Near death experiences? Of a computer, long hair, and me...

Hmm... this week.  My computer battery died so I can now only use it if it is plugged in.  This is mostly a good thing- I will be on it less and walk (30 minutes) to the cafeteria and hang out with people more often.  Schoolwise, I had two tests and a field trip.  Before my two tests I had pretests which I rocked, but then after I took my grammar test I kept thinking of my mistakes so we'll see the results soon.  The field trip was to Oviedo's cathedral.  I've been waiting to go there because I figured we might for school sometime.  It was one of those things that I pass everyday and take for granted and then I walked inside and thought, wow this is just as cool as those big name cathedrals!  I got a haircut at a La James type place on Friday.  They cut off a little more than I would like- but I looked at the ground when they finished and it didn't seem like it! Well it looks cleaned up so that's good.

This week is Carnaval which is a big celebration here before lent.  I don't have school today or tomorrow.  I did not make it to Tenerife or Lisbon, but I think I had/ will have more fun here with friends.  We went to Aviles on Saturday because we heard that they fill the streets with foam.  We got there and just hung out until it was foam time and started walking where we saw the majority of people walking.  And the majority of those people were wearing rain gear, so we stopped and got some 60 cent ponchos.  We found the street and saw foam cannons, but no foam only kids playing with bubbles.  I thought that maybe we had gotten our hopes terribly high.  But we just took the Spaniards' lead and stood around talking in the street.  Then, after an hour, people started to pack up against us.  It was foam time.  We were all ready after waiting and faced the cannon full on.

As the foam began everyone screamed as if to say, "Woo bring on the foam!" but the screams soon turned to, "Noo! Not the foam!!!".  I thought I was going to die.  At a foam party.  From facing the foam straight on it got in my eyes which I tried to wipe off with my hands- but they were foamy too so I just made the situation worse.  Then I inhaled it.  I'mgonnadieI'mgonnadieI'mgonnadie.  And no one would realize for about 5 minutes because the mob would keep me standing.  I had to get out.  I tried yelling 'ayudame' but the foam prevented me from being loud enough.  I just started hitting people on the head in the direction furthest from the cannon (I thought) and finally waded my way to the other side.  There were barriers so that the people who didn't want to be foamy didn't have to but I was joined by many escapees and they broke down the barrier.  I escaped to a bar and they gave me free water (which is really surprising here).  I settle my heart down and decided to make my way back to my friends.

I still had the remains of foam in my throat for hours but I was able to have fun.  The next time the cannon went off I put my back to it and breathed slowly through my nose.  We played in it for hours and it was like warm snow! At one point the foam was as high as my waist (though that might not being saying much considering my height).  Then the parade came through the foamy streets.  Very fun.  But this will be one of those things that I will make sure to warn future students about.  Wear rain gear and maybe a medical mask.  After we were foamed out we went to our lockers at the bus station to change into our costumes.  My 75 cent costume was me being a French man.  I just bought a facial hair kit, wore all black, and stuffed my hair into the beret Tom gave me.  We walked back to the foam area where two stages were set up and danced all night! I loved it!  They played a lot of American oldies and then songs we've heard here in the clubs so we knew almost every song.

Sunday was a hermit day.  I still haven't seen any of my family- so I'll have to get out of here soon and say que tal to my madre.  Off note- has anyone ever heard of a 'Hamster day'? My friend (American) said that she was having one the other day and explained that the day before hamsters die their eyes get all crusty and they don't do anything?  So she was tired and just walking around half asleep and having a 'hamster day'?  Anyways... I got my first package from friends today and that was SUPER excited.  Got some peanut butter and that will be nice because I'm giving up chocolate for Lent- so now I can snack on that!  Tonight we go to Gijon for our second round of Carnaval, but I don't know when.  I'm going to Milan on Friday-Monday to see Chris, Paige, and Zoe!  Skipping our group cabin excursion, but I think I might have more fun :D.

Important things will happen before I write again so I will wish you well before then:  Happy Fat Tuesday! International Womens' Day! Ash Wednesday!  Spring Forward!  π day! and Beginning of Spring Break you crazy Iowans!