Week 2

This week has gone by so fast that I have barely had time to enjoy it. Once again I am overwhelmed by the beauty and challenges that this place brings me every day. Last night in a local bar (Tres BBB’s), we watched the Spanish national soccer team play in un amistoso (a friendly match) against England. It was really a lot of fun to get excited and scream about the match in español. I also had my first Spanish composition due today- 450-500 words about whether justice is equal for all. Seems like an easy feat in my native language, but nigh impossible in español. I think I’m pleased with the result, but it’s so hard to write and express exact thoughts in Spanish. I’m always trying to find a way to say what I mean without actually saying what I want to say. I realize now how much I take for granted my ability to converse freely with friends, family, or strangers. My magnanimous vocabulary in English has been reduced to the merely the basics in Spanish- however, I’m getting better. Maybe in time I can reach the same level in Spanish that I have obtained in English. Tomorrow we are traveling to Toledo by bus. I don’t really know much about Toledo, but I’m sure that it will be just as beautiful as the other places that I have visited. Next week we are traveling to Tenerife- part of the Canary Islands off the coast of northern Africa. It is supposed to be one of the top three places in the world to spend Carnavales (a.k.a. Mardi Gras- except it lasts a week instead of one day). I think I have decided to spend Semana Santa (Holy Week) here in España. There are so many great things to see here that I feel like I need another trip to see the rest of Europe.