Warning: Strike!

So I finally arrived and only two days later than originally planned. I took my flight from Fargo to Chicago, got stuck there for a three-hour delay which caused me to miss my original flight to Madrid. After arguing with the airline for a while, they finally agreed to give me a hotel room for the night as well as rerouting me to get to Madrid. So I got to fly back to Chicago and take a plane from there to Madrid. I thought I would be fine the rest of the trip. However, when traveling with luggage I recommend taking a taxi wherever you need to go. Never try a metro system, especially with changing trains twice. Luckily I had help from a nice Romanian woman (I thought she was British, I mean she is here teaching English and has a British accent). I then arrived at the bus station and found out about the country-wide strike. The workers are striking the government’s recent decision to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. Therefore, I was stranded in Madrid for an extra day. Luckily I found a hostel to stay at about a block away from the train station.

Today’s events, the ones I dreaded most, seemed to be the easiest to handle. I took a train to Cadiz then a bus to Barbate. I didn’t know where the bus station was in relation to the train station, so I took a taxi. He didn’t understand me at first, but when it was finally figured out where I was going, I got dropped off across the street from where I began. That was a waste of 5 Euros, but I did get to see more of Cadiz, which is beautiful. Arriving to my hostel proved troublesome. I originally asked an elderly man for directions, and he pointed me the wrong direction. It took me almost an hour, to walk across the entire city of Barbate with 125 pounds of luggage. It was not easy, and my luggage did not survive (a wheel is broken on one on my suitcases). Thankfully, I had some help along the way with random strangers who helped pull some of my luggage part of the journey.

This has by far been the most stressful and probably some of the worse days of my life. I am seriously questioning this decision to come here. But it can only get better from here, I hope. Tomorrow I am going to my school and meet the teachers and set my hours. The rest of the day I plan on walking around Barbate, have a real meal for the first time in over 60 hours, and take lots of pictures to post soon for everyone to see. From what I have seen, Barbate is a beautiful city, right on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean with lots of beaches. I can’t wait to see more!

Time to head out

In twenty-four short hours, I will be boarding a plane heading to Spain! After finding connections in Chicago and New York, figuring out where to stay in Madrid. Finding a train and a bus, I will be ready to start my adventure teaching 3-11 year old Spanish children. I am a little less excited when my mom mentioned Charlie is 3, so I get a classroom full of him, now I am debating this choice, but it will be an adventure regardless. And I can't wait to start it!

I have already discovered the first major difference between American and Spanish cultures. When I emailed my school about the details of when I start, where I go, and what I will be doing, I got a reply that basically said this. "You can come whenever on Friday the 1st. If you are busy and cannot make it, we will see you next week sometime. Come when you can and safe travels." I usually like details, especially when it comes to going to a place I have never been. I leave tomorrow and still don't know what I am doing, when I need to be there, how I am getting to Barbate (train? bus? taxi?), or where I am living for the next year. The Spanish culture is much more relaxed, people-orientated, and less stress-filled that I am used to, that could take some time to get used to.

Will be here before you know it!

In a matter of three short weeks, I will be heading across a pond to live and work in Spain for the school year. I can't believe it is already here, unfortunately I have a lot of things left to do before that time comes. For example, get my visa, buy my plane ticket, find a place to live, etc. But the journey is going to be worth it. Studying abroad in Mexico showed me that living in a foreign country is going to have its ups and downs. That trip was only six weeks, this one is almost nine months. Its time to start saying my goodbyes. Tonight I am starting in Grand Forks, followed by Chicago and my lovlies down in Lincoln (and of course cheering on the Huskers at a game). When I get back from there, its goodbye 7-Day Clinic, my family, and my friends in Wahpeton and Fargo. However sad these see-you-laters may be, I am excited to start my mucho-gustos with my new friends in Barbate. It will be a fun-filled year, filled with lots of traveling and adventures and I can't wait to share them with you. Warning: I don't claim to be funny, but perhaps you will enjoy hearning from me anyway.