It doesn't really feel like Christmas, but I think that's probably alright. I am doing everything possible to just pretend that it isn't Christmas time. It is a different experience and although sometimes It is a bit sad that I am so far away during this Holiday season, all is well and all is ok. I think the lack of snow is also very helpful to make it seem less like Christmas. I am sending a package on Wednesday, because that is when the post office opens again. I have been really bad and really slow with my sending of cards and packages, but I am trying to get my act together. My Spanish is improving, but I am still not that satisfied. I am hard to please and until I am absolutely capable of functioning and understanding in every situation. I can now understand almost everything important that is said, and can say everything i want to say. That being said, when I do say things it simply doesn't sound all that good. Better every day!

Reflecting

As we approach the last week of school until break, I look back to reflect on the first semester. I have learned an incredible amount already both about Spanish and about myself. Things are so much easier to see when you step back and just listen and observe. I have met a bunch of incredible people through Rotary and just while living here. There are people from all over and that speak all sorts of different languages, and it’s just amazing to think how much has changed in just three months. There are still tough times ahead and there will always be something more that I want, but for now I am happy with where things are at. I was expecting to know more Spanish by now and I think that I am just too hard on myself with what I actually to know and understand. Time will make all things better.

Bull Fight

Alright so I went to a bull fight. It was really... good. I learned that there is a lot more than just killing a bull but at the same time, it is just them killing a bull. It is a large part of the culture here and I really wanted to take part in it. This stereotype is just not true, the only people that really enjoy bull fighting are old people. None of my friends ever go and most people think that it is pretty bad. My new host father works as a Civil Servant  He went to school for being a veterinarian and now 15 times a year he goes to various bull fights and evaluates the way they treat the bulls and how sanitary the butchers are. They eat the meat and use the parts of the bull after the fights.
I have moved families and I am having a pretty good time. I went to Malaga on Saturday as well and that was pretty fun. I am amazed by the architecture of some of the old churches and cathedrals that I see. They are really detailed and huge, and even if they were built today it would be difficult. Everything here is so much more quaint and beautiful. Its older and although I miss things there still, I really enjoy all the new things to see and do here.

School simply isn't really happening.

Alright so I have had a couple of days to adjust into the new home. Thoughts so far are still that I like it and will have a good time here. I am about a 15 minute drive from school, which doesnt seem too bad. Its a little worse here because I personally dont have access to a car. This family however is really nice and I am sure we will fit well. I am a little further from the beach but it is still within walkking distance. I am further away from all of my friends but Im sure I will be able to make more. I have a host brother now and that should also be good. It really shows me how much people here study, and I am impressed. Usually I dont study for school, as it is tough for me when I am not understanding, but instead I study Spanish. I figure the quicker I become better at Spanish, the easier school will be as well.

I also have internet now which I would say is a pretty fantastic thing. I should be able to keep this updated better now. It will also be easier to upload pictures. If there is anything specific you want to know more about feel free to let me know.

Adios

Dear Avid Followers,

I will be moving host families on sunday and will be closer to San Pedro. This is both good and bad. I am excited for a change but at the same time nervous. Also i will need to make new friends outside of school again. The biggest thing i am concerned about is how far I will be from town and how easily or not I will be able to access it. Also there is the pressing concern of how far from the beach I am ;)

Love,
CJ

Gibraltar

Today i went to Gibraltar with some other Exchange students. I was spending some quality time with this monkey but I guess he wasnt to happy about it.

Good day overall.

Also thanksgiving was a nice meal that an Exchange student made for all of us. It was impressive, she made turkey, stuffing, potatoes, pies, and all kinds of food. We spoke mostly english which was nice and made things seem a little more like home. Keystone next year?

Well...

A year is just too long. I am getting better at Spanish everyday and things are easier when I can understand more. A year though is too long to be away from home. I really dont have a chance at passing some of these classes and I dont want to get ¨F´s¨on my transcript. I also dont want to have to repeat a year or take 15 classes as a senior. The classes here are meant to be tough for kids who live here, for me they are ridiculous and impossible. I am having a rough time now, just with the desire to be back on Holy Hill with the crew and the comfortableness.

Futbol. This stereyotype is definetly true. All the people here do is play  futbol. I have been improving a little but even the kids who seem like they wouldnt play are way better than me. Its a bit ridiculous and hurts inside a little bit. I am still having problems with Spanish which is to be expected, and yesterday I was told it is because I am in Andalusia which will make things even more difficult. There is a different language called Andalu which is also spoken here and makes it even harder to understand what is going on around me. Things will get better and I understand more and more everyday. I will try to update this more often its just a bit difficult to get around to it sometimes. Adios (ah-d-oh-th).

