"It's really funny because I do not know where I am going. Like never. This only Spanish thing is intense. Very, very confusing. I just act like I understand so (1). they don't think I'm completely retarded or (2). They keep talking to me and don't loose interest."
--Saturday, September 4th, 2010 (Day 1)
EURO TRIP
After Milan, that Monday I went to Graz, Austria to visit an AFSer who was in my town the 2008/2009 school year. But my trip to Graz is a story in itself, so I'll write about that later. Let's detour back to the title of my blog for this note.
Last night I actually brought myself together to read my journals. Originally, I thought it would be easy to go back and read through them, but one of the biggest surprises about coming home is that it is not easy. No Sir. It is not easy to read through the emotions, events, and life that I lived that year. For a few reasons. One, those who know me personally know that I kept my blog very positive, compared to the realistic experience I had. Yeah, secret is out. Bummer. I didn't have the greatest life that year. I struggled quite a bit, and there are a lot of things I couldn't put on here with AFS monitoring my blog. But they messed up, horribly. AFS Spain did an absolute horrible job with my host family placements. The volunteers there knowso very much and refuse to acknowledge that there was anything wrong with my host family placement. Once I left Madrid, thank the heavens I found some volunteers who were able to agree with me, and give me the piece of mind I was not indeed insane. In a nutshell, as I may have hinted before, my first host family was not informed properly of what AFS is. Instead, after an interest form, the President of AFS Spain came to the apartment, begging for them to take me in, saying "the student could even sleep here in your living room on this couch." I was one of the last two students placed out of 80 some, or atleast out of the 31 Americans. My host family, being the incredible giving people that they are, agreed to host an AFSer, even though it was not the best time for them financially. I'll leave it at that, but you can see in what direction things went from there.
I'd like to meet the volunteer who searched for my blog with the exact words "AFS Spain is terrible." (yes, it IS possible for me to see the engine search keywords that people use to find my blog.) I never ratted out AFS Spain during my time there and I don't plan on going into details. AFS is an amazing organization and I do not want to steer anyone away from AFS, or going on exchange.
Some of you may have already known, but I won't elaborate on it more than I feel the need to do in order to explain why I say what I do. I respect what happened that year moreso now after my Euro trip than I did a year ago. There is so much I took from that year that other kids didn't get, and for that, I am thankful.
Let me note one, final thought. AFS-USA and AFS-SPAIN are almost two entirely different organizations. My host family refused to call them that, but instead, businesses. They even have different regulations and standards, such as- AFS USA requires all American host families to have criminal background checks. AFS-Spain does not. It's based off of country regulations and fun. AFS-USA has been awesome, and I would like to give an extended thank you to everyone who helped me during the year- you guys were great, really, and you all know who you are.
Reading through my journals has been a bit easier after some time, I've come to accept different things and look back at the wonderful time I had during my year abroad. The most amazing thing for me, is how much I have grown since the start of my year there, nearly two years ago. A big part of why it is so easy for me to read back through the journals now compared to a year ago- is because my exchange year is something of the past. It is not something I "will be" or "am currently" doing, nor something I "just got back from." After a while the whole thing wears you out a bit, and it's nice to get some closure. I'll elaborate that later on in my stories about my EuroTrip.
Last night I read through most of what I wrote during my first week on exchange. I thought I would share some funny stories and quotes from what I found. Writing down everything is the best way I can "go back" to that life. It's really amazing how much you gain when you write things down.
Now for the fun. Those of you who can relate can laugh with me.
Monday, January 25th, 2010
"My trip to Spain starts with getting accepted. Today I got an email from AFS saying that I was accepted into AFS-USA, and it will be another 4-6 weeks before I know if AFS-Spain has accepted me. I am very excited to hear back from them- if Spain does not accept me I am not sure where I will pick next. I want to learn Spanish but do not want to leave Europe. Earlier this month I received a $600 merit and $200 host family scholarship. I hope to hear from AFS-Spain soon. PS: Semester 2 starts tomorrow and I start Spanish 3."
