Roomie

Well I'm down to two full days here. It's so weird thinking about how soon I'll be home! I'm happy to report that I'm 3 finals down, 1 to go, and I'm pretty sure I passed! Impressive, I know, since many are under the impression that I played hookey all semester. Which I did a little, but I learned a lot!

I figured I should show who I've been living with, since now I'm about to leave. Anna is my roommate, conscience, sister, and for all intensive purposes best friend. We met freshman year at USD and have been together since (despite the differing sororities!). We have gone on every single trip together, except Ireland and Morocco, and we have had so much fun together. I wouldn't have wanted to live with anyone else for these 3 months. We have the traveling thing down to a science. What I forget, she remembers; and what she needs, I usually bring. For example, I bring the blow drier, she brings the straightener. I bring the cash, she brings the credit card. I bring the map, she brings the itinerary. It's a beautiful thing. My cousin Kevin is going to Germany next semester and I can't wait to see what traveling with him is like! I feel like I should apologize in advance. Kidding Kev.

So here she is. The crazy lady I've been living with.

It's gonna be weird having to make new friends next semester. I might have to be nice to the new kids. Ew.

And here is the house mom. I don't know if I've officially introduced her, but her name is Conchi. She has a dog named Nani and a granddaughter named Alejandra. Alejandra is just adorable. There are no words for dark hair, dark eyed, two year olds that throw temper tantrums in spanish. When she comes over after "school" she lets herself into our room to show off all the stuff she did. And she's learning english, so we sing with her and quiz her on colors and numbers. I have learned so much from *trying* to communicate with her. She finally realized that we don't usually understand when she starts talking super fast so one day she grabbed my hand and pulled me down on the floor with her and said very slowly, "Quieres dibujar conmigo? Me gusta azul." Do you want to color with me? I like blue. It was the sweetest thing I've experienced here.

Conchi will get all dressed up and fancy and go out with all her friends. She stays out later than we do- consistently! I'm not kidding when I say 3am is early for her to get home.

Conchi has been teaching me some spanish recipes, which I am forever grateful. And she has been so nice about including us in her "real life". She takes us out with her friends, and I have to say, some of my favorite nights have been doing tapas with Conchi. She has this long fur coat that just makes her think she runs the world, and watching her strut her stuff to the best bars in town never gets old. Her Saint's Day was December 8 so she had the whole family over for dinner. We got to meet her daughter and son-in-law, and her son and his wife. It was so fun! I couldn't follow most of what they said because they all yell over each other, but I had a professor who was teaching us some "street spanish", so I definitely picked up THOSE words. Told you I was learning.

Her dog is one of those that barks at parked cars. I feel bad saying it, but I really don't like her dog. It's borderline hate. But the thing is just too dumb to be angry at. Anna is in love with her. Nani (the dog) sleeps with her at night until Conchi comes home, and she hangs out with her on the couch while we do homework. One night, the dog literally laid across Anna's chest while we watched TV. I'm contemplating an intervention.

It's always an adventure here. I never know what Conchi is going to do next, but it's been so fun. Anna and I are always up to something so it's definitely been a successful semester. It's hard to think about it ending, but I can't wait for Christmas at home!!