3 Months?!

I will have been here for 3 months on Tuesday, I can't believe it. That will mean my trip is 1/3 of the way over... time is flying by now!

This week was easy for me as I only had 3 classes. It was a holiday week here. Tuesday was their Constitution Day and Thursday was the Immaculate Conception. Tuesday there was a fair in the street with people dressed up in old time costumes and all that jazz. Thursday was a big day for my host mom. Her son, his wife, and their two kids came over that day for lunch. It reminded my a little like Thanksgiving back home. It was so wonderful to see everyone. We all sat, ate, and talked for hours. I was actually able to participate in the conversations!! It was a very happy day for me. I loved being surrounded by people. The kids were crazy and a lot of fun too! Then on Friday Inma decorated the house for Christmas!! It doesn't feel much different from home now, other than the fact that there will be no snow this winter for me. It is still in the 60's and 70's here, but I have adapted to their thinking and now consider this cold.. Inma even has the heat on!!

I only have one more week of classes. I have a paper due in Old English and my Spanish final on Friday. Then next week I have to present two papers to my Linguistics Professor. Then it's already Christmas!! My other two finals aren't until January 9th and 13th so I will be studying little by little over break.

Dan will be visiting December 28th through January 12th! And we will be going to Barcelona for a few days. Then the 16th through the 25th I will be going to London and Ireland with a friend from America who I have meet here. I have a lot going on in the next Month and a half but I am very excited.

I will probably not update again for a couple weeks (around Christmas). I hope you are all staying warm and cozy, staying safe, and enjoying the holiday season. I love you all and you are in my thoughts!

Happy Holidays!

What I am Thankful for

As we all know today is Thanksgiving (El dia del accion de gracias) in the United States. I was going to make a normal Thanksgiving dinner for Inma (my host mom for those of you who have not read before this blog), but I decided that I would not. There are three reasons; One, for those of you who know me, I do not cook often and when I do it doesn't usually turn out good (chocolate chip cookies). Two, I think it would have made me more upset. and Three, they do not have the same stuff that we have back home. So instead, I decided to make Inma Chili, one of my favorite foods, and an added bonus, that is easy to cook.

Also, as this is a day that we usually spend time with our family I am homesick. This would have probably been the first time I went home for the semester, I would have had a week long break, and this year a lot of people I know who moved or go to school far away are home for the holiday. These all combined together and have made me super-Paige for the last two days. I have made an extensive to-do list to complete and have stayed on task and today I have more to do as well as I am trying not to dwell on what I am missing (as you can see I am doing so well in this blog).

Anyways, the point of this blog was for me to tell everyone (and to remind myself) what I am thankful for this year.

1. I am thankful for all of the support of my family and friends. Without them I would not be here today and would not be staying in Spain for 9 months.

2. I am thankful for a wonderful host mom who has helped me so much these first two months in Spain. She truly is a lifesaver.

3. I am thankful that I have the oppurtunity to be here and that it is an option for me to leave my home for 9 months and imerse myself in a new culture.

4. I am thankful for my Fiance, who has supported me, listened to me cry, laugh, and complain for these past two months and who has encouraged me the entire time.

5. I am thankful for my American friends, Anna and Vanessa, who are here in Spain as well. They are there when I need to talk and be completely understood.

6. I am thankful that I finally have my residence card for Spain (it was actually today that I got it). I no longer have any paperwork or legal stuff to do in Spain.

7. I am thankful that I am attending college to get an education and that nothing less was expected of me. So many people are put down and do not go to college because it is not expected of them and they don't think they are worthy.

Lastly 8. I am thankful that I have family and friends that are worth missing back home. It is my motivation to make everyone back home, and myself, proud that keeps me going even on days like this. It may be hard and I may miss everyone everyday but I atleast I have you all to miss.

Alright now everyone, enjoy your Turkey, Pie, Stuffing, Football, Family and all that Jazz today. And Tomorrow enjoy Shopping, Christmas Music, Christmas decorations, Christmas movies, and all the joys of the Holidays. Please be safe and be thankful that you are with your families this holiday season!

