A Few First's

It has been a long week, well four days, so far. Let me go back and take you through my schedule.

Wednesday: Drove on down to the Big Apple with my parents who helped me check in. Played some games, learned some names, then asked some questions and got some answers. Went to bed but, regrettably, didn't sleep a wink.

Thursday (Brace yourself! Its about to get heck-tick!): Woke up at 7:30 to shower, pack up and check out of our room. Boarded a bus at 1:15 to head on over to the airport. Waited around and sat in a bunch of lines until we boarded at 5:30. Flew for 7 hours from New York City, to Zurich, Switzerland.

Friday: Boarded a second plane, this one only lasting 2 hours, to fly to Madrid. Landed in Madrid and checked into Hotel Auditorium Madrid, the largest hotel in all of Europe. Then we went wild! Swimming in the pool, playing in the gym, and taking the nicest, most needed shower in a long time! 

Then came dinner, where I became adventurous. That's right, I ate fish! More orientation, and then bed after 36 hours of go, go, GO!

           

Saturday: We all got dressed ready to go and explored the hotel a little more.

                         (glass elevator)                  (table "football" world championship spectator right there!)

Then a three hour train ride to Madrid in one of those super fast trains!!! Once in Madrid we were greeted by the warmest, largest, loudest crowd I have seen in awhile and I really wish I had a picture, cause it was awesome! Next came the grand tour of mi nueva casa (my new home) and a much needed unpacking session! Thennn dinner on the balcony... no big deal, which you have to see in person to really appreciate.

(We had pork, mushrooms and carrots in broth, muy bien!)

I then gave presents, and learned how to play poker. Good thing we were only using peas because I am NOT good!!! Then I finally went to bed at 11:30ish.

Sunday (today): Today I woke up at about 10:30 and had breakfast, consisting of hot chocolate and toast, on the balcony. Then Emma, Ana, Ana Maria, and I went down to the pool for awhile. After that we showered up and went into town to buy lunch and bring it home to eat, you guessed it, on the balcony. This town is so cool! The closest thing I can compare it to is a like a little village in Mexico! Its pretty cool, and SO CLOSE! Mom, dad, why do we live in the middle of nowhere? It is sooooo convenient to be so close to stuff! Well now we are headed off to the movies where I will have to try my best to figure out what this people are saying in Spanish, or maybe do my very best lip reading... (the movies here are American with voice overs so it is the actors original movements, but the voice overs do their best to make it look like they are really saying this stuff). So ya! All is well and I am very happy to be here! Adios! Hasta luego!!!