gonna take a 180

Sooo Christmas has passed and New Years is awaiting yet but I’ve started to put aside things to be packed for Spain already (well it is only 8 daysss away!). How will I do it being limited to one check-in and one carryon plus a purse…well ladies and gentlemen that will be a challenge huh. So far so good…but all i’ve put aside is clothes…

To some it may be contrary to popular belief, I do own MANY cute outfits, and I DO own and wear jeans (shocker right?). The past year and a half it has been a rare occasion to see me in jeans walkin around campus…I save ‘em for the weekends, NOT going to class during the week. That’s what you get for going to an all girls catholic high school for 4 wonderful years. You develop a deep love for sweats. HA. Well, not really. That’s just all you owned for those 4 years besides your lovely plaid uniform.

Flip flop. Sad to say it, but for the next 4 months I will be limited to a pair of yoga pants and 2 t-shirts (for lounging).

Cuz this girl will be dressin like the Spaniards, aka in style ; )

ohhhhh boiii culture shock and i haven’t even left yet

Today I spent a solid hour making spanish flashcards with “idiomatic expressions” that I think I will use/need in Spain. This would include words like “¡Basta! vino, ay dios mío…” haha ok I lie, those are already popular words in my vocab! I just jotted down some idioms of dar(se), echar, estar, hacer, llegar, tener, y otros that I think will come in handy that I could use a little touching up on and review and whatnot. I know I shouldn’t cram info/vocab/everything else I’m doing now but the more I come to realize that I’m leaving next week, the more I’m beginning to freak. I mean, I won’t believe I’m really going to Spain until I arrive en la casa de mi familia española but ehhh it’s calming my nerves for now. Well I should best stop writing now and get on to reviewing some of that vocab huh…well it doesn’t matter how much Spanish I know to an extent when I get there cuz I’m still going to be a “Nat Romano” and ask question after question. However, I’m a visual learner especially when it comes to speaking…weird….i know but I need to see words on paper…this should be interesting.

Where in the world am I?

Santiago de Compostela is located in the northwest of Spain (above Portugal)

my spanish needs help : /

I’ve completed my resume (in SPANISH!! —yikes!) and am now almost done with my cover sheet for it. I am not use to this kind of writing in Spanish so let’s hope its legit (keepin the fingers crossed!). I dove into a whole different vocab that I never know if i’m using it right or not — talking about myself. Phrases that I would use in English just didn’t seem to look right in Spanish. BUT no worries, I’ve dug out the Spanish books and am touching up and reviewing my vocab and trying to learn new phrases. I’ve been listening to Spanish music, radio, podcasts (yes podcasts), reading some Spanish here and there…basically anything I can get my hands on to clam my nerves about understanding Spanish. I haven’t had many issues understanding Spanish before, but I know I am being thrown into a different dialect and it will take some getting used to. Thank goodness for those Spanish conversation tables this semester…I’ve learned a lot! Thank you ladies : )

I’m sending a Merry Christmas/Happy New Year card to mi familia española with a photo of myself : ) I’m still deciding what to get them in terms of a gift. I have a few cute ideas of course but haven’t made up my mind yet.

Hopes & Fears

GOALS:

Thought I’d jot down some goals I have before I leave so I can look back at them in a few months and hopefully check them off!

• Become fluent in the Spanish language 
• Meet and socialize with native Spaniards 
• Try new food…everything! mmmm nom nom 
• Roam around the cities and soak it all in 
• Keep this blog updated or keep a journal of some sort 
• Go outside of my comfort zone to experience new things 
• Learn more about the Spanish culture, history, and customs 
• Help out in the kitchen so I can learn how to cook/make a few Spanish plates (meals & dessert) 
• TRAVEL: Ireland, Greece. mabes Germany, Poland area. France & Italy with the fam during la semana santa (Easter week) 

Fears:

• I’m a bit nervous about meeting mi “familia espanola” (aka Spanish host family) for the first time 
• Not being able to understand a task at my internship 
• Being able to communicate and understand everything 
• Having free time rather than spending it on homework and studies 
• Staying in shape while indulging & enjoying the food 
• Being welcomed into a country/culture as a visitor 
• Making Spanish friends 
• Keeping in contact with family and friends back home…so people better email, facebook, and skype me!!! 
• Running out of money or being restricted from experiencing the culture due to money…i don’t want any regrets

Countdown on full throttle

22 days, 0 hours, 45 minutes and 00 seconds until Thursday, January 6, 2011 when the plane departs from O’Hare Airport at 4:45:00 PM (Chicago time)

Now that exams are over and done with, the countdown for departure is ever so approaching.

Tonight the whole group, along with those who have been to Spain and back, will be bonding and sharing experiences at Los Aztecas. Last minute questions: how to pack, what to pack, how much money will i need, will i like my host family, will the language be overwhelming, will i have time to enjoy myself, the fabulous night life…all questions running through my head.

Special shout out to Amy Kirkpatrick for providing the history of Santiago de Compostela.