IN GRANDA!!

Being in Madrid was awesome. Our final days there were spent touring the city and experiencing the night life. One of my favorite things that we did in Madrid was tour Palacio Real. This is the Palace in Madrid that all the Kings of Spain lived in. It was absolutley GORGEOUS. I got a few pictures that I wasnt supposed to take, so look at them! I had such an amazing time with all the girls from my group there. We all get along so well and have so much fun together!

After Madrid, we took a bus to Granada, and were then sent to our host families. Rachel and I have been SO lucky to get the senora that we did. Her real name is Rosario, but she says that she doesnt like that name, so that we should call her "Charo". She is super nice and actually pretty young from what we were expecting. When we first arrived there were 2 students living here: one from New Mexico, and one from China. It was really nice beacuse they explained to us how things work around the house, and what to expect. Where we live is called "La Plaza de la Trinidad". It is where all the main shopping is, and many cute restaurants for tapas! We have a pretty fountain right in front of our house, and live literally a 10 minute walk from school. Some of the other students from my group walk 30-45 minutes! We have a ncie room with our our bathroom in it, and our own balcony!! Most of the other students said that they do not have their own bathroom so we are very lucky. We also WI-FI in our house! A bunch of the other students have no internet access, so its really nice for us to be able to skype our families, and keep in touch for emergencies, and also to blog=) Charo's mother lives across the hall from us, and she is the one that actually cooks for us, so its nice beacuse if we dont like the food, or dont want to eat too much, Charo doesnt mind! Also, her sister lives in the building next door with her 3 nieces and nephews. They are sooo cute. Curro, Marga and Jose, and they are THE cutest kids. Its fun to have them around the house to play with.

It has been really cool practicing my spanish here. Charo does not speak a WORD of engligh, so its going to be very good for Rachel and I. Our host mom is very laid back and good to us. Rachel told her yesterday that I am Italian, so for dinner she had her mom make pasta! Then after dinner she took us and her nephew out for ice cream at an italian gelato place. She is soo cute.

I have already done a bunch of shopping here (no regalos! lo siento). In the store in Spain they only have 3 sales a year called "Rebajas". They last for about a months time, and the final day of the 2nd Rebajas was yesterday so you know I couldnt pass that up! I got some really cute stuff. I took some pictures and will post them up.

Today I took my placemt exam. We had an oral, multiple choice grammar, and a written exam. It wasnt bad, but we will see tomorrow!

Granada is soo beautiful. Everytime I walk outside and see the sierra nevadas in the background im taken back. i LOVE it here!

ok im done. sorry that I wrote a novel!! miss you all=))