Breathing in a New Culture: Week One in Alcalá

Every single day has felt like an eternity. But surprisingly, the entire first week of my study abroad program has passed. So much has happened in one week, and within those seven days, I've made new friends and also learned so many new things about Spain, myself, and others.
It all started after my mom left for Chicago on Thursday morning of May 30th. I had the whole day. To myself. To do as I pleased. By myself.

I remember when she left I was thinking, "No big deal. I'm alone without my parents when I'm down at IU for college. Not the first time I've been on my own..." Hah! Yeah, that's true. But the moment she left I went back upstairs to my hotel room and noticed that the room had only contained my luggage, my carry on, and only my things. At college I'm on my own - but home was a 5 hour zombie drive away. In Spain (or any different country for that matter) it wouldn't work that way. I'd have to go through a whole chain of events if I needed to go home, and if anything were to happen, no one could easily come help me.
I realized, that for the first time ever, I am literally on my own. The feeling of major responsibility had never hit me so hard.
I took a deep breath. Turned around. Ran out the door. Took the elevator down to the lobby. B-lined to the front desk... and tried to telepathically tell the receptionist I needed a map of Alcalá because I totally forgot how to speak any form of language. Two awkward minutes later I gathered my shit together and got three different maps: first a map of the entire city, a second map of the city center, and the third was an extra map - just incase. Needless to say I studied the fuck out of those maps. I marked where every single bus stop was and every route possible that would lead me to the main plaza. Call me "anal" but whatever, I don't care. I was having a responsible adrenaline rush. Anyway, after I left to do my own self exploring everything was just peachy. I ate lunch, toured around the town, and did some shopping!

But then came the next day: Program Orientation.
Orientation weekend went from Friday, May 31st - Saturday, June 1st, and ended on Sunday after the program excursion to Madrid. Those three days were the longest, most intense, exciting, and thrilling days of my life. I learned so many new things and met so many amazing people. I have never felt so alive!

Friday and Saturday were spent meeting the students in the program and getting the low-down on how life was going to happen for the next two months. Although meeting the other students and making new friends was awesome and exciting, it wasn't what really put me on my toes.
Saturday night, at 9:30 p.m., I met my spanish host-mom.
Before meeting our host-families we had to wait in the hotel lobby. We all had different pick-up times and mine wasn't until 9:30 p.m. I had goosebumps and the shakes. I was so incredibly nervous! I remember earlier in the afternoon they gave us packets of information about our host-families. I received a packet about my host-mom (I was only assigned a mom) with her picture and information. The second I looked at it, her picture was imprinted into my memory. I got chills when I opened that packet and looked at the image of who would be my "mom" for the next two months. As I waited in the hotel lobby I couldn't stop talking. Anyone within a 4 ft radius of me was initiated into conversation and/or mumbled to. I was fidgeting, changing my seat, shifting in my seat, and randomly getting up. Then for some reason I decided to go to the bathroom and wash my hands (yeah, I don't even know).

I walked out, went around the corner, and there she was in a red peacoat. She looked just as she did in her picture: Incredibly long dark brown hair, charmingly small, high cheek bones, and almond shaped eyes.
Meet Sol de la Torre, my beautiful spanish host-mom.

Sol de la Torre: My spanish host-mom

Strange... she looks almost like my mom.

After she picked me up, I quickly dropped my things off at my new home in her apartment in downtown Alcalá, and she took me to her friend's house for a party! It was her friend's 25th birthday and it was fantastic and delicious. They made homemade paella de mariscos, navajas (razor clams), and mejillones (mussels). Everything. was. so. good!

Paella de mariscos

Mejillones

Navajas

After those crazy two days I was exhausted. I didn't even unpack. The next day I had to get up at 8:00 a.m. to meet everyone at the train station to go to Madrid. As tired as I was, it was worth it. I'll never get tired of Madrid. It's such an amazing city and there's so much to see! We only got a quick comprehensive tour but I'll have plenty of opportunities to go explore with my friends over these next two months. After the tour we were allowed to go do our own thing. Me and some friends decided to get some tapas and visit Parque Retiro. It was beautiful! I love this park... I can't even explain how amazing it is. Maybe this picture will give you an idea:

Parque Retiro, Madrid

By the end of the day we were absolutely exhausted. On the train home, our friend fell asleep in a seat next to two cops, who started joking around with his sleeping body by waving their batons in front of his face and making silly faces hoping he'd wake up.

He didn't wake up. And so people pulled out their cameras. It was awesome.

After we got back to Alcalá, my host mom picked me up and we went out for tapas, had dinner, and came back home. Shortly after laying down, I passed out in my bed and I dreamed my way to the first day of classes at la Universidad de Alcalá de Henares.

Let me quickly summarize what the first week of classes consisted of:

Figuring out my classes, going to classes, meeting more students, speaking spanish, eating tapas, studying the fuck out of my spanish book, going on tours, speaking more spanish, realizing I still need to study more spanish, walking, going to classes, adjusting to a new lifestyle, adjusting to a new culture, figuring out how to properly take a siesta, speaking spanish, learning how to balance work and play, balancing bonding with new friends and bonding with my host-mom, speaking spanish spanish spanish, listening to spanish, understanding whatever I can, learning whatever I can, eating, drinking, hearing, seeing, feeling, and breathing spanish culture.

Sorry, was that confusing? I know, I'm still trying to take everything in.

This is hard. Really hard. Every day is a challenge. And every day is a success. It's trial and error, and if things don't work out, there's always tomorrow; another day to try again. 

It's frustrating. It's exciting. It's scary. It's exhilarating. And I love it.

One week down, seven more to go.

Thank God, 'cause I love being here.