What a Trip

         Holy Smokes, this day has been crazy, too intense not to tell you all about! First of all the flight from Salt Lake City to Paris was 9 hours and I probably slept about 2 of those hours. It was a flight full of turbulence too! It doesn't feel safe when the pilot comes on the speakers and says in a panic, "Everyone sit down and put your seatbelts on right away." Good think it was just a little wind! I met a girl on the plane from Germany that had just been visiting a friend in Missoula, MT, small world. She told me she loved Missoula and it was just what she imagined the U.S. was like to way to go Missoula haha.
         Once I landed in Paris, I had to take a bus to the correct terminal and then another bus to the correct terminal for customs and security. After I got through all of that I made it just in time to board my flight! It wouldn't have been fun missing my flight from Paris to Madrid, everyone there speaks French, I wouldn't have been able to figure out what to do! haha Paris was rainy and beautiful, especially from my much needed window seat on the flight to Madrid, which I finally caught some shut eye on.
        Landing in Madrid is where all the fun starts! First of all I am a minority of language now -lol- I went like almost 2 whole days without carrying on any type of conversation. Anyways, we landed and I walked my little self to baggage claim, where to my surprise, my bags showed up! Probably one thing I was most nervous about! After getting my TWO bags, I headed to find the bus (that I thought I needed to take) to go to the train station Estacion de Charmartin. Turns out, I went the wrong way to a bus that was taking people to other terminals. Lucky I heard some people talking English, my brain just couldn't think of how to ask, "Where are these buses going? I need to get to the train station." Ha So this kind man directed me in the correct direction. I had to go back the other way and down stairs (with my two bags) to find the metro. I had to stop and eat something, and all I found in my area was a little cafe and I had a ham and cheese sandwich -lol- Jenna and Amanda were right, jamon is everywhere!
       Once I bought my metro ticket, which was only 2,15 euro, I boarded the metro, which is like the subway. Tackling the Madrid Metro took me a good 2 hours. There was much confusion that included trying to read the route maps, going the wrong way, getting off on the wrong stop, and so much more. I did meet a very nice old man on the metro that talked to me, I didn't understand much of it but I nodded and smiled and answered when I could. He was amazed at how I was lugging my two bags around by myself. When I got off of the metro at my stop him and another kind old man carried my bags for me :) That made my day! Another metro adventure story: I was supposed to get off at the Charmartin exit, which I did, but then I thought I had to go to this one called something else Charmartin, little did I know it was completely the wrong place and I went 2 stops in the wrong direction. I left the area of where you can board again to go try and find the train station and I was lost. Luckily, looking like a hopeless, lost, foreign girl gave me an advantage and a nice security guy and his buddy that ran the metro helped me. They showed me where I needed to go and let me back into the metro for free so I could board again to go back to the place I was before. Let me tell you, by this time my arms were sooo sore and I was tired, hungry, and just wanted to find my way! Luckily, the security guard gave me perfect directions and I made it to the train station and bought a ticket for a 3 hour train ride from Madrid to Salamanca. After a 2 hour wait, I boarded the train and headed towards my final destination.
      And now I am here! I had to take a taxi from the train station to the street my host mom's house is on and then walk a couple blocks to her apartment building. The city was so alive when I was riding in the taxi! People were everywhere, shopping, eating, socializing. It is unbelievable. I can't wait to jump right into the culture and life of the Spanish people :) My host mom's apartment is beautiful, and big! I have my own room and my own bathroom! My room has an amazing view of the Plaza, and right now it is lit up (because it is night). It is breathtaking, absolutely better than I could have ever imagined. She also has balcony that is very big with a table and a view of the plaza and the streets below. When I got here her Aunt, a cute little old lady that is about 4 feet tall came to the door, I had to be buzzed in! She was so nice and then I got to the apartment door and Cristina came out and gave me a hug and two kisses on my cheeks, a greeting I will have to start to get used to! She is absolutely wonderful! She cooked me some food, even though it was like 10:30pm. She wouldn't let me clear my space or clean up after myself. She showed me everything and was so helpful! I am truly blessed!
        Tomorrow is a holiday, and I am sure I will embark on some new adventures! I get a whole weekend to get acclimated before I have to start school on Monday! The first purchase I am going to make...a watch! Haha...I had no sense of time today and it was ridiculous! I have been up for the past 24 hours or more? I probably slept about 3 hours total on my trip, so now I bid farewell, it is time for me to get some sleep! Until next time :)

Tana <3