Back in Madrid

Hello beautiful women, (and other blog readers- ie. Mike and Noble)
I miss reading you all, but it was inevitable that everyone´s lives where going to get busy after our "August of transition", well except mine, I still pretty much have time to blog :)...
I just got back to Madrid after 5 days away in Basque country in the north of Spain- where in addition to Spanish they speak Euskera (a language that doesn´t share a common root with any other European language) and the seperatist movements appear to be fairly strong, or at least vocal. The ETA blew up a bus while I was in San Sebastian.
The 2 cities I went to in Basque country where Bilbao and San Sebastion. In Bilbao I went to the Guggenheim museum, to a squat where they are hosting a graffiti exhibition next weekend, and to the beach. In San Sebastion I went to the museum of sculpture artist Eduardo Chillida and to the beach. In San Sebastion I stayed at a hipster Austrailian hostal, that organized overpriced Spanish dinners with all you can drink Sangría and party boat tours... It was called "the Urban House" and they offer "services for independent travel". I walked around the first few days by myself thinking I was deeper than that, but the last night I went out to play pool and speak lots of loud English with Aussies and quite enjoyed myself.
I am starting my last week in Madrid- mixed feelings about moving on to Barcelona- excited, I hear great things about the city and have a lead on a cheap place to stay... but I´m also just starting to feel really comfortable in Madrid- good people, good rythm. Anyway- that is the nature of this year and was to be expected.
I love you all very much and think of you daily, Laura
p.s. I also just put some fotos up at www.worldwalls.blogspot.com if you want to
take a look.

Back to school

It feels like a long time since I last posted. Hope you are all doing well. I wanted to post about my time in Chicago and leaving St. Louis, but then never got around to it when I was back in New York and finishing up at my old job. I have started orientation at Teachers College, and it is a bit overwhelming. It of course coincides with Labor Day weekend, and most everyone I know is away for the weekend. I am looking forward to meeting with my advisors; I am hoping they'll be able to reassure me that I can finish all these credits in one year. I walked to and from school today, which was wonderful. I love New York and seeing all the families and couples walking around the Upper West Side and having brunch and saying goodbye to college-aged children made me happy. But I wanted to be around people, so I'm now home in New Jersey and hanging out with Ethan and Mom and Dad. Thinking of you all often...miss you. Love, Frannie