Today was a pretty cool day as well. Woke up played games with Javi and headed to Baton for the parque de attracciones...Why it's called the park of attractions and not some cool name I have no idea. When we got there the place looked typical Spain...which is so cool! They have tons of random weird stuff that I love! We got settled in and got on some rides. The rides were all pretty cool but pretty short at the same time. Most of them lasted maybe a minute o less, but they were INSANE! one twisted and turned the whole time we were on it. One takes you straight up and then Shoots you in the air backwards. Loved it. My friend got a little sick so we chilled after that one and then decided to try a water ride...Did I mention that these water rides to everything they possibly can to make sure you leave completely soaking wet? The first one we did takes you right through a water fall at the end..Soaked. The next one drops you 15 feet into a pond...Soaked...But great fun non the less! I was kinda tired the whole day so I got bored pretty quick. The place was way fun though. What always interest me though is how different people here react compared to back in the states. People were taking off their shirst on rides, girls walked around in nothing but a bikinni, which I'm not gonna complain about, although there were a few that should of been approved to wear one before they did........but the people and rules here are so different.
I know I get ready to head home in less then 10 days but sometimes I feel like I'm here on my mission again and have another 2 years to go. mainly because I can't use my phone here o see Melinda, who I miss! Some days I just wanna go home o to a place where I can talk to her o my family. Oh well though, I remember the other night when we were at the ccm and realize welp those guys still have 7 weeks before they even get out of that building then another 21 months after that in Spain, and I feel better...horrible yes, but it works..Being in that building though gave me the feeling of the spirit more then I have anywhere else besides the temple in a long time. I missed that feeling. Being with the missionaries and talking to them after was just great fun. I can't wait till they get to go out and experience what I did for 2 years. Some days I felt just like I did today. I wanted to go home so bad and just be with familiar faces and places. Some days were like the other days of this trip, I loved being there and couldn't wait till the next challenge came my way. Helping the Lord find his lost sheep and letting him take my full self into his life. Hopefully they feel the same way...
Well until tomorrow night! After we go to a city I have never been to before! Super stoked for that!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Day 3
So I now realized that since I have actually been on vacation since last Sunday that this should technically be called day 6. I just don't care to change it...So day 3 it is. Today was a pretty nice easy day actually nothing too bad at all. I woke up around 1 cause I had to meet a friend in Madrid so we could go to a theme park. Well she called me from work and told me that she would prefer to go on Thursday cause she was super tired and didn't want to go today. Which is totally fine with me! Yes I'm on vacation and yes I'm supposed to be doing great awesome things every day, but think about it. It's not like I'm in the states. I'm in Europe. Just going out and sitting on a bench watching people here is fun. People here are quite hilarious actually. So I actually just slept a little bit longer and got up and ate breakfast. Javi came in and we got talking about his girl and how he was in Madrid all morning. His mom and grandma were in the living room watching one of their many favorite t.v. shows, los bandaleros so Javi was actually really bored lol. So I went back into my room to do some homework. Got a good amount done when Javi wanted to play some video games. Which I was cool with cause lets be honest people...the kid looked bored to death and needed to do something. So we played for a couple hours till his the ladies of the house wanted to watch another of their t.v. shows that they watch here every day. Which I was cool with cause I wanted to get some more homework done. So I went back to my room turned on some Home Improvement on the Youtube and watched till about 7. I was meeting a friend in Madrid around 8, so I had to get ready to leave. I asked Monica to come with me cuase if she didn't when the night was over with Jorge I would be wandering around Alcala trying to find my way home. So we took the train and then the bus down to Madrid, Plaza Del Sol to meet up with Jorge. Jorge is a really good friend of mine from a city called Guadalajara...not Mexico...Spain...His city was my second area in Spain on my mission. He has a family and a great wife with now 3 kids. Only one when I was there. We met up went out to eat and had a great time. Had one of my favorite dishes....Paella..love the stuff. Basically awesome rice with great other things. At the end of the night after a good conversation and 2 bowls of icecream, he took me and Monica who went to visit her aunt back to her house. I'm planning on staying with him next Friday night so he can take me to the airport in the morning since no one will be at Monicas place...she is going to Denmark Friday morning and her Mom doesn't really know how to get me there. All in all it was a great trip and tomorrow is the theme park day!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Day 2
Today was a really fun day. I'm still a little wacked out from the time change, it's probably around 7 back home which means its like 2 in the morning here, but because of the time change I can't really sleep well. Last night I slept for a couple hours, woke up, watched some youtube shows and went back to bed and woke up at like one here. It was nice. I got ready ate, caught the bus and went to Avenida de America to meet up with a friend to go see the sights of Madrid. Now most of you are probably thinking you have spent 2 years there, didn't you see all that already? Well yes most of it I have seen, but it was different this time. Before I was a missionary. Everything was planned and most of it all happened on pday. Which meant yeah during the week I would see it but it was on a time limit and so on.
