First week of university – tick! (it ain’t all smiles and sangría)

There are no secrets here, and because there are no secrets, I am going to tell it to you guys straight. I wish I could say that I was jumping out of my seat excited about my first day of university; Or that I couldn’t wait to attend class and meet new people and experience tertiary education in Spain. Ah, I wish I could say that I felt a-okay and as confident as George Clooney walking into a room full of women with his (decaf) Nespresso pods, but alas I cannot as that would be lying. The truth is, I was shitting bricks. The thought of class made my stomach turn and made little bursts of anxiety shoot through my veins and intoxicate my mind with worst-case scenarios (hello homesickness! – it’s a real thing, guys).

I would be attending two classes, 100% in Spanish, with about a 30% level of confidence in my Spanish skills. There were a couple of freak-out Skype sessions with mother dear, and unfortunately this all coincided with me getting horrendously sick, as in waking up with a fever, burning eyes, throbbing body sick. So it’s safe to say, things weren’t exactly going the way I thought they would.

After taking about 4 different meds to get back on my feet (borderline druggo), I eventually got over my sickness and D-day soon arrived (aka día 1 de universidad). Sabes que, I should have really listened to all of the positive and encouraging words of reassurance and guidance from everyone, cause it would have saved me a whole lot of life wasted on dying from anxiety and stress. Despite neither my professors speaking a single word of English, it really wasn’t that bad. Yes there was a significant level of struggle, but I came to my senses and have accepted the fact that this is just the way things are and I have to do the best that I can – I can’t possibly get any worse at Spanish, so there’s only one way this can go… right? I was lucky enough to make a couple of friends with students who speak both Spanish and English (even if just a bit) aaaand my professors seems so chill and understanding and nice about my whole lack of Spanish knowledge. So, yes! After a whole bunch of sickness and apprehension, I am finally starting to just take things day by day and allowing myself to enjoy this new chapter of my life.

(let’s see how I am come time for presentations and exams ha!) Here is a completely unrelated photo of the sunset we experienced on Australia Day at Templo de Debod – enjoy! 

Til my next post,

Besos para ti xx