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.

Time Warp

I never knew time could be so fickle. I've been here ten days, though depending on the minute that time could feel closer to ten weeks, ten hours, or anything in between. The time doesn't pass by quickly here, but it sure doesn't drag on either. The days I spend in Malaga, Spain seem to wax and wane unpredictably.
Sometimes this time warp is good- like when I can't tell how long I've had my friends here because we're already so comfortable with each other. Or when I can mostly understand the teachers but they still don't make me do any work. Or when I can just hang out with my host family and I don't feel like I have to do anything extra special, but I'm still new enough that they get to ask me questions (which I like answering).
However, it can also affect me negatively- like when I think I can go to bed when everyone else goes to bed, but I can't because I'm still a bit jet lagged. Or when I hop on the bus and think I know Malaga really well but instead end up stranded 30 minutes away from my school with ten minutes to get to class. Or when my Spanish "skills" deceive me and I end up saying "yes" to something I didn't want to do.
All "good" and "bad" aside, however long the time has been that I've been here has been incredible. I think one of the reasons my hours seem like minutes and my days seem like weeks is that I have so many new things jammed inside my head. Apparently when your brain can't take anything else in, it loses its knowledge of what "time perception" means. And it makes sense that I have no room left- I am learning about culture, people, Malaga, Spanish, customs, the world, and even Greek (I am taking 5 language classes in case anyone was counting). But most importantly, I am learning about myself in relation to all of those things.
Regardless of how quickly or slowly the time passes, the time I've spent here has been time well spent. Every day I am grateful for something new, and I realize how lucky I was to have certain things back home as well. I like the contrast (proof that I am my father's daughter) and look forward to more of it in the near, or far, future.

If you'd like to know anything specific about my exchange experience, email me at hannahleahgold@gmail.com or message me on Facebook.
Keep calm and travel on.