oh here's to WAKE FOREST!!!

Before I begin, let's take a moment to reflect on the awesomeness that is WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY. Of our fall sports:
1. Girl's field hockey finished #2 in the nation.
2. Men's soccer is in the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.
3. Football is going to the ACC CHAMPIONSHIIIIIIIIIP!!!!!!
I frickin love my school.

Well, the last week, the family was here, which was, obviously, amazing. They got here last Monday night, and we went to my apartment to pick up some stuff. Chace and I walked to the apartment and everyone else waited on us. Well, when Chace and I went back to meet them, we walked to the wrong corner and, because my family didn't have a Spanish cell phone, we were lost for two hours. Clearly, my parents were freaking out and they didn't know what to do, so they went back to the house we rented 30 minutes outside of town, found my phone number, and called me almost in tears. Classic. They thought we had been murdered or kidnapped. I, however, thought they were lost or carjacked. It was awesome. But, after that, everything was great. We went to the house, which was amazing and beautiful. I got to stay there for the week, which I loved. My brother and sister came with me to class the first day, but Chace just fell asleep in the middle of the class while Caitlen observed and/or criticized the people around us. Haha. I have taught her so well. Tuesday, we went to the Plaza Ayuntamiento and looked around and shopped a little. Then we went to meet my madre and her son. We went to the apartment and there the awkwardness began. Clearly, my madre doesn't speak a word of English and my parents don't speak anywhere near enough Spanish to communicate. So, I was lucky enough to serve as translator for a few hours, which is awesome becuase I can't understand what the crap Maria says half the time. My mother noticed that when she speaks to me and I don't understand, she rolls her eyes and walks away. So caring. She took us to a porcelain store. Thrilling, huh? I got to translate words about porcelain figurines. I thought I was going to just pull my tongue out of my mouth and end the whole thing there. Then, we went to get some horchata, which is this weird ice-creamy drink thing in Valencia. It was cool, but there was much more interpreting to be done. Love it. The next day, while I was in class, they went to this museum all day, which they loved. Thanksgiving rolled around and IT. WAS. AMAZING. Julie Ann came in town and Evan and Bethany came over and we had turkey and pork and ham and corn and mashed potatoes and buttered toast and broccoli casserole and sangria and agua de Valencia and Bailey's and coffee and chocolates and cake. Ooooooooooh I want more. Let me just say, going back and having another plate of paella made me sooo unhappy. We also jerry-rigged the iPod and iTrip to work over the radio here, setting it on top of a pile of books and a lampshade. So don't worry, we had Christmas music throughout the house the whole time. Yessss. The next day, me, JA, and the fam went to El Saler, which is supposed to be this really nice town. Umm... it wasn't. It was kinda gross, actually. So... we left. Oh... this third world country. Julie Ann left on Saturday and we ended up going to this amazing village. Oops. Oh yeah, and the fam left on Sunday, but not before we found out that WAKE IS GOING TO THE ACC CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!! I loooooooooove the Demon Deacons! Oh, and I'm coming home 4 days early. Yesssssssssss.