My first impression

This was written on the plane. I think it's semi interesting. And I'm sorry for the format, but I do not know how to change it.

The last day in New York was a huge waiting game as my dad lives about
an hour from the airport and I didn't have to be at JFK until 3 for a
6pm flight. So, it was filled with lots of email checking, last minute
suitcase-stuffing and a good amount of time was spent being placed on
hold and transferred to various branches of the ATM/Bank of America
phone network only to discover at the end that a)All associates were
busy and to call back in an hour (which at that point I didn't have)
and b) that my debit card was indeed going to have to be express
mailed to Madrid.

Getting through customs was easy enough. I ran into two other people
on my program who were recognizable not only for being at the same
airline counter at the same time I was, but also for their 2 large
rolling suitcases that looked similar to what I was lugging behind me.
We all walk over to the gate together (after a very easy security
process), and see some other kids from Wes and Vassar. Lina and I put
down our stuff after some harried introductions and go to get some
food, where I run into Gavi and Tressa! It was really great to run
into them, the only other people I knew previously on the program. We
COL debriefed for a while and then went over to the gate where we were
greeted with an ever larger group than when I had left.

There are people from Wes and Vassar (of course) and also a couple
from Columbia and one from Wellesley. Everyone I've met is wonderful,
and interesting. I wonder if it's because they are indeed
extraordinary people or just because the majority are from Wesleyan
and Vassar where most people are like that. Or if it's just a relief
to be with people who haven't been reading about Spain for the past
month, have been worrying about over-packing, about their lack of
Spanish mastery, and other such logistics.

As we were boarding, Larissa voiced what exactly what I think most of
us were feeling: so, hey, let's uh, go abroad. Let's go to Madrid.
And that's what we were doing, FINALLY. Luckily, they served both
dinner and breakfast on this flight, not just the breakfast that the
itinerary seemed to promise. Dinner was chicken curry, oddly enough.
Curry is not a dish I have EVER thought of in relation to Spain, but
it was tasty. The salad was more foreign looking: a piece of "fresh"
mozzarella and tomato between two pieces of sauteed zucchini. Once I
took the tomato out and drizzled some italian dressing on, it was
pretty tasty. Biggest surprise of the meal: the delicious cheesecake.

I can already see the opportunities that I could/should be taking to
further my spanish, even on the plane ride. for example, Listen to the
random tv shows on the spanish channels, not the english. I promise:
once I get to spain, I shall do all the non-English options. I will!
Some people are here to party, everyone is here to become as
proficient as possible in the language. Looks like a good time is
ahead of me!