It's decided... Next semester I'm going to Spain! I'm going to be studying abroad in Madrid for a semester, 3 whole months! It's kind of overwhelming being that the only time I've ever been out of the country was going skiing in Canada (and lets face it, there isn't much of a difference between the culture in Canada and the US, especially if the only culture you see is on a tourist filled ski mountain). Needless to say, I'm somewhat excited to experience "culture shock" for the first time.

One of the most exciting things about studying in Spain is being able to practice (perfect) my Spanish. All students in the program are required to sign a contract which says that they will only speak Spanish while in the program. That is particularly nice because it means that even when talking with other students in the program, I will still have the same immersive experience.

In the meantime, I am looking for any opportunity available to me to practice up on my Spanish such that the transition to speaking only Spanish will be easier. I plan on finding a night course or other opportunities to practice during the summer after work (such as tertulias), however I may be limited to just reading novels and studying vocabulary.