Necesito practicar mi español

           Language Class Day 1. Classes were posted this morning at 9:30. Meredith and I woke up and left the house to go see which level we were placed into and at what time we had to go. Meredith- 10 to 2. Kimbo- 3 to 7....Dang it! I made it all the way there to find that I have to come back later!? AND I had to ride the metro home by myself. I think it's time I get a cell phone.

Riding the Metro alone isn't hard, just boring. I came home and waited until I had to leave again. I arrived back on campus and was asked by a student for the directions. (Yes he asked me in spanish, and yes I gave the directions in spanish). Another boy was following us and asked for help too. Look at me, just your everyday tour guide barbie. Ha ha just kidding. Anywho, I found my class and Meredith was bumped up to the same class! YAY! She had already made friends with some french girls from the beginners class that didn't speak any spanish, probably the class I should be in, and she made friends with a very talkative but very sweet little Italian girl. (I can say little because she was shorter then me). The only friends I made today were the two boys. One was from France and the other Finland. They seemed very nice but "you never know when someone might be a cannibal" - Virginia. Mer and I were the only Americans in our class. I'm sure there are more but I didn't come all the way to Spain to make friends with Americans. I have plenty of those already ;)

The class was fun. For the most part my comprehension was good. I followed along pretty easily, but when it came to me having to turn around and spit it out I clamed up. Which I know means I just need to practice, practice, practice. No lie I am a little afraid and intimiated. Maybe that's why I wanted to study abroad so badly. To face my fears head on and conquer them. I need to work on my confidence in my spanish speaking abilities. I know I can do it because my brain speaks spanish to itself every night. Ha Ha

I have made some observations around this place; so I'm going to clear things up for you at home. Myths about Spain.... 1. They don't have things you need like tampons, colgate toothpaste, etc. Wrong. They have name brand "American" stuff too. Tampax, Starbucks, Colgate, Coca-Cola, Mcdonalds, KFC, Burger King. Spain is right there with you America, no worries. 2. If you wear tennis shoes they'll know your American. This assumption is also False. Everyone here is OBSESSED with shoes. I'm more then positive that when they're getting dressed in the morning they pick out what shoe they want to wear and then dress accordingly. Not the other way around which is typical in America. I've seen so many different types of boots, heels, flats, and TENNIS shoes. 3. (This one is for all of you secretly wishing this upon me) I will gain weight from all of the food here. IMPOSSIBLE, sorry. You have to walk around everwhere! Even if I ate like an elephant all three meals of the day it would still be hard to gain any pounds. You have to walk to the Metro. Change stops...which involves walking. Then walk to where ever you're headed. And then you have to do it all over again to get home! Plus here they do not really believe in breakfast or dinner. It's all about a big meal at lunchtime and siestas. Breakfast here is like grabbing coffee and toast on the way to work and dinner.... well we haven't really found anything besides tapas, which are little finger foods. Guess we're going to have to start cooking. Oh and 4. Spaniards are not punctual. TRUE. I had to find this out on day one unfortunately.

The feedback I've gotten about the blog helped. I'm going to try and keep up with it daily for now. Once school starts it might be a different story.

Your Spanish Learning Señorita,
Kimee Paige

 

"Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared.”

-Edward Vernon Rickenbacker

Day Seven. Day of Rest.

             Has it really been a whole week already?! I have a feeling this semester is going to be over before I know it. I can't believe it's been a week already! I feel like I should be sing the "I'm a big kid now" jingle. Seriously, Look at me go! Not once have I ever flown on a plane by myself, been out of the country by myself, or lived further then an hour away from home.

            Today was a lazy day here in Madrid. Practically everything is shut down on Sunday. It literally is the day of rest. But we did find a mall and managed to buy some school supplies for tomorrow.  Tomorrow is the start of our two week/four hours a day language certification class. It should be interesting.

I'm so happy I have breezed through a whole week already. My number one concern was that it was going to take me awhile to adjust. I'm sure once my actual semester classes start I won't be so comfortable. School scares me but it will only make me stronger, right?

