Get Ready for This

Hola a todos y todas, and welcome to the first edition of Too Much & Extra, my bilingual blog detailing my three-month adventure through España. You probably have a million questions, and luckily, I have answers.

What is a bilingual blog?

I have no idea! I assume it exists somewhere in the universe, but for me, a bilingual blog means embracing our beautifully chaotic, interconnected world shaped by language. In simpler terms, this blog will be mostly in English, sprinkled with Spanish words—some for fun, others out of necessity (because sometimes, Spanish just hits differently).

What if I don’t speak Spanish?

No worries! Whenever the context isn’t super obvious, I’ll include translations. Who knows? You might even pick up some Spanish along the way.

When does the blog come out?

As a college student with an unpredictable schedule, I can’t make any promises. Leading up to Spain, my goal is to publish one or two more posts about the chaos of preparing for this wildly complicated trip. Once I’m there, expect updates about once a week—give or take a siesta.

What is this blog actually about?

At its core, Too Much & Extra is about embracing life with unapologetic enthusiasm—mismatched socks, dramatic reenactments of world events, talking robots, an alarming amount of purple clothing, and, of course, just a dash of sarcasm.

On a more serious note, I’ll be exploring the realities of the 21st century (and my own existence) with a mix of earnestness and humor. Expect wild travel stories, hilarious Spanish mistakes, everyday life in Spain, and everything in between.

Why Too Much & Extra?

It all goes back to my days at Pomfret, the idyllic, perfectly manicured East Coast boarding school nestled in the hills of northeastern Connecticut. Rumor has it, I gave my senior speech from a chapel balcony while wearing a sweatsuit, complete with blockbuster movie music and confetti. (Subtlety is clearly my strong suit.)

Piñas, Robberies, and Paperwork: 47 Days Until I Abandon the English Language

Now that I’ve answered your most burning questions, let’s get into it. In 47 days, El Verano de Delia sin inglés officially begins. But how did we get here? Well, it all started with some paperwork.

Who am I kidding? A lot of paperwork. And just when I thought I was done—more paperwork. Even now, 47 days out, I’m sitting here procrastinating on yet more paperwork. Applications, essays, course transfer credits, grants, flight bookings, medical forms—the list is endless. I even had to take a mandatory two-hour Canvas course, complete with quizzes! Shockingly, the main takeaway was: Don’t leave your valuables unattended, and 911 is not universal. Groundbreaking.

This Canvas class did, however, make me reflect on some of the travel advice I’ve received over the years. From warnings about upside-down piñas (pineapples) in shopping carts at Mercadona, to the pro tip that tapas work like Pokémon—leveling up with the purchase of more beverages—to the slightly more serious warnings about pickpockets and touchy men. Even my hairdresser chimed in with her philosophy: “What’s the worst that can happen?” Her logic? If her mother, who couldn’t operate a cell phone, could travel through India without speaking a word of the language, then surely I could survive Spain with a language I actually speak.

I’ve heard it all. Some people tell me this will be the experience of a lifetime. Others genuinely don’t understand why anyone would voluntarily leave the so-called paradise that is the United States. The truth? Back in the fall, I went back and forth many times about whether I even wanted to go. Was my Spanish good enough to function not just in class, but also with my host families? Could I really travel alone to meet a group of seemingly random strangers? How would I survive?

Ultimately, it was a mix of advice from my dad and my former Spanish teacher that convinced me this was something I had to do. My Spanish teacher once told me (through a long story) that you don’t need to wait until your second-language skills are perfect to take the leap—you just have to do it and embrace the chaos. This was echoed by my dad, who told me, “I’ve had many regrets in life because I overthought everything instead of just doing.” And while in 47 days I may be navigating the world in my second language for three months, I’m choosing to focus on the exciting new world I get to explore and the people I’ll get to meet. I can already picture myself wandering through sun-soaked plazas, eating way too much jamón, blabbing too much in late-night sobremesas, wandering Mercadona (without any pineapple involved) and debating whether I should spend my entire budget on museum tickets or churros. (Spoiler: probably both.)

So, get ready. El Verano de Delia is coming soon, and I can’t wait to bring you along for the ride.

Nos vemos pronto,

Delia