I tutor a 10-year-old boy here in Andorra and I saw him today as I was walking home from school. While we passed each other I asked him, "How are you today?" to which he answered, "Happy" as he walked by. Just one short word answer and a smile--"Happy." I have not been able to wipe the smile off my face since that comment. How owonderfully simple that answer was.
On the way to the bus this morning I was actually thinking about happiness, I was debating with my self if attitude is more something that happens to you or something you create. And then here in the afternoon my 10-year-old friend made it seem so easy and uncomplicated. This week at school has been really hard and somedays just downright horrible. I cried two days in a row and even read through the early termination section of our Fulbright packet.
But if I keep reminding myself of how bad those days were these next ones aren't going to get any better.
But if I just think about "Happy" I smile :)
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Looking back (a picture story)
REFLECTING ON THIS PAST WEEK I FEEL EXHAUSTED. SO I AM GOING TO EXPLAIN THIS LAST WEEK BRIEFLY IN PICTURES.
Sunday, September 9...
Monday, September 10...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fulbrightspain/7976267260/in/set-72157631505810326/
Tuesday, September 11...
Wednesday, September 12...
Thursday, September 13...
Friday, September 14...
Saturday, September 15...
 |
| La Seu, Spain--where the gossera is |
Monday, September 17 (today)...
HOPE THAT ALL MAKES SENSE :)
Thursday, September 13, 2012
So...I fell in love...
...and we're thinking about moving in together...
So I met this wonderful dog at la gossera in La Seu, Spain last weekend. I'm going to be volunteering there on a weekly basis and probably heading out there Monday night to go jogging with some other volunteers and the dogs.
This beautiful pup was rescued from the house of a hoarder who was hoarding 17 dogs!! So they all have some issues...he was particulary skiddish. They arrived at the gossera recently and hadn't been for a walk since it was difficult to coax them out of their cages. For example, the Spaniard who works at the gossera was trying to take the dog next to this one out of his cage, but he was so scared and skiddish that the man ended up just picking the dog up and bringing him to the path in hopes that he would want to walk. He didn't sadly :( It's hard to see that many dogs (17! Can you believe that??) with problems because of one person's bad habit.
But anyway, this doggie caught my eye right from the beginning. So after taking two other dogs out (one of which was an overactive golden retriever, hilarious!) I came back to this little guy. I knew his background so I just went in and sat in his cage with him for a bit. He was still too nervous to come near me so I left for a bit and tried to coax one of the other dogs out, but he was angry-aggressive so that was no good. Then i sat on the outside of this cutie pie's cage until he got up the courage to come check me out. And when he did he was all about the cuddles! He loved getting petted and was so incredibly sweet. I finally went back in the cage with him and was able to get him on a leash with no issues.
Going for a walk was the cutest thing, you all need to come visit just to meet him! I think this might have been one of his only walks outside becuase he was like a little kid! He was running through the tall grass and crashing through bushes, hitting his face on all sorts of stuff and loving it! He was exploring this new big world around him, it was precious. And he was a great walking partner because he would go explore but then look back to make sure I was coming and, for the most part, he kept pace with me.
Awww. I think it's love :)
ALSO *fun interactive part* he doesn't have a name so I get to name him!! And I would love suggestions, so post and let me know what y'all think would fit him!
P.S. Sorry for all you non-dog lovers out there who probably find this particular post boring...next one will be about Madrid! And the first day of school! So get excited :)
 |
| Exhausted, but all smiles :) |
So I met this wonderful dog at la gossera in La Seu, Spain last weekend. I'm going to be volunteering there on a weekly basis and probably heading out there Monday night to go jogging with some other volunteers and the dogs.
This beautiful pup was rescued from the house of a hoarder who was hoarding 17 dogs!! So they all have some issues...he was particulary skiddish. They arrived at the gossera recently and hadn't been for a walk since it was difficult to coax them out of their cages. For example, the Spaniard who works at the gossera was trying to take the dog next to this one out of his cage, but he was so scared and skiddish that the man ended up just picking the dog up and bringing him to the path in hopes that he would want to walk. He didn't sadly :( It's hard to see that many dogs (17! Can you believe that??) with problems because of one person's bad habit.
But anyway, this doggie caught my eye right from the beginning. So after taking two other dogs out (one of which was an overactive golden retriever, hilarious!) I came back to this little guy. I knew his background so I just went in and sat in his cage with him for a bit. He was still too nervous to come near me so I left for a bit and tried to coax one of the other dogs out, but he was angry-aggressive so that was no good. Then i sat on the outside of this cutie pie's cage until he got up the courage to come check me out. And when he did he was all about the cuddles! He loved getting petted and was so incredibly sweet. I finally went back in the cage with him and was able to get him on a leash with no issues.
