Time to settle in

One week ago today, at exactly this time, I was just getting into Madrid to start the 10 month stay. Now that the week has passed, it seems like it has been a month. I have already accomplished so much and feel like I know the city so well. Now, I have a piso and... a roommate! Today I found another Fulbrighter to live with. His name is Miguel and he's from Mexico but just graduated from school in California. He's a bit older (30) because he took some years off to be in the Navy before college, but I think it's going to work out really well. He speaks perfect English and Spanish and I've told him I want to improve my Spanish, so we're only going to speak Spanish in the piso. That'll be really good for me, because if I'm really stressed out one day and need to revert back to English, I can and he will understand me. But hopefully by the end of this, I'll be able to even be stressed out in Spanish.

Leading up to finding a roommate, this past week has been VERY stressful. I guess a part of my personality (that I definitely get from my parents) is to worry about things, even when I don't need to. I worried about my luggage. I worried about a piso. I worried about finding a roommate. But just a week after the adventure began, all of this stuff has already been worked out. It's a true testament to the work that God is doing in my life on this trip. He's showing me that I don't need to worry. That I need to have patience and accept that it's going to work out. If I don't do that, it's going to be a long 10 months! I'll always find something to worry about and lose sleep over. But no, now I'm ready to take Madrid by storm!

Our orientation ends today, so I'll officially move into my piso tomorrow. Between now and then, I need to open a bank account so I can get a contract to have phone/Internet (mainly Internet, but you have to have the phone for Internet) in my piso.

I don't start school for a week, so hopefully this next week I'll be able to take some time for some real adventures!