A Year In Review

Happy New Year everyone! 

I'm behind on blogs (as usual) and will be filling you in soon about my

 New Year's Eve and Three Kings Day here in España.

First, though, I'd like to share 12 special events from 2012.

It was a year full of so much love, happiness, and new wisdom to propel me forward in life.

I can't thank you all enough for being apart of my year and every day that we continue into the future together.

New Years Eve 2011-2012
Spending my first moments of the year with the greatest friends I could ask for.

Lake Champion- Winter Weekend & sharing in the joy of watching others meet Christ!

Being rewarded for another amazing year of tennis with my tennis sister/doubles partner.

Timber Creek Prom/prom weekend, one of the best nights/weekends EVER! :)

Training and finally running the 4th of July race with Annie!

RockBridge summer camp with an amazing cabin of girls..

And the whirlpool where we almost lost our lives!!! haha

So many baptisms- Heather, Trey, Mom, and Me.

Saying goodbye to one family...

and Hello to another.

Meeting this girl thousands of miles away from our homes.

And finishing it all up by spending December 30th on the Mediterranean.

All that and so much more... 2012 was an awesome year but 2013 is going to be even better!!

Christmasssss!!!!

First of all, I'd like to make a confession. Despite the fact that I am in Spain and not France, I honestly believe that I've found the most amazing crepe place in the world. I cannot walk past the window without buying myself a huge crepe with Nutella... So tonight as I sat at the bus station with 15 minutes to spare, I may have run across the street and indulged in a crepe-nutella fantasy. And my workout for today is basically 6 feet under.

Now that I got that off my chest, let's talk about Christmas!

Holiday break lasts for a whopping 17 days! So I have a lot of time to either lay in bed like a loofa or do something productive.

On Christmas Eve we had lunch with family friends and relaxed for much of the afternoon before going home and getting ready for dinner. At 7pm we headed to the Grandparents house (a.k.a Los Yayos) to feast and and celebrate. Besides my host family and the grandparents, Javier's brother and his family joined us. We were eleven people in total.

The meal consisted of the following: Ham, shrimp, King crabs, German salad, Steak or sometype of seafood (whichever you preferred), ice cream, chocolate, and other delicious things for desert. Oh and of course, wine and champagne! 

At one point we were making a toast or singing something (I honestly can't remember) and everyone was standing up but Yayo (the grandpa) wouldn't move from his seat. Suddenly he started yelling and grabbing his chest. For a split second we all thought for sure that this man was having a heart attack... Until we realized the real humor in what was happening... Yayo was wearing a little Christmas tie with a button on it that made the tie light up and play a little Christmas tune. While grabbing his chest like a dying man, he was really just frantically looking for the button to make his tie light up and sing. Moments before we'd been fearing for his life and now we were all dying of laughter.

After we stuffed our faces it was time for the entertainment. Everyone had to prepare something. Elena played guitar, sang, and then danced with her cousin. Lucia (the cousin) played the recorder with her nose which made everyone cry in hysterics. I had no idea what to do for my turn, so I made my eyebrows dance along to the song Jingle-Bells. Javier and his brother played the guitar and sang, also. And after that, we all just danced around and had a merry time. Honestly, it was the most joyful Christmas Eve I've ever had. I was bubbling with laughter all night. There just wasn't time to be homesick, because I was already in the presence of so many loving people.

Just after 2am we went home and everyone was off to bed so Papa Noel could stop by with the presents. I stayed up till 3 and Skyped with family in New Jersey as they gathered in the living room and opened Pollyanna gifts.

When I finally went to bed I couldn't have been more pleased with the way that the day had gone.

 I forgot to mention that my packages from home hadn't arrived in time, so I would not be opening my Christmas gifts from family on time... but after crying about it for 10 minutes I didn't care anymore. Like I said, there just wasn't time to be sad that night. There was too much delicious food, rich wine, and joyful people.

My Facebook status basically summed it all up: "Best Christmas Eve of my entire life. I got to spend time with my family in New Jersey over Skype and celebrated all night long with my new family here in Spain. This season is all about the expression of your heart- and I finally know what the the Magic of Christmas really means. I've never felt so loved by others, or so eager to show my affection to others, as I do on this night... All because of the birth of Jesus, this world has been blessed with a beautiful time to celebrate our divine relationship with Him and others. ♥"

Papa Noel?

