oh, and I leave in ... 5 days (for NYC and Boston) and 10 until I'm in Europe! Ah. Livin' the dream, my friends.

Adios.

look what i found!

My mom & I went thrifting on Saturday. It's one of my favorite things to do when I'm home. I thought I' d share with you what we found this time:

[don't these dishes just shout SUMMER BBQ? They did to me! Very cute.]
[i got these American Eagle shorts for just $4. What a bargain. I love the purple stitching.]

[i've been looking for black heels to replace the ones I currently have, which have seen better days. I found these heeled oxfords and they were my exact size. Hardly worn. $5]

[and lastly, a trip to DI is complete when I've found owls for my small collection. These are Holt Howard vintage (1960s) salt & pepper shakers. Apparently this "set" is actually two pepper shakers, as the salt shaker originally is a smaller owl turned the opposite way. But, for $.75, I couldn't resist! I love the color.]

happy thrifting!

a change.

it's funny when you hate a song because you heard it ALL THE TIME and it was one of those constantly replayed songs ... but then someone tells you that you should listen to it (and because you think they're pretty great, you do), and suddenly?

you decide it's a great song.
you are the one who has it on replay.
you are the one who suddenly thinks, "what a great song!"

:) that's a fun feeling.

lovely things.

it's friday. that's something to be happy about :) two nights ago, I wrote a post about being overwhelmed & then I listed everything that was pressing on my mind. But, blogger was undergoing maintenance & didn't save my post. BUT, i feel much more optimistic since then so I don't need to write about those things. instead, let me focus on the wonderful lovelies that have happened :)

-i went on a date last night. it was the kind where you have butterflies before the date begins. the kind where the looks he gives make you melt. it was the date where even a 45 minute drive felt like 10 minutes. it's a date where you feel comfortable, happy, and you forget about every other worry. the sort of date when you think, "woah. is this really our first date? it feels like i've known you for a long time." can you tell i'm happy about it? i am.

-my mom is off work today. we might go rent a movie (yes, this one). we'll probably make some yummy food (like this recipe for a healthy frosted lemonade slurpee. and we'll laugh and talk and tell stories, like always.

-i have a hotel reserved for the night i get to stay in Madrid. and it's nice! i feel much more calm about things now.

-even though i have some health problems, i feel lucky to be able to move and do what i want. to have mostly-functioning organs and all my limbs. and to be able to see, hear, taste, touch. to be able to sing and laugh and dance.

-baptism trip tomorrow with my singles' ward. first time to the Bountiful Temple. I'm excited.

ok, i'll stop there. but i'm feeling lucky. and i love it.

sorry, i've been....

PINNING.

i love pinterest. if you don't have it, go there. visit. stay. pin.

today i decided to make my own pins (with some favorite quotes) and i thought i'd share them with you!

(these are two pics of campus i took as well. hooray)

happy tuesday!

if you have any quotes i should pin, let me know!

too much.

it doesn't matter if these have the original price tag of $182. these should NOT be $50 at DI. Yuck. Isn't it called a thrift store for a reason?