"What about second breakfast?"

Aragorn: Gentlemen! We do not stop 'til nightfall.

Pippin: But what about breakfast?

Aragorn: You've already had it.

Pippin: We've had one, yes. But what about second breakfast?

Merry: Don't think he knows about second breakfast, Pip.

Pippin: What about elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about them, doesn't he?

Merry: I wouldn't count on it

 

  Alright this quote deserves some explanation, but so does my life right now so it works!

 

I am falling into my schedule nicely and it is a crazy schedule.  Who knew a year without having to do homework or work would be so busy.  So my weekly schedule looks something like this:

 

School 8-2 Monday- Friday (fairly normal)

Monday: Free Night

Tuesday: Band Practice 7:30-9

Wednesday: Oboe lessons 6:30-7:30, Soccer practice 8-9:30

Thursday: Free Night

Friday: Soccer Practice 8-9:30

Saturday: Free

Sunday: Soccer Game any time between 10-5

 

Soccer, Band, School and eating seem to define my life right now.  Kind of like my life in the U.S. was just transported to Spain with completely new people. I'm sure you're wondering what the Spanish version of these look like to explanation time:

 

Eating:  Meal times here in Spain are very different than the U.S. and there are 5 of them!  Hence the quote including a massive list of different meals.  I feel like every time I finish eating I sit for five minutes then think okay, now I just have to wait around for the next meal. So they go like this:

 

Breakfast at 7:15 in the morning for me. By myself so I normally have peanut butter toast or cereal with Nesquik to drink.  My host mom buys various pastries and chocolate everything intended to have for breakfast, but often too much sweet stuff in the morning makes me want to throw up so I stick with peanut butter.  Also, my host mom just recently bought multigrain bread for me! I almost wanted to cry at her kindness and I was very happy to see something other than wonder bread with the crust cut off. Now I have multigrain toast with peanut butter which lasts way longer than a chocolate filled croissant.  

 

Lunch (which is not your idea of lunch) is at about 10:30 is during the school day. I'll get to my school schedule later, but basically there are two breaks one at 10:30 and one at 12. Everyone eats a sandwich at the 10:30 break then a few people eat at the 12 o'clock break. What I normally do it make a Nutella sandwich and have an apple at the 10:30 break then noting at 12. The point is you have something small in between Breakfast and the big meal of the day. No idea why they think half of a baguette with ham is small, but whatever.

 

La Comida (which literally means the food) is between 2:30 and 4. This is the big meal of the day, like dinner in the U.S. It's called comida because honestly if you think about it, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are only 3 meals and here we have 5 so you need more names for them.  If you go to a formal meal at this time (like my Rotary meetings) it's a huge 3 course meal.  In my house we always have a cup of gazpacho, which is like cold tomato soup, with croutons and cucumber in it. (We'll stop having this once it gets cold because it's meant to be something refreshing to cool you down from the hot day) We then have the main dish with ranges from pork chops and potatoes to pasta to clams and muscles. My host mom is a great cook and she's very formal about plating stuff and particular silverware, all that stuff.  She also always gives me, my host dad and Santiago (my 20 year old host brother) the same size portions and if not, I get more.  It's crazy cause hers is always less. It's some serve the other before me type thing it's just that she wants less. I want less, but my portion is always massive.  Anyway after the main dish we have some type of fruit. I normally have a peach because I prefer it over melon. Side note but interesting fact: they peel all of their fruit. I eat my peach with the skin on and apparently that's really weird.  They peel pears, apples, peaches, grapes... everything, yes even grapes.

 

Merienda (which means snack) is generally between 5:30-8. We don't always have this. If anything my host mom will offer me ice cream or something small.  Many Spanish people go out to coffee bars and have espresso and a pastry or beer and small appetizers. Depends on what you feel like. This also just meant to be something small to hold you over, not that I'm ever really hungry after these massive meals in the middle of the afternoon. 

 

Dinner between 9:30-11. You may have noticed all of my activities seem to start really late. That's because they're after merienda and for sure before dinner.  Dinner is meant to be something small like a sandwich, frozen people, a variety of small appetizers, French tortilla (a omelet with just cheese, don't know how that resembles a tortilla or how it's French) Dinner is generally when I talk to my family the most so it generally ends around 12.

