Vale La Pena

Sorry it's long I know but, I feel like its been forever since I've posted one of these blog guys and that's probably because it has been. Since my last I've been making some serious moves out here. 1) my Spanish becoming real a natural thing for me which means the grades are lookin pretty solid right now. But with all the free time I haven’t been using to blog or keep in touch (i.e. showing my grandma how to use skype) has been spent traveling. I think I've done a pretty good job covering my bases as far as seeing Spain goes and I can't wait to finish things on the Camino de Santiago up north after everything's all said and done.

If we've talk at all recently, you know I had a killer opportunity to see FC Barcelona win a game in Camp Nou , Can u say 15th row WHAT UP?! Besides that barcelona was an awesome city with mostly because of Marco and Mariana who let live with them for three days, fed us, and told us how to get around the greatest city in Espana. Thanks Hans for having friends in high places. But the rest of the Barca trip has so many other sweet stories that will just have to wait for a better time.

Then there was Granada, which happened totally last minute for me. Thanks to our intercambio friend Pablo (a Spanish student who is our age also studying in Sevilla) we got a free place to stay, awesome veggies from his uncles garden, and some sick paella along some authentic Spanish family time in the mountains of Motril. We also had the chance to see the Alhambra which was better because we were studying that style of architecture in class. Another day a couple of us decided to cowboy up and swim in the Mediterranean while it was like 50 degrees. Bad idea 1) pretty much beggin for hypothermia 2) all the Spaniards will stop and stare until you get dressed again like a normal person. But we also caught some caves behind the city where we had to Jason Bourne this lady's roof , which then led us to a these natural hot springs and the time of our lives in the middle of this huge olive grove. Crazy, but gooooooodtimes!

Other than that we've had a few school trips around to some beautiful place. Even though they we're really centered on seeing art for one of my classes I've just started to realize that I am coming face to face with some of the most famous Paintings and Cathedrals in the WORLD which is an awesome fun fact to add to all the other amazing things about Spain. The one thing that's kind of funny is that I know all these things about Spanish art and history that I have No idea about in English but whatev's. No pasa nada. We also were in Mallorca where we had to make the best of a rainy situation by visiting this Old English book store and an original Spanish art gallery. But the sun showed up for Sunday and we loved real chance to gets some sun out there in the middle of the Mediterranean. We even tried our luck on this Hello Kitty boogie board we found, but it probably was better off buried in the sand.

Yeah other than that life has been pretty chill, besides one MAJOR detail….I went to Madrid last week. And yes I saw the Prado and it was awesome, yeah. But do you know who else was in Madrid last weekend? Oh well let me tell you. TAYLOR freaking SWIFT (actually I think Alison is her middle name) ;)

But I mean, pffffff, I really can't put it into words besides saying she totally gave the wink and wave while I was blowing her kisses posted up on one of my boy's shoulders ( which in my book means she obviously diggs me). It was one the biggest and probably the best show I've ever seen and I can say that because my friend (who is a total bro) ending up CRYING from excitement. I'm not sure that does it any justice but I wanna leave you with that mental picture so you get an idea of how intense my girl is. But yeah contrary to popular belief she did phenomenal live even with all the teenage espanolas trying to sing their hearts out in english. The concert was totally worth the coin though, I'd do it again no doubt. I mean come on 4 Grammys, just saying they don't just give those things away? Hahaha

The traveling is starting to die down for me but there's still plenty to soak up here in Sevilla. I've really been hittin the salsa lessons pretty hard now I think I'll be around enough the check out the salsa scene and try my luck on the floor. But yeah I also need to start on my term paper's and project in the next few weeks because we're just about two months away from the end of this incredible daily adventure. I still have quite a few major things to come before I can call it quits and start wishing for home. But yeah totally miss you guys and hope the winter/spring, semesters, and everything is just perfect there.

p.s.- Love giving gifts, so guess who just started buying souvenirs?! (you know who you are)

No regrets,

Dietrich Hunter

To Córdoba and back

So its been a little while but I've celebrated a couple American holidays over here the last few weeks the Super bowl and V-day. It was sweet getting to see the Super bowl at the this Irish pub Merchant's even though I had to watch the Packers get the" W". Just so we're clear, the packers have a specials place in my heart under the 'HATE' category. The Bears have been my team since me and my brother Roman started JFL in P-town . But yeah It was also kinda weird not having commercials since it was through this British network but oh well.

