horseback riding yesterday was absolutely amazing. we went riding for about 2 hours. our guide took us to some really pretty places and going through the river was absolutely gorgeous. my horse was so good for me. it definitely makes me want to go horseback riding when i return to the states.
after horseback riding it stormed. i sat and talked with my host mom for awhile. she is so wonderful. i'm going to miss her a lot. after i got ready to go out i went to a friend's house to hang out before we met up with everyone else. our group found some new places to go and i'm really disappointed that it took us so long to find good bars. we all had a blast.. i didn't get home until after 3.
today was our last day of class. we played games and talked and took pictures. it was a good day. after class i had to run to the supermarket and pick up a few things and i had a funny encounter. there was a spanish nun trying to pick out beer.. which i thought was hilarious.. and then she proceeded to ask me which was the best beer. i didn't have the heart to tell her i didn't drink beer. but i did make sure she got one of the popular ones from spain. i hope it went well for her :)
after i got home from the supermarket my host mom taught me how to make her tortilla. i have the recipe from the restaurant we went to for cooking class, but i really like hers a lot more. i can't believe how easy it is to make. after lunch i packed the rest of my stuff. due to some of the gifts i got that are kind of big i had to buy another suitcase. i really didn't want to but it was much cheaper than paying the fine for going over the weight limit. i also took the best siesta of my life. i slept for about 3 hours.
my host mom's son is here for the weekend. he's so nice. i don't think she's seen him for a few weeks so they were very chatty at dinner. :) it's about time for me to get ready to go out tonight... since tonight is my last night it's going to be the best! our bus leaves salamanca at 5am to go to the airport in madrid. the plan is to stay out until 4 and come home and get my bags. after all, i do have a 9 & 1/2 hour flight back to the states. tomorrow is going to be a very long day. and very sad. i'm truly going to miss this place. i love this city more than any city i've ever been to. it's one of those places that just feels like home. i truly think i could live here forever, it's that wonderful.
my time spent here has been nothing short of amazing. i've accomplished goals, tried so many new things, and am going home with a whole new outlook on life. sometimes you have to get lost in order to find yourself. i wouldn't trade this entire experience for anything in the world. i'm so glad that i have made lifelong friends. i can't find words to express my emotions, but i just keep thinking how blessed i am. life is so good. and i'm so proud of myself for turning my dream into a reality.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Posted with Blogsy
Thursday, July 26, 2012
farewell party
last night was an absolute blast. our program rented out a bar and we had our own personal flamenco show. it was a lot of fun. we also had tapas at the bar. after the show a group of us went to another bar to have tapas. we followed it up with more frozen yogurt :)
i went and hung out at a friend's house for awhile since it was still pretty early. we all met up in a park and then it started raining. luckily a few of us got back to the plaza before it started down pouring. we hung out there for awhile waiting for the storm to pass. our program directors ended up coming out with us last night and we all went and sang karaoke. i had an absolute blast. it was a bit sad thinking i only have a couple more night left, but happy at the same time since we were all together having a good time. i never thought i would become so attached to so many people after only a month. i'm truly going to miss everyone here. there's quite a few of us that live close so we're planning on getting together when we return home. i can't wait! i didn't end up getting home until around 3 and i went straight to bed.
class today was fun. since we're done with our exams and we only have tomorrow we're relaxing in class. everyone has been sharing stories about their time here and it's been a lot of fun. it's crazy to think that i have class everyday with so many people from around the world. this program has been a blessing.
after class i walked around for awhile. one of the benefits of only having class until noon is that i have a solid hour and a half to walk around and shop before everyone else is out of class. it's not nearly as crowded. for lunch today we had bean and rice soup (it was delicious, but the weather is too warm for me to have hot soup), meat, and grilled peppers. i had a banana for dessert. i packed some of my stuff after lunch. i needed to see if all my stuff was going to fit in my suitcases. i'm pretty sure everything will fit, so i don't have to buy another suitcase while i'm here.