MAY 15th, 2010 1:47 AM
"So much to say in so little time. The only update on Spain is nothing. I still don't have a host family or location yet. I hope I find out before the end of June. I met a guy from Spain at Annika's surprise birthday party, but he didn't say much. (Besides the fact I'll be screwed if I get put in the Barcelona area because of the Catalan dialect, and I'll probably be put in a small town. I hope not. Today was my first golf clinic of the year, and I hope if I enjoy it I can do it in Spain."
Saturday, June 19th, 2010 4:29 PM
"Yesterday we got a confirmation from Dharma with AFS 'after extensive research' that an AFS representative can drop off and pick up the visa information at the Consulate of Spain in Chicago, and no FBI criminal background check is needed, the local one will be fine."
Monday, June 28th, 2010
"A few days ago I got the paper from AFS that tells me when I leave. According to the current report I can bring 44 pounds in a suitcase and a carry on that is 22 pounds. I leave Minnesota for New York and arrive there anytime between 12:00 and 4:00PM. The next day I leave NYC to Zurich, Switzerland and arrive there around 10:55AM. 1.5 hours later I then fly to Madrid and arrive there on September 3rd."
Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
"So, I have set up a blog. Hopefully AFS will put it on their website like they said they would. Oh, and I've met a girl, Phoebe Ziegler, through Facebook who will be on my plane to Spain. (hah, that rhymes) if AFS gets my visa in time! **** It's the 13th already! Our appt. was for yesterday if we did it by ourselves...what the heck is AFS wasting their time on?! I CAN'T leave late!"
"September can NOT come soon enough. I swear."
"Oh, SPAIN WON THE WORLD CUP! Which is totally awesome, and I'm super excited."
"Oh, and a brief Spanish placement test put me at the bottom. Pffff. I've gotta long way to go."
"Still no word from AFS...no host fam. yet but not knowing is better than thinking you have a bad one I guess. Got word on a country conference call July 26th which should be good."
Monday, August 9th, 2010
"Holy buckets I haven't written in here for a while...but I have been keeping my blog updated so I guess that's O.K. I'll start from current and work backwards. I HAVE HOST SIBLINGS! FOUR! O.M.G. that is amazing! I am very excited for the news."
"I cannot express in words or emotions how excited I am to go to Spain. Oh yeah, did I mention? I'm in Madrid! YES!!!!! Population 3 Million and I'm in the middle of it! And according to some website online the average low winter temp. is 38*F! 38*! Incredible! There is no way in the world I can complain about that! :)"
"I am so excited to go! I wonder how these next few weeks will go by..."
"...everything is so much more real now that I have my host family."
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 12:56AM
"WOW! And the day has come! Yesterday, the 10th I finally received my full host family from AFS. YAY! Complete relief...I have been waiting for this day FOREVER...!!!"
"Google map. Street view. Gotta love it. I hope they put me in the right grade (1st bachillerato or something like that)."
"And I have to remind myself that the grass always looks greener on the other side. So love every minute of Spain =) My hand can't go anymore...So best of luck to my unknown future, whatever it brings...ciao, ciao"
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
"I have to write quick but here it is. My last day. There was a point I thought it would never come. But I'm packed. And completely ready to start my new adventure."
[Marshall High School Visitor Pass pasted on page]
--------ARRIVAL TO SPAIN-------
Culture shock: the personal disorientation a person may feel when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life due to immigration or a visit to a new country, or to a move between social environments. -wikipedia
Saturday, Sept. 4th 2010
Day 1
"Wow. I am officially at my new home."
[about meeting host family and orientation]
"I was scared to meet them. Very scared. Thank God the kids weren't there. I met my liason today, here they call it a "tutor." Pablo is very nice and thank the Lord he speaks English. Thank the Lord. Us kids played like cards forever. And the cup game thing."
"Orientation was good to meet other kids but at a terrible location. We met our host families by walking through the door to the theatre."
