Feb 15-21 - When it rains, it POURS!

Why?!! That's it. That's all I can say. This week started off ok. This past weekend I was proactive got things done. I was feeling good about what was to come. You know, no more work than the usual, nothing that I can't handle or manage and then Wednesday came and the sky started falling. Yes that's a little dramatic, but that's also how I feel. Wednesday I received my second test back. I got the exact same percentage as the first test. The exact same thing. Even though I studied several hours for this over a two week time span reviewing with my tutor 3-4 times a week. And I just knew I had to have done better...but I didn't. So after a little bit of crying, and venting to my mom and complaining to my friends I felt a little bit better. A little. But this past Thursday was rough. I was mopey and sad and angry and had no motivation and did not care at all. I made an appoint to talk to my Prof about my disappointing grade. And then I went home and hung out by myself. And then today I woke up at 8 and thought you have a nine o'clock class. Get up! And then I had that meeting with my prof and we talked about some ways to do better which made me feel better, but also the fact that I had to have the meeting, just made me feel really defeated. DERROTADO! I looked it up in Spanish so I could, better explain myself. I worked really hard and didn't get the grade I expected. I did not reap what I sowed. So I came back and explained this to all my friends in between tears and laughs. 

Then I stopped the pity party and tried to get to work, although I was (am) still finding it particularly hard to be motivated. And thats when someone brought up scholarships and Financial aid. All due March 1st! But I'm on an excursion from the Feb. 26 to Mar. 3. Which brings us back to WHY?!! So, to summarize, in one week, but really more like FOUR DAYS, I have to go out to dinner with my host family, finish my homework, study for a final that is imperative to my grad, apply for Entrada RA, find out if I got RA in the dorms do scholarships, file my taxes, apply for Financial aid and if there's time eat, sleep and breath. "I'm a damsel, I'm in distress. I can handle this. Have a nice day!"

Qué Será, Será.

Feb 10-14 - Long Week.

With a HUGE test on Monday, and a test on Tuesday. It was a long week. I spent two weeks before preparing for the test on Monday. And although I could feel that I did better and I knew more information, it doesn't mean that I did as well as I needed. I came out of the test expecting a decent grade, but the more I talked with my peers, the more I'm sure I need to double my studying for the final in a week and a day! It's a lot of work and I'm trying not to burn out. And that is just one class. In another class I'm looking for research for a paper that I have to write. Trying not overwhelm myself is a problem of mine. But I know I can do it. I just need to stay calm...
On Valentines day I stayed in and watched Netflix, not because I was sad or depressed I just needed to do something mindless for a while.

Feb 7 - The Family!

February 7th marked my 1st month in Spain!! Yay!!! I actually didn't realize it until my host mom said something. But also that night I met my host sister. She was really sweet and really nice. Her boyfriend came to dinner too. It had been such a long week, that I accidentally slipped into some of my American customs. For example when I was introduced to her boyfriend I went to shake his hand, instead of kissing him on each cheek. AWKWARD! and then I started cutting my empanada with a fork and a knife. My mama had to tell me that I could it eat it with my hands...which I knew! *FACE PALM*
But on the plus side the food was soooooooo good. We all sat around our formal dinning table. and talked and ate for an hour or so. I had delicious champagne. It was a good night. I really love my host family. Here's a little about them.

Mi mama (Celes): She work at the University of Oviedo, the university I am attending while here. But she is not a professor. I think she works in the registrars office of the university. She is really talkative. Loves to cook. She doesn't think I eat enough. Her favorite shows are the house flipping shows, like on HGTV, but obviously dubbed in Spanish.

Mi papa (Miguel Angel): He is retired. But he works at a t.v. network from time to time, which is a really cool post retirement job. And then when he's not doing that he spends a lot of time with his horses. He's really quiet. He's also learning english. Its so funny when he eats breakfast in the morning he watches BBC and then when I come in he switches it to Spanish. "English for me, Spanish for you."

Hermano (Diego): Diego used to have his own business, but because of the bad economy in Spain he couldn't do it anymore. Then he started to learn english. Now he is going to Manchester, England to look for new work. He's quiet. But also sarcastic if you look for it. He makes a lot of jokes I don't get (He gets it from his mama. She's sassy).

Hermana (Can't remember): She doesn't live with me, because I am obviously staying in her old room. But she is really nice. She works on a cruise ship. And is away for a couple of months and then comes back for a couple months.

