Hola, amigos!
I know I haven't written in a while (I'm sure you all are crying your eyes out), but a lot has happened, as I'm sure you can imagine. Let me just start by saying that I AM LOVING LIFE right now. You might be saying, "Well, duh!" But the first couple of days were a little rough and strange, and I spent most of the time in a sleepy, emotional funk. It was weird. Very weird. But now, my life is full of life, and I find myself smiling even in the bathroom. And I'm singing more. These are good signs.
I wonder if Spaniards here ever take a second to just marvel at the scenery around them and the lives they live. Horses with carriages. Gigantic, intricate cathedrals. Cars that go down one-way streets without any mistake about which way to go. Orange trees literally everywhere you look. Little kiddies with tiny petti coats and knee-high socks. Metros that go so smoothly. Cobblestone streets and fountains and cats that randomly roam. Aromas that seem to switch every five seconds, often because of the lovely scents of people walking by. This place is another world. And it is beautiful and strange and wonderful.
Today was my third day of school, and I am THOROUGHLY enjoying it. I'm into the details a little bit, and hopefully you are, too, because I'm going to describe my day. My pay-as-you-go cellphone buzzes at about 7:45 am, and I am reminded of where I am as I lay in bed and stretch. I get ready and fix myself pan tostada with jelly while my host mom is asleep. Her name is Guille, and we have a lot of fun together. Then I sometimes meet up with another American who lives very nearby, and we walk to the metro on my favorite street of my neighborhood, Asuncion. This street just gives me a good vibe. We board the very clean and swift metro and take it to school; classes start at 9:30. What's funny about the metro and Spain in general is that people barely smile. If you smile at them and they happen to smile back at all, it's as if it takes them 5 Mississipi seconds to realize that you are smiling at them, and then all you get is a subtle curve of the mouth. It's kind of like giving a big hug and getting the whimpiest one back. Haha. And when you say "Hola" to someone next to you, they look at you, sometimes give you the stare down, and then say it back. As you can see, people really keep to themselves here, and smiling is not something their faces readily exercise. Very interesting.
Anyways, we get to school, and right now I am in an intensive language course for two weeks before actual school starts. It is so stimulating for the brain, lemme tell you. I have learned SO SO much. And my teacher is amazing. She gives me really great ideas for when/if I become a teacher. Have I said this before? Sorry if I repeat myself. And she uses every single minute of the three hours that we are in there with her. We get a 15 minute break, which is nice.
Then we go back on the metro to our respective places and eat lunch with our mothers/families. My host mom is hilarious. And she cooks fantastically. Every meal is something different and absolutely delicious. Salt, olive oil, ham, and eggs are all essential for a Spanish diet, I get the feeling. Lunch is the biggest meal here, and so I always look forward to it. We talk during every meal, and it's great, because what I'm learning in class often is reinforced when Guille talks to me. Every day it seems like I can understand her better. And we watch T.V. for lunch and dinner, too. So after lunch, my friends (the friends I hang out with here are really great, and we are all so different, but it totally works! We have a grand ol' time.) and I have gone out to wander around until dinner time, which for me is at 9:30 pm! Tonight was a hoot with Guille. I was all smiles and giggles. She cracks me up, with her animated and enthusiastic manner of speaking. We watched a very important futbol game tonight, between her team (Besta) and Barcelona (with the famous Messi whom I am learning about). And she got so excited for her team! It was really fun, and I find myself taking a liking for futbol. It really is exciting.
And now, at about this time (12:09 am), I head to bed. There is so much more that I could describe to you, but it would take too long! I hope you all are doing well. Thank you for following! I'm excited to share with you all these things, and I thank God for this opportunity.
Love,
Allison :)
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