Flight & Arrival

¡Hola!

 Primero:  The Flight

So, the flight was pretty standard.  I watched the Social Network (which I was kind of disappointed in) and tried to sleep (which didn’t happen).  But the best thing was that I had a whole row to myself, three empty seats next to me in the center isle and the plane was pretty much empty everywhere else. Then halfway through the flight, a woman came up and asked me a question in Spanish and after much pointing and an awkward English-Spanish combo conversation later I had gotten it across to her that the seats were empty and she could sit. Before I knew it, she was making a little bed for herself, sprawling out over the 2.5 seats and using my coat and shoulder bag as a pillow, which I thought was just awkward but apparently she thought was comfortable. I guess it was my first encounter with personal space being a bit different here than in America…if anything it gave me a reason to laugh as I sat there and watched her toss and turn trying to get comfortable. (She proceeded to ask me a few more questions throughout the flight, which I’m pretty sure only one of which I was able to give a solid answer to––and that question was:  “tienes el tiempo?”

Segundo:  España

Then I sat in the airport for 5 hours, took an almost 3 hour bus ride and finally found myself in Salamanca. My host mom’s name is Escoli and she’s really great. She doesn’t speak any English––and doesn’t really even try if you’re stuck. But she’s really helpful with Spanish and is willing to repeat anything we don’t understand or hear on the first time. I was pretty astounded when she asked us if we were hungry and said she would prepare a little something. A little while later we sat down to an amazing meal:  we had soup, then chicken with these potato things (which were great), bread, salad, and fruit for desert.  Other than that, I’m all unpacked and ready to go for tomorrow––we have a walking tour of the city! I’m still trying to communicate with Escoli as best I can but I seem to forget words that I know I learned in Spanish I (like bedroom) and I even forgot my towel on the way to the shower, but she reminded me; I think I’m really going to like her. ¡Adios!