First Two Days

Here are a few pictures of what I did today. The first one is bathroom, and then my room, and then me messing around with the giant man on the wall.

Well, these first two days have not exactly been easy, but they did go by very quickly. I left the house at 6:30 am yesterday and arrived at 10:15 am this morning. It is all one big blur in my mind. I spent twelve hours on a plane, and it really wasn't too bad. The only thing was I got this 24 hour stomach flu (at least I hope it is twenty four hours) on the second flight and that sucked. I took Nyquil but I could not really sleep on the plane so I was just drugged out, could not see a thing and somehow managed to play a game of Bejewled on my ipod to get the best score I have ever had. Maybe that is why it is a blur. :) But, once I got off the plane, the 40 degree weather felt really good on my fever! My trepidations about freezing are not quite as bad as they were before. But it has only been a day, so we will see.

So, my first day in Spain was not quite ideal. As any of us travelers know, our high expecations for the first day never quite can be reached. I landed at the airport, tried to get in a taxi to get to my hotel, but he told me there was a shuttle and then he kicked me out. So, I went and waited for the shuttle for twenty minutes before I went and got into another taxi. That taxi ripped me off for a five to ten minute cab ride. But, it is a good thing because now I know how to avoid that.

I also know now that I am certifiably insane for doing this. First of all, there is so much Spanish-everywhere! I mean, yes, hello stupid me, what did you think it was going to be? But, not having a Spanish class for three years and a subsequent full on immersion is quite overwhelming! Today is proof that nothing is ever quite what you imagine it to be. Instead of going to the Royal Palace and finding my chocolateria, I spent the day in bed, fighting nausea and this fever so that I can go explore with a few of my fellow students before we meet the entire group at 2pm. I watched a little Spanish television, and then I tried to figure out the shower. The shower head was attached to the side of the wall, and there is only one panel of glass so I had to be careful where I sprayed water after I spent five minutes trying to figure out how to turn it on. It has truly been a crazy day, one of many to come I am sure.

Oh, and one last thing. My hotel room has a giant face of David I think on the wall. So, sorry Cory I am spending the night in a room with a man. But don't worry, you're still my man.

I love you all and I miss you terribly.
Let me just quote something from e.e. cummings because I think her poem sums up what I am feeling. Here is her poem "I Carry Your Heart With Me":

i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)i am never without it(anywhere i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling) i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true) and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart) ee cummings