Some things will just have to come in time.

Happy two months to me, wooo! Well, I guess technically today is two months since leaving Iowa and tomorrow is two months in Spain, but still. The past week hasn't been very eventful. I finally went to McDonald's here on Friday. I got the usual - a chicken nuggets Happy Meal. It tasted almost the same as in the US! On Saturday I went shopping with Molly at La Cañada, a HUGE mall in Marbella. I found two cardigans and two scarves (along with some sweats for P.E.), so I'd say it was a successful day. This week, I don't have school tomorrow or Thursday because of holidays, which I find kind of strange. Why not just take the whole week off instead of going every other day? Ah, oh well. I'm happy to have the two days off.

Anyways, remember when I wrote about the openness of Spain? If not, well the people here are pretty close to each other emotionally and physically. This is still true, but I feel like there's more to it. You see, I've been here for two months now, and I can't help but notice that my classmates are still kind of distant to me. I understand that I'm the new girl and that friendships only come in time, but it's difficult nevertheless.

I'm hoping that this is just one of those things that will work out in time. I've heard it said time after time by previous exchangers that the second half of exchange is usually better than the first, not only because you have a much better grasp on the language, but because you also have closer friends. I want to make close friends here. I have too much of an opportunity to make lifetime friends here to not try. I'll continue to be friendly to my classmates, I'll try to get to know them better; hopefully they will do the same in return. :)

The past month has been pretty hard for me with stress and homesickness and just general frustration. I think a big part of that has been the "distant" feeling I just explained. It's so easy to say to myself Ugh, I have this problem here in Spain, but if I were in the U.S. I'd be just fine. I never have these problems at home. And those thoughts of frustration lead to homesickness. That is why it is so important for me to stay positive mentally, and stay busy/distracted. When I'm busy, I'm immersed in Spain, and that's exactly how it should be.

On a good side note, Paola and I just put up the Christmas tree!

Getting Ron into the Christmas Spirit.



It sure doesn't feel like Christmas is in three weeks. No snow, no mittens (except for the ones that Molly bought! haha that's another story), and a strange lack of Christmas music. I have been listening to some Christmas music online lately, but often it makes me miss home and I end up listening to something else. Some have said that Christmas is the lowest point in an exchanger's year, but I'm determined to make it one of the best times! I have the opportunity to have Christmas in another country with different traditions and different people, and I'm going to make the most of it!  I know that I will probably be very homesick at times, but I will be gaining new experiences and celebrating Christ's birth in a whole new way. If that's not cool, than what is? :D

Well, that's about all I've got for now! I'm going to try to write a post about school here soon, so be sure to check back every now and then. Love you guys!

Muchos besos,
Josie