Lo siento...

I'm sorry for the late post. I am not dead or part of a workman's camp or held hostage by the military. I am just tired and every time I have a little time to sit down and blog it seems too daunting a task.
Today we had a test, so I was studying all week because I was behind the other people here. They have been working on the book for a month and I have only been here a week and a little bit. But most of this book was just a good refresher for me, as I hope the next one will be. I passed the test and passed the A1 level, so barring any problems I should be in the A2 class in Sevilla. I hope maybe I can move through that and then spend my last month working in the B1 book. If I get that far I feel I will have a good basis and will feel comfortable speaking when I go to Mexico.
I have been speaking more and more Spanish, with the people from the school, in class and even in front of some locals. It is nice, but sometimes I still feel awkward. I'm hoping that will pass soon as it is in the moments when I feel least awkward and self-conscious of getting everything right that the Spanish comes out perfectly. (Ok maybe not perfect, but it at least sounds as if I know what I'm doing and not just stringing together random words I know.)
This week has been good. Monday I had school at 8:30. Then I had a nice day of sitting in the sun and studying. At night we watched some movies. Melanie rented Cold Mountain and we watched it together in the living room. They were going to rent another movie but something happened with the rental machine so I said we could rent oe from the internet. But it took too long to download so they ended up watching it the next day and watching Just Friends instead (Thank you Lauren!!!!).
I went to El Castillo and Almaza. They are both historic buildings in teh heart of town. Sanna and I left after class on Tuesday and went to the center by bus. We decided to go to the Castillo first. The Castillo, which means Castle, is at teh top of the hill and I believe that it served as a defense for the sea port, however this is all conjecture as there were no signs that explained exactly what they did there (or maybe I just didn't understand them correctly). The castle is at the top of a mountain overlooking all of Malaga and the sea port. We slowly walked up the steep incline. It was nice to have the excuse of stopping for the view every time the path zigged back in the other direction.
It was a good half hour walk maybe until we reached the top. It was worth it though. It was a spectacular view. I did not realize that Malaga was as big as it is. It spreads out in every direction. From the top you can see the ocean, the old Cathedral and the bull ring. We walked around the whole wall and then headed back down to the bottom to visit the Almaza.
The Almaza is a fort and a living quarters (again I think so) during the Muslim occupation. Many of the buildings features, such as the way the doors arch in threes, are telling of Muslim architecture. There were also some old pottery and things in some of the rooms to look at.
The highlight (other than the wonderful view) was the orange that I took from the patio of the Almaza. Now, there are oranges (or some orange citrus fruit) that grow outside the house I live in and I have eaten them. They are a bit sour, but definitely edible. However, this orange was not only sour but bitter as well. And I eat the rinds of limes and thought that this was probably the most awful thing I had tasted.
Last night I watched Walk the Line with Sanna (Thanks mom!!!!). She made popcorn for real, with oil and corn kernels in a pot. I've never actually made it that way, so it was cool to watch (although I'm pretty sure that I ate some with Lauren and that we have done it that way in girl scout it was still cool). Then we watched the movie.
This morning we had our test. As I said, I did well and will be moving on to Sevilla in the A2 level. I have sort of finished packing, but I still need to do more. I leave tomorrow at 10 or so. Tonight we have a fiesta at our house because Melanie, who has been here for 5 months, is leaving. I cooked macaroni and cheese because one of the girls here had never had it. I'm not sure how it came out so I will let you know the verdict after the night is over. It is my first venture into cooking for someone other than myself or my family so I hope I do not kill anyone. I made it the real way, but I don't even think they have kraft mac and cheese here. And they don't have cheddar cheese blocks, only slices, so it is not as good. But we'll see.

Hasta luego,
Jennifer