Sorry but Christmas will have to wait.

So I know I promised some of you a Christmas post, but it will have to wait because it is time for a moment of honesty: This is hard. I prepared myself for coming here by telling myself "Hell. If I can do this, I can do anything!" I am now almost four months in and I now realize that was far more true than I realized then. Not to say that Spain is not amazing or than I am not having the time of my life, but every once and a while it gets to you. Making new friends is great and all, but when you are like me and have lived in the same place all your life, there really is not anyway to replace the friends and confidants that you have had since you were born. Oh sure with modern technology such as Skype and Facebook you can still keep in touch, but it is no longer the same. You are still talk, you are great friends, and sharing the knowledge that one shall return. But the physical aspect is gone. There is something about a face-to-face conversation that cannot be replicated through technology. The blunt truth is that you are living different lives, and until the two are reunited the essence of the friendship lacks.

All this is to say that, as expected, there are times when loneliness sets in. When friends-and especially confidants-are missed, and one really begins to understand that "No man is an island."

By now you are probably wondering how on Earth I am still alive. Well I thought you might want to know what keeps me going day to day so here it is. (Oh and I needed something to keep this post from being totally emo!)

1) The letter W
The majority of Spaniards remain unable to say words that start with W. They just can not make the sound so it ends up sounding like "goo.
2) The Break
We have a 3.5 week break here for Christmas instead of the 1.5 that I am accustomed to. The only downside to this is that my philosophy teacher gave me a book to read and when we go back to school I have to present an exposition to the class to open a class debate. But it is still a much need break that I am enjoying greatly!
3) My host family/friends in Spain
My host mom would probably be extremely disappointed that I do not, in fact, feel completely comfortable telling her everything about my life. But then again, I do not tell my biological mom everything either! (Mom, if you did not already know that: I am sorry, but it is time you faced reality. However, I am presuming that you already did so disregard this.) Anyway, between them and Spanish friends I occasionally am able to spit something out.
4) The Mountains
The first time I saw the mountains clearly it was early morning and the sun was streaming over my head and hitting the peaks. It was quite possibly the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. And in that instant I promised myself that I would never become so accustomed to the mountains that I would not look at them whenever I could. And every morning that I look at them, they still take my breath away a little.
5) Cards
I do not know if any of them read this, so can someone please tell the CS people thank-you for the cards. I opened the last one a couple days ago. They were all extremely helpful.
5A) Can someone give a special thanks to Victoria for the frog card that had Is. 58:9 in it. It was the last one I opened and-ironically-probably the most helpful! I have probably read it 10 times already. For the rest of you, should you ever be feel down, I strongly recommend Isaiah 58:9 (or for special occasions Isaiah 58:6-9).

And now it is 2:30 in the morning so I am headed to bed. Good night.