February 22

Hi all
This morning we went to the Rastro, which is this flea market type thing in the streets. There were about 3 or 4 streets with stalls on both sides filled with all kinds of things, most for really cheap. It was fun to see, but we only spent about 30-45 minutes there because Jen had to leave to go to mass with her senora, and so we all left. Katie and I walked back to Sol via the Plaza Mayor, where there was supposed to be some kind of celebration for Carnaval. All there was was a man who was doing something with a backhoe. I think it was supposed to be some kind of dance with the man and the backhoe. He was in the scoop and it raised up, and then he hung from it and then curled up, and it was weird. It was kind of boring so we just walked by and didn´t stay. Katie and I went to Corte Ingles to get shower shoes for our hostel next weekend in Barcelona, but the cheapest flip flops we could find were 15.50 euros! I wasn´t about to pay that much. Maybe once it gets closer to summer I can find something cheaper. I´ll figure something else out in the mean time.
I came to the internet cafe today to post pictures on Facebook. I got my email for the first time since Thursday, and there were two from my aunt. For those of you who don´t know, which I assume is most of you, my aunt Janny has been at the Mayo clinic for the past week and a half or so. They found out that she has amyloidosis, which is a blood disease that involves the heart, nervous system, and skin. Without treatment, she could die within 3 years. With treatment, which involves a lot of chemotherapy or bone marrow transplant, the time of survival is 5-10 years and growing with each passing year. But there´s a 1 in 3 chance of not surviving the first year of treatment. Her disease is still in the early stages, even though the symptoms have been going on for 5 years. The doctors said she probably wouldn´t have problems with the transplant, and that it could happen as early as April. The danger would be that the treatments wouldn´t work and it would continue to spread. (If I´ve mistaken anything here, please correct me.) So that was a blow. I started crying in the middle of the internet cafe. Fortuanately, I don´t think anyone noticed. It´s a scary thing to find out someone you love may not have as long to live as everyone expected. She´s got an amazing attitude about everything; far better than I would have. She said she knows God is looking out for her, and that whatever happens He will be there. (Great, now I´m starting to cry again.) All of this really makes me wish I weren´t halfway across the world. I would like nothing more than to be with my family now. But obviously that can´t happen. So there´s really nothing for me to do other than pray. Any good wishes you would be willing to will toward Jan, whether it´s in prayer format or not, would be appreciated.
I don´t have any more plans today other than homework. It´s not due till Tuesday, though, so maybe I´ll just do a little and then curl up with a book and try to forget about the world for a while.
I´ll write again soon,
Bethany