Bienvenidos A Colmenar

• So i have been for two days now. Soooo much has happened in this short time. First off, the flights. My first flight to Washington D.C. went by quickly. I sat next to this nice woman who was flying to Maine for a wedding. After that I had a 2 1/2 hour layover in the DC airport. Unfortunatly for me, it was a boring airport with not a lot of things to do. So i ended upsitting at the gate watching a Spanish family of four arguing about what to have for dinner. The flight from DC to Madrid went felt so LONG!! Thank God there was a TV in the seat in front of me. I got to watch two episodes of Glee and the movie Date Night (which I found entertaining, weirdly enough) I thought the excrutiation ended when the plane landed, but I was wrong. I went to baggage claim and sat there for 30 minutes in the 100 degree Madrid air port waiting for my bag to come. Then I found my host brother and father. Being the idiot that I am, I greeted them by saying "Hi" (aren't I supposed to be speaking spanish?!) Anyways, on the car ride to my new home, I was started to realize that i'm finally in Spain! After preparing for it all these months i'm finally here! It's weird and wonderful at the same time. Soon after, I went on a tour of Madrid city with my family. It's so amazing! lots of history, old buildings, (and of course, the shopping) I didn't mind all the walking, even though i was jet lagged and overheated. My brother Nacho pointed out to me all the illegal immigrants from Africa that sell fake purses. interestante....

Upon arrival, my host family made me breakfast: Eggs and Bacon. She also offered me Horchata in a carton! She was shocked to know that I had had Horchata before. I have to say, it was better than any i've ever had at a mexican restaurant. Speaking of food, people eat so much food here!! especially during lunch, the most important meal of the day. My first lunch here I had, mussels, salad, chicken, ice cream and this Brazilian ginger ale. Que Delicioso! For breakfast here i've had a bocadillo (spanish sandwhich) with ham and cheese along with some bread coated with sugar (and horchata of course) For dinner on my second day, I had steak, pisto (spanish ratatouille), banana, the weird mini apple thing that I didn't like, and pineapple yogurt. I am going to be so fat by the time I come home.

Language has been fairly difficult so far. My host father and brother speak english but my host mom knows about 5 words. Nacho acts as a part time translater for me when i talk to my mom but its still no walk in the park. They told me that I have to practice my spanish lisp. this will be fun. I was watching TV in the house and it was pretty hard to understand the dialogue in the shows. I did watch the Simpsons in Spanish (pretty weird right?) and I saw an Ad for South Park in Spanish (even weirder) I think that being around Spanish 24/7 has helped alot. I've learned lots of new words and even taught my family some words. It's a mutualistic relationships for sure!

Well I think i'm going to go to bed now. Keep checking this for new posts!

Buenas Noches y Buena Suerte

Annelise Pell