The first day

Traveling twenty-four hours can be rough. Traveling twenty-four hours and then having nowhere to stay when you arrive is even worse. After experiencing planes, trains, subways, and taxis, my arrival into Oviedo was met with rejection at every hotel I walked into. On the verge of tears at midnight in a strange city, I was dramatically questioning why I had ever wanted to study abroad. My taxi driver took pity on me and began to call hotels with his personal cell phone. Finally, he found a room in Hotel Ibis, a brand new hotel just outside the city limits. I slept like a rock. 

Drizzling rain greeted me from the window of my room when I awoke the next morning. After calling another taxi, we piled my bags in and drove to the city. I bought a hostel card and moved my luggage into a cheaper though still nice hostel. On foot now and armed with a small map, I took out to conquer the city. That is, to buy a cell phone and check in at the university. My complete lack of direction was proven again and again as I wandered through the streets. Catedrals, zapaterias, and sindrerias confused me at every street corner. Parks, lush with green grass, beckoned invitingly as small children played on the playgrounds. After about two hours of drifting around, I managed to get three large, painful blisters that began to taint my appreciation for the beauty of the city. Determined now, I managed to find a cell phone provider and buy a phone.

The next stop was the Universidad. Much easier said than done. The blisters on my feet were becoming extremely painful and were causing me to hobble instead of walk. My sense of direction was literally leading me in circles, big circles. Two hours later and after asking several people for direction, I eventually stumbled onto the university campus. My sense of accomplishment was short-lived when I walked into the building and they informed me that Carlos, the international student advisor, had already gone home. I was without anywhere to go, no one who even knew my name, and no way to find an apartment. Seeing my distress, a kind professor at the university mentioned an information board with possible apartments. I rushed to the board and managed to scribble every telephone number down. One advertisement looked especially promising and I called immediately. A bubbly woman answered and excitedly asked me to immediately view the apartment. Only a two minute walk from the campus (although it took me more like 15), the apartment was small but cozy. Composed of three bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a small living room with a tv, the apartment also has wireless internet so that I will be able to communicate. Lucia and Mariajo, the apartment mates, are very friendly and accustomed to international students. It is perfect. I will move in as soon as their old apartment mate moves out; or possibly before and I will sleep on the couch. 

So here I am, back in the hostel, an apartamiento waiting, four days until classes begin, and recovering from my blisters. The song “By Your Side” by Tenth Avenue North has been my theme song. God is good, may He be glorified. 

the most famous cathedral in Oviedo

A beautiful park on the outskirts of the city

I love the hills in the background