Well, I've almost been here three weeks, and I feel confident in saying that I love it here and I couldn't have made a better decision in deciding to studying abroad or in coming to Santander! (I know, 180 degrees right?)
I definitely had a rough start, but I think I should have realized it wasn't going to be all fun and games for the first little while... I did travel halfway around the world, not knowing anyone, to a completely different culture--no dryers, no Mexican food and no Sonic. ;)
But I am so incredibly happy now! I think the key (for all those reading this thinking about studying abroad) to adjusting/dealing with culture shock was when I stopped comparing everything to home. It's not comparable. No there aren't dryers, or Mexican food, or Sonic, but obviously these people are doing just fine without the things that make America home for us. Not to mention, at home there aren't street festivals, or tons of foreigners with cultures to learn about, or parties (calm down momma, I promise I'm 'being smart':) that start at one in the morning and are still going strong when the sun comes up.
I think that my classes starting was another thing that helped. One of my classes is by far the hardest class I've ever taken... The first class period alone reviewed my entire knowledge of the Spanish language and four years of Spanish. However, thanks to Baylor Spanish kicking my rear in gear I think I'll be okay--I'm really hoping to try to GPA boost this semester since last semester wasn't the prettiest grades wise... As in it looked more like a bad teenage love poem than an Emily Dickinson original.
I've also let go of trying to hold on to home. It's not here. I can't spend three hours skyping my family and friends every day... So I'm trusting that the people who love and care about me will be there when I get back! And if not, well I spose I didn't really need those friendships anyways! Kidding! Although I'm really not.
For Lent there wasn't really anything I could give up food wise... But I decided to try to spend an extra five minutes in prayer everyday. It's only been a few days and I already feel more peace than I've felt in a long time. Trusting God with the little things as well as the big things has given me so much free time I'm not sure what to do with myself!
I have also kept up the running. Trying to lose some weight before "Nude Beach Season." JUST KIDDING. I will never been seen in a nude beach. Or at least nude at a nude beach... Do you think it's frowned upon to take pictures? Just to prove such things really exist? Probably... ;)
I still miss and love everyone! I can't say thank you enough for all the prayers that have been coming my way. Until next time! :-)
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Learn Something New, Everyday!
Not much to say today... The last few days have been pretty slow! I have officially been here for two weeks.
My Spanish isn't perfect, I still get lost, and I definitely am still adjusting. But I will say, the Spanish is better, I can run around town and still know how to get back, and I have adjusted! I have made some great friends, and I'm looking forward to making more.
I've semi-planned a day trip to Bilbao (not Bilbo as in Bilbo Baggins as my family suggested), and a trip to London with a friend from Baylor in March!
My mantra lately has been running. It's like, I have to get out of this house and I can't afford to spend more money or eat more food! I spose running is a good energy outlet.
Let's see. Thursday night was a hero party, so I of course dressed up as my favorite hero--Harry Potter! It's more of an obsession than a hero...
Friday night was an 80's party. I got dressed up and didn't actually go. I am already sick of the partying here! (Gasp, outrageous, blah blah blah I've heard it already.) The peer-pressure is a lot more intense than in the states, or at least than at Baylor. The parties don't start until around midnight or one, and don't end until four. Everyone has drank incredibly too much before they even start, and then proceed to dancing with beer (slinging it everywhere around them) for the next three hours. I really want to meet more people, so I spose I'll suck it up a few more times and try to meet someone else who would rather not walk home wet, at four in the morning, reeking of alcohol, with feet that hurt from drunk people and their "dancing." (I'm a little bitter if you can't tell, I don't get the whole 'drink-from-breakfast-until-we-pass-out-at-night' mentality.
Saturday was slow, I went to the parade for the Carnaval here in Santander! So many politically incorrect floats that would not be allowed in the states. (For example, a Pope with one's private body parts covering the trailer). My friend from the states, Katie, and I went to the American Diner here. When we walked in, the owner took our picture in front of his sign for his website! Apparently not many American's eat at the American Diner--(probably because the food was NOT American.)