 

Now soccer, which I'm clearly always well fueled for, is great!  I'm so thankful I had a willing host family who set up all of these activities before I even got here. Soccer is so great. So soccer is Spain's sports. Well it's really the world's sport (everywhere but the U.S. cause we'd rather pay for a ton  of expensive equipment to less people can play because they can't afford it). Anyway soccer is huge here, but for boys.  Kinda like football or wrestling but not so drastic. The girls that do play are generally the ones who played with their bothers or the neighborhood guys all the time when they were growing up.  Lots of tom boys as well and lots of lesbians in turn.  Anyway, because of the lack of girls that broke the barrier, feminine leagues are hard to find.  I am lucky to be a part of league that has 17 teams in in and is for all of the providence of Murcia.  This seems like a lot of teams, but it's for any girl who wants to play age 13-? I heard my coach joking if some 60 year old lady wants to come and play with us she can, right along with the 13 year olds.  This age factor definitely makes it interesting.  I am one of two 18 year olds on my team and we're the youngest. Everyone else is in their 20's and a few of them are married. HOWEVER, it's impossible to tell. The other American girls and I were conversing about how crazy hard it is to tell what age people are.  Pretty much everyone looks way younger than they actually are. But anyway, my team is awesome!  They are all such nice people and have been nothing, but inviting. We played a friendly game on Wednesday and by the end they all thought I was amazing and were already upset I'm leaving in 8 months.  Oh right! and the league goes from October to June! First off, crazy long season compared to what I'm used to but I guess if you can play outside why not? and Second, it's exactly the duration of my exchange! So awesome.  We had our first game on Sunday and I wasn't able to late because I'm still wait for foreigner approval from Madrid to play in the league. Anyway, they lost and now they're all convinced I am the key to success.  We'll see. I am really excited to talk soccer with them though. Most of them don't know a ton about tactics and strategies because they've never played on a team.  My coach says he can tell that I know soccer because of my instruction to the other girls and my actions on the field.  Finally 14 years of standing in the back of the field telling everyone else what to do is appreciated... Just kidding but I do have a better idea of the big picture because of that and I think it will help here!  So excited to get to spend a year with these girls.  Also one last not one the soccer sense: our field is dirt, completely dirt which makes everything a little faster, dirtier and interesting.

 

Band: I am playing in a community style band ranging from 8 years olds to 60 year olds.  Oh! Side bar: music and sports are not through the school system  The schools have no programs or activities so everything is through the community.  Furthermore, the band I play in is made up of people from all over Cartagena that just wanted to pick up an instrument for fun or go to the music conservatory everyday after school and are looking at careers in music. It's pretty cool. I am currently playing with the beginner band of about 15 people. We are really bad and we don't have every part represented so the pieces generally don't sound that great. But, it's fun and they're all really nice.  That said, their is a larger band, the actual band, which is about 35 people.  For performances we all play together and that makes things much more fun because they're really good. I never would've guessed I would have to travel to Spain to march in another parade, but since I've been here I've marched in 3 parades!  During the cities festival (Cartagineses y Romanos) they have 2 parades.  One for all of the people dressed as Romans and the other for all the people dressed at Cartagineses (naturally). We marched in both playing a gladiatorish song and dressed up. 

 

 Me in my marching outfit with my host mom

 

We also had another parade yesterday. I found out about in on Tuesday. This seems to be happening a lot. I've never played the music before and then my host parents are like "you have a parade to march in this Saturday, don't forget you music"  The one we marched in yesterday was f\celebrating 150 of Santa Maria catholic church. It started at 9 and went till 10:30 winding through the small ancient streets of downtown Cartagena. 

All of us outside the church waiting to march

(normally a red tie and blue blazer accompany this lover get-up)

 

Alrighty now school. Shouldn't have left this for last. Alright here goes.  My school is a 7 minute walk from my house and is right in the city.  When you think of a classic "city school" that's what it is.

Inside the first fence but not the second which is locked during the school day so no one can get in or out with out the secretary in the office pressing a button.

Outside both sets of fence and across the street. The 8ft. fence you see goes all around the school. So no escaping allowed, or even possible.

