Ponte las Botas y Echa un Pigazu

So this was my first year being away from my lovely Rochester home for Christmas. I was prepared for it though, and it turned out better than I could have hoped for. I feel very lucky to have spent it in Oviedo with some wonderful people. I went to go visit my host mom "Merce" and thought I could drop in for an hour or so. But, really, I knew what would happen. On the phone she said to me "Don't eat, do you hear me? Don't eat-you're eating with us!" And I showed up and surprised the rest of her family who I haven't seen since I left Oviedo in May 2009. Here's my whole lovely Spanish family, with Merce, my diva, in the middle.

My one Aunt kissed me so hard I thought I'd have a bruise. I then complimented her ring and she took it off and put it in my hand "It's yours- and don't say no, I won't take it back". My one uncle took my phone number and insisted that we meet up when he comes to Leon. Another invited me to his cottage with his family for a week in the summer. And my once good-looking host cousin who I had a crush on gained ten pounds and got a girlfriend. All was right with the world.

Here is Merce, her four sons, and american daughter in her front hallway. At least three of her boys were happy to see me...the fourth told me that "Americans have no culture". He later tried to tell me how pretty I was, but I kindly reminded him "Yes, but I'm American so....".

The very first face I saw when I got to Oviedo was Meg, (on the left) waiting for me at the bus station. The last time we were there together, we were crying about leaving Spain and going back to the U.S. So, true to fashion, we cried again. It was unbelievable to see her. My first face from home, and one of the ones I'd been missing like crazy. Back to our old stomping grounds, it was a perfect set-up for Christmas 2010. We finally found our amiga ovitense, Julia, who had studied in Buffalo last year. She kept saying "it's sooo strange to see you two here". But the thing is, we felt right at home.

This. Is a face I've been aching to see since May 23, 2009. He came with me to the bus station that day instead of my host family. He's the one I've kept in best touch with, and the person in Oviedo who made me feel most loved, most appreciated, and most at home. Jaime. He started out as my conversation partner a couple years ago and became an incredible friend, the kind that you couldn't find if you were looking for them. We are just a perfect match, and I ran up the stairs in the plaza by La Gorda to hug him. Hasta la proxima, mi amor!

                                  

I was super excited to introduce my visiting Buffalonians (Meg and Julie) to another Oviedo friend- David. He was a wonderful guide and host as always. We went out for sidra, and knowing how much I hate it, kept telling the waiter to bring me more. Finally I had to tell the waiter:

Me:  "Listen, I'm the boss, and I say no more".  

Waiter: "Oooh you're his boss?" (pointing at David)

Me: "No, I'm everyone's boss."

I think that's about the time he ignored me and opened yet another bottle of the olive-tasting sidra.

Before heading home that night, we managed to squeeze in a late-night Kebab. And we just had to have a photo in the classy joint as well. We ate well, enjoyed some Spanish friends and family, got to see all of our old sights and show them all to Julie for the first time. I wouldn't have changed a thing about it.