Los primeros días

If you didn't already know, I've made it to España! After a very long Monday, June 14 (31 hours!) and two long plane rides, Spain was officially my home for the next 7 weeks! I can't believe it! Here's a recount of my trip, plus my first days :)


After my Mom and siblings left Korea on Wednesday, my Dad and I hung out around Osan and relaxed for a bit. We even went golfing! I went shopping a few more times and my Dad played in a golf tournament, which I didn't caddy but drove a cart to follow along :) It was so nice to enjoy some alone time with him! I had a really nice time, and as the weekend came to an end I started to get REALLY excited and REALLY nervous haha!


So I woke up early on Monday morning to finish packing my bags and to say goodbye to my Dad, he dropped me off at the bus stop and then had to venture on to work...then followed a 2 hour bus ride from Osan Air Base to Incheon International Airport. I have to say, I'm glad Minneapolis isn't bigger than it is, traffic stinks in a city of 12 million! To get to Incheon you have to cross part of the ocean, which I totally didn't know until after the fact. All of a sudden the bus gets on this humongous bridge crossing a bay, and I couldn't see the other side! It must have been at least 3 to 4 miles. Needless to say, I was a bit worried that I was on the wrong bus and wouldn't make it to the airport.


Eventually I did make it to the airport, and that was an adventure in itself. Good thing I don't mind asking people for help! Although the people at the information desks spoke some english, it took me five tries before I found the right counter to check in to. Oops! My flight wasn't until 1:20, and I checked in at 10, so I had plenty of time to spare, wandering around the airport and such. Basically from 10 to 12:30 I walked around, I bought a water for the plane and a doughnut to tide me over before going to KFC for lunch - healthy, right? I went to one of the internet cafes they had in the airport, and discovered that my adapter didn't work - great. After borrowing one from the airport and rushing around, I found out that it actually DID work, and that the plug was the thing that didn't work, so major crisis averted. I skyped my Mom and Eric to let them know what was going on, and then it was time to wait for the plane! I'd never flown in a 747 before, it was so massive! Just waiting in line to board the plane took forever.

The plane (dorky I know)

As soon as we got on the plane, the pilot came on. He spoke in Korean first, so I had no idea why so many people around me were sighing, until I heard the news in English - we were delayed 45 minutes because there was too much air traffic in China! Great, I only had an hour and a half in between my connecting flights in Paris! Uh oh...We finally took off an hour after we were supposed to, and by this time I was freaking out. Of course, me being me, told one of the flight attendants right away, and throughout the flight she kept updating me on our status and what time we would be landing. She was very nice, but definitely could tell I was anxious. 


Other than trying to waste 12 hours on a plane by sleeping and watching movies (Invictus and Its Complicated) the flight was pretty uneventful. I had a really annoying lady behind me who would literally punch my seat when I reclined, and finally I had to have the flight attendant to ask her to stop. If I wanted to recline, I was going to recline! Especially because I needed my sleep. OH and (how cool is this) when my lunch and dinner were served, I was given wine! No extra charge, so I took full advantage ;)


With about an hour to go, the pilot came on and gave us our final landing time - 7:30! That meant by the time we taxied, we wouldn't get to the gate until around 7:45, and my next flight left at 7:40! I was pretty devastated, and was hoping and praying that there would be another flight to Madrid later that night, because I had a deadline! I had to be in Madrid by 11:00 the next day, Tuesday, to get to Toledo on time. Needless to say, I was ready to go as soon as the captain turned off the seatbelt sign, and I sprinted the entire length of the plane to be the first to de-board. Of course, my bad luck kept following me. We were literally at the last gate in the terminal, and I had to sprint down the entire concourse to get to immigration...where there was a line (did you know you had to go through immigration to leave the terminal in Paris, and then go back through security? I didn't, until right then). I pushed and shoved my way to the front, not caring who was griping at me, because when I got to the window the customs people all understood. I literally flew through the entire airport, sprinting the entire way. When I got to the next security checkpoint, I rushed through, not caring what was in my pockets or anything. Of course, my flight to Madrid was at the very end of the terminal too, go figure. Well, I FINALLY got to the end of the terminal, and guess what? My flight was delayed...by an HOUR! I sprinted the entire airport in like, 10 minutes for nothing, and was sweating TONS because of it (plus, I wore jeans and a sweatshirt...hmm). However, I'm not complaining, that delay was a Godsend, saving me from having to book a hotel, stressing about other flights...etc. 


My flight from Paris to Madrid was quite uneventful compared to the other one. I was a little worried about my luggage getting to Madrid with me because of the short connection, but it was one of the first ones off the carousel. On the flight a Portuguese couple sat next to me, and although the language barrier was somewhat difficult, it was fun to try and utilize my Spanish, even though Portuguese is almost closer to French than Spanish.


Needless to say because of my delays I got into Madrid about 2 hours after I was supposed to (around midnight), and I was dead tired. I was able to make it to the information desk to call the hotel shuttle, have the shuttle pick me up, and check in to my hotel. After that, all I remember is sending a quick email to Mom and Dad letting them know I was OK, and Skyping Eric to tell him the same, then boom, as soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out.


When I woke up the next morning, I had to quick get ready to go BACK to the airport to meet up with my bus to Toledo. As I was packing up, I realized I didn't have my favorite blue fleece zip-up that I wore on the plane yesterday! Uh oh...where could I have left it? Its still a mystery, and I'm mourning my loss :( I guess this means I have to buy one in España!

The view of Madrid outside my hotel

I got to my group right on time, and met some great people on the bus...ALL from either Notre Dame or Ohio State! Where were all my Minnesota people??? It was a great time, and the ride was gorgeous. There were so many furniture stores along the way we laughed that Spaniards buy couches like we buy cars, needing an upgrade every 2-3 years ;) 


Once we got to the Fundación, we hung around, waiting to meet our host families at 3. Of course this meant exploring! We walked literally around the block and saw so many amazing things, little streets (all cobblestone) some shops, the entrance to the Cathedral here in Toledo, and of course tapas restaurants...even a McDonalds! It was all so much to take in, and I've been exploring ever since.

The very mediterranean buildings...

La Catedral

At 4 we had a meeting to discuss living in a host family, and then it was time to meet them. However, my family wasn't there! I, along with two other girls, had to take a taxi to my host house. I didn't know exactly why, and I was a little let down to discover that my family had children, but all in their 30s, so I would be the only one living in the house with my host parents. When I got there, my host mom Marci met me at the door, and then showed me Gorca, her nieto (grandson) that she watches everyday - thus she couldn't pick me up. At least it was a good reason! I was worried that they just didn't want me there.


The rest of the night was uneventful, I unpacked and then hung out, and watched some TV with Marci until Pablo came home. It was very uncomfortable at first, because I tried talking and it didn't really get anywhere, but when she would talk I couldn't understand her Castillian! Here in Spain the spanish is very different from the spanish I've learned, so it has been somewhat difficult trying to communicate. Luckily, it getting much easier to understand everyone now :)


For cena (dinner) we had tortilla, but not tortilla like you would think. Tortilla here is sliced potato and egg, and is VERY delicious...I'm learning how to cook it in school! Then, I went to bed muy temprano (very early) because I had an early morning, and the seven hour time difference was catching up with me. 


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OK, I'm going to cut this one off here because it seems like a good break, and I don't want this post to be muy muy largo (too long) 


¡Hasta!