For me, studying in Spain has been like a roller coaster ride with its many ups and downs.  One minute I am on the top of the world and the next the bottom.  I suppose I should start at the beginning.  My first impression was that Segovia was beautiful but the immersion in the language and culture was a bit overwhelming.  Then when I am finally starting to understand some of the language, I find myself going to Portugal with my Spanish family, seeing the ocean for the first time, and singing an English song in front of a thirty or more Spanish people on a bus. 

The next thing I know I am swamped with papers and mid-terms and someone has apparently stolen my debit card number and racked up a bunch of charges in Madrid.  Do make someone in the U.S. a legal representative; it will make things so much easier if something like this happens to you.  The very next day, I was on a plan to Paris.  I was poor as can be but loved every minute of it.  Paris is a big city like Madrid was, but it is ten times better.  I am not the type of person who generally likes big cities, but I could live happily in Paris. 

But the splendor of Paris has come to an end and now I trying to get my debit card situation fixed.  Yesterday I went by myself to a police station in Madrid to obtain a police report.  I know it isn't a big deal, but I am proud of myself for making it to the station and asking for directions in Spanish...multiple times.  However, now my bank says they need more proof...ahhh.  Oh well, I am not going to spend too much time worrying about it because tomorrow we leave for Seville and Cordoba.  And this excursion is with the school so it is already paid for, which is a very good thing at the moment.