Three days

This Saturday, I'll be off to Spain. I can't believe it! It felt like the summer lasted only a month and my departure is now here. Despite a little nervousness, I'm feeling incredibly excited. Right now, everything feels like an opportunity to learn and have fun (which is good). Really, even now, I can't believe it, I'm going to Spain!

I will be flying from here (CR) to Chicago, to Philadelphia to Madrid. I’ve already lucked out, Gonzalo (my host brother) has been re-visiting Canfield, OH (where he was a Rotary student two years ago) and is coming back on the same flight. I will not only be able to get to know him better (we’ve talked on the phone), but my host family will be at the airport to pick us up.

While there, my first family will be the MunillaGarridos. I will be going to the Instituto de Goya (a public high school) and playing my trombone in a community band.

My family consists of: Pablo, my host father and an environmental engineer, Pilar, my host mother and a gynecologist, Gonzalo, my host brother, going into his senior year and then into college to study engineering, and Elena, my host sister. She will, however, be in Waverly, Iowa, this year as an exchange student. They live in a gorgeous house near the center of the city, and have already been a huge help through advice, connecting me with a community band and most of all opening their home to me!

PS: Don't worry, more information to come