Yesterday I went to Spanish Mass! I was lucky, I convinced two of my friends to go with me. I feel better, because neither of them understood any more than I did. It was so bad, I couldn't even tell when they were reading scripture, and when they were praying. (Not sure I would have been able to tell even if it were in English though.)
Today Carmen took me around to some of the beaches! And there is sun. Which means I am a happy camper! I hadn't realized how much the lack of sun was effecting my mood. I am definitely from the Southern US, all I want is some sweet tea and Cane's chicken. But I'd settle for Mi Pueblo if it was an option.
Missing my family, got to skype them all (except Abigail who is eternally busy) yesterday! Have gotten to skype my wonderful boyfriend almost everyday, and have skyped a few friends since I've been here. I think I'm doing decently okay at keeping up with everyone, it's just hard because there are so many people. If I skyped as much as I'd like, I'd never leave the couch!
Keep praying for me, everything has worked out wonderfully! I am beginning to feel good about being here, and I am really getting used to the "European life"! If I could have one thing, it would me more friends, or more friends that want to travel, or more friends that don't feel the need to drink themselves to the size of the Bay of Biscay.
I love and miss America, and everything from home!
My Spanish isn't perfect, I still get lost, and I definitely am still adjusting. But I will say, the Spanish is better, I can run around town and still know how to get back, and I have adjusted! I have made some great friends, and I'm looking forward to making more.
I've semi-planned a day trip to Bilbao (not Bilbo as in Bilbo Baggins as my family suggested), and a trip to London with a friend from Baylor in March!
My mantra lately has been running. It's like, I have to get out of this house and I can't afford to spend more money or eat more food! I spose running is a good energy outlet.
Let's see. Thursday night was a hero party, so I of course dressed up as my favorite hero--Harry Potter! It's more of an obsession than a hero...
Friday night was an 80's party. I got dressed up and didn't actually go. I am already sick of the partying here! (Gasp, outrageous, blah blah blah I've heard it already.) The peer-pressure is a lot more intense than in the states, or at least than at Baylor. The parties don't start until around midnight or one, and don't end until four. Everyone has drank incredibly too much before they even start, and then proceed to dancing with beer (slinging it everywhere around them) for the next three hours. I really want to meet more people, so I spose I'll suck it up a few more times and try to meet someone else who would rather not walk home wet, at four in the morning, reeking of alcohol, with feet that hurt from drunk people and their "dancing." (I'm a little bitter if you can't tell, I don't get the whole 'drink-from-breakfast-until-we-pass-out-at-night' mentality.
Saturday was slow, I went to the parade for the Carnaval here in Santander! So many politically incorrect floats that would not be allowed in the states. (For example, a Pope with one's private body parts covering the trailer). My friend from the states, Katie, and I went to the American Diner here. When we walked in, the owner took our picture in front of his sign for his website! Apparently not many American's eat at the American Diner--(probably because the food was NOT American.)
Yesterday I went to Spanish Mass! I was lucky, I convinced two of my friends to go with me. I feel better, because neither of them understood any more than I did. It was so bad, I couldn't even tell when they were reading scripture, and when they were praying. (Not sure I would have been able to tell even if it were in English though.)
Today Carmen took me around to some of the beaches! And there is sun. Which means I am a happy camper! I hadn't realized how much the lack of sun was effecting my mood. I am definitely from the Southern US, all I want is some sweet tea and Cane's chicken. But I'd settle for Mi Pueblo if it was an option.
Missing my family, got to skype them all (except Abigail who is eternally busy) yesterday! Have gotten to skype my wonderful boyfriend almost everyday, and have skyped a few friends since I've been here. I think I'm doing decently okay at keeping up with everyone, it's just hard because there are so many people. If I skyped as much as I'd like, I'd never leave the couch!
