Time flies

One year ago today at 6:30 pm, I excitedly and nervously watched as the bus that I was on from Málaga entered Almería from a high bridge and I saw it for the first time. The port and beautiful, blue Mediterranean on my right. The thousands of dusty-looking buildings all crowded together on my left. The bus wound down the road until I was no longer looking down on the city from above but I was actually in it. We pulled up to the Almería bus station. I remember the moment perfectly. It was bright and sunny (as always) and I specifically remember the way the sun reflected off the big, silver A-L-M-E-R-Í-A on the side of the building. Jose and I got off the bus, collected all 140+ pounds of luggage that I had brought from under the bus, lugged it to the curb, and waited for his mom to come pick us up. I was finally there.

I could go on and on about that first day as I remember it vividly…down to the very clothes that I was wearing. Every detail of it seems to be etched permanently into my mind. I remember going into the piso for the first time. Tomás was the only one there and he gave Jose and I a tour. Tomas' excessive use of “calidad,” “exagerao,” and “primacho” were just about the only thing I picked up from the conversation as he was EXTREMELY difficult to understand. I remember thinking, oh my gosh, when Jose leaves, I’m so screwed trying to talk to this guy haha.

But anywayy, I’ve decided that on the one year anniversary of my arrival in Almería, it’s finally time to publicly unleash the TALE of my first night here. Some of you readers may have already heard this story, but as I didn’t want anyone (especially my Mom haha) to worry about my safety last year, I decided it was better not to publish this events of this particular evening haha. However, enough time has passed, I’ve put aside my embarrassment, and I think that I’ve proven to my family that they don’t have to worry about me, so it’s story time!

Now let’s get back to my first day. Jose and Tomás helped me get all my luggage up to my new room in the super-piso, 7ºF of Calle Nuestra Señora del Mar 73. In that moment, Tomás didn’t say anything about my bags, but later in the year he eventually told me that he thought I was crazy for having brought so much stuff haha. Jose told me he would come get me later to TAPEAR, or go out for tapas, and then he took off. I began trying to get somewhat settled into my room when Tomás asked me if I needed to go to CARREFOUR, the grocery store. I said yes, and on the way we met up with Juanmi. The two of them were buying drinks for what would be my first fiesta in Almería and more importantly, my first PREVIERNES!

After getting back from the grocery store, I quickly showered, got ready, and then Jose picked me up for dinner. We went to a couple different tapas places and he showed me some of the typical dishes here. When we got back to the apartment, much to my surprise, there were already a few people there in the living room. It was Tomás, and the two new faces were Fran and Martín. Martín and I had been in touch via facebook in the weeks leading up to my arrival, so in a way I already felt like I somewhat knew him. From the very first moment, I felt comfortable talking to him and could tell that we were going to get along really well. Fran too was super nice and I could tell immediately that he was going to be one of the crazier ones in the group. Later, Juanmi, who I had already met at the grocery store, and a guy named Joan showed up. It was me and 6 dudes. Little did I know, that is basically how the entire year would be as far as going out goes haha.

I was trying to take in as much as I could. My ears were still not completely used to hearing Spanish as this was only day 7 in Spain for me and and I was having to get used to all the new voices. Side note: that’s something interesting that I discovered—that my ears really had to adapt to each different person’s voice before I could understand them well. i.e. in listening to Tomás and then jumping to a conversation with Martín, I would often miss the first bit of what Martín said as my brain was having to readjust to a different accent. I’ll admit that most of the conversation that night blew right past me.

I did lots of listening and very little talking that first night. Any time I did open my mouth to say something, I felt like the room got silent and everyone was listening to me. Embarrassing.

But anyway, the hours were just flying by and I was getting more tired by the minute. Having spent the whole day traveling, unpacking, and just generally being rushed, it’s safe to say that I was exhausted. I looked at my watch and it was already 2:30AM so I concluded that we weren’t  gonna be going out that night. WRONG! 3:00 rolled around and they busted out with, ok it’s time to go downtown! I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Were they being serious? Yep. Very serious. At that point I had ZERO desire to go, but at the same time I didn’t wanna be the laaame new roommate who doesn’t even go downtown. So, I sucked it up, got myself motivated, and our at-this-point druken mob headed out the door and made the 20 minute walk to the centro.

