traveling the world around

I'm traveling in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Hungry, Serbia, Greece, Italy so i'll be able to get in contaxt with you all until the 7th of January! I'll be having fun but also thinking of you! Take care all!
Loves you!
~Jess

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas in December! CHEERS!!

3 x 5

I've grown weary and continuously more unable to fit the world in the naive box in which I used to held it captive. I ran into a conclusion earlier today, one that although I hate to consider is only the divine truth.
(Just a little background on the story so that it makes more sense)
I attend a literature class here in spain taught by a family friend, let's just say we go way back! As the story goes, I had been in this class so far with no major complaints, besides his incomprehensible habit of not wearing deodorant and being able to sweat through two shirts and a sweatshirt by the end of class. He is a man of simplistic views and understandable only because of his major! Seems like all literature majors are people with idealistic views on life and others. I came to test week and although we had all explained to him that he had not covered the information he expected us to regurgitate adequately we still felt like we should still take the test.
Last night I studied for a couple hours with friends and was beginning to get in the studying-roll when curfew hit and we had to retrieve to our rooms. From there everything went down hill. I guess I had just been working so hard and had been so stressed and I hadn't know it until I talked to my mom, my world broke apart. Horrible news hit me from all sides and I couldn't take it! Shortly after I spoke with a old and she told me the condition of friends back at home! Things were really not holding up for me by then! Thinking it would be the wisest thing, I tried to go to sleep but didn't reach any sort of rest until about 4 am.
Mortified by my turn of events I assumed that my teacher would comprehend. As I spoke with him, tears streaming down my checks my worst fear came true. He looked me straight in the eyes and said... well if you fail... you fail! My response was a blank stare! I was dumbfounded by his immediate response and his lack of understanding! I want you to understand that is class is the biggest joke! We don't do anything and when we have class we just talk about his ideals and why he thinks spirituality is so important.
With no other remedy I worked up the strength and followed him to class. I prayed for wisdom in what I hadn't been able to study, but the moment that he put that test on my desk I blanked. My tears had no other place to go but down my face and unto my lap! The sobbing chokes kept me from breathing and I darted out of class. I have never felt more useless in my life!!
All this from a man who spoke to us all quarter about brotherly love. A man who day after day pounded the fruitful idea of understanding into our brains. I've not only been disappointed in this man but so many others that when the time comes to show their true colors, truly do, and it's disappointing.
I've been working on giving all the benefit of the doubt this year! It's kinda of my goal in improving who I am! It's proven helpful many times, but other times I feel taken advantage of. This man not only let me see how hypocritically most people live their lives but he proved to me that no is who they seem to be.

Broken Pinky! Simply thanks giving!

This thanksgiving I gave thanks for so many things!
. Friends in spain
. Family (even though they are millions of miles away)
. Oso (although he is terribly sick)
. Friends (basically my second family, that are also far away) . thanksgiving party.
. warm hugs.
. Amanda Ward coming to visit me
. football games (two hand touch, oh boys)
. becoming friends with my neighbors
. simplicity
. My elementary kids

...and then... I broke my finger! Just another blessing! I love these moment for its just another reason to laugh and share memories with friends!

Where do dreams go?

