During the day on Sunday, I just stayed in. It was super cold outside (it even snowed a little)! Around 9, Kristin and I left to meet up with a bunch of other Chicago people to watch the Bear/Packer game. We were all supposed to meet at Hannigan and Sons, but Kristin and I went to the wrong bar. We finally made it to the right bar around 9:40. It was very upsetting when we lost, and I think there were a lot of Packer fans too, so there were lots of mixed emotions. We went to Kabob King (which is more like a pita sandiwch and some sauce than a kabob). It was really good (I think its the DP Dough of Granada). We got back around 1am.

On Monday, 2 of our senoras sisters came. They ate lunch with us, made us dinner, and spent the night here. The CEA took us to Carmen de Los Martines (which is a garden). It was really pretty. There were also lots of peacocks (... and cats). Kristin and I bought peanut butter (it was super exciting to finally find it). Right after, I skyped with my mom and Lauren. And Jenn. And later Jackie (who brought her computer to the ADPi house, so we were able to skype with Brittany, Eryn, and Kristie.

In class, on Wednesday, we watched a musical. It wasn't very good, but that's what made it funny. I spent a while skyping Katelyn, Meagan, and Corrine. On Thursday, I bought my Taylor Swift concert tickets for Madrid. I'm really excited for that. We also printed out our boarding passes for ITALIA!! After class, Kristin and I went for frozen yogurt. It was delicious! Then we came back, and I skyped with mom and Unce Al. Afterwards, we went SHOPPING!!! Every store has rebajas, which are REALLY REALLY REALLY big sales. I bought gym shoes (for hiking which we planned to do Saturday, but  rained so its postpones until February). And a cardigan, t-shirt, and shirt. Then we got dinner at Kabob King (I think the workers there thought we were hilarious). Then I studied for my final for the next day.

I was EXTREMELY relieved to take my final for the intensive class. It seriously was the worst class ever (after economics... and american diversity). I actually did really well on it. Our Taylor Swift tickets came (Spain has super speedy delivery). Then I made a list of things to pack for Italy and started planning a little bit of our Easter break. Our senoras niece came and made us hamburgers and french fries.

On Saturday, we woke up around 11:30 (which is seriously the earliest we have ever woken up on a Saturday) and went to the bank. We also went shopping to buy a last few minute things for Italy (conditioner, Special K bars, travel-sized bottles, and a small purse). We stayed in and watched lots of I Love Lucy on youtube. Senoras niece made us pizza for dinner (its been nice to have kinda-American food).

Today, Kristim, Sarah, Angie, and I went to mass at the Cathedral. It was really pretty, but we thought it started at 1 and it started at 12:30, but we might have been in the wrong room.  It was really pretty. Then we bought a lion gift for the ADPi house and postcards. And we went to Dunkin Coffee (I think its a branch of Dunkin Donuts). We each got coffee and a donut. Kristin and I are packing for Italy, and now were meeting Angie for frozen yogurt.

 

This time, tomorrow, I will be on a plane to Italy!!!!!

Week 2

On Tuesday, we had an academic meeting after class (which was probably the most boring class yet). We talked about the classes we were taking in February. Luckily, I am taking all the classes I needed (Written and Oral Production, Grammar, Spanish LIterature, History of Spain, and Latin American Civilization and Culture). After the meeting, Kristin, Anna, Melissa, Karina, and I went to Haagen Dazs for icecream. It was REALLY good (I had choc choc chip).It was so weird to be sitting outside in the middle of January eating icecream and NOT freezing.

Wednesday was the 1/10 of the way done mark! Kristin woke up with a fever, so she didn't go to class. It was the first time I had to walk anywhere by myself, so it was kinda weird. The school is kinda in a shady part of the city (kinda like abandoned alleys). After class, I Skyped with mom for an hour, which was really nice (her laugh is really comforting). We didn't really do much that day. We watched the Office for a few hours.

On Thursday, we had a tour of Albayzin, which is like the Arab quarters of Granada. I think we were all told we were going to get Arab tea there, so everyone was really excited, because it was cold out (Albayzin is really high up, so its way colder than the rest of Granada). The walk up was soooo tiring. We had to up tons of cobblestone steps. It seemed like the amount of steps were never ending, but when we finally made it to the top, we were met with the most gorgeous view.

                                                                        (the view at night)

Afterwards, Kristin, Angie, and I went to get tapas with 5 other people from the CEA. If you order a drink, you get free tapas. I ordered a Tinto De Verano (it's like a Sangria, but its red wine, sprite, and an orange). It was a lot of fun, and there was this dog that stayed by our table the entire time.





Then we went to the grocery store. I think the one thing that we both REALLY REALLY REALLY want is peanut butter, and I'm pretty sure they don't sell it here. But they do sell Special K bars, but not the same type or flavors like they do in the US, but its still good I guess. Maybe my mom will send me some Special K Strawberry Fruit Crisps =]

On Friday, class went by super fast, which was really exciting!!! Kristin, Angie, and I met up to schedule everything we want to do while were in Italy. We did this in a restaurant where we ate churros con chocolate. Then we went shopping, and I bought a headband, 3 rings (they all came together), and a necklace. Our senora wasn't home for dinner, so Kristin and I got dinner at Sancho, a cafe restaurant right next to our apartment. Then we met up with Sarah and her friends and went to the discoteca. It was soooo much fun! I had vodka and fanta. We stayed there until 3:30 and then we found a sandwich place in the mall, which is like the Jimmy Johns of Granada (we all LOVED it!!!) We go home a little after 4. It was a fun night!

