beach

Praise God it is Friday!
So excited for the weekend.
Still not sure how I will be spending it. But regardless I am just over the moon excited that I will have some time to myself.

Today the woman I am working for, the baby and I went for the beach for about an hour.

Then it was back home for lunch preparations before the students came and I babysat.

im tired.
goodnight
xo
-es

pieces of Thursday.

I got out of the house for a while and headed into central Valencia.

I continue to enjoy the beauty of the city.
I don't think one can tire of beautiful fountains
and old monuments.

Valencia is so different from Los Angeles. It is so nice to get out of LA county for a bit.

Tomorrow is Friday which means the weekend is right around the corner. Thank God!! I can hardly wait.

xo
-esther

3 weeks

Over 3 weeks have gone by since my arrival in Spain.
I can't believe it.
I feel like I have been her quite a bit longer.
I already know the little village so well.
I have picked out my favorite spots in the little town of La Canyada and many of the shopkeepers already recognize me.
It's great.
I love the small town feeling.
The best part is that I am not too far from the city center. Just one metro ride and I'm there.
So I have it all a big city and a small town at my fingertips.
In the past three weeks I have done so much! It's unbelievable.
Yes some days are hard but other days are absolutely amazing.
I feel beyond blessed to be experiencing the world on my own.
It is one of the most unique things I have ever done.
To go and live in a foreign country.
To leave everything familiar and be alone.
and I mean alone.
I haven't spoken to an American in almost a month! (well I have on Skype but not in person)
It is a very liberating feeling and I have truly taken a liking to it.
Of course I miss all those I hold near and dear.
But I'm doing okay on my own.
I really am.

As always I will continue to ask you to pray for me. There is great power in prayer. Or should I say there is great power in the Good God that hears the prayers. The wonderful weeks I have experienced here are a testament to answered prayers. Im asking my heavenly Father for patienece and a gentle heart. I just need to work on practicing the fruit of the spirits.

Sorry no photos we didn't go to the beach today but we just might on Friday!!

xo
-esther

Thanks Chin!

So about 2 months ago my 18-55 lens broke. Such a shame or so I thought.

When I found out I was going to Spain I was so worried I wouldn't have a good lens to take with me. Oh that would have been such a pity. Being in an beautiful city without a decent lens to capture all my sweet memories.

But!
My dads extremely kind friend Chin let me borrow his 17-55 nikkor lens. And boy do I love it! It is 100 times better then my old lens. I can't thank him enough for allowing me to use this wonderful lens for such a long period of time. I am know dreaming of owning one! Time to save my pennies!

Basically without Chin's generosity this blog probably wouldn't get daily updates. I know I wouldn't be taken pictures like I am now!

So thank you Chin, thank you! Because of your kindness the memories I make here in Spain will be well documented.

Below are some of the beautiful flowers in Spain. People who know me well know that adore all things floral. My wardrobe consists of almost only floral dresses and shirts.


Hopefully i'll be back tomorrow with some exciting pictures. We might go to the beach!

-esther

Monday Monday

Woah yet another long and hot day.
and boy do I mean hot.
I am almost always sweating these days.
Even right now. Im sitting in my room with the window wide open (I have no air conditioner) at 11pm and I'm still all sticky and hot.
Im not going to lie it's a tad uncomfortable but nothing I am not familiar with.
cold drinks, cold showers, and ice cream are currently my favorite things.

Well nothing too extraordinary happened today. After watching the baby for a bit I went to the village for breakfast and then pretty much babysat all evening. Poor baby was having a bad day. She's teething... So she certainly kept me on my toys. Now I must go to bed I'm exhausted. The combination of this crazy heat and a fussy baby is so tiring.


night
xo
-esther

Sunday

the beginning of today was perfection.
the ending was a bit on the rocky side.
I'll get the bad stuff at of the way first so I can leave you with the loveliness that was most of my day.

The not so wonderful part.
As I walked to the train station to leave Xativa a boy, probably around twelve or thirteen, managed to run straight into me on his bike. I mean STRAIGHT into me. He had quickly turned a corner and either he didn't see me or he must have had no brakes. Crazy right. Well it didn't hurt too bad but I now see bruises forming on my legs. Luckily I managed to put my hands out to kind of block him so my upper body is completely fine. But my legs are tad banged up. Nothing too bad though.

When I got to the train station I saw the doors close for the train I needed to go on. Drats. I knew another one would be coming in about a half an hour but it is so lame knowing that if I hadn't been hit by a boy on a bike I'd probably could have made it.

Oh it gets better. So Then I finally get the train that I think I'm suppose to be on. Turns out I was wrong.... It went to the place,Estacio del Nord the station, that I needed to go to. But turns out it was the express train or something so when the ticket man came to see my ticket I kindly gave it to him and then he tells me this is not the right one. So he makes me buy a completely different ticket.... Grrr... By this time I was so over it. He didn't speak a single word of english. Or maybe he pretended he didn't. Anyways I bought the ticket and then listened to Sia the whole trip home.

above I am with my two train tickets. Oh and you can see a teen tiny part of my injurys. That little thing is now becoming a big ole' bruise...

Okay let me get to the good stuff. Because most of my day was absolutely fantastic. By far one of my best days in Spain. So I woke up early and headed to Xativa. I got to spend the day with dear friends. We laughed and talked for hours. Oh it was so nice. I totally needed something like that. I can't wait til I do it again.

Here are some of the delightful pieces of my day!
Sweet Lucia. I adore her! I just want to take her back to the states with me.








I am loving life.
xo
-esther

pieces of my Saturday

Today was lovely.
Very hot and humid but lovely!
Luckily there are tons of shops selling delicious and refreshing dessert and drinks.

I sat in the park above and enjoyed some delightful dominican food. I just love trying foods that are foreign to me.
Did some more exploring!
Beautiful building between not so pretty ones.

Cooled myself done with this after walking 4 miles +

But by far the best part of my day was seeing a friend and her family. It was so nice to see a familiar face!

Well thats all for tonight. Tomorrow I am going to Xativa!! I am beyond excited.
night dearies.
xo
-emc