Finally Here!!

So this post is super long, but its about the last 3 days. You dont really have to read the whole thing if you get bored, Im sure this will get more interesting when I do more interesting things. Im typing this in an internet cafe on a Spanish computer. They dont have apostrophes, but they have accents and tildes.

So the first 24 hours of my journey was stressful. After getting to the airport, seeing Angie and Lindsay, 2 of my sorority sisters, we said goodbye to our families. Then we waited around until our flight was going to leave at 2:37pm. Angie brought a stuffed lion, Alphie, for our sorority. We took pictures with him and had lunch. Of course, our flight was delayed. At first, it was delayed until 3pm. Then 3:30. We didnt take off til 4:30pm. The plane was huge! It was 2 stories. Lindsay and I sat right by the emergency exit, so we had a lot of foot room. Angie was a few rows behind us. We sat next to a girl who lives in Switzerland and who used to play for the WNBA. The flight was 8 hours. They played some movies but I didnt really watch them. They played that Facebook movie, the wall street movie with Shia LaBeauf, and some other movie. They they played Friends, so I watched that of course. The flight finally got there and we got off, and we got on a bus that took us to the airport doors. Then we realized we were in Germany!!

Angie talked to her mom and figured out that we were going to fly to Madrid at 9:15am. We also found 2 other girls from ISU, Amanda and Shelby, who were going with us and were on our flight. We found our way around the German airport and found out our flight was delayed again until 9:50am. Later it was delayed again until 10am. We sat around in the airport and finally got on the plane. I slept for the 2 hours. We got to Madrid and then we had to get on a train, and then another train, and then we had to find the bus station. We found out that the bus would leave at 4:30pm and it was 2:50pm then. Then we saw Anna! (my other sorority sister) She was with 2 other girls going with us to Granada from ISU. The 8 of us waited around and finally got on this 5 hour bus to Granada.

The bus stopped after 2 hours to take a break. I slept for the 2 hours, and then we got out and looked around. We saw palm trees!! Angie and I ran across the street to take a picture next to them. Then it was back on the bus  for about another 2 hours and about 15 minutes. I watched TV on my iPod. Yes, this is kinda boring to read about, but it was much worse living it. =] We finally got to Granada and got in a taxi. He dropped off me and Lindsay at our apartment and Agnie at hers. Then we went upstairs to meet our señora!!

We knew we were supposed to go to the second floor, so we walked up one flight and knocked on the door. The woman who answered had no clue what we were talking about when we said somos las estudiantes and we heard a voice from one floor up calling us. In Spain, the first floor is like floor 0. So she made us vegetables with chicken and gave us water. She also introduced us to her 34 year old son who lives with her. She told us we should speak only Spanish, and soon we will be as good as her. Doubtful, but it was nice. I only understand some of what she is saying haha but its getting better. I learned I really need to get better at Spanish. We all watched TV. We watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! (the one with Johnny Depp) It was in Spanish. Then we we went to sleep. Lindsay and I share a room. We were tired and the time change was confusing. We are 7 hours ahead of Chicago time.


The next day was Thursday, January 7th. We woke up at 7:30 am for an orientation with the CEA, which is the program we are with. We had toast and tea and orange juice for breakfast, and then our señora walked us to the correos, or post office. I tried to memorize the way, but we took so many turns and I was totally lost. She pointed out one street and said it was dirty. There were like a few pieces of paper on the ground. She obviously has not seen Chicago. Then she showed us something awesome... orange trees!! I was so excited. We got to the post office and met up with Angie, Anna, and the other CEA people. They took us to the CLM, or the Center for Modern Languages. This is where we will have class. We had an orientation (thank God it was in English) about the difference between Spain and America. They have a President and like a dictator-type person, but the President has the power. They have 2 soccer teams: Real Madrid and Barcelona. They talked about the climate too and said its cold here in the winter. Please, its like 50 here. Then we learned about our homestays and the propler manners. Like you have to wear shoes in your house and you cant lay on the couch. We walked home in the rain, Lindsay and I got sooo lost. It took us about a half an hour to get back. We had lunch, which is their big meal of the day. We had chicken, bread, french fries, and soup. The food is good, they eat a lot healthier here. Then we went on a tourof Granada. Its sooo pretty!! We saw more palm trees and orange trees, and a river, and this other building of our school, tons of stores, restaurants, a pertty hotel, and mountains. I saw palm trees and snow covered mountains at the same time... it was pretty cool. They let us buy cell phones and then we walked around the city. Lindsay and I got lost again on the way home, and we got back at 8:30pm. Dinner was at 9 and it was tomatoes, avacados, yogurt, bread, and like an egg thing. It was good. I called my house with the calling card I got from the CEA. Then our señora asked us if we wanted to watch TV so we did. I sat on the couch, and I saw Gibbs. OMG NCIS in Spanish!! I like freaked out!! I told my señora that this was my favorite show. Although over here they call it Navy: investigación criminal or something like that. Then we went to sleep at like 1:30am when it was over.


A few things surprised me in Spain, but one main thing is how much American influence there is over here. All their movies are from the US. Like I saw preview for Love and Other Drugs (Amor y Otras Drogas)  and Life as We Know It. In lots of commercials, you hear English music in the background. They have Herbal Essence, Claires, and the show House. Its so awesome. Earlier I heard the song Youre the One that I Want from Grease playing. But honestly, its so weird to hear everyone speaking Spanish. Im sure I will get a lot better. Sorry this is so long, but thanks for reading!!