Well here we go for our first post ever in Spain! I am here writing at IE universidad in Segovia, where we had our first classes today! The trip has gone by very well so far! We started off our trip in the minneapolis airport where I flew with 6 other wonderful people from our trip! We had a fun time navigating around the airports and playing games between flights! I played a new game called bananagrams which could potentially be my new favorite game of life. It is like speed scrabble (Webers we are definitely going to need to play this together sometime)! The traveling was super easy for me-because I seriously slept from Minneapolis to Spain-I only woke up between our connections! It was great because when we arrived in Spain at 9:30 AM I was already completely adjusted to the time change- Not jet lag for me! When we arrived in Madrid they received 20 CM of snow and the entire city went CRAZY! Apparently Madrid never gets snow, and nobody knew how to handle it. The roads shut down, the airport closed, and everyone their was taking pictures because it was so rare-how typical! We Minnesotans would bring record snow to Madrid! It was funny because people were walking around with umbrellas like it was raining! Some people just can't handle snow at all :). Because of the weather, We had to wait 4 hours for our trip advisor to get there because she was delayed due to road conditions. So our large group was just chilling out in the Madrid airport for some time! When she finally arrived we headed off to Segovia where we met our host families. It was so cute! Our bus pulled into the stations and there were all these Spanish old ladies just waiting anxiously to meet us! I love my host Mom- she is the most adorable lady ever! When she found me she gave me kisses- and then clamped on my arm for the rest of the walk to her house! So affectionate these people are! It has been hard for me to adjust to the whole kissing cheeks thing-but I'm getting used to it! Everyone does it! The house Im living in is cute- not very big but very neat and orderly- and I have my own little room, which is exciting! I live with my host mom Monica, dad Fernando and their daughter Ava who is 30. They also have two other children Monica who is married, and Fernando who lives with his girlfriend (I know how original on the names :) ). Its weird in Spain because you can be in your 30s, living with your parents and have it be completely socially acceptable (fernando just moved out and he's 36!!)
Anyways-listening to them speak and trying to respond in Spanish is a lot more difficult than I had anticipated! They talk so fast, and their accent is often times hard to understand! It is a little overwhelming at times- but I think it will get easier! They are also really kind and understanding about all the errors I make when I speak! (Hopefully they don't think I am completely incompetent! :) )

Oh my, I just realized this is slightly long winded, my apologies and commendations for those
who made it thus far!

The last couple of days we have been walking around Segovia and seeing all of the sights! The highlights have been the plaza mayor, the cathedral and the Roman Aquaducts (which have been around since the 1st century AD!) Everything here is absolutely gorgeous- the mountains, the architecture, the sunshine (and 30-40 degree weather :) ) Although it is warmer here it does get a little chilly when we walk around the city!

The days here seem really long because we of the siesta- where the city shuts down and everyone goes home to eat a huge lunch and take a nap! Seriously everything here is soo relaxed- people value leisure a lot more than in the states! Its crazing getting used to this mentality-I'm so used to being busy that it is weird to have time built into the day to do nothing. People here also work a lot less! My host dad and sister have jobs, but they definitely don't work for the entire day. Only a couple hours!

Also church here was an experience- They have sooo many churches in Segovia, with services like every 30 minutes all over the town. Although none of them start before 9 because everyone likes to sleep in! When I arrived to church nobody got there on time and people seriously came in time for communion and then left again- it was very odd! I was wondering if that was even ok! The priest also sounded like he was about to keel over at any minute! I was slightly concerned for his well being. Oh well, he made it through! (Gracias a dios!)

After mass I went out to the bar with my host family for tapas and drinks- they were trying to get me to drink beer or take a shot- and I was like seriously? It is like Sunday afternoon...it was very odd! I just drank some coffee (wich is AMAZING here) I think I may become addicted!

Later in the day some of our group met up for coffee at this cute shop and played cards then had some more adventures walking around Segovia!

What else....
It is monday by the way! and classes have started! The university is absolutely gorgeous! It dates back to the 12th century and used to be a monastary that was ransacked then an orphanage..and now a college. The college is interesting because like half of the walls are super old and then the other parts are new- like half of my classroom is stone and the other is just a normal wall!

Well I must be heading out-lunch and then a siesta! Sorry this was so long, the next will be more brief I promise! Love to all!