I have no idea what bar we went to that night as the tiredness and effects of the alcohol had consumed me. The only thing I remember well is that I made it about an hour and a half before I told Jose that I was done and ready to go home. Juanmi offered to walk me to the taxi stand because he knew the doorguy (surprise, surprise haha) and it would be easier for him to get back inside.

When we got to the taxis, he told the driver my address and told me to get in the car. Now this is the point in the story where I am unable to rationalize what I did haha. I so brilliantly told Juanmi that I didn’t need to take a taxi—I knew where the apartment was.

“ARRIBA Y A LA DERECHA,” I repeated. Up the street and to the right.

“SEGURO?” he asked me. Are you sure?

“Yep.”

“Seguro?”

“Si si siii.”

While it is true that my apartment was up the street and to the right, let it be known that there are about a million and one ways that you can go up and to the right. The truth is that I had absolutely, positively, ZERO idea of how to get there. It was my very first day in a town that I had never been in before in my life. Of course I had no idea how to get there. But, at my insistence, I left for the house on foot. Alone. At 4:30 in the morning.

WHAAAAT on earth was going through my head? Not only is it retarded seeing as how I had no freaking clue of how to get home, but oh my gosh, that is just about the most dangerous thing I have ever done in my entire life. Thank God there were no crazies and that I didn’t walk straight into a bad neighborhood.

Soooo, I walked. And I walked. Aaaand I walked some more. Realized I had no idea where I was. Oh and I forgot to mention that I had left my phone in the apartment. Kept walking. Yep, still walking. Getting frustrated, let’s try running. Ouch busted open my toe. Back to walking. Time for a new plan. Find Carrefour and from there I know how to get home. Ok sign that says Carrefour is to the right, let’s see where you lead me. Thanks for the follow-up signs. NOT. Just as lost as ever. Let’s try asking someone. Oh yeah, I forgot I’m way too flustered to be able to understand Spanish right now. Oh well hello there sun. This is depressing. Time to take a break from walking…just long enough to get a good cry in. This isn’t gonna solve anything, back to walking. One last attempt at asking someone. This cafeteria looks like a good place. Good morning to all of you who enjoyed a good night’s sleep in your beds last night. Why yes, I have in fact been walking around all night with a bloody foot looking for my own freaking house. Could one of you please tell me how to get to Carrefour? Just down this street? Oh my gosh, am I really actually about to get home? YESSSSSSS.

I don’t think there was a single moment in the entire rest of the year that I was ever as happy as to see that building. What should have been a 20-minute walk turned into a THREE-HOUR-LONG self-guided walking tour of pretty much the entire city of Almería. I had left the bars at 4:30 and didn’t get home until 7:30. Martín and Tomás were already soundly asleep in their beds. Jerks.

Baaaasically, the conclusion of the story is I’m a huge idiot. The good news is I did scare myself enough to never pull any sort of stunt like that ever again, so there’s no need for anyone to worry for my safety. And keep in mind this was all a year ago with nothing similar ever happening. So really, don’t worry! In fact, you should laugh because it’s actually really hilariously unfortunate! I always wanted to post about it but knew it wouldn’t be especially reassuring for the madre haha. But on the one year anniversary of it happening, I couldn’t NOT write about it haha!

While I didn’t enjoy that little late night jaunt when it was happening, it made for quite the story the next day. The roommates were quite amused and they reminded me of that night’s events often!

One year later, I’m fortunate enough to find myself back in Almería with another whole year ahead of me.  While it’s definitely going to be a very different year, I’m sure that it will be just as fun-filled and unforgettable as the first. I’m gonna stay in tonight and reflect on year one here, so no worries, there’s no chance of a repeat of the events of my first night ;)