Thursday, October 6, 2011

Almost a month!

Wow, I can't believe I've been here for a whole month...I only have 9 left, and it feels like no time has passed at all!
I've had school technically for 3 weeks, but because there have been strikes in Madrid I've only had 1 full week of school. It hasn't been a very pleasant experience for me. I feel so helpless and stupid all the time because I don't understand most of what my teachers say. Everyone says things are going to get better, and I'm sure they will. I just wish my Spanish would hurry up already!
I haven't felt that really insane homesickness that my exchange student friends tell me about, and I haven't felt major culture shock either, but I just feel weird. I feel like I'm losing myself here, and I can't tell if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I guess I don't really feel like Maya anymore. It's just so difficult to be yourself in another language!
There are a bunch of little things that I miss about America. Really unimportant things, but I still miss them. I miss Root Beer and Taco Bell and Subway. I miss Oreos and Reeces Pieces and my mom's coconut macaroons. It's sad that all the things I miss in the states are food-related, but I am an American, after all. Most of all I miss being understood! People say that I speak Spanish well, but my Spanish isn't good enough for me to be super social yet.
I just need to remember that I've only been here for a short amount of time, and I have much more time to learn this language. Besides being a little frustrated with the fact that I can't communicate as well as I would like to, I'm really having fun here! I have really good friends, and I love the Spanish way of life. The people are friendly, the weather is unbelievably nice, and the food is incredible. I'm glad that I still get to have another 9 months in this beautiful country!