Long Time Away

Well it has been quite a while since I blogged last, but things have been a little crazy. Pat and I both have been so busy, and traveled a bit this past weekend. We woke up Saturday morning and decided to drive to Porto, Portugal, and boy was it a good idea. Pat booked a great hotel, very romantic with champagne and grapes. Once we got there, we took a cruise through Porto, which was supposed to serve port wine, but somehow we didn't get it. Anyway it was a great little cruise. Afterward, we walked through the town, and found one of the many little outside restaurant/bar, to have some port wine. So we ordered a red and a white, and after tasting them both, i decided i would never taste them again. Since living in Spain, Ive drank more wine than ever, and I love it, but that port wine is nasty! Pat didn't have a problem with it though, he drank both glasses pretty quickly. So after hanging on the port, in porto, drinking port wine (haha) we went back to the hotel to shower and get ready for a good night out. We went to an amazing restaurant, where Pat ate his first steak since being in Spain, so he was in heaven. We left Porto the next morning, and after only 2 hours of driving, we were back at home. We will def be back there again. We are planning our next trip to Lisbon, which is only another 2 hours south of Porto. 

Besides our little trip to Portugal, things have been about the same. With a little luck, Pat and his team will start winning some games! Its been a little depressing, because they are always so close, but in the end it never really goes our way. Pat is traveling to an away game right now, and they play tomorrow at 7:00 tomorrow, so with a little luck, we will pull this one out. 

As for me, its been a little hectic with teaching 2 times a week, and meeting with Yolanda 2 times a week and then school. Don't get me wrong I love being busy, its quite a change from last year, and now when I think about it, I cant think of not being busy. Its much, much better. Snd now, because I get a pay check, although extremely small, I can say I have a job!! woo hoo its amazing to have a job again, haha. And quite a bit less stressful then working in the emergency trauma center at abington

Well, thats about it for now...oh I have to say I am really sad because Amber has left, and normally when Pat is gone, I drive to her house and spend the night. So its really sad without her, I cant wait for her to come back!

OH yeah, and incase anyone forgot, we will be home in about 4 weeks!!

Teaching English

Well it's only Tuesday, but it feels like Friday. This week has been so crazy, I feel like I totally have a life again, haha. I began teaching english yesterday with 2 siblings, a girl and a boy, 12 and 13, and i was so surprised at how well they spoke english. They need some help with pronunciation and speaking more. I think its going to go really well, as I will be having classes with them for at least the next month...until we come home for XMAS.

Yesterday I also had an intercambio session.  It was the second time, and I will meet up with her again on Thursday.  It went really well, Yolanda is so great, I really enjoy hanging out with her. 

I haven't been able to cook this week, which is nice; however, tomorrow I'll get back in the kitchen and cook. It's more relaxing to eat at home, so tomorrow will be nice.

Pat leaves Thursday for a game, and I think I am going to drive to Lugo, and hang out with Amber. Bill also has an away game, so Amber and I should have a good time hanging out!

Well thats about it for now, Ill let you know how the rest of the week goes!

Intercambio

Well today was a really good day in spanish class. We are learning some new things, and I feel like I am understanding everything a little better now. Today, after class, was my first day with an intercambio, I met with a girl named Yolanda. She is from Spain, has been learning english, but needs to practice speaking more,  so we talked for about an hour in english. After speaking english we talked for another hour in spanish. Basically the purpose is for both of us to practice speaking the language. Although I am in classes 5 days a week, most of the time is spent learning the grammer, and doing a lot of writing exercises.  Although I can understand a lot more, I still am very uncomfortable speaking in public, so this is going to be great for me.  Yolanda has been studying english for many years, and is in the same situation that I am in.  Pat also came today, after his practice. He wasn't there while we were speaking english, but came in time for the spanish part. He also liked it, and without having classes, he is so good, and understands and speaks very well. Sometimes I get mad, because I am in school 20 hours a week, and he is just about as good as I am. Not fair, but its okay, we make a good team.

Lastly, today I booked classes to teach english to 2 kids, ages 12 and 13, 2 times a week. I am pretty excited about it! I am a little nervous because I really have no idea what to expect, and I do not know what level they are speaking. I am meeting with them on Monday at 7:00, and it will be for an hour and a half. Also on Monday I am meeting with Yolanda again.  I am beginning to become busy, which is pretty fun because for the first time since being overseas, I feel like I actually have my own life, how crazy!

