Time seems to go by so fast here. I don’t just mean that I can’t believe I’ve already been here two weeks, but the days in general. I wake up, go to school, come home for lunch, siesta, and then I only have a couple hours to go to the beach. By 9 I’m heading home for dinner, and either andar de marcha or to bed. I guess it would help if I didn’t take a 3 hour nap. But that’s what happens when you stay out until 4, 5 in the morning!

It’s crazy how easy it is to disconnect from the world when you’re away… if I’m not communicating with anyone from back home, I can almost completely forget anything that has been happening. It’s almost like being a different person. I can see where this “what happens here stays here” mentality comes from, and I think you learn a lot about what a person is really like while traveling  - just a little side note for anyone who hasn’t experienced it themselves.

So more about my life in Cadiz - Yesterday I had my first meeting with Carmen, who is the home coordinator, to check in on how the living situations are doing. We also got our class schedules. Next week I will be going to every single class offered (to the UW students) once, and by the end of the week I will have my classes picked out.

I will be taking two different types of classes: program classes, and UCA classes (University of Cadiz). They all take place in the University, and are taught by Spanish Profs, but the Program classes are only for our UW kids, and I will be with them. These are more structured and similar to UW classes. The UCA classes are with any other student here in Cadiz or foreigner that is also enrolled there. The program has little influence on the class structure. I’ll be taking two UCA, maybe 3, and 2 or 3 program classes. I’ll be taking things like Dialects, civilization, history of Europe and the EU, Span. Lit and cine (film), etc.

Tomorrow we have an end – of – orientation celebration with the program, and we will likely go out for a night on the town afterward. Saturday night there is a commencement celebration on a boat with the program and everyone’s host family. Should be fun J

I wanted to go to the movies tonight, but my mom said that Wednesday’s are half price. So maybe next week I’ll go watch a Spanish movie J

My feet are killing me from walking so much. It’s about an hr, maybe 45 min to walk to school. And I walked to and from twice yesterday to save my bus passes – in flip flops, thanks to the beach. Ugh!

I live in la parte nueva de Cadiz – the new part. The school is in el casco antiguo – the old part. There is a bridge called puerta de la tierra that divides the two parts. The new part is… well newer, obviously, but its more open and spread out, its close to the best beach around, and it feels a little more like our big cities with the layout. The old part is good for being close to all the night life and easy access to other things like the post office. It has that classic feel to it with the narrow streets and close together tall buildings with balconies everywhere.

Everyone in the program is going gang busters with traveling. They’re already having little meetings to plan trips to Portugal, Paris, London, talk of Prague, Barcelona, and who knows where else. I’m not opposed to in the slightest bit, of course, but I’m just enjoying settling in and getting comfortable with my home and figuring out classes. I have fourth months to travel, and honestly I’d rather travel mostly within Spain to really see the different regions. How often do people get to do that? And how often do people tour Europe in a matter of days? Sure, millions see the Eiffel tower – even I’ve already done that – but I want to leave Spain feeling like I really lived here and checked it off my list.

Oh!! And!! Yesterday I checked out a guitar :D so I will be starting my lessons soon. Probably once I get my surf on J… and get a class schedule, but who needs details, right?

Well, I need to do my HW :P …. Sooo hasta la proxima en the vida mia!

 This fountain is right outside the academy where orientation is, Plaza Mentidero.

 This is a little market I found on my way home from school and absolutely love when the flower shops fill the plaza with their plants. I bought a pair of shoes there for 5 e - Plaza de las Flores

 Brittnay lives on that street of building next to the beach.

<3 Chelsea