 

I walk there in the morning and school starts at 8. I then have 2 classes, a break, 2 classes, a break, 2 classes then I walk home. For those of you that don't know, my grades this year don't count because I am already graduated. So basically I am enrolled, but it doesn't really matter how I do. This is definitely comforting because the level of classes I'm taking is hard for Spanish kids to pass. If I really try I can understand everything the teacher is saying, but it's quite exhausting and not worth it. Not in a bad way, but its subjects like Philosophy and Economics and Geography so there is a ton of vocabulary I don't know and the teachers talk really, really fast. The teachers mainly just sit at their desks and lecture for a whole hour which makes it even more difficult for me.  So this past week I made the brilliant discovery of reading in class.  I finished the Hunger Games in Spanish and now I'm reading Game of Thrones. So reading gets me through the day. I pay attention in Math and English because those are easier. Math is universal and, well, I speak English so it's easy! Also I really like Gym. It's a great break in my day, a chance to actually move around.  Plus I have played sports before an like trying so it's sets me apart from all the other girls. It's also a chance to meet new people who aren't in my class. We walk from class to class between 4 different buildings. The thing is the teachers don't have their own classrooms. Because of this, the classroom in which we actually have a particular class often change if a different class is using that classroom. Normally it's fine, but when it's the first class in the morning and you can't find the people from your class, you end up in a lower level philosophy class with people you don't know... the people in my class are nice, but I haven't really connected with anyone too well.  I just keep telling myself that everything takes time.  So here are some pictures:

 

Also here are some pictures from my walk home as well.

 

 

Also, When I do this walk in the morning its about 76 degrees and when I come home its a solid 82 degrees and I'm very hungry.

Best thing about this walk home is knowing I'll have a bug meal waiting and my host family to talk to

 

So that should fill some of the gaps left by my other blogs.  It's strange how bored I felt writing this.

But, that explains so much. It means this is becoming my new life and my routine. No one likes giving a detailed description of their day at work because they know it to well and don't want to rehash it after they've just lived it for 8 hours. You'd think that would make me sad, but really it gives me hope that I am fitting in here and making this my life no someone else's I just watching from the outside. I always up for a little abnormality, but now I know my place, or at least I'm slowly arriving at it while still stumbling on the small things. 

 

What more can I say besides I'm doing well!  Also, my week was made incredibly better last week when I got a package from my mom.

This beer box wrapped in Ecano Foods bags didn't have any amazing surprises or expensive gifts, but it was perfect an brought tears to my eyes. It's the little things like colorful socks I'm sure reminded my mom of me as she walked through Target or the Newspaper article on motion sickness that she thought I should definitely read. The small things that remind me of the great home I have waiting for me in Minnesota.

 



It's the little pangs of homesickness that remind me of my purpose here.  I'm not on vacation or renting a room for a month or two.  I am here to feel uncomfortable, out of place, a minority and awkward at times. There are days when I miss everything about Minnesota: cozy coffee shops, passive drivers, clean sidewalks, fall color, my bike, interactive teachers, cool October weather, big sweatshirts, my family and all I want to do is be able to enjoy those things. Each time I get a wave of this I realize no matter how much I want to experience those things just one more time, I don't want to right now.  I've got the rest of my life to enjoy them starting in July when I get home. I miss things, but there is nothing that makes me want to return an sooner. I know my place is here to learn the language, the culture, the people and to start a new life; another life. 

 

 

*If you'd ever like to ask me any specific questions or contact me about anything feel free to at jamieherman13@gmail.com and thanks for reading*

 

"Despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not."

"Despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not."

Tomorrow marks 2 weeks in Spain. Crazy to think about, but then again some of my exchange student friends are going on a month and a half which sounds even more ridiculous.  So far it's been a busy 2 weeks. School started on the 18th so I've had 6 days of that so far which already seems like a lot.

