Day 0: Arrival in Spain!

Finally in Spain! Nearly 24 hours of traveling (not to mention a seven-hour time difference from Colorado) has landed me in Madrid (!!!), where I am now sitting in a cafe at the train station. Here's what I've done since I left the Bolthouse ranch in Breckenridge early yesterday morning:

4:19 a.m. Arrive at transfer station (thanks, Dad!)
4:36 a.m. Leave Breckenridge in a pre-paid airport shuttle
7:16 a.m. Arrive at Denver International Airport
11:07 a.m. Flight departs from Denver (one hour delay due to snow)
4:20 p.m. Arrive in Philadelphia (where there is also snow but not as much)
6:45 p.m. Flight departs from Philadelphia (on time wooo!)
7:20 a.m. Arrive in Madrid (all I had to do for customs was hand the guy my passport. He stamped it and handed it back, and I strolled out)
8:20 a.m. Get in cab to train station (most terrifying step because this is where the Taken part happens. My flight across the Atlantic offered both Taken and Taken 2. I did not hesitate to skip past those when scrolling through the movie menu)
8:55 a.m. Arrive at Puerta de Atocha, which is the train station I'm at now. The cab ride cost exactly €50, which was perfect because I only have €50 notes. (Thank goodness it's not customary to tip cab drivers here)

Now it's 9:36, and I'm waiting for my 11:35 train to Pamplona. One of my roommates is supposed to meet me at the Pamplona train station when I arrive at 2:45 — trying hard to memorize her face from Facebook photos now.

camped out at the train station cafe in Madrid

Pre-trip Presentiment

In 12 hours (!!!) I begin my long journey to Spain. Car, bus, plane, taxi, train: I feel like I'm using every mode of transportation to get to what will be my home for the next five months.

I have to admit I'm not feeling any super strong emotions right now. I think apprehension is the main one, to be honest. Sure, I'm excited, but I really have very little idea of what to expect. It's hard to get too excited about something that's somewhat frustratingly vague in your mind. I'm sure my excitement will increase exponentially once I'm there, because right now I'm mostly just trying not to worry about the long and complex trip there — and the intimidating unknown of what awaits me when I arrive.

Exam Week

How many blog posts have I written about my loathing of the sedentary lifestyle? I keep thinking maybe I'll grow out of this dread of an office job. Why am I in college if it's not to get a professional job, and how many professional jobs are out there where I won't be sitting in front of a computer all day? Or most of the day. How much screen time can I stand?

These are the thoughts exam week inspires in me. I'm jittery and antsy sitting in coffee shops all day, even when the material I'm studying is intellectually engaging. I need variety; I need to move. I often get distraught thinking about how lofty my standards are for job satisfaction. Only time will tell how this will be resolved...