Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Marathon Post

Woah it's been awhile since I last wrote...I've got a lot to say so prepare yourself for what I like to call a marathon post.
So we started classes on Monday. It's been great not having school but i'll be honest it's been nice to have a set schedule now. It's only been three days but I already feel like i've learned so much. My Spanish classes have been frustrating at time, I won't lie. But that's the beauty of living in Spain...I don't just go to class and then never speak Spanish again.

Our religion class started on Monday night as well. The class is about the History of the Church in Spain. Yeah I know, it's wonderful. Brother Lopez spent the first class talking about writing in journals, writing your own history because you are important. And can I just say, I think that this is going to be the best religion class I have ever taken. I felt the Spirit so strongly in that hour and i'm so grateful that he spoke in english because I wouldn't have gotten nearly as much out of it.

Tuesdays we just have our Spanish classes so we get done by noon and a couple of girls (Chelsey, Lindsay, Jenna S, Jenna M, Hilary) decided to go into Madrid. We have a Madrid Walks class where we were given 6 different walks in Madrid that we have to complete before the semester ends..with no write ups..just do it. Probably the hardest class I have ever taken. I mean gosh get credit for sightseeing in Madrid? It's absolutely horrifying! We decided to choose the walk that included going pass the Prado and the Parque del Retiro...so pretty much the same thing Chelsey and I did last Saturday. But that was totally fine because we love that park!! We were soo excited to show it to the girls and it was a very fun day. I have become known amongst us as the human GPS ha I just remember where I've been and can navigate a map...guess having a dad who has been scoutmaster/young mens/camping/hunting my whole life has paid off. Everyone is good at something right? I'm good at navigating.

Wednesday was very chill. Chelsey wasn't feeling very well so after school we just headed back home and hung out. Chels napped and I did homework. It was nice, I mean at that point I had only been here a little over a week, it's not like we have to be doing something all day everyday.

Thursday is another one of our short days. So again Chelsey, Lindsay Jenna S and I went back into Madrid. This time to the Puerta de Sol (the same place we went our very first time into Madrid). We wandered around, got some gelato (not as good as in Italy, but still wonderful) and planned things we want to do before this trip is over...and some afterwards ha. Honestly it was a great day. The weather has been awesome pretty much the whole time we've been here! Except for a couple rainy cold days it's been nothing but sunny, and Thursday was no different. It was fun being in a beautiful city with the friends I have made so far on this program. It was a great reminder of a pro of coming. Not that I've been regretting coming at all, mostly just being frustrated with Spanish has gotten me down..oh and the fact that I'm getting larger. But I can't let those things distract from the fact that I'm in Spain!! I mean i'm never going to have this opportunity again and most people will NEVER get this opportunity...so suck it up Chloe.

Anyways, off my soap box. Friday was our first "trip" while here. We went to Toledo!! It is probably the most beautiful place I have ever been in my entire life. Not exaggerating. This city is so full of history, beauty, life, everything! We saw a house there worth 10 million American dollars. When I'm rich one day (yes I said when) I will be living there....okay maybe not that house, but I'm going to have some sort of house/apartment there. Sadly we only got to spend one day there so we headed back Friday afternoon, but I'm pretty sure Ana Maria told us today she is going to take us back since we didn't see some the important things there (unless I misunderstood, which is honestly about 98% possible) I would love to go back, it's seriously a breathtaking city.

Yesterday was also an amazing day! Chels and I got to sleep in, which was nice. When we were eating breakfast Ana Maria asked what we were doing today and we told her we didn't really have any plans, just that we wanted to run, you know, get some exercise. Well she then proceeded to tell us about the Parque Europa. She told us there was a zipline there and all sorts of things. I took it as oh you should go to this place sometime. When we said that sounded like fun and that we would like to go she said get dressed and we will go right now. Right now?! yep right now. So we got ready and headed out. I cannot tell you how excited I was, not necessarily to be going to this specific park (even though it sounded awesome) but more about the fact that Ana Maria invited us someplace with her and Oscar! She doesn't hate us!!! I was so so so excited! So we get to this park and it's just adorable! It has all the "touristy famous" places in Europe miniaturized and packed into one park for you to visit. It was so fun! We got to ride trains and cars with Oscar and Chels and I went on the zipline. Don't judge, it was very fun! Then we went and got some kebabs. I don't even know how to describe what these are...some sort of sandwich, taco, burrito thing. all mashed into one. It was yummy. Ana Maria then took us to yet another park! I don't know exactly if I'm saying this right but it was the Parque de la Nacionales....or something of that sort. We ate our food and then we rented bikes from the park in Madrid and went on an hour long bike ride around this park...and didn't even hit it all. (P.S. the renting of the bikes...FREE! yeah I know, I love Spain) It was all Ana Maria's idea and she kept saying something about how riding the bike was exercise...I guess she wanted us to feel good about hanging with them rather than running...trust me Ana Maria, I would rather go to a park with you and Oscar than go running any day. This park was so beautiful. Chelsey and I didn't know what to do with ourselves. Ana Maria was on a mission while we were riding bikes so we didn't really get to stop and look around much. We have decided that we will be going back. It was such an amazing day!

Today we had church again. I still can't understand, though I think i'm getting a little bit better? It's just hard for me now cause they talk so dang fast. If everyone would just slow down to Chloe's level everything would be perfect. Chels and I have spent the rest of the day completing homework and catching up with people via skype. I even got to see my most favorite person in the universe! If you don't know who this is then shame on you....
Soren was just as happy and smiley as ever.

I can't believe that I have only been here two weeks. It feels like I have been here forever! Not that this is a bad thing, but it's crazy to think about how much I have done and I still have ten more weeks left in my program...I worry sometimes that I will run out of things to do...but then again, I'm not in Provo anymore.

I'm sorry but I'm not going to add any pictures to this post...It's already way long and like i've said before it's way to much of a hassle for me at this moment...Lo siento everybody.

till next time
~Chloe

1 comment:

Unknown said...

So I did see a miniature Tower Bridge in your pictures! What a fun theme for a park.
You'll be so glad you have this little journal of your trip to Spain!