School here is very different from the U.S. (obviously).  There are so many things I could go into to prove my point, but that would be tedious for me and a ridiculously long blog for you to read (not that this won't already be). Briefly, my school is a mixture between stereotypical European school and American School. I move from class to class in between a set of 4 buildings. I have 8 classes total and 6 classes each day, but the hour at which they occur changes by the day making it impossible to remember. I have all of my classes with a core group of 20ish students who are in my "class" which is Segundo Bachillerato Social. For those of you who have no idea what that means (like myself), it means you are in your last year of high school and you chose to take the social classes verses the science classes which includes economics, geography, Spanish language, history, philosophy, English and either psychology or gym. At the end of this year all of my classmates will take a selectivity exam which is on everything they have learned in the last 2 years of bachillerato. It is crazy nerve wracking and determines if you will get into college or not. However, you are only eligible to take this exam if you have passed you last year of school which is very hard to do, I guess. SO, you have the option of taking more than 2 years of bachillerato. This is comforting for me, not because I'm concerned with passing (my grades count for nothing), but because that means there are people my age in my class who would have graduated high school in the U.S. but are taking a second year of Segundo Bachillerato so they are my age! 

I can't say I actually have friends yet, but the people in my class are very nice and often invite me into their circles during break time so I don't stand against a pillar or sit on the steps by myself.  None of them are super interested in asking me questions about the U.S. like I had hoped, but I am slowly starting to make conversation. My first couple of days, and still many times a day, I feel completely lost and overwhelmed. I then feel quite defeated by the language, finding friends and making myself not stand out. This seems to be the case with a lot of things I do lately. I start thinking (overthinking really) about every single thing I do. That is why this quote is perfect! I am constantly having to tell myself to take a breather and think about time. 2 weeks is nothing compared to 9 months, It is such a small portion of my year and I'm not expected to make lifelong friendships in 3 days! Everything here takes time and just waiting patiently for the pieces to fall into place and for myself to get comfortable with this way of life. Anytime I'm feeling down or out of place I remind myself that I'm not supposed to feel comfortable and how much I've already adapted. When my host mom rearranges my room while I'm at school and I have a little freak out and feel out of place I remind myself that everything takes time. I've already adjusted to there being one garbage can in the whole house and wearing shoes everywhere so why not one more thing. I just need a little time to adjust is all. At this point I have no doubt in my adaptation skills, but we'll have to wait and see what else they throw at me.

Last weekend I had the amazing opportunity to go to San Javier, specifically Santiago de la Ribera, with the 2 other girls form Cartagena to meet up with an exchange student from Murcia and the other boy exchange student who actually lives in San Javier. So the 5 of us had an action packed 32 hours. I felt like I was on vacation. First of all, in your spare time look up La Manga on Google to get and idea of where in Spain I was.  It's only 20ish minutes from Cartagena and reminds me of Hawaii. Here's a map so you can kinda visualize as I explain.

Mar Menor is kind of like a lake. It's fed by the Mediterranean, is much saltier and has no waves.  Saturday morning we started with wakeboarding in Mar Menor with Curtis (the boy from Canada whose house we were staying at)'s counselor named Carlos. 

Needless to say it was a beautiful day with a beyond perfect venue. 

 

Immediately after wakeboarding, we took a ferry from the port on La Manga to Santiago de la Ribera.

The girls are all from Cartagena. The blonde boy, Kalob, lives in Murcia and is from North Carolina and the tall, skinny one, Curtis, is from Canada and lives in Santiago de la Ribera.

 

We had to hurry off the ferry so we could make it to our wind surfing lesson which was right outside of Curtis's house.

 Santiago de la Ribera

 

After wind surfing for 2 hours, we went back to Curtis's house and showered before dinner.  For dinner we went on a 12 kilometer hike down a portion of La Manga that is a natural park reserve. We went with many of Curtis's host mom's friends and we walked by the light of the moon.  It was a long walk so thankfully we had churros before hand. (Churros in Spain are generally served with a melted chocolate which you dip them in... it is quite delicious). Anyway we walked by moonlight to a certain point on the beach where we had a picnic dinner around 10 p.m.  It was a bit chilly, but gorgeous and the waves and wind from the Mediterranean were heavenly. We walked back all along the beach barefoot by moonlight talking and joking (in English, but who cares).

 The Group we went with.

 Walking along the beach barefoot by the light of the moon

"I'm in Spain!"

 

Upon returning to Curtis's house we had a good ole American time laying on Curtis's couch and watching a movie in English.  The next morning we got up and had pancakes and bacon, with Canadian maple syrup of course. Curtis's host mom (the nicest lady ever, especially for allowing 5 American teenagers to stay in her house for the weekend) loved the American breakfast and was delightfully surprised at the tastiness of maple syrup and bacon.

