A Different Reality

Bonjour!

I passed French.  Woohoo.
But I didn't pass all my classes.

Lengua/ Spanish Lit.                                   1
French                                                        5
English                                                        10
Sciences of the Contemporary World          5
Biology                                                       4
Physics                                                       1  
Philosophy                                                  4
Math                                                          5
Integrated Project                                      6   
Gym                                                          4

So as you can see I failed 5 Classes.  But there is recuperation in all of the classes.  So I can get these grades up.  They are not set in stone.  Although I don't think I can save Spanish lit and Physics.

You know what I have been feeling?  That is is my reality.  Living here in Spain. I knew where I was before.  But my perspective has changed! That this is my real life.  Before when I went to the AFS orientations, I felt that we were just telling the stories of our experiences.  But Now,  I feel that they are the stories about our lives.  I feel like my world has completely changed.  Life in America feels like a dream and life in Sevilla is the reality.  It's hard to explain.
Yesterday it was hard to switch my brain from Spanish to English.  I started talking in Spanish to my family.  My whole family here skyped with my whole family there :)  I was the translator.

But I have a few pictures I would like to share with you guys.
Happy New Year!!!!

There was a cool light show in downtown Sevilla

My host sister and me taking out the garbage.

Me, the little one is Raquel (host-sister) the other pretty girl is Maria Jose (host-sister) and our friend Andres

Me, Maria, Roberto (I like to call him Bert) and Andres

These are my spanish friends........

A sisterly love

- Adioss :)  Feliz año Nuevo!

Navidad en España :)

Merry Christmas! How are you?


Well this is supposed to be a big time for year long exchange students.  Because we have been here for three months.  It is during the holidays and it is normal to be homesick.  Right now, I miss my family; however, I still want to be here in Spain.  It is a strange mix of feelings.


I promise I will post pictures of my high school.  And my friends.
ASAIC. (As soon as I can)




Well just to quickly let everyone know, I moved to a new family.  I'm not going to tell why because that is not fair.  I just wanted to justify why the people and places in the rest of my entries will be extremely different.  But no worries, I am still living here in Sevilla.


I had a great Christmas Eve today.


I will tell you about my whole day!


-So I got up and showered at 10.30.  We left the house at 12.30 to go to a nearby Village called Gerena.  And there our family had a HUGE lunch.  We were visiting my host-mamá's side of the family.  But strangely enough,  my host-father's family is all from Gerena too.  It's just the way things worked out.  So then we came home around 5ish.  
-Then my sister María José and I went outside to talk with our friend Edward.  Later he had to leave to go to his puebla for Christmas.  
-Next, we went to our friend Laura's house. She has a really nice piano and I just plunked away, but I needed my music. mI don't remember squat from memory.  Her house was all decorated because her family (16 ppl!) was coming to her house for dinner.  Well, we sat and talke from about 5.30 until 8.30.  
-Well, then we left to go get ready for dinner.  Everyone was ready and we piled into the car at about 9.00.  But then my host mother said that she left her cell phone in the house.  So my little sister said she could go get it.  BUT all of the sudden she screams and runs out to tell everyone "Papá Noel ha venido"  or Santa came! She's 10 and still believes in Santa and the Three wise men. It was so fun to see her face and excitement!  
-Well then we went to downtown Sevilla for dinner with my host-father's side of the family.  Then yet again, Papá Noel came for the other kids at dinner.  Thus, more presents for me.  
-I got a really pretty scarf, a book, and a sweet computer mouse for my laptop from my Spanish parents.  And my abuelitaa gave me a scarf and really good smelling perfume.  Then my abuelitoo gave me 20 euros.  I was like holy cow man!  I couldn't stop smiling the whole night.  
-It was a very nice day.  Tomorrow is also filled with adventures.  

My new little host sister is 10. Her name is Raquel, she has strawberry blonde hair, and she looks exactly like Dory the Fish from Finding Nemo!

So naturally, I taught her how to do the fish face...

My new other host sister is 16 like me.  We literally are soul sisters.  We love to do a lot of the same things.  But no worries, I ALWAYS make room for the little one.  We love to watch Phineas and Ferb together!  

