Poco a poco

OK, so a month has passed without updates. Here's an quick list on what's happened since:

• Plane ride went well. I had a personal television screen on both flights, and I watched the Avengers. Everything arrived on schedule and without complaints.
• I spent the first week or so with Álvaro's family in Leganés. While it was infinitely better than a hostal, I definitely started to get cabin fever, and wanted to settle in to my new apartment.
• Moved in to the apartment. It was a bit surreal to see the buildings and stores that I had previously stalked on GoogleMaps. Ah, the wonders of technology.
• I spent two weeks without a cell phone and without internet. On an unrelated note, I also finshed three books in that time span. 
• I went to a Spanish wedding!
• I started my new job as a language assistant.
• Álvaro and I have gone furniture shopping more times than I'd like to think about, without actually buying any furniture. I hate furniture shopping. 
• Migranes! I've had too many migranes. I've started carrying aspirin at all times. 

In between the humdrum of settling in, I haven't had much time to play tourist or meet people. To be honest, even after a month in Spain, we still have a laundry list of things to do/buy/fix, and I haven't really had the chance to spend a weekend doing anything fun. 

It's been a challenging month, which has definitely contributed to my lack of updates. I have cursed this country. I have threatened to pack my things and move home. I have collapsed into a weeping mess. Shocking news: moving to a foreign country is hard. I miss my friends, my family, and my cat. I miss the ease of going to Target and buying everything in one store. One month in, and I still have my stuff packed in bags on the floor, because we don't have enough furniture to store everything. 

But! Things are getting better. Poco a poco, they say. Little by little. I started without an apartment, without a phone, without an internet connection. Now, I spend my evenings snuggled on my [admittedly ugly] couch while streaming Game of Thrones. I celebrate the little victories, like installing a new faucet or stocking the fridge with food. The tough times still come--those lonely moments where I ask myself What am I doing here?--but they come less often. 

And what of my job? I came here to work as an auxiliar de conversación, an English language assistant. I was most worried about this role, since I've zero experience as a teacher. I like it! OK, some moments are frustrating, but I generally like coming into the school every day (well, Monday-Thursday). More on that later.

I'm not good with conclusions. BLOG POST OVER.