Day 1

I survived the first day! What more could a girl ask for? I have all of my luggage and am navigating fairly well all things considered.

I’m navigating ok so far! I know what to ask, it’s just understanding the answer that’s killing me. Everyone speaks so fast that I can’t think fast enough to figure out what they said much less come up with an intelligent response. The first guy that I encountered didn’t answer any of my questions, but proceeded to tell me “Eres muy guapo” which I’m pretty sure means “You’re very beautiful/attractive”?? Ohhhhhh boy this is off to a great start.

I was hoping to be taken seriously, but I’m sure I just looked lost everywhere I went. I spilled coffee on my white shirt on the car ride up to the airport in Minneapolis so I was doomed from the start. TOURIST.

The hardest part was figuring out where to go- all the time. At the airport, I could either take a taxi or a bus to the train station. I couldn’t figure out the bus system on such a tight schedule so I went with the taxi. Naturally the driver spoke spanish so I’m trying to tell him what train station I needed to be at; we got the right station but I gave up trying to figure out which platform and just handed over my ticket so he could read it himself. He laughed and said in half english/half spanish “Keep practicando”. Thanks for the encouragement!

The train station itself was a totally different story. There were people everywhere. Literally, everywhere. This frantic woman came up to me and started freaking out in Spanish and I just looked at her. I didn’t know what to say or what she was saying! I probably looked terrified because then this guy came up and said “Ella no sabe” and marched her away. I figured out that the guys in purple ties worked at the station (don’t ask me how, just go with it) so every purple tie I saw I asked for directions. I’ve never even seen a train station much less been on a train so I had no idea where to go or how this whole thing worked. But I made it and successfully got to Toledo!

On the train.

After the afternoon siesta at the hotel we had a meeting with the ISA staff so I could get all caught up on the stuff I missed. Then we went out for supper.. which was at 9pm. I was starving! Meals are a little wonky here- breakfast is around 8 or 9, lunch at 2 or 3, and dinner at 9 or 10. 

The food was SO GOOD. We went to this little hole in the wall restaurant with a few other kids in our group. Anna and I  split the Gazpacho and a Paella. Gazpacho is a tomato based soup and it’s served cold. It was served with peppers and croutons tonight, but can be served with many other add ins. Paella is a rice dish. It’s served in a cast iron skillet and this one had sausage, squid, and peppers in it.

Tomorrow we travel to Granada to meet our host families!

Maddy has Sangria, Anna has a Mojito.
Both were delicious!
At the bottom of the picture is the Gazpacho.

The Paella we ordered.
Super salty, but so worth it!

Adios amigos!