My Turtle- Like Life

I´ve been in Valencia for a week and 3 days. I have lots of stories of transportation issues and mistakes Vinshea and I have made while trying to nagivate ourselvs around the city! The busses and the metro system here are not user-friendly, in my opinion. One day while on the bus to go to school, our driver got off the bus at a stop, went into the cafe for a bit, and came out finishing his donut!! Life is slow here. Everything takes 2-3 times longer-- transportation, waiting to cross the street, eating out, waiting in line, service! The service here is almost non-existant. In America, you are tought in ever yjob that the customer is the number one priority; you drop what ever task you are in the middle of to make them happy. Spainards could care less! It´s frusterating, but I am getting more and more used to it and I know to expect it now, also. I am getting used to living like a turtle.

Oh, and a bird pooped on my favorite--and only CLEAN pair-- of jeans.... :(

I thought it happened often becuse you dry all the clothes outside, but my host mom just laughed and laughed when I showed her... I took that as a sign that its not as common as I thought...

It has been raining a lot here, but i have 2 classes to go to every day. I am taking a class about Spain today and the other is a Management class specializing in Entreprenuership. Class is not super exciting, but my Management class did take a field trip to the Port of Valencia, which is one of the main HUBs in the world. It was really interesting and we got to ride on a boat for part of the tour and they served us wine and mussels. I, of couse, passed on the mussels this time!

Beatriz, our host mom, introduced us to her friend´s son, Phillipe, who is our age. He took to to his church´s youth group last friday and it was awesome! The worship music was so great and I recognized a couple of songs, except they were in Spanish. The people there were incrediably nice to Vinesha and I and welcomed us and chatted. We hung out with them a bit that night too, but it was really difficult to follow what they were all talking about becuase they speak SO fast and with a lot of slang. Vinesha, Beatriz, and I went to the same church last Sunday and God has just really answered my prayers so clearly with this church here, Phillipe and his friends, and with Beatriz being a Christian, too. Vinesha and I feel really lucky to have some spainsh friends and we are looking forward to seeing them again.