Then Valentines Day (which is always a sweet time to do sweeter things for the sweetest people you know) turned out a little different this year. But No I didn’t make a gift or buy dying flowers or take someone out ; but I'd like to think what I or what we did was way better. Since a bunch of the guys in our program play guitar or sing, and I can toque a drum or two, we got together so we could maybe do some street performing for the people of Sevilla. But it turned into something totally different when Jordan (our Ministry coordinator) asked us to play for his wife Sarah (our Student Activity Coordinator). So that’s exactly what we did! I hate to say it but we mashed it up like 'Glee' with the classic 'stand by me' and the fairly new Bruno Mars 'just the way you are'. Needless to say, she loved it and we are totally ready for this weather to clear so we can put this Long Horns hat out and make some Euros.

But yeah, one sweet thing that is on my radar right now are the two trips I planned to Barcelona and Palma Mallorca. I can't wait to hit barca and possible see Messi en VIVIO! WHT UP! Either way the trip is gonna be well worth it and Palma is an island so it might have some outdoorsie Bear Grylls moments in it for me and my groups of bros. Not sure how its all gonna pan out, but the tickets were cheap and the weather's looking better than this rain we've been getting so I'm pretty psyched.

Besides that we've been doing more Wednesday night worship and we've add bit of a small group element for people who want to be a part of that sort of thing. I'm actually one of the "leaders" and even though we've only found time for our first meeting I'm excited that we have a place to come and pray, be real ,and find our bearings out here together. After this first week of exams I'm pretty sure we're all gonna need a hand for Yahweh to keep it together.

Totally miss the family like crazy even though the random calls back and forth were awesome, and even through that crazy snow storm. Thanks again for checking out the updates, the little chats and comments here and there go a long way. But yeah as much as home is nice, more and more I see that Spain was a good choice.

p.s.- totally went to Córdoba greatest day trip yet.

No Regrets,

Dietrich Hunter

Sightseeing Daily

So week two was pretty solid, I'm starting to get into the groove of things now out here in Spain! Even though that new car smell feeling is starting to ware off, I'm beginning to realize how to get plugged in just enough that I'm connected but not tied down. I have started to do a some church shopping this weekend aside from playing a little Cajon at our programs midweek bible study . The newest discovery is this multicultural church that puts on free Saturday Nite salsa lessons on top of an awesome Young Adult meeting FULL of Spanish Hillsong! We ended up chilling with those guys until the place closed down just after midnight and by the end I could tell this place fit perfect like a good suit. It was pretty much LEGEN..wait for it…DARY! The only problem is I definitely had some serious trouble understanding the pastor this morning , since he was clearly no Carlos Moran , but we'll see how things pan out.

Other than that I'm jus trying to figure out if, when, and where I should travel because eventually the my time and money will both run out. I'm thinking at least Paris, Barcelona, and a beach or two; but I'm totally down for accepting suggestions. Really miss my family and all you babes and bros back home but if seeing the world means time apart then I'll just have to get used to Googlevoice and Skype for a while. You can totally chat me up any time just remember I'm like 7 full hours ahead of Chi-city central time.

Well I yeah that's all I got as far as updates go for now since I kind of need to finish up the homework that I saved until Sunday night! (guess some things never change) But yeah, thanks for your prayers and being interested enough to read this.

No Regrets ,

Dietrich Hunter

C/ San Jorge

So I've been in Espana since Monday and it feels like I've squeezed weeks into the last few days. Its really been solid eating, sleep, and walking through the streets of Madrid. The Carr's are some of the best hosts ever and their help has given me smooth transitions into Madrid and now to my Program in Sevilla! Also shout out to David Elvis and Pablo for returning the favor of taking them through Chicago this summer by letting me see the the plazas, the Palace and a craaaazy Spanish movie. And after that tour of Bernabeu Stadium I kinda wanna love Real Madrid as much as I Love Barcelona. (Who just lost to Real BETIS!? ) Either way its totally settled that I will see at least one soccer game while I’m in sevilla because we almost got ticket for tonight on my first day here! (Sorry Eric but be very jealous)

But yeah Sevilla is beautiful and not to cheapen its greatness but the aesthetics, the people and My Senora are more than I could have asked. It’s a great place and I'm only optimistic about how my Spanish and new relationships will grow. Hopefully through whatever challenges eventually surface I find comfort in the fact that God continues to go before me and chooses to use everything including the hard days and closed doors to make me more like Him.

Well soon I'll be knee deep in the semester but I'm just starting to meet the other member of our program. Anyway I miss you guys, babes and bros alike you know who you are! Peace out talk to u soon…hopefully in Spanish (served with raisins- that’s for you Sam haha)

No Regrets ,

Dietrich H.