Day 25. 14-04-12

Yesterday I was with David. I was expecting a horrible, crazy boy, but he certainly was't like that. I think I've got a new friend here, in San Antonio :).I don't know, maybe he behaves badly with his parents looking for their attention, because they're always out. At the begining, it was a bit embarrasing, you know, I'm his babysitter and I'm only 2 years more than him.
Last night we saw american football on TV (San Antonio Talons VS New Orleans Voodoo). Again, we won (62-48). He showed me his photo album: his american football album (the boy's a bit obsessed, but it doesn't reach the insane point). We made some pizza (he only likes pizza margarita! :O) and then he felt asleep very early, at half past ten, because he has had the exam-week in school. I stayed awake  till half past eleven, watching Jersey Shore on the MTV (America has changed me into a junk TV consumer! :( ).

Today we had breakfast at nine o'clock, and then we went for a walk, well, we really took our bikes. We decided to spend the day in the river walk. First of all, we went to the River Center Mall. We entered in most of the shops, and he bought some video games. Then we rode in the Riverwalk, and had a picnic at luch time.
We had time to talk about many things (he also likes Darren Shan's books!) and had a very nice time while we did exercise. We returned home at six o'clock, and played with the Wii and the PS3 till his parents arrived.

Day 24. 13-04-12

Today I have to babysit again. It's hilarious (I've learnt that word and I can't stop of using it, sorry :3). The Smiths've got some friends, and they told them that they were happy with my work, so I'll babysit their son, David. He is 14! I can´t understand why do I have to babysit such a big boy, but I'll get money for it, so... :)
I'll have to stay the whole night with him, and also Saturday, (till 8pm). Maybe his parents think he's going to do a wild party (just like in films!) or something. It seems that here, in SA, everybody has to go to conferences and be outside home every weekend!

:) I'm just kidding.

Day 23. 12-04-12

I was on TV!!!! The camera shot me while I was watching the baketball match between San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies (Marc Gasol's team). Obviously, we won!!!! (97-107). I'm pretty sure that the Spurs'll be in the playoffs. Before all of these, we were in Hemisfair Park, in Tower of the Americas (which is near the AT&T Center). The views over there are totally amazing!

Day 22. 11-04-12

First day of work! I babysitted the Smith's children from 5 pm to 11pm. Miracously, I could do my homework in that time, while they were watchig a Barney's film. They're three, and they're evil, except when they're asleep, when they look like three little angels (what a fake!). I know it sounds like a topic, but it's really like that. Their parents had to go to a conference (they're the owner of a medium-sized compañy). I'll babysit them again at Friday night, till Sunday morning.
Mrs Endell, my neighbour, called me today and asked me to start walking her dog on mid-week mornings. I acepted.
All of these, because o the trip. I wonder how I'm going to manage with everything till I have the money.

10-04-12

Today Loren guided me through King Edward's Historic district.

The King William District occupies land that once belowed to the Mission San Antonio de Valero, the Alamo.

It was about 1860s that many Germans who had immigrated to Texas in the 1840s began to settle in this area and it became known as "Sauerkraut Bend" to the rest of San Antonio.

It developed into an idyllic neighborhood of large, impressive houses shaded by enormous pecan and cypress trees. The main entry street was named King Wilhelm in honor of the King of Prussia in the 1870s. During World War, the name was changed to Pershing Avenue. A few years after the war was over the original name was restored, but in it english version English version, King William, and it has remained so since.

In the early 1900s the King William District began to wane as a fashionable neighborhood. During the 1930s and 1940s the neighborhood declined and many of the fine old homes were converted into apartments and general deterioration set in throughout the area. Only a few of the earlier settlers remained and maintained earlier standards.

Around 1950, the area began to attract a group of people who found its proximity to the business district attractive and who recognized the potential of restoration. The interest in preservation of the area began to be aroused and once again it became a "fashionable" and desirable place to live.

In 1967 the King William District was designated the first Historic Neighborhood District in Texas.

Ok, I copied the information above from the Internet, but it's more or less what Loren told me (I've deleted part of the things that were written on the webpage). It is a really inspiring walk, and I highly recomend it!