Hugs and kisses filled with love,

Paige

La razón número 2 por qué me encanta España

Reason number 2: I have become a stronger person.

This was not the originally reason I was going to write about, but as I was trying to type a different, very boring and unorganized blog I thought of this reason. My trip did not start out easy, there was the emergency room visit 5 days before I left which almost delayed my trip even before I stepped on a plan. Then, once I arrived in Spain I had to find my way to where I was living all alone with a very large language barrier. I then became very homesick, was unable to sleep or eat, and grew very impatient, this is what I call the worst two weeks of my life. I got through those weeks though with the help of friends and family back home who I am very grateful for. Then I began embracing my life, the culture, and the language of Spain, and in result I fell in love with Spain. I will have to say that those two weeks made me very strong. I was a strong person before I can to Spain, although I did not believe I was, but I have become even stronger. I do have days where I miss people and little things from home, but for the most part now I am completely in love with Spain. Everyday there is something new that I discover about Spain that I love and that makes me a stronger and better person. I enjoy eating, shopping, getting coffee, really doing anything alone now a days. I do not feel weird going and doing things alone, in fact, I really enjoy it. I am looking forward to traveling to unknown places alone and not relying on anyone else but myself. I am also more of a risk taker since I have come here. I am not afraid to ask a complete stranger for directions or anything in my still somewhat bad Spanish. I am not afraid to make mistakes when I talk. I am not afraid of what people think of me or say about me because I love me for the way I am and I am proud that I am trying.

There are many more lessons that I will learn and experiences I will have here that will make me even stronger and I look forward to embracing each and every one of them. Until I write again!

Reason number 1 why I love Spain

Everyday I am going to try to post one reason why I love Spain! This is entry number one.

Reason 1: I love my host mom!/ ¡me encanta mi madre de anfitriona!

I say this and mean it with every fiber in my being. She is one of the sweetest people I have ever met in my life. Let me tell you all a bit about her. Her name is Inma (short for Inmaculada). She is divorced and has one son. Her son is in his 30's, married, and has two children (a boy and a girl) named Angel and Claudia. Inma watches her grandchildren on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (the other grandmother watches them on Tuesdays and Thursdays). This works out perfectly for our schedules because I have classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and am off Tuesday and Thursday. Every night when I come home she asks me how my day was and if I want anything to eat right away, I always say no, then we discuss what she will make for dinner. Around 8 or 9 she begins making dinner and go into the kitchen and help in whatever way I can (although she always tells me she doesn't need help). We usually eat in the living room because a game show called "pasapalabra" (pass a word) is on at that time, so I set up my little table and take the water bottle out to the living room. She usually always tries to grab whatever she is cooking out of the over without a ovenmit and I always say her name to warn her. Then as she is sitting down and we are about to eat she or I remember that she doesn't have her pills that she always takes and she or I say "las pastillas!" (the pills) and laugh. Then we watch the show and talk about plans for the next day, things that happened during the day, or anything really. She is always pacient with me when I don't know what I am supposed to say and always speaks slowly for me. Then when we are done I try to take my tray into the kitchen (she usually tries to stop me) but I insist. I put the bottle of water away and grab my little table and put it back and then ask her if she wants any help and she again won't let me. Sometimes I stand there and talk to her and sometimes I go and watch the news and wait for her. Then she comes back in and we talk about world events and what is going on in the news until one of us goes to our bed where she will say "Buenos noches cariño" (good night dear) with the sweetest little smile on her face. She also does my laundry for me, makes my bed (she yells at me if I make it myself), and always listens when I need to talk, even if it takes me a while. She reminds me to take an umbrella when it's raining, put on my socks or slippers around the house, and takes care of me when I am sick. Tomorrow I am going running with a friend and she gave me a poncho since it might rain. She always tells me where the good stores are to buy things, remembers what foods I do and don't like (even though I tell her I like everything, somehow she knows), and always makes me feel good.

I have no idea what I would do with her in my life here. She is like another grandma to me and she has a very special place in my heart already. There are no words to really describe what am impact she has made on my stay here and in my life!

Hello Again!!