Going for a walk was the cutest thing, you all need to come visit just to meet him! I think this might have been one of his only walks outside becuase he was like a little kid! He was running through the tall grass and crashing through bushes, hitting his face on all sorts of stuff and loving it! He was exploring this new big world around him, it was precious. And he was a great walking partner because he would go explore but then look back to make sure I was coming and, for the most part, he kept pace with me.
Awww. I think it's love :)
ALSO *fun interactive part* he doesn't have a name so I get to name him!! And I would love suggestions, so post and let me know what y'all think would fit him!
P.S. Sorry for all you non-dog lovers out there who probably find this particular post boring...next one will be about Madrid! And the first day of school! So get excited :)
Monday, September 3, 2012
I love Andorra (Reason 1)
Sorry my posts are fewer lately. The four other Fulbright scholars have been arriving for the last few days, so I haven't been blogging.
But I just had a great experience that I think sums up Reason 1 on why I love Andorra:
EVERYONE KNOWS EVERYONE AND WANTS YOU TO KNOW EVERYONE TOO
Example 1: I volunteer at a charity shop called Carisma and the first day I met a wonderful Irish woman who also volunteers there. I mentioned how I was looking to rent an apartment in Ordino, but I wasn't sure because it did not have a fridge, washer, or microwave. She immediately told me about a friend of hers whose flat she was clearing. He has a fridge, washer, and microwave so she would call him to see if I could have it!
Example 2: I had coffee with a wonderful woman named Clare and told her I was interested in learning Catalan. While I was in the bathroom, Clare called one of her Andorran friends, Meritxelle, and invited me to an English-Catalan dinner with her. Now Meritxelle invited me to go on an awesome hike next weekend! And she also called her friend Anne who is a real-estate agent and is helping me finds apartments.
Example 3: At the English-Catalan dinner I went to with Meritxelle, I met a woman from Ordino named Carmen. Carmen owns a bakery in Ordino, el Fleca Font, (which is right below the apartment I'm looking to rent). I told Carmen how I bake gluten free foods and she offered to let me sell them at her bakery (there's a big gluten-free population in Andorra, who knew?)! Then today when I was at Fleca Font having coffee with Jaymee, Carmen came and asked how my apartment search was going. I told her how I was looking to rent the apartment right above the bakery, but it wasn't furnished so I wasn't sure. She said that would be a great idea and she would call Marc who owns the apartment and ask him if he could get it furnished for me. She immediately got on the phone with Marc who said he would talk to his dad about finding furniture for the apartment at a reasonable price. Carmen then continued to give Jaymee and I a list of recommendations for places to take another one of the Fulbright girls, Daniela, to for her birthday :)
I love how everyone is making connections for me! Andorra is great!
And that's just reason 1...
But I just had a great experience that I think sums up Reason 1 on why I love Andorra:
EVERYONE KNOWS EVERYONE AND WANTS YOU TO KNOW EVERYONE TOO
Example 1: I volunteer at a charity shop called Carisma and the first day I met a wonderful Irish woman who also volunteers there. I mentioned how I was looking to rent an apartment in Ordino, but I wasn't sure because it did not have a fridge, washer, or microwave. She immediately told me about a friend of hers whose flat she was clearing. He has a fridge, washer, and microwave so she would call him to see if I could have it!
Example 2: I had coffee with a wonderful woman named Clare and told her I was interested in learning Catalan. While I was in the bathroom, Clare called one of her Andorran friends, Meritxelle, and invited me to an English-Catalan dinner with her. Now Meritxelle invited me to go on an awesome hike next weekend! And she also called her friend Anne who is a real-estate agent and is helping me finds apartments.
Example 3: At the English-Catalan dinner I went to with Meritxelle, I met a woman from Ordino named Carmen. Carmen owns a bakery in Ordino, el Fleca Font, (which is right below the apartment I'm looking to rent). I told Carmen how I bake gluten free foods and she offered to let me sell them at her bakery (there's a big gluten-free population in Andorra, who knew?)! Then today when I was at Fleca Font having coffee with Jaymee, Carmen came and asked how my apartment search was going. I told her how I was looking to rent the apartment right above the bakery, but it wasn't furnished so I wasn't sure. She said that would be a great idea and she would call Marc who owns the apartment and ask him if he could get it furnished for me. She immediately got on the phone with Marc who said he would talk to his dad about finding furniture for the apartment at a reasonable price. Carmen then continued to give Jaymee and I a list of recommendations for places to take another one of the Fulbright girls, Daniela, to for her birthday :)
I love how everyone is making connections for me! Andorra is great!
And that's just reason 1...
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