The 16th I moved in with my third and final host family. So far so good. My host family consists of mom Yolanda (it's not a black name, it's Spanish fyi), dad Jesus, brothers Jon (15) and Inaki (9). The day I moved with them coincided with a relative's birthday so I got to meet almost all the relatives right away which was nice. My host sister is on exchange in Kansas right now and will be returning June 1st so I won't be with this family long.
Well that's all I have time for as I have to pack for London. you know, 12 days in London, no big deal.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
All Dogs Go To Heaven
Saturday I came home from running a few errands with my host mom. My friends and I communicate via Facebook to make plans, so I wanted to check to see if we had decided on a meeting place. I opened up my laptop, signed in, and then quickly used the bathroom. When I came back, I had missed a call on skype from my mom. Uh oh. We usually schedule our skype dates.
Both of my parents were in front of the computer. My mom started the conversation with "We have some bad news." And I knew. My heart sank, my throat closed up, and my eyes welled up with tears. My dog Tess died quietly in her sleep on Friday. Her passing isn't a surprise since she's been sick almost the whole time I've been in Spain, but that doesn't make it any easier to lose your first dog. Thank goodness I already plans to hang out with my friends Saturday, because I had to get out of my house. So I left and cried the entire bus ride into the city. My friends were so supportive and comforting. I'm so thankful I have them, especially right now.
Both of my parents were in front of the computer. My mom started the conversation with "We have some bad news." And I knew. My heart sank, my throat closed up, and my eyes welled up with tears. My dog Tess died quietly in her sleep on Friday. Her passing isn't a surprise since she's been sick almost the whole time I've been in Spain, but that doesn't make it any easier to lose your first dog. Thank goodness I already plans to hang out with my friends Saturday, because I had to get out of my house. So I left and cried the entire bus ride into the city. My friends were so supportive and comforting. I'm so thankful I have them, especially right now.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Potpourri V
Yes, another one.
--London is where I will be spending my Easter, along with my exchange friends Elle and Mitchell. Tengo ganas, to say the least.
--I have moved on to my third journal recently. Hopefully I have recored all the good and bad, the ups and the downs, the great times and the difficult ones. Trust me, no matter how mediocre my day, I always have something to write.
--Some of you may have seen my recent status on facebook about coming home soon. April Fool's! I will be here as long as possible.
--My return date to the US is still unknown, but it may be sooner than I ever anticipated. My third host family has a daughter on exchange in the US for her senior year (Segun Bachiller here, what curso I'm in). At the end of segun bachiller, there is an exam to gain entrance to university. Since this does not exist in the US, she will have to return to Spain for it of course. But the exam is in early June, and once she comes home there won't be room for my in my third host family's house. So as of June 1st, I will no longer have a place to live in Pamplona. I'm still trying to figure things out--and maybe they will be able to host me--but if not, I will be homeless very soon. And I will most likely be forced to end my exchange much sooner than I ever imagined. You have no idea how much this saddens me. I have no interest in coming back. And to have to come back so soon? Ugh, please. Anything but that. It's a very worrisome thought, and I'm trying to think of other options and places to go, but there really aren't many options. So hopefully I'll be able to stay somewhere.
--Where I'll be living this fall is still unknown also. Seriously, there is so much uncertainty in my life right now. It's hard to think of anything but where I'll be. And I have no answers. My first choice is SLU Madrid, but my dad is firmly against that. He supported me going on an exchange, but I think he misses me greatly, and another year so far from home would be hard on him. BUT if I went to college in Madrid, I could come home for Christmas, unlike this year with my exchange (as that's not an option). LSU is my first choice in the US. Really, though, I have no desire to live on that continent in that culture and speak that language. I'm so much happier in Spain, even on days that are difficult. I write all of this as if I have some say in the decision. Money will be the deciding factor. Wait for my FAFSA is what I will continue to do.
--I had lunch with my first host family recently. It was so nice to see them again. I still feel closer to my first host family than my second. Sometimes, it feels only like I live in the same house with my second family and I'm not really a part of the family. But I change families April 16th so I don't have much longer with that sentiment. Hopefully I'll be able to enjoy my time with my third family, even though I know they're kicking me out.
