So, let’s get one thing straight. #1 I never pay attention to detail #2 Lack a sense of direction. & #3 Can never make a decision. We’ll this trip has helped me improve in all 3 areas. I’ve learn to use “context” clues as my brother would say. I spent a whole summer choosing the best city and the best program to study abroad with. I need to thank Kelly Murray, one of my sisters in KD who studied there a whole year. She reassured me that Salamanca was the perfect city for what I was looking forI am 110% content with where I am and couldn’t recommend anything better! API SALAMANCA 2010 is going to be a good one.
So preparing for this excursion, of course I packed and unpacked about 10 times, practiced lugging my suitcase up and down the house, and my dad of course took pictures I must say it was so hard to part from 80% of my closet. I have a selfish fetish for clothes and I will be the first to admit it… well maybe the second or third, but okay it’s the truth. However, after I was finally packed and ready, my parents gave me the whole “no sex, drugs, and rock and roll” lecture – thanks mom. And my dad actually wrote up a list of all my electronics and we practiced using all of them hahah. I have like 2 phones, a laptop, a black berry, a hardrive, and who knows what else… let me check my list!
So, after I said goodbye to my mom and dad, yes I started choking up just a little. I will miss them and they are so supportive of me, it’s a blessing. But, skype’s been almost like the real thing, so thank you skype!
While waiting for my flight to arrive, I called one of my best friends, Elyse and then Kevin, and then, it was off to Germany, somewhere, and then Madrid!
First of all the flight to Germany was 8 hours and actually passed rather quickly because guess what? I bought New Moon in the airport bookstore and wow, as juvenile as it is, that book was so addicting. So, thank you Stephanie Meyer.
Also, something interesting to point out was my seatmate right next to me.
1) He was for sure Mr. Bean, I swear it was him. We talked sharades the whole time!
2) He was from Romania and didn’t speak much English or German. Naturally we bonded over Nadia Comăneci
3) He made me switch from the isle to the window and got mad when anyone put their seat back. He would say, “No, no, no!!” Oh, cute old man.
4) He kept trying to make me drink his brandy he bought. And when I got orange juice he said. “The American girls like put vodka in.” I responded “Yes, like a screwdriver.” And he responsed, “American girls are so honest.” Jajjaaj that cracked me up.
So when I landed in Germany, I basically had to run around the airport like a crazy woman and my two carry on bags and just made it with 5 minutes to spare for my next flight… phew! And, I had the 2 seats free on the plane which made my life awesome! I’m so thankful I arrived to Madrid with all my suitcases and eventually found Inma, the director of the program. I was a little embarrassed that I had so much stuff and put my jacket over my bags to look like there was less haha. But then I found out that the other students were going to be only until March and then I didn’t feel so bad! Check out my quay photos. (Guay means cool in Salamanca).
However, my flight story is nothing compared to other friends in the same program. I flew Luftansa, but they flew American Airlines, Continental, and Delta so they had more people their age and students studying abroad as well. Some of my friends were upgraded to first class and one told of two strangers who met and then started to make out! Wow, that’s crazy for sho!
One of the amigos in our group from Minnesota had a birthday! And you know birthdays are just an excuse to go out. So of course we splurged and bought him vino, a cake, and took him out to dinner… yum! 
