Currently Listening John Denver's Greatest Hits By John Denver see related

I'm sitting here on a glorious, GLORIOUS spring day in my new favorite season, using free wireless and getting free coffee refills. The beautiful novelty of these two gifts hits me anew even as I write. Somehow, this barren winter land has been transformed into a beautiful jungle, green laden paradise.

I was walking the quarter mile home from the huge university by my apartment where I'd just done an English Club and I was completely overwhelmed with thankfulness. Thankfulness to be in this moment. In this place, surrounded by incredible mountains, lush greenery and more tulips then I'd ever seen before. Brought into the lives of students, teachers and friends in this great nation. What a gift.

I'll be getting a new camera soon and now that I have a free wireless locale that I love I'll put some up for you because the beauty and timeless of this place definitely calls for pictures!

Things are beautiful here, the mountains are seriously breathtaking. The city is about 2000 ft and the mountains look like the Swiss Alps, they rise about 4000+ feet above and you can see them from everywhere. The pollution is breathtaking too, but they promise this is the worst time since everyone is burning leaves. There is also intense smoking in restaurants, at ball games, in stores... We have it in Reno, but it's in much smaller proportions, here, a pack of cigarettes cost anywhere from 50 cents to a dollar, including the American brands like Winston and Marlboro that go for about $4 in the states. It's pretty sad.

Yesterday we went to a soccer game. So cool, very nationalistic as two different cities were playing, the stadium has the most incredible view of the mountains too. The crowd was pretty ethnically diverse as the whole country is, VERY COOL, but my favorite part were these two old men who kept cheering and dancing, they were so into it!

My grandma died on Friday in the States. It's strange to be so far away from everyone at this time, my favorite part about funerals is the stories, where everyone starts telling all the funny and great and not-so-great things that the person did, first impressions, classic sayings. I'd share some of her classic sayings but most of them are sensored. But she did always talk about loving "all God's children" and about every other day she'd say,"Honey have I told you lately that I loved you?" I'd always smile and say "No grandma" Then she'd laugh and cuss and say "Well I do!" Here's us in the spring, our last picture together.

I made it. I'm half way around the world and loving it. I'm about to start day 3 and feel in a way like I've been here forever. I'm on my way to an opening celebration of a men's rehab facility this morning. It should be a great time and a fabulous drive out into the country. I've had some great tours of the city and a fun run in with a guy who tried to stick his hand in my purse at a currency exchange place while I was putting away my newly converted money. I threw his hand back at him and was happily surprised that I didn't hit him like my initial response wanted to be.

The family I'm with here is amazing, the team is great, fun dinner last night, days in malls and restaurants. Highlight of yesterday was this tiny blind elderly lady, head covered in a scarf singing sweetly for money. I love this place!