it snowed here today! needless to say, i was not excited and slept right through it. but people here were freaking out, taking pictures and running around outside. most kids have never seen snow, and its pretty unheard of here. but thanks to global warming and all that, we have been having crazy weather. this morning it was sunny and beautiful, then it hailed, then it snowed, then it downpoured and thunderstormed. crazy.

i finally used skype tonight, and talked to my friend sarv. it was awesome! its completely free and works pretty well. just go to skype.com and download the program, then create a username and you can call me (it works through the computer). my user name is Rbenson8986. i am making skype dates with people to call every week, so if you want to talk on skype just email me and we can chat!

i have an oral presentation tomorrow, boo. and a test on friday that im not too excited about. i think im getting sick but ive been fighting it off, i refuse to be sick here because its just so inconvenient. i took a 2 hour nap today and drank a ton of water and ate 5 clementines (very common here) so hopefully i can stop the cold in its tracks. alright time to go learn about granada. some friends of mine are going this weekend, but i dont have the energy (they are leaving at 3am sat morning) and i dont want to risk getting sick. plus its cold there, colder than here, and id rather go when its nice and sunny. okay hasta luego, i miss you all. email me!

ok i managed to figure out the blog again. so ill update more regularly now. had a fantastic time last night, was my friends 21st birthday and we had a blast. its so fun being able to drink here, so worries about being carded and safety and security and cops etc. its just a very relaxed atmosphere, and no one gets like embarrassingly wasted. we went to a bunch of bars and then to the port, which has a bunch of great restaurants and bars right on the water. its so beautiful at night. been missing home a little bit this weekend, but this morning i turned on the tv and sex in the city was on, and in english! made my day. i didnt go to bed until 530am. but thats the thing- 530 is a normal time to go to bed on a weekend, early even. so people just stay up all night and then sleep all day. my host brother doesnt get up until 330pm on saturdays and sundays. kind of weird, but then again so is eating at dinner at 11pm. we had an ammmaaazing dinner last night, the best tapas ive ever had (meaning.....twice). but still. it was great. okay the smoke in this cafe is killin me. more later. love to you all

finally!

So I finally somehow figured out how to add more entries. It was kind of an accident, actually. Oh well. Right now things are great. I started classes today and I love my teacher already. Shes very pretty and patient and has a nice accent. Since I just realized I dont really feel like writing in full sentences, i'll write what I was thinking of as I walked home earlier.

I love how on my street theres a pet store and a little black puppy that I say hello to every morning.

I love how I have cute professors!

I love how my host mom, Carmen, is such a damn good cook.

I love how my host brother, Jose, loves everything rock and loves to say FUCCCKKK and give the rock sign with his hand (they are alot more casual about swearing here)

I love how the clothes here are so beautiful (and cheap...)

I love how I actually understand almost everything people here say (but talking is a different story...)

I love how its very breezy but the wind is never bitter and nasty like it is at home.

I love how I am stealing wireless right now!

I love how my Carmen, my host mom is a raging recycler who hates hate hates Victoria Beckham.

The end

So...I'm leaving for the airport in half an hour! I think it has officially hit me that soon I'll be in another continent. Kind of nervous, kind of excited. (I think my mom might be even more nervous) I'm a little sad I'll be missing the season premiere of 24 and the Pats game, but I think this might be a little more important. Only a little, though. Okay, time to go. Wish me luck!

a few days left....

So, I'm leaving for Spain on Sunday at 6pm. I'll fly for 6 hours and get to London at 5:20, then off to Barcelona at 7:30. I'll get there at 10:30, then fly to Alicante at 12:30 and get there at 1:30! I hope nothing gets messed up. I'm surprisingly not nervous, but I'm sure I will be soon....more to come