i'm going horseback riding this afternoon. a group went last week and they had a lot of fun. i can't wait. it's supposed to be a very long ride and then we get to go swimming afterwards.
tonight everyone is going out again. some of the bars in town are having going away parties for the 4 week students so i'm sure there will be a lot of people out. this town is known for putting on a good fiesta and it hasn't let me down yet. i'm trying to get as much in as i can before i leave.
tomorrow will be my last post abroad. how sad is that? it doesn't seem like 4 weeks have passed and i keep telling the people that are here for 6 weeks that the rest of their time is going to fly by. it's been such a wonderful experience.
i went and hung out at a friend's house for awhile since it was still pretty early. we all met up in a park and then it started raining. luckily a few of us got back to the plaza before it started down pouring. we hung out there for awhile waiting for the storm to pass. our program directors ended up coming out with us last night and we all went and sang karaoke. i had an absolute blast. it was a bit sad thinking i only have a couple more night left, but happy at the same time since we were all together having a good time. i never thought i would become so attached to so many people after only a month. i'm truly going to miss everyone here. there's quite a few of us that live close so we're planning on getting together when we return home. i can't wait! i didn't end up getting home until around 3 and i went straight to bed.
class today was fun. since we're done with our exams and we only have tomorrow we're relaxing in class. everyone has been sharing stories about their time here and it's been a lot of fun. it's crazy to think that i have class everyday with so many people from around the world. this program has been a blessing.
after class i walked around for awhile. one of the benefits of only having class until noon is that i have a solid hour and a half to walk around and shop before everyone else is out of class. it's not nearly as crowded. for lunch today we had bean and rice soup (it was delicious, but the weather is too warm for me to have hot soup), meat, and grilled peppers. i had a banana for dessert. i packed some of my stuff after lunch. i needed to see if all my stuff was going to fit in my suitcases. i'm pretty sure everything will fit, so i don't have to buy another suitcase while i'm here.
a picture with my spanish parents! :)
i'm going horseback riding this afternoon. a group went last week and they had a lot of fun. i can't wait. it's supposed to be a very long ride and then we get to go swimming afterwards.
tonight everyone is going out again. some of the bars in town are having going away parties for the 4 week students so i'm sure there will be a lot of people out. this town is known for putting on a good fiesta and it hasn't let me down yet. i'm trying to get as much in as i can before i leave.
tomorrow will be my last post abroad. how sad is that? it doesn't seem like 4 weeks have passed and i keep telling the people that are here for 6 weeks that the rest of their time is going to fly by. it's been such a wonderful experience.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
rain, rain, go away
i had my final grammar exam today. it went really well. the test was really long.. i guess that means we can miss more and still get a better grade. in my second class everything was very relaxed. since we took our exam yesterday i don't think class will consist of much the next couple days.
after class i walked around for a while and then went to the frozen yogurt place to celebrate finishing my exams! it's probably a good time that i just found that yogurt place.. it could be dangerous. it was absolutely delicious again. we then had to hurry home for lunch!
for lunch we had cream soup, broiled chicken, salad, and a banana for dessert. it was very filling. i immediately took a siesta afterwards because i know i will have a long night tonight. when i woke up from my siesta it just started raining. i guess i can't complain too much... this is the first time we've had rain since i've been here. i just hope it passes by tonight.
in a little while i have a mandatory meeting to go to. all of the 4 week students must attend. i'm not sure what we will be doing.. but i'm not happy to be going. after the meeting we have our going away party. we are going out for tapas as a group and then our program is taking us to see a flamenco show. i think it will be a lot of fun. still hard to believe i leave in a couple days.
i guess i had better go get ready for my meeting. hopefully tonight is a lot of fun. i'm really going to miss all the people that i've grown to know!
after class i walked around for a while and then went to the frozen yogurt place to celebrate finishing my exams! it's probably a good time that i just found that yogurt place.. it could be dangerous. it was absolutely delicious again. we then had to hurry home for lunch!
