La primera semana!

Hello! Ok, so I have a lot of updating to do! I have been here for almost a week now which is just crazy! It has gone by so fast and I know it will continue to do so. Let me give you the day by day update. Haha, I am using this as a journal diary type thing so I am sorry if I am lengthy at times but I have the worst memory in the world and I want to remember everything from this experience!

Ok, so on Monday, the first night in my bed was a little rough. I didn´t sleep very well because I was nervous for my first day of school. I woke up at 4 and couldn´t get back to bed. Finally, 6:15ish rolled around and I started getting ready for school. I left the apartment at 6:45ish and got to the busstop by 7. I saw two girls from ASU which made me feel better. We rode the bus together and at almost every stop more people from our group hopped on the bus. It was still dark outside but I was wide awake! The bus is nice in the morning because it is not crowded. I take bus number 24 all the way to the university. There are alot of students on the bus. Armando and Cynthia told us that if we weren´t sure which bus stop to get off on, just get off when all the young people are getting off! Ha! And, it worked! I am in Aulario 1 (Building 1) in the Z3 classroom. There are two girls from Missouri in my class which is nice. I love my teacher! He is such a sweetheart and is really curious about all of our countries. There are two students from Japan and an older guy from France named Bertrand. They are all really nice. We talk about similarities and differences in our different countries and it is fun to compare. Bertrand is really interesting. He has three kids and moved here from France in September. I think it is because his wife works here but I am not sure. He is taking Spanish at the university and he said that his kids are slowly beginning to like Spain but that it has been a big change for them. I couldn´t even imagine!

After class, I met up with Tracy. She is a DG at MU! We tried to take the bus to La Rambla, it is the main street so that we could get our youth cards and our bus passes (the youth card makes the bus fare only about 50 cents each time). So after getting lost and having to use our maps as well as ask many people, we got to the right buildings! Yay! Haha. Then she walked home and I did too. However, from there it was like a 30 minute walk for me. Again, I got lost. But, I saw two American
looking girls and asked them for help! Ha. In a weird way, it was really helpful getting lost because I feel like now I know my way around much better!

When I got home, Aurora had lunch waiting for me. I had noodles with chicken for lunch. Again, Aurora made me too much food! She thinks I don´t like her food when really I am just full! Then, I took a little nap and watched Keeping Up with the Kardashians. I have to hold on to some American things, right? Ha! Then, I met up with some girls around 7ish and we walked around. There are rebajas now or sales because it is after Christmas so there are tons of people walking around and shopping! Then, I headed home. I went to bed about midnight after doing my Spanish homework. After not sleeping very well the first night, I passed out very quickly and slept through the entire night!

Tuesday and Wednesday were very similar but I do feel like I am getting to know my way around the city more. Tuesday during the day I took a nap. I slept for about 2 hours which to me, isn´t that long of a nap considering I have not slept that much this week. But, when I woke up, Aurora joked that she thought I had died! Ha. Tuesday night I went to Austin with a group of people. I guess they have Guacamole Night there every Tuesday and Americans always go. So, I went with some people but no one in the group had early class like me. So I had a little sangria and headed home at about 1 while everyone else stayed out until 4ish. They go out so late here! Going home at 4 AM isn´t even considered that late! The next day I was pretty tired in class and couldn´t wait for my siesta! Aurora made me chicken for lunch which made me so happy! She even had ketchup! Then, I met up with Tracy and we went to Porta del Mar 2. It is like a mall and inside it has the Walmart of Alicante, or that is what Armando called it! Ha. So, Tracy and I got some things we both needed, like pencils, pens and a waterbottle. We then just strolled in and out of some stores. They have the cutest little kids clothes here. I kept finding the little boy´s section and holding up 6 month old baby clothes so I could imagine how big Thurman will be when I get home! It made me sad but even that much more excited to see him!

So, I got home at about 9 from el centro then the worst thing ever happened. I was using my new, handy waterbottle that I bought in an effort to be environmentally friendly, and I spilt water on my laptop. It froze immediately so I dried it off and took out the battery. I waited about 15 minutes and tried to turn it back on and it wouldn´t work. I started freaking out immediately (so much for lesson learned #1, right?). I got on Aurora´s computer, thank goodness she has one. I emailed my mom, my dad and my sister and told them the horrible news in a panicked state. They brought me back to reality and assured me it would be ok. For now, I am using Aurora´s computer until mine is magically revived or until I buy a new one. Just saying that hurts me and my bank account. But, my computer is my lifeline so I may just have to deal with the costs.

Today, it was very hard to get up for class. I was falling asleep almost the entire time and couldn´t focus. After class, Armando said he would show us this wellness center that we could join. So, Tracy, Erin and I went to check it out. We were expecting more of a gym but it was this physical therapy place. So, after sitting through an awkward presentation about different therapies, we left. I came home to a great lunch of chicken (again!) and fries. Then, I hung out with Aurora for awhile and her nephew stopped by. He brought his two sons, they are 10 and 3. They were so cute! The 10 year old was laughing at my Spanish, ha! Then, I met up with Tracy and we walked around the barrio a little. We found this little ice cream shop which made both of our nights! Then, we walked up and down the beach. We were walking on the beach in our Uggs which made us both laugh. Then, I came back here and packed for Granada tomorrow.

That is all I have for now! I will try and start updating almost everyday so I can avoid these long posts! But, more to come soon! I love you all and hopefully I will get this computer situation figured out so I can put pictures on Facebook and on here. I love you all!!

Love, Me.