YO AMO ESPAÑA!!!!

I am so in love with the city, the people, the language, the fashion, and also with my classes!
I had my first day of school/orientation hoy (today) and I got all of the classes I wanted.

p.s. the showers here don't have something to hold the shower head, and therefore each person holds their own shower head.. minor detail that threw me off a little this morning.'

Also, I have an awesome neighbor! His name is Dan and he's a senior at UVA.  His madre and my madre are besties, and we all went to school together this morning.  It was pretty adorable actually, about 5 other students and their madres got on the same bus this morning on our way to the university.

The professors were all very funny and helpful.  Everyone in the UVA program is nice for the most part and wants to make friends.
The time difference threw me off a little this morning but I just woke up from my siesta after eating Paella Valenciana with my madre and her daughter, and already feel used to it.
Paella Valenciana is a typical dish from Valencia, usually made with seafood or chicken or meat, it is a rice and vegetable mixture, very good!! It's pretty similar to risotto, but not as creamy and with much less liquid.

The bus ride this morning took about 20 minutes to get to the university, but as Dan and I have figured out-- we don't mind this because we are closer than most of the students to the center of the city!! Also, there's a valenbisi right in front of our apartments on the main drag of the city-- this is a little row of about 20 bikes that anyone can rent.  Awesome way to get around the city if you ask me!! So as soon as we get to know the city a little better I will be biking to/from school and around the city!

Last night-- I went for a walk with my madre (who is pretty frail and weak) so we walked slowly, but we went to the mercado to get fresh fruit, and also to the store where I will frequently go to buy her some bread.  Then she let me wander off and I walked around for about another hour.  I got slightly lost only once, and then found my way around.  I think wandering and getting lost is the best way to get to know a city, which I frequently did in DC.  I'm in love with everything about Spain.  In my classes today I was daydreaming about staying here, I feel like I belong =D

The Spanish spoken here is verrrry different from the spanish de centro y sudamerica (central and south america) but I'm already falling in love with it.  Yes, EVERYONE speaks with a lisp, but it's not as annoying as I thought it was going to be.  I'm actually beginning to appreciate it, they make it sound very pleasant.  Also-- Spaniards speak in the tense "vosotros" instead of "ustedes".  They never even use "ustedes" which is what I am accustomed to, but I am already catching on and hopefully will be using the vosotros tense right along with them.

ok todos, now I'm going to finish unpacking the last of my things and go rent some bikes with Dan.  I think we're going to try to get everyone from the UVA group together tonight and go out for our first night on the town!!!
Hasta luego!!!
XO

p.s. one more thing-- this siesta/nap custom is AMAZING