After nine fun weeks I am finally in the field! My first area is Pamplona! For those of you who don't know where that is, I'll just let you use a map. And an interesting and really cool thing about Pamplona is that this is the place where they have the infamous Running of the Bulls every July! Unfortunately, we can't go to that but it's still cool knowing I'm in the city where that takes place.
My trainer's name is Elder Gerber. He's been out about a year and a half now so he's well-seasoned and knows the language really well, thank goodness. It's kinda funny though that I'm paired with him because we have a lot in common haha. It's actually a little creepy. We're both from NY, we're both the oldest child in our family, we both shared a car with one or both parents and it was the same car, we both have slightly Asian eyes haha, and we were both at the same multi-stake activity a few years ago but didn't know each other at the time. I think I'm forgetting something but oh well. We have quite a bit in common and we get along really well.
We've had quite a few lessons and it's been really fun going around and teaching people. And what's even better is that I've been able to understand and participate in every single one. I've actually gotten compliments from some people about how well I can speak haha. But I know I still have a longggg ways to go.
This past Sunday we had lunch at the Echarri Family's house. They have three kids at home but I think they might have more that have already been married and moved out. Their kids come with us when we teach a lot which is great. After that meal at their house I was so full. But it felt soooo good. I hadn't been full since I arrived in the field. I only went shopping for the things that would carry me until today so I didn't buy like anything. And then today is a holiday so all the stores are closed. Just my luck. But we're gonna stop by tomorrow so we don't die of hunger. I'll survive though.
I did survive the snow that we got my first day here so if I can survive that I think I'll be fine. The first morning here we got up and looked out the window and there was about 3" of snow outside and it was still coming down hard. It was sweeeet. And by the time we went out for our District Meeting there was another two or three inches. It was awesome. But it was really cold and the snow was everywhere. The cold only lasted for a few days along with the snow and now there's no snow and it's now 13 degrees (in celcius) which is way good haha. But I'm used to the cold since we have it forever back home.
This morning we woke up and I was like, wow I feel great! And Elder Gerber said the same thing and then we looked at the clock and it said 8:30! We totally overslept somehow and apparently the alarm didn't set right haha. But luckily it's P-Day and we don't have things with investigators in the mornings. We're supposed to get up at 7:30 in our mission so we got another hour of sleep. So let's just say we feel awesome today haha.
At night we have to be back to our piso, or apartment, by 10:00 and then be in bed by 11:30. People are up so late here and it's so weird. We taught one lesson at 9:30 the other night and we're gonna be doing it the rest of the week. I'll get used to the schedule though soon enough. The only thing that kills me is we have to wait to eat dinner until we get home for the night. We eat lunch from 2:00 until about 3:00ish and then dinner after 10:00. I'm probably gonna actually lose weight out here cuz of how far between the meals are, how little we can eat since we have to make all our food now, and we walk everywhere. But that's definitely not a bad thing haha.
I think that's about it for now. Or at least that's all I can remember. Miss you all! Keep them letters comin! :)
