no tengas miedo

There has been a lot of laughter these past five weeks, which I believe indicates a successful trip. A few people I've met on this journey have left an impression on me and enriched my experience here. My advice to future students is not to be afraid...don't be afraid to speak terrible spanish, (last night after five weeks of studying here I asked our server for the story instead of the check.) don´t be afraid to interact with your host family, (most of your language practice will come in taking advantage of the constant opportunities you´ll have to talk with them.) and don´t be afraid to go out with people who are not from your group!! You can always hang out with michiganders, you are here for less than two months with the opportunity to meet students from all over the world...don´t choose to drink vodka tonic with the girl who you never knew lived two blocks away from you. You can see her in AA, while the person sitting across from you in your culture class will be flying back to Brazil in six days. It might be a bit uncomfortable at first...there is no air conditioning here, you're lucky if you have fans, the natives here will either glare or look blankly at you if you try to order a drink in english, you cannot always have what you want when you want it...the city might be sleeping, or on vacation, or fuera de servicio. Get used to it..embrace it!! Your ac and starbucks will be waiting for you once you return (yessss!! venti nf iced chai!!) but do you really want to be sitting on a patio in the states with your cold beverage listening to some red-faced American dude yelling at his cellphone wishing you would have bought those train tickets to Seville? Don't be afraid to try new food...there is a foreign woman cooking meals for you...savor them. Don't poke the chorizo on your plate wishing for ramen noodles. Your cupboard will still be empty, save for chicken flavored soba when you get home...eat the chorizo. It tastes weird as hell. Pretend it's a hotdog.

Besos de españa,

Allyson