Keep praying for me, everything has worked out wonderfully! I am beginning to feel good about being here, and I am really getting used to the "European life"! If I could have one thing, it would me more friends, or more friends that want to travel, or more friends that don't feel the need to drink themselves to the size of the Bay of Biscay.
I love and miss America, and everything from home!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Frustrated.
Monday was supposed to be my first day of class. When I arrived, I found out that out of my five classes, only two were scheduled to start this week. The other two will start next week. Then, they decided that since not everyone is registered, they are going to postpone the original three (that I thought were going to start Monday) to the 27th!
They of course didn't decide this until I walked thirty minutes in the rain (literally uphill both ways) to the university.
Yesterday I relaxed a lot, but today I decided I needed to do something! I took a tour of the Cathedral and the Museo de Bellas Artes here in Spain.
The Cathedral is very old and has a lot of history. While I couldn't understand a lot of it, I'm glad I went to see it!
I loved the Museum of Bellas Artes here. It was all modern artwork, but it was very interesting. I will say these people are obsessed with the naked human body. (I saw more nude modern artwork here than I have seen in every museum combined in the United States.)
There was one painter, Flavia da rin, whose artwork I was completely taken by. So different and vivid. (I have put one of the pieces below. Let it be known, I did not take it! No photography allowed.)
All in all, today was good--but I am getting frustrated.
My Spanish doesn't seem to be getting better, I can't understand half of what anyone says, it rains ALL the time, I still haven't adjusted to the eating schedule, and people here are generally late with no sense of urgency at all.
I feel like a little children's book my mom used to read us. It was about a little bear who no matter what, "I've tried and I've tried and she will not stop crying"--couldn't make his sister stop crying. Except here, "I've tried and I've tried and I still don't understand." My mom isn't here to tell me what the baby, or anything else (including my lack of ability to speak Spanish) needs...
Patience will be key for me! I'm learning a lot about being independent. Mainly, that I don't like being independent. But spending so much time alone has also been good for me. I've prayed and spent more time with God than I have in my whole life, so there is the ray of sunshine!
Please keep the prayers for me coming as I struggle to stay busy for the next few weeks, also pray that I don't release the anger of a confused and hungry American on these poor Spaniards!
They of course didn't decide this until I walked thirty minutes in the rain (literally uphill both ways) to the university.
Yesterday I relaxed a lot, but today I decided I needed to do something! I took a tour of the Cathedral and the Museo de Bellas Artes here in Spain.
The Cathedral is very old and has a lot of history. While I couldn't understand a lot of it, I'm glad I went to see it!
I loved the Museum of Bellas Artes here. It was all modern artwork, but it was very interesting. I will say these people are obsessed with the naked human body. (I saw more nude modern artwork here than I have seen in every museum combined in the United States.)
There was one painter, Flavia da rin, whose artwork I was completely taken by. So different and vivid. (I have put one of the pieces below. Let it be known, I did not take it! No photography allowed.)
All in all, today was good--but I am getting frustrated.
My Spanish doesn't seem to be getting better, I can't understand half of what anyone says, it rains ALL the time, I still haven't adjusted to the eating schedule, and people here are generally late with no sense of urgency at all.
I feel like a little children's book my mom used to read us. It was about a little bear who no matter what, "I've tried and I've tried and she will not stop crying"--couldn't make his sister stop crying. Except here, "I've tried and I've tried and I still don't understand." My mom isn't here to tell me what the baby, or anything else (including my lack of ability to speak Spanish) needs...
Patience will be key for me! I'm learning a lot about being independent. Mainly, that I don't like being independent. But spending so much time alone has also been good for me. I've prayed and spent more time with God than I have in my whole life, so there is the ray of sunshine!
Please keep the prayers for me coming as I struggle to stay busy for the next few weeks, also pray that I don't release the anger of a confused and hungry American on these poor Spaniards!
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