Home sweet home

I honestly did not even care that there was snow on the ground when we landed in blustery Madrid Tuesday night. We were both so excited to be going back to something totally familiar— the place where we know the language, where we have called home for over four months now. Flannery and I got in a little late to Toledo, so we spent that first night in the Fund. It was dark and quiet and I kept thinking that I would see the ghosts of our friends that were here before... it really is strange being here without them. I do not really know how to do Europe without those people who have been my friends and family for the past months. 

The next day we finally met up with all of the new kids and I could not help but think of our first day in Spain also, way back in September. Jet-lagged, confused, hungry and homesick. It's a great group, to be sure. What's weird is that there are now like 10 guys instead of 3. Later that day, Flannery and I both got moved into our new host families' houses. Oh. My. Goodness. I definitely hit the jackpot on this one. My family is absolutely great. They have three kids, Natalia, Alvaro and Ricky, ages 19, 16 and 13 respectively. My madre, Janni, is from Puerto Rico and her husband is Tito. They are SO nice and so warm. Their house is in the old part of the city, right near the main plaza and like 5 minutes from school. My little room is so charming. Bigger than my room at home AND I have my own bathroom. This semester is seriously looking up. 

Over the past few days, I have felt so much more comfortable with Spanish for some reason. I feel like I can express myself so much easier, which contrasts completely with how I was 100 percent lost when I came here in September. I have been trying to show the new kids our favorite places and everything around here the best I can and cannot help but really feel like this is a home for me. And now all of the trip planning begins aaagain. These next few months are going to fly.