A semester in Espana: Made it to Madrid!

Finally made it to Madrid! At the airport going to Madrid I by chance was on the same flight as one of my childhood friends and neighbors who coincidentally is also studying abroad just outside of Madrid. It was a nice suprise and I was so happy to see a familiar face. The flight was pretty long but not as bad as I thought it would be. I got a decent seat because of the boot but then realized I was in the baby section; sitting next to not one, but two babies (ages 9 months and 15 months) which caused me to slightly freak out because who knows what can happen in over eight hours in close proximity to two infants. Luckily, for the most part, they were fine. The both cried a little but not too much and they were both cute so it was entertaining to be near them. I took a Tylenol PM the second I saw that was by the babies but it never affected me. I didn't sleep at all even though I really tried to. I was tired but I just wasn't gonna fall asleep in a seated position. Oh well.
Throughout the entire process of preparing for studying abroad and traveling, I didn't start to feel really nervous until we were about to land. Thats when it finally became real to me. I definitely regret not brushing up on my spanish over the summer but I guess thats all part of the culture shock. Since I needed a wheelchair I was last off the plane because I had to get on this bus thing to go to the wheel chair area. Then from there I got my passport stamped and had to get on another bus thing and wait for another wheelchair. At the second location they basically dropped me off in this remote area of the airport and left me there unattended for at least 20 mins. With my already limited spanish speaking skills I was pretty worried I was forgotten and would never get my luggage and get to my host family. Finally someone did get me with another wheel chair and we got my luggage. It was already over and hour and half after my plane had landed and my luggage wasn't even on the conveyor belt because it had long since stopped. It was in the storage room of unclaimed luggage and I breathed a big sigh of relief when I finally found it.
After that I was wheeled to the pick up area and where my host mother met me. She knew who I was right away and I felt instant relief knowing that I had finally made it. She commented how long it took me to get to her and how I now wouldn't be able to make my orientation because it was starting in 30 minutes. Just another minor issue in my traveling process. There is another one this week though so I'm not worried about it.
On the way back to my host mother's house, she asked me alot of questions about everything: school, family, hobbies, ect. She made me answer all he questions in spainsh was a little rough since I haven't spoke or practiced spanish since last may. I'm pretty sure I'll be good at it by the time I leave though because she seems determined to teach me.
The drive from the airport to the house was alot further than I expected. It was cool to see alot of madrid though. My host mother pointed out important places, such as the REAL Madrid stadium and government buildings, famous streets, as we went.
When we got to her house her husband helped bring in my bags. He reminded me alot of my grandpa and he seemed like a happy older man. I was happy it was on the ground level so I didn't have to climb any stairs. The house reminded me alot of my grandparents house they way it looked and the way it smelled, beautifully old and ecclectically antique. It was very soothing to me.
I was also so happy to find out I have a roommate. And shes perfect. Shes already lived with this family for a year and will be here a year more and so she knows Madrid really well. I really couldn't have imagined a better roommate situation.
So for the rest of the day I just took a nap, unpacked a bit and watched the news with the host parents. I still probably need to find out where the school is and get some schools supplies and my roommate said she would help me with that. But so far so good. I'm happy to be here and start this adventure.