Today was a more relaxing day. I went to bed around 5 am last night, and Kristin and I woke up at 11 to go to the bank to use the ATM. I had trouble with my debit card, but I finally got my money. Then we got back around 12, and we went to sleep again (we only got like 6 hours of sleep). I planned on waking up at 2, but in reality, it was 3:50 when we woke up. Then I skyped with my parents. It's basically been a very relaxing day. I think we're staying in tonight and just watching TV.

12 days!

It's so weird to think that I've been gone for 12 days now! This week basically was only school. We are in class for four hours a day (for me it's from 10-2) for 5 days a week. Luckily, it's only for 3 weeks, and I'm already a week done. Yay!!! So I finally made my first purchase in Spain. I bought boots (because I'm an idiot and wore new shoes around the city so I'm in need of comfy shoes) and a new bracelet.

            

On Friday, Kristin, Angie, and I decided that all we wanted was American food. So we went to Burger King. It cost about 10 US dollars, but it was definitely worth it.

 Friday night we went to a bar and a discoteca. The bar was so crowded, I think there was just really little space to stand. We had a round of some type of shot, and Kristin and I both had mojitos. They were really good. It was SOOOO exciting to have my first LEGAL drink.

Then we went to the discoteca around 1:30. In Spain, the clubs don't open until 1am, and when we got there, it was pretty empty. More people showed up around 3:00. The discoteca was called Mae West and was in the mall. It cost 10 euros to get in, but you get 2 free drinks. They put a lot of alcohol in their drinks here. But I couldn't taste it, so I had 3 there. We left around 4am, which is really early in Spain.

On Saturday, Kristin and I slept in until 1. When we woke up, our other student, Sarah, was already here. She goes to UofI. The three of us walked around the shops here. Then Kristin and I met Angie and Anna at the movie theater (also in the mall near the discoteca) to see La Turista (The Tourist). It's a good thing Kristin had already seen it in English and was able to explain it to me before we got there. It was good, even though I could barely understand half of it. They have lots of movies there. Like all American movies in Spanish. They have Tangled (which we totally need to see), Little Fockers, Love and Other Drugs, and so much more. 

Sunday, Angie, Kristin, and I went to Church. We also went to a little cafe.

It was really cute. I felt very European. Then we just hung around the apartment for the rest of the day.

Today, we had school again. Which wasn't fun, since I knew that everyone in the US didn't have school since its MLK day. After class, we planned some more weekend trips, and found an awesome deal for the Sound of Music tour in Austria. Not much has happened since.

Finally Made It!

So I wished I could've written in here when I first arrived or some other time in this past week. But we didn't have internet. I think we got it figured out now though =]
So starting on Wednesday, my parents and I got to the airport around 11:00 and saw Angie right away and Kristin a little later. It was really hard saying goodbye to my mom and dad. We left them at the security checkpoint, but I forgot to give my mom my phone and had to go back over to them. Security was very easy, and the three of us got lunch. Our plane ended up being 3 hours delayed. Kristin and I sat next to each other and Angie was a few rows behind us. I wasn't able to sleep, but we watched the Office and I played Sudoku. We arrived in Frankfurt around 8:45am and we had missed our connecting flight to Madrid. We had to go through security again, but my money belt went off and I had to get patted down. It was kinda scary. We met 2 other girls from ISU that were going to Granada and we all had seats near each other. I slept for the 2 hour plane ride. Then we had to leave the Madrid Airport and find the train station which was a little difficult. We took 2 trains just to get to the Madrid bus station. Our bus left Madrid at 4:30 and we arrived in Granada around 9:30.  Kristin and I got a taxi to our apartment where we met our host family. Our senora and her son are really nice. We were pretty tired and went to bed, but I had a hard time sleeping. It was so quiet, and I kept thinking that without internet, I wouldn't be able to talk to my friends and family.

Friday was a lot of fun. We met all the other ISU students and walked together to orientation at the Center de Lenguas Modernas. The CEA also took us on a walking tour of Granada and to get us cell phones. However, Kristin and I got lost a few times trying to find our way to the CEA meeting spot and our apartment. In total, we spent close to 6 hours walking around, plus we had to wake up extremely early.

Saturday and Sunday were kinda boring. On Saturday, Kristin and I were exhausted from the day before and jetlag, and we didn't wake up until 3:00pm. We ate lunch at our house and then went to an Internet Cafe. We were there for 3 hours! It was great being able to talk with my friends and family. I loved hearing my parents' and brother's voices. On Sunday, Senora, Kristin, and I went to church (I was very confused since I've never been to church before and it was in Spanish). We came back, ate lunch, and Kristin and I relaxed in our room. We watched the Office and I played Sudoku for most of the night.

Today (Monday), we had to take a test in the morning to see what Spanish level we place in for our intensive class, starting tomorrow. We took a double decker bus sight seeing tour. We saw some amazing sights! Granada is beautiful. We came back to our apartment, and finally figured out the Internet. Yay!!!!

It's already 12:30am now and we have classes in the morning. But be sure to check back soon!!

 

1 day!

I'm leaving tomorrow, and I'm not ready at all. I don't want to say goodbye to my home and my parents. I just want to get the goodbyes over with and land in Spain. I am really excited though! Packing was the most difficult thing ever!  1 bag at 62 inches and 50 pounds does not fit 5 months worth of stuff. Hopefully, I have no troubles getting it all on the airplanes and the bus. And hopefully our apartment has a ramp or an elevator since we live on the second floor... As excited I am to go to Spain, I'm already really excited for May 25th. I will have all the memories, but be home with my friends and family =]

4 more days!!!

Happy New Year! Spain is in 4 days, and I've finally decided to start packing. I don't think "packing light" is going to work. I'm really excited to go (and really nervous). Once I get through the first 2 weeks, I think I'll be good. =]