We went to eat first at TGIF Fridays. It was actually a lot better then in the US(I got sick the last time I went in Utah and haven't been since). Then we walked around the city a bit. We went to the Palacio Real which is where the king and queen of Spain used to live. We went to the huge freaking church across the street from there. That was way cool and weird inside. Old churches are pretty cool to see though. Then we got ice cream. After that we went to an egyptian temple. Why in the crap they have a temple from Egypt in Spain I have no idea, but it was pretty cool. We then took off to a park and just chilled. That was one of my favorite parts of the day. We could just go sit down and take it all in! No being rushed no having to stop people to try and talk to them, we just sat and chilled. Which was really nice. Around 8 we grabbed the metro and headed to the CCM which is the MTC that they have here in Spain. It's like a mini Temple Square. They have the temple a stake center and the ccm. We went there to be fake investigators for the missionaries so they could teach us. I was kinda not really wanting to go at first, but when we got there all the memories of when I was in the same place that all the missionaries are now it was great! We had a good time with them and I felt their pain. They were pretty new to Spain and didn't speak very well and it brought back a bunch of memories from when I was there. It was a really neat experience though. It was also awesome that I went there but didn't have to stay! lol I love being able to do what I want here. It makes for an awesome trip.
I've been thinking about home and I hope things are well back there. I miss you all! Especially my critters and that person that is staying in my house for the 2 weeks! Miss you person! lol
We went to eat first at TGIF Fridays. It was actually a lot better then in the US(I got sick the last time I went in Utah and haven't been since). Then we walked around the city a bit. We went to the Palacio Real which is where the king and queen of Spain used to live. We went to the huge freaking church across the street from there. That was way cool and weird inside. Old churches are pretty cool to see though. Then we got ice cream. After that we went to an egyptian temple. Why in the crap they have a temple from Egypt in Spain I have no idea, but it was pretty cool. We then took off to a park and just chilled. That was one of my favorite parts of the day. We could just go sit down and take it all in! No being rushed no having to stop people to try and talk to them, we just sat and chilled. Which was really nice. Around 8 we grabbed the metro and headed to the CCM which is the MTC that they have here in Spain. It's like a mini Temple Square. They have the temple a stake center and the ccm. We went there to be fake investigators for the missionaries so they could teach us. I was kinda not really wanting to go at first, but when we got there all the memories of when I was in the same place that all the missionaries are now it was great! We had a good time with them and I felt their pain. They were pretty new to Spain and didn't speak very well and it brought back a bunch of memories from when I was there. It was a really neat experience though. It was also awesome that I went there but didn't have to stay! lol I love being able to do what I want here. It makes for an awesome trip.
I've been thinking about home and I hope things are well back there. I miss you all! Especially my critters and that person that is staying in my house for the 2 weeks! Miss you person! lol
Monday, September 5, 2011
First day
Well here I am sitting at my friends house in Alcala De Henares Spain. I finally got everything more or less set up and I'm less freaking out. Lol It's nice to finally be back with a good friend, but I'm not totally sure how I feel being away from home. To be honest it still kinda feels like I'm back serving a mission again and will be here for another 2 years instead of just 2 weeks.
It's late Monday here and my trip here was kinda crazy. My dad took me to the airport around 8 in the morning so I could get everything set up and ready to go with the flights and so on. We had a nice talk about a lot of stuff going on right now. It was actually nice cause it's been so long since we have had one of those. He dropped me off at my gate and I set out on my way. I've decided that I don't really like traveling alone that much anymore. I would really like to have a travel buddy next time I go somewhere thats far far away. I boarded the plane to atlanta and sat next to a guy that was in the army heading out for a tour in Iraq, and a girl that was heading to Germany with her family cause her dad was in the army. She was gonna be there for about 3 years. That brought back memories of the first time I came here and how weird it felt to know that I wouldn't see my family for so long. She was at least with her family which was a plus. There were actually only stopping in Atlanta to get her dog, then heading to Germany. I can honestly say I'm glad I'm not going through that whole process again. I'm only here for a short period of time then I get to go back and be with my family and friends again in a place that is familiar to me. Anyway I found my next gate and since I had a little over 3 hours before I would board I decided to just walk around. It's always a bit of a culture shock when you get out of Utah. Even though I'm the least Utahn Utahn there is out there, sometimes you just forget what it's like outside of the bubble. I sat down at a table just wanting to watch the game that was on and I got asked for my Id multiple times which I always think is funny. They always look at my age and are like no way!
