SPRING BREAK IN CHICAGO

''When everything feels like an uphill struggle

 just think of the view from the top''

                                                                                                                           -Anonymous

I had been waiting for Spring Break for such a long time. I knew we were going to Chicago and it was going to be my first time in a big city within the U.S.

Before I knew it we were on vacation and I was packing my stuff, ready to go on a 9 hour drive. We didn't run into as many cars as I had expected along the way, on the other hand everything was pretty deserted on both sides of the highway most of the time. 

All of a sudden I was submerged into an army of skyscrapers, cars, people and lights. The days went by pretty fast and the museums, submarines from WWII, towers, Italian, Japanese and Chinese restaurants, shoes stores, spas, and wilderness were gone before I could assimilate that I was in such a well-known city.

I GOT SENT TO JAIL

"We are all prisoners at one time or another in our lives, 

prisoners to ourselves or to the expectations of those around us. 

It is a burden that all people endure,

 that all people despise,

 and that few people ever learn to escape." 

                                                                                                                                 -'Exile' by R. A. Salvatore

This crazy lifestyle isn't for me, you know? I need my 9 hour sleep on the weekends, specially if I work out for 3 hours on Friday (weights+track). Anyway, breaking the everyday routine is always good and specially better if you are visiting an old prison in another state. Sweet.

In Spain driving more than 2 hours is like leaving your Hobbit Hole to go to Mordor. A long journey, you got it, right?. (Just wanted to make sure you understand my weird metaphors) On the other hand, in America is as common as going to the grocery store. Like:
           -Hey guys this weekend we are going on a 3.5 hours drive
            Me: Wait what?
            American: Oh ma'am let's go. How much gas do I put in the car?

POLAR PLUNGE

''Life is locomotion. 

If you're not moving, you're not living. 

But there comes a time when you've got to stop running away from things and you've got to start running towards something. 

You've got to force ahead and keep moving

 Even if the path isn't lit 

trust that you'll find your way''

-The Flash, Nora Allen

Bryce and I were cooking dinner when Sarah arrived in a flutter. The first thing I noticed was that she was carrying some colorful bags and had a contagious smile on her face.

-Guys, I need your help, tomorrow I'm dressing up as The Flash and someone has to make the mask. 

-Sixto can do it, he's in sculpture class and might know how to build stuff like that, rapidly responded Bryce in an attempt to get away with the task. Smart guy right there. 

-I got you, I finally said, happy to be useful and to have a distraction for the night since I cannot remember the last time I went partying on a Friday. Back in the day...

VALENTINE'S DAY

''Love is like a friendship caught on fire.
 In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, 
but still only light and flickering. 
As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, 
deep-burning and unquenchable.''

— Bruce Lee

The other day was February 14th but everybody knows that. In the morning I bought some red roses, a box of chocolates and a vast teddy bear. Around 12pm I picked my girl, we went to a Chinese place and had lunch there, exchanged some gifts (she loved them) and finished the day with a walk around the lake, where we watched the sunset. It was the best day here so far.

Sailor

''If what one finds is of pure matter, 
it will never spoil.
 And one can always come back. 

If what you have found was only a moment of light, 
like the explosion of a star, 
you would find nothing on your return.''

-Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

First of all, let me tell you that you are gonna have those days. Those days of reflection, solitude, just you and yourself. And you are gonna hate them, because the head just keeps talking even when we thought everything had been said already. But they are necessary, the exchange pack just comes with them and they don't yield under pressure.

YET MILD KNOCKED ME DOWN

''When it feels scary to jump 
that's exactly when you jump. 
Otherwise, you end up staying the same place your whole life. 
And that I can't do''

-J.C. Chandor

The first time I ever had Thai food was in London; like 4 years ago. I altogether recall that day, it was utterly exhausting and we had wandered like 20 miles (not even kidding) when we stumbled over this restaurant. So we were like- Okay, why don't we give it a try? You know, sooner or later you get tired of either McDonald's or Subway and what's more, trying asian food out sounded appealing.

Well, let me tell you that the main reason why I ate more than 6 mouthfuls of those noodles was because I was starving indeed. That thing was spicy af.
You may be asking yourself, why is this dude telling me this stuff? What a drag, just wait.

GOLDEN BIRTHDAY

“Seventeen, eh!" said Hagrid as he accepted a bucket-sized glass of wine from Fred.

"Six years to the day we met, Harry, d’yeh remember it?"
"Vaguely," said Harry, grinning up at him. "Didn’t you smash down the front door, give Dudley a pig’s tail, and tell me I was a wizard?"
"I forge’ the details," Hagrid chortled.” 

― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I turned 17 this past Sunday. To be honest, I don't know how it happened. It seems like it was yesterday when my cousins were my age and I still watched Cartoon Network. Now I have months to be able to vote, drink alcohol, drive, and go to jail. Scary, isn't it?

It was a different birthday, nothing I had ever lived nor felt whatsoever. I guess I'm used to be woken up by my mother on January 17th. In the morning, she will open the door gently, and say ''Happy Birthday nene'' (how she has been calling me since I was born) as if she were talking to a baby. As she slowly approaches the bed, her tone will turn high. 

I will say thank you, and she will lie on bed with me, kissing my cheeks a hundred times, saying how she doesn't want me to get older.

CHRISTMAS IN THE U.S.

“Happy, happy Christmas, 
that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days;
 that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; 
that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, 
back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!”

–Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers

Nothing but good things can come from a 2 weeks break. Especially if the we are talking about Christmas'.

It started with polemic red cups. Sarah's best friend came over with her family, and invited us to get a ride around the city, yet it wasn't a normal ride. It was late, we had to wear our pijamas, and Starbucks cookies with Frappuccinos were waiting in the car. We drove around Winter Wonderland, which is a huge park, decorated with hundreds of Christmas lights. Pictures talk by themselves.

Putting up the tree took an entire afternoon, there were so many ornaments that you could barely see any green. It was fun though, Pitch Perfect 2 was on Tv meanwhile, so we got to laugh quite a bit. The lights hanging off the roof was such an adventure, in the process, we ran into some issues which were solved successfully. Our street was worth driving by.

WINTER DANCE

''And those who were seeing dancing

 were thought to be insane 

by those who could not hear the music''

-Nietzsche

Well, I bet we all have seen winter dances in more than one movie, yeah, that dance where girls go really well dressed up, and boys pick them up at their place.
The male usually exchange some words with her father, and always ends up screwing it. I guess it's something natural, we are not made to talk to her father, just don't do it. Nothing good can come from that encounter.

Well, movies are movies, and real life is real life. I had a wrestling meet that day (Saturday), my first one actually. Therefore I had to leave the house at 6am, when did i come back? 12 hours later.
I got 3rd place, which isn't a bad outcome for the first time, don't you think? Although I wasn't expecting it, I was given a medal, indeed. That was really nice Emporia.

New Year's Resolutions

“I hope that in this year to come,

 you make mistakes because if you are making mistakes, 

then you are making new things, trying new things, 

learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. 

You're doing things you've never done before, 

and more importantly, you're doing something.''

-Neil Gaiman

It's 2016, and dude. What have I have been doing with my life these past years? My birthday is just 2 weeks away and... when did I live 17 years? It's scary to realize how fast time goes by, and it's even scarier to see how people go in and out of your life in such short periods of time.
The same happens with decisions, actions, words etc. You can either let them define who you are or on the contrary you can take them as a chance to become something better.
No more wandering. This being said, 2016 is going to be my year, some people kill your vibe by telling you that it is another day, unable to change you. Yes. But it is also an opportunity to motivate yourself, to start over as the year does so. To become a better you.