HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVER!!!! I LOVE YOU, HAVE A GREAT DAY...BIG 10!!!
I think my title just about sums it up...the good and the bad.
A world wind of many hours has past with too many rollar coasters of emotions. I was shaking when I arrived but luckily a bunch of other students were with me and we were all in the same boat. Meeting my host family was about the sacriest thing I have ever done and probably will ever do. As customary a kiss was exchanged on each side of the cheek...and I sware to goodness gracious I have kissed more guys in the past 48 hours than I have in my entire life...good or bad I'm not really sure.
Soon after arriving and unpacking we went to the families country house about 20mins away. Very cute and almost camp like, but it had more of a Mexican style to it. The house that I am staying in now is about the size of my houses entire 1st floor, if not less. All one floor and very intimate in a way. Once at their country house I promptly fell asleep for over 3hours and could have used a few more. We spent the rest of the day there until about 9:30pm, when we went home and had dinner around 10:30...I like staying up late but not when I have morning practice the next day. Morning practice went well...for me not having swum in way over a month. Practice was from 7-8 and then off to school :( That was definetly the strangest part of my day. At some points I wanted to cry while at others I couldn't help but laugh at myself. I did not understand almost anything, I did a lot of smiling and nodding and if you think chemistry is hard in English try taking it in Spanish...and I took it in English last year!! Okay now add to that Biology, Math, French, Philosophy and others that I don't even remember. I can't help but wonder if it's ever going to get easier, but luckily I'm not blond...however I am tall. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't stand out like a sore thumb and that's a good thing.
Okay, well school sucked no big deal...swim practice on the other hand...wow!! In the am we trained in a 25m indoor pool and at night in a indoor 50m pool. Everyone was/is super nice, the girls exspecially! Something totally different here is that people are much more open, in the locker room everyone just strips, no big deal. And on deck the girls suits look more like thongs...something I don't think will become one of my "spanish" features. I have to say, even though practice can be hard I'm pretty sure it is going to become the highlight of my day!! The coach is...cool, interesting, funny, scary, straight forward. He told me more than once to sit out because my pulse rate was too high and then helped me with my "swing around" arms. But he did say that he is taking it easy on me because I just got here and may be tired, but that after one week no more sitting out. I can deal with that.
I'm having a hard time deciding wether or not I want to be here. I've wanted to just ball my eyes out many, many times but there is really no privacy to do so by myself and I don't want to cry in front if my host family.
Till next time...