The time finally came for me to leave the U.S. for a couple weeks and I boarded the plane. I sat next to a nice guy from Texas that was taking his family over to visit a brother that he hasn't seen in a long time. We talked it up some about Spain and what we had hoped to do while we are here. His family and him from what it sounded like during our conversation are leaving the same time I do Saturday morning next week. So I'm sure I will be seeing them again when I get ready to go home. The flight over was kinda crazy long. I forgot how bad it was. Luckily I was in a window seat and had some decent leg room for the almost 9 hour flight. I alway love going over the ocean though I remember the first time I came here, when we all saw that it was total darkness outside but yet could see sun in the horizon. It was just as cool this time. I've had my doubts about coming here(I didn't really wanna leave on other trip so soon, but I think that was just the nerves getting to me. We landed and it was on! and by it was on I mean I got lost in a huge airport in a foreign country for almost 3 hours, my ticket said I would be dropped off in terminal 2 so I told my friend that was coming to get me that, that's where I would be. Well they dropped me off in terminal 1, which isn't totally far away but since it was a big place and I had no idea where I was going I did what any boy scout would do and walked around till I got more lost. Finally I was about to break down and just give up, go get a hotel for the night and get some internet so I could let my friend know where I was(my phone doesn't work over here) but I decided I would sit down for a few more minutes and see what happens.
Not ten minutes after I sat down and kept that little prayer in my heart did I find Monica and her brother Javi, well they found me. They had been doing the same thing I was. Walking around trying to find me. It was great fun. We got me a taxi and started heading back to their home in Alcala de Henares where I will be staying for the next 2 weeks. We got there got my bags set up in one of the rooms and was immediately feed by Monica's mom...Who I never actually got he name of, and I'm not sure if I actually ever will lol. She is a really nice lady who sat me down made me eat and then introduced me to the grandma. Who is also awesome. I kinda needed Monica to come home from work, so I could get my internet working, I mean it's nice to be here away from it all, but it's nice to be able to talk to people too. So I pretty much just chilled with the family for a few hours till she got back. She got me all hooked up and I sent some messages out to people on facebook and then we left. We met up with a friend of hers and went and ate some tapas, which is basically just a fancy word for food you get at a bar. It was actually really good! I knew the friend Mariana before when I was here for my mission, but it was a little different this time. I got to give besos which is something I will have to get used to but oh well. After we ate we talked some till she had to leave, Monica and I walked around for a while just talking and trying to figure out what I'm gonna do the rest of my time here. She is leaving on the 16 to go to a conference in Denmark so I will kinda be on my own for a day here. Which isn't too bad at all. It actually looks like I will be spending a lot of the time here with her. Which will be way nice, cause I was worried that I would be by myself a lot. Which I'm ok with, but not totally ok with when I'm in a different country. So I'm happy for that. Then We came home and here I am. Writing about my day.
I'll have to be honest though, I was really looking forward to this trip till the last couple days and especially when I was on the plane. I'm not totally sure why, but I kinda felt like I was leaving a lot behind that I didn't want to at that moment. I haven't really been home much in the last 2 weeks because I went to Florida for work, and then came back for only a week before I took off again to come to Spain. I have a great girlfriend even though I don't really seem to give her the credit for it. I really wish she was here. I miss her tons and it's only the first day. I have my own place now which I really just enjoy sitting there and doing nothing sometimes. It's a nice change from when I was living with a bunch of guys. I really think it comes down to the fact though that having this much time on my hands is really gonna make me think about things I've been thinking about for a while. Things at home, my personal life, work and school. Things I think I came here to get away from, but they have come with me and I'm glad. I also think there is a bit of home sickness. I felt like a missionary again when I first landed and kinda didn't wanna be here. don't get me wrong, I loved my mission, but the idea of being away from my home for another 2 years kinda hit me hard. I'm glad I can now do all the things I couldn't do before. Well it's late and I'm off to bed. I'm gonna try and update every day with new adventures here in this great country that I have learned to love. Buenas noches!