So I've been thinking about this whole blog thing. Do most of you get on daily to see what I'm writing? If so, I'll try to keep it up. Otherwise I'm thinking maybe every other day, once a week, or just whenever I do something fun/interesting. After all that is all you really want to read about right? Who cares about all this rambling mumbo jumbo about my feelings and crap. I don't know let me know how y'all feel. I just don't want to annoy anyone with my constant facebook updates of the links and stuff.

Ok back to what I wanted to talk about. I'm so blessed to be here. I couldn't of done it without everyone's support and believing in me; and ,of course, there is no way I could of done this without the Lord's help. I'm excited about the two week language course to meet other international students that are here in the same boat. However I am extremely nervous for my semester classes to begin because 1.) I hate not succeeding. 2.) I hate disappointing people, especially OSU. I want to represent them well. 3.) I want to learn and not just be completely lost the whole time. But no matter what happens I am here and I will make the best out of it (even if my classes make me cry every night haha), and 4.) Semester starts on the dreaded Valentine's Day, which I already have associated feelings of anxiety and hatred towards this day. Maybe I am carrying over some of these emotions towards the thought of classes beginning. Who really knows.

Nevertheless, I am very fortunate to have an awesome roommate, Meredith. She is very sweet, very motivated, and up for any challenge. I have yet to find any reason that we wouldn't get along. I feel like if we had met at OSU before now we more then likely would of been friends. We've already made a list of places we want to visit and things we want to do while we are here. She mentioned she wants to visit Morocco and ride a camel. I have never once in my life thought about riding a camel until now. However now that she's mentioned riding a camel it's almost all I can think about! I have added it to my "bucket list"; I can't stop my mind from wandering onto all of these possibilities that haven't ever had the chance to explore.

Well it's about that time again. Time to say good-bye for now. Let me know how you guys feel about how often you'd like me to blog. I want your input because this blog is for all of you at home. Let me know what you do and don't like on the blog thus far. Example: Are the funnier stories more interesting, the places I go, what I'm observing? What, What What?  I want to know. Be honest too. I know my grammar sucks and that there is comma splicing, run-on fragments, and wrong word usage (your vs. you're/ there vs. their). I mess up a lot but it's a part of being human....and for also being in a rush to spill out everything I want to say. So in regards to my grammar, you don't have to tell me what I already know. Tell me the stuff I don't know.

Hoping to hear back from you,

Kimee Paige

"We are all one. In the human form we are pioneers embarked on a wonderful journey, exploring and experiencing the physical world."

- Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh

Day Six. Field Trip.

             It is currently 9:14 and I am tired already! We ventured out into the "heart" of Madrid to try and find some of the museums. We made it to Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, CaixaForum Madrid, and the Parque del Retiro (which is basically equivalent to Central Park). Everything here is so pretty! I have to keep myself from walking around with the "bug-eyed/opened mouth in awe" tourist look all the time.

Ewww...AHHHH. Yeah this is just a hotel but I thought it was pretty. Everything here looks like it should belong on the History Channel.

The Reina Sofia was four floors of art. Needless to say we did not make it through the whole thing today. We went at 2:30 because after 2:30 it's free on saturdays! Why even be open the rest of the day? Probably for the tourists that don't do their research. This way they can collect on the tourists lack of information, I guess.

 But here is some of what I caught.

Meredith to the left and the man to the right is handing out over priced pizza advertisements to the tourists. The pizza parlor was right across from the entrance to the Reina, yet again Spain trying to collect on the tourists. There small individual pizzas were like 12 euros.

This is "The Visit of the Bishop". Doesn't everyone seem so excited he's there.

And here is "Christ's Blood", forgot who painted this sorry. But this thing was massive! It had its own wall.

Fountain in the courtyard of the Reina Sofia.

Again in the courtyard of the Reina Sofia.

We also got to see some of picasso's work. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to take a photo of any of his stuff. Maybe next time.

Time for a pick me up and some wifi....look what we found! Sorry Sam I know how you feel about this place, but we really needed some coffee!

Mmmmm.....Starbucks and a bueno bar. And Yes as advertised, it's bueno.

From here we went to the Amazing park!

Another fountain! Think I'm starting an obsession with these.

