Baby Steps

You know how things seem almost unbearable for awhile, and then unexpectedly things have become much better? That is how the last two weeks were for Matt and me. Last week, we didn’t have school on Friday or on Monday, so Matt and I laughed to ourselves about our “fall break” and enjoyed the time wandering around the city. On Monday, we trekked to a new part of Vigo to find the city hall so that we could register our living in an apartment as part of the process of obtaining a resident permit. On our way back, it began to rain, so we ducked into a small restaurant to enjoy lunch and shelter from the rain. Inside the restaurant, however, the air was uncomfortably hot and smoky, so we decided to sit outdoors at the picnic area. Our lunch was so cozy! We devoured hot sandwiches and sipped coffee while sitting under a picnic umbrella during the rain shower. The locals probably thought we were crazy as they rushed past us to get indoors, but Matt and I thoroughly enjoyed the romantic “picnic.”

We have adopted a bit of a schedule which adds some order to our perfectly chaotic days. Our class schedule now reflects our choices of 19 and 20th century Spanish poetry, Spanish history, and Spanish grammar. Last Wednesday we took a Spanish proficiency test which placed both Matt and I in the same “Spanish for Foreigners” class. So now we are happily placed in four classes - and remember, each class lasts two hours long each time it meets. First, though, you must understand the university is not in the city of Vigo; rather, it is 30 minutes away by bus. Our day officially begins with the bus ride, and quite honestly, it is an uncomfortable ride. By the time the bus arrives at our spot, it is full, so full in fact, you wouldn’t think it possible to fit one more person in it. Yet we do climb in and find a place to hang on while the bus lurches up the hill and around the corner. But we are not the last stop. There are stops every two or three blocks and the bus irritatingly gains speed before coming to a quick halt; then another group of people come in and Matt and I are pushed further to the sides and are quite pressed up against the window and the people next to us. Worse yet, it is hot and the air is stuffy; because of the cool humid air outdoors and the hot humid air in the bus, the windows are completely fogged over. Matt says here I am complaining, and I apologize, but oh I wish you could experience the bus ride!

I mentioned Matt and I took an exam for class placement. That same day, the University officially welcomed its international students with a small assembly and gifting of local maps and the like. Matt and I sat by our good friend Nicky, a kind girl from London, and enjoyed the powerpoint presentation of “Welcome to Our Campus” (most international students arrived in Vigo by Sept. 16 and the ceremony was on Oct. 4). There were many photographers flashing pictures and Matt and I hammed it up and smiled quite nicely at one photographer in particular. We didn’t think much of it though, as the room was packed with 372 international students from all over the world.

The next afternoon, Matt and I stopped to get a coffee and Matt picked up a local newspaper to try his luck at the Sudoku game on the back page. I idly opened the front pages and got to the third page and then nearly choked on my coffee as I saw Matt and I grinning away in a photo with the headline, The Erasmus Students Arrive. Matt and I both laughed until we had tears! We were featured in the local newspaper’s covering of the University’s international program! Even worse, Erasmus in a program for European students, and it definitely does not include American students. Oh dearie! We have our photo featured on several USD promotionals and we left the country trying to escape our “fame” (Just kidding!). And now this! It’s too funny!

Matt and I really enjoy our Spanish for foreigners class. We are making a lot of new friends, and that adds to our happiness and benefits the entire experience. One evening we went bowling and then tonight we invited Nicky over for her first taste of tacos. We are now more busy with our classes and are hoping and praying for jobs teaching English or aiding in English conversation courses. We bought a nice plant and some candles for our apartment, and the mailman delivers our mail to K. The fridge, though sporadic, has kept things (decently) cool. Things are really looking up!

We are still missing you all, and would love to get an email to hear how things are doing. Do you have our address? Here it is just in case:

Matt and Heather Siebert
Gonzalo Torrente Ballester n6 3K
Vigo, Pontevedra
36204 Spain

We are praying for your health and happiness.
Love,
Matt and Heather