Finally Finally and Finally

There have been many accomplishments on my end since the last time I posted, so many times have sat down and just sighed. . . finally!  The first was obviously when we moved into our piso, but you all already know about that.  Next on the list was when we got our internet fixed.  We bought it on a thursday and that night it stopped working.  We went in everyday and everyday they told us it would be fixed in 24 hours.  Well finally on tuesday morning they gave us a knew internet stick if you will (you plug it into your usb) and it worked! Finally!  Also during the time of not having internet our TV decided to stop working.  Now I don't even think I could fix a tv in english let alone try to figure it out in spanish.  But we messed around with it and figured out the cable box and connecting cord had to be replaced.  So after a call to the landlord we learned where we could buy one.  After reading the manual and figuring out how to auto program the channels we now have a working tv, finally!  During this time of no tv and no internet, we also could not figure out how to turn the hot water on.  We knew you had to turn the gas on and we thought we were lighting it correctly but alas, no hot water would come out.  So of course we called the land lord, and let me tell you, trying to understand someone explain how to turn on a gas water heater on the phone is no easy task.  We couldn't understand her, and she couldn't hear us, she ended up just telling us to go knock on one of our neighbors door and ask for help.  So that is exactly what we did.  A girl around our age, maybe a little younger and her mother live right across the hall and came over to inspect our situation.  After some poking around they reported that our gas was empty, thats why it wouldn't light.  So the next day the land lord had to drive an hour from where they live to help us get the water working.  But after half an hour, one new gas tank, 6 people in the kitchen and lots of new spanish words we got our water to turn hot, finally!  And finally the last finally is that I have started working at my school, finally!  I've been there 2 days so far and everyone has been so nice.  On monday I worked with 4 and 5 year olds, I forgot how cute they can be.  I already got a hug from one of the little girls.  I also already have a lesson to plan.  The youngsters are working on numbers and colors, so next monday I am to prepare a 30 minute activity.  Another part of my job is for one hour on mondays I will spend with each of the bilingual teachers I am working on.  Sort of like a private english lesson for them.  I had my first one monday.  So tough!  Here is where I wish I had taken an english grammar class.  It took me ten minutes to describe to it means "to become."  And why it has nothing to do with "to come" or "to go"  It is going to be harder than I thought, but that seems to be the theme of my time here so far.  I'm sure I will get better as time goes on.

I have not written until now because in all honesty until this week I have not done a whole lot.  No trips so far, nothing too exciting, just hanging around Huelva.  I have walked around to explore quite a bit, although a lot of the time I have to watch my step because I don't want to step in dog poop.  Yes thats right, everyone here has a dog!  Which I just feel like should be illegal because there is absolutely no where for a dog to be in this city.  The apartments are tiny and no has any sort of yard.  The parks are not nearly big enough for them run around in and if you aren't constantly looking down you probably will step in poop. It's just gross. Get a cat people!  I have also taken advantage of going to the beach.  It cost 4 euro round trip and 15 minute bus ride to get there, but it is beautiful.  I also joined a gym and have been working out there this week.  It is close to my house and so nice.  Tomorrow my roommate and I are going to try one of the classes they offer.  Way less scary to do it with someone else.  Other than that I have no fun, exciting Europe trips to tell.  A trip to Portugal is the process of being planned as well as other European hot spots.  I can't wait to start traveling to some of them.

Oh and just so no one worries, I have been eating very well here.  My roommate (Rebekah, I will just start using her name)  have been having lots of fun cooking.  Last week we made spaghetti,  it was no prego but still delicious (I took a picture for you mom),  I made pebre, and after school today I walked home with my bilingual coordinator and she took me to the fish market and got me half a kilo of these little sardine like fish.  I told her I had no idea what to do with them ( they just give you the entire fish) so the lady working there de-headed, and de-gutted them for me.  I was told to put salt on them, cover them in flower than fry them in oil.  So I did that for dinner and they turned out quite good if I do say so myself.  We also had tons of veggies so Rebekah made Ratatoullie!  I helped of course.  Let me tell you, it is just as delicious as they make it seem in the movie.  I also went to this big market this morning and bought lots of fresh fruit, reminded me of Chile.  So anyways, I'm not going hungry.

Well thats all thats going on right now.  Nikki's birthday was on Friday and it makes me miss this time of year in Minnesota.  Leaves changing, apple orchard, sweatshirt weather (in a place where people wear sweat shirts), mom's apple crisp, ah the wonderful foods and colors of fall.  I seem to be always be missing fall in Minnesota.  Oh well I guess I can't complain about going to the beach.  Love and miss you all!

Besitos
Katie