When I try to explain even the most simplest things to Spaniards, they look at me like I'm crazy. I told Maria Jesus, my host mom, that before coming to Spain, I've never had warm milk for breakfast. She thought I was loca (crazy). She told me that you can't drink cold milk for breakfast because you need something to warm up your stomach before the day gets started! I'm not sure if that logic really works, but I see nothing wrong with giving it a try! I'm so used to it by now, it would be weird to drink cold milk!
Anyway, I meant to write about my birthday celebrations in Spain. But first a little bit about Spain's March. I don't know if the same lion/lamb phrase works for the weather here in Spain, but if so, March definitely came in like a lamb. We've been having exceptional weather here so far. It's been high 60s/70s and I've been taking FULL advantage of the beach and parks here in the city. It's fantastic to not have fog for my morning walk to campus! I hope it doesn't leave like a lion, though! I have a lot of great traveling plans at the end of the month!
Also, spring happens to be the season of my birthday and this year it landed on a Friday. It was nothing short of a wonderful time! I sure had a great time, celebrating my birthday with my friends here! It was a GREAT time! Thursday nights, the city of Valladolid has great deals on tapas, so a group of us went out to enjoy the deals thursday night. The first place we went, I got a delicious tostada de jamon and they warmed it up! Toast with Spanish ham on it is absolutely amazing! The next place we went to, we decided to get a few different things and split them among those who came out! We ordered calamari, patatas bravas, and another type of potatoes (I can't remember the name). At the second place, my dear friend Brenna surprised me with CANDLES for my birthday (I had told her previously that day that I just wanted candles to blow out) and heart shaped suckers for those of us who came out to celebrate! It was so sweet of her! :)
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| We stuck the candles in bread!! |
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| Thank you so much Brenna! :) |
The next day was Friday, and I went to classes, but after that, I decided to get my hair cut! I chopped most of it off...it's a relief to ditch that hair for the spring/summer! During lunch that day, my host mom presented me with a gift. I was absolutely speechless. It was so kind of her to think of me on my birthday. That evening our host mom (Maria Jesus) taught Rochelle (my roommate) and I how to make flan. Here it is for those of you wondering: (and it's really delicious)
In a bowl, combine:
4 eggs
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 can regular milk (use can to measure milk after you pour sweetened condensed milk into bowl)
Mix this until blended smoothly.
In the bottom of a loaf pan, caramelize (melt until golden) about 1 cup of sugar to give the bottom a good coating. Then, pour the previous mixture into the pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour. Test the sides with a knife to see when done. (If it comes out clean, it's done). Cool completely, and serve by inverting onto a platter. Maria Jesus also decorated it with strawberries and whipped topping. :)
Anyway, Saturday we had a family lunch with Maria Jesus, her sister, her brother-in-law, and her nephew. She cooked us chipirones (baby squid), snails, and an amazing rice/cod/potato/green pepper dish. I'm really excited to get the recipe and bring it back home and cook it all the time! It was really nice to talk with Maria's family and to get to know them better. It's taken us a while to warm up to everybody, but Rochelle and I feel like family here in Spain. :)
I have a lot more to say about March, but I don't want to make one GIGANTIC entry with a million photos, so for now, besos y abrazos mi amigos! <3
Erin
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