I Lied...

So you know how I said I had nothing to blog about because I spent most of the day sleeping? I lied. There is a reason sleep deprived people are not allowed to operate heavy machinery. True: I did spend most of the day sleeping. False: I did not have a lot to tell y'all about. So this is everything I wanted to blog (but the sleepy made me forget) and a little bit more!

I want to rewind a little bit. My plane from Dayton, Ohio to Chicago was scheduled for 3:30 pm on Monday the 14th. So on Monday I was awakened by the tender kisses of Nautica Elizabeth who was definitely the most sad to see me go. Then I saw Topaz out the door to school where I literally had to command him to hug me. Fourteen is the butt-face age. Don't tell him I said that. Onyx went back to Stonehill College the day before so I just called him to say bye. Just like that, everyone was off to school and I was left to finish up packing (and sleeping). By noon, mom was back which meant that it was time to go to the airport. Talking with mom was very nice. When you have 3 younger siblings, time alone with a parent is hard to come by. I was very grateful for our time together. So we get to the airport and I'm like, "BYE, MOM I LOVE YOU!" and mom's like, "NO WAY. I'M COMIN' IN TO MAKE SURE YOU GET OFF!" And that was the best thing. Moment of honesty: I had to try very hard not to cry. Mkay, we're not gunna talk about me crying ever again.

The first plane was easy-peezy. No complaints. When I got to Chicago (possibly one of the biggest and scariest airports ever ever ever), I paid VERY close attention to all of the signs because I was NAWT about to miss that flight. I got to my gate in time to get a coffee (which ended up being a very bad decision... between that and the mandatory crying baby 3 rows in front of me, I couldn't sleep a wink on the 8 hour flight) and meet another girl doing the same program! I was so grateful to have a friend to travel with. We boarded the plane (which was 90% college students traveling abroad) and I sat down next to a delightful girl from Austin, Texas who was going to study in Seville, another Spanish city. She was very sweet. We got to talk about our fears, anxieties, excitement, God, boys, starting anew. Then she drifted off to sleep like any sane person would. But if you have spoken with me for more than .05 seconds, you know I am not sane. I TRIED TO SLEEP! I DID! But I couldn't. Once this realization sunk in, I got my Bible out and got to spend some sweet time with my Most High. Man, He loves me. I read some of the old stories that I was taught as a kid. Have you ever found something you wrote as a kid or a piece of art you did in Kindergarten? That's what it felt like to see the difference in my own understanding of the Bible and God's love for us as people. Felt good.

Eight hours later, we were landing. INSANITY!!!! The 3 other girls from the USC program and I went through customs (easiest test I'll ever take- I just had to look like the picture in my passport. DONE.), exchanged our useless dollars for Euros, got our luggage and found taxis. I'm pretty sure I got ripped off but who cares. I arrived at my host mom's house without any problems but there I was in front of the apartment complex without any way to get in. Uh-oh. I pulled on that dog-on door with all of my might and nothing. I look to my right and see numbers to call the various apartments. I locate the number I think belongs to my mom and press the call button (which looked a scary amount like a building alarm button). As soon as I pressed the button, this guy tells me to open the door. I'm like, "I CAN'T!" He's like, "PUSH."... Seconds later I was in and my host mom was greeting me. Didn't I feel salty (I did).

My host mom is absolutely fantastic. She is so patient with me and tells me I speak Spanish very well (I haven't called her a liar yet but...). I have a cousin/ sister (I don't really know how we're related yet) who is 25 and SUPER chic. So far, they have taught me how to travel via metro, the political and economic climate, and little bit of Spanish history! I have seriously learned more here with them in 1.5 days than I have in any Spanish class (Sorry to any of my teachers out there reading this!) Today I had orientation where I focused very hard on not falling asleep. I succeeded. Go me. After 4 hours of being talked at, we all went out to lunch. Ever heard the rumor that lunch is Spain's main meal? It's no rumor. I don't know what I expected (that was for you, Amanda Charney). I think I was expecting lunch to be a standard American lunch and then everything else to be smaller portions. I was just so, so wrong. Lunch consisted of a 3 course meal. By the third course, I was angry with my waiter for his insistence that I eat more food. Never thought I would have that problem. Well, I think you are officially caught up! YAY!!!!

PS DO NOT get accustomed to me writing something every day. I only do it now because I do not have that pesky distraction known as "class."