The First Week of the rest of my life!

Ok. I decided to try this crazy blogging thing my mom suggested. Here it goes:


So it's official I actually am living in another country. I'm currently a few days in to my semester abroad fully unpacked and already leaving an impact on Madrid with some very colorful actions. First on January the 9th I left from Chicago with Christina Huber, Jimmy Bradburn, and Chris Sullivan. We took a flight to Germany and had a layover there before landing late on the 10th in Mardid. All was going as smoothly as it can for four college kids nervous but still excited to be leaving for 4 months and three days. I only know that because thats how long my mom told me and since it wasn't a whole five months I was allowed to go. Well like I said our trip was going well for all of us because we had this mentality all for one one for all, which is why I'm so glad I am with these friends in Spain. That probably why I feel so good about doing it is that I have found my own family in these friends and hopefully soon in a few more new people. Well anyways back to our travel plans. We got here in one piece minus a few large pieces of Chris' luggage. It wasn't ideal but atleast we knew they were still in Frankfurt and would be here soon. As we left the boys at the air ports to grab cabs Christina and I started out alone to find our new host family Ana and Juan Anton. They live in the center of Sol, which is a neighborhood in spain known for its nightlife, shopping and sights. It is a prime location for us as students. We have to take a longer metro ride to school but I think the 20 minute metro ride to SLU madrid is worth it because the perks of living in Sol are well worth it. We went Juan and Ana and our other roomates Jesse Hassel, Devon Cramer and Jasmina Vajzovic or "Jaz". I think it is safe to say I am borderline in love with all of them for very different reasons. Jesse is so sweet and caring and funny. Devon is hilarious and the mother of our group. She is always taking care of us. Jaz is so nice, funny and helps me with spanish. I think we have the best bonds possible for living together for about 2 days.
The first night we had spaghetti and sat in the kitchen talking and trying to learn spanish and the french that Devon only speaks. It helps that Ana teaches french other wise Devon would be lost and now it adds comedy to the dinner table as we all try and follow along. We explored Sol the first night and realized that Chris and Jimmy like about 5 minutes away. The perfect distance since we have alot of the same classes together. That Night we came back and got ready to start orinetation the next day and tried to adjust to our new homes. It was harder than I thought to fall asleep but that will get better with time.
School orientation has lasted the past two days and although it should be informative it seems to keep getting messed up. The school ran out of phones to rent, ran out of room on the day trips, and ruined the bus trip of Madrid. Other than that the school seems like it will be great once we start classes. I am taking Oceanography, anthropology, History of Modern Spain and drum roll please......Latin rhythms and Dance!!! Tomorrow I have all but the dance class.
As strange as it is that I am around the world from my family friends and most of my support system I feel very calm about living here and about how I will be able to handle the semester. I think that I have already grown up alot and can't wait to see where this semester takes me. I have full faith that I will make amazing new friends, connect in new ways to old ones and expereince new things that will add to making me a better person. All of which have just stregnthed my opnion that I am one of the luckiest people in the world. I have great friends, an amzing family and opppotunities such as this. I thank God eveyday for being fortunate and I can't wait to see how my time in Madrid will fit into his plan for me. I can't wait to blog more about my experiences and I hope to stay in contact.
Love. AC!