Para Empezar
Trip Start
Sep 04, 2009
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3
5
Trip End
Jan 05, 2010
Alicante, Valencian Country, Spain and Canary Islands
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
I realize that my phobia of large horrid American groups of people are realized when we walk through el barrio and we get all these horrible stares for being Americano and obnoxious. I hate tourists in Chicago, of course I don't wanna be one in Spain! And I know how much hassle it is for not much thanks, (thanks Walgreens). And so I hate being ostentatious like that. We did get some free drinks and the food was on CIEE which was pretty amazing since it was pretty expensive I bet to feed like 20 plus people. I tried some authentic Spanish jamón y queso and lots of other dishes that they didn't tell us the names of! Frustrating! One was really interesting it was a boiled egg that was fried in a batter and served. At first I thought it was a chicken nugget then I thought it was fried cheese then I realized there was yoke.
Some of the people in our program seem really promising and there's more boys than I thought. (Ew?) But some are uptight like no freaking other! They're the clingy, let's talk about how much this costs all the fucking time and complain and freak out and act like whiny American bitches. No thanks. No entiendo íngles por favor.
But I don't think we have to be stuck with them. I'm just so glad I found such a good travel companion in Elizabeth!~!
Already I found some really cool things and the best part is that aside from meeting these terrible gringos, I am loving loving loving Alicante!~! I am more relaxed here and I'm more peaceful. Which is something I'm sure anyone who knows me for more than a day is sure to find cra cra! I am actually happy and not angry all the time and I feel at home and safe...smile...
I even got a really beautiful mother of pearl bracelet and a necklace made out of onion for Annabelle!~! And a pair of mono hammered metal copper earrings!~! It's hard here because spending Euros doesn't seem like you're spending real money--but it is!
We meet our host families in two days and that's when it all really begins. I can't wait! I'm just hoping and praying that I live close to the City Centre. And that mi familia es muy amable.
Elizabeth and I haven't had to eat too much or sleep too much and so I hope that won't get the better of us later but so far it's been nothing less than amazing and now when I look back at all the people saying, "Oh you'll love it!" or " You'll catch on, you'll get the language" or "You'll have the BEST time" I realize they were actually kinda right. When before I scornfully was like, "Yeah? Well maybe I'll be the exception to that rule so don't get my fucking hopes up." And now I don't even have to worry about hopes because it's a reality. What a nice feeling. I rarely feel content and satisfied and even more than that excited about things and a truly happy camper. I feel corny. Haha. But I'm glad I feel corny rather than homesick or actually sick or depressed. And I hope that I can hold onto this feeling and experience more great ones as the time comes to pass.
My only sadness is that I wish my friends could be here with me. I know they would love this place. I wish they could visit. But all in all, I know that I have to do this on my own, though I'm lucky to have found such a great friend and companion in Elizabeth.
I hope that Alicante becomes someplace that I treasure forever. And more so that I learn Spanish and that it shows me that I can do something great, be something great, and be me. At my best.
