B-Day

Hello everyone!

OK! so as it WAS my birthday yesterday, and people have been asking how it was. Heres the story. Also, I think birthdays everywhere are somewhat the same, so I'm going to play up this birthday story just a tad. (everything is true, im just planning on elaborating A LOT)

On the morning of my birthday, my host mom wanted me to wake up a little earlier than I had been just to make sure I was adjusting to the time change. So, I wake up around 10 (rather than 11 or 12) shower, and walk out of my room to say good morning, but no ones there. So, since I'm new here, I was like.... what am I supposed to do now? So I go to the kitchen, and see a huge thing of pancakes (small, but still pancakes) with a note that said, in essence, 'I'm shopping, Ill be back soon'. So, I sit down and start eating the pancakes. After having eaten two pancakes, Sara, my host mom, walks in the door, so I stop and greet her. After we were done talking, I sit back down, and take two more pancakes, thinking she didn't know that I had already had two. After finishing those in record time, I took one more when she had her back turned, thinking she wouldnt necessarily notice. Although I wanted more, I left 3 just to be sly. About an hour later, my two friends Ambra and Maria come to my house to give me presents (a card and a rose) and finish the remaining 3 pancakes. They sat down and each only had one, and so my host mom was like 'Are you sure you dont want more? Jane ate 5 this morning.' I was so embarrassed because I thought she didnt notice.

Anyway, at lunch, I got some presents- a really cool bracelet, a shirt and some perfume and chapstick stuff. They made some really good food at lunch that was sorta semi-american- a lot of fried things. Then, after that I watched an american movie in spanish with my host mom. My host mom, by the way, LOVES american movies I think. And american coffee.

Then, my host mom and neighbor had planned a little surprise birthday dinner for me at my house. That was fun, but those big events kind of scare me a little because I have to do a lot of pretending I understand. In a big group of people, its really difficult because the person to your right will be talking about something, and the person on your left will be talking about something else. After about 20 minutes of that, my head feels like its going to implode, but I've become accustomed to that feeling. And you should know that it gets a little easier each time.

But anyway, at this dinner a few friends brought presents, which is something I wasnt expecting at all. It was funny because I got chocolate from this kid named Pepe that I didnt know at all, and in my mind I was like 'well what am I supposed to do now..... I can't thank him because I don't remember his name, and it would be awkward to give him a hug... etc. etc...' (speaking of names..... THEY ARE SO HARD TO REMEMBER!)

Anyway, after dinner, some friends and I went out to eat more (yes, more) and talk etc. etc. which was fun because it was only five people, and I understood around 80% of all conversation which is awesome for me. But when I came back, my host parents were having a dinner party, so I sat with them for a while. That part was really frustrating because they were all asking my questions and talking at the same time, and I couldn't understand or answer so I think they either got the impression that I was dumb or impolite for not answering. It's a possibility that this impression is all in my head, but still it's a little frustrating. Especially because I felt both dumb and impolite.

Having said this, dont worry, family and friends, because all is well here in Spain. Frustration and annoyance, as I have been warned, is extremely normal during transition time. Quite frankly, it would be weird if one did not experience either at all.

So my journey continues as I begin week #2 as of right about now.

Adios!!!

Jane