this and that

its been too long since I've updated you on the happenings in my life in Spain. mama told us that the Internet is suppose to be fixed tomorrow so we're all really hoping that its true.
We went to Ronda on Friday. Its a smaller town about 2 hours south of here. It is home of the oldest bull ring in the world! (I have uploaded new photos so definitely take a look). It was a wonderful trip because it was nice to get out of the city for a while and see green grass and amazing cliffs! On Saturday my roommates and I went out for dinner to an Italian restaurant called Mama Mia. It was delicious! I had a 4 cheese pizza and man was it good! it was nice to be in a restaurant, as well as have some time with my roommates outside of our house. of course after our meal we had to top it off with some churros con chocolate from the churro stand. I am going to miss those when I get back to the states.
Sunday was a homework day for all of us. We're in the middle of our second week of midterms, so we're all a little stressed out, but trying not to let it get the best of us. I have two more exams left, on tomorrow in art history, and one on Thursday in my immigration case study class. I will be happy when Thursday afternoon rolls around so I can be done. Not to mention then I have a week off from school for holy week!
This Sunday- palm Sunday- starts the beginning of Semana Santa, or Holy Week here in Seville. I'm really looking forward to it because everyone says it's like nothing we have ever seen or experienced in our lives before. I will be sure to take good pictures and lots of notes to fill you in as the week goes on. I'm not traveling over the week, but I am planning on taking a few day trips south to the beach to relax and get some sun :)
I have exciting news, I found out over the weekend that Gareth is coming to visit in April!!! He will be here April 18-30. I am PSYCHED!!!! I told mama that he was coming, and she said that he can stay with her friend in his own little mini home stay. He was a little hesitant about the idea at first, but I think he is warming up to it. I'm excited for him because I think he will be able to get a really cool experience out of it, and see how I've been living for the past two months, not to mention his host mom will be doing his laundry for him and cooking him three meals a day...what more can you ask for?! we're planning on traveling to Portugal as well when he is here. Its about a 4 hour bus ride, to Lagos, and its really cheap to get a hostel so I'm really looking forward to that. The pictures of the beaches are beautiful- I can't wait!
We got another new roommate on Sunday. Her name was Bridget ( yes I used the past tense...just keep reading) and she was probably in her mid 30s or so. Anyways...she was from Germany and was only staying with us for Semana Santa. Mama was doing her friend a favor by taking her in. Well she disrespected mama BIG time, by checking to see if her bed was clean, and mama saw her and found out and was really upset and ended up kicking her out that same day!!! It was sad, but I understand the culture differences ya know? I mean it would be rude to do that in the states, but here, its a huge blow! especially when mama was doing her a favor by letting her stay here for cheap when every other hotel in the city has been book two years in advance for holy week. Who knows where she is now...she was here when I met her Sunday morning, and when i got back from the cafe Sunday afternoon, she was gone. CRAZY!
have I mentioned how addicted to Spanish coffee I am? it is so amazing. its much much stronger than American coffee, so its only drank in a small amount. about half coffee, and half milk (cafe con leche) its kinda like espresso. it is SO good.
Mama has been a little out of it lately...there was a big storm where her beach house is...south of here, and there was apparently a lot of water damage. She went there over the weekend to see how bad it was and to clean up a bit and came back upset because it was a lot worse than she thought it would be. I feel so awful. She lost a lot of pictures and heirlooms from her parents, and shes bummin' really bad. Of course I told her all she needed was chocolate and things would be ok, and she started crying saying how I'm the only one in the house that cares about her and that she is going to miss me so much when I'm gone. oh mama... So on that note of course I ran to the store and bought her a bar of dark chocolate with mint (her favorite and mine too) and we shared the whole bar the rest of the afternoon.
I tried to get Sean to come visit me after tax season...I even tempted him with a bull fight and a futbol game, but he didn't bite. The euro is just so bad now, I don't blame him. Speaking of bull fights, I am going to my very first bull fight on April 1!!! I'm excited, but a little nervous. I'm happy that I get to experience it though since it is such a huge part of their culture. I might have to shut my eyes when they kill him and drag him out, but what are you going to do! we've been learning all the different terms, and stages of the bull fight in my pop. culture class, so it will be good to have an idea of whats happening during the fight. Oh, I've also decided that before I die I want to go to Pomplona on July 7 for the most famous "running of the bulls." Now i know what you're thinking dad..."yeah right brie," but maybe uncle Jim will want to come with me, and he could wear those sweet green shorts that he wore when we ran the Falmouth road race. Ask him, I'm sure he still has them, and is really eager to bust them out again!!
On that note...I'm off to class...only one class today (i love Tuesday/Thursdays) and then I will be studying for art history until my eyes pop out of my head.
I hope everyone is doing well, and can see the warm weather on the horizon. Its almost April...YAY!!!
I miss you all MUCHISIMO!!!!

oh, p.s. the other day I convinced mama to let me have a peanut butter sandwich for lunch. She wasn't too keen on the idea, but she gave in and let me have it, but said that I wasn't allowed to only have 1 I had to have 2 sandwiches... so I was like fine...at least I get peanut butter. I open my lunch the next day in school super excited to eat, and what do I find....not 1, not 2, but 3 peanut butter sandwiches and 3 oranges!!!! I'm telling you, I am going to need to book another seat on the way home, or get one of those seat belts that extends because she is going to make me obese!! thank goodness I walk everywhere, or else I would be rolling myself home!
xoxo