1st week in Sevilla

Welcome to Sevilla! This was our little apartment, in the Alameda complex of Sevilla 5 apartments. We would recommend them to anyone who plans to be in Seville for several weeks and wants to walk downtown everyday. It was awesome, and they had great service! http://www.sevilla5.com/

Bedroom

Cam is demonstrating how "cozy" it was in here :)

With two twin beds. I thought the bedspread was very cute and colorful, and I really loved the tile on the walls.

the lovely closet

And, most importantly, the air conditioner! Essential.

Kitchen/living room

This couch was much more comfortable than either of our beds. It was a sweet couch. We even had a little TV in this room.

It was really nice to have a washing machine

We also enjoyed the ceramic cooktop--much easier to clean than our stovetop here in the states.

Bathroom=tiny! I am touching both sides of the shower in this picture

In this picture, my left arm is touching the pedestal sink. Pretty crowded bathroom, but at least

it was sparkling clean!

After settling in to our home away from home, we went walking in the city. This is the tower of the cathedral of Seville.

Here's a view of one wing of the cathedral

Inside is the tomb of Christopher Columbus! DNA tests have confirmed that it really is him (they used his son's DNA for the test).

The incredible ceiling (the camera is pointed at an angled mirror)

The high altar. That is real gold from the new world.

I loved the stained glass windows.

These pictures don't portray how massive the cathedral is--it is the 3rd largest in the world. It is truly incredible. For all these pictures, I had to zoom in quite a bit because the ceilings and the windows were all so high above me.

More to come soon!

Cameron's Little Mistake

Today we had lunch with some friends from my Spanish class who are leaving Sevilla tomorrow. We ate at a little cafe across from the language school. We started out with four people, but when a fifth person joined us, we combined two tables so we could sit together. I was chatting with Joey and Yukiko across the table when out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cameron lurch and spit into his napkin. My first thought was that his Spanish omelette was so awful he couldn't swallow it. I asked him "are you okay?" He sheepishly replied that he had accidentally taken a large gulp out of Yukiko's cup, which unfortunately was filled with beer. This surprise beverage was what had caused him to spit into his napkin. We all had a good laugh (our friends know that we don't drink), finished lunch and said goodbye.

As Cam and I were walking home together, Cam expressed his true feelings about the experience. "Why on EARTH do people drink that stuff? It was so nasty and bitter, bitter, bitter! Why don't they just drink shots if they want to get drunk, so they can get drunk faster and not have to drink so much of this disgusting stuff?!?" (Bear in mind, this was an expensive, high quality beer).

When I ask him about it now, he still cringes and mutters words like "bad, very bad, foul, horrible horrible, awful, bitter bitter..." :)

Destination: Seville

Cam was awarded the OIA (OSU's office of international affairs) grant for his studies this summer! $3400 is sending us both to Seville for a month, where Cam will do research in the Archive of the Indies and I will study Spanish (thanks for the Rosetta Stone, Julie and Ernie!). The pictures below are to get us all in the mood--they are from Cam's last trip to Seville in Feb. 2006.

Window at La Cathedral (the main chathedral in Seville--Cam tells me a cathedral is where a bishop conducts Mass. So only certain churches can be considered cathedrals. This one is home to the archbishop. The word "cathedral" literally refers to the bishop's chair.

La Giralda--formerly a minaret where Muslims called to prayer, now a bell tower for the Catholic Cathedral of Seville.

Seville from above. The square building is the Archive of the Indies, where Cam will be researching day and night (actually they close at 3 pm). It was formerly the Casa de Lonja, where the merchant guild had its headquarters.

Courtyard at the Museo de Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Museum)

Courtyard of the Alcazar Real (Royal Palace) in Seville--in neo-mudejar style (made by Muslim converts to Christianity).

Entrance to the Alcazar Real.

Car Update

Thanks to all for the concern and love! Everything has turned out very well. Cam returned to North Carolina this past weekend to buy Mindy and Lance's Mazda 626, which they very graciously sold us for an incredible price. Every time we look at the new car we feel so grateful! I will post pics soon. Apparently I have white car karma, because like all the cars I have ever owned/usurped, the Mazda is white. :) It is shiny and clean and I really like the seat--it curves to support my back in just the perfect way. Sweet!

Trip to North Carolina (March 2009)

When we arrived at Lance and Mindy's house in Fayetteville, the kids greeted us enthusiatically! lol. They actually did come running out of the house to see us. This picture was taken later, after we had come inside.

We played for a few minutes, then left them with a babysitter and went out for Italian with Mindy and Lance.

The next day, we went on a hike near the Cape Fear River. The beautiful Kunz ladies: Kaitlyn,

Mindy, Leah, and Amber.

