The Things I Have Not Learned in Spanish School

Even though I spend five out of seven days a week, sitting in the same chair, in the same class, from 8:30 till 14:30 attempting to follow my teacher's speedy one-sided lectures, I have to say that the most I have learned here in Spain has been outside of the classroom. Now, while the things that I have learned so far have carried in to the classroom, school is not their origin. Ironically, isn't that kind of the point of studying abroad? 

The first thing I've learned so far... is changing my mindset about studying abroad. I think I have always had it stuck in my head that a major part of this was becoming independent. While that's not untrue, I think I thought that you went about that a completely different way. After a month here I believe that really the only way to become independent is through asking others around you for help, and opening yourself up to let others help you, and accepting their help when they give it to you.
I honestly never would have figured out the buses to the city if my older sister hadn't showed me the times that were already magnetically posted on our fridge and then dropped me off at the train station. It would have taken multiple embarrassing moments of walking in to a test late if my school parter didn't tell me on my first day that tests were given in a different room. 
There are some things I've learned by myself, like the streets of my pueblo for example, or other little things I've learned through observation, like where my family puts everything in the kitchen. But I've found it's all the little things that I've learned by myself and all the important things that I've been shown and taught. Through this I really have learned that, while being independent is a good thing, my happiest times here have never been by myself. It is very, very true that happiness is only real when shared.

The second is to really just put all worries aside, to just stop being nervous about everything, because it will all be okay in the end. This may be a personal change, but I think it applies to everyone at least a little bit. When I first got here, I would literally sit in my room and have a little mental debate with myself like "OK, Annelise your family is in the living room you should go." "Wait but I don't want to bother them, what if they don't want you there or there's no more chairs left or or or". Which now sounds so stupid, go girl! Go sit in the living room with your family! The times I've laughed the hardest are when my sisters and I are sitting on the couch procrastinating homework, showing each other songs, and my sisters singing english songs with heavy Spanish accents. It's also where all the chocolate is for merienda. 
Also I would say putting all social anxieties away. The kids in class will never talk to you if you don't show them that you're interested. I've learned that I will not be judged for walking up to a group of girls from my class and just listening or joining in the conversation if I want to. It is a lot better than standing against the wall and looking disinterested. 

The third thing is quite cheesy, who knew I was such a cliche...madre mia! It's seize the day!! When some days are perfect, and some days I'm homesick, I just think that in 20 years I'm going to dying to be where I am. I am in Spain! I have waited for this for so long!! I am in such a beautiful place, learning such a beautiful language, with such beautiful and inviting people, it is worthless being sad. Seizing the day doesn't mean I'm going to kill myself going to the city everyday, or finding some adventure to go on. I'm having an adventure just being here. Seizing the days has been falling deep, deep in love with my pueblo, going for walks and eating chocolate. I should just make a blog about all the chocolate I've eaten here, let's be real I can't go a paragraph without mentioning chocolate. What is wrong with me. It's sitting on the terrace reading and enjoying the sun which some how just feels warmer because I know I'm Spain.

Second to last, being upfront with how you feel and what you want. Spaniards are very blunt. Coming here I was the opposite, but always wishing I could just say whatever I wanted. Now, completely immersed in a place where I don't have the vocabulary to beat around the bush, I have to be blunt. For example, I want that chocolate!!!! Even talking to my friends from home, I think even with the vocabulary to be general, I've become a lot more blunt now that I know how much easier it is. Also, people will never know what I need or how I feel unless I tell them, so there is no use hiding anything.

To be blunt- This is all that I have learned and I am going to go in to the living room now and I hope that my sisters and chocolate will be greeting me when I open the door.