It's Friday night and the city is buzzing with anticipation of the FERIA! Not 100% sure about what that will entail, however I do know that it is a ten day long celebration of San Lucas and all of my local friends are very very excited. They have been setting up tents and an enormous faux cathedral and decorating the streets with lights. I was most pleased to learn about the 24 hour churro and chocolate tent that will be open right around the corner from my house... mmm.

Work is going well, I am getting more comfortable in my role there and learning a little more about what exactly is expected of me. The kids are enthusiastic, and since it's not my responsibility to play the role of disciplinarian they seem to like me! Walking around school I hear about 100 times a day "Hello! Hello Kathryn! Hello!" It's cute. So... they've got the English greetings down, and also they are all experts in asking "May I go to the toilet, please?" They are smart, like sponges about what they learn in class... Next I just need to work on the names... I teach about 90 different kids and it will probably take me the entire nine months to distinguish the Juan Antonios from the Jose Luises, but I'm working on it..!

In the meantime, I've been hanging out with friends, eating tapas and drinking tintos de verano (red wine with fanta... sounds like an abomination but it's actually delicious), playing tennis at the polideportivo around the corner from my house (there is a gorgeous view of the mountains and the castle from the court), and just generally getting to know Jaen.

I just booked trips to Barcelona and Granada. I feel pretty settled and comfortable in Jaen, and honestly like it so much that I haven't felt much of an urge to leave, but I am definitely excited to start getting to know the rest of Spain!

Love you everybody!