Running

Last year, I came to Fuengirola and worked as an auxiliar in a primary school for 12 hours a week. I realized how much time I had on my hands. To avoid that this year, I made a list. 30 things I want to accomplish by 30! After two months of trying to do alot of them at the same time, I threw the list at the wall. Frustrated, I decided at New Years to take it one at a time. My biggest and hardest challenge was to run a Marathon! I also put half marathon on the list in case I wouldn´t make it. I signed up for it and talked about it only because I had met a girl last year named Cristine. She encouraged me last year but the thought of running 26 miles or 42 kilometers was just a silly idea that didn´t take long to get rid of. This year, when we returned to Spain, she told me instead of going to Madrid to run it, she was heading to Prague. That sold me! I wanted to go to Prague (it was on my list) sooooo bad and to run a marathon in the place where my relatives and ancestors came from was more than enough to convince me. The training started in October and November. When December came, I ran 13 miles to see if I could do a half marathon for practice. It was too early...I did it-2 hours 10 minutes but I injured my foot.
So when I signed up for the marathon online for 60 euros...I was scared. I hadn´t been training and a marathon seemed kind of crazy...what made me think I could do this. Its completely crazy! I wrote on facebook asking for encouragement and the responces I got helped me so much. I was doing it. I asked Cristine for a training schedule and train mostly on my own. Once in a while, I head over to Malaga and run with Cristine and her boyfriend. Its usually our long run of 14 kilometers or 8 miles...
Today, it was cloudy and I didnt feel like running so much! Yesterday, I ran 10 K without a problem and today was challenging. It varies like that. March starts the speed runs, hills and the ice baths...ugh! Im not looking forward to it. The weather is changing though and I love running in the heat, well, its better than running in the rain, wind and cold. In Prague, I think it will be a weather shock to me. The marathon is in May, but in Spain its like 80s and in Prague, a lot less. I still havent trained in the rain but I m sure I ll have another opportunity. Its rained here so much in 5 months that it is equal to five years usually. Does that make sense? My english is getting worse. Anyways, alot! Too much...this is the city of the sol! Fuengirola ciudad del sol! Not anymore! Well, wish me luck...and more to come.

Fuengirola, tiny town that is not so safe

Last year, I lived in Fuengirola for about 8 months. No problems...small town with lots of foreigners and a bit hard to stay in spanish due to too much english around. This year, the murders started to happen. The first, a swedish homeless guy. It was about 15 minutes walking away from my home. It happened at 4am on a Saturday night in December. Someone killed him while he was sleeping. He was innocent! He was killed with an axe to his head. My friend, Nuria told me about it and how she talked to him for 3 months now everyday. She told me how innocent and sweet he was. Surely, she told me, he wasn´t killed for anything he did.
The second, a month later almost to the day in January. About 20 minutes from my house, another was killed with an axe to the head to a homeless while sleeping AGAIN! It happened around 3am. Do we have an axe murderer in small town Fuengirola? How could anyone do this...well, I asked around and found out some interesting news. Under 18 years old, a person who kills or breaks the law usually goes to a correctional home for a year or two and then is placed right back on the street! With help from the government...a stipend to get on their feet again. I dont understand this and it made me so mad when I heard about the laws here. I thought for sure....a kid is doing this because the punishment is nothing! The culprit has not been caught yet.
The third, last night! Not even 2 minutes from my apt, at 830pm...different situation. I passed the scene of the crime just one hour before it happened. A 20 year old morrocan male came upon a 17 year old spanish male and asked for 5 euros. The spaniard said no and tried to pass him. There was a ramp that heads down to a tow place and somehow the morrocan surrounded the spaniard and the spaniard had nothing to do but defend himself which he did. As they fought, the spaniard was obviously stronger so the morrocan pulled out a knife. He stabbed him in the back first, slowing him down to try to get away, then a stab to his chest followed by slitting his wrist. The ambulance didn´t come quick enough and a neighbor who saw it, took him in car to the hospital where he later died.
The fact that it was right by my house scares me. The fact that I almost came across it all makes me feel aweful. As a nurse, I feel I could have helped if I was there which I almost was. And he goes to the school next to mine, a senior, ready to start his life. My friends that work there probably know him. Knowing, this kid who did get caught for killing the spaniard will probably not get a very tough punishment makes me ill. I don´t feel safe in this town anymore.

El dia de San Valentin

La ultima cosa en mi mente en el dia de San Valentin, era el amor. Nunca pense en ello antes, pero este año la cosa fue un poco diferente. Estuve con alguien antes, un chico espanol, y no podia pensar en nada mas que el. Cuando sali con mis amigos esa noche y mi amiga Nandi hablo con el como diciendole que no podia hablar conmigo...me di cuenta del poder de la amistad. Ella me habia visto dolorida por alejarme de el, y sabia que yo estaba mejor sin el. Lo unico que importaba en ese momento era aliviar mi dolor. Yo confie en ella mas que en mi misma esa noche. Nos fuimos sin hablar con el. El dolor se fue en unos instantes despues, hubiera estado ahi siempre, pero se fue. Que ridiculo es lo que a la gente nos puede afectar...quiero decir...el amor! Me encapriche con el demasiado rapido. Me llevo el doble de tiempo olvidarme de el durante el tiempo que estuve con el. Decidi concentrarme mas en lo que es importante para mi: disfrutar mi tiempo en Espana y hacerlo con la gente a la que le importo, mis amigos.

The last thing on my mind on Valentine's day was love. Never was it on my mind before but this year was a bit different. I was with someone before, a Spaniard, and I couldnt think of anything but him. When I went out with my friends that night and my friend Nandi told him that he wasnt allowed to talk to me...it made me realize the power of friendship. She had seen me through my pain of getting over him and knew I was better off without him. It was only a matter of time that my pain would go away. I trusted her more than myself that night. We left and I didnt talk to him. The pain went away shortly after that, it had taken forever but it went away. Isn't is funny how much people can affect us...I mean...love! I fell for him so quick and too quick. It took me double the time to get over him then when I was with him. I decided to concentrate more on what is important for me, to enjoy my time here in Spain and do it with people that care about me, my friends.