I know it's been a while since I updated but there have been a few reasons. Number one, I was sick all last weekend :( and was not able to go on the trip to Salamanca that I had signed up for. Number 2, since I did not go on the trip nothing exciting has really happened. I have been going to class, doing my homework, and talking with Inma, same old stuff. This past Friday we did throw a U.S.A themed birthday party for one of the girls from America. We decorated in red, white, and blue, had beer pong, played American music and all that jazz. It was a lot of fun, and then we went out to a new club and danced for a while.

Other than that, the other week I went shopping with Anna (a girl from America) and bought some more clothes since it is changing seasons here and also some more stuff for my room, it offically feels homey in here now. My Spanish is developing much more and I can not wait for people to visit so I can show off what I have been doing. I can't believe how fast my time here is going. It is more like fall here now, and it rains all the time. I love it though because it is much warmer than back home.

I think I am going to try to go to Valencia this next weekend just to get out and do something but I am not sure yet and we have a long weekend in December that I think I am going to do some traveling :) I am deffinetly getting the travel bug here!!

Well until next week (if anything exciting happens)!! Stay safe everyone!!

1 Month Over Already?!

Okay, so I have been slacking a little bit and I am sorry. I have been busy and by the time I get home I am too tired to type a blog, plus life is a little less exciting here!

I have been going to my classes, Old English and Linguistics, for about a week now. I finished my Intensive Spanish course a week ago and I received an 81% on the exam which is considered very good here so I am very happy. Today I started my new Spanish class with a little bit of complication. I was going to take the class in the afternoon since I have classes in the morning, but there were not enough students to make up the class in the afternoon so the professor and I made an arrangement. I will be going to her class for the first part and then attend my other classes study the rest of the days materials on my own on Monday and Wednesday and then every other Friday I will attend her class and on the Fridays I do not attend her class I will go to my other classes. It works out very nicely with all of my professors so I am a happy girl!

On to more exciting things. This past Saturday I went on another excursion to a Medieval city named Morella. It actually has a wall built up around it that was used to protect it back in the day. It was so beautiful!(Check out my 365 project to see pictures!)

We ate at a nice restaurant and had a typically Spanish meal. First, a salad with veggies and tuna, followed by a soup with rice and beans and what we all think was fish. Third, roast with peas, potatoes, and carrots and finally a mouse. And of course there was wine.

We then went to this high ropes/zip line course, which was a lot of fun. I was hesitant at first but I was really happy I went in the end. I was with the first group of students to go. It was a lot of fun. We would go across and through all of these "obstacles" and then go down a zip line and then repeat. I am waiting for other students to put pictures up since I did not take my camera and as soon as I do I will post them.

I was very sore the next day though, with the walking up to the castle and then the high ropes course there was a lot of exercise!

Other than that I am just getting ready for fall here. I will be going to Salamamca the 29th-31st with about 20 students through the university and it should be a good time! I am looking forward to it.

Any questions you all have please leave them in the comments and I will answer them in my next blog!

Besos (kisses)!

Another Week

Another week has pasted!! I can't believe how fast time is going here. Classes have been keeping me really busy and I haven't even been able to go to 3 of them. I have been taking an Intensive Spanish Course here that is Monday through Friday from 9:00am until 12:30pm which has been helping build my Spanish skills. That however will end Thursday and the next Wednesday I will be taking the next level class at a Semi-Intensive level (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) in the afternoon from 3:30pm-7pm. I will than have an Old English class, a Narrative in English Class, and a Linguistics Class (In English). Depending on how many credits WIU is going to give me for those classes plus my Spanish classes I may or may not take a Intercultural thinking class that is all in Spanish. I have been going this week but it is really hard to understand what they are saying and the final is a 5 page paper in Spanish which I know at this point that I would need to have my notes and a translator to help me and I don't know if we write it in class or bring it in. We will see what happens with that class though.

I have learned a few new phrases in my Spanish class that I want to share. If you say "No tengo pasta" (which translates to I do not have pasta), it is like saying you do not have a lot of money! Also they saw "Vale" a lot which is like us saying okay back in the states. So when I come home and am talking about pasta and saying Vale, you will all know what is going on haha!!