On the balcony of Curtis's house of course. 

Just to give you an idea of how close he lives to the beach.

 

After breakfast we went for a quick swim in the amazingly clear water. I really appreciated just walking across the street to the beach in my swimsuit barefooted, yes, barefooted. I was so excited to not have to where shoes for once.  After swimming, we went over to Olvidio's house (a friend of Curtis's host mother) to learn how to make Paella.  If you don't know what Paella is, it's the dish Spain is known for, like America is known for hamburgers.  It has rice and vegetables and either chicken or seafood generally, although each region of Spain makes it differently. Apparently we made a Valencian Paella, but who knows, I just know it was delicious...and we did the whole thing ourselves. It took 3 hours (normal for Paella which is said to be a social food because you converse and hang around while you make it then enjoy it together).

  Finished product.

Made in a beautiful outdoor kitchen in a traditional Spanish House.

 

After spending 4 and a half hours making Paella and eating, we hurried to our second wind surfing lesson. This time around I didn't have much success with my board and sail. I spent 1 and a half of our 2 hours trying to go straight into the wind and catch up to my friends... it never worked out in my favor, but it was a great experience.  After wind surfing we went to the house packed up and headed to the Mall where we shopped a little bit then were picked up to return to Cartagena.

 

The weekend was amazing. I truly felt like I was on vacation.  Sorry this is so chalk full of pictures, but everyone took so many pictures to try and capture the beauty of where we were. Also, what I said earlier about not being able to make lifelong friends in 3 days... yes, that is difficult in a Spanish school, with Spanish speaking students who already have friends to talk to. However, it is very simple in a group full of exchange students who are naturally outgoing people, also alone in the world and eager to talk because they can finally speak in english and say what they feel.  I have found a second family in this group of people and I could not be more thankful.  To think I had to go halfway across the world to make connections with people from my own country, but oh well. Exchange is all about making connections and that's what I'm doing.  Maybe I'll actually have a reason to go to Canada now. (I've never been there despite the fact that I live 8 hours away).

 

Anyways, tomorrow I get to see all of them again at a fancy Rotary dinner in Murcia. When I have doubts during the school day about what I'm doing with myself, it's plans like these or going to San Javier for the weekend or going shopping with Pauline after school that gets me through. Even thinking about getting ice cream or something. It's the little things that count right?

 

I have moments of doubt, shyness, fear and overwhelm, but I always remind myself that I have no idea what all of this will lead too.  Normally that would scare me even more and feel like a hopeless cause, but here, that's what makes it exciting. I have no idea how this will end. I can only wait and see. Look forward with excitement rather than angst. Say yes to as many opportunities as possible and take it day by day. I do not know what lies ahead, but, good or bad, I'm ready. 



"I know what I must do. It's just... I'm afraid to do it."

"I know what I must do. It's just...I'm afraid to do it."

To continue the Lord of the Rings theme because it is working so well.

Today I had my first real day with my host family and man, I'm intrigued, comforted and scared out of my wits.

Recap: I arrived at my house at 11 p.m. on Thursday and was so overwhelmed and sleep deprived I nearly cried when I saw my host family. I couldn't really enjoy the feeling of being here because I felt so out of place and like I was breaking a ton of rules when really I was just sleep deprived. Anyway I went to bed, slept for 7 hours, then took at 5 hour train ride back to Madrid Friday morning for my exchange student orientation which lasted until Sunday Night.
I won't get into that because it wasn't really a Spanish experience. Mainly me making a ton of new friends from America while camping in the mountains surrounding Madrid.

Today was much more interesting.

I woke up and actually unpacked my suitcase so now I actually live in my room which is cool.

 My very mod room to go with a very modern and organized house

 All my stuff put away in its designated place. (yes, that is a rack that pulls out to hold my pants)

Just so you can get the full picture

 

 

I then went to orientation at my new school which I will be walking to everyday. I takes about 7 minutes to get there and the walk ain't bad.  Needless to say an auditorium full of Spanish speaking teenagers and a man droning on in Spanish is really overwhelming when you're sitting by yourself and look like you have no idea what's going on. This is the first of many times where the above quote comes into play. I had to face any type of fear or anxiety I had. No need to explain why I could not run from the auditorium crying out of nervousness.

