1.  When I got here, I had a hard time making myself understood and understanding other people.
2. The first week I was nervous all the time that people wouldn't understand.  I went out for breakfast the first day and the waitress couldn't understand a word I said so she just brought me a sandwich for me.  The first day I couldn't understand anything my host mom said.  I spent the first week just nodding and saying yes to everything.
3.  This past weekend my host mom took me out with her friends. (there were about 8 of them) and we had dinner at one of their beach houses.  I was really surprised at how much I understood and how well they understood me, because being in a large group trying to communicate is the hardest.  However, I still get really tired after I talk or listen for a while and need a break.  I was also excited that I understood all of a complex movie I saw last weekend, and the first week I hated watching television because I couldn't understand anything.
4.  I think there was change because I learned more Spanish, but also because I became more comfortable speaking and got used to listening.
5.  I enjoy Spanish a lot more now, and want to continue studying it.  Before I was only studying Spanish because I had to and wanted to travel abroad.  Now I want to minor in it.
6.  As far as long term effects I've been thinking going to live study in Mexico after school ends or possibly volunteering there because I enjoy learning about new cultures and I enjoy speaking Spanish and the cultural differences are interesting to observe.