This week, we kept the trend of making the most of our weekdays! On Monday, we did a little exploring of Madrid’s nightlife. On Thursday, we experienced a rooftop pool, and on Friday, we went to visit the Museo del Prado. We also discovered a small restaurant chain that serves 1 euro tacos (I ate 9). Being out in the streets of Madrid is a fun experience because there is always something to do and plenty of people around. I know New York is the city that never sleeps, but Madrid doesn’t sleep much either, and the sun doesn’t set until 10:15!

This weekend we did our first full weekend trip to Valencia! We arrived around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday and headed straight to the beach. We spent the whole day relaxing, reading, swimming, and napping. After a laid-back beach day, we checked into our hostel. It was my first time staying in a hostel, so I didn’t know what to expect. We booked a mixed dorm since it was the cheapest and had availability, but moving forward, I think we’ll try to book female-only rooms. That said, we ended up meeting another girl from the U.S. and spent the evening hanging out with her.

On Saturday night, we had tapas at a small, fancy restaurant and walked around the city to see the sights. The next morning, we woke up early and had a paddleboarding reservation. The waves in Valencia were small, so it was easy to enjoy a solid hour and a half on the water. Afterward, we went on a mission to try authentic Valencian paella—everyone said it was a must. Unfortunately, we found out that due to the heat, the restaurant’s ovens weren’t operating and they weren’t accepting any more walk-in orders. We were disappointed but learned the hard way that paella usually needs to be pre-ordered. We settled for a classic ham and cheese sandwich and spent the rest of the afternoon in the water before catching our train back.

Valencia didn’t quite live up to our expectations, but we still appreciated a much-needed laid-back weekend on the beach.

At work this week I got more comfortable giving tours and speaking to residents.I’m also starting to be trusted with larger tasks and responsibilities, which is both nerve-racking and exciting. One thing I’ve been adjusting to is the cultural differences, especially at work. For example, when everyone starts chatting in the office, it’s considered rude to keep working instead of joining the conversation. That’s been hard for me to get used to, especially when I’m in the middle of a task. The work environment is very relaxed, which I appreciate in some ways, but it can also be frustrating when I’m waiting on someone else to finish their part so I can do mine.

At home with my host family the hardest thing for me to adjust to is the meal times. They eat very late, and the meals tend to last a long time. They also eat dessert every night, which I feel rude declining, even though it’s not something I usually want. Luckily, dessert is often just fruit and a pastry, so I usually stick to the fruit. Dinner typically ends around 11:30 p.m., and often the family stays up watching TV afterward. As much as I want to be respectful, I’m usually exhausted after work and just want to go to bed. I hope I don’t come across as rude, but I rarely have the energy to stay up watching Spanish TV at midnight. These things are still tough for me four weeks in, but it helps knowing others around me are going through similar challenges.

Something I didn’t expect during my time abroad was the feeling of separation from things going on in the United States. In the U.S., I’m constantly exposed to current events without even trying. Here, I find out about things later, and it’s a strange, unsettling feeling to watch events unfold from outside the country. It’s even stranger when people here ask me for my opinion on U.S. news, and I feel completely out of the loop.

I also worried about feeling disconnected from my friends and family, and that’s been hard at times. My younger brother graduated high school, and his graduation party was this week. I also missed Father’s Day traditions and will miss more graduation parties and family traditions. My family has always been there for my milestones and big events, and it’s tough knowing I can’t be there for theirs.

That said, I’m incredibly grateful that I still feel connected to everyone. I text my closest friends almost every day and call my mom at least once a week. I’m always happy to receive pictures of pets throughout my week! If it weren’t for my support system, I don’t think I’d be as happy as I am.