Just a little movie made by yours truly for an upcoming speech! Enjoy

Ciao Italia. prego

Our luck started and ended when Victoria (my friend studying here from Union) dropped her camera down the tile stairs and it shattered right before we left the dorm. From there we got lost on the way to the airport and almost had to pay for our over sized luggage on the ridiculously tinny plane. Ryanair is a stingy airline because they took just about every liquid that Vicky had in her carry on bag, mostly hair products. The passengers were surprisingly upbeat and almost started to scare me when they cheered as we landed!
Do these planes not make it down safely that often?
Once retrieving our bags we found our bus and took it from Pisa to Florence and arrived two minutes too late to catch the next bus taking us to the school we would be staying at for the night. There was no other remedy but to get a taxi who charged us a ridiculous 17.20 euros for a four minute ride. When we arrived at the school, but found there was no one there to greet us and we ended up sneaking into the and sleeping on some sketchy coaches!
Day 2.
Waking up early was no idea of mine, but we had to sneak back out with out being seen so as to not have to pay for the night stay, we managed, plus free breakfast. That morning consisted of finding our new hostel, settling in, and seeing those sites searched for. We spend most the day by the Duomo, the gates of paradise, Piazza Dela Signoria, and the Accadamia (the David)! At a neat coffee shop we ran into Mateo who informed us about his business. He was a leather designer and told us if we came by his store the next day he would give us leather jackets. We found it sketchy but decided to leave it for the next day to worry about.
Day 3.
Allyson and I woke up early the next morning and found ourselves hurrying through the streets to be first in line for the Uffizi. It was a beautiful gallery containing the works of Michael Angelo, Botacheli (birth of venus), Titin (venus of verbino) amongst others. We had to hurry back to the hostel to meet up with Vicky and check and into our new hostel. It took longer than expected and we almost didn't make it to "leather coat guy's" store!(that's what we ended up calling Mateo) Well he didn't give us a free leather coat but he sure gave us a discount, from 560 euros to 140 euros. I chose to not buy one, I mean it's a steal but i passed! On the way out from shopping we ran into the other group of friends that came from Sagunto college and we hang out with them for the rest of the night.
Day 4.
Sleeping in could not have felt any better! Between the walking we had done the last few days and the stress of traveling I was worn out, so I didn't even bother getting up early. We did take advantage of the afternoon though and visited Micheal Angelo's piazze. It over looked Florence and shown the cities radiance all the more clearer, so we sat and enjoyed the sun and journaled for a good while. From there it was back to shopping and I finally found a pair of leather boots that made me very happy.
Day 5
We leave Florence finally! Needless to say we were more than ready to hit the road back to spain. Although we had enjoyed Florence we found Italians, as a race, completely impatient and rude, their manners were unsettling and far beyond our understanding. Packing our things we headed to Pisa the home of the leaning tower. Once in Pisa we took some ridiculous touristy pictures and laughed about our tough fortune. Time flew by and before we knew it we had paid way too much to check our burdening travel packs and were cheering once again with the rest of the passengers on our flight back home. I will never understand the reasoning behind that phenomenon. I will finish the quickest I can by saying we arrived and had no ride waiting for us, so we had to take a taxi which came out to be 46 euros.
The trip summarized in one word would most likely be, Eventful! I did enjoy myself very much and although it was fairly stressful at times we did take the time to stop several times to take a breathe and remember we were in Italy! Each trip brings me so much more wisdom than the last! There are way too many details that could only be told by word of mouth other wise this would be a book, but all in all I did make it to Italy and back alive. Whether I idolized it before it has changed my life now and for ever will I remember those short but well lived November days.

Feliz cumpleanos

Mom, i've stayed up just to make you this movie cause i miss you and i wanted you to know how much you mean to me! Sorry i can't be there but i love you and i hope you had a great birthday!

Todo mi amor- Jessy

Choir performance

This is really sketchy! The song sounded better when you could hear the band! Find me!

Museum of broken relationships -Berlin

Here is a link to a very interesting article in El Pais' newspaper. It brings fame to the museum in Berlin displaying pieces of others lost loves, past relationships, and breakups. Very interesting! I've posted it in Spanish and English so take your pick, but do enjoy!



Objetos que rompieron amores museo (Spanish)

Museum of broken Relationships! (English)

Cielito Lindo

Here is a little presentation made by yours truly and Allyson Cronk! It was for folklore class! It's called a Spanish tuna entitled, Ceilito Lindo! ENJOY, OLE!

Just a little clip of spain and some fun beach times, not to mention my friend Viktoria's birthday! Made with love by: Allyson Cronk

Tempations for Good

I'm not gonna lie! Yesterday was the most eventful day I have had a long time! Not to mention that everyday is an event but yesterday was extra special!
So ever since i got my room mate I've been tried with patience, among other things. So when I got up yesterday and prayed I would have strength to endure the temptation to break down. Still I fell short, like usual, and between her stealing my shower, condemning me for not eating breakfast, and storming out, I breathed in the thought that it was going to be a very long day. Quickly I corrected my attitude, as I have been trying lately, and keep an optimistic out look.
Classes were short but my heavy eyes kept me from listening intently, because of course I was exhausted, an obvious chain reaction to my jet lagged room mate keeping me up till 2am, as she click-clicked around the room in her heals.
Shortly after I arrived at work the children literally climbed all over me and I was not only mute when they left but I had a headache that felt like Abraham Lincoln's top hat. I have never seen a worse behaved group of 6 graders before.
I thought all my troubles were over as I strolled to the cafe for lunch enjoying the afternoon rays. All was not sweet and fun as I was greeted with a blunt question/ statement.
“You’re a gypsy huh?"
Yes, my good friend Chris followed the statement with a look of disgust and proceeded to convince me of his belief. All though I tried my hardest the situation only escalated as Cory jumped in and stated, "I HATE GYPSIES!" Although I was willing to hear his reasoning as to why he hated them his only response was that he, "Couldn't say because gypsies could be listening," looking directly and pointedly at me. I was not only disgusted by his lack on respect for other races, but his ignorance and impertinence.
As I mentioned before my patience was growing thin and so i asked him to not, at least around me, talk about them like that or at all! He responded with a sincere, "Well you can just leave!" Taken aback I tried one more time with the same response. Aching inside I gathered my things a left the cafeteria even though i hadn't finished eating!
I'm being completely real with you when I say I wanted to cry! I couldn't understand how some one could be so rude and ignorant. Amongst all of these feelings I felt surprising at peace. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and wished to God he could change. That moment I realized just how much I have changed! A couple of months ago I would have probably taken his invitation to argue, but that moment when i was able to get up and reject the pulsating need to prove him wrong, I proved more to myself than him who am becoming.
Although I was still very upset I gave it up to God and moved on! Praise God! The rest of the day the school took us down to town and shop for what ever we need. On the ride back Cory came up to me and apologized! A complete surprise because believe me Cory doesn't do that, and I wasn't expecting it and I wasn't even gonna bother. Smiling inside I sat with Cory and we talked it out!
The rest of the day went beautifully from then on. The evening fell on my warm heart and vespers brought me to see how much God loves me individually! After glow only made me more up beat but the evening was not over though, when my friend Christian, who is a Spaniard, asked me if I wanted to go for a ride on his moppet! As we looked over the city from the top of the hill I knew that the day I had just experienced was not meant to call mine but a generous gift from God.
When we arrived back in the dorm and the friends we had left there were in a conversation that interested me very much! Hours went by before I realized it, and the night was half over! As I lay in bed not long after, I sighed a smile and whispered “Thanks” to my Father above who knew just how to bless me, challenge me, and raise me up.

