Boa Notte from Portugal!

Sorry no computer lately... here is my lastest e-mail copy!
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Hola! Forgive my errors... the keyboard in Portugal is a nightmare!

I cannot believe that my time in Valdelavilla is over! I have had the best time working with the Spaniards this past week. One Anglo put it well... we were in Summer Camp for adults! A Spainard put it even better... I canºt believe we arrived as strangers because today I feel like we have been friends for a long while!

I canºt really put into words how much I gained this week from the English Imersion Program, but it was a blast. Here are my top 10 for this week

1. Meeting 17 amazing Spainards and 21 amazing Anglos. We had a great time talking and laughing this week! I especially enjoyed playing taboo with the Spaniards!

2. My best one-on-one was climbing to the top of the road (mountain) with my new friend Alberto and having the best conversation of the week. The view was amazing, the company even better!

3. Making my singing debut in Spain... I sang I Hope You Had The Time Of Your Life while another Anglo Laurie played the guitar. You could hear a pin drop. I have never experienced such an attentative audience!

4. Taking a siesta each day... need I say more. The Spainards stay up SO late so I needed a nap each night... see number 7

5. Watching the stars while living in the mountains. It feels like you can reach up and touch them. I got some astrology lessons and saw 6 shooting stars! AMAZING!

6. Living with two amazing women in my flat. We had a GRAND time together laughing!

7. Laughing and singing drinking songs until all hours of the morning... good thing I have been to Ireland. I knew all the words!

8. Learning how to make paella and eating traditional Spainsh foods... DELICIOUS

9. Discussing crazy and interesting topics. Some of my favorite were when I learned about the customs and traditions of Spain as well as religions, government, families and so much more!
10. Greeting the incoming group and wishing them well because I knew if their week was half as good as ours they would be greatly pleased!

Since I have said goodbye to Valdelavilla, I have traveled to the top of Spain from Madrid. I am now in Portugal. I have spent time in Avila, Salamanca, Coimbra, Fatima, Obidos, and now am in Lisbon. Tonight I attended and AMAZING dinner and got to experience the traditional Fado... famous Portuguese music. It was hauntingly beautiful. The other highlight of my day was attending a mass (catholic... I know... but at least I went to church) in Fatimaºs square with thousands of other people. It was hot, but beautiful. The singing gave me goosebumps and you could here the mass broadcast across the whole town. I especially liked the singing of the prayers of the Angel. BEAUTIFUL!

Well, I think that is it for now. My internet is expensive and limited. I will be in Lisbon for a few days before heading to Sevilla Spain which I have heard is 40-42 degrees Celcius. It was 39 today. HOT HOT HOT! I AM MELTING. At least the air works in this hotel! It didnºt last night. At least we should have a pool in Sevilla. Anyways, that is about it!

For those of you who like, please say a prayer for all the volunteer teachers this week who are traveling on. I pray for safe journeys for them!

Happy father,s day and good night!

Happy, but hot in Lisbon,

Sharon