A learning experience

When people study abroad in college, one comment given pre-departure is that you will learn a lot about yourself that year.  That was definitely true for me.  But this year includes many different experiences that I have never had to deal with before. Clearly, a person right out of college does a lot of "growing up" that first year on the job, but I think because I am in a foreign country, out of my comfort zone, I am learning way more than I would have in the US.

One thing I have learned to do is stand up for myself.  The biggest thing that happened since I wrote last was that I moved apartments. The first one wasn't working out (aka I couldn't breathe because my roommates chain-smoked with the windows closed) so I had to ask my roommates if they could try to compromise with me to see if my allergies got better. When they didn't, I had to call my landlord, explain the situation, show my apartment and rent my room, and find a new place to live.  Yes, I definitely felt bad about needing to move out when I said I would stay, but I needed to do what was best for me. That hasn't exactly been my strongest suit, so I think I am building up an ability that I will need to use forever.  I am a whole lot happier now. I live in a great apartment, have a shorter commute, and live with three really nice Spanish girls, so I am constantly practicing.  There have been a few other cases in which I have had to stand up for myself, and even though doing so in another language is challenging, but I hope it only makes me more assertive in the future.

Besides that, things have been rather calm.  I went on another day trip to Cuenca, Spain. It is in the comunidad de Castilla la Mancha, and I had never been there before! It was really interesting and really relaxing. The majority of what we did was just walk around and look at the beautiful views. 

These are the Casas Colgadas, or Hanging Houses, in Cuenca. They are really well-known, really old houses that hang off of the cliff. And below is a view of the canyon, above which the old town is built.

November went by really fast, and December is (luckily) a short month!  With the holidays coming up, I am starting to get a little sad being so far away from home, but I will be having Thanksgiving dinner with my friends this week and have decided to go to Amsterdam and Paris for Christmas! So my life isn't so bad. :)

Until next time!