Update

Just a quick update on life:

1. I have a roommate now! Pray for me to have patience!
2. I cut my bangs and i'm unsure if I like! Let me know what you think!
3. Miss my family MUCHO!

Love Song For No One

Castles, beaches, orange groves, and stars
Where are you like, like an ocean with no sound?

Tasting the fruit,passing the wine,
growing with age, aging with time.

My soul longs to know you, and not that superficial love,
I want to feel your knowledge,
I want to know what makes you starve.

They say it's not so easy to love and be let loved,
I know I'll let you love me, it's only caught by time.

The distance only seizing, my passions growing weak,
cool my cheap emotions,
teach me how to breathe.

I beg you this, I feel I'll faint
My memories bring more restraint.
You're there I know, don't take your time,
I'll wait for you, your love is mine.

I wrote this poem on a whim as i sat in my little piece of heaven situated around the orange groves over looking Sagunto. It hit me how hard it is to wait for that person God made just for me, it's even harder to be patient and so in rely i wrote out my feeling above.

Light bulb of bright ideas

This weekend i went to the beach and went camping with the college. It was the most amazingly relaxing and enjoyable weekend i had had since I got here. Seems like i'm always just chillin' and never working that hard. I guess i shouldn't complain.
The weekend went as such! Friday we boarded our buses (coach by the way) and drove 1 1/2 hours to the camping site. The whole way in allyson and I watched a funny chick flick, the sweetest thing. Upon arriving we were told the campground rules and then set loose to find a cabin suitable for us. The group of girls I usually hang out with (allyson, Brittany, Victoria, and Heather) got a cabin all to our selves. After situatating out selves we hang around talking with other friends and took a stroll down by the beach. The beach we literally 2 seconds from the eating place. It was so beautiful.
The rest of the night consisted of worship, a late very menial dinner, more worship, and then some more worship. They keep us up until 11:30 having testimonies and singing praise songs. So as soon as it was over we went straight to bed.
The next morning we were woken up by loud music, as a breakfast call. After attempting a rigid cold shower we were ready for the rest of the day, and it was a beautiful day. Between sabbath school and church I was tired of sitting so I took a walk to find my own time with God.
As i sat on a heavy rock, surrounded by the waves crashing around me, I thought and dug around in my memories to expose the tender emotions i hadn't felt for a while. I began to miss the soft warmth of my parents embrace, the consistent calls of friends, and the independence lingering untouched. Soon i came out of my day dreams and engulfed the beauty that stood before me.
Much of the day went by with out a thought of my recent sentiments and such i enjoyed myself. Games, meeting new friends (mostly Romanian hotties) and walks by the beach became the very flow of my day.
Before i knew it the weekend was over, and as i walked up the hill to my dorm room, i thanked God i had a warm place to call my own.

6 hours and then some

First day of school and I'm beat! I couldn't keep my eyes open during the last few classes, but I barely made it! I have classes on Monday from 6am-1pm! Sick huh? Well imagine me! Well
soon after we finished class we gathered in the cafeteria to celebrate Tori's birthday (Sweet girl from Colorado, for those who see picture she's got dark black hair, tall, skinny, you know the drill) and begin planning our adventures!
Turns out planning takes more than skill! Eventually we got the group to the beach, some on bikes and other in a van, to enjoy the wonderful sun and fun before it escapes from us, for the fall! Between the sun, warm water, and wonderful company i was completely satisfied! As i laid on my towel I thought how intricate the plan was in bringing all these great people together! We were hand picked to learn, study, and Love each other (as much as possible) for this very short year of our lives! We don't know what is ahead of us but i'm sure it will be much more than any one of us ever expected!

