All the small things

Today I had a small Spanish success: I bought my "abono" or monthly train/metro/bus pass. I won't pretend there weren't some snags in getting there, but the fact that I can now post for you a picture of el abono is, in my life, nothing short of triumph!

Ta-da!!

Also, I noticed I have a pretty good sense of direction and I had no trouble using a photo booth or fotomatón, as they like to call it here. I know, I'm extremely accomplished.

Confession: I did have to run back to the house for money

in the process of purchasing the abono

because I underestimated the cost by about half.

And I didn't find the grocery store either. Oh well.

Fairly Representative

I have been in Spain for two days, and I already did this:

In addition to falling down and twisting my ankle, I got sick on the plane, couldn't get money from the ATM or exchange dollars for Euros, felt compelled to eat the ceviche I was served for lunch, and repeatedly embarrassed myself by not understanding or not even hearing things people are saying to me in Spanish (sometimes I have a tendency to kind of block out conversations in Spanish until all of the sudden everyone is looking at me and I have no idea what they just said and then they think I am really stupid).... only 9 months to go.

On the other hand, I've already met some great people. The family I'm living with are so kind and they have helped me out a ton. And the other teachers are fun and friendly. A few of them helped me hobble to the metro after I fell down outside of our meeting (causing the previously mentioned ankle injury). I honestly don't know where I would be, in Spain or in life, if it weren't for the kindness of other people. I am nothing without my family and friends! I love you all! (But if you don't read my blog you won't know it ;))

Last week I found heaven

and it was the Butterfly Pavilion in the Museum of Natural History.

One of the many reasons I now love Washington, D.C.!

Be grateful I didn't post all 100+ butterfly pictures from my trip :)