Its all good

     Today was a school day and that made it slightly less enjoyable than the rest of the week had been. Protests allowed us to be free from school Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. In school I went through the usually routine of not understanding too much and not being able to read the letters that the teacher attempted to write on the board. Then when I went to my extra Spanish class the teacher informed me that I wasn´t going to have it anymore. I am not sure why, but I need the extra help in order to understand more and succede better in school. So that is rough and caused me to have a little bit longer day of not knowing what was going on. I am however able to understand most of what my host mom tries to say to me and am able to communicate back my needs and wants to her. I also recieved a package from my parents which was much needed in my day. I hope that I am able to shoot a dear next year (a buck though) and the meat made me desire this even more. It is the weekend now and that is good even though I didnt have very much school this week. I think my first full week will be next week and then in November we only have a single day off. That is ridiculous, I am actually going to have school.
     The littlest things can change your mood and sometimes it sucks when they do. Until  you have been an exchange student, you have never truly known and expierienced true independence, responsibility, struggle, and loneliness.

Mom, I am doing my best to keep you updated and filled in on my life and times while in Spain. It has been a little difficult to do this, but I think that I am doing pretty well.
Here is my everday life,
First I wake up at around 7:00 and take a shower. Then I walk from the bathroom to my room and get dressed, I start with boxers and finish with socks.Then I eat a breakfast that usually consits of some type of cereal. Then I wash my bowl and go back to bed for around 10 min. After that nice relaxing time I ride the elevator down five floors and walk to the building next to mine. I then ring the bell for my friend Santy, we walk the 15-20 minutes to school everyday. I then draw or think all day while I am unable to understand much of what the teachers are saying to me. I then walk home and eat whatever Elena has made for me. If she is working she meets me outside with a sandwhich or some type of food, if not she makes a bigger meal such as spagetti or something. Then it is siesta time which is probably my favorite time of the day. After that I usually play futbol or do something with friends. I enjoy the people here and they are really nice but they dont feel like realy friends because I dont completely understand yet. After that I go home at 8:30 and eat dinner with Elena. Finally I watch tv until bed and then sleeeeeep.
Mom, This is a normal school day.

Tough

I am at least slightly fed up with not understanding even simple things that are going on around me! All I hear is sounds and all their words blend together and sound like ¨añlghñahgñlashñlgsañlgkh¨. 

In school now I guess I am starting an extra help situation where someone comes and teaches me Spanish, between that and the Rotary spanish course I think that I should be able to understand more soon. If I don´t know whats happening around me by Christmas then I think I am going to swim to Africa and continue my exchange speaking some tribal language.

That is all,

CJ

I would like to apologize to those who want to see photos. It is a difficult process and with limited time I only post them on facebook. That will change

The people are great and the town is great! Still miss everyone back home though. Its hard to communicate and hard to understand whats going on around you. I am extremely excited to learn enough to understand and be able to have real convosations. I am ready for the real fun to start!

School

Today was my second day of shool and I know for a fact that I am not going to do well in school. I made a few friends today and tried to listen as much as possible. I comprehended almost nothing and it is really tough for me to try so hard and the result be so little. I need to enjoy the experience without worrying to much about the grades.

Yes mother, I put my feet in the sand daily.
Love,
Cj

Madrid

After an extensive 2 day stay right outside of Madrid, I am on the train back to Estepona. The rotary orientation was long and frustrating, but worthwhile because I met all of the exchange students around Spain.

Today we spent a few hours in Madrid while waiting for our trains. We saw the protesters and all the riots in the middle of Madrid. After collecting various political flags we only lost one student on the way back to the train station. It was considered too dangerous to go back for her so we left her until she can be retrieved tomorrow.

I am exhausted, and plan to take a nap on the beach once I make it back to Estepona.
Also I am joking about losing someone in the riots.

I am located less than a hundred yards from the beach. I am able to go walk on the beach whenever I please unless I am consuming one of my many meals. "Soy muy blanco", this is what I am told by everyone around me. I have not yet been burnt but Im sure that time is near. I played poker and blackjack yesterday with some local boys and did fairly well. We also swam in the sea. Later today we are going to play futbol so I will see how that goes. The pictures will come soon enough!

I have reached my Destination of Estepona, Spain. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me. Spanish is muy dificil. I thought I knew much more than I do.