I finally have hope that I am going to pass my biology class! This week has been so stressful.... God is faithful through it all!
I want to be personal on this blog, not too much so... This Friday I went to the doctor here in Spain. (It´s free--isn´t that something, even for foreginers)I will not say too much but remember to pray for me.

Also this week I had my friend Ines over. She is from Tawain. She has been in Spain for a year learning Spanish, she is a blast. She brought the ingredients to make Tiramisu but we were so tired after homework that we passed out. She has promised me that this week I must go with her to a coffee house in Barcelona to search for Spanish boys, I just laugh. (But we really are heading out Wednesday to the closest coffee shop :-)

My roomate Michelle and I had a great run this morning. We ordered shoes from the states and they got here on arrival! We went for a stroll this morning, it was wonderful. It is starting to warm up a bit, I even got a bit sunburned yesterday reading on the patio of our host family´s restaurant.

This week in Spanish, here better known as Castellano, we are writing articles on current issues in the world. We read an article this week on hunger in the world. I guess I realized as I read this articles, many times I have my eyes closed. Did you know there are 792 million people in 98 countries that do not have sufficient food? I didn´t. Also there are apx. 200 million children under 5 that suffer from cronic malnutrition in the world. The article also mentioned that the world produces enough food to feed double the population everyday. That has been weighing on my heart. We are assigned to write up on an article so I am doing mine on human sex trafficing. My church back home, Brentwood has been involved in this and I think it´s something I want to have my eyes more opened to...

I am hoping to visit more around Barcelona´s authentic spots this upcoming weeks. 10 weeks till I get home! See you all then

Love
Krista

This week has been a crazy week. School school and more school. My teachers that my Spanish is improving so much but I feel as though I have sooo much work to do. I have a lot of hw to get to right now just wanted to drop a quick note on my blog... I guess the highlight of the week would be when my class changed buildings this week... During a five minute break I rushed to the bathroom which were on opposite sides of the normal building. After I finished I opened the bathroom door to see my professor using the restroom I quickly made my exit... how embarrassing!!! To make it even worse we were discussing issues that women face in the world. When we came back to class he looked and he and smirked "Maybe we should be discussing men's habits this week." I think I could have died.

There are two really neat girls in the intermediate class who I am getting to know as well. One is from London and the other from Holland. Although all the students are learning Castellano, everyone speaks English whether from Sweden, or Japan so in the courtyard on our lunch break, everyone chats in English and I have found this two girls to be rather interesting. The girl from London, Charlotte chats with me everyday after class. So far I have learned she is from France, now lives in London, and yet spent 15 years growing up in Asia because her mom is an antique dealer.

In the picture I posted the first girl is Tora, she is from Sweden. She loves our 5 minute breaks so she can get a quick smoke and she is very reserved. There's me, then Zoe. Zoe is joining our class for two weeks, and is American which is really neat because in class we are able to talk about what America is like. (more to say on that later but I really, really have gained an appreciation for US being here!!) Next to her is our professor. She is almost finished with her doctorate, she is one of the most patient teachers I have ever had and she is not yet married. Next to her is Catarina, by far the best speaker in class who is from Germany. Her boyfriend is Spanish so we always joke maybe that would help the rest of us learn the language better. (We're just joking!) Not pictured is Ines. She is from China. I feel most close to her. She is very sweet and wants me to teach her to read better in English. I'm very excited for the opportunity.

I have so much to do, please stay in touch. Also for those of you who ran Holiday Lake, please e-mail me the results! I am dying~ since they are not posted yet!

Miss you all!

DS

School:
I love pink. A great friend of mine was letting me use their "borrowed" pink DS and there is such thing called "brain age." Supposedly a doctor came up with how much your brain works while you are doing different activities. The DS shows your brain with colors signaling how much of your brain is being utilized. This week has been the week of school. The school Michelle and I are attending is an intensive language school called UAB. www.uab.es (I think I have already posted that on here) It consists of four hour sessions of reading, writing and speaking each day. I am not sure my brain has ever worked so hard.... If my brain were registering on a DS right now it would be completed colored, blinking out of capacity to show there is TOO much brain action happening. I leave school everyday FINISHED. I am tired but learning so much! I am trying to forget I ever learned English so that my Spanish will increase. A bit challenging.