Yesterday we went to Pensicola on an excursion with the university and it was beautiful. We were able to take a tour and hear about all of the history, then we were able to shop, and finally ended up on the beach for a few hours sleeping and playing games to get to know each other. It was a really good time. There is another excursion in 2 weeks to another place and then at the end of October I am going to Salamanca over night with the university! It was such a good deal and it looks so beautiful that I couldn't pass the opportunity up!

Today I have studying and all that fun school stuff to do, but first I am going to try a Chinese Restaurant in Spain with one of my friends! I haven't really walked around town on a Sunday before but I have heard everything is usually closed. I have usually been watching a movie with Inma or with her and the rest of her family so I have been busy and not really noticed.

I hope all of you who read this are well. Sorry life has gotten boring here for me, too much to do for my classes! I love and miss you all!

My First Planned Adventure!

We all know that I already had an adventure getting from the airport to my apartment, which seems like forever ago, but this time it was planned! I payed only 5 euros and went on a trip with other foreign exchange students to this beautiful village (villafames) with a lot of history. We had a guide that showed us around and told us about it, we went in and saw some art, and then we went to a bodega (where they make wine) and we got to actually try some. I didn't like it cause it was too bitter but the rest of the trip was amazing! I got to meet and talk to some new people which was very nice and plus I got to see a beautiful city that compares to nothing in the states. It was a wonderful cultural experience.

I have bought somethings that make me feel more comfortable here. Of course

shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and all that but also my own pillow, a couple outfits, and some food that I like to snack on. I am also learning how to get around without a map a little bit. I no longer need it to get home from the bus stop and I am getting better and knowing what streets will lead me in the direction I need to go! I know I am directional challenged but I think I am actually getting better. I also am learning where the good shops are and how to tell if they are good or not.

I have come to appreciate all of you who support me and even have yelled at me so far. My mom sent me the best care package ever and I don't know what I would have done without her listening and even yelling at me in the beginning, along with my Dad. I am so appreciative of them and Dan for listening to me and helping me get through my rough first week or so. I still have bad moments but they are getting shorter and farther apart. I am finding that there are other people who are like me that do not like to go out all the time and who like to stay in and not stay up til the crack of dawn.. and who like to go the beach! It is nice to know that I am not alone.

Oh and an update on those silly things called classes, aka the reason I am technically here :). I am actually going to be taking Old English, Narrative in English, and Applied Linguistic and Teaching English Language Learning all in English and then I will be choosing between Sociology of Education and Philosophy of Education this week and whichever one I choose will be in Spanish. I am hoping I like the philosophy one because of the times but if not I will suck it up! I will not actually start going to my three classes that will be in English until after October 6th because they are during my intensive Spanish class which ends that day, but I have been told the teachers are understanding and helpful about it.

To end I have a funny story. I went shopping, as I said before, and bought a skirt to wear out. I came home and showed my host mom and she said "No es una falda, es un cinturon!" (which translates to "That isn't a skirt that is a belt"! Now it really isn't, in fact it does go past my fingertips, but I thought it was funny that a phrase that we say in the U.S is the same here. It was funny and comforting at the same time.

Well off to bed for me since I find out how I did on my first Spanish test here tomorrow! Love you and miss you all!

It just keeps getting better!

The longer I spend in Spain the more I am starting to fall in LOVE with Spain. For example, yesterday I went to the beach with my friend who is also from America and it was beautiful! It was so big and there was a view of the mountains... MOUNTAINS!! I just can't get over the fact that I get to live here for 9 months! There is still a bit of culture shock because America is so different, not to mention the middle of America. The beach was topless, but not a lot of woman were, and they also let their kids run around without any swimsuit on. Other than that it is not much different that the beaches in America. I then came back and showered so that we could go out to dinner and to a party for one of the students birthdays here. Me and my friend Vanessa met up at 10... yes thats right 10 at night. They eat much later here than we do in the states. A lot of the restaurants were full though so after some searching we found on that had decent food and prices. We then ventured on to find the party which was very hot! There were 75 students in this tiny apartment drinking, dancing, and talking. We weren't there long before we went to the club that was opening and we all got this pass for a free entry and drink. We went in and danced and had a good time. I made some more new friends which felt very good. Me and Vanessa both felt like we were underdressed and were very tired so we headed back around 2 (which is early for here believe it or not). Once I returned to my room I was able to talk to my wonderful fiance for a few minutes and then fall asleep. It was a wonderful night.

