Officially been a month

welllllll, technically a month and a few days now.

There's so many emotions, so many days, so many experiences!!! I never imagined how much I would learn about teaching, about living with people in another country, and about myself.

Teaching is chaotic alllll the time. Even when there is a test something will happen, some kid will start something, and then another kid will respond. I have learned to always have a backup plan - whether it is playing Simon Says or Jeopardy or a simple "copy what I do". Fourth graders are way easier to control and appear more eager to try speaking English. It is such a satisfying feeling having students attempt to explain in English, even if they don't know the words.

This family has blown my mind. They have been everything I could've imagined and more! It blows my mind that this family, and my next 2 host families, are so open and so welcoming to a stranger living in their house. I am so lucky for them and for this opportunity. I have been shown so much more than I expected in just a month. Spanish people are so relaxed, they are affectionate only when they mean it, and they are as loud as Americans. Spanish time is 10 minutes late, the food is fabulous, and people weren't lying when they said Valencia has the best weather!!!

People have said that they realize I am American because Americans smile at everyone  and we say, "excuse me" "sorry" too often on the street.

I've learned that I can travel alone, I can get by with very little Spanish (but I am encouraged by the awkwardness to learn quicker), I like allllll the Spanish food I have tried so far and love a lot of it!! I am definitely a warm weather person and am thriving in this weather. I am not very good at riding a bike on a path, but plan to be a pro at the end of this journey. I have learned how to be cool with the young kids by making handshakes with them and by saying my favorite food is pizza and ice cream!! Siesta time is a time I look forward too! Being on my own has given me a time to learn about myself in ways I thought I already knew about myself. When you are on your own, you realize what actually makes you happy and what might not give you any happiness - and being on my own time, I don't have to do anything I might not want too. I am allowed to just ride a bike down the beach or sit on the couch and watch netflix or walk to a new cafe and get a cappuccino. I definitely think the worst part about traveling alone is eating alone - I have gotten better at it, but I love talking about whatever I just saw or experienced, so with no one by my side eating it is difficult. So thankful for journaling in these awkward times!!