Finally!!!

I've been using the term "finally" at least once or twice a day on my trip...

"Finally my the BA desk in open so I don't have to carry around my luggage in the Seattle airport for 4 more hours!"
"Finally I don't have to wait in line for 8 more hours for another flight!"
"Finally our 1 hour tube ride is over and we can go our hotel!"
"Finally we found the actual hotel we were supposed to stay in!"
"Finally we have a flight Madrid!"
"Finally we are in Madrid!"
"Finally my luggage is here!"
"Finally I have internet!"

Although I've gotten really sick of the word "finally" and I was frustrated by having to wait so long for everything to fall into place, waiting made me realize how truly lucky I am. Everything is different in Spain compared to home. The apartment I'm living in now is smaller than the one I lived in last semester. It doesn't have heat. Or the internet. Limited hot water. Little privacy. Paper thin walls. The most annoying dog in the world....and although it may sound like I'm complaining, I'm really not. I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to be here. But it's not just that, I feel so fortunate to have grown up in a nice home with good food, supportive parents, heating/cooling, hot water, internet, etc. Those things are all a luxury for the people here and unfortunately something that I've always taken advantage of. So thanks mom and dad for everything! :D

There are other things that are different about this place. For instance, I have probably eaten about 15 different meat parts in the week and a half that I've been here. I've gone against my personal religion and eaten 2 eggs - over easy. I have faced the challenges of buying books, clothes, food, etc. by using Spanish to the best of my abilities. On Saturday night when I was walking home, there was a man standing on the sidewalk peeing. People here smoke constantly...before meals, after meals, during meals. Speaking of meals, they have the strangest eating habit. People here eat very little for breakfast, maybe a piece of toast and coffee. Then, they don't eat lunch until about 3. Dinner is around 9 or 10. And did I mention that they don't eat snacks, thanks to the smoking. Needless to say, my eating habit has changed completely. I told my dad the other day that I probably will lose about 15 pounds while I'm here just from changing my eating habits. It's just a completely different way of life. Instead of being completely disgusted and annoyed by all of the differences, I just laugh and wonder how people in the United States would react...