It's late Monday here and my trip here was kinda crazy. My dad took me to the airport around 8 in the morning so I could get everything set up and ready to go with the flights and so on. We had a nice talk about a lot of stuff going on right now. It was actually nice cause it's been so long since we have had one of those. He dropped me off at my gate and I set out on my way. I've decided that I don't really like traveling alone that much anymore. I would really like to have a travel buddy next time I go somewhere thats far far away. I boarded the plane to atlanta and sat next to a guy that was in the army heading out for a tour in Iraq, and a girl that was heading to Germany with her family cause her dad was in the army. She was gonna be there for about 3 years. That brought back memories of the first time I came here and how weird it felt to know that I wouldn't see my family for so long. She was at least with her family which was a plus. There were actually only stopping in Atlanta to get her dog, then heading to Germany. I can honestly say I'm glad I'm not going through that whole process again. I'm only here for a short period of time then I get to go back and be with my family and friends again in a place that is familiar to me. Anyway I found my next gate and since I had a little over 3 hours before I would board I decided to just walk around. It's always a bit of a culture shock when you get out of Utah. Even though I'm the least Utahn Utahn there is out there, sometimes you just forget what it's like outside of the bubble. I sat down at a table just wanting to watch the game that was on and I got asked for my Id multiple times which I always think is funny. They always look at my age and are like no way!
The time finally came for me to leave the U.S. for a couple weeks and I boarded the plane. I sat next to a nice guy from Texas that was taking his family over to visit a brother that he hasn't seen in a long time. We talked it up some about Spain and what we had hoped to do while we are here. His family and him from what it sounded like during our conversation are leaving the same time I do Saturday morning next week. So I'm sure I will be seeing them again when I get ready to go home. The flight over was kinda crazy long. I forgot how bad it was. Luckily I was in a window seat and had some decent leg room for the almost 9 hour flight. I alway love going over the ocean though I remember the first time I came here, when we all saw that it was total darkness outside but yet could see sun in the horizon. It was just as cool this time. I've had my doubts about coming here(I didn't really wanna leave on other trip so soon, but I think that was just the nerves getting to me. We landed and it was on! and by it was on I mean I got lost in a huge airport in a foreign country for almost 3 hours, my ticket said I would be dropped off in terminal 2 so I told my friend that was coming to get me that, that's where I would be. Well they dropped me off in terminal 1, which isn't totally far away but since it was a big place and I had no idea where I was going I did what any boy scout would do and walked around till I got more lost. Finally I was about to break down and just give up, go get a hotel for the night and get some internet so I could let my friend know where I was(my phone doesn't work over here) but I decided I would sit down for a few more minutes and see what happens.
Not ten minutes after I sat down and kept that little prayer in my heart did I find Monica and her brother Javi, well they found me. They had been doing the same thing I was. Walking around trying to find me. It was great fun. We got me a taxi and started heading back to their home in Alcala de Henares where I will be staying for the next 2 weeks. We got there got my bags set up in one of the rooms and was immediately feed by Monica's mom...Who I never actually got he name of, and I'm not sure if I actually ever will lol. She is a really nice lady who sat me down made me eat and then introduced me to the grandma. Who is also awesome. I kinda needed Monica to come home from work, so I could get my internet working, I mean it's nice to be here away from it all, but it's nice to be able to talk to people too. So I pretty much just chilled with the family for a few hours till she got back. She got me all hooked up and I sent some messages out to people on facebook and then we left. We met up with a friend of hers and went and ate some tapas, which is basically just a fancy word for food you get at a bar. It was actually really good! I knew the friend Mariana before when I was here for my mission, but it was a little different this time. I got to give besos which is something I will have to get used to but oh well. After we ate we talked some till she had to leave, Monica and I walked around for a while just talking and trying to figure out what I'm gonna do the rest of my time here. She is leaving on the 16 to go to a conference in Denmark so I will kinda be on my own for a day here. Which isn't too bad at all. It actually looks like I will be spending a lot of the time here with her. Which will be way nice, cause I was worried that I would be by myself a lot. Which I'm ok with, but not totally ok with when I'm in a different country. So I'm happy for that. Then We came home and here I am. Writing about my day.
I'll have to be honest though, I was really looking forward to this trip till the last couple days and especially when I was on the plane. I'm not totally sure why, but I kinda felt like I was leaving a lot behind that I didn't want to at that moment. I haven't really been home much in the last 2 weeks because I went to Florida for work, and then came back for only a week before I took off again to come to Spain. I have a great girlfriend even though I don't really seem to give her the credit for it. I really wish she was here. I miss her tons and it's only the first day. I have my own place now which I really just enjoy sitting there and doing nothing sometimes. It's a nice change from when I was living with a bunch of guys. I really think it comes down to the fact though that having this much time on my hands is really gonna make me think about things I've been thinking about for a while. Things at home, my personal life, work and school. Things I think I came here to get away from, but they have come with me and I'm glad. I also think there is a bit of home sickness. I felt like a missionary again when I first landed and kinda didn't wanna be here. don't get me wrong, I loved my mission, but the idea of being away from my home for another 2 years kinda hit me hard. I'm glad I can now do all the things I couldn't do before. Well it's late and I'm off to bed. I'm gonna try and update every day with new adventures here in this great country that I have learned to love. Buenas noches!
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