A New City, a New Life!

Hey folks! I have been in Segovia for three days now, and I love it. But before I get too carried away, I'll start from the top to try to get everyone up to speed.

Travel was very smooth. Left Minneapolis/St. Paul airport and flew into Detroit where we had about an hour layover. Then jumped back on a plane to go to Amsterdam, about a 7 and a half hour operation...we made some pretty good time I guess. Watched a movie, took a short nap, despite being VERY sleepy after not having slept at all the night before. We landed in Amsterdam and zipped through customs there. When we boarded the plane for Madrid, there weren't many people at all, and I ended up getting a whole row to myself, so I slept for the majority of this 2.5 hour flight. I woke up about a half hour from our landing, and it was pretty cloudy where we were flying. We landed to find snow. I thought I left all Minnesotan weather-related items IN Minnesota, but I guess not. We got off the plane, all very sleepy. At this point, it was about 9:30 am local time. We met up with our larger group and waited for our program director to arrive. She eventually showed up, about 2 hours late, primarily because of the snow. Apparently. they haven't seen snow in these parts for a VERY long time.

When we finally got to Segovia, we left to go with our host families. I later learned that my friend Adam left with the family I was supposed to go with, but our names sound relatively similar when pronounced, and nobody really bothered to clarify. So I went with his family... but now claim them as my own! :) I stayed in the night I arrived with my host mom, ate dinner, showered, watched some news and slept.

I decided just now, that I don't want this to sound like a lame narrative. So I'll point out some highlights of what I've done so far.

Our first full day, we toured and took some pictures of a lot of the city, ancient architecture, all with this snow that's apparently NEVER here! We went out later that night, caught up with some of the night life. There is a drink that's fairly popular here too, called Sangria, containing wine, fruit, and lots of sugar. No one sleeps until around 2 or 3 in the morning, even if they're hanging out at home. But there's a nap involved all around the city midday. Shops and restaurants close, everyone goes home for a meal and a nap. Everything starts up again around 5. Yesterday (Sunday) I slept in kind of late, then went to a couple family functions with my host mom. We went and had coffee with her friend, who happens to be another host mom to another student. After that we went to her sister's house, where it seemed like they would just argue and yell... I was a little uncomfortable, but it was interesting to listen to. A lot of the language they use here is a lot more vulgar than what I'm used to. Five other Spaniards and myself sitting at a table, mostly them talking or yelling, and they were all smoking too. Cripes, even the dog was smoking.. :P Okay, not really, but everyone else was. That's something that will have to grow on me. I'm sure everyone reading this knows about greeting someone by kissing their cheeks... right? That is something I definitely need to get used to. I was out the other night and met my friend's host sister. I greeted her by shaking her hand accidentally, and she gave me a really odd look. Something to work on!

There's still a bit of a language barrier for me, but it really is getting better. I only speak English when I'm with my friends, otherwise, my game face is on and I'm doing my best to communicate with the locals or with my family.

The food here is good. It's always too much though. I need to find a polite way to communicate to my family that I'm not able to eat all of the food they throw at me! More to come on that later.

Well, this is my first official trip update. It was written very much so on a whim, just because I found internet access at the University. I'll try to compose something ahead of time from now on and make it more interesting, and maybe with more uncanny language. Who knows? Perhaps even pictures next post? :) Take care guys!