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| Valencia, Spain |
I like to think that I am a self-assured and capable individual. (And by all means, correct me if I’m wrong.) Imagine my frustration, though, as our bus slid into the city of Valencia and I was suddenly confronted with serious doubts about my ability to do, well, anything. I felt physically polarized as the pit in my stomach dropped to the floor while my mind soared with anticipation. I don’t suppose everyone experiences the same reaction, but my arrival in Spain, and, more importantly, in Valencia, was the moment I had been working toward, academically, psychologically, and even emotionally for a quite some time. That sense of accomplishment was met by a new sense of overwhelmed uncertainty about how I would fare in an uncomfortable language and unfamiliar culture.
We took a very short tour through the city where we were introduced to some of the attractions that were to become commonplace structures in our day-to-day lives—el río, la Ciudad de Las Artes y las Ciencas, el centro, etc. We met our host-families at the Mestalla, a large fútbol stadium next to the University of Valencia. As the bus slowed to a stop, the enormous sign on the side of the stadium displaying faces of Valencia Club de Fútbol enthusiasts and a phrase, which (translated into English) read, “You Are Valencia” should have comforted me a bit. While I recognize rabid fans when I see them, and the message was a very welcoming one...I was still nervous. Isabel Castillo, our “host-mother,” greeted my roommate, Erin Edwards, and I with kisses to each cheek and a look of exasperation as she realized how much luggage we had in tow. She has hosted students for eight years, and I would be interested to know how our mountain of luggage ranks in comparison to prior students. From there, we crammed our bags into her especially small (by American and European standards) vehicle and drove to our new home. We then drug our luggage through a courtyard, into an elevator, up ten stories, and into a small but tidy and charming apartment.
Welcome to Valencia, Alexis. This is your home for the next four months. Here goes nothing…eh?