Day 20. 09-04-12

I´m THRILLED! Today or tutor told us (the people who are in Biology) that we're doing a tour through different national parks in the west of USA. It starts on Friday the 11th May. The problem is that it costs 1320$, with the Goverment's help included. So, I guess I'lll have to find a part-time work. I think that I'll be babysitter and dog walker from now on. I've seen it in many american films, and when I looked for the payments, I got a very nice surprise :)
The journey will go like this:
the 11th May, we'll take the bus in the school at 5am and will arrive ar 2pm at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Then, we will visit one of the caverns and sleep there, in the camping.
The next day, at 8am we will take the bus, and after 40 min, we will arrive to Cavern City Air Terminal, and take the plane to Saint George Airport, in Utah. After 3h 40 in the plane, we'll be in St George municipal Airport. We'll take a bus from there to Zion National Park (1h 15min). We will stay there for another two days.
On the morning of the 14th May, we'll drive to Bryce Canyon (2h). So, we'll be in Bryce Canyon at half past ten. We'll spend the day there, and we will have a picnic.I've seen some photos, and it is really amazing! We are going to see the sunset in the Bryce Canyon's Amphiteater, and camp there. The teacher said that we're also going to de a "master" of astronomy those days, because the are no lights that cover the stars.
The 15th May, we will go to Cedar City Airport (2h) and take the plane to Fresno International Airport (3h 40min). We will eat near the airport and get the bus and drive for 3h to Yosemite National Park. We're camping there for 2 nights.
At 6pm of the 17th May, we'll go back to Fresno Airport (3h) and take the plane to Seattle Tacoma Airport (2h 30min), and then, we'll go from the Airport to Port Angeles (2h 30min). We will spend the night in a lodge. The next morning (18th May), at 9am, we will go out and see Olympic National Park. Some of its locations, legends, and also Port Angeles, were in Twilight series! :)
The morning of the 20th May we will get the plane to San Antonio, which is 9h 40min long. So, we will be back in San Antonio at 9:30 pm.
In conclusion: we will be out for 20 (!) exhausting days!
The bad news are that I'll have to hand in a veeery long essay about the trip, with also loads of photos! They don't know very much about motivation, really!

Almost all the girls in the class inmediately started talking about what clothes they would or wouldn't take with them. I think they haven't got brains inside their heads.
I just CAN'T wait to the 11th March, though!

Days 18 & 19. 08-04-12

Hey! This weekend has been a very interesting and exciting one!

On Saturday we spent the whole day in San Antonio Zoo (from 9 to 17!). I was amazed. Fortunately, I was wearing my trainers, if not, I’d have no feet now (I remember when I went to Oasis Park in Fuerteventura, it was even worse!).

I saw loads of animals, just like: hippos, giraffes, bats, bears, cheetahs, kangaroos, turtles (I LOVE turtles and kangaroos!), thousands of reptiles and amphibians (really beautiful –and poisonous- some of them), and, yeah, also millions of birds. I think I need a new USB memory just for the photos I took yesterday. The most surprising of all is that there weren´t suricatas or nutrias, but there were naked mole rats! Come on! I’m really pissed of about that.

We didn’t spent a dollar in food, cause we carried or own picnic (aren’t we stingy? :) ). Well, that’s not right, Mathew was on the mood for an ice-cream, and he’s pig-headed (really!). It was like seeing a five year old child’s rage, so Brenda finally gave him the money. Do you know what’s to feel embarrassed for someone? Cause I do.

I liked a lot the experience, though! As you'll imagine, I slept like a baby, yesterday.

Today it was also a COOL day (it had to, cause the entry to the park was 50$!!!) We went to San Antonio Sea World. I also spent 85$ in the interacting with penguins, and it was reaaally worth it! Please, have a look at this! :) --> http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-sanantonio/Animals/Webcams/Penguin-Cam

http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-sanantonio/Animals/Webcams/Shamu-Cam

Ha ha, I really can't think in nothing else, this was the most well-spent money since I'm here! I saw the Azul, Cannery Row Caper and the One Ocean, and more shows too and took all the rides. I was so hot! the rides where like paradise!

 I also wanted to so the Sea Lion Interaction Program, the Beluga one, but it was far too expensive :( I wish I'd have more money!

Day 17. 06-04-12

Today I went to San Fernando's Cathedral. It's good Friday, and it was CROWDED!
It was founded on March 9, 1731 by a group of 15 canarian families, and it's the oldest working one in Texas. It's big and beautiful, so we took some photos.
At night we went to an Italian and ate tortellini and pizza. Mmmm!

Day 15. 04-02-12

Today Mathew and I went to the AT&T Center to see the match between the San Antonio Rampage and the Chicago Wolves (Hockey). He's the only one in the family who really loves hockey, so it wasn't difficult to convince him of coming with me. I loved it and we won!
I was disappointed because I wanted to see fighting, like in films, but there was nothing of it. I though the Cheerleaders would ice-skate as well, but they didn't: there's a black carpet for them to dance on. What I wanted to do and I did was eating a HUGE hotdog while I saw the match (I hear my stomach roaring only for thinking of it!)

Day 13. 02-04-12

It's hard to believe that it's only about two weeks I arrived here. It seems like I've been in San Antonio for much longer! Of course, I miss all my family and friends, particularly my dog, because I can't communicate with him talking on the phone o through skype: I want to hug and cuddle him! D:


Today the guys have been teaching me something "really useful" during the break: four letter words. I'm not proud about it, but I already knew a lot of them. We had a great time, specially when the roles changed and I tought them how to say 4LW in Spanish. They're awful pronunciating! After ten minutes they learnt to say some of them in an understandable way, though.

In the afternoon Loren and I visited the Central Library, as promised. It's webpage is awesome: there's a tag were you can see what happened each day in San Antonio's history (like a back in time newspaper). It is huge! I borrowed some Byron's books: Loren's favourites, and, after searching, we found some Becquer ones for her. I hope she likes them.