for lunch we had cream soup, broiled chicken, salad, and a banana for dessert. it was very filling. i immediately took a siesta afterwards because i know i will have a long night tonight. when i woke up from my siesta it just started raining. i guess i can't complain too much... this is the first time we've had rain since i've been here. i just hope it passes by tonight.
in a little while i have a mandatory meeting to go to. all of the 4 week students must attend. i'm not sure what we will be doing.. but i'm not happy to be going. after the meeting we have our going away party. we are going out for tapas as a group and then our program is taking us to see a flamenco show. i think it will be a lot of fun. still hard to believe i leave in a couple days.
i guess i had better go get ready for my meeting. hopefully tonight is a lot of fun. i'm really going to miss all the people that i've grown to know!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
my final tuesdy
my first class was quite interesting. my professor didn't show up to class. we waited for an hour and then we left to get churros and milkshakes. when we returned he still hadn't shown up. i'm not sure what happened but it makes me nervous because now i don't know what will be on our final tomorrow. my second class went well. i think i did pretty well on the exam. hopefully i will find out tomorrow.
after class i went and got a pedicure. my poor feet are definitely not used to walking this much, and i desperately needed a pedicure. the place that i went was very nice and extremely cheap. and it was in a part of town that i haven't explored much of yet. after i got finished and walked home for lunch.
for lunch we had paella, ham, and fried egg plant. i don't think i've had egg plant before, but it was pretty good. after lunch i took a siesta and got ready for our cultural activity. today we went up into the tower of the old cathedral. at the top it was gorgeous. it overlooked the entire city of salamanca. because it was built so long ago all the doorways are very low. i had to duck to get through some of them. one thing i didn't like was the size of the staircases. all the staircases are spiral (which is beautiful) but they were very narrow and steep. it made me nervous walking up them because the hand rail didn't seem very secure. but i will say it was worth the view at the top.
after we finished touring the tower we went walking around the city. i found a cute little shop that had lots of good gifts. i'm worried that i will forget someone, so i just keep buying :) after we walked around for a little while we went and tried a new frozen yogurt place. it was divine! it was really cheap and they let you put as many toppings on it as you wanted. i definitely think i will go back before i leave.
for dinner tonight we had salad, tortilla, ham, sausage (much different than sausage from the US) and cheese. we finished it up with yougurt for dessert.
the prince and the princess of spain are in salamanca right now. i haven't seen them but i'm hoping i will before i leave. everyone i've asked isn't completely certain why they are here but suspect it is because they are showing their support of the poor economy in spain. i'm sure it may have something to do with the riots that happend a few days ago. i just hope i get to see them.
i think i am going to try to buy some food that i have been eating here so people can see what the food is like. we got our recipes today for the things we made in cooking class yesterday. i'm very excited to make tortilla. i think i may ask for my senora's recipe because i like hers more.
tonight is my last night of staying in!! woo hoo! i have my final tomorrow and then school will pretty much be over. i still have class thursday and friday, but my professors said they are open days... basically they will teach us and talk about anything we want to learn/talk about. i'm so amazed at how open and relaxed my professors are. nothing like in the US. we talk about so many random things... most things i wouldn't think of talking about with professors. i guess it's just another reason why i love this place so much. i'm off to shower and study for my exam. i'm a bit nervous for my exam, but i hope it will go okay!
after class i went and got a pedicure. my poor feet are definitely not used to walking this much, and i desperately needed a pedicure. the place that i went was very nice and extremely cheap. and it was in a part of town that i haven't explored much of yet. after i got finished and walked home for lunch.
for lunch we had paella, ham, and fried egg plant. i don't think i've had egg plant before, but it was pretty good. after lunch i took a siesta and got ready for our cultural activity. today we went up into the tower of the old cathedral. at the top it was gorgeous. it overlooked the entire city of salamanca. because it was built so long ago all the doorways are very low. i had to duck to get through some of them. one thing i didn't like was the size of the staircases. all the staircases are spiral (which is beautiful) but they were very narrow and steep. it made me nervous walking up them because