He llegado

I finally made it! I thought the trip would never end. I’ve never been on such a long flight, and it wasn’t too fun. I feel bad for my dad. I don’t know how he does it. I did decide though, that I don’t like Germans. They are loud, pushy, and rude and their language makes me want to punch a kitten. Sorry Emilee, the Fatherland was not all it’s cracked up to be. At least Frankfurt International Airport. Enough about the Germans. Sauerkraut sucks and they lost two world wars.

Customs in Spain- Ha! When I was waiting for my luggage, there was this customs lady in a uniform, screaming at people in quick, incomprehensible Spanish, which made me really nervous, because I didn’t want to have to talk to her in Spanish. I got my luggage and started to walk away when she yelled something at me which I didn’t understand but knew meant stop. So I froze, and waited as she yelled at and searched some Asian travelers. I was thinking “Oh crap, me next,” but as soon as she got to me she asked, in perfect English, “What country are you from?” When I told her the United States, she waved me right on through. Heck yes.
At the bus station in Bilbao, I saw some crazy yelling homeless dude with about 8 cops surrounding him, yelling back at him. Bienvenidos a Espana.

Right now I am excited, but a bit homesick. I always get a little bit of separation anxiety though, so that is to be expected. When I was nervously awaiting my trip, I did some thinking. Sure, it would be a lot easier, and a lot more comfortable to stay in Corvallis, and have a normal fall term. A million times easier, in fact. Traveling here was also a herculean effort, and I don’t even know how I made it. But I decided that my there for this trip would be “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” You don’t grow as a person or learn new things by sitting around at home, drinking Starbucks and watching Scrubs (which is what I would be doing, probably!). I need to come out of my comfort zone if I want to grow at all. This might not be the easiest trip, but I at least made it here, and as I get settled I’m hoping things start to get fun!