This morning I woke up and got ready for the day because we went to Inma's sons house for Paella (a typical dish here that is made with rice and all this other stuff). He picked us up at 1 and we had a wonderful meal. Everyone was talking in Spanish and very fast so I was very confused but everyone was very nice and understanding. I will say though I can not wait for my Spanish to get better.

As I said before the longer I stay here the more I love it! It is beautiful the people are very nice, I am making so many new friend and just becoming a better person. I love that I have a friend who understands me and the things that are going on in my head because we talk all the time. We always say.. we may be lost but we are lost.. IN SPAIN! How terrible could that be! I also told her yesterday I am going to go back to the states skinny and in shape because of all the walking we do, fluent in Spanish, and tan! No one is going to recognize me! Just kidding but I do know that even though there are hard times when I am not busy or with others that this is where I am supposed to be right now. This is the perfect time in my life to explore this country. I don't know why but I just know that this is the right thing for me!

I am excited to start classes though so that I can stay busier and plus I enjoy learning. And isn't that what I came here to do. The beach and partying every once and a while are just added bonuses. Tomorrow I get to explore the city with someone who is from here and speaks English and Spanish. I am hoping that she will help me find the things that I need and also show me some neat things and just tell me about the city and then I start classes on Tuesday, well I get to visit them and see which ones I like and then sign up on Thursday but still! I am so excited to continue my adventure. I will be updating my 365 project everyday so keep checking that for pictures!

Love you all!!

A-HA

It has been a little rough adjusting here but I had somewhat of an A-HA moment last night. I had been stressed about my classes since they start Tuesday but I don't have any. I have been kinda worried about getting around and communicating. And of course I have been missing home. I have already started my Spanish class. I got into level B1 and the highest is B2 so I feel pretty good about that. We basically reviewed yesterday in class but my classmates are all foreign exchange students as well so it is nice to get to know them more. The professor is really nice too! She speaks English as do most of my classmates so if we don't understand she explains but we aren't supposed to speak in English otherwise. The class meets 9-12:30 Monday-Friday until the 6th so I am sure by the 6th my Spanish will be so much better!

I have made friends with the other student from America here and it is so nice to know someone who understands you. I am actually meeting with her soon for the day to explore and possible go to the beach! I don't know how I feel about going out at night with all of the exchange students because taxi's are expensive and I won't walk alone and they stay out til like 5 or later in the morning!! It's crazy here!! No wonder they need a siesta (nap) in the afternoon. From 1/2-5 all of the stores and resturants and everything close for a siesta! It's crazy. I actually did take a nap yesterday but I think this may be a good time for me to explore without too many people being around! Or I could do homework or whatever. I am starting to be able to communicate as well. Last night I was eating dinner with my host mom and we talked and ate for 45 minutes and it was good conversation. I still have to use my translator but slowly I am getting better. Then this morning she was asking me about my plans for the day and she said I talked very well!! This made me feel very good.

Last night I had my A-HA moment though. I know that this is where and what I am supposed to be doing. It feels right even when I feel sick and lost, I mean how bad could it be I'm sick and lost in SPAIN!! How many other people would love to be here! I am starting to feel more comfortable with myself. I know alot of people go out a lot but I am not that girl and I may go out maybe once or twice a week here but why change who I am just to make friends. A lot people come to Spain to party and go to the beach and don't take classes seriously but I am not that person. And if I wouldn't change for people back in the states why change for them here? I am me and if no one likes it then I guess I will just become good friends with my host mom and my homework. I know there has to be one other person that is like me though... I just have to find them!!

