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!