Kaitlyn, Christian, Amber and I ran races, sang songs, and took pictures. Here's Amber's self portrait--I love how you can see her smiling even though her mouth isn't in the picture--she's got good singing cheeks!

Lance was tired, but I got a smile out of him at Christian's 4th b-day party.

Star Wars cake...what could be better?

Our present to Christian was this sweet toy--I don't know what it's called but I loved playing with these as a kid, and the Kunz kids had the same reaction. Cam was the best at it.

Here's Lance being a real sweetheart and doing the dishes...I was completely charmed! I loved this window in their kitchen wall, which opens onto the family room so you can be at the sink and still see all the family/guests. Genius! If we ever build a house, I would like to put that feature in.

This picture could have so many funny captions but I'm awful at thinking of them...any ideas?

Crash the Party

Everyone is completely well and healthy, for which we are SO grateful! I have a bruise on my hip from the seatbelt and Cam has a contusion on his arm from the airbag and a sore knee. The 80 year old man in the other car also has a sore knee but nothing else to speak of, although he is very disappointed about his car, which is severely damaged (you can't tell but his radiator was punctured).

Our car also suffered a harsh blow.

It was my first (hopefully last?) experience with airbags. I'm so grateful for them, but they sure do release some noxious fumes and residue. Although not nearly as bad as fire extinguisher residue.

Somehow, after calling the police, checking on the other driver, and waiting for the authorities to process the paperwork, I had the insane urge to document the accident with a photo of us. (Cam did not wish to join me, so he took the picture). This photo looks like I'm showing off my latest accident (actually Cam was driving). But in reality, I'm smiling because my brain was addled from an advanced state of shock.

We're not sure if our insurance will choose to fix the body or just total it and pay us its value. We're hoping for the former, because our '98 Camry is worth more to us than its blue book price--it is truly a great car and has given us no problems. We are sad to see it looking so mangled. It is really not safe to drive it with the airbags still deployed and the steering column unable to lock into place, but since the accident only a mile away from our house, the policewoman was kind enough to let us drive it home while she followed behind us. By doing that, she spared us the expense of a tow truck.

Everyone was very kind to us. We have learned some important lessons today. 1) Always have comprehensive auto insurance for your primary vehicle (luckily, we do). 2) If you feel that the driver is making an unsafe decision, do not hesitate to yell this information. 3) Don't drive angry. 4) Never remove the sunglasses from the car. Learn from our mistakes! Next time it might not turn out so well. It is a miracle that no one is hurt and we are overwhelmingly grateful for that.

On conference Saturday while the boys were at Priesthood, my friend and neighbor Brianna hosted a girl party at her house. It was so fun--I felt like, "holy cow, I enjoy this so much, why don't I hang out with my girlfriends all the time?"

Here's Brianna (L) and Angie enjoying some nail painting (courtesy of Angie!)

Here's me calling Cam to summon him to join us with the rest of the gals' husbands after the Priesthood session was over, and Amber with her cute baby!

Lovely April took the picture so I returned the favor. She's a nurse in the ER and she reminds me so much of my sisters!

Here's Maria and Kelly chillin' with us in the living room while the boys avoid the scent of acetone by congregating in the kitchen. :)

It was such a good time--hopefully more of these coming up!

Neice Baby Emily growing up already!

Emily was blessed today! I know it must have been great, and I can't wait to meet her. :)

Shots of Moody (or yes, I am vain...experimenting with my camera)

My neice is here!

My sister Amy had her baby!

Here's her big brothers, Casey

and Cameron

We love you guys!

February

In February, Cam's cousin Marin came to visit us! Marin and Casey both went to school out here at OSU, and they were the ones to welcome us to Columbus when we moved here. They have now moved back to Cali (much to their happiness), so Marin is finishing her dissertation in BioAnthropology long distance. But she needed to come out and meet some professors, so we got to see her and her cute baby girl, Elliot!

Here we are meeting in Marin's professor's office, enjoying some Jimmy John's sandwiches (Elliot too--she likes the paper)


Here is Elliot looking cute on the couch

Splashing in the bath tub (notice how turbulent the water is!)

And chillin' with me on campus as while Mommy met with some professors

A few days after Marin and Elliot went home, Cam defended his Master's Thesis in Latin American History! I am so proud of him! This is the end product of all the research he did in Peru two summers ago. His thesis used a native rebellion in Peru to show how the Bourbon monarchs of Spain began effecting political reforms earlier than has been previously acknowledged. Here is Cam after the exhausting interview (interrogation?) with three professors:

Post-defense snuggles :)

Congratulations, honey!