Jan 31-Feb 2 - The Classy and the Crazy!!

This weekend in a word was FUN!  But I also got some work done which I am rather proud of. I had no morning classes this past Friday, so Friday morning I met with my tutor to start preparing for the next test. (Work before play). Then we went...you guessed it SHOPPING! I bought a new clutch and a great new black maxi...with a split ;). After a couple hours of shopping we went home to get ready. For what? Well friday night we decided to join the classy elites of Oviedo, Spain at the OPERA! Thats right! I slicked by my hair, put on my new dress, a little bit of make up and took my new clutch to the Opera. Of course we had to go to evening class, but then afterwards we went out for a nice dinner and then went to the opera "Don Giovani."

We were looking good. I tried not to pull an Angelina Jolie with the whole split thing. lol

More photos from our dinner and the opera...

 

 

Tons of Fun! After the opera we went of for dessert!

Saturday we were responsible again and studied for a few hours in the morning then went out for a crazy night of partying for Katie's big 2-0! So much fun! I did her hair and make up then we walked to the cathedral where people were waiting with a cake, to sing her happy birthday! Then we hit the streets!

 

She's adorable! And the cake was yummy!

Sunday I slept in and chilled. A complete day of rest and recovery felt nice!

Qué Será, Será.

Jan 25-27 - Excursion-ed OUT!

The Friday night before the 25th we went out. I have officially decided that is not a good idea. The 25 at 9am we drove three hours to Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain (the place I gave my presentation on!). It was soo pretty. We checked into a hostel, which is a little (very) different from a hotel. But more on that later. The architecture was beautiful and the cathedral was gorgeous. On that first day we just toured the city. Then we split up for dinner. After wandering around a couple of places we stopped at small restaurant. I was very cute. We got our own room in the back it was good times. Unfortunately, our meal wasn't that great. Photo Break.

After dinner we went out for FROYO! Yummm. Then we went out to explore the city. A small group of us had a great time relaxing and chilling at a bar, listening to some great throw back music. But we weren't ready for the night in the hostel it was FREEZING. They gave you one blanket at it was not going to cut - it didn't cut it. It was so cold you couldn't sleep. Needless to say I was grumpy in the morning. But that didn't last long because that morning we got to go on the rooftop of the cathedral super awesome! Had a very yummy traditional Galician lunch. And then later that day we went to Lugo to see a roman wall. Photo Break!

Sunday night we drove all the way back to Oviedo and the next morning got up at 9am again to go to Leon. There we saw the Leon Cathedral which was B-E-A-utiful! I'll just put up a few photos the rest will go on Facebook. Then we had some free time to explore the city we stopped at a bar to get coffee...pretty sure the bar tender hated us. It was kind of funny though. Then we stopped at a restaurant called Kebab and got really delicious Gyros. And then drove back Monday afternoon.

 Three full days is a lot. I came home and slept for three hours. But so happy I went.

Que Será Será.

Jan 21 & 24 - School!

TEST!! PROJECT?! This week I had a my first test in 308. Fill in the blank, picture identification, literature identification and an essay. We studied all weekend for this even though we had a excursion to Gijon. I'm not gonna lie even though we have only been here a week that was a lot to know. We spent countless hours in cafes pouring over material. And when I got to the test there was still somethings I didn't know. Now I have to start working on strategy plans for how to be more ready for the next test. But the next day (Wednesday) I get an email...I have a presentation that I have to sign up for. Some how I missed the previous email saying sign up and there are only three spots left, on of them being Friday. Well, might as well make a week out of it. I kicked it into high gear and Me and Ian prepared a twenty minute presentation on Galicia, the corner province of Spain. We did pretty good given that we had a test that week and did it in two days. Except for the 20 minutes of technical difficulties (long story) it went smoothly. Long week.

Que Será Será.

Jan 18 - Gijon, Spain

Gijon is a city in Spain that is very beautiful and very green. We went to visit the ruins of the Roman spas. Fun Fact: Spa. S-P-A. Is spelled that way because it means "Salud Por Aqua" or health by water. It means the same thing originally in latin, but I couldn't remember that one. But cool right?! We also tried food that is typical of Asturias and saw how Sidra is made, which is essentially fermented cider. This post I'm going to make all photos, because it was pretty brief trip. Enjoy!

Que Será Será.