And here was the "lake" in the park with of course some more statues and architecture. Not sure if you can tell but there are people in paddle boats to the left and park police on their horses in the middle.

All over the park were people that could read your cards and "tell you the future", a guy doing some karate, and a Man with a bucket of bubbles that kept these kids entertained for quite sometime. Note to rachel... Almost everyone was wearing roller blades! It's also true about the way Europeans dress. All of the women  were in boots and dresses, nice coats, scarves, gloves and the Men also in nice attire. Even this little boy looked like he had just left church. I definitely felt underdressed for the park in my jeans, tshirt, jacket and nike shoes.

Time for food!

Yup, ham and cheese sandwich with a coke. Guess how much it cost! Lower...Lower.. Keep guessing. Did anyone say 3 euros?! How awesome! I'm pretty sure if you went anywhere in the US and said that you wanted a coke and a sandwich for 4 USD (U.S. dollars) the person would tell you to go home and make your own effin sandwich.

On to the next museum.. CaxiaForum. They had a temporary exhibit on Movie art and an exhibit on Federico Garcia Lorca and Salvador Dali (Don't know who they are, look them up).

This is Dali's self portrait. Ha

Some more Salvador Dali

 And this was the an example of one of the Movie arts. This video was trying to portray the circle of life? Or something like that. It had people falling from the sky....Kind of strange but at the same time intriguing.

And say Hello to Diego Velazquez outside the Museo del Prado. We didn't get to the Prado today because there was a vvvvvery long line to get in. But the good news is that it is FREE to get into the Prado at the last two hours of operation. I think we will probably try to go on a week day when it might be less crowded.

Oh! And today a gyspy tried to pick pocket me! But she was unsuccessful... Ah ha! Lucky for me I'm to smart for her gyspy ways. That's 1- for me and 0- for the gyspy. She tried to unzip my outside pocket on my purse. 1. I felt her touch my bag because I have spidey like senses and 2. I know better then to keep anything of importance in that outside pocket! Go me.

Well folks. Looks like I need to get some beauty sleep. List of things I need to do along with practicing my pronunciation...get a blow dryer and a flat iron because my hair is insane without both of these essentials.

Keeping you entertained,

Kimee Paige

This is like a field trip every other day. How does it get better than that?

- Travis Johnson

Day Five. Rommate Arrived!

               What a good friday. Today my rommate arrived! I'm soooooo happy to finally have someone go exploring with me! Her flight was delayed 5 hours so she didn't not make it here until 4:30. I didn't do alot before she arrived because I had to be there to let her into the apartment. You could tell she was exhausted but she wanted to get out of the apartment so that she would not be tempted to nap. So we decided we needed to go get some groceries. And how did we get there you might ask? We took the metro! Aaawww yeah. ANNDDDD for those of you that are just now tuning into this blog, the metro has been my kryptonite. For whatever reason the Metro has intimidated me the minute I arrived here. I guess imagined it to be this complex and scary thing when in reailty it wasn't at all!

                                            Say hello to my roommie.... this is our first metro ride!

I'm 99% sure everyone on that car thought we were crazy, but I'm to happy to notice/care!

              We definitely were turned around a couple of times but we figured it out. We made it from the metro stop closest to our place to the herrera oria stop. From there we walked to the La vaguada mall to buy some groceries; I'm sure that there is somewhere closer we could have gone but we haven't quite got it all figured out yet. We made it home just a little while ago with milk, bread, turkey, cheese, nutella, honey, Sunny D, toilet paper, laundry detergent, dish soap, bottled water, and cereal.

                   Nothing better then honey nut cheerios and sugar coaties with Rik y Rok!

