Gafe

PSA: This is a bit more of a diary entry sounding thing than a bloggy thing buuuut I figure I should keep it interesting (if that's possible) and switch it up.

6 miles. I walked at LEAST 6 miles today. There is a distinct possibility that my legs are going to fall off. The reason for my never ending hike from Hell is that while all my friends live directly on the Merced campus, I live about a 25 minute walk away from it, and from what I understand, most of my classes will be on the Merced campus which while it's a hike is also a blessing because the Espinardo campus is 40 minutes away by tram and as tempting as that sounds... no thank you. So basically, I'm gonna rent a bike for the next few months OR learn how to walk faster. My flatmates (God bless them) said that they would show me a shortcut on Saturday that only takes like 15 minutes so that this semester doesn't kill me. All three of them have exams for the next few weeks which here are at least 70% of your grade (ouch) so they've been wonderful and welcoming and fantastic but finals kill so I can't wait for them to be over so they can show me the city etc.

I GOT TO SEE ER TODAY! We met on the stairs of the Facultad de Letras, which is actually my main building of study because it's for language and the like. YAY! The campus is in the center of town and it's absolutely gorgeous, I still can't believe I actually live here. We went and got coffee and walked around awhile (back and forth from my apartment) and then met with Jake and his flatmate Nick. We walked a bit more and then I got the most amazing cappuccino that was NUTELLA FLAVORED. I could honestly have died happy then and there. Side note - I spoke English today for the first time in a few days while catching up with Er but as soon as we were all caught up we switched back into Spanish. We went grocery shopping and Erin unpacked a bit and then we had a meeting at 430 with the school - apparently we also had a meeting this morning buuuuut we're gonna pretend that didn't happen because none of us knew..... honestly.

So we went to this 2 hour meeting with a tiny little man in camouflage pants that gave us all the information one could ever hope to have, and God only knows what the orientation tomorrow will be about - my brain is small, so we'll see how much more information I can handle before I explode. And after the orientation we have to take an exam to see what level intensive we will be in for the next two weeks, and then we're free! Except I have to open a freakin' Spanish bank account tomorrow and be productive so we'll see how far that goes.. And I have to re-choose my classes, which was sooo much fun the first time. I am taking Literature of the Middle Ages (WHEW!), Syntax and Semantics (YIPPEE!), German something or other (HOORAY!), and Introduction to Penal Rights (can't save this one with a well placed parenthetic shout).

Anyway, after the super duper fun meeting everyone went home, planning to meet up at a bar later, buuut we're all so tired I think we're just gonna call it a night... Some might call me a party animal. Currently hanging out with the girls while I write, they're studying and we're talking and I honestly think this is going to be an amazing semester, these girls are so so so sweet and I'm so glad I got them as my flatmates.

Oh I almost forgot! My word today is gafe - which means "jinx" in English. Isa and Yas said it and when I translated it into English, Yas was absolutely positive that Jinx is a Pokemon! It's kinda funny how there are so many words that you don't even consider to have names aside from what they are in English, you know? Maybe that's just me.

Believe it or not I've actually learned a lot these past few days, I have more confidence in my Spanish speaking abilities than I ever thought to have, although I don't know if I'll ever be able to order food as easily as Ines just ordered kebabs for everyone..

In other news, my flatmates and I are now Facebook friends, so if it wasn't real before, it certainly is now.

Ciao bellas <3