June 24th Update

4:34pm - I am currently laying on my bed in our Madrid hotel room enjoying the first real alone time I have had since this trip began. Since we signed up as a group of four, our room is really big and actually has two bedrooms.  There is the main room - with a big TV, table, desk, two beds, couch, and small kitchen (the bathroom stems off of this room, as well)- and another bedroom - two beds pushed together in the center of the room surrounded by a small TV, a desk, and closet space.  Rebecca and I share this room, so while she's downstairs, I have the room to myself. Actually, Ella just joined me, but that's okay because I like her (and she brought chips).  She also brought "Schweppes Naranja Spirit", a type of orange pop that has probably the funniest commercial I've seen here so far - it's also in English, so that's nice. Woman lying seductively on sofa: "I want to have Shweppes together". Man: "You mean sex?" Woman: "No...Shweppes!"

Anyway, I should probably fill you in on my last week.

My family stay was fantastic. Touring the cities and seeing the major attractions is fun and interesting, but last week I was able to immerse myself in real Spanish life - I stayed up later, I ate meals later, I tried Spanish foods, I met Spanish people, I woke up later, I relaxed more, I walked and rode the bus, I shopped in Spanish shops (not tourist shops), I made Spanish friends, I had a Spanish family!

Oh, how I miss my Spanish family... My host dad worked a lot, but when I got to see him, it was always a lot of fun. He reminded me a lot of my real dad - able to have serious conversation but laughing and making jokes most of the time instead.  My host mom was really sweet and accommodating (and also an amazing cook!). She always made me feel at home. My little host sister Marta was so funny.  She was always fun to talk to (even when I didn't always understand what she was telling me).  She was usually willing to slow down and try to explain things *even trying out the English she's learning once in a while).  She joked around with me like a sister, as well. Once the light shut off while I was in the bathroom; I heard soft giggling outside shortly after. It was funny, and I took it as a sign that she was getting more comfortable around me (plus, I think it would be IMPOSSIBLE to ever be upset with someone so cute and funny). Finally, my host sister Laura, who I spent every part of my week with.  We were never apart for more than 15 minutes, and I can not begin to describe how much I have missed her the past day and a half.

We spent most of our days with her friends.

Patricia - Jordan's host sister and Laura's best friend. She was hilarious and very similar to Jordan.

Borja - Another one of Laura's best friends. He reminded me a lot of Nathan - a really great friend and always looking out for the rest of the group, like a father.

Aida - Another close friend who happened to be Gabrielle's host sister. She was always very sweet.

Dani - Yet another close friend of Laura's. He was really intelligent. Laura explained to me that you always feel less intelligent after talking to him because he always knows about something you don't. He was also really nice. He was always willing to explain things to me and even kept me company during Laura's English test.

I also got to meet a lot of other great people including Raquel, Sonya, "X", and Cesar.

We spent a lot of time sitting and talking at parks. On the way (by foot and by bus) we would ALWAYS stop at one of the many, many candy shops for candy and/or a Frigo ice cream treat.

I really loved the food there. Their candy was fantastic (my favorite was a heart shaped chandy that tasted just like Peachy-O's).  For breakfast, I usually had toast with Nutella, fresh squeezed orange juice, and a kiki for desert.  They offered me desert (ice cream, fruit, yogurt, etc) after every meal. I usually had strawberry yogurt.  My favorite traditional Spanish meal there was a chicken paella my host mom made. I had some Paella last night in Madrid and it was not NEARLY as good - not even close.

Resting in my hotel room is nice, but I REALLY wish that I was relaxing with my host sister in Logrono instead. We're headed back out into the city soon, so I will have to catch un on the rest of my journalling later.