--And if anyone is interested in coming to Spain (or anywhere in Europe,I'll travel) Let me know! I'd love to see some familiar faces. It doesn't seem like my mom will be coming, and I doubt my cousin's visit too so sharing my life with anybody would be nice. Although it seems unlikely.
--I'm sorry if this is repetitive or is my vocabulary has shrunk, but my english really has deteriorated quite a bit. It's embarrassing actually. Maybe 12 days in London will improve it.
--London is where I will be spending my Easter, along with my exchange friends Elle and Mitchell. Tengo ganas, to say the least.
--I have moved on to my third journal recently. Hopefully I have recored all the good and bad, the ups and the downs, the great times and the difficult ones. Trust me, no matter how mediocre my day, I always have something to write.
--Some of you may have seen my recent status on facebook about coming home soon. April Fool's! I will be here as long as possible.
--My return date to the US is still unknown, but it may be sooner than I ever anticipated. My third host family has a daughter on exchange in the US for her senior year (Segun Bachiller here, what curso I'm in). At the end of segun bachiller, there is an exam to gain entrance to university. Since this does not exist in the US, she will have to return to Spain for it of course. But the exam is in early June, and once she comes home there won't be room for my in my third host family's house. So as of June 1st, I will no longer have a place to live in Pamplona. I'm still trying to figure things out--and maybe they will be able to host me--but if not, I will be homeless very soon. And I will most likely be forced to end my exchange much sooner than I ever imagined. You have no idea how much this saddens me. I have no interest in coming back. And to have to come back so soon? Ugh, please. Anything but that. It's a very worrisome thought, and I'm trying to think of other options and places to go, but there really aren't many options. So hopefully I'll be able to stay somewhere.
--Where I'll be living this fall is still unknown also. Seriously, there is so much uncertainty in my life right now. It's hard to think of anything but where I'll be. And I have no answers. My first choice is SLU Madrid, but my dad is firmly against that. He supported me going on an exchange, but I think he misses me greatly, and another year so far from home would be hard on him. BUT if I went to college in Madrid, I could come home for Christmas, unlike this year with my exchange (as that's not an option). LSU is my first choice in the US. Really, though, I have no desire to live on that continent in that culture and speak that language. I'm so much happier in Spain, even on days that are difficult. I write all of this as if I have some say in the decision. Money will be the deciding factor. Wait for my FAFSA is what I will continue to do.
--I had lunch with my first host family recently. It was so nice to see them again. I still feel closer to my first host family than my second. Sometimes, it feels only like I live in the same house with my second family and I'm not really a part of the family. But I change families April 16th so I don't have much longer with that sentiment. Hopefully I'll be able to enjoy my time with my third family, even though I know they're kicking me out.
--And if anyone is interested in coming to Spain (or anywhere in Europe,I'll travel) Let me know! I'd love to see some familiar faces. It doesn't seem like my mom will be coming, and I doubt my cousin's visit too so sharing my life with anybody would be nice. Although it seems unlikely.
--I'm sorry if this is repetitive or is my vocabulary has shrunk, but my english really has deteriorated quite a bit. It's embarrassing actually. Maybe 12 days in London will improve it.
San Sebastian
This past Saturday my exchange friends and I, wanting to aprovechar el buen tiempo, decided to go to San Sebastian for the day (how's that for spanglish?)
San Sebastian is located in Pais Vasco and is a popular beach resort for many in Spain. The city, the beach, the weather and the people were all gorgeous.
We arrived at 9.30, greeted by another exchange student and friend Andrew, who has the luck of living in San Sebastian for the year. After getting coffee and changing, we booked it for the beach. And spent all day there. Literally, all day. Even after the sun had gone and the temperature dropped, we still sat on the beach, grateful to basque in the sun in Basque country.
I must say, I love my life. I love that I can go to the beach for the day and return home to my comfy bed. This definitely won't be happening this summer in Memphis.
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