Adventure Is Out There!

For those of you who didn't know, I am currently in Toledo, Spain! And if you didn't know, you probably haven't been talking to my mom. In like a year and a half. (Sorry, mom, you just tell everyone. EVERYONE).

First thing: It's pronounced "Toe-lay-doe." Jokes about me going to Ohio will result in severe eye-rolling. (Dad.)

My flight here went relatively well, despite the fact that I couldn't sleep for the eight-hour trip over the ocean. Foolishly, I was under the impression that I could sleep anywhere. NOT accurate. And apparently plane seats have been cursed by some black magic because they shrink as time goes on. So it goes.

I've been here for a(n eventful) week, so I'll try to get everyone caught up.

Day 1: Extreme jet-lag. And time-disorientation (It's a real thing. Don't question it). We explored the Toledo and got quite lost. The streets here don't believe in being normal so they're all really skinny and long and curvy. If a kid scribbled on a sheet of paper, you would have the layout of the city. No joke. We wandered around the Fund (La Fundacion Ortega y Gasset) for an hour before we actually found it again. I'm so glad the city is so beautiful otherwise my sleep-deprived brain would've had a breakdown.

Day 2: We had a few placement tests and an interview to sign up for classes. I really don't remember much about this day to be honest. I think we walked around the city some more with slightly more success in Not Getting Lost.

Day 3: Bus tour of the city! Our bus took us around some of the outer roads of the city and the hill-mountain things across the river. We got off the bus and walked back to the Fund. It was really cold outside (by Spain standards. I'm becoming a pathetic Minnesotan). I only understood about 30 percent of the Spanish being spoken because my brain was broken that day. Whatevs whatevs.

Day 4: Class started and MY 21ST BIRTHDAY. Lucky for me classes are on the same floor that I live on. 30 second commute? *rubs hands together like evil mastermind and cackles* Excellent. I had 2 classes, one that's a Spanish history-geography-economy-crash course type of class and an art class about the mixture of Jewish, Muslim and Christian cultures. Both seem like they'll be pretty interesting. On to the good stuff. A lot of students went out later in the night and we went to a bar with hams hanging from the ceiling. Tons and tons of hams. I had a delicious Sangria, and then we went out to a club. Spaniards must not believe in sleep because they start coming out at 3am, when we start going in. I don't even know. Either way, the celebrating was fantastic and I can't believe how great the people I've just met are.

Day 5-6: Recovery. Jet-lag and staying out too late having resulted in the need to recharge. Last night we had a movie night and today we've just been hanging out at the Fund.

Next time on the Emily O'Brien Show: Pictures and a better description of the program and where I'm living and whatever else seems interesting.

Peace out.