             Don't worry mom and dad the sugar coaties are enriched with vitamins and iron! I think we did pretty good at the store, for being in another country and all. But we somehow managed to pop out of a different exit then the original metro entrance that we went into. We were turned around it was dark and we had all of our groceries. The only thing I could come up with was what I've done best in the last few days, hail for a cab. When in doubt raise your hand and a  cab driver will gladly slam on their brakes causing the rest of traffic to nearly miss hitting them. So for a 5 block walk we rode in the taxi because we could not figure out which direction we needed to walk! Maybe I should invest in a compass instead of Sugar Coaties. Oh! i should also add that this cab driver very politely pointed out that we cannot roll our R's. I had some suspicion that the funny looks I was getting from the past 4 days were because of my pronunciation; and tonight our cab driver confirmed that suspicion. Note to self work on rolling my R's and the "th" sound for d's. Over all today was very successful! Not sure what the plans for tomorrow might be but whatever tomorrow brings I can't wait.
                                                                   Hasta mañana,
                                                                           Kimee Paige


What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: Our life is the creation of our mind.”  - Buddha (such a smart guy)

Day Four. Lost.

             I didn't sleep very well last night. I woke up at 3 and once the clock hit 6 I decided that I might as well stay awake. Made it on time to my placement test, yay! There had to of been 200+ international students. There were people from ALL over. There was two girls from Italy that sat to my left, a girl from Russia at my right, and some girls from Sweden sat behind me. I spotted a group of guys from America, or at least I suspected that they were American. They were wearing North face jackets and sperry shoes...hmmm....they should of just wore a shirt that says, "Hi, I'm from America!" or " Obama is my homeboy!". 


             Oh really, I  shouldn't judge because I can't help but smile and make eye contact with people when I walk around. Which probably makes me stick out more then the Frat-tastic (Fraternity + fantastic, typically used in a sarcastic manner) boys at the exam. Here the people do not smile when they're walking the street. Why would they? They don't know you nor do they care to; it's just how they are. But I can't help it! It's a habit, a bad one now I guess. I'm blaming good ol' V-Spive, aka Valerie, for this! Working in her restaurant for 3 years will do that to you. The 4-10 rule...yup, that sucker has been seared into my brain. What is the 4-10 rule you might ask? When walking or meandering about the restaurant and you are within  a 4 foot proximity from a customer then you must say something nice, "Have a good day" "Thanks for coming in!" or a simple "Hi, how yall doing?Great!" (this one was my favorite because half the time the staff wouldn't even wait for the response. Sounds more like "HowareyalldoingGreat", all smooshed together so you can't even tell if there was a question in there). AND If you are within a 10 foot proximity of a customer you must smile (which means smile all the time). So there you have it the 4-10 rule. So the next time your in a restaurant and wonder why the waitress or waitor sounds like she/he doesn't really care how you are doing but proceeded to ask you anyway, it's because she/he does not care at all. Waitors and waitresses are just the worker bees carrying out the Queen bee's wish. Anyway in the past four days I've managed to keep it to just a smile. However I have caught myself a couple times saying Hola or buenos dias as I walked by. I'm slowly trying to break this habit.

           It was pretty neat seeing the amount of diversity sitting in one room. The test took roughly 30 to 45 minutes. After the exam I let my feet do the walking. I thought it would be a good idea to look around the campus and then hop on the metro home, but I under estimated how HUGE that campus was. I was completely lost. I started walking towards what I thought was the direction of the metro, but it wasn't. And not soon after did I  find myself not on campus anymore.  But here are some of my pictures from being lost today.

This is the Arco de la Victoria or the Moncloa Gate. It was built as a tribute for defeating the republicans in the Spanish Civil war.

This is a statue. It says A Bravo Murillo La Villa de Madrid 1803-1873. I'm not sure exactly what the history behind this is but I liked it and took a picture anyway.

        So I wandered around for a solid two hours before I noticed how cold I was. The weather today, 37 degrees and drizzling. Ick. I flagged down a taxi and headed home. Ahhh, warm and cozy. I'm hoping to get a good nights sleep tonight because my roommate, Meredith, will be here tomorrow morning. I'm so excited! It's much more fun going around and making yourself look like a fool with someone else. Wandering around alone just feels silly.
                                                                  Hasta luego,
                                                                         Kimee Paige

"Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one."
                                                        -Dr. Seuss

Day Three and a half. 7 am?

            It is currently 6:50 am. My test is roughly in two and a half hours. I went to sleep at 11:30, woke up at 2, fell back asleep, woke up at 3 and have been awake since. I have tried to shut my eyes and fall asleep but it's not working. My brain is recalling everything I've ever learned in spanish. Which is a good thing, except when your trying to sleep. Seriously I would like to sleep for longer then four or five hours.... Does anyone have any suggestions? I'd start counting sheep but my brain would just do it in spanish and in turn keep me awake. .....Sorry for venting.
                                                          That's all for now,
                                                                       Kimee Paige

Day three... a la calle.