My teachers are Javier and Marca. Javier is older, loves futbol <>, and marca is middle aged and has to be one of the most patient teachers I have ever had....more later

Squid: I have been eating so much calamari. Yummy! I realized the other day how comfortable I am getting with just throwing miniature squid in my mouth. Four girls from class went to a Korean restaurant and they had a prepared squid and I munched and munched away. Quite rare for a conservative American girl...

Squishy: It rained some this week. Actually it poured. I couldn't figure out the idiom to describe "it's raining cats and dogs." The phrase simply does not exist in Spanish. Michelle and I ventured to Barcelona last week. We are staying with my good friend Ainhoa's family, so it only seemed natural to meet Ainhoa's twin sister. We trudged through the rain in Barcelona. We finally made it to Ainhoa's sister's boyfriend's restaurant. Neus' bf. It is one of the nicer restaurants in Barcelona. Neus told us that for 6-7 people to eat it can cost up to 3000 euros. That's a lot of money especially when the dollar is 67-68 cents to the euro.

Anyway it was the night of the Superbowl and we ate frozen coconut cover chocolate, and had juice with ice. (The first time I have had ice since getting here.)

Special Moment: In Barcelona, when we were I the restaurant I decided to explore by my lonesome. Sometimes I just need alone time to reflect. The restaurant consisted of glass windows on every side, so I found a quiet place (restaurant had not opened for the night) and looked out on the pier. There were so many boats, specifically lined in rows and rows and rows.... I thought had God has taken me from an childhood that did not look promising to VA to a loving home with my dad, then to college from which i have seen many interesting places. I thought had in that very moment as I watched the boats rock back and forth, how I was in Barcelona, Spain. What I had hoped for for so long had finally come. What a blessing from God, what provision. What an opportunity I can share with others.

Much care and love to all my friends and family,

Krista

Mountains....

Adventures: This has been the week of mountains. Michelle and I visited Montserrat yesterday, a beautiful site here in Catalonia. It started with a train ride up the mountains and ended in a site with a vast overlook as well as a Catholic monastery. Michelle and I went into the monastery which was beautifully crafted. The outside was an enclosed plaza with three of the four sections of the monastery, small balconies of windows where the priests live and the fourth wall the entry into the church. As we entered there was a mass going on, so we sat and listened for 15 minutes or so but as it was in Catalan, we understood nothing but it was still an authentic experience.

The outside was an array of mountains. The gift shop had a number of books, one which I bought on the history of this mountain (a children's book in Spanish.) I also bought incense for my mom and some other gifts. During our trip we met a young mean from South Korea who had studied in the US.

The other mountains this week were merely right in our back yard! Michelle and I venture to run during the week and I was soooo tired of running the same loop so we asked our host family how to get to the top of this mountain. He explained it and then there we went. It was wonderful getting on a trail. Today I ran on the mountain, it was a great change of pace. I also discovered a few other small trails.

At home: As side from the outdoors, I have also seen a bit of indoors as well. The beginning of this week Michelle and I went to our host mother's mom's house and I rested all day. We first went to church, all in Spanish and then came home, ate Paella, watched a bit of "Bounce" with Ben Afflect in Spanish, and then I passed out. Also biology has keep me in the books.

** Special note: I also ate cheese this week....some of you will appreciate that :-) Our host family asked what I would like to eat for "cena," dinner and I told them pasta with vegetables. I received tortellini, (filled with ricotta cheese), but not to offend I ate half. It was actually good but a bit rich.

Personally: This week passed much faster than last week. I was very homesick last week and even considered coming home a month early. Thank God everything is going much better. We start our first Spanish classes Monday which is really neat. It will consist of four hours a day, 5 days a week studying at www.uab.es We are really excited.

