Pamplona is... breathtaking. My room has a lovely view of the University's mens soccer team. I am not complaining one bit (: My host family is even better, Mikel y Lourdes are so sweet and accommodating. While I took my first siesta, (I am a HUGE fan, by the way) they bought me an electrical adapter, bags of coffee and wifi. All because I mentioned I loved coffee, asked if they had wifi, and set out my phone charger. I met Lourdes sister, Ines, who spent a few months in the US and spoke English perfectly. She gave me a large grocery bag full of wonderful bananas, tomatoes, banana bread she had made, gouda balls, figs, yogurt and small wedges of cheese. All things she thought I would like since I am American. I was bought bisteque and papas fritas for lunch. (steak and fries)

We went around old town Pamplona which had a lot of shops and bars. So amazing! Many bands were playing live music with people standing around having tapas and talking loudly. The Spanish are all so friendly and kind. I have found that there is no such thing as just passing people and saying "hello, how are you?" quickly, as Americans do. If you see people that you know, you stand and talk to them for at least 15 minutes.

The spanish LOVE their ham and meats and food in general. I am fed and fed and fed... constantly. I was told that later we would be going as a family to a friends house for dinner to meet other kids and their parents. We arrived to a really amazing house with a garden and four floors. I met Camino, Rafa, and their son Antonio. I did not remember anyone's name because there were so many people there. Everyone was so excited to meet me and ask questions, so I did my best to answer back in Spanish. The table was set with roasted pimentos, chorizo and bread. They put out many extravagant foods that were common to Pamplona. The food is always served in rounds. First bread and jam, salad, then lots and lots of meat (last night first was grilled bacon, then pork chops and then a rack of lamb to finish it off. I had more meat yesterday than I have had in my life!

SO FAR I've tried on the food list-

Fermented goat milk in a pot with honey, a huge slab of beef that was very rare, delicious chocolate squares with cream, white asparagus, sharp sheep cheese with lemon jam smeared on it, flaky croissants with mantequilla, colombian coffee that was incredibly strong and delicious, and peach goat yogurt. The food is all very rich and Pamplonans believe that they eat the best in Europe. (I agree!)

After dinner, Antonio took me to meet his friends Javier and Inigo. We watched fantastic fireworks on the lawn and went to the carnival afterwards. At this point, it was 12:45 and I was slurring my words I was so jetlagged and tired. Antonio and his friends were very nice and spoke English very well, although they deny it. Antonio told me that him and his friends meet in the center of Pamplona every Sunday to walk around and eat lunch and I was invited. I am very happy to meet kids who speak English! Antonio also has a poodle, Bobo, so I will definitely be back to his house soon to play with him!

My spanish gets better by the second. I am not shy to speak and I listen lots. I am also reading my host brothers copy of Harry Potter which is in spanish, that is helping a lot! Because today is Sunday, it is a family day and the town shuts down the shops and everyone just hangs out in the beautiful parks or at home. My alarm is set for seven tomorrow and I begin school! It has been a wonderful few days in Pamplona so far (: