So as I sit here this Saturday morning reflecting on all that has happened since I last wrote I am in disbelief! How can one week hold so much!
I have broken down the week into three parts:
- Snow/Cold
- Friends
- Culture Shock
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View from my bedroom window the
other morning |
At first the prospect of
snow in Pamplona was thrilling! Snow in a new place! It will be so pretty (and it was), but the snow settled to slush and cold and it was quite a bit for me to deal with. That didn't stop me from going out and enjoying it though and below are a few of the pictures we took in the snow. I am complaining about it because I can, but it actually was not too bad and made for some fun adventures and pretty sights.
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| La Plaza in the Snow! |
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| UPNA in the snow |
I'm going to skip to number 3 so that I can end on a good note about friends.
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My mountain view
after a little walk |
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| Tortilla y chocolate |
Culture shock is an interesting thing, you know its going to happen, you try your best to prepare and then it happens anyway. There have been a few things that I expected to hit me and others that I was not really prepared for at all. I knew that the educational system would be different, that the lifestyle has a different structure, and that I wouldn't be eating dinner until 10:00 at night. What I hadn't thought about was that I wouldn't know that 10:00 is also 22:00, and that 8 degrees Celsius means that the week to come will be a warm one! I am figuring these things out but they can make life a bit more frustrating. I knew that the structure of the university would be different, but I did not expect to have meetings with people and to leave feeling dissatisfied. I did not expect to feel claustrophobic living in a downtown area, and I did not know the extent to which a person could crave a hamburger and french fries. I didn't know these things because they are the things you have to live through, but that's kind of the exciting part of the whole thing. I have to face these challenges and frustrations, but I also have the opportunity to learn and grow from them. I have realized in the past few days that being somewhere new doesn't mean that I have to give up my old way of life, but it also means that I can't reject the new around me. I think the most important part of this semester is learning how to make what I have and where I am work for me. Sure, I was frustrated trying to figure out classes, but I used my way to figure out the system here. Yes, all I wanted was a hamburger and fries (and I ate them... and they were SO GOOD) but I also go out for juevintxos and tortilla española y churros con chocolate. Yes there are times when living in the city is a bit overwhelming but I can be sad about it or I can walk a few minutes and breathe in the fresh air and look at the beautiful snow capped mountains. I think that dealing with culture shock for me, means finding ways to make the best of where I am and what I have and to let each difficulty be a new adventure. Now I kind of understand military time and Celsius!
Last point, I promise!
Being abroad really makes you appreciate
friendship. New friendships made and the ones at home that help keep you sane.
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Dinner night with great
friends and food! |
I have met so many amazing people during my short time here already and I am looking forward to meeting more! From going out to having dinners in or flat mate bonding trips in the snow, I am surrounded by people who make me laugh, smile, and who know how to have a good time!
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Night out with my
favorite Australians! |
I also have been reminded how blessed I am by all of my family and friends at home who have continued to show me support and love through my travels!
Next week I will report on classes a bit more, for now, it s siesta time!
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Nele, Zoe, and Me at the
Plaza in the snow! Flatt-mate
bonding is always fun. |
