January [enero] 2026

Feliz Nuevo Años

Well, its January (sorry this was late getting posted). It’s apparently the coldest month here in Spain, which is pretty typical of most places in the Norther Hemisphere I think. We had a little snow again, but it happened over night when we weren’t up to enjoy it. The kids are back in school, and we are trying to get back to a normal rhythm.

We had the opportunity to partake in the local Three Kings celebration, which takes place on the 5th.

We were just finishing up our early American Dinner Time (eg 7:00pm) when we heard a ruckus from the street above. Sirens and flashing lights and music... so, naturally, we donned our jackets and went up to see.

We found a long procession of bundled up townies parading along behind a giant John Deere tractor towing a long trailer full of costumed people up to the church. There was a brief bit business, some awards passed out to some kids, and, after trying to respectfully sneak a few pics of the nativity scene, we headed back home.

The Nativity

The Caganer

You may have noticed a small, squatting figure tucked into bottom of the photo. That’s the Caganer. He’s one of the most recognizable and well-loved characters in Catalan Christmas celebrations, appearing since the late 1600s.

Though it may look strange or even a little naughty, but the Caganer stands for good luck, new growth, and a reminder that everyone is human. Traditionally, he’s shown as a Catalan farmer in a white shirt and a red barretina, squatting mid‑poop, but there is a vast and colorful array of options these days from celebrities to politicians and I definitely plan to start a collection of my own in the coming years.

He’s often hidden in a corner or behind a bush, turning “find the Caganer” into a fun holiday hunt for kids.

And for me too, apparently.

Aeryn designed and built a PowerPoint presentation for us to talk about her favorite food. We used Roberts new mini projector to plaster it all over the entire wall. It was a treat, no pun intended. 

Veggies...

Fast food...

Not a lot of fast food here... lol

There was a strike for the students, so the kids had a few days off school. The government keeps robbing funds from public schools and giving it to private schools (same problems, different continent), so the teachers and students took 3 days to make signs and protest. It was pretty cool to see them all working together. We didn't get to go to any of the protest events as they were not in town (we're still trying to get a car), but we made signs and sat in solidarity. 

Its been a slow month, cold and rainy. We've tried to get out into the sunshine when Sol made herself known, but for the most part we've been hunkered down. We had an appointment in Huesca, a big city about an hour from here, but the weather sucked and the park we planned to see (which is typically a pretty major spot) was under construction so we couldn't go in. Our time came and went, and it was overall disappointing. They did have a Burger King AND a McDonalds though, but no drive thrus.

As slow and low key (and dare I say, a little boring at times) as it is, in some ways I'm glad we got to be here in the off season first. It's given us a chance to get used to the minutia of this place. The way that everything shuts down for 3 hours a day and how nothing at all is open on Sundays, at least not in the winter. The way that milk tastes completely different, the way that the Greek yogurt is literally the best I've ever tasted. The way that the wine is excellent, but the beer is mediocre. Small differences... and the big ones... trying to witness it all and be present for it, while still moving through the regular stresses of day to day life. It is a lovely burden.

Something this adventure so far has taught me that the more people seem different, the more I realize we are actually, really, truly, totally the same. Regardless of our age, the color of our skin, or which god we worship, the rhythm of life feels strikingly familiar. We are all simply people existing—navigating the grocery aisles, dropping our kids at school, celebrating milestones... we are living the same stories, just in different languages.

I’m reminded of a theme from The Unbearable Lightness of Being: challenges aside, there is a profound beauty in witnessing life from a perspective so vastly different from my own. I feel incredibly lucky to be on this scary, exciting journey. 

As we move forward into the next month and the month after that, we keep those from every corner of the world who are experiencing hardships —the scared, the lonely, and the heartbroken— in our hearts. We hold them there to honor that, in spite of our superficial differences, we are all much more alike than we are different.

"Being in a foreign country means walking a tightrope high above the ground without the net afforded a person by the country where he has his family, colleagues, and friends, and where he can easily say what he has to say in a language he has known from childhood." 

Milan Kundera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Dont forget to keep an eye on the Album for new pics, uploaded as I remember to add them lol.