           Alright! Where to begin. I couldn't sleep last night. I maybe got a total of 5 hours. Adjusting to the time change has been a challenge. But around noon (5 oklahoma time) I got a video call from another best friend of mine, Rachel! I'm loving this skype thing. After I got off skype with her I took the coldest shower of my life! I turned the water on let it warm up and jumped in and jumped right back out! I swear it was warm for maybe a whole 5 seconds! So I went searching through the house to find the hot water heater, trying very hard not to slip and fall down the stairs with my chilled to the bone wet feets. No worries though I found it and I think I might of figured out the probelm. Anyways after the chilling experience I decided to hit the streets to practice my spanish and navigational skills. It was in the 30's today so it was a bit chilly out but that didn't stop me none the less. My goal for today was to find the Metro...and....well....I did! Ha that's right, all of you doubters out there, doubt no more! I didn't use it though, I'm taking baby steps. After all it's only day three all by myself.

                                                         I also made it to this place....

This is for all the fútbol lovers! Yup, the Real Madrid Stadium! It is exactly 2,2 km away from my place!

              I walked all the way there and back. I found and checked out the el mercado en Tetuán. I also went into the bakery around the corner. The bread, el pan, smelled really good. I didn't purchase alot today but I did manage to get a couple of things. I couldn't tell when I asked how much the apples were if they thought I was dumb for asking because it's kind of redundant to ask how much something is if you're going to buy it anyways....or if they were trying to figure out why my pronunciation was so funny. I haven't quite grasped the "th" sound that they all use here. Either way they were looking at me funny; I guess that's just something I will have to get use too.

             I also broke down and wanted a burger. Yup, I ate Burger King. Terrible I know! I'm sure you're all thinking why would you fly almost half way across the world to this magnificent place and eat BURGER KING!? I don't know I can't explain it. Ha ha but I did manage to order a whopper with cheese no tomato and a bottle of water all in spanish! AND when she asked me if it was for here or to go, I didn't have to think about what she said and try and translate it to english first, I just knew! That was an awesome feeling. I've been fighting to turn off the "think in english switch" when speaking spanish for a long time now and I think it's starting to kick in.

          So tomorrow I have a placement test at 9:30 in the morning. For those not following. I have to take a two week spanish class before school actually starts. The placement test will tell me what level class I need to be in for the next two weeks. This class starts monday Jan. 31st and ends Feb. 11 and lasts for four hours a day. I'm really kind of nervous about this test. What if I take it and they tell me I need 6 hour days instead of 4 haha. Oh well it will just be more practice. In a weird way I am kind of excited for the two weeks of class to start. At least the level of spanish class I get placed into will have other international students on my same level. Maybe I'll even make some new friends! As far as how to get there, I think I'm taking a taxi there so that I'm not late and then try and figure out the metro back to my apartment. I have all day after my test to be lost and that's a good thing!

                                             Day three and still going,
                                                                  Kimee Paige

If you don't get lost, there's a chance you may never be found.  ~Author Unknown

Day Two. Home away from Home

          Alright day two. Checked out of the hotel and made it to my apartment. That three story climb with the bags about killed me today, literally. You know the whole three steps forward two steps back? Yeah, that's exactly what was happening to me on the stairs. I'd pull real had get up to a point and take a breather and the bags would roll back down the stairs, dragging me along too. I finally made it though. Wanna see my home away from home?

                                      Living room and Dining room. Behind the door is the Kitchen

other view of the living room/ dining room with the back door to the balcony

Kitchen and laundry room haha

                          

otherside of the kitchen

Fridge and Freezer

The bedroom. Hope my roommate doesn't mind my snoring haha

bathroom

Bathroom

And a thumbs up for making it to Spain! This picture was taken at the hotel, I still didn't have any sleep at this point. Jet Lag.

