16 March 2026

Oh my!

So school brought some drama to my life over the last week. Or, should I say, I brought some drama to them?

I’ve been frustrated with my teacher. She has been making mistakes that are confusing. But the big thing is that she started treating the class like children, including confiscating cell phones for the whole class. The third time she did that, I just packed my things and left. I told her that this was an insult and that I’m not 12 years old. I told the administrators that I’d come back when they have a new teacher for me. After conversations with the director and the teacher, we agreed that I would return to school on 30 of March when they rotate teachers. I got an apology that was centered on excuses, rather than regret. So, I’m glad to have a couple weeks of break. They’ll add these missed class days to my total of classes, so I won’t lose anything that I have paid for.

I went to a couple of the mascletás this week. On Monday, I went with my friend Rafael. It had rained beforehand. So, when the fireworks were over, they carefully ordered everyone out of the square for concern that unexploded fireworks would not hurt anyone.

While I don’t have any visa updates (my attorney assures me he’s working on it and not to worry), he was able to get me signed up for the public health care system. It will be €167 per month, starting in May. I’ll keep my private coverage as well. This gives me options and makes a stronger connection for immigration purposes.

On Saturday, I did some baking. Today is Vicente’s birthday. He asked for a carrot cake. So, I found a recipe online and made my first carrot cake with cream cheese frosting from scratch. It looks like it turned out. I’ll have to report back, once we’ve cut into it.

The most exciting news for me though (did I just bury the headline), is that my friend Sue arrived yesterday from Denver. It was with Sue that I first visited Valencia in 2022 and fell in love with this city. So, I’m really thrilled to share Les Falles with her and share the city from the perspective of a “local!”

Vicente and I met her at the airport and we came back to the house to relax. We sat on the balcony, drank a glass of wine and were regularly interrupted by Fallas revelry.

We went to dinner at 8:30, walking past lots of firecrackers and fireworks.

Then we met her friend Deborah from Maine who is also in town to experience Fallas for the first time.

The famous Fallas monuments are being installed throughout the city. I’ll share lots of pics of those next week.

Today, we will celebrate Vicente’s birthday with the Mascletá at 2 pm, paella for lunch, and dinner before the midnight fireworks.

This week is just getting started!