¡Hola! I hope all is well ^_^
Since I've returned home, my mind sometimes takes me back to my very first day in Spain. I remember getting to the airport back home and telling my mom to leave quickly so that I could put on a brave face for her and also so I wouldn't cry. It was a scary experience, especially since I had never really traveled such a far distance on my own. But I had signed myself up for it and there was no turning back! Once I arrived at the airport on Madrid, the fear of not locating my group in time began to freak me out, especially because I had to ask for directions in Spanish. I assume that they kept telling me to "go downstairs" but at that point my Spanish wasn't very strong and I was clueless as to where they were directing me. Luckily I eventually found where I was supposed to be (thank goodness!)
Finally arriving in Salamanca (much later than expected because of flight delays of other students in my group) we saw a gathering of older ladies with perfectly coifed hair waiting to whisk us away to our new homes for the next few months. I signed up for a single room, not realizing that my host mother spoke not a word of English (or made it seem so). To say the least, getting into the car with her and someone who I believe she introduced as her brother was an experience that not only filled me with fear but also tested my bravery, I guess you could say.
Luckily I ended up with a host mom who was as sweet as can be and still lived up life by going out daily with her gal pals at the ripe age of 61-years-young (sometimes putting me to shame haha).
Anyhow, I don't remember much else from that day, except suffering from extreme jetlag, but it is a nice memory to relive every once in a while.
~Justine <3