So here I am. Today, after I skyped my parents and gave them the tour of the place, I went venturing out on my own. I mainly wanted to find the metro because I have to take a placement test on thursday, but I was unsuccessful. I don't think I ventured far enough. I was afraid I'd get turned around and not be able to find my apartment. Instead I found a bunch of little cafes, a bakery, a market, and Burger King (no I didn't eat there, at least not today anyways). The tapas here are very good. After my venturing outside I came back to my place and skyped one of my best friends Mrs. Amber, Amber's mom (or my second mom), Amber's little sister Alicia, AND my god-daughter Sadie too! It was nice to see their lovely faces. After I talked to them I've been watching Two-and-a-Half Men and Fairly odd parents in spanish, it's quite entertaining.

My mission for tomorrow. Find and figure out the Metro. Hopefully I'll find it quick so I can do some site seeing before my two week language course starts, which is monday. Ick.

Keeping you updated,

Kimee Paige

  The impossible is often the untried.  ~Jim Goodwin

Day One.

         Let's begin at my flights. Overall my flights were pretty good. But i've decided that I hate landings, and this is not because the plane from Houston to Newark fish tailed on the runway when we landed. No, I absolutley hate landings because they feel sick! Droppping elevation that quick and then they tilt it left and then tilt it right and spin around in a circle to land on the runway. Gag, it makes my stomach sick thinking about it. And having to do that three times in one day. It's like getting three bad hangovers one after the other!....Cough cough, but uhhh mom/dad I meant what I THINK would be a hangover, right?  =)

         The worst part is I couldn't sleep what-so-ever. The flight from Newark to Madrid had me completely paranoid because of the passanger next to me. I blame my paranoia on the fact that the last two weeks I was home everyone felt the need to tell me how to be careful and what to look at for,but I am grateful because I know it only means you guys care. It also might of had something to do with the fact that I watched "Taken" on the plane....I know I don't know why I would do that to myself. BUT back to my paranoia, the man next to me looked just like Jordi Mollà, out of Bad Boys II (don't know who that it look it up). Seriously, I could feel his piercing eyes watching my every move! So needless to say my brain was on overlaod thinking through everything that I was told in the last two week. What have I learned, don't watch scary movies on plane rides, and listen to advise friends and family give but don't let it make you paranoid or else you'll find yourself with no sleep haha. So silly and that's not even where the fun begins!
    
             Ok so I get to Madrid, all of my bags made it (thank you baby Jesus), and I go through customs and just on the other side awaits my driver, Alfredo. He thought I was crazy and not wearing enough clothes, but it's ok because I thought he was a crazy driver. Before I even got into the Shuttle Van I noticed the mirror was being held up with Duck Tape (one thing that the World has in common-DUCK TAPE). Once we got on the road it was very clear as to why that mirror was being held up with tape. Alfredo was weaving in and out of traffic like he was a nascar driver. And half the time he would drive down the middle of two lanes. All I could think of was mom and aimee screaming " Pick a lane!". Once we arrived at the apartment he was kind enough to unload my bags into the middle of the street and take off.

         So there I am, my whole 108 pound self, with a bag that weighs forty-four pounds and my carry-on that weighs close to twenty. I go climbing up three flights of stairs to apartment 3b, pulling behind me the weight of a good sized child, to find that the company I went through to find this place did not have anyone there to meet me with the keys. Fatigue, lack of sleep, and panic set in! My phone would not call out, it kept flashing Emergency calls only... I'm screaming at my phone, " This is an emergency!!!!". I'm looking around myself trying to think of what my options were. I had no phone and no way to get into my apartment. I couldn't just leave my bags there or ask anyone to watch them while I hunted down a phone to call Sal y Ven. I could of tried to drag everything with me, but I was so exhausted I might have passed out in the middle of the road. So I knock on one the the apartment doors and kindly ask if they could call me a taxi. The gentlemen was very kind and did. Taxi arrives and he asks where I need to go. Quick where do I go?! I need a phone and internet to try and get ahold of people and I so badly wanted to shower and sleep. I spit out, "Necesito un hotel." The driver kindly replys," which one?" I don't know!!!!!! So frustrating, I wanted to break down in tears at this point, but the gentlemen that called the taxi came out and told him to take me to a nice one that wasn't too far. And I'm pretty sure he added, "it looks like she needs a shower".