My host parents are so great, too.  They always want me to give them the kisses before I go to bed.  And my host-father is just awesome.  After dinner, we always have these really deep talks about everything.  It's just nice to feel at home. Ya know?  

A little bit on Christmas here in my family:

Papá Noel comes on Christmas Eve (but not for all families)  He hides the gifts or puts them somewhere special where they are every year (our beds)  And then when we find our gifts we can open them up right away.  At the grandparent's house today,  Santa (aka the parents and the grands) hid them all over and the kids had a mini scavenger hunt.  
-But the Three Wise Men come on the ummmmmmmmmm 6th of January.  And they leave the gifts under the tree and we open them up in the Morning.  

Well I am sooooo tired.  It was a long day and I ate to much.   I'll talk to you all soon.

-adios

long weekends

Hola!

I can't believe it is already December!!  This is my favorite time of year.  I always look forward to Christmas time.  The twinkling lights, the lovely music, the cold, the food, the smell of my mom's roasted pecans, our tree, ABC Family's 25 days of Christmas Movie Marathon!!!  Seriously,  Christmas movies are my absolute favorite :)  Just being with my family and friends makes me happy. 

I guess this year, I will have a new Christmas experience.  I am excited for Christmas to come, but on the other hand, I want it to wait until I go back home!!  But I can't have 2 Christmases.  

HEY! 

I have been starting to dream in Spanish.  Sometimes I am speaking it, sometimes others are, sometimes I understand, sometimes I don't.  It is one of the WEIRDEST things I have ever experienced.  Sometimes there are people in my dreams, who are from Spain, but they are speaking English.  EVEN THOUGH THEY ONLY SPEAK SPANISH.  Boy, I tell ya...

This week we had a LONG weekend because we didn't have school Monday and Tuesday.

We went up to the countryside.  A little Puebla, or Village, called Constantina.  (I think I spelled that right)

Anyways, I love going 'up north' away from the city every once and awhile.  They have this little shop that makes really good hand-made, natural potato chips. OH and also Churros.  

I think school, academically wise, is going to get better.  I talked with my Lengua teacher.  It is absolutely impossible for me to pass Spanish Lit and Language. My other classmates have had 12 years of Lengua class.    I can't even speak Spanish fluently.  So she gave me a website to practice my Spanish, and we are going to talk to the principal on Tuesday.  My other classes are going well.  Except for Physics.  I have a test tomorrow and I don't fell prepared BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND A THING! Well, lesson learned.  It really was my fault.   I am kinda afraid to talk to my teacher.  I know that it is stupid. And I always need to ask questions. But this next chapter, I am just going to suck it up and go talk to him.  At least, I'll be doing something.  

I really love being in Spain.  I feel that if I had to go back to America right now...... I would be so depressed. I really am trying my best to be apart of this family.  FUTURE AFS STUDENTS...  You really need to communicate with your family.  Always talk.  And sometimes, you just need to shut your mouth.  You might be in a situation where it is best just to listen and nod your head.  Remember,  they can kick you out anytime they want.  It is hard to live with people.  Hahahaha I know.  It's not a piece of cake to live with your real families, so why would it be any easier to live with a host family?????  Even though you try your best, and you think everyone is getting along, somethings are just going to happen. 

I notice how many people read this blog, and I thank each and every one of you.  Those of you in America, Russia, Germany, Australia, England, Spain, and everyone else :) Thanks for caring.  I am glad that I can share my experience with you.  

Alright.  Enough of the heavy stuff.  Let's see some PHOTOS :)   

The meat store.  Uncle mike, you would love it there :)

Just country side.

I helped get this baby going.

Just another walk.

It was really peaceful up in the hills.  

This just made me smile.  I remember when my cousin Annie and I were mad  at each other and then started throwing pine-cones at each other :)  Love ya Annie <3

Yes, the family has a horse.  I tried to ride it.. But let's just say the horse and I didn't get along to well.

Wild pigs all over the place :)  Actually I think someone owns them.  But they are just  all other the place!

The little cottages. 

HELLOOOOO THERE!

We took a bike ride on a path.  It was incredibly beautiful.  

I feel like I am looking  back 500 years when I see this old fence.  

Can't be in Spain without having CHURROS :) Dipped in sugar and chocolate. yumyumyum

- ADIOS