Days 1-3: The Ups, The Downs

I would like to preface this blog by noting that there is a constant up and down swing of emotions to living abroad alone. I knew this is what I would be facing when I got into this whole thing. Days 1-3, this swing is already evident. But, let's hope that with time, the swings will become fewer and farther between.

So, I suppose you may want to hear how things are going then.

Well, the traveling wasn't bad at all. Aside from the fact that we flew in an old, crappy plane that didn't have individual TV screens. Maybe we're just spoiled these days, but that does make for an uncomfortable trip. I didn't have the attention span to watch the movies they showed (Just Wright, the Devil Wears Prada .... really???) at the times they were showing them, so mostly I tried to sleep and listened to my ipod. Overall, it wasn't a bad flight. But the flight was never the worrysome part of the journey.

Seeing as I would be moving for 10 months, I packed 2 suitcases, a carry-on/duffel bag, and my backpack. Maybe for 10 months it isn't a lot (or maybe you think it is), but, it is definitely more than I would have liked to have managed through the train station, taxis, and tiny cobblestone streets. This was the problem that made me lose sleep at night. In reality, as we always find out, these things aren't worth worrying about. Long story short, I shared a taxi to the train station with another girl, despite the fact that our driver was incessantly telling us "no, no, no, you have waaay too much stuff" as he was loading it into the car. I bought a ticket for the train, then found a handy luggage cart, and managed to push my way through the station with no problem, and only a few comments. "All that luggage for just you?" I got to my train car, and was trying to figure out how to load it in, when I just kind of took over the doorway, throwing all of the suitcases in at once, then loading them onto the luggage racks. haha, I must have looked like an idiot. But that's ok. After another taxi ride (this one not so bad, only a few minutes, and only my luggage), I had to walk to the school with everything in hand. Luckily, a girl from the school was sitting in the plaza and offered to help me carry a bag. I definitely appreciated the help. So you see, things always work out. :)

I have been hanging out with two other girls from the program lately. They have been good company. It has been great to have other people around who are in the same situation. It's also helpful for trying to figure out the best means of piso-hunting, etc. I have to admit that I was a little discouraged at first, because they both found something within my first 2 days here, (though they had been here a few days longer than I had), and I felt like the pressure was on to find something that quick, too.

But, as we know, God's timing isn't our own. I faced two days of dejecting phone calls, all telling me that the apartments had already been rented, or that they only wanted to house students. In two days, I hadn't looked at a single room. I was starting to get down, wondering how I was going to afford to pay for a place at the residence hall for much longer. (Afterall, a week-long stay here would cost about the same as a month's rent.) So, this morning, after another rejection, I was laying down, about to take a nap, praying that God would work something out, when the phone rang. Reception was telling me that Miguel, my professor from last year, wanted to talk to me. I was excited, since I haven't seen him yet. A few minutes later, Miguel called, and told me about a woman who wants private English lessons for her two daughters, and asked if I would be interested. (Absolutely!) Then, he told me that she has a room available for rent if I would be interested. (Once again, Absolutely!) Miguel's phone call was the pivotal part of my day. After I spoke with him, Maria Carmen, the woman mentioned above, called to discuss these things with me. I went to look at the piso at 1:00 this afternoon, and I decided right away that I wanted it. After all, this was an answer to my prayers; how could I turn it down? Not only is it in a good location, but it is the right price. Everything that I was looking at was between 200-250E, most of them not including utilities. But this one? 150 + electricity. I didn't have the chance to meet everyone that I will be living with, but there will be 6 of us. 4 girls, 2 boys. 3, I believe, are students, 3 work. I don't know how old they are, but hopefully it will work out well. Plus, Maria Carmen lives in the apartment below it. We decided that every Monday and Wednesday at 5:30 I would come over to teach English. Today's developments have put me at ease. As Maria Carmen's mother said, "You have the most important things-- job and housing." Though I'd like to add internet access and a cell phone to that list as well. :)

I am just relieved that this huge weight has been lifted. I am no longer spending my time scrounging for people to call. I can just relax a little bit, until I have to start working.

I also talked to Cristina, my director, today. After months of conversing in Spanish via email, she offered to speak English on the phone. I hope it wasn't because my Spanish was fatal, though it very well may have been. We are planning to meet tonight at 8:30 for coffee, to chat about the job and what I need to do for my NIE and all of those official, pain-in-the-butt necessities of life. It should be good.

Regarding my horrible, fatal Spanish...
It is bad. It always is when I first get here. Though, I have to admit, that I am doing a fairly decent job of making my way around. I have made several phone calls, only a few of which left me scratching my head. So already, I am leaps and bounds ahead of where I was when I showed up last summer. But I want to be better.
It doesn't help that I am essentially living in English right now. I am speaking English with the girls that I am hanging out with, and I find it hard to switch to Spanish when Spaniards are around. The few people that I've talked to in the school are speaking to me in English (though I know for a fact that is is going against their contract!). It will be better when I get into my piso, when I'm living with Spaniards, and function 24/7 in Spanish. (Though I guess I'm forgetting that I'll be teaching English, which I suppose, will require a fair amount of English.)

In short, these last few days have been good, but trying. Nothing short of what I was expecting. Hopefully, things will start to develop a normal rhythm soon.

All in all, it's nice to be back.