I know it goes without saying, but....

Not being fluent in Spanish is kind of really annoying. I just can't get used to pretty much never being able to say precisely what I mean. Also, having people give me a look of pity when I'm trying to string ten words together. That part's not that fun. I think I might be a lot too sensitive about the whole thing, though, which isn't going to help me get any better.

Hopefully, this year will make a big difference for me. I've stuck myself in a situation where I can't help but improve, right? I'm living with nice people who speak little English in a city where most people speak little English and I don't know anyone (yet, at least). What a little recipe for Spanish fluency (or death from frustration-related head explosion) I've cooked up for myself. There are just SO MANY WORDS I don't know or can't recognize when people say them along with other words in quick succession. Crap.

I can't get in touch with my school and I'm supposed to start Thursday. CRAP.

End.

Piso hunt over.

FINALLY. A week and who knows how many dollars later, I'm finally typing this from an apartment that I live in. I'm sharing it with two Sevillana college students who are so sweet, it hurts. I love them a little bit. They bought me welcome presents! They're also putting up with my weird foreignness, so yay! I can already feel my Spanish getting better.

I met this German girl in the hostel who found her apartment in literally one day, and I can't lie. I was NOT happy for this girl. I was bitter. Just wanted to mention that.

I'm going to try to visit my school tomorrow, perhaps? One of these days before school actually begins (Thursday).

I am way tuckered out from all the worrying I did today over whether or not this apartment thing was going to come through. I was waiting for the girls to get in touch with me when they came back from Sevilla this evening and I was worried that something would have changed. I worried myself sick for nothing. Yeah, though...tired....going to bed. Not in a hostel (THANK GOD).

First Day in Cordoba

Hey, look at me, making updates, wow. (FYI this keyboard is weird, so this post will not contain any apostrophes.)

SO...yesterday I made the journey to Cordoba. I took a taxi from my apartment to the bus station, so the two hands-three suitcases situation hadnt yet become a problem. When I got to Madrid, I knew I was screwed. I had to drag the luggage to the exit in turns, and that was working, slowly, but surely. However, we all know that if a girl looks clueless for long enough, some guy will eventually offer to help. And thats what happened. Some dude was like, "ehhh...te ayudo?" and I was like, "POR FAVOR, joder." He helped me allll the way to the train station, which was so nice! Ah, the kindness of strangers.

Every time I take a trip, my big suitcase breaks in some way. I think this trip was the final nail in the coffin, though. I accidentally tore the flap (the part that closes with a zipper) almost completely off while lifting it. RIP big suitcase.

Cordoba is very...weird.

1) All the men look more like Humpty Dumpty than Antonio Banderas, Im noticing.

2) Could the street names be longer or more Catholic? Calle de la Virgen Milagrosa, Campo de Madre de Dios, Calle del Periodista Ricardo Rodriguez. Why cant they just keep it simple?

3) The weather is absolutely gorgeous. I left an overcast and rainy Bilbao to come here, where there isnt even one cloud in the sky. I appreciate that.

4) Why are there so many old people everywhere? Dont they have special homes for them? Im going to hell for that, arent I?

Those are all my observations for today. Must go look at some apartments. Wish me luck!

Moving

So, it's been a while.

I'm moving to Cordoba tomorrow morning. I figured this was as good a time as any to get back into the blog swing. I'm pretty much all packed. It's going to be an interesting trip because I've got three suitcases and oh, dear me, only two arms. WHY DO I OWN SO MANY THINGS? I still can't whittle it down to just two suitcases even though I took loads of stuff home a few months ago.

The summer has been so wonderful. It was the first true summer vacation I've had in maybe 6 years. I didn't waste time desperately counting down the weeks, days, and hours until Fall. I relaxed intensely and now I'm mentally ready for a new school year to begin.

My dear mother is sending me a new camera battery, which I will receive on Tuesday, so I'll be able to take pictures again! XD She is the bessssst.

I'm in the process of applying to grad schools. I was overwhelmed by all that I had to do at the beginning. I've made some decisions and taken some important first steps, though, such as narrowing down schools, picking who I would get recs from, and taking the GRE (pretty much with a shotgun held to my head by my mother). I don't feel so nervous about it anymore! I've set myself some deadlines, which also helps.

I have to get some rest for my verrrry long and trying day tomorrow. Bye! <3