The Grass Isn't Always Greener on the Other Side (of the Ocean)

Okay, everyone, I'm going to apologize in advance for this post because I didn't do anything particularly interesting this week. So this isn't a I-went-here-and-here-and-had-a-great-time-with-great-people-at-all-times sort of post. It's more of a mundane-things-happen-here-too type of blog. (Also, my pictures aren't connected to this week at all.)

Now you might say: But you're in Spain, Emily. How could you have an uninteresting week and weekend?

Clock at the Impressionist Museum

Well, we can't go to Paris every weekend. This week consisted of school and... more school. Some of you can even relate. I didn't even have my Visit All The Places class, so nothing new on that front. Also, this weekend was for homework because, in all honestly, I had an impressive amount that I had been procrastinating on. Shocking, right? This means I have two presentations, a debate, and two (three?) papers due this upcoming week among other things. One of which is seven pages long (!!!). So I'm having a, uh, relaxing weekend of All Of The Homework. And that, my friends, is how you have a mostly uninteresting week(end) in Spain. And the rain doesn't help.

Now I don't want this post to be entirely me complaining because life is so hard and how dare I get homework while I'm in school and everything is so unfair. So I've decided to elaborate on some of the things I've said in the past and address some of the things I've ignored in the past couple of blogs.

I know a couple of posts ago I listed things I missed and liked and was slightly confused about, so I thought I could expand on this a little. Things I miss have hit me the most this week...and the specifics are kind of embarrassing. Perhaps you know of my love of Mac & Cheese. Perhaps you don't. In either case, I am missing it far, far too much this week. And I think my desire for fake cheese is a little unhealthy. Because guess what? I've also been craving a grilled cheese like crazy. Mmmmmmmm....I miss you American cheese in all forms.

That was really the only expansion of my list. I miss fake cheese....Lordy.

The Louvre

I suppose I could add family to this list (Sometimes. Don't think I've got too many feelings for you guys. I have to keep up appearances, so I won't gush.) Claire and I have been keeping a countdown via social networking of how long it is until I get to see her and my Mommy-face. Words cannot express my excitement to see them. That was awfully close to gushing; I'm sorry!

In other news: my ability to Spanish is progressing. Nerdily (It's a word, even if I just made it up), I love looking at words in Spanish and noticing the similarity to words in English. For the life of me, I can't think of one example right now. Anyway, the knowledge that languages are actually living and changing fascinates me. So yeah, my nerd is showing a little. Also, my English and Spanish are melding, and it's harder for me to think in just one language. I couldn't think of the phrase "Spring Break" when Skyping my mom and thought "Semana Santa" instead. And I caught myself asking someone "How was your fin de semana?" So that's gotten pretty crazy.

La Hospital Something Something. I don't remember the real name.

On to the meat of this post. Just kidding. This is literally me rambling and hoping for the best. So it goes. Oh! I forgot to explain more about where I'm living, even though this should have been done in my very first post. I'm living in a dorm suite with three other girls where we share a bathroom and shower area. Our rooms are pretty big; I think it's probably bigger than my first dorm at the U. I affectionately think of it as Siberia due to it 1) being isolated and 2) being always freezing (really tile floor?). Because I am feeling incredibly generous, you can even see pictures of it. Which I will add later...(Generosity is joke. I mean, it's a dorm room.)

I live in La Fundación, which we call the Fund. I know I've said this, but bear with me because I'm going to give you a brief Spanish lesson. Exciting! Now if you think it should be said the same as the English word, you'd be wrong. It's pronounced "foo-nd" because the "u" in Spanish is an ooooooo sound. Knowledge!

This post is really unexciting. My apologies. I'll just continue the verbal vomiting and keep hoping. (Textual vomiting?) 

La Sinogoga I-Also-Forgot-the-Name

Hey, this is fun! I'm going to Italy next weekend to visit my friend, Isaac. My federal tax return paid for the trip, so that makes life awesome. The thought of Italy is what is going to get me through my longish, stressful week. I am doubly excited because I've wanted to go Italy for forever. Side note: My love and desire to see other countries probably stems from books that have these places as settings. So Amsterdam, Venice and Hogwarts are all on my list of places I really want to see. Don't judge.

Okay, I'm drawing blanks now.

What should I say???

Ummm.....

Unfortunately, I think my hope in salvaging this post was misplaced. I've added some pictures I didn't put up in the past blogs due to lack of space as a way of rewarding you for making it through this. It's the little things in life.

Guys, I promise this will be better and more cohesive next weekend. A weekend in the Tuscan countryside (I have no idea where Tuscany is in Italy...) should be more exciting.

Just think about Italy until next time. I know I will.

¡Hasta Luego!