One Week In!

I can't believe that I've already been living in Pamplona for a full week. It feels like the time has gone so fast, and yet at the same time I feel like I've been here forever! I'm adjusting quickly and learning tons of new things every day.

Classes. I will be taking the following this semester: Advannced Spanish Grammar, Conversation, English-Spanish Translation, Hispanic Culture and Civilization, and 20th Century Spanish Literature. All of my professors are Spaniards and don't use any English in class. I've already started to understand native speakers better since I arrived here ... for example, yesterday, I was able to successfully get directions to the post office from random people walking on the sidewalk! It's exciting to be able to both speak and understand a foreign language and makes me feel a little better about being in such a different place.  Sometimes too I mix up my Spanish and English grammar and forget English words and spellings ... going back home will be an interesting experience! I am taking classes through an exchange program called ILCE, which has been around since 1964 and this semester has about 120 students. I've made friends from Norway, Japan, Taiwan, and met people from France, Germany, Italy ... it's fun :) Most of the students though seem to be from the United States, surprisingly... and many are from Taiwan.

The family. Maria, my host mom, goes by Peni (I think it comes from her full name). She's so nice, and takes care of me and my roommate, Kristen, amazingly well. She does our laundry (minus underwear- we hand wash that), changes our sheets every week, comes and tidies up our room every couple of days, restalks the bathroom regularly, cooks a TON (everything is homemade- from french fries to roasted red peppers to soup base), and has been calling the airports many times every day about our luggage. She also sets out breakfast for us everyday before we get up and go to school ... it's amazing! She even sewed the hole in my glove while I was at school. And whenever we go outside, she and Antonio (my host dad) are always so worried about us slipping on ice, or getting wet from the rain, or other small things that don't really seem like a big deal to me... Sara, my host sister, works as an auditor and is 22. She speaks English, so that comes in handy sometimes! She studied in New Mexico two years ago. David, 28, is a computer programmer. Both live at home and work full time. Lastly is Kuky, the pet dog. She is really cute, but during dinner whines for food! I've never heard a dog whine quite like that before ... so between Kuky, the 3 pet birds, the tv, and the family all trying to talk at once, things can get kind chaotic at meals! Always fun though.

Public transportation. The public transportation here is amazing- it's safe, clean, widespread, and accessible... I take the bus to school everyday, and it's really easy to use. It takes about half an hour to get from house to school... once it's nicer out, we'll probably walk to save money and get some exercise! Everyone here walks, and everyone looks really good and in shape. Rarely have I seen anyone that's overweight. It's surprising considering all of the food that they eat... Northern Spain and Pamplona are really expensive cities to live in (a pack of basic bic pens costs about $5 at the Carrefour which is like a Wal-Mart ... and most everything else, minus food, is expensive too), so walking sounds quite appealing...

Still no luggage... living off of nothing is getting kind of old. (I bought a shirt yesterday though at a fashion store called Mango, so that should help a little!) I guess the Madrid airport was closed for a few days due to the snow, and hundreds of people have lost their luggage.  Between that and the extra security after the bomb scare a couple of weeks ago, no wonder my suitcase is still missing... but as soon as my "maleta" (suitcase) comes, there shall be pictures :)

So long for now, more to come soon!