So the Christmas season is here. You're doing your last minute shopping and thinking "what the heck am I supposed to get for that Pollyanna gift?". Best of luck..
 I really don't feel any holiday spirit while taking a bike ride and sweating in this 70 degree weather. I'll surely be dreaming of a white Christmas this year.
As school finishes up this week, and my friends receive their grades for the first trimester, a holiday break of sixteen full days is almost upon us. TONS of dinners, lunches, and other gatherings with family and friends have all been arranged to keep us fat and happy during this time.

I will be blogging again soon to go into more detail about the traditions and things going within these two weeks of holidays. Right now I need to clean my room, write some letters, and hide this stack of Christmas presents!!!!!

I swear. I will be the worst Santa Claus when I become a mother- it's so hard to have all the presents hidden under my bed and not open them! haha

P.S. Friends at home- I hope you're all surviving the crazy workload that teacher heap on us the week before Christmas. And I pray that they didn't assign to much to do over break too!!!!

Quick Update

The "totally cool blog" that I promised was coming... isn't coming. I'm sorry guys. For some reason the video wouldn't upload onto my page. Anyway, here's a quick update.

Exchange is infamous for being a time of some serious weight gain, and I've been no exception. The good news is though I'm drinking a lot of green tea with honey and cinnamon now and trying to avoid the endless snacking on chocolate in the afternoons. Instead of taking a siesta for hours on end, I go for a walk or run. I'm feeling stronger and healthier, so we'll see what the scale has to say in a few weeks.

The temperature has suddenly climbed back into the high 60's and low 70's, also. My allergies were quick to react and I've been sniffling all day and night.

As you know (if you've read previous blogs) I had some camera trouble back in October. While my Canon is being repaired, my Aunt Charlotte sent me an awesome little digital camera in the mean time. This this new one is shock proof, water proof, dust proof, and freeze proof. What other "proof" is there? This thing is awesome!!! I was so excited to try it out. The camera also has a Panoramic feature that I used to take the following pictures..

The front yard/driveway.

180 degree shot of the Sea.

120 degree Panoramic view of the coast.

Today we're setting up the Christmas tree and Nativity to decorate for Navidad y los Tres Reyes Magos. Should I listen to Christmas music to get in the mood or will it just make me incredibly homesick? Maybe I should just avoid "Home for the Holidays", "White Christmas", and of course "Cristmas Shoes"- cause that one just makes everybody depressed!

Making a Home

The beginning of exchange, no matter the country one is in, is extremely difficult. You're the new kid at school, in a different country, learning a foreign language, living in an unfamiliar house (with strangers), and trying to adjust to the cultural. And if you need your grades to transfer at the end of the year, than you can add the stress of schoolwork to that already heaping list.

I clearly remember, as if it were just yesterday, the mornings when I would wake up, look in the mirror, and think to myself, "I can't do this anymore. I don't have the energy to hold it all together today. Who I am and what I am is not enough. I don't want to face hours of difficulties, conversations that I can't comprehend, and the looks I get from people because they think I'm an idiot... I want home. I want a break. My mind, body, and spirit just need to rest. I can't take another day, God."

When my head would hit the pillow on those nights, I stared at the ceiling in amazement- not because I did it, but because He carried me through. Still, my long hours of sleep never sufficed, and I resented the dawn of each new day.

Obviously, I made it though... This week I'll be celebrating my three month anniversary here in Spain. Over time, and as I settled into a routine, the strange things became familiar- they became my life.
However, last Sunday in particular was a memorable day. For the first time, I woke up in the morning feeling like I was exactly where I was meant to be. I didn't open my eyes to an unfamiliar world where I didn't belong. Rather, I awoke to a new day with my family in my home.

I'm struggling to explain exactly how that morning was different from all the others, because at face value it was no different from any of the other preceding days. It wasn't about the day though- I guess it was really about me- about how I felt... Like an old contact lens had been removed from my eyes over night and replaced with something different. And whatever that "something" was, it made my whole being relax.

The day wasn't much. I made my own breakfast, went hiking with a friend, and then lounged around the house for the rest of the evening. But in the midst of all of it, I felt as though a weight had been lifted off of me, and I could move about my day with a new peace and comfort that hadn't been there before.

Beyond feeling so comfortable in my home now, I've also grown immensely closer to my host family.
My father, Javier, is a man that I would have loved to have as a dad growing up. Not only does he work hard to provide for his family, but he has a wonderful sense of humor, an infectious laughter, and makes the most delicious salad with a spruce of parsley (my favorite). Cristina is always running around, making phone calls, and cooking (even though she hates it), and in some ways I see myself being like her in the future. I really want to talk about Elena though- my little Elenita. I adore being a big sister in so many ways. My love for this family is growing deeper by the day- especially with each bear hug that Elena gives me, as she squeezes me with all her might.

