1. First time going abroad all by myself.
Sure I've studied abroad, but I've never actually been totally solo while going to another country. Whether it be a family member or friend from school I've always had a companion for my international journeys. This was a big step for me.
2. First time in Spain (well Europe if we're being precise).
It's a pretty big leap to commit to living in a completely new country for nine months. But, hey, why not? So what if I hate it? But I'm sure I won't. So far everything has been amazing and I'm very hopeful for my experience here.
3. First time staying in a hostel with total strangers.
I don't know if you count my first few nights in Barcelona as being with total strangers, because they were people in the same program as me and we had met online. My last night, however, I was totally solo in a room with some guys from possibly Belgium or Germany or Austria and a guy from China. But I survived.
4. First time exploring a city by myself.
This wasn't as scary as it may sound because I had been exploring it with other people the few days before so I kinda had a feel for the city already. However, for me, a non-city girl, I was very proud of how I was able to navigate the metro system and the city using only a map.
5. First time literally walking from mountain to sea.
As a result of my solo adventure, I found myself on a mountain in a place where I had not really intended on going. But from that mountain I could see the port where I had been earlier that day and decided that the walk wouldn't be too difficult. So I set out to the port and then eventually decided to keep going until I made it to the beach for my first Mediterranean Sea experience.
From this view all the way to the coast in the far left corner of this picture. (All on foot.)
6. First time to the Mediterranean Sea.
Obviously, from the previous first...
7. First time living in a flat with strangers.
Strangers is a harsh word. These strangers are Meddeas people who I will be working with at the school, but since I never met them they can be considered strangers. Plus they're both from different countries from myself, making them culturally different from me.
8. First time riding in a Mercedes.
Yes, this is not as monumental as the others, but I do think it is interesting that it took me going to another country to ride in a Mercedes. (That's what I was picked up from the airpot in, just to clarify.)
9. First time eating tapas.
Tapas are a very Spanish type of appetizer, but you eat a lot and it turns into a meal basically. In Barcelona we went out one night and had a round of tapas to split between about nine of us. Some were good and some were bad. I also tried my first calamari, but I won't make a separate number for that first.
10. First time using European measurements.
From Euros to Celcius to kilometers to liters I'm trying very hard to adjust to this new system. Here is a quick look into my European cheat sheet:
- If the price is just slightly more that what it would be in dollars, its a good price.
- 25 degrees Celcius is about 80 Fahrenheit. Thats about the only temperature there is in Almeria.
- A liter is a lot of beer.
- Five kilometers is about the max you would want to walk in one continuous stretch. 1-2 km is ideal.
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