How did I celebrate leap year? So glad you asked...

 

I walked to school in the morning.  Came home and attempted to stay warm in my house while watching the weather outside continually look colder and wetter.  Then I notice it wasn't just rain, sleet and hail mixed in it was snowing!

Behind all that snow you can see the blooming almond tree.

And it continued to snow for the next two days!  School was cancelled on Thursday and Saturday (my "weekends" are Friday and Sunday - yes, strange, and no I am not used to it yet.) So for leap year this year I enjoyed a long weekend of hibernation staying warm inside.

 

My first package!

 I was so excited in February to have my first package arrive from Mom and Dad!
Inside the box was stuffed with all kinds of little things that I love and am still enjoying.
I knew the day I went to pick it up from the post office would be a learning experience and I was happy with my navigation skills at the post office.  They make you go through quite the scavenger hunt, but it was so very worth it!
Step One: Know to go upstairs, past the office where a bunch of people are blocking the hallway and around the corner where you will find a counter. 
Step Two:  At the counter give them your slip saying you have a package.  They will then pull out a stack of papers and find the one that came from your package (yes that form you have to fill out in the post office is very important here).
Step Three: Go back around the corner to Office Number 1 they will copy your information into a ledger and ask you to wait in the hall.  You can amuse yourself by watching the men bring in bags of packages and put them in a huge mount blocking the door into the next room full of shelves of packages and wonder how your package ever got processed.
Step Four: Go back into office to 2nd desk where you get to hold and open your package!  You get to show the man what you got, and he will be rather uninterested in your heart towels, papers and candy.  He fills out more papers and something on his computer.  Then gives you papers for the manager to sign.
Step Five: Find the manager's office...he signs your papers and tells you to go to the front desk.
Step Six:  Back to the counter where you started, changing over of papers and signatures take place.  Told to go to Office Number 3 to pay the processing fees.
Step Seven:  Go pay the fee and get a reciept
Step Eight: Finally get to go back to Office Number 1 and take your package home!
Step Nine: Ride taxi home and at your door landlady invites you in for tea.
Step Ten:  Share your candy hearts and have a fabulous afternoon with your landlady.

So it goes something like that.

And After Valentine's Came my Bday!

I enjoyed these flowers from friends for weeks after my bday
I had a great birthday here in my new city.  I was encouraged to hear from over 50 people via phone and internet wishing me a happy birthday, and yes I wrote every name down and counted.
I was encouraged by a surprise cake from friends and my favorite, vanilla cupcakes (see picture below) from my lovely roommate.  I was encouraged by gifts from friends.  And a friend who took the time to take me out for tea in the afternoon, and friends who took me out to dinner to celebrate with me.

 

All Decked out for Valentine's Day!

And this mall wasn't really decorated,
another mall had way more heart decor, but I forgot my camera.

While I know Valentine's was a while back I still wanted to post this picture so you all could see one of the many great places to shop here and simply get out and about on a cold rainy day in my new city.
This mall has everthing!  From Chili's to Starbucks to TGIF's
A movie theater, Gap, H&M, Zara, Claires... 

I promise to update soon with pictures! I have tons to share from over the last two months (but internet is too slow right now)
I am so happy to have my computer back after so long without.  I have learned a lot about computers in the last two months.
1. I can live without it (glad I had my ipod touch to keep up with everyone though I didn't try to write much on it)
2. I do not like to deal with computer issues
3. I appreciate people who do and are willing to help those who cannot
4. My computer has a 2nd little battery in it...it's the clock battery, that is how you can take out your computer battery and the time is still correct - go figure.
5. Always Always back up your information, pictures etc.  So thankful that even though I have a new motherboard and new harddrive all my programs and files were backed up, by the afore mentioned computer whiz - who will now be asked every one of my computer related questions.