A Bloody Nose

Well, I have almost been in Spain 1 month and finally the sickness going around in the dorms caught up with my immune system. I have been in bed for about 5 days now with a Spanish head cold. I made an interesting trip to the emergency room after I had 3 heavy, bloody noses and 1 of my good friends said, "Hmmm that's not normal." I excused the first by saying the air was dry and by the third we were in the waiting room. Quite an interesting experience, going to the emergency room in Spain. As Laura put it, "They don't teach you this kind of stuff in Spanish 1-6. We learn how to say we want to go to the beach, but not how to say I have a heavy, bloody nose or I am coughing up phlegm." Laura was a saint through the whole ordeal and also doubled as my translator. It's even more difficult to speak in Spanish when your head is throbbing and there are doctors shoving prongs up your nose telling you to bite down on gauze while they cauterize the inside of your nose. It was almost better that I couldn't understand them because I had no way of anticipating what they were going to do. The doctor found a cut on the inside of my nose and after cauterizing it the bleeding stopped. After, they took my blood to make sure I wasn't anemic or anything of the sort. The test results came back clear, they gave me some medicine (not sure what), and sent me on my way. I am still not sure of how to pay or what I am supposed to do now. The lady at the desk circled some things, highlighted a few more, and then told us to come back tomorrow. That was 3 days ago, but no worries, nothing is open on the weekends in Spain. :)

The confusion of piso hunting candidly captured on my face.

Before all of this getting sick business, I wore myself out applying for my student residency (worse than the DMV's office) and finding a piso. I found an amazing little Spanish piso in my favorite barrio of Granada, the Realejo. The Realejo is, I think, the most artsy part of Granada, with graffiti murals covering the stone walls and cobble stone alley ways. There are 2 vegetarian restaurants in the Realejo, 1 of which is completely gluten-free and vegan!

Hicuri-Veg food :)

Spain is changing its ways.

My room has a balcony over looking a little alley and my landlord is a kindred spirit! He is a holistic doctor who told me, when I forgot to bring the money for first month's rent, "Hakuna matata, Kristen." Him and his lady live in the piso above me and his daughter, her husband, and their son live in the piso next to me. The piso I am renting is his brother's, but he is in Germany making Flamenco guitars for the year so I get the privilege of living in this awesome family, love, nest. I got the chance to meet my piso mates, but won't be living with them until finals are over at the end of the week. Tamara is a psychology student from Spain and Charlotte is from England and is here to work and speak Spanish. They are both incredibly sweet and I can't wait to get to know them. I am so blessed that God provided an amazing place to live with these awesome chicas and can't wait to move in! I will post pictures of the place soon.

The Spanish - Livin' la vida loca at all ages

Besides ending the piso search, applying for residency, classes, and contracting a not-so-fun cold, the month mark has almost hit and reality is starting to set in. I have to pick my classes for the entire year this week, will be taking finals on Thursday, and moving out of the dorms and into my piso on Friday. Real life will be starting soon, and I am excited to see how my world is going to change.