Spring has sprung?

Well, it looks like it might actually be here. The days are starting to get nice again. I find myself getting restless to get out of the city, and am even forcing myself to exercise so I can wear shorts in a socially acceptable manner. A lot of the people here are still wearing winter jackets, scarves, and boots because it is still “winter” but the layers are slowly coming off. Families are filling the parks with their dolled-up children and mothers in high heels that I can’t even fathom walking in.

>>We actually discussed some reasons for the fashion in my class today (gotta love these classes). (1) People in Spain often have 2 different wardrobes for the summer and winter, thus they don’t change with the reasons until it is definitely a new season. (2) Many people believe that changing from cold weather to warm weather clothes and back again day-to-day causes a person to catch a cold.

My schedule is picking up pace as the weekends fill up with endless trips and the days become numbered. Life here seems so far away from the crisis I watch on the TV and read about in the newspapers. This weekend I am going to meet friends from Clemson in Madrid. I’m so excited! It’s a nice treat in the middle of my time here.

We currently have girls in our apartment from Belgium. That would be the 5^th country represented in our apartment in the last two months. Our house itself is cultural exchange! More than most people get.

*Thank you all for taking time out of your days to read this and for any thoughts, prayers and notes you’ve sent. Please know that I appreciate each one so much.