Granada is Magical

So I woke up early Sunday to get ready to be on my bus at 9:30. The first leg to Madrid is 2hrs 15 mins and they show a video. Which i love movies, and don´t sleep well so that is the best was to pass the time. The movie they were showing was called like Avalanche or soemthing and was totally lame. But it was better than the blank screen I watched for the rest of the 2hrs and 14 minutes of the trip after it stopped working. We also were late because the Emergency Exit windows on the top of the bus kept flying open and the driver finally had to stop and try to fix them...

Then I was met in Madrid by Jorge, Alicia´s boyfriend and my new favortie person in the world, who lugged my giant suitcase to me that I had left at his house. We sat and ate and talked till my next bus left at 1:30. Then there was the long 5.5 hr bus ride to Granada, where they show at least 2 movies!! I saw the first 10 minutes of Wild Hogs, Laura Croft Tomb Raider and another one I don´t remeber because so little of it played before the DVD player decided not to work again. I was already really anxious to get to Granada and pretty much spent the next 6 hours in misery.

But as usual, we finally got there and I grabbed all my junk off the bus and waited for Victor who was supposed to pick me up. I was so nervous to be seeing people again that right now while I write I´m really, really nervious remembering it. We finally found eachother and it was great to see him again. He now has a really nice car and we loaded up the luggage, which was amaing after all the public transport. Then on our way home we stopped by to see his brother Nacho, sister in law Alicia, and new niece who I had not met, Marina. I was introduced to her as Auntie Rachel, almost died, visited for a while, and then left. Alicia also told me to bring her my resume because somebody at Nachete´s school needed an English teacher.

Then we came back to Granada, saw Pepa, Victor´s mom, and Nachete his nephew, when they let us in. Then we went to my new appartment and saw my old roommate Magdalena, who was waiting for me with her mom Maria. We screamed and said hello, came in and ate some Arroz con Leche which she had made special just for me.

Then a little bit later, I went up to say hello to Victor´s parents. His dad, Emilio, came rushing over to give me los besos and says, "Rachel!!! You´re fatter!" But I guess that´s the sign of a true friend to tell it to you like it is, because later his mom said that if i needed anything at all (and gave a long list of examples) I just had to ask and Emilio said that I should feel just as if they were my parents. Pepa also told me of some people who she knew that needed English lessons. They were so excited to see me and that I was back that I was just overwhelmed. They also told me that they had bought a Pata Negra Jamon (the best kind of ham in honor of my return.) Even after all that, Victor then brings me this huge, enormous flower arrangement of lillies and orange dasies, which he says his parents also bought for me, but the florist had forgotten the card. I couldn´t believe it but he assured me he was serious. Emilio also gave me a guide book of Andalucia, that he had bought that morning with the paper. After visiting a while longer, Victor and I were going to go out for a bit and come back later for jamon, and I suggested we take the flowers. He asked me if I really wanted them, because he was just joking before. Well then I really almost died, hit him and left running out of the appartment.....

Then Victor drove me by the hotel where I was going to have my orientation the next day and up to a mirador that overlooks the city. It was truly beautiful and I was so excited to be back it took my breath away. I know that only God could have worked out the circumstances for me to return to Granada, the same appartment, everything and I am excited and anxious and terrified to see what the rest of His plan is.

Then back to the appartment building, a delicious dinner of ham, tomatoes, bread and melon (all my favorites) and Victor had to go back to Malaga, where he lives and worked a little over 1 hr away. I spent the rest of the night talking with Magdalena and her mom, catching up on the past 2 years and getting to know my new appartment. I had been promised her room (the master with a big bed) but they had decorated and arranged another for me. I guess one of the girls who came to see it liked the big one and wanted it for if her boyfreind or friends came to visit. I went through both rooms and decided that the furniture, and view from my room were better than the big room with no view or furniture. So, although its a little screwy, (because I later found out that the girl´s boyfriend is Magdalena´s brother ....) I think I´m ok with it because I don´t have that much stuff, and now people who visit me just get to snuggle in the tiny bed. :) But it was amazing to be with Magdalena again and we talked till we went to bed at 12:30 and I then laid in bed till about 3 am again, too excited too sleep...