"They drive crazy here. The van is huge and ugly no offense. I have no internet in my room, which sucks. The buildings here are ugly, and it is like the Sahara Desert. No grass. None. And there are olive trees everywhere outside town. Atleast I think they are olive trees. The apartment is small. Tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny. But I guess that is fine. I have no hangers so I suppose I just fold my clothes."
"I accidently fell asleep and woke up, being shocked when I realized I spoke English to the 3 oldest when I tried to give them their welcome gifts. I just forgot to speak Spanish. It's just really weird. And when I called home I almost said Spanish words. It's so weird because I'm starting to think in Spanish. Not completely but like a little bit. Uh, what else. The door thing, yeah I think I have to keep my door open unless I'm sleeping or changing. The light switched are weird. Like big buttons. I hope everyone stays patient with my Spanish- it's seriously not very good. First mistaken word was "regalo" for "regla"- "gift" for "ruler" and I thought that was funny. We walked like 3 miles to a McDonalds for wifi and I called home. I have a feeling here I won't be using my computer much. The bathrooms are strange. I have no clue what the tiny sink is that is really small. And the shower like at the camp is one that has a hose thing. My brain cannot think with so much going on. There are no screens on the windows (are left open) but I haven't really seen bugs besides 1 in the bathroom so that might be ok. It's like a desert here. It's so weird. The metro is clean though. And convenient. The toilet flushes weird. The blinds are wicked awesome. I don't know how I'll sleep tonight- there's a lot of honking outside. You can't see the stars here is what my host sister Maria told me. No one here speaks English."
"I need to get a clock. I don't know what time it is."
[let me note that I did not have a cell phone at that time, nor a computer charger, since I didn't have the right cord.]
"Oh yeah and the toilets? are weird. Barely any water in them. And eating a small dinner will be very interesting as I am not very hungry during lunch at 2 like today. It's pretty hot here. And the pillows are long and strange. Maybe that's just because it is a twin bed. We wear shoes in the house, yes. But I wouldn't want to take them off. The floor is wood and I think a bit dirty. School starts like the 17th-ish and we are going to Segovia sometime before then! Awesome! Elizabeth from the United States I believe lives there. I think it'll be good."
"Whoo. first time since last Sunday really That I can actually sleep. I think I will like it here after some adjustments and the bathroom thing."
"My journey has started and it is amazing. Too many thoughts to even think about. I hope my allergies aren't bad as well, as I sit here with the window open."
"So after all the Spanish tests and miles on a plane I am here. I am here and am starting to live a new life."
"Diego put subsitles on the TV which is super helpful. Like I can't understand TV without them. And the google here is ".es" strangeeeeee~~~. And hopefully they don't get too tired of talking slow. But I can't seem to tune them out because I understand enough to get the "jist," and they frequently ask me questions so I have to pay attention."
"Day One. Incredible. Time flys. Seriously."
September 5th, 2010
Day 2
"I am alarmed at the fact that I don't think we have a dishwasher. And that is is too expensive to run the dryer. Except in the winter...I think I won't be washing my clothes much, but again I don't know. They have really small glasses, and normal ones. And I don't know where they get the water- it's always in this cooler-like thing. And today there was lemonade for a change. The milk is terrible. The cereal was disgusting haha but whatever. The lights [switches] here (atleast in the apartment) are weird and are square shaped. I think it would be possible for someone to break in since we always have our windows open and live on the first floor.
***that last statement is ridiculous, because we were technically on floor 2 inside a locked fence that surrounded the building.***
Amaya and I went to have a "picnic" and so I asked if it was far and if sandals were a good idea. well, I got the impression that the park was literally right around the corner because the mom said it was very close. Well, we caught the metro and met someone named Ana, and yeah, well, she talks very fast. And we switched trains atleast like 4 times and once even missed our stop. It's amazing because we never had to wait really long for a train. And I think I'll buy a monthly pass for the metro because I have a feeling we use that a lot here."
"The elevator in the apartment is awkwardly tiny. The door handle is awkwardly in the middle of the door. And I awkwardly met some of Maria's friends when I was in my pajamas. And yeah, awkward might be the word of the day."
-mb
