As a mentioned before, I hit the jackpot when it comes to conversation partners. When I signed up for the “Tandem” conversation program, I figured I would be assigned a Spanish student around my age to chat with and grab a café with from time to time- purely to practice my Spanish and teach a little English. Boy oh boy, that is not what I got at all. Encarna and Galo Blano are an adult couple who have literally adopted me into their lives. They are without a doubt the most caring and generous people I have ever met.
It started off with meeting for coffee, and changed quickly into meals at their beautiful home in the country side- A few times a week, they came and picked me up and took me somewhere magnificent. Sometimes, we would just go to their home, cook and eat, and sit around, chatting and playing with their few week old boxer puppy (named Frida). Encarna is an artist, (hence “Frida”) so we also spent a good amount of time in her insanely large and creative art studio looking at art and chit chatting. Other times, they would cart me around to do whatever they were doing for the day. We grocery shopped, bought snow tires, looked for baby gifts, went to an Austurian sidra festival…to further explain there generosity and overall wonderful-ness, allow me to give you a scenario of a really special day:
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| FRIDA. 5 week old boxer puppy- QUE LINDA |
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| There amazing, artsty home |
Two weeks ago, Galo invited me over to go for a bke ride. When I arrive, Galo, Encarna, and there 2 thirtyish year old kids were packed around the TV watching a news report about epic amounts of snow in the mountains near by. I say, to make conversation, “ah! Me encanta la neive! Antes de marcho, me encantaría ver la neive de Espana!” (translation: i love the snow! Before i leave, i would love to see the snow in Spain!) Ten minutes later, the entire family and I are packed in the car, wearing snow boots and ski jackets bound for their cabin in the mountains. We spent 2 days and one night in their small, cozy cabin right at the base of the ski resort. We cooked dinner and sat around the fireplace during the night, and when morning hit, we HIT THE SLOPES. Yes, that’s right, I got to SKI IN SPAIN. They lent me absolutely everything: skis, boots, gloves, snow clothes, todos. I practically had to get on my knees and beg for them to let me buy my own lift ticket (which might I add was only 20 euro!? Insane.) The 2 feet of fresh new power made up for the fact that it began to snow from time to time. When the rest of the family, who are all amazing skiers, got tired- Galo and I stayed on the mountain and tore it up. A solid 7 hour ski day without resting, left me sleeping on the car ride home- happier than ever.
Bucket list check off for sure: Ski in Spain. CHECK.
I will miss my Spanish family like crazy and already cannot wait to come back and visit them. Man, did I get lucky. J
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| The Cabin |
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| Skiing in Spain (still cant bellive it!) |
As a mentioned before, I hit the jackpot when it comes to conversation partners. When I signed up for the “Tandem” conversation program, I figured I would be assigned a Spanish student around my age to chat with and grab a café with from time to time- purely to practice my Spanish and teach a little English. Boy oh boy, that is not what I got at all. Encarna and Galo Blano are an adult couple who have literally adopted me into their lives. They are without a doubt the most caring and generous people I have ever met. 
It started off with meeting for coffee, and changed quickly into meals at their beautiful home in the country side- A few times a week, they came and picked me up and took me somewhere magnificent. Sometimes, we would just go to their home, cook and eat, and sit around, chatting and playing with their few week old boxer puppy (named Frida). Encarna is an artist, (hence “Frida”) so we also spent a good amount of time in her insanely large and creative art studio looking at art and chit chatting. Other times, they would cart me around to do whatever they were doing for the day. We grocery shopped, bought snow tires, looked for baby gifts, went to an Austurian sidra festival…to further explain there generosity and overall wonderful-ness, allow me to give you a scenario of a really special day: 
Two weeks ago, Galo invited me over to go for a bke ride. When I arrive, Galo, Encarna, and there 2 thirtyish year old kids were packed around the TV watching a news report about epic amounts of snow in the mountains near by. I say, to make conversation, “ah! Me encanta la neive! Antes de marcho, me encantaría ver la neive de Espana!” (translation: i love the snow! Before i leave, i would love to see the snow in Spain!) Ten minutes later, the entire family and I are packed in the car, wearing snow boots and ski jackets bound for their cabin in the mountains. 
I will miss my Spanish family like crazy and already cannot wait to come back and visit them. Man, did I get lucky. J 
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