But anyways I am going to enjoy my first Saturday in Castellon with my new friend! Oh and if you want to you can see pictures at my 365 project: http://365project.org/pdwhalen/365 I think that this will help me see all the things I do and make the days go by so I don't feel homesick!

I love you all and miss you!

I'm Here?

Oh boy have I got a story for all of you readers out there. Lets start from the beginning like most stories do... Last Thursday evening I had server pain in my right lower side which resulted in a trip to the emergency room. We thought it was appendicitis until.. that's right all good stories have an until, the CT scan. The CT scan showed a normal appendix but that was the only good news. It also showed that I had two cyst on my right ovary. This of course resulted in a ultrasound. Now I won't share all the gross details but by now it's the middle of the night, me and my mom have not slept a drop, and I have been poked and probed in more places than I would like to be. We were finally discharged and told to make an appointment with a gyno the next morning and did so. The news we got out of this was that I could have surgery (which would delay my trip atleast 10 days) or the cyst could go away on thier own. Since my pain stayed low all weekend we deciced to take the risk and let me go to Spain as planned on Monday and cancel the surgery. But now, I was an exhausted, stressed and emotional Paige as I prepared for my wonderful going away party and leaving. The party was wonderful (thanks to everyone who came) and I then had to pack.. dun dun dun. It was a long process but eventually two suitcases were packed within the weight they could be. Monday morning some of the family meet up and had a semi-emotional breakfast before I left. We drove to the airport and said a tearful goodbye. I found my terminal and sat there for the longest time, thinking what had I gotten myself into. I managed to get on the flight to Germany. We were served a hot dinner and there were a lot of movies to choose from to watch on our own personal tv's. No one was sitting next to me so I got an extra blanket and pillow.. and extra leg room. I still couldn't fall asleep for the longest time though. I think I finally feel asleep for about 2 hours and woke up to a simple breakfast. Shortly after we landed in Dusseldorf, Germany. I sat at my next terminal talking to some other people about their trips which kept me from thinking about home a little. Finally we boarded this bus that took us to the plane and sat down. This time it took me no time at all to fall asleep and I slept almost the whole way to Valencia, Spain. Once we landed I waited and waited for my host mom's son to arrive to pick me up, finally I tried calling one of the numbers that I had, but the phone machine wouldn't accept my card. Some very nice gentleman came over and saw that I was having trouble and thankfully spoke English. He let me use his cell phone and eventually even translated for me and my host family. I them embarked on my first adventure... finding my way across a country in which I do not know the language very well and have absolutely NO idea what I'm doing, which I am very good at doing. The nice gentleman explained how I would get to my host family. I would take a metra to some town with an x in it and then I would go outside and find the train station and take a train to Castello. I did so, in a very confused manor, and managed to get to Catello. Oh and did I mention that I have two large suitcases, a carryon suitcase and a backpack, oh well now you know. I got off the train with the help of another very nice gentleman helping me with my bags. He worked with me through my language barrier and I called my host family and decided the easiest thing to do would be take a cab, again I was flying by the seat of my pants. The nice gentleman helped me find a cab that would take me to the address that I had written down (thank god) and helped me load my suitcases up. This is what I found beautiful, when I was thanking both gentlemen for their much needed help they both said something about karma, maybe no exactly the same thing but they mentioned balance. It was so amazing that these people helped me when I litterally needed it most. My host mom then meet me in the downstairs of her appartment and helped me upstairs. She feed me and showed me around and we both could only kind of understand the other. It is very hard to communicate at this point but I think somehow it will work... hopefully. My advisor over her, who is very nice and was very concerned, then called my host mom and talked to me (in English thankfully) and then told my host mom what I couldn't translate. I also found out that tomorrow I will be going over to the university to get things started which should be helpful!

Well I know it was a long post but it has been a long couple of days (even if it hasn't even been a full "24 hours" US time technically). I love and miss you all very much and will post again soon!

Chao!