Also each night after dinner, our host family discusses different issues with us. I have been really encouraged and open to a lot of conversation topics. Our host dad knows that we are Christians and also discusses his view of agnosticism. It is rather interesting hearing what he has seen in his life and what has really stood out to him. The other night he said, "people's actions are what really speak to me." He was talking about American missionaries (from an aspects of religions) who had sacrificed time and money to come to his home country Peru and what it really meant to him. So words have not really impacted his way of beliefs but the way that people had shown love is what has impacted his heart. That really stuck out to me in the way my life has headed and future decisions that I will make on what path my life will go and who I have the opportunity to care for and love. It is rather easy to be comfortable so I hope by God's grace I will be obedient to help those that really need it.

Much thanks for all the encouragement. Miss you all dearly.
Much care and love

Krista

Dogs

Spiritually: Spain has been a great time to really think about a lot of things. I find myself in the mornings feeling much less stressed and able to read and really devote myself to God, to what is most important. I am going through a Beth Moore series on David which is really teaching me about waiting for what the Lord has for me. (1 Samuel, story of Hannah)

Physically: There are some ferocious dogs here in Spain. It has taken me everything in the past few days to get up to run. I am still on VA time because I have been staying up until 2 am to make phone calls since that is when everyone is up on the other side of the world. So getting up has been 11 and 12 o'clock, and then reluctantly I have been trudging along for a morning jog. The other morning, Michelle (the brave girl I traveled to Spain with,) and I were on a morning run and a woman was walking her dogs. Before we knew it, the ferocious one (the tiny dog, it's high pitched voice was charging at us) but...so was it's brother a rather LARGE, HAIRY black dog. Michelle and I decided to power walk hoping that this would slow the dogs and it did for a second or two. Next we decided to stand there and I turned to Michelle kind of laughing and then I felt a pinch...the big dog had bit me right on my behind!

That has not stopped the morning runs, but it has made me more aware that dogs really will bite...

This morning I was running a large pack of cyclists rode by me, it made me fell so good seeing others on there bikes getting out in the fresh air. Also this morning I looked around me as I was running up a hill (that's right running up the hill-- some of you will get that :-) and it was rather beautiful. There is a set of mountains that I am dying to go to called Monsarat.


Socially: This week has been a lot of fun. Michelle and I ventured to Barcelona again. It was busy as usual and we decided to take a bus tour. SOOOOOOOOO boring that I decided to sleep for the last hour of it. A waste of 20 euro and with the dollar being 68 cents to the euro, that was one expensive ride. After the boring ride we went to the Hard Rock Cafe' and I ate a veggie burger, mmmm. Although that was tasty, everyday our host family, who own a restarant cook us paella, a typical dish or some kind of fish. I love the food but sometimes it is hard for me to eat because many things are fried. Also I do not eat cheese so that has made things a bit interesting at times. My one desire that I have not restrained though is DESERT. "Postres..." are fantastic. I'm posting a picture so everyone can see more of what I mean.

Start classes coming February 4th. That means I will be taking an intensive Spanish course and taking my biology online at the same time. A bit nervous about this.....

Emotionally: It has only been a week here but many times it feels longer. I guess I am really used to the routine at home and being away is hard. I miss Panera, long runs on Saturdays, even Olive Garden sometimes. It is a great culture change, and although I am getting used to it, it is hard not to want to know everything all at once. I realize so much that I want to speak the language but it is not coming as fast as I had hoped. I know all will go well in time. Miss you all.

Krista

Spain....

Friends and Family... I miss you so much! I made it to Spain! Just to prepare you, this blog was started a few months ago and this is the first post since Spain. You are welcome to read the rest, however this is the most current and each time I post and send you an e-mail it will be the most recent post.

