electonics and stuff

As I have about 6 days until I board my plane for Switzerland, I have been running around frantically. Checking, double-checking and triple-checking to make sure I have everything I need. Today I received my debit card and 150 euros. About a week ago I opened a bank account with Santander. I chose Santander because while it is a bank in the US, it is also a popular bank in Spain. Luckily for me, there happens to be a Santander bank in Tudela, the city I will live in. Along with my banking, we also purchased a laptop with a detachable monitor (acting sort of like a tablet), European plug adapters and a handheld English-Spanish translator. With the translator..... We originally planned on buying just a small, pocket-sized Spanish dictionary. But after looking at a couple and searching for many minutes for specific words, we decided that although cheaper, it was just too inconvenient and too much of a hassle. At this point, I feel fully prepared for Spain. Except for the packing part... I began packing a couple weeks ago, just before Momoka arrived... I have not done much since. I understand that I leave for New York in 4 days and I need to have everything packed SOON, but it is such a tedious process and I get distracted so easily. I PLAN, HOPE and PRAY that I am able to get mostly everything packed by the end of tomorrow, as I will be busy most of Friday. We will see, and even if it all ends on Sunday evening in a giant rush (knock on wood) at least I should be good to go by the time we leave. No matter how badly I procrastinate, it will all be OK in the end..... Won't it?

What's weird is that I have known Momoka for only about two weeks and I already know that I am going to miss her. It kind of makes me upset that I was here for the beginning of her exchange and we have become rather close friends, but I will not be able to experience many things with her though out the year. Things like homecoming, first crushes, Friday night football, family vacations, are all things that I am sure I will miss, but I am more saddened by the thought that I will not be able to witness all of Momoka's firsts.

I had my going away party two weekends ago, it was fun and exciting and got me hype to leave. I was a bit surprised by the fact that although I was happy all of my friends were supporting me, I wasn't worried about missing them too much. I love them all, don't get me wrong, but I am just excited to begin my life in Spain. I don't think it has quite hit me yet how long a year really is and how much I love all of the people around me. Below are a few pictures from my party.

Momoka and visa

As of today, Momoka has been in the Cook household for about 4 days I think. Shes great. She is easy to catch on to things and is really good at English!! She's been really tired and even comes home some days, sits on the couch, and just falls asleep sitting up. I love it. We had her registered and chose her classes yesterday and it seems like she has a pretty solid schedule. Although I leave in about 2 weeks and I won't be living with her and my entire family for the entire year, I'm still really excited for her and glad that I got these 3 weeks with her.

Soooooo yesterday I finally received my visa. Which means that all of my requirements to leave for Spain are fulfilled and now I just have to wait until departure. We are also looking into bank accounts and cell phone plans. For banks, we will probably find a bank in the US that I can receive a debit card with low transaction fees. For cell phone, I will probably just buy one over there. Hopefully they aren't too expensive.

12 days till NYC, 14 days till orientation.... 15 DAYS UNTIL DEPARTURE. At the moment, time seems like it is going in slow motion, but in all reality it is going faster than I can imagine. It feels like just yesterday I was finishing my application and clicking submit. 

Lilly

Packing list.

Now before you get all creeped out because I have begun packing more than 3 weeks before my departure, realize that my family is hosting an exchange student as well. That exchange student, Momoka, will be staying in my room for the year while I am in Spain. Said exchange student will also be arriving to our home in 3 days..... Sooooo I am cleaning my room. I have about 3 baskets of clean laundry in my room that I refuse to put away just to get them back out in a week. So I have begun my packing process. 

I am packing mostly my fall/winter clothes into my giant checked luggage. That includes jackets, sweater, boots, long sleeve shirts, jeans and pants. My summer clothes including shorts, shirts, tee shirts, bathing suits, converses and sandals will then be fit into the rest of the space in my luggage, and my carry on. 

Here is my Unofficially Offical list:

(Numbers are approximations)

TOPS:

Short sleeve t-shirts (6)

Long sleeve t-shirts (4)

Tank tops (5)

Sweaters (2)

Sweatshirts (3)

Jackets (2)

Dresses (4)

Rompers/Jumpsuits (1)

Nice shirts (5)

BOTTOMS:

Jeans (4) ... I've packed 6 so far...

Pants (3)

Skirts (4)

Leggings

Shorts (5)

Athletic shorts (5)

Tights

Capris (2)

Sweats/pajamas (2)

SHOES:

Converses

Canvas shoes

Boots (2)

Sneakers (2) 

Spikes (for track and field)

Sandals

Flip flops

OTHER:

Underwear (24)

Bras (4)

Sports bras (6)

Socks (10 pairs)

Scarves (3)

Earrings (3) ... I only wear studs...

Makeup

Headbands (5)

Belts (2)

Gloves (1 pair)

This list is not including toiletries. I'm sure I will be adding and subtracting many thing from this list as I attempt to meet the size and weight requirements. I also plan on bringing a few journals: a journal for daily/weekly/monthly writing, a journal for learning and remembering words and phrases, a booklet with names, numbers, and addresses, and a Spanish to English dictionary. Other things I will bring will be a power converter or two and host family gifts.

As there are many obvious or less obvious items that are vital to pack PLEASE comment and let me know if you find my list is missing something. 

My natural family's exchange student arrives in 3 days, and my host family's exchange student arrives in approximately 25 days. 

No puedo esperar! ....

I can not wait!

Lilly

Fully supported

So I have had a very exciting last couple of days. My week began with a sports writer for the daily newspaper contacting me to ask if he cold write a story on me. I of course said yes! Matt Goul, from York Daily Record had called me for an interview and a few short hours later I was in an article! Somehow I ended up being on the front page of the sports section, and had a giant picture of me throwing javelin. 

Here is the link to the article: http://www.gametimepa.com/yorkadams/ci_26260524/dallastowns-lilly-cook-spend-year-spain

Along with that Matt Goul posting that article on twitter, 5 Spanish twitter accounts had also posted it! I have no idea why but it was super exciting! Along with that, I had also been elected for The YMCA's member spotlight! It described my upcoming venture to Spain and my plans to train with the javelin, regardless of being coachless. I am feeling very honored and very fortunate to be in the position I am. 

Also, yesterday was the Speedwell Foundation Scholarship Picnic. I was able to meet the lady who began it all. Jenny and Mike Messner, who had been an exchange student to Brazil, has given out 115 full scholarships for AFS students in the past 7 years. I was very excited to meet them as they are the couple that is funding my entire journey to Spain. 

I also got to meet and talk to returnees from Spain. I heard all about their experiences and it makes me even more eager to just get there! Below is the group of students from my area chapter that I will be traveling to Spain with (excluding one.) 

30 more days!!

Buenas Dias,

Lilly