Daily Stuff

Today was sunday for me! I was totally asleep until 11:30, just like walla walla! I had a room mate last year at walla walla and this year it's looking like there won't be one in my horizon! I woke up did my devotionals, which is very achievable with out a room mate cause it's always quiet! God spoke to me softly and with the touch of a loving father should me more of his beautiful plan for my life! Look up Ephesians 4:14-16 and search your hearts to find the truth!
After lunch allyson Cronk and I went to the guys dorm to go on a bike ride and there we met shaun, nate, and chris! We got distracted by a group of people going into the church (which is right under the guy's dorm) so we went in to see what all the fuss was about! We found out that they were showing a movie (some thing they do all the time i guess) in the church and mind me this aint no pg movie like most adventist schools require them to be! Well it was a good movie but we'd rather go on a bike ride then sit inside so we readied ourselves we headed into town for another adventure! Turns out we had forgotten that it had rained and the mud was running thick! We biked straight into the thickest mud i have ever felt! It suctioned it self to my feet and in ankle deep water we made out way under the bridge!
From then on it was laughs and good times! Dinner, worship, and the usual guys and girls basketball game went on before I could realize where the time went!
I love this place! The people are so friendly and ready to be at your service! Even today i have met 6 other people and I love that! There aren't many students but they all are so sweet and welcoming!
As i walked back from the gym I stared at the moon! How wonderful God is to share just a glimpse of his perfection with us! I praised him and wished that all of you could join me in watching the moon and stars!

Travel Review

Well it's come true! I'm finally here and I'm loving it! The weather is great the beach is beautiful! The cities are warm and the people are so hospitable! I can't image ever wanting to leave! Ok so I miss American and (mom and dad) every one else but come now, this is such a great opportunity!
I landed in Madrid early Monday morning and was affectionately greeted by my grandparents! We made it home after eating breakfast and called my parents. The day went by so fast and the disorientation hit like a rock! I took a siesta and woke with a start, not remembering were i was! Soon we did the few earns I had waiting and we sat to look at photos! I showed my grandparents everything from Freshman year in high school to freshman year in college! The time flew by and we were asleep before we knew it!
The next few days were a blur and a few tears we spent as i longed for my common ground and home! The language is a bit harder than i thought it would be to conquer but i seem to manage!
I made a safe trip with too many suitcases to Sagunto where i was picked up by some one from the school! Everyone is so warm it's easy to feel at home! The American group is small but we are getting to know each other and i rest assured that we will all be close friends.
This morning i took a placement test and it feels like i don't know my own language! I guess i should have read more Spanish romance novels!
Well i'm off to eat lunch and take a siesta!
Bale? Adios!

Functional Thinking

Home is where the heart is!

Today I lay flat on my back staring at the fan in my room! With out thinking I moved in my memories through time. From birthdays, family trips, laughter, high school crushes, and the inevitable move from state to state with my family, to innocent cries and foolish tears.

I changed my life dramatically in the last few months and although life has been tough, I'm making it through. We all go through change in our short lives, always moving even if we go no where. Our very functional brains have the capacity to change us in ways we can not imagine, and if that involves moving you to the other side of the world (Spain for me) so be it! Changing takes big moves, and moving takes big changes! A rhetorical statement that means the world to me!

My whole life has been one big move! From Spain to America, Oregon, Washington, California, the story goes on. Amidst all those moves I think I lost the factor of where exactly home was. Was home where I was born and took my first steps, or is where I learned to make friends on my own. Is home where my best friends live or the town I spent most my life in? Does home really have to be a place, because I can’t put my finger in which one is the best?

What I mean by that is that home for me can’t just be Spokane (any longer) or Madrid, or even Roseburg! Home has to me is where I know I belong. Although that definition changes drastically as I get older and grow new friendships it always will be kneeling in prayer with my heavenly Father, by my mom’s side in the kitchen, with my best friends laughing, and in the arms of those I love. My home is not found on the map, but in my heart. Only there can I find my place, my home! It’s tough some times to feel like a stranger in your own home, but I think I’ve found that place, and I know where to run when life hits me hard.

Where’s your home?

Indulge

I must introduce my self! I am Jessica de Oro, a starving revolutionist residing most recently in Southern California! My life plans are simple, go where the tide leads and… well that’s about it! As of now the tide leads me in the following direction...

Starting September 16, 07 I will embark on a journey to my mother land. I will be studying, surviving, indulging, and captivating the essence of my heritage, SPAIN! As soon as the winter hits a few friends and I will meet up and we will travel ancient Europe to relive the romance, passion, and beauty hidden! You are in for a ride! This blog will capture the good the bad and the sexy, of my life during these times! Feel free to love me at any time and leave a comment!

Hugs and kisses to all!

~ Jess