!Bienvenida! Welcome!

¡Hola! and welcome to Walking in Spanish Shoes, a blog featuring my thoughts as an American living as a Madrileña. I've always been passionate about the Spanish language and the chance to learn about and experience different cultures. While many have already seized the opportunity to travel foreign countries and broaden their horizons, for me, this will be my first adventure outside the U.S.
During my time abroad, I will be living and working as a Language and Culture Assistant. I hope to encourage and inspire you to start and/or continue to travel outside of your comfort zone and experience the world. Through my blog, I will be giving you a glimpse of my daily activities, thoughts, and obstacles I encounter while transitioning from the lifestyle of an American to that of a Spaniard.

Whether you've traveled abroad before, currently backpacking in Europe, or planning to take a step into the unknown....I want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, feel free to post!

Friday, September 17, 2010

Days Before Departure

It’s starting to seem unreal. I’ve always wanted to visit Spain, but it just seemed like it would never happen. There would always be obstacles (timing, money, etc) that prevented me from achieving this goal, but now I finally have the opportunity! I’ve already cried one bridge when I said my goodbyes to “the fam” this past weekend, and to prevent me from crying another river, since by boyfriend is taking me to the airport, I told him to drop me off and keep driving…no long goodbyes lol. We’re a close-knit family and I’m the “emotional one”, so I cry about everything!

My mom helped me pack my things and I planned to bring two suitcases (one filled with clothes and the other with toiletries) in addition to two carry-on bags. I’ve heard from other language assistants that toiletries in Europe are expensive, and sometimes hard to find. I’ve stocked up on shampoo, soap, lotion, and even DENTAL FLOSS! Luckily, I was able to go and have my luggage weighed at the local UPS store to make sure they weren’t over the weight limit. Both pieces resulted in being over 50 lbs. I’ve taken most of the liquids (shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, etc) and I plan to mail them via USPS.

I don’t know why, but even after packing and having everything ready to go, it still hasn’t hit me yet. As the 19th approaches I feel more excitement and even more anxiety. I should feel comfortable and at ease with my transition after years of studying Spain’s history, language, and culture. But there’s always the last step right before you get to the top of a mountain that’s the most exciting, because you know you’re about to reach the top but the journey took you so long, sometimes you have to pinch yourself when you finally get there to make sure its real.
Air Weigh LS-300 Portable Digital Luggage Scale

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