So I'm in Valencia...

Well I've made it to Valencia and have been here for over 24 hours. It's nice to not be living from a suitcase. I can't believe that this is my home for the next 8 months. I'll pick up where I left off before--in Toledo--and then work my way up to right now.

So our second day in Toledo was super fun. We had an awesome tour guide in the city--his name was Mario--and he was a little crazy. He was very animated and got us involved, and our tour was an experience to remember. It was also the first time that I got to partake in the Spanish tradition of kissing one another on each cheek. Our tour guide went around and did it with all the girls after the tour. Exploring Toledo was neat because the streets are very narrow and you never knew what was around each corner. I had a good lunch with some friends--then we went back to the hotel and rested. By resting--I mean sitting around the pool. It was a beautiful pool and it was relaxing just to sit back for a few hours since we had been doing so much touring. That night I ate at a bar/restaurant--I ended up eating at the bar with 2 other girls since it was cheaper and the restaurant prices were super expensive. Then the next morning we left for Valencia.

We stopped once along the way and that was when Marli and I found out that our Señora would not be meeting us in Valencia, since she was finishing up a vacation. Instead, her son would be picking us up. This was news to us, since we didn't know she had children. We arrived in Valencia and met her son, Alex. He took us to the apartment. Apartments here are small since people choose to do their socializing outside the home. There should be pictures of the apartment up soon. We're on the eighth floor--and there is a busy street below. Marli and I share a room and our room overlooks a soccer field across the street. We unpacked our stuff and then went on a walk. In the 1950's, Valencia diverted the river around the town because it flooded many times and damaged homes--so now in place of the river bed is a giant garden with walking paths. We walked along it to the City of Arts and Sciences (C.A.C--Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias)--stopping to look at a children's playground that is in the shape of Gulliver tied to the ground (from the children's story). The C.A.C is beautiful--I can't wait to visit it. It's a complex of 5 buildings (don't quote me on the number), including the largest aquarium in Europe, a planetarium, an auditorium, a museum, and walking path. We then came back to the apartment, and he made us dinner--then he left to go home and Marli and I were home alone. It was awkward being with him because he didn't talk a lot with us--he didn't say much at all--I don't even think he asked our names.

Then this morning he returned and helped us with breakfast and took us to our meeting place with the other ISA kids. We went to the university and met our professors--then took a placement test--just so our professors can gauge what level we are all at. I'm taking classes at the advanced level--Spanish Grammar; Spanish Culture: History, Art, and Spanish Tradition; Panorama of Latin American Literature; and History of the Spanish Language. After our placement, we went to the ISA office and then went home for lunch. Our Señora wasn't back so her son made us lunch again--it was some sort of rice dish with tomatoes and pork in it for the main dish--plus a first dish of tomatoes and onions with spices and olive oil--plus fruit for dessert. This afternoon Marli and I explored a little before heading back to the ISA office for a tour of the central part of the city. The tour never happened because it was raining and some people were very particular about getting their hair wet--so our tour should be tomorrow. Most of us went for drinks after our cancelled tour--then I bought some school supplies. When we came back to the apartment, both sons of our Señora were here along with the wife on the other son--and we had dinner at 9. Now Marli and I are just relaxing in the living room with our computers. We DO HAVE INTERNET HERE!!! YAY! It's nice to be able to keep in touch with everyone. Tomorrow we start classes. I don't have a class until 3--so I think I'm getting up and going to do some form of exercise and then be with friends for a while. I think our Señora will arrive tomorrow--hopefully--she's been in India and something happened with her flights--who knows!

Well I think I will end this post for the night--hopefully I didn't repeat myself too much. Buenas noches...