Well thats about it, Pat has a game tomorrow, so how about we all pray together. He is playing the top team in the league, Alicante (our team from last year). Alicante is undefeated this year, so with Pat playing great, and a little luck, we will give them their first loss!

Hot Water

Well this is a great week, I am now taking hot showers! Our water finally is fixed and boy is life so much more enjoyable! Anyway besides the water, nothing else too exciting is going on this week. I'm continuing classes, and although they are hard, I think little by little I'm starting to get it.   Im going to start teaching english classes, I am just waiting to here from the president of the school. 

Pat has a game coming up, tomorrow, and I am so excited. We have to win, and I know we will. Thats about it for now.

Weekend Visit

Well this weekend had a few ups and a few downs! Pat left early thursday morning, about 4 am for a road trip to La Palma, in the canary islands. He played Friday night, and lost. It was a close game, but in the end, it wasn't our game. 

Friday I decided to drive to Lugo, and stay the night at Amber and Bills and go to Bills game Saturday. I hate staying here by myself, so more or less, i called up Amber to see what they were doing, and decided to go. It was so much fun, and Im so happy I went. Thank goodness for our GPS because it has made me so much more adventurous. Last year, I would have never driven anywhere by myself, but this year, its so easy, and the GPS gets you to exactly where you want to go. Before I left Friday, the internet went down in our apartment. Initially I thought the team didn't pay the internet bill, so i walked down to the shopping area, and the internet wouldn't work there either. So later, after i got to Amber's, we found out it all of northwest Spain's, also known as Galicia, internet had gone out for 6 hours. Totally crazy. I cant imagine what i would have done, all alone in my apartment, with out internet, sad but true, a lot of my free time revolves around the internet. 

Well thats about all for now, we are really looking forward to this weeks game, a must win game, so until then practice and school for us, and not too much more.

We Won...Finally!!

Wow, I forgot how exciting it is to win. After loosing the first 3 games, this win was extra exciting! Pat played great again, scoring 17 points, and we won by about 15. Also exciting, was Bill and Amber decided last minute to come to the game, so it was great to hang out and watch the game with them. Afterward, we went out to dinner, and then they had to go because Bill was leaving the next morning for Alicante. He is playing Alicante Sunday, actually thats today. Anyway after we said goodbye to Amber and Bill, Pat and I went out with most of his teammates, and some girlfriends, and had a great time. We usually go to this one specific bar first, more relaxed feel, laid back, i think it is Brazilian. They have this drink that is 6 euros, and its basically a frozen drink with sugar, crushed lemon and some type of liquor. Its delicious and tastes like a slushy, but its small and 6 euros, so usually i have 1 or 2 and then switch up drinks. After we went to a club more hyped up lots of dancing. It was so much fun. Pat was like Amanda lets go, are you ready, and I was like i don't want to but, we did leave. After we got in the car i looked at the clock and it was already 5:00 in the morning. I couldn't believe how late it was, the night just went so fast, i guess thats what happens when you win and we were all in such good moods!!

This morning was great! Last night I  made an egg casserole, which Pat loves. We cooked it this morning, I made some home fries and we had lots of orange juice, and of course awesome coffee that Pat brewed! So needless to say it was a great morning and an awesome weekend. Then Pat had to go to practice.

Well thats all i have for now, another week of practices, and for me school, so im already looking forward to next weekend!

Another Game

Well I havent written in a while, Ive been a bit busy with school, and cooking, and some other stuff, nothing too exciting! Anyway last week was great! I turned 25 and it was a great day. Last week Pat played Lugo, and I went to see the game, and met Amber there. Amber is Bill Phillips wife, who plays for Lugo. Shes also the person who started Basketwives.com. Anyway it was a great visit, we went out to dinner after the game, and it was a lot of fun. The game was great, very exciting. Pat played amazing, but we lost by 2 points!

This week has gone by so quickly! Already another game! We are playing VIC tonight, and I know Pat is going to play well and we are going to win! Hopefully we will go out and have a good time after the win. 

Well thats about it for now.

Amanda