The last week or two (see, told you)

Soooo, since I've waited, I've largely forgotten the last couple of weeks. So I'm doing highlights.

First, with the school. All the kiddos said goodbye. I was supposed to be getting some sort of surprise from the sixth grade. That was a flop. In fact, when Gregorio went to ask if anyone had anything to say in the last class, they all did that awkward look-around thing. They approached me later on the playground. The little guys all sang me songs in class and Susana gave me a book that they made with pictures of each class through third grade. Super cute. And I got some pictures.

We had a "Dia del Centro" or like a "School's Day" where we went out to San Isidro and had a party with everyone. Funny part? I went with a hickey. The night before, Milena sat on me and randomly sucked on my neck despite protests long enough to give me a hickey. And I was very pissed the next day when I couldn't hide it from every single student, every single teacher, and a majority of the student's parents. What an inopportune time to flash that kind of badge. Ugh.

And then there were the last few days of the Mexicans. That was sad to see them go. But goodbyes also force emotions and unsaid things and it was a very sweet goodbye. I still miss them quite a bit.

Then the weekend after was my birthday! The night before (and pretty close to, if not really, midnight) Jose, Bharathi and Feng Shui came to my apartment where Milena and I were with flowers, a little gift, and a happy birthday song! :D It was so wonderful.

Milena and I made a movie, which I will post here, but only because I like you guys. First you have to watch at least part of this one to understand:

Ayudame, their version

And then here is our version:

Ayudame, our version

The story is that nearly everyone in Latin America has seen the first video and definitely makes fun of it. The girls have pretty poor pronunciation and it's just funny. So Memo, our Mexican friend, really wanted Milena and I to learn the song and sing it to them in terrible pronunciation before they left. I wasn't excited about that and I don't think Milenka was either, so we just didn't do it, but then I had the idea to make a movie for him. :) We filmed it with my computer in my apartment the night before and the day of my birthday and then I put it all together when I came home. Apparently he cried out of happiness when he saw it. :D Shwing!

So anyway, that is what we were doing when the three came to give me their birthday wishes. And then when the clock struck midnight, Milena stopped in the middle of recording and told me happy birthday. Then the next morning, I got up from reading to find a bunch of at least a dozen roses on my door mat. I knew Milena had left them, but the card said they were from someone far away. The two connived beforehand. And I give amazing props to both. What a great way to start the day.



Then maybe an hour later, Milena came with a "birthday cake" with a candle, more flowers, and a little gift. I felt so damn spoiled. I think it was the nicest birthday I have ever spent. We spent the whole day watching movies and eating and doing nothing else really.

I spent the week before leaving packing up and enjoying the sunshine and the not-too-excited-not-too-bummed feeling I had about leaving. It was a good mix of feelings. Milenka spent the last like four days with me almost non-stop and I didn't get tired of her at all. I wouldn't even let her sleep in one of the other beds.

The morning of leaving was hard as I put everything in my boss's car and had to say goodbye to Milenka and Bharathi. I hope I see them again.

I spent my last evening in Spain on a casual date with a guy named Alex. It was hard getting my suitcases to my hostel, but then once I did, I got on my party shoes and went out with Alex for some tapas and beer. It was a good way to end Spain.

I got back to my hostel a little beer-ed up, and laid down on my bed, "just for a minute" and fell asleep. I had to be up at like four in the morning and I didn't set an alarm, but magically, and I don't know how my body does this, I woke up in time to get to the shuttle to the airport. My body always knows when it is something really important, because it wakes me up! It's amazing, but I can never rely on it working, it just happens sometimes.

So I got to the airport on time and started my traveling. Here are some details about traveling: First, Delta and Air France changed their policy about second bag fees and I had to pay 75 euros instead of 50. Bullshit. I'm still trying to fight that. And I had no time to try and rearrange and get rid of some things to see if I could make weight with just one and leave stuff behind. Ugh. So I paid 75.

Also, I lost my iPhone. Still really freaking angry at myself for that one.

And my mom, dad, and brother Dave were at the airport to meet me. And I had to wear a coat. My mom's wool pea coat. It was that cold in June. I had just come from 80 or 90 degree weather. Brrrr.

And that's about it! Post again shortly!