Merry Christmas! I hope everyone (so...all two of you)reading this are having a great holiday. Even if you're not into the Christmas scene, I hope you're having a wonderful evening and aren't snowed in (and if you are, I hope you're making the best of it). I got some really sweet gifts this year. My cousins got me two books: a guide book for Southern Spain and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. My mom got me a really nice carry on bag so I am all set for jetting around Europe. My little sister got me a full-sized Spanish flag, which I will proudly hang in my apartment when I move in this summer. I think my family liked the gifts I got them. We had a five dollar limit (which my mom completely disregarded- she spoils us) so none of the stuff I bought was amazing but it was personal. Yay.

I leave for Spain in less than two weeks. I'm still waiting for it to sink in. I'm excited, of course. I'm thrilled that I get to live in a gorgeous country for five months, take classes completely in Spanish, live with a family that speaks exclusively Spanish, and have the opportunity to travel (for insanely affordable prices) to equally incredible places during my weekends and holiday breaks. It just still doesn't seem real. I keep having to remind myself that this is not a vacation. I can't wrap my mind around the fact that I'll be spending a whole semester in a completely different country, immersed in a completely different culture. Of course, I'm a little nervous. My host parents don't speak any English, so I'm kind of scared that I won't be able to communicate well enough and somehow manage to piss them off. I don't want to do anything wrong. These people are nice enough to give me, a complete stranger, food and shelter for five months and I'd hate to upset or offend them in any way. I'm also scared of getting lost. I know it seems like a random, trivial fear, but I often to get lost in my own little college town. How I will I manage to navigate completely foreign countries?

I know once I arrive and get past the culture shock everything will be fine. I just need to panic a few times before I get there. Nothing new for my gallery at the moment, but maybe some inspiration will hit once I travel a bit.

Hasta luego.