 

To adjourn the orientation all the students were to go with there base teacher/base class... I just sat their until some friendly dude (student body president= makes sense) came and asked me if I was the American. He pointed me in the right direction and I think he's in my class, but I'm not actually sure.

 

I found my class and my English speaking base teacher. I was sitting in the 15 minute long intro class thingy with teary eyes as the teacher spoke half of the material in English (supposedly to give the actual students practice in English, but more because I was there looking like a lost child in the mall) Can't say I didn't appreciate it even though I can understand all of his Spanish. I was so overwhelmed by the fact that people were being so nice to me and going out of their way to help me. Acts of kindness like this have always made me cry... another chance where I had to talk myself into staying in the room because it could only get easier if I got through this first introduction.

 

The same teacher was talking to my host parents after the orientation and he literally said I was perfect for him. Because he's fluent in English, he's nice guy or because he knows how to deal with exchange students I don't know, but how can I not appreciate that and be excited?

 

After that was my first Rotary meeting. So much fun. Old Spanish men arguing about the deeds of their Rotary club while trying out the 3-4 words they know in English on the 3 American girls sitting their laughing.  These men and one women are so awesome. Me, Chloe from California and Pauline from Colorado already have a house to go to for Thanksgiving and plans for next weekend. And they are genuinely interested in what we have to say which I appreciate so much. They also took millions of pictures of us which Tomas, the guy I sat next to at lunch, already emailed to me. We were highly honored guests and I feel so lucky to have support from them. New connections like the head city councilmen in charge of all sports in Cartagena could potentially be useful... I'm excited.

Never met cooler old men. Woo Rotary

 

After the meeting my host parents drove me downtown to the Community center type building which is where I will practice with this community band in which I'm playing in...horrible English but oh well. I'll be playing the oboe in the community band which is playing in a parade at the end of the month!

 

I also got a personal tour of city hall because my host dad works there. It is probably the most beautiful building I've ever seen if not, second to the museum of natural history in London. A very old beautiful building with so much history and right on the marina/port of Cartagena which I saw for the first time today. I'm so excited to explore more and learn more about Cartagena. This city has been around forever and has so much history.

 

 

And some new things I learned to close:

 

#1: I have a strong Minnesotan accent when I pronounce my O's and A's. The exchange students from all the states were saying yeah you betcha all weekend to make fun of me and the boy from Minnesota. We definitely overdid it some by they enjoyed it

 

#2: It is typical in Spain to wear your shoes always. No going bare foot in the house.

 

#3: I Spanish is very good compared to other exchange students and my host parents and Rotary club members are very impressed. However, just spending 15 minutes on Facebook kills any type of rhythm I have going. Found that out at dinner today when I had trouble creating sentences and understanding anything my parents said because I had just spent time looking at English filled Facebook. Major setback in my opinion and it took me awhile to get into my grove.

 

#4: Although I have annoyed many people throughout the years with my ability to babble and talk forever and very fast (including you reading this wondering how on earth I have so much to say. congrats for making it this far, much appreciated), My host parents love it!  Last night at dinner we talked all about the ridiculousness of languages, differences between school here and that in the U.S. and music.  Tonight we spent 2 hours talking about names. They don't understand American names. They can't pronounce them, they don't know why names like Alex and Hanson are so popular, the practice of a woman taking a man's name after marriage is beyond them and, to be honest, I have no idea how to explain any of that!  It was fun though. And the point if they actually appreciate the fact that I talk so much, they told me so :)

 

 

#5: I am in over my head and I'm scared of the littlest things. I'm also stronger than I think. I may have teary eyes, but I can tell myself not to cry. One small achievement at a time.  Like Bilbo said, it may scare the crap out of me, but it must be done, especially if I want it to ever get better.

 

 

To end with a small comment that made my day and proved to me that I am in the right place and will be fine no matter how scared I am: My host parents introduce me to people as "Mi nueva hija" which means my new daughter.  I'm not the American and I'm not the girl living in their house. I am their daughter, I belong here and will soon call this place home. 



 



"I want to see mountains, mountains, Gandalf!"

“I want to see mountains, mountains, Gandalf!”

