A New Measurement of Time (the story of how I learned a basic life skill in my year abroad)

With Easter having been this past Sunday, we students of the Catholic country of Spain were given a week off to wear really big hats and celebrate Jesus with our families. Needless to say, I was extremely excited and prepared for the week ahead. There would be excursions, time with friends, exercise, etc. Of course, that's how I feel about every break I've ever had from school, and by the time it's over I look at the date on my computer and wonder how in the world I could have spent nine days making music playlists and writing lists of rhyming words. But I was determined to have a productive vacation this time. This wasn't just any week, after all- the next book in my current favorite book series was being released April 3rd, and I was determined to reread the four books before it in preparation. The first two weeks I had this goal went very poorly. I kept getting distracted by my favorite tea shop and the excitement over the book on Tumblr, and only ended up reading one look in fourteen days. Finally, the day before the book was released, I realized I had 3 books and 20 hours to read them. If I kept reading at the pace I had been, I wouldn't get to read the book until months after its release! So, I told myself I wasjust going to do it. I sat down, turned off the internet and TV, and read.
I read those 3 550 page books just in time- I got to read the new book in the day before I left for Malaga, where I wouldn't have access to the book. This may not sound like that big of an accomplishment (though you try reading three books about children with machine guns throwing up their guts in a very short span of time and maybe you'll rethink your opinion), but I'm still very proud of myself. In shutting off distractions and putting aside time to do something important, I was able to get it done. Being able to focus on the task at hand is something I've always struggled with, but now that I've done it once I have a feeling I'm getting closer to finally making it a habit.
I guess this whole enlightenment thing didn't exactly relate to any Spanish adventures I've had, but not everything I've learned over here has been derived from being in Spain. The alone time that not really knowing anyone gives me has taught me just as much as all the new experiences.