Google Maps

Hello, friends. Turns out, I don’t know how to properly work Google Maps. About two weeks ago I was given the address of my host family in Madrid. Obviously the first thing that I did was Google the location and the first thing that popped up was the Peruvian Embassy in the southwestern area of the city. Then I searched my university (Antonio de Nebrija) to see what my commute would look like and the school appeared on the northeastern part of the city. This frustrated me because I am lazy and I wanted to be able to walk to school. I guess I didn’t think that this might not be realistic. Since I’m so accustomed to walking everywhere at Ohio State maybe I was hoping that being able to walk to school would feel like home? Hah, just kidding. I’m lazy and impatient and I hate public transportation but I’ll get over all that real quick.

Anyway, I did another search because I knew I didn’t do it right the first time and I’m quite pleased with what I found. I talked to my future roommate on Facebook and she said that we would be living by the Royal Palace and Google Maps confirmed this! It looks like it’s just a short walk (yes!) away from our apartment. The outside of the building looks pretty nice but looks can be deceiving. I’ll let you know all about my new home once I get there. I’m living on Calle de Irún, which is close to Calle Mayor. La Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor are on Calle Mayor and according to Google Maps, it’s only a twenty minute walk from my place, or a twelve minute bus ride.

I think that’s all for now. I couldn’t sleep and so I decided to do some Google Maps research. Then I had to share what I found somehow and since everyone else is asleep, a blog post seemed like a good idea. I’d apologize for not writing that much but I have a short attention span and I’m feeling less creative by the second.

And on that note: TWO WEEKS ONE DAY.

Okay wait I have more I’m getting a second wind. If anyone cares/is curious, I’m flying United Airlines. My first flight leaves Covington around 2:30 PM on September 1^st and I’ll land in Washington D.C. around 4:00 PM. My next flight leaves around 5:40 PM and I’ll arrive in Madrid at 7:30 AM on September 2^nd. I come home on December 20^th. Spain is six hours ahead? So that makes my second flight eight hours? Whatever, I don’t do math anymore, I’m a humanities major.

Also, I purchased my ticket from studentuniverse.com; they provide cheaper tickets for students so I got a pretty good deal I think. I recommend it to all my student friends who want to travel. All you have to do is provide proof that you are a student.

Introduction

So, here it is: my study abroad blog because everyone who is anyone has one of these bad boys when they study abroad. But mostly this is so that I can share all my adventures with friends and family. For those of you who don’t know, I am studying abroad in Madrid at the University of Antonio de Nebrija. I’m leaving on the first of September and I’ll be back a couple of days before Christmas. While in Madrid, I will be living with a host family and an American roommate. I will try and blog at least once a week but I can’t make any promises, I know that I will be very busy with classes and exploring Spain and parts of Europe. I at least can promise pictures, that shouldn’t be so hard.

I still have three weeks until my flight and I plan on spending the rest of my time in America with friends and family and trying not to panic about what to pack. As of right now I am really nervous but I know later I will be very excited. That’s pretty much how this whole summer has gone, one minute I’m sick with anxiety and the next I can’t wait to leave. Even with all the fear and stress of the upcoming trip, I know that it will all be worth it. I am going to learn so much, meet a lot of new people, and hopefully become a better person. It will definitely be a struggle though; I really need to work on my patience because I know that I won’t be fluent in Spanish right away and that it will take a while to get used to my new surroundings.

            The rest of my posts should be more exciting, filled with lots of pictures and awesome stories but for now this brief introduction will do. This blog may be for all of you to keep track of me, but this blog is also so I don’t forget anything. I want to know how I was feeling so that maybe later I can look back and realize that if I can live in a foreign country for almost four months by myself, I can do anything.

            Also, feedback would be nice! I do not consider myself a writer but I’m trying here. Or, of course, it can just be feedback about how much you miss me and how jealous you are of my adventures and I’m just kidding I swear I’m not this vain my name is Sarah not Amanda.