~Sans

In Spain it is common that on your birthday you host a party or you bring treats to work. One of the teachers at the school had brought cookies for her son on his birthday. They weren't for her son's school, but our English department. So for Mom's birthday I decided to make a Spanish omelette or a tortilla española. Here is the picture of the teachers and the last bit of tortilla left. I have set a goal to make a perfect Spanish tortilla before the year is out; the whole tortilla picture is the second one I made yet. I was excited it came out in one piece. I have made some progress and Zuriñe, one of the girls on the floor helped me with the one for Mom's birthday. Some practical tips for anyone making one that I have adopted are to use lots of olive oil, include garlic and onions (and Willy 's secret ingredient) and to make it the right size so that flipping it is possible. That is probably quite vague if you are a debutant as well but practice makes perfect, at least I am hoping. ;) More progress to be reported...

I am enjoying myself at the school. The teachers are all very sweet and there is a good sense of humor in the English department. I still feel a bit that I am experimenting, but Birgit the other conversation aid at the school said that is what the year is for. She is cool and has a good vibe.

For weekend excursions, a few weekends ago we went swimming in Zarautz, a coastal town nearby San Sebastian. We watched the waves and the surfers get sucked under for a bit before deciding to brave it ourselves. The weather has been wonderful for fall, with more than the normal share of sunshine.

For Thanksgiving yesterday, I made gluten free pumpkin cookies and peanut butter happy cookies. I spent all morning baking in the kitchen and warmed it up with the smell of delicious fall treats. In the girls' floor kitchen area we just have a small toaster oven. I am not sure which girl it belongs to, but it has a temperature setting for up to 200 degrees Celsius, which is like 400 degrees Fahrenheit or around there. I don't know how well it can handle the heat that it is capable of because the white trim along the top and edges has been turning a slight hint of brown with every baking marathon I do. I can only put in about six cookies at a time, so the little machine is cooking for a few hours.

I tried to focus on things to be thankful for yesterday as it is my country's holiday. Despite a little extra homesickness yesterday, I feel quite fortunate for the life I have and this opportunity for the year abroad.