NEW ADDRESS: Olga Roca c/o Krista Meisch
Carrer del Cadi num. 4
08739 Urbanizacion Casablanca
Subirats, Barcelona
Spain

PARTY: Well before I left, my friends threw me a great going away party! Heather was in charge, so everything was place and set to go. I walked in to many goodies, and some great authentic Spanish food. (see photos below.) It was so much fun and it was one of the only times recently when all my friends from Bible college (www.missionbaltimore.org) have been together and it was not a wedding. Jessica was there, I was so happy to see her from her wedding, as well Mike her husband. Johnny was there just relaxing as usual but relaxing in his new home Lynchburg. Alicia stopped by after her time at reboot, and then Zimiri graced us with his presence although he was not taking pics :-) Thank you to my wonderful roommates and a GREAT thanks to Heather for throwing everything together. Julie came her two friends, Frank and Karma. After a while, Jason put on a video from a corny video from Bible college. Wow how time have changed, I was dancing on the video and so shameless :-) ANYWAYS, it was a lot of fun. Especially the portion with the pinata.

AIRPORT: After Saturday, I headed home to N Va. It was fun seeing my family before I was off to my world adventure. I got to sleep in everyday and I def. neglected to run although I know I should.... On Tues I headed to Michelle's (friend from Haiti accompanying me in Spain) where we left for the airport Wed afternoon. We must have said 'Spain," a 100 times before it was all over... At Dulles in DC there were so many people. Many were flying internationally and it was at this point where I really started to miss home. I mean home as in Lynchburg. (It is so calm and small and friendly and every time I go somewhere there is a face I am familiar with...) Anyhow we headed on the plane. In most places I pass out because I am so tired, yet having not run for a few days I was awake so I studied for my favorite new online class... biology. (Hee, hee) With an hour left I decided to nap, well after at least three really loud announcements during my one hour nap, we were in the UK. London! What a fun time. I felt like such a dork just listening to everyone speak, but the accent is so fun. In the airport in Dulles, Michelle and I had met a girl from Clemson who was traveling to Seville. She was fun girl and told us a bit about her upbringing in a strong Christian home which was comforting, and the three of us chatted for a bit. Before long, it was time to get on our flight. PS- restrooms there are known as TOILETS.

On the last flight, I was out! As we arrived in Spain, the view was so complex. Tons of buildings, the Mediterranean, and MOUNTAINS. :-) It is six hours difference so by the time we reached it was 12:25 Barcelona Time, 6:25 am in EEUU (United States.) I was tired but we grabbed our 6 bags and were happy to see Ainhoa's mom, and family there picking us up in Barcelona. I guess after trail running, I have this thing for mountains. There are incredible in Barcelona. Not only had we seen them on the flight but as we drove they surrounded us. We arrived first at Ainhoa's mom's restaurant and ate paella (the famous Spanish food) and enjoyed the company of Ainhoa's dad who had also picked us up. He is so sweet! After eating we traveled to the grocery. Ainhoa's mother is so patient with us but my Spanish and well as Michelle's is progressing. We ask her things she translates and then repeats, repeats and repeats. At the grocery store it was so fun. The "carrittos" and so small and the aisles are much less condensed, as well you buy produce at a produce store. The vegetables here are so flavorful! MMMM....

This morning we woke up at 10:22, I remember, then I thought how in the US it was 4:22 am, I was sooooo tired, but I revived for a trip to town. Did I say I love love love Spanish all the time? I fear I am not improving but we have learned so much vocab so far.

Tomorrow is the first day into the BIG city, Barcelona. I am very excited! Pray all goes well. Love and miss you all so much. Please write,

Krista

Emotional week

I have had a really emotional week. It feels so nice to be able just to write a few things. At times it's as though I am so far from the person that I desire so much to be. I am so worried about what I am doing rather than my character and who I really am. There are a number of things going on right now, none to name specifically but enough to keep me on an emotional ride. I know that God is faithful, I feel so foolish even saying that. I feel like i make God, the amazing loving kind compassionate God look bad because I am not all that I should be. I have received so many phone calls this week from people that just truly love me. That reminds me that God has not left that I am still surrounded, I just hope to reach out to people the way that they are reaching out to me in love.