Christmas is approaching, and I'm both excited and dreading the days of twinkling lights, santa claus, and gift wrapped boxes. The Holidays will undoubtably strengthen the bonds between my host family and me. But the question begs- will there be more joy than sadness? In January our first rotation will take place, where us exchange students here in Denia will all move houses.

I don't want to have to adjust to a new house and a new family, but more than that, I don't want to say goodbye to the ones I have now...

Exchange can be so bitter-sweet. And sometimes the only sweetness to be found is the stash of chocolate I keep.

17 years of Wanderlust

Another year older- another year wiser. With all this life experience I'm getting, it's no wonder my wisdom teeth are coming in so fast...

First, in honor of my birthday, I'd like to take you back in time for a bit and tell a short story:

It was 1995 and my mom was at her baby shower- pregnant with me. During a conversation with her cousin (who believed in Astrology and horoscopes) it became known that my mother was due at the end of November- around the same time that my older sister had also been born.

"Two November babies, eh? They're gonna be travelers when they grow up," her cousin said.
My mom wasn't much of a believer in reading the stars/ universe or whatever astrology does, so the conversation was quickly put out of mind and forgotten for many years.

I was born on November 28th just 6 days after Danica's Birthday. I grew up. I became aware of the world around me. The wanderlust within my being was like a forest that once caught fire could not be stopped- whether it's in the stars or because God has a plan for my life and in my obedience it will be brought to fruition. But here I am "on the other side of the pond" seventeen years later and the once forgotten words of my mother's cousin are being echoed by my actions.

Not only do I love traveling the world but I'm intrigued by the universes we create that cannot be seen. I'm talking about the relationships that we have with family, friends, Our Creator, and ourselves. To me, having a conversation with someone who lets me to go behind their walls of defense and see behind their masks, is one of the most fascinating things. Not only that, but you feel a sense of honor knowing that you may be one of the few who ever sees this soul almost completely transparent. Do I think we can ever be transparent 100% with anyone? NO. God's the only one who really knows us like that: he sees both the inside and out. But when it comes to sharing your life with other human beings you always have a choice as to who you share with and how much. Some may misinterpret my interest for being nosey and other times I don't always react appropriately when people are honest- but I'm working on it. I'm only human.

I'm not sure of much. I truly believe that I will return from my exchange year with more questions than answers. And at this point, my purpose is no more evident than it was before. Trying to predict my life in the future is like when you're driving on the highway during a downpour and you can barely even see the lines painted on the road or your front bumper: There is too much happening in the moment that you're in and anything beyond that can change in a matter of seconds.

Emma (my exchange friend here in Denia) and I often have talks about our futures. Next year she'll be going to college and I'll be out of high school soon too. Which school? What major? A career or a family? Is either one really ultimately in our control? And the answers are the same. We just don't know. I always conclude that one life isn't long enough to live out all the things I'd like to do. So which things will I choose? Will I go for the international career that will take me to new corners of the world and to learn more languages? Or will God bless me with the opportunity to be a stay at home mother- to do my best to raise children in this crazy life? But maybe I'll a spanish teacher. I could work with high schoolers, try to inspire them in their lives, and expand my knowledge of this language in which I hope to someday be fluent in. Those are my plans though- His plans are the one's that ultimately matter.

Like I said though, I'm driving on the highway in a downpour, so for now I'm just going to focus on the moment and do my best to keep a grip on the wheel...

 I'm 17 years old. I've come a lone way from the lost kid that I once was. Everyday the Lord is changing my heart and filling me with so much love that I'm dying to share with this world. I'm a single human being among 7 billion (and counting) on this earth. But at the same time, I am vastly different from anyone who has ever, or will ever, exist.

So last night we toasted over a drink at dinner- and I'll say it again now (even if toasting to yourself is odd...) I'm gonna celebrate me. Here's to the past 17 years of my life and to all that the future holds. I only hope to walk in the way The Lord has intended for me to- and to give back to this world even a fraction of what I've gained from being a part of it.

Thanksgiving Day

Between today and tomorrow, I will be posting three new blogs. So please be sure to read each of them as I fill you in on everything that happened for Thanksgiving, my birthday, and some new wisdom that I've acquired on this journey. As always, thanks in advance for reading- enjoy!

