First day!!!

So today was our first full day in Cadiz. We got a much needed late start to the day after a long day of traveling. I woke up around 10:30 and had a light breakfast with my host mom and her daughter. Breakfast isn't really a big deal in Spain so we just had muffins and juice. Then we met the group at the plaza de catedral (the picture I included is of the cathedral). We went on a quick tour of the city's major plazas. The city is beautiful and there's people everywhere and a lot going on. After our tour we headed down to the beach for a few hours. The beach was really crowded but still super fun. We had lunch there and went swimming and laid in the sun. After the beach we had some free time before dinner so we got ice cream and walked around the plazas some more. Then we had a quick shower and siesta and went back out for a dinner with the group. The restaurant we went to was really good. They served us in courses--bread, salad, potatoes, and then meat and more potatoes. After dinner we had more free time so we mostly just explored and talked to some locals. We met back up late at nights and then walked back to our homestays.

So far, the trip has been amazing. All the people (other students, staff, Spanish people) are so nice. I've been having a lot of fun meeting people and talking to them and also practicing Spanish with actual Spanish-speaking people. The city is gorgeous and no matter where you go there is something cool to see. My host mom is amazing and super sweet. She is so helpful and we can tell she just wants us to be happy and comfortable.

Tomorrow we are going on an excursion to another beach. I can't wait to see more Spain!

Hi! I'm Katie DeAngelis and I live in Louisville, Kentucky. I'm 17 years old and I'm going to be a senior in high school in the fall. I live with my mom, two dogs, three cats, and three chickens. I hope to study Spanish and medicine in college and I want to find a career in which I can use both. My favorite thing to do in my free time is go out to eat with my friends, walk my dog, Lucy, and watch movies. I work a part-time job at a locally-owned grocery store in my neighborhood.

In just a few short days I will be taking off to Cadiz, Spain, where I'll be taking classes and staying with a Spanish family. I am completely ecstatic about this opportunity to travel abroad and participate in a homestay program. I chose the Abbey Road program because it had everything that I wanted: a chance to stay in a Spanish home, language and culture classes, complete immersion into the Spanish culture, and it all takes place in a beautiful city. I've taken Spanish classes since I was in sixth grade and I'm very excited (and a little nervous) to use my Spanish in practical real-life situations. Another thing I'm really excited about is meeting new people. I love meeting people from other parts of the country and talking to them about how different their lives are from mine, and I'm sure meeting people from another country will be similarly exciting. I really hope I get a chance to explore the city and see as much as I can to get a really full and memorable experience. I can't wait to meet my host family and get to know them. I'd say the part of my trip that I'm most excited for is the complete immersion into a new and different culture. I can't wait to see new things and meet new people and try all the delicious Spanish food!!