Not my ideal start...

Sitting on my bed in my apartment, eating peanut butter out of the jar (the only food I own at the moment) and contemplating over the past 48 insane hours...

The flights were long and uneventful. I still have this really bad uncontrollable cough that wrecked havoc on me all throughout the travel process, and not sleeping didn't help much. But all in all things went very well!

I got onto the Metro with 2 other girls and we had no problems heading towards the language center. Madrid is really similar to San Francisco! I know comparing is not the best thing to do when adjusting to a new culture, but seriously Madrid feels/looks like SF, minus the bums and litter, plus attractive and stylish people, and warmer nights. I love the buildings from what I've seen of them in the dark.

And here comes the fun part...
The nice guy at the language center hands each of us keys and directions to our different places we're living along with a crude map and address, essentially saying "welcome to the country, good luck!" He didn't sound too encouraging about taxi drivers and said it was close by, so I ventured out confidently to find my new home. Come 2 hours later, I'm still lugging my bags around the sketchier back alleys of Madrid trying not to look lost/foolish, getting hit on by a guy on the corner, blisters from the handles of my luggage, and squinting at the tiny signs of streets (which, incidentally, are not actually on the streets)! Finally got a clear answer from a guy at a restaurant, and I made it home a little after 11.

So, hooray for my first Spanish Adventure! One day I'll look back and love that I have this experience under my belt, but today is not that day.

It seriously sucked, but it was positive in a couple ways: God TOTALLY protected me, kept me calm (praying kept me from crying), got to practice my Spanish skills in the real-world, now anything hectic that happens will probably be a breeze, I know to take a taxi if I must, and I decided to be a "light-packer" from this day forth!

I'm all settled into my place. Have 4 pretty cool apartment-mates, a better shower than the one at my old dorm, a cot-like bed (joy), and classes officially start Wed morning! Hopefully I get to see Ash this weekend, if everything works out!

I survived my first night, I am proud!



Requests:
Please pray for my health, it's not improving and after all the stress/travel of late I might be going further downhill. Also for no more unwanted sketchy-trekking by myself... It was definately not cool.

6 1/2 horas hasta que me vaya!

THE TIME HAS COME, the walrus said, TO TALK OF MANY THINGS,
OF SHOES AND SHIPS AND CEILING WAX- OF CABBAGES AND KINGS,
AND WHY THE SEA IS BOILING HOT- AND WHETHER PIGS HAVE WINGS.



Alright, so maybe I'll talk about something a LITTLE more relavent to my life... I leave in less than 6 1/2 hours!
Yesterday was a flurry of moving out, seeing friends, packing, and finishing school (oh yea, woke up at 820 for my 8 am final, THAT was a fun morning! lol), then: THE WAIT.
I usually can't sleep at ALL before a big trip, so I cleaned the bathroom and triple checked my luggage, and a miracle happened: I got 5 hours of sleep!! I'm pretty impressed with myself...! I woke up early and had a wonderful quiet time with God, the verses He showed me were phenomenal and so perfect for my anxious/giddy mind right now.

My flight takes off at 5:15, so as of this evening I will be on my way. Pray for peace, safety, no more flight mix-ups (already got rerouted once!), and for a second miracle: to sleep a little on the 13 hour flight to London!

Adios,
~Danielle

Getting excited!

Alrighty, less than 4 days to go!!
I have 1 final exam left, still need to do laundry, run errands, see friends, pack my bags, and move out of my dorm within the next 90 hours... wow, so much in so little time!

So sad to be leaving friends and family, but I'm so pumped for what lies ahead! I hope with this blog I won't feel like I'm totally removed from your lives...!

Many thanks to the wonderful people who have been excited for me and who are going to be praying for me when I'm gone. Some prayer requests would be for safety (doy!), creating good friendships with other students and locals, remembering to soak it all in one day at a time, and not letting myself feel rushed or anxious. I want to let each moment makes its mark on me so I come back changed for the better and able to appreciate everything in a new light! Culture shock isn't too high on my list of concerns, but it is something that I've dealt with heavily before and will likely go through again.
Anyyyyyyways, it's late now, but I'll use the excuse that I'm trying to get used to Madrid time. ^_^
Until next time, goodnight/morning!

~Danielle

Ps 139:3-5
"You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head."

6 days to go!

Hi people! I am leaving on a jet plane (insert John Denver song) in only 6 days for Madrid!!! So excited, and still so much left to do, but it will happen. Somehow!

I'll be there for 3 months, and want to take you with me so read for updates!

~Danielle~