Thanksgiving 2012 will never be forgotten. That's a promise...
On thursday morning I slept in until 8:30 and met my friend Lucia on the path along the beach where we waited for the rest of our class. Half an hour later my gym teacher, religion teacher, and fifteen other classmates came into sight. Joining the large group, we headed for La Cueva de Tallada.
A ten minute walk to the east brings you to the end of Las Rotas (the residence along the rocky beaches) and then the Montgó Nature Reserve begins.

As we climbed higher the majestic view was only enhanced.

Previous days of rain left the path muddy and smooth rocks were one's worst enemy: it's not the safest hike and one slip could be fatal. Thankfully, it didn't take long to reach our destination.

From the top of a cliff we began our decent down to the cave.

The boys went first so they could help the rest of us girl... as if weren't just as capable of rock climbing. Psh. Please.

Once we reached the bottom of the cliff we turned to the right and BOOM. Out of nowhere this huge cave is ready to swallow you up.

Inside there were shallow pools, tons of rock, and extension areas to explore.

Before going deeper into the cave our gym teacher went ahead and lit candles throughout the tunnel.

I couldn't stop feeling like I was in a National Treasure or Indian Jones movie.

I thought of everybody at home cooking the turkey and setting Thanksgiving tables with the special china and pretty napkins. And then here I was... I never would have imagined that I'd be deep within a cave along the Mediterranean Sea (finally understanding claustrophobia) and at the mercy of the tons of rock above my head.

"This is the coolest thing I've ever done in my life," I kept telling myself. Not even standing before the Eiffel Tower gave me such a sense of excitement or aw for my surrounds.. I hope that doesn't make me sounds spoiled or ungrateful. It's true though, and I think it says something about my liking for adventures in nature over viewing manmade architecture.

Back in the opening of the cave (and sunlight) we ate lunch while a few crazy boys went swimming in the ice cold water. Our time was cut short when it started to rain outside, though. It was necessary that we got back up onto the trail before the rocks on the cliff were too slick and dangerous to climb. With no injuries and lots of fun the excursion was a success. We headed back towards the city and I said goodbye to everyone as I turned down another street to go home. 

At 1:00 I got home, showered, threw on pajamas, and went to bed. Until then my homesickness was at a 2 (on a level of 1-10) and I was more than happy with the way this Thanksgiving was turning out. I took some time to reflect, pray, and count my blessings. "I'm not going to cry today. NO homesickness." I told myself.

Just as I was settling in to take a nap, the housekeeper arrived and started making noise in the kitchen which kept me awake. Around 3:00 my host dad came home and announced that I'd received several letters in the mail. Two of the envelopes were birthday cards that I knew were not to be opened until the 28th. Another was from Jack Kammer, a Rotarian from back home. And the last one was from one of my best friends, Julia Viola. 

Both letters were very long, and I read them each twice to let the words sink in. Lord only knows how much I love both writing and receiving letters- so thank you to those who have written me! I treasure each one...

Soon I found myself on Facebook and scrolling through the endless statuses and pictures from Thanksgiving. YoungLife friends were all playing football together. Family was gathering. Thoughts of pumpkin pie with whipped cream and vanilla ice cream tantalized my taste buds. It was my sister's birthday. And Señorita M. was getting married the next day. So many things were calling me back home... I couldn't suppress the feelings that were building up. I sat down to wish Danica a happy birthday on Facebook and within minutes I lost all composure. So much for not getting homesick!!!! But what was I supposed to do? Crying it out is always better than bottling it up- so I just went with it..

Danica and I Skyped, and I bawled my eyes out for a good two minutes before I could choke out a word. I wished her a happy birthday and then said Hi to everyone at the house for the holiday.

For the rest of the afternoon I staying curled up in bed crying and eating chocolate. Yes, it was pathetic, But when I'm miserable I just want to be left alone so I can continue being miserable. 

Finally at 7pm I emerged from my cave like a grumpy animal and made myself look presentable. At 8:45 my host mom picked me up from home and we headed to the Thanksgiving dinner that Rotary was having for us.

So to summarize the night: The turkey was awful. In broken spanish I explained to Rotary what Thanksgiving was like for my family. Us "Exchangies" sat together, spoke in english, and had a good time despite the various stages of homesickness that we were experiencing. The host parents sat together and either bragged about or bashed the exchange student that they were hosting- but that was their business. For desert we had chocolate cake because ONE MAN in Rotary didn't like pumpkin pie.  It's a good thing I don't know spanish or which man it was- because nobody robs me of my pumpkin pie!

On the way home the sky was clear and stars twinkled above the universe. I said another short prayer to myself and basked in the beautiful moment. At 1am we got home and I went straight to bed. It had been a long and very emotional day- but certainly a memorable Thanksgiving.