Pamplona is full of my two favorite things: dogs and babies. The city is so family oriented, and there's a lot of interaction between people of all ages. Look into any bar at 6pm and you'll see teens right along side 75 year olds (who, by the way, are enjoying a beer and a cigarette). Every evening after siesta, usually between 6-8 there is a "paseo" or stroll. This is the time when the city is most alive and bubbling with activity. Children run around in the avenues seemingly without supervision. It's just that safe. It's a very common site to see a young couple pushing a stroller and walking a dog, and I'm also noticing lots of elderly couples moving slower, but still in the middle of things. You would think the Westminster Dog Show was in Pamplona because I have seen more breeds that I ever knew existed, and all are well groomed and friendly. A lot of times the dogs are wearing raincoats as Pamplona is usually rainy, although we've had good weather lately. Dogs as well as people dress to the nines, all of the time, complete with fur coats and hats. The only exception to this is the age group of about 15-21. The Spanish highschoolers and college student usually have multiple piercings, sagging pants (including the girls, which I find very strange), short choppy hair for girls and long messy hair for boys, and usually a ticked-off look on their faces. Don't worry guys I'm not gonna come back with a whole in any body parts (lip ring? no?). Needless to say my classmates are intimidating, and they know it. For instance, yesterday in my literature class the teacher broke us up into small groups for discussion. One boy announced to the class that the Americans (an American boy Bill and I were in the same group with this kid) didn't know anything and he wanted to switch groups. The teacher seemed to think this was a logical request, and the class felt sorry for the poor boy who got stuck talking in slow Spanish to the foreigners. That's the only time I have felt especially socially awkward, and you all know I don't embarrass easily. Today, however, the boy tried to make amends, or at least I think so. After class we got on the same bus to come home, and it was empty. He could have chosen any seat but instead chose the only seat on the bus that directly faced me. So we're sitting directly across from each other, but he didn't initiate conversation until I was about to get off, and he said something along the lines "I'm looking forward to working with you in class." So I said thank you and got off at my stop, confused. Tomorrow I'm off to Barcelona and I CAN'T WAIT!! I'll be sure to let y'all know how it goes.