Sep 2008

Hola todos!

Yesterday was our first day in Granada and with our host families. We left Malaga in the afternoon and it only took about 1.5 hours to get to Granada to meet our families. My roommate is Carrie and so far so good. We seem to get along really well. She's got the most beautiful red hair and freckles! haha

I have a host mother, Angeles, and she has 4 kids, but only one lives with us, Jose, and he is 30ish. He isn't here much because he spends a lot of time at his girlfriends apparently. Angeles is really nice and very talkative. She has had so many exchange students she doesn't remember how many. haha. She has books from all over the USA (presents from all her kids) but she has never been to the US, and doesn't really plan on going. She said she hates traveling! Kinda funny.

Ya know how Americans say "thanks" a lot, like after everything. Pass me the potatoes, thanks. Here's your keys, thanks. She opens the door for you, thanks.etc. well here they don't say Gracias that much, except for special things. And we say it ALLL THE TIME. she keeps telling us to stop haha but its hard not to. We are so accustomed to saying the "magic" words!

Last night we were exhausted but didn't go to bed until around 12. BUT I think we got MAYBE 4-5 hours of sleep because our room is SOOOO loud. The street outside our window is loud and people are always yelling. And we have to keep the window open because its so hot. It was horrible. I think we need to buy ear plugs, or a fan or something. The beds are NOT comfortable. Flat, hard, and we can feel allllll the springs. I have noticed that in Argentina too. They don't take beds as seriously as we do in the US! haha.

Today was our first day at the IES center. It is BEAUTIFUL! The area around there is so gorgeous, and you can see The Alhambra from the top patio. BUT there are like 5 billion stairs and its 1 mile away from our home. We will be doing LOTS of walking. Good exercise I guess . haha For the next week and a half we have an "intensive" language class everyday. We were put into groups based on our level of spanish and just work all day doing practical lessons, not necessarily grammar, but certain phrases that are important. We have 5 hours of class from 9-2 and then come home for lunch. Everyone is pretty friendly and we all seem to be getting along, but I don't have a "group" yet and lots of people seem to already have a group of friends. I'll get there I hope, but I am a little worried, this always seems to happen to me.

This coming weekend we are taking a day trip to Cabo de Gato, I think its a beach area and hiking area. And then next weekend we are taking a 3 day trip to Sevilla y Ronda. Then one weekend free, and the next we take a 4 day trip to Morocco (Maruecos en espanol), I am SOO excited.

Ok well I guess thats all for now! Hope everything at home is Wonderful

Hasta Luego
Kate

Hi there,

so I am now in the Hotel in Malaga, and tomorrow we have a breakfast orientation. I am sleepy and sweaty and need a shower! I have a roommate at the moment, her name is Sasha, she is from Pasadena. She seems very nice so far! We are probably gonna go to bed pretty early tonight since we have to be up and ready to leave by 8:45 tomorrow morning! yikes! Ok thats all for now. Plane was fine, nothing exciting thankfully.

Love
Kate

So, I am sitting in the London Heathrow airport right now. It is like 11:30 or 12 in the afternoon here, and I know it's 6:40 am at home. I am sleepy, and I could barely sleep on the plane. I usually am pretty good at falling asleep on planes, but NOT this time. I dunno why, nerves maybe. The flight was fine, no major issues at all, a little bumpy but ok.

I am bored and my flight isn't until 3:30 so I have LOTS of time. The gate for it hasn't even been posted yet. I was super nervous on the flight, but I am feeling much better now that I am on my way.

Turns out I really had NO IDEA if there was anyone from my program on the plane because the 2 people I thought were gonna be here, could have had any other fight at JFK leaving at 10:30. None of us specified which flight! DUH. Oh well.

I watched What Happens In Vegas on the plane. Yes I chose it, why I don't know. It was pretty bad. The middle was kinda funny and all, but the end was just lame. I mean sure everyone lives happily ever after, but they could have thought of something a little better than what they did.

So I had to pay 5 POUNDS to use this internet. LAME. and I get it for an hour, but I only have 40 mins. remaining battery and I can't find an outlet. I better get my moneys worth.

I wish I could wallk around and go shop at MARC JACOBS, but my stuff is too heavy and I really don't feel like lugging it all around. Damn Dell computer is huge.

Um well I guess I am only writing so I can use the internet and feel ok about paying 5 pounds haha, and I really have nothing to say, and I am sure this blog is kinda boring, so I guess I'll end it.

Alright, until later - by 7:30 pm Spanish time I should be in Malaga!! woohoo

Kate