In two weeks time...

I have been thinking about the fact that in two weeks time I will have been in Madrid for almost a week, and have spent the first couple of nights there without the parents (they're coming with to take more luggage lol and have a little holiday). And just last night I was feeling slightly anxious about the fact that I have no idea where I shall then be sleeping! But just this morning I got an email from the English teacher offering me a place to stay in her home, which is super nice and very good to know I shall not be homeless lol. So I'll stay with her family until I find a flat! Cool beans. Also it was much an answer to prayer in my opinion because I was just praying about the sitch with somewhere to stay and just general Spain thing this morning and like an hour later I received the email, so yes.
I still have a lot of packing to do, for the YA and the move to Wales lol. And friends to see and things to buy and Spanish lessons to give my parents. Fun times!

The school I'll be working at

The exciting things

I like to be good at things. But there are some things I'm good at which I wish I wasn't, such as losing things, breaking things, and worrying about things. I currently should stop worrying about: the NIE. (Crazy Spaniards and their crazy systems.) And somewhere to live. I’m sure I’ll find a flat when I arrive and anyway the school are not gonna leave me homeless (I’m staying with a teacher until I get a flat, apparently – who and where I have no idea as yet, but I have Ramon’s word) so it’s all good. 

Anyway. I have come up with a list of exciting things about my year abroad.

Madrid Church Plant: getting involved in a new church, exciting times. Worshipping, praying etc in Spanish. Telling people about Jesus. To sum it up, serving God in a local church which has a vision to see people saved: always good.

Learning Spanish: Basics whatever happens I’m going to be good at Spanish by the end of it. which is obv an achievement in itself. Along with less chance of failing my degree. Better job prospects etc etc.

The YA project: lololol how am I buzzing for this? Ok I’m not. But I am buzzing to have completed a project entirely on my own, and to say I'll have written 6000 palabras en español, excelente.

Making friends: I love people, and meeting new people. Although sometimes daunting, especially if they are speaking v rapidly in a foreign lang, but yes, buzzing to meet some amazing people and make some friends for life. 

A job: So I will actually have a proper job for eight months. And only 12 hours a week, so plenty of time for funsies. And I’m hoping this is going to be the easy part, but perhaps not. I have no idea what I’m expected to  do, but I’m sure all will be revealed.

Visiting other places in Spain/Europe: From Madrid I can super easily get to other places, I’m thinking Barcelona – I went with college and it’s a v nice place; Portugal – never been, seems fun, and perhaps I haven’t forgotten all the Portuguese I spent first year learning, And France, seeing as French is half my degree and one of my best friends will be in Bordeaux. Howevz money may be a slight issue on this one.

Good weather: Compared to Preston, where it rains far too much (in fact appaz it holds the UK record for the most rain to fall in five mins lol) I am so looking forward to being in a more sunny location! 

And I’m sure there are many other things beside that have momentarily escaped me, or perhaps have never occurred to me, but will be amazing benefits of the YA.

Loving life.

And finally, I may be slightly jel of all the other lang students already in their foreign destinations! But just reminding myself it is a bonus to be leaving on the 24^th as it means I could spend my birthday with the fam and enjoy meals out and the like with my beautiful friends and even spend a week with my boyf, buzzing for that.

a random picture of Madrid (:

Three weeks to go!

I can't believe it's September already - I feel like I have done nothing with my summer. And in three weeks, I'll be on a plane to Madrid ahhhhh! I'm not sure whether I'm excited, nervous, or terrified! I just keep reminding myself that God is with me and it is going to be a great year, although I know I'm probably going to have no idea what is going on for the first few weeks, I'm yet to find somewhere to live, and I haven't spoken any Spanish for three months... But as I like to say, due to my northern roots - it'll be reet. It really is an amazing opportunity to go abroad for eight months. Hopefully in about a months time I'll be feeling like a madrileña already.

the packing process begins (: