Ya Hace un Mes!

It´s been about a month since i first arrived here in Spain, and I have so much to write about!!



ARRIVAL: All of my flights and orientations went smoothly. I made plenty of new friends in New York and Madrid and, of course, didn´t sleep a wink from the time I left New York until I got to my new home. For the orientation in Madrid, we stayed at a youth hostel and had a surprisingly fun orientation. After a 5-hour bus ride the next day, I arrived in Bilbao, said temporary goodbyes to my new friends, and met my new family.

THE FIRST WEEK: The first day I arrived, I wasn´t very tired (even though I hadn´t slept for about 3 days...) so my family and I walked around Bilbao and I got to see some of the sights. I was glad to be shown around the city right away because I had no idea what it was like. The next day, we went to Santander, a city about 30 minutes away, to walk around and see the sights there as well. Within the first week I also registered for school, learned how to take the metro to school and home, ordered my school books, took a day beach trip with my family to nearby Castro, got a cell phone, and met with my liason AFSer. I admit, in the first couple of weeks, I didn´t speak much spanish because I was afraid that I wouldn´t be able to communicate well enough. But after the area orientation in Bilbao, I wanted to speak more spanish in order to learn faster!

THE PAST FEW WEEKS: I started school, which was quite awkward at first but now I have friends and understand more of what the teachers are talking about. I met up with all the other AFSers in my area at the orientation, which was great because I could guage how they were doing with their families, schools, etc, and then compare it to what was going on with me. I have also traveled around locally with my family a lot, which I am grateful for because it lets me see more of what´s around me. I have been spellunking in a cave with my friend from Germany, stayed overnight at my familie´s other apartment in Castro, celebrated 3 family birthdays, and met a lot of new family and friends. All in all, it has been a great first month!!

I have to go now but I will try to update this in a couple of weeks or in another month. Ciao!!