Spring break plans-- I finally made some! There are seven of us that will be going to Madrid, Paris, Brussels (or maybe Brugge, we haven't decided yet), Amsterdam, Cologne and some other German cities, Vienna, and Barcelona. I'm so excited to have travel plans and to hit up so many cities during our break! I feel like I take a lot of things in my life for granted, but when I stop and think about everything I'm doing and everywhere I'm going this semester, it really makes me thankful/amazed at the opportunities that I have.
Internship-- After a lot of frustration and many cancelled interviews, I finally met with Chiti, the psychologist I'll be following at Residencia Care, one of the nursing homes here in Cáceres. She's a very sweet (and very short) woman, and I think I'll really enjoy working with her. She showed me around the facility and introduced me to the residents, none of whom understood the name Madison, so I eventually just became Marisol, a very Spanish name and similar sounding to the way Madison is pronounced in Spanish. The nursing home is divided into three floors; one is a typical nursing home, one is a dementia unit, and another is for hospice and/or vegetative patients. It's interesting, because in the hospice rooms spouses have the option of moving in to be with their loved ones round the clock, and there's a communal kitchen and living room for them to use while they're there. There are over 100 residents living in Residencia Care, and in a lot of ways it reminds me of Bethany Manor. It seems as though my job will be doing activities with residents to help maintain mental functioning, talking to residents and making sure they're emotionally well, and sitting through individual and family therapy sessions with Chiti. I won't be able to get enough hours at Care, so I'm waiting for more information on a 2nd internship I'll be doing as well.
Independent Study-- finally got news on this front, too! I'll be doing an in depth study of Don Quijote through Julia, one of my professors at Iowa State.
Ultimate Frisbee-- I took part in my first ultimate frisbee game on Wednesday. A group of Spanish players invited us to join them to play every week. It's so much fun, and it's funny to hear us all communicate in Spanglish. The Spaniards call me Puentes... apparently they've of seen Los puentes de Madison (aka: Bridges of Madison County), and puentes is easier to say than Madison, I guess. Haha. I have a lot of practice to do before I'm even a decent frisbee player, but everyone is gracious and it's a good time :)
What more?? Finally met our program director, Toñi, over tapas and drinks. Broke my bed. Broke the shower. Those are two funny stories if anyone ever wants to hear them... Finished reading Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and highly recommend it. Went to Cádiz for Carnaval over the weekend, which will have its own post, soon to follow.
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