         GREAT! By now it's been less then 5 hours since I landed and I already look like a silly American. By this time I'm thinking I should of let my roommate Meredith get to spain first, haha. None the less, the taxi driver and I take off. He drove almost just as scary as my previous driver, Alfredo. We pull up to a very nice hotel and I get a room, thank the Lord for Visa it really is everywhere you want to be. Finally, a bed and a shower. I get on skype to inform my family what is going on. I check facebook to see all the lovely messages. I call Sal y Ven and no one answers their phone, awesome, but I'm to tired to really care at this point. I'm just glad I have a place to stay tonight. And then just when I thought I was going to have to stay in this hotel all week, Isabel the lady that was suppose to meet me with the keys, messages me on facebook. I call her cell phone from the hotel and find out she showed up 5 minutes after I left! Ha ha. She arranged for someone bring the keys to the hotel.

         So now I am comfortably laying in my hotel room with the keys to my apartment. I think I'm going to make it guys. I am dreading that three story climb again tomorrow, BUT I have made it!

P.s. sorry this was a long post, but considering everything that has happened in 24 hours I'd consider it a short post haha.

                                                            Until next time,
                                                                      Kimee paige

Press on. Obstacles are seldom the same size tomorrow as they are today. - Robert H. Schuller

     

        


     

Spain Bound.

         It's the night before my big journey and surprise, surprise....I can't sleep! I have way to many thoughts running through my head- " Did I pack everything I needed?, Did i pack to much?, How many people will truly miss me?, Did I do MY part to let everyone, the one's that I love, know how much they mean to me?" My head is spinning with thoughts, along with my stomach which is turning with anxiety and excitement!

         But I am afraid that I have been sooo busy getting ready that I have failed in showing my appreciation to the amazing people in my life. So chances are if you're reading this then I'm probably talking about you. I would hate for anything to happen to me while I'm gone and leave without letting you guys know how I feel. To my amazing family, You are the reason I have become this very motivated, independent, and delightful person. I love you all so very much and will miss you even more, but it is with your support and love that will allow me to accomplish my goals. To my wonderful friends, each and every single one of you has taught me more about life in the last few years then I could even begin to describe! There are things about every single one of you that I will miss. Whether it be hanging around watching criminal minds all day in our pajamas, just hangout and giggling about our summer time adventures, or going out on the town and end up calling the whitehouse. They are all times that I cherish; I wish that you could all be in Spain with me to see what kind of mess we could get ourselves into. You are all amazing people and I hope you get what you want out of life because you all deserve it.

            So it's less then 12 hours away from my flight and I still have last minute things to get together! I will be back on here sooner then later!
                                                          Until then,
                                                                  Kimee Paige

Oklahoma Girl

          I'm an Oklahoma girl. I was born and raised in this state and very rarely have I ever ventured out of it. Sure I've been to a few States and even to Canada once but I've always been with family or close friends. So it may come as a shock to anyone that I, Kimee Paige, will be moving out of this state AND country for SIX months! But please don't get me wrong, Oklahoma is well.... Grand! The southern hospitality and welcoming smiles when you walk across campus or to the supermarket would make anyone want to stay. So why would I want to leave home?


         I know it sounds crazy, but I have always had this want or desire to do something great with my life. I'm that type of person that wants to do everything and not miss out on anything! I want to be a painter, hairstylist, mechanic, therapist, snowboarder, own my own bakery, and be a language translator all at the same time. Honestly we only get one shot at this thing called life, so why should we sit around and waste away working the same job or staying put in one place for too long! So my first step to something great is Spain. I'm studying abroad for six months in Madrid. A part of me wants to pack up everyone I love and take them with me but that's not possible. This is my adventure to embark on and I know that this experience will only make me stronger.


        So in exactly four days I will be on a plane to Spain. This will be my blog on stepping out of the "box". I will be posting videos, pictures and writing down all of my experiences! I hope that you enjoy!
                                                      Until Next time,
                                                                    Kimee Paige

            "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone."
                                        -Neale Walsch