A Decision Has Been Made

So, what does one do with “demasiado tiempo libre” (too much free time)? DISFRUTAR es como se dice “ENJOY” en el ingles! Jeanna and I have been doing our best to Disfrutar our time here in Espain! The twelve-hour workweek continues to take its toll on us but we somehow manage to squeeze in some extra curricular activities from time to time. The pictures are from last weekend when we went out with some friends to enjoy the local tapas y raciones scene and celebrate Eli’s birthday. Then the following day, Jeanna showed some other Spanish friends the joys of peanut butter-oreo cheesecake. And because of THESE “extra-curricular” events…
Physical activity continues to take up a large amount of our time. Eli is still riding around all of Andalucia like Forest Gump on a bicycle (minus the beard and lack of social skills). Jeanna has officially traded in the running shoes for her blue Trek bicycle. She has found a training partner and the two of them are now famous throughout all of the province of Jaen. Las dos guapetonas continue to turn the heads of Spanish men from the beginning until the end of their rides (one might begin to believe that some of these men had never seen a woman riding a bike in their lives)! Jeanna and Andrea have decided to pretend that the men are cheering them on and use the “piropos” as a form of encouragement! Andrea also happens to be an awesome rock climber and has started trading her climbing expertise for Jeanna’s cycling experience. The trade has worked out very well for both of them. Jeanna had the opportunity to go bouldering last weekend and will begin climbing with Andrea once the rain stops…
Yes, you did read correctly, there is rain in southern Espain! We too are having a hard time wrapping our heads around this concept but our experience back home in Oregon is helping us make it through. The rain does not even come close to matching the torrential down pours which define the west side of our home state. In fact, there is almost always enough of a break in the weather to get out and train. The most frustrating thing about the weather is that we have been told by almost everyone we know here that this is the WETTEST winter EVER in Jaen. They have actually started to blame the Oregonians for bringing this… “less than ideal”…weather to Espain with them. The general consensus tells us that spring should be here within the next couple of weeks. Lots of sun and little to no rain…We can hardly wait. Climbing and cycling anyone?
Truth be told; even with all of the work and all of the playing/training, we both have a fair amount of tiempo libre (different from Nacho Libre for those of you not so hip to the Espanish). El tiempo libre brings us to the title of our blog posting. Decision making; for those of you who know us best (family, especially the madres y papa too), Jeanna and Eli are not the best when it comes to los decisiones! Furthermore, we are famous for cambiando (changing) los decisiones muchas veces (A LOT). Regardless, we have made a decision and for that, you should all be PROUD. Moreover, for the time being, let us PRETEND that we will stick to the plan. Without further adieuuuuuuu, the Romer’s post Espain plan of accion: 1st We are planning on moving back to LaGrandy land! Yes, the beautiful little city in the Great Grande Ronde Valley where young little Eli was born and raised…Why on earth would we do something like that? Great question, but the simple answer is that Eli has decided that he enjoys being un Maestro and EOU happens to have a great MTE (Masters in something or other that helps you teach…I think) program. Yes, Eli the school hating maniac is going back to school. He likes to refer to this as “giving into the man”. Jeanna is hoping to find a job during the time that Eli is fighting with the man (and you all know that it will literally be a fight to the bitter end) while at the same time applying for as many PA (Physicians Assistant aka. almost a doctor aka she is the smart one, aka she is the one that actually enjoys school and excels at it, aka does not fight with the man, aka school-lover) programs as she feels necessary to ensure her acceptance into at least one (not a problem).
There you have it! A decision has been made. Please do not waste your time engraving any of this in stone. Chances are very high that by the time you have read this blog the plan has already changed (that is just the way the we roll). In the mean time, don’t expect us to make any more decisions for at least another two to three years. We are going back to our cave of indecision where we will continue to bask in the good times and good weather (soon to come). Hasta la proxima
Elias y la Guapetona Senora Jeanna (La Mejor Seño de Los Estados Unidos-according to her students)!