WE ARE SPARTA!!!!

So this past Saturday I participated in the Spartan Race…This craziness….

So basically 4 miles and some change of pure hell. And it was AMAZING!!! I crawled through mud that was laced with, what I can only hope at this point, was horse shit. I fell off an 8 ft. wall. Trudged through freezing swamps. Got a swift knee-foot combo kick to the face (Thanks Bey lol) And ran ‘til I was too delirious to realize that my legs were still moving of their own volition.

Now, please realize that I am not at all an athlete (picture a digitized “before” picture on a good day). This is not an attention ploy or "boo hoo, woe is me" type moment…merely an honest assessment of where I am right now (I’ve been working out so Spain shall be treated to a hopefully way hotter me…picture Brittany 2.0)

With that being said…I am sooo freaking proud of myself for making it through. There were several moments in which I was willing to lay on the side of the course and await death, but I pushed through and even scaled a major wall with my fear of heights. It was a bit exhilarating.

Now if I am to be completely honest with myself, and all of you, I totally signed up for this race because of the awesome shirts that D-Town chose for the team…too cute! Yes…yes! I did it for the clothes (which were later covered beyond recognition in the aforementioned horse shit mud). Death by Fashion! The only way to go!

Bey, Me, D-Town, Professor, and Swift (...and the awesome shirts that
made me feel that nearly certain death was worth it lol)

In hindsight, I think this was one of the best things that I could have done for myself in preparation for my big move across the big pond. I was completely out of my comfort zone. I never knew what obstacle would be thrown at me next. I often times looked up to find myself all alone in the middle of the woods. I had to push myself when I felt horrible. When things got to be too much I had to learn to rely on the kindness of strangers (I told one man that he was my husband now after he miraculously kept showing up just in time to rescue me lol). But by the end of it all, it was so great and I am eagerly signing up for another bout of torture race in May.

So hopefully these lessons will follow me to Spain and I will find myself  not only better for every obstacle that I leap over, but excitedly ready to tackle round two during a second year. We shall see…

Any crazy people adventurers out there ready to take on some psycho exciting activities before or after we get abroad? Any ridiculous awesome war stories and battle scars already? Do share….

Hasta pronto!!

XOXO

Spanish Learning Awesomeness

Ok...I don't actually have that much to say... but these two links were posted in the Expatiate Cafe forum for Language and Culture Assistants page and they were just too awesome and funny not to share...so enjoy!!!

This video is so hilarious!!! And the best part is...I have every intention of using this method to attract attention at bars...not for romantic purposes...I can't imagine any sane person finding this hot lol...but maybe I will meet some fellow silly folks that appreciate the humor like me...yay icebreakers!!!

That one was just awesome because it is....

Ok...that's all I want I wanted to share! Any other great videos I should check out?


Hasta Pronto!!!
XOXO

A Weekend with St. Simon

So this past weekend, on a whim and stemming from pure desperation to run away, Pixie, Swift and I hopped into the car (loaded with enough snacks and crap to feed a small country) and headed off to St. Simon’s Island. It is a little scrap of heaven on the very tip of Georgia; just a little south of Savannah.

Yes. You read correctly…there is something else to do in Georgia besides party in Atlanta or learn slave history in Savannah. There is actually…dun dun duuuunnnn….a sweet little beach town to visit! Who woulda thunk it, right? (Clearly, I am marred by years of ingrained Florida girl prejudice against the “real” South)

Now, before you get all ready for some awesome beach bum tales and bikini pics (not that I would ever post those pics before completing a full round of P90X) let me just spoil the thrill by letting you know that it was never above 62° F the entire weekend. Whose idea was it to go to a beach in February?! Oh right…mine! Not exactly what you put on a postcard for the folks back home.

However, hangover from hell notwithstanding, we managed to have a really good time….insert horseback ride along the beach here:

Swift all ready to giddy-up.

The heavenly beach that we rode on...there should have been a sunset and pirate involved...but alas...no such luck.

Swift, Pixie, and me! Love them both to pieces!!!

We went to an awesome little dive bar by the water and got smashed with the locals…see: previously mentioned hangover from hell. We also got to have some amazing food on the way out (Fair warning: Avoid any and all shitty hotel food offerings. It is a little bit more tasteless than your average continental buffet and it comes with a gag inducing bill for over $50 for three people…no bueno!!)

All in all, there wasn’t really that much to do but when you have spent an inordinate amount of time inland it’s just nice to smell the ocean again. Not to mention that anytime us gals get together, it’s going to be something to talk about!  I’m more than willing to retry this cute little getaway as the weather turns more playa friendly.

Still counting down to sitting in the Andaluz sun!!! Did I mention that my poor locks may be scattered all over the floor in the near future if I don’t hear about my placement soon. Yes, yes. They gave us a timeline. I know what to expect…but screw that! (I’m channeling a bad JG Wentworth commercial right now on the inside-- a la “It’s my placement and I want it now!!!”—did anyone actually catch that reference?!)

Hopefully there will be news to share in that department soon. Now to prepare for the deathtrap that I signed up for known as…the Spartan Race…aaaahhhhhhhhh!!!! (I really have to step away from the pipe occasionally so I can stop making these sorts of decisions…* le sigh*)

 *Note: I am not drug user—I just talk to myself, lack sleep, hallucinate occasionally, and regularly engage in poor decision making*

Hasta Pronto!!!

XOXO

SN ShoutOut: Congrats to my lovely best-friend KJ on getting her dream job in the Big Apple!!! Mazal tov, my love!!!! So very proud of you!!!