The Countdown

Less than a month.. that is how much time I have left until I leave. I feel scared, nervous, excited, frightened, happy, sad, anxious, and about a million other things all that once. Many of my friends are moving this week back to apartments and dorms preparing for another school year in the familiar places. I know some of them envy me and my adventures but in some ways right now I envy them, one main reason actually, they know what they are doing. More then ever this summer I realized that I have no idea what I am doing, not only when I leave but even as I prepare. I am leaving everyone and everything that I know to explore so great things. I am trusting no one but myself to make decisions, right or wrong. The thing that I think is amazing is although I am taking only one, okay maybe two suitcases, is that the bulk of the things I am taking will not be in there. Most of what I will be taking is in my heart and my head. I am taking knowledge taught to me by so many different people, my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, teachers, co-workers, and strangers. I am taking with me support from those who have always been there for me. I am taking memories, which will get me through when I need it most. But to me the most important is love from all of my friends and family, their faith and hope in me in making the right decisions as well. I know that there are going to be hard times, in the next month as I get ready, but also in the next year as I travel, get homesick, become fluent, make new friends, and then come back, but I know that everything will work out and that everything happens for a reason, after all, that is what this summer (and my life) has taught me.

Until next time!

Tickets and Families

The latest update is here! I was given a list of families to choose from for my stay in Spain and after quickly narrowing it down to 2 families, dwelling on the decision for almost a week, and changing my mind at the last minute I have chosen. The family I will be staying with is a 65 year old woman who takes care of her 5 and 3 year old nietos (grandchildren) at times. She lives about 30 minutes away from the school I will be attending and I will get there via walking to a tram station and taking the tram or taking the buss. I know two girls from WIU that have lived with her before and they say she is funny and really nice! She also lives closer to the downtown area and beach than most of the other choices I had.

Also last week I bought my plane ticket!! I will leave Chicago O'Hare Airport at 4:35pm on September 12th 2011, have a short layover in Dusseldorf, DE, finally I will arrive in Valencia, Spain at 1:45pm on September 13th, 2011. It all seems so real now that the ticket is bought.

I am still waiting on a background check that will have to be sent to the Department of State and then I will finally make my appointment with the Spanish Consulate to recieve my student visa. I am getting so excited and so nervous at the same time.

"All you have to do is step on the plane"

I have had an eventful week. One top of preparing for finals I have also been making appointments to get everything figured out for my trip before I leave for Spain. I have had many questions answered and I am getting even more excited and nervous for my trip. I thought that the best piece of advice given to me this week was my title "all you have to do is step on the plane". This is true, I cannot plan for everything and in the end the only thing I can do is step on the plane, everything else will fall into place from that. There are some things that I have to do before that, get a student visa, get my host family assignment, and actually buy the ticket, but really once I step on the plane I have to trust that when I get off on the other side that everything will fall into place. I have to have confidence and faith in myself that I can succeed in Spain. I thought that this was possibly the best advice I have gotten and possibly will get before I go. I just have to get on the plane.

The Adventure is Already Beginning

Although there is no traveling yet I still feel the rush of adrenaline as I begin really planning for my study abroad trip. I had a pre-departure meeting earlier this week and received an overload of information that I am still trying to take in! I will begin my classes September 20th and will be done with classes on June 9th. I have started looking into where exactly in Spain I will be studying and what is around it and thinking of places I want to go. I have so many questions to be answered and it seems that every time I get one answer a million more questions come up. I am very excited for my adventure and travels, but I am also scared. I will be gone for about 9 months. I know it seems like a long time now, but we all know that time flies, especially when you are surrounded by so many cultures, countries, and opportunities. That means 9 months away from all the familiar places and faces, all the comforts of home, and all the things I know. I will just have to keep myself busy with traveling to keep my mind off of home!

I figured I would start my blog now, as I begin planning my adventure, because in reality this is where the adventure begins. I will be writing funny phrases that I hear over there (translations included), pictures of all the beautiful places I visit, and stories about my travels. My first translation will be of my tittle. Mis aventuras España means my travels of Spain. I felt it was appropriate as I will be going to learn the language, the traveling is just a very good addition. Although I may not update a lot before my trip I will post all the big developments and once I arrive I will update as often as I find time to. For now I will be off to do more research and planning.

Te quiero! (I love you)