One of the big perks of my program is that we stay with host families, which greatly increases the Spanish we are exposed to and forces us to speak in Spanish. Last summer I went to Chile, and while that's where I really became fluent, I would have learned a lot more had I not been speaking English in the dorms our group stayed in.
My host mom and dad are on the elderly side, super kind, a little quiet at times, but very reasonable and communicative. At first I was concerned they weren't going to speak to me much, but I soon learned that they are more used to students with only a few classes of Spanish experience. I have to ask them to repeat themselves often, but we understand each other pretty well most of the time. On the first day of orientation my host parents walked me and some other students that live near me to the Centro de Lenguas Modernas, which turned out to be about a 20 or 30 minute walk (Google maps). We're all ready to have super calves by the time we leave in December.
In Spain, meals are between 8-9AM, 2-3PM, and 9-10PM. Sometimes people have a "merienda" around 6 or 7, which is usually a coffee or a beer with tapas. Lunch is the large meal of the day, dinner is lighter, usually just one plate and maybe a salad. Meals are when I interact the most with my host parents, Ascension and Miguel (I think, still haven't gotten clear on his name...). Miguel always has the TV on during meals. While at first I found this annoying, it's really a blessing in disguise because it's a great source of conversation, and great exposure to the language as it's spoken naturally. I can't wait to be able to understand the awesome Spanish soap operas on Univision when I return to the states.
My typical lunch in Granada.
When I mentioned to my host mom that although I don't eat red meat I do eat chicken and turkey, she of course thought I realllllly love chicken and turkey. I don't think I've had a lunch or dinner without a bird in it yet!
So this past weekend I went to Trinity Music Fest with Julie (props to Jennie W for the sweet ticket hook up). The main pull was David Crowder Band , but other greats like John Reuben and Jeremy Camp were there (oh and God too, let's not forget that, gosh*).
Although nervous ("what am I even going to say to him?"), I mustered up the courage to go say hello to the ever intimidating-just-as-thin-if-not-thinner-than-David-Crowder John Reuben, as he stood by his merch after most of his fans had passed through.
My interaction follows (I hope this is not just hilarious for Julie and I):
Me: Hi John...(move closer, shake hands) I'm John
John Reu: I'M John
Me: Hahaha, hey I saw you out in Soulfest (that's in NH if you don't know) a few years back
John Reu: Oh yeah? What were you doing out there?
Me: Well I live out there but I go to school out in Valparaiso
John Reu: Oh yeah, Valparaiso University, gotcha
Me: Yeah, you're from Texas right?
John Reu: Nope, Ohio... uhhhh ummm (he literally forgot) Columbus, Columbus. David Crowder is from Texas
Me: Yeah I know that... ...it's you skinny scruffy guys (John Reu had a large amount of scruff for himself that day, but nothing close to Crowder) like you I think are from Texas, clearly
John Reu: Hahahaha
Me: Hey, well I really appreciated Boy Vs. The Cynic, I haven't heard your new stuff yet but I will definitely get to it
John Reu: Oh thanks man
Me: Hey well can I grab a photo with you?
Julie: Yeah I want to get a photo of you guys
John Reu: Yeah, yeah sure thing
Me: Cool, cool (put arm around John semi unconfidently but doing so nonetheless)
Julie: (takes photo)
Me: Well thanks dude, good to meet you
John Reu: Yeah sure thing man...
The End. Well, much laughing about Texas ensued as we walked away.
*this is serious thought I have that needs to be fleshed out some time
I was in Chicago recently nearby the riverwalk and after seeing a homeless person I wrote this later in the the day.
Bustling.
Motivated.
Excited.
Compassionate?
Hard hearted.
Does a sidewalk city stop for a man lying still?
Just to look twice
or maybe take a picture
or to tell their friend, 'oh my'
They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
What joy is there when pride is so thick man does not love?
Surely, It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Alas, it is the end of the school year.
From the beginning: Opening the year at the dunes, playing frisbee and being terrified of stepping on nails, thank you Alfred.
To the end: Breaking glow sticks in the dark and splattering them all over each other in the woods, and of course, finishing the night with sporcle.
And now, having a slumber party in Kyle's room:
On to the Summer, Spain, and Mexico, God willing.
Monday we painted a Restoration Ministries house. The local government had recently donated it to them. Restoration Ministries (the guys that live in Harvey House) then fixes it up, sells it, and pockets the profit. The government makes money on the property tax, and the community has one less vacant, ugly, foreclosed house, a win for everyone.
In the evening we went to Branden House, which is a secular drug and alcohol rehab/withdrawal program, for a bible study with some of the Harvey House guys. We heard a provocative message about the lies of Satan and Fear and the Spirit of God and Faith. We heard a lot of practical suggestions in the form of particular verses from the Bible. The speaker was Barb, the wife of the pastor at Spirit of God Church, which started Restoration Ministries. She also brought up the subject of illness and evil spirits. It rubbed some of our group the wrong way, but it brought up good conversation that needs to be had. I always believe that If everyone agrees with a certain speaker, that speaker really didn’t say anything.
Kyle got the tall job
Sarah was a big fan of painting.
So it's been a while. I'm now back on some adventures so here's something I wrote earlier. Harvey House is a 12-18 month Christian program for Drug and/or Alcohol addicted men. It is not for withdrawal, but for men who have already decided to change their lives.
On Sunday we went with some Harvey House guys to Chicago with Trinity College to give out sandwiches to homeless and pray with them. Needless to say it was a great time. My sub-group was with two Trinity College (funny, I almost applied there) students and Scottie, one of the Harvey House guys. Scottie was a pro on the streets because his life used to be the streets. He said he’d bought heroin all over the city. That, apparently, is the drug of choice in Chicago. We spoke, prayed with, and gave sandwiches to over six homeless people. Scottie made conversing with them simple. He was kind, straight to the point, and he steered conversation exactly where it needed to go. I learned a lot from seeing how he interacted with the homeless and from talking with him after. I learned how to pray with drunken people, I learned how to trust God for provision, and I learned how to be humble when offering help to someone older than me. I learned to rely on the Spirit.
Later Sunday night I spoke with Alex and Dave, two other group members from Valpo:
