Thanksgiving Preps

I spent the weekend in Arcos and it was a fun one. I went to the discoteca in town with some friends on Friday and we stayed until about 5:30am – which apparently was an early evening! We didn’t even get there until after 2 so all in al we weren’t there too long. I was at the disco, called CBC the Saturday before but it was not nearly as crowded as it was on Friday night. I saw some people that I knew there and it is a good feeling to finally go out and see familiar faces and to know some people in town. It is also nice to have 2 friends with cars so we do not have to walk up and down the huge hills here! Becca decided to wear heels out and not only did she tower over the Spaniards (who are not known for being tall) but by the end of the night she could barely walk. From standing so long, her feet were destroyed – bleeding and all! Thank goodness I opted for flats – what they lack in attractiveness they make up for in comfort. All in all it was a good night even though without fail I come home smelling like an ash try. I do not understand why so many Europeans smoke. They are not immune from getting lung cancer but I guess it is a part of their culture they are not willing to give up – deadly or not.
Saturday Becca and I had planned on going to Jerez to shop but we chose laziness over spending money. We decided we’d go on Friday because after all it is Black Friday so we thought it would be fitting if we stuck with the American tradition. We have been planning a Thanksgiving meal. Since there are only 3 Americans here we have a lot of work ahead of us and are expecting to be having dinner with at least 10 people. Our two friends, Whitney and Andrea from Jerez are going to spend the night in Arcos and help us out with the celebration. We are still undecided about whose apartment to have dinner in as none of us really want to have the clean-up duties. Becca’s apartment is the smallest but the homiest. She and her roommate do not work on Friday so it would make sense to have it there just for that reason. My roommate has to work on Friday and so does Lincoln so we would be forced to end our party early if it were at my place or Lincoln’s. Thanksgiving will definitely be a makeshift holiday here in Spain because we do not have all of the necessary ingredients available to us nor do we have all of the cooking utensils. We will do our best.
Saturday night we did not go out but a few of us hung out at Lincoln’s apartment and it was a good time. Another puente is coming up at the end of the first week in December. Becca’s birthday is the 10th so I told her she could choose our travel destination and I would be willing to go. She is thinking of going to San Sebastian, which is where she studied abroad during our junior year of college. It is in northern Spain so it won’t be as warm as it is here down in the south. San Sebastian is known for its gorgeous beaches, which we won’t be able to enjoy, but Becca knows the city well and she will know all of the hot spots and fun things to do. Hopefully next weekend I will make it to Sevilla for a night to visit my friend Kate. My roommate, Juan Carlos, is staying in town this coming weekend so I want to be here to hang out with him a bit because usually he goes home on the weekends. He is the new Spanish heartthrob. Becca and her roommate have decided that he is better looking than the 2 firemen (Sergio and Raul). I do not have any pictures to share right now but I will make sure to take some at Thanksgiving and then you can decide! My mom told me it is snowing at home in Easton. I am jealous I am missing out on it Just the other day I was wearing flip-flops and I still haven’t had to put on any more than a light sweater. Today is one of the coolest days here in Arcos that I can remember but it rained last night so that could be the cause. The English coordinator at my school doubts that it will ever feel like winter! A change from Pennsylvania. I hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving. Only about a month until I’ll be home to see everyone!

CeCe