And mountains I did see.

(Not to purposely continue with the lord of the rings theme but I thought I’d go with it as long as it works)

Alrighty, my day has been a crazy whirlwind of emotion, survival, travel, excitement and a definite constant overhanging feeling of being overwhelmed. Which means if this turns out to be an obscenely long blog, you’ll know it’s because I’ve had 11 hour on a plane and 6 hours in the Madrid airport so far to think through my thoughts and feelings.

 Chances are if you’re reading this I’ve talked to you in the last 2 weeks to 2 years about how excited I am to go to Spain and go on exchange. Now that it’s happening I couldn’t be more overjoyed and overwhelmed at the same time. It’s been coming in waves every ten minutes or so for the past 72 hours or so. I feel crazy excited to meet my host family and see their amazing faces in person and then, two minutes later, I feel sick to my stomach and likely to throw up all over. Just saying.  Who knows if its nerves, the stress of traveling alone or if I am actually seriously ill and ignoring it because nothing will keep me from reaching Spain after waiting for so long…

Despite the rush of emotion and potential illness, I like to think I’m remain pretty chill. I only broke down once on the plane and I actually made friends from it, so cool. Turns out the flight attendant on my flight to Dallas studied abroad in Spain in college and one of her best friends is a Rotary exchange student from Thailand who she met in high school. Pretty neat. And old businessmen sitting in first class take pity on you and wait for you to get off the plane to see if you’re alright if they see you walk down the aisle crying… again who knew.

My fabulously embezzled Rotary jacket hasn’t gotten me any special treatment just a lot of questions… no I am not a tour guide…

Anyways, things I have realized already since on exchange, it hasn’t even been 24 hours since I left MSP, but traveling alone can force you to mature, you’d be surprised.

New factoid #1:  I’m am such a dependent person. As much as any other newly 18 year old, I would like to considerer myself fairly independent (I am technically an adult for goodness sake), but it turns out I am crazy dependent on my parents and common courtesy in general. I mean up until today my mom always held on to my boarding ticket so I wouldn’t lose it… I also generally have some member of my family to lean against in an airplane and or my mom to make sure I eat while travelling so not too many hours go by without a decent meal. I’ve learned I could practically be an 8 year old child when it comes to traveling.

New factoid #2: I am that loser on the plane that freaks out a little inside when they see something besides flat Minnesota outside.  I always forget how truly boring Minnesotan horizons are until I see something with diversity. Sure I’ve been places with mountains before but being able to look out of the window of the plane after 8 hours over the Atlantic and to see beautiful and diverse topography which I get to call my future home… just an amazing feeling. Straight up awe right there. By the way Madrid/Spain landscape is beautiful from what I can tell from the plane and inside the airport. Now apparently I just need some dwarves, a dragon and a magic ring to catch up to Bilbo.

New factoid #3: Rotary is an awesome exchange program. Yes, I would be saying that anyway as I’m just starting my exchange and brimming with excitement but, I spent 9 hours on a plane next to a girl my age from Atlanta also taking a gap year in Spain but through AFS or CCE or something. The point is that, first of all, she had 4-5 countries to choose from and once she chose Spain, Seville was the only city she could go to. Also, she is worried about making friends because she is just taking Spanish classes at an international school with for sure 5 other girls from the U.S. Lastly, SHE’S NEVER TALKED TO HER HOST FAMILY.  All she knows is she has an 8 year old sister who she’s hoping she won’t have to babysit. I tried not to freak her out with my questions of whether they were even allowed to make her babysit and if it was right that she had never talked to them. I suppose anything is possible and I’m just crazy lucky to be a part of Rotary where none of that is questionable.

To close, when I said goodbye to her I gave her a hug and said “I’m sure you’ll have some Rotary kids in your city, we’re everywhere”.  We. Collectively. Me and them. Today I may be overwhelmed with the vastness of the world and the idea of living in it without the comforts of my family and home, but truly, with Rotary I’m never alone. Wherever I go in this world there will always be a collective We through Rotary. 

 My host parents. Wouldn't you rather meet them in person than look at the picture like I have for the past month?  I think it's about time.

5ish hours so far staring at this. Madrid Airport. Lots of Windows thankfully.

Semi-mountainous like I was talking about...kinda.