Time with Nanners and Karen

I got back today from Madrid with Nana (my grandma), and her friend and traveling partner Karen. It was really nice, but a bit strange, to see people from home. I really enjoyed being around them, though, and hearing about what is going on at home and with everyone in my family. On Monday we left in their rental car to Madrid, with all of their suitcases and my two huge bags that they are kindly taking home with them for me. We had a good ride down, until we actually got into Madrid, and then we spent about an hour searching for a hotel. Somehow, after being lost for a bit, we ended up getting a hotel right smack in the middle of Madrid, and it wasn't too expensive, either. On Monday night we walked around and I showed them the Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol. Then on Tuesday we got on one of those hop on/hop off tour buses. We stopped at this really cool market that was set up on some streets. We bought a few things, then went on to the Prado museum. After that we were pretty tired, so me and Nana went back to the hotel while Karen walked around, looking for a good paella restaurant.

This morning was quite stressful. First Nana lost the ticket to get the car out of the garage, then we got lost on the way to the bus station. It took about 45 minutes to get there, when it should have taken five. I finally got there, and I really hope that Nana and Karen made it to the airport alive and on time.

I think that I did pretty good with translating between English and Spanish. Nana and Karen were very impressed, but they also don't speak Spanish, so I could have been speaking Gibberish and they would have still been impressed. Having them here made me miss home a little bit, and especially after having such a hard time getting to the bus station all I wanted to do was get on that airplane back to Seattle. But, only a little over two months and I will be home. Having them here, and talk about Prom and my best friend's dad's graduation party is making me really want to be home right now and part of the fun, but I guess you have to make some compromises if you're going to be an exchange student.

Comments

[Katali]

Chloe! Your spanish is fine, so I dont wonder why they were impressed. And dont worry about being lost, I was lost from September until January.

[Chloe]

The initial exchange will be over, but it's not like you'll have to forget about France for the rest of your life.

[Anna Rae]

ohh chlo, how exciting! I'm so jealous you got to see people. And don't say "only a little over two months"... it makes me sad. After we leave, this is done forever.