In summary, it was a very instructive day :)

Day 12. Sunday!

Today all the family went to Brakenridge Park. We had a picnic in the grass next the Sunken Garden Theatre and visited again the Japanese Tea Garden. The rest of the day, we practiced sports in the fields (baseball, basket, football (our football) volleyball...) Again, I'm almost dead!

Days 8-11

I've been doing nothing at all for a few days, except reading the american football's rules.

On Wednesday's evening, Loren, Mathew and I went to see the Hunger Games. We've all been waiting for the movie since we read the books (a year or two ago). It's nice to find that I have common likes with them, though we live thousands of kilometres away. I was excited, because the film isn't in Spain, yet.
I absolutely love it! The only bad thing is I'd have chosen other people to perform the characters.

On Thursday we saw San Antonio Talons VS Orlando Predators on TV. That's american football, and we beat them 47-34!
I wanted to see the match in the stadium, but the tickets were too expensive. Brian, Loren and Mathew are real fanatics: it's insane! But it's also really funny to see their faces while they're watching their team play.


On  Friday, we went to see the Bluebonnet Concert. It was free and given by the Children's Chorus of San Antonio. Very relaxing! I wish I could have voice to song :)

On Saturday, there was the native San Antonio thing. There were lots of things: native plant sales, hiking, local music, native american dance presentations, native cooking demostrations, cultural talks... It was a different day... we took a native picnic from our house, so we didn't have to spend money there.

Day 5. Sunday!

My tummy is aching! Today we had a brunch (breakfast and lunch). The table seemed too small to put all the food on. There were pancakes -where we spread honey, peanut butter, cocoa creme and marmelade- and also fried bacon, boiled eggs, grilled tomatoes, beans in tomato sauce, orange juice, coffee, milk, different types of toasted bread...

Then we dressed up in short clothes. It´s so, so hot! We spent all day in Market Square. Being there is like being in Mexico. I tried "burritos" and "nachos", but without chilli: I hate spicy food! I'll maybe buy there my family's souvenirs

San Antonio

Day 3

Today Highschool was a bit better. There was less staring and whispering. Anyway, this is crazy!. I've been watching american films all my life, and now, I´m here. There are Cheerleaders, and Athletes, and a band, and...

you know. It´s going to be like living in a movie. Let's see how it goes! Here's the link of the Highschool's webpage: www.ahisd.net

When bell rang, we went home to take our lunch and then, we had a picnic in Brackenridge Park, which is near the Highschool. It's gorgeous! I really want a park like this one in Gran Canaria, there isn't space, though. Loren, Jake, Penny and I had a ride with our bikes through the park, and we visited the Japanese Tea Garden. I could be there for ages, hearing the water and looking at

all those plants... It's like paradise. We went home at 8 pm, in a race with our bikes. I'm almost dead from the exercise. Loren laughed at me and invited me to start doing footing with her. She runs every evening, just before the

sunset.

Day 4

Weekend! Today I've been recuperating from the travell, the different time zone and yesterday's ride. I woke up at 12 pm! I haven't done absolutely anything, except my washing and some homework (yeah, I already have some! *-*). I was doing research in the Internet for events hear, in San Antonio, and I found really interesting things: I've booked some tickets for these things:

• San Antonio Rampage VS Chicago Wolves, in Hockey, the 4th April.
• San Antonio Spurs VS Memphis Grizzlies (NBA), the 12th April. I tried to look for tickets for the match against the Lakers, but they were too expensive (45$ up)
• Shen Yun 2012, which is a musical show, the 8th May.

I also talked with my family, obviously. I miss them being next to me.

San Antonio, day 1 and 2

Well! Finally here! I arrived yesterday at 7pm local time. My "new family" recieved me at the airport after nearly 20 hours of plane (horrible!).

They're all very kind. There are 2 twins of my age: Loren and Mathew and a kid (8): Louise. Their parents are Brian and Brenda (46). It´s funny, because all of them´ve got blond hair and blueish eyes, except Loren: she's got black hair a grey eyes.

The first thing we did was eating in a Thai restaurant. I' d never tried Thai food before, but it was awesome! Thankfully, they paid. After having dinner, we went home. They showed me my room, which is HUGE a orange coloured (beauuutiful!) and, best of all, I´ve got my own TV! I was thinking of watching TV on my laptop, but this is much better! They also lend me a bike, so I don´t have to pay for the bus when moving around. Could I ask for more?

Today was the first day at highschool. I was nervous about it, I mean, about being the new girl in class. Almost any teacher repaired on me, but I was the main attraction for students in the first hour. I hate it. Gratefully, I'm in Loren's group. She was very nice to me. Jake and Penny were also like that. The others just stared, and whispered between them, and laughed.

After highschool I just stayed at home all day, talking with my new family, with my real family (through Skype) and finally, reading something. Loren recommended me the Public Library. She's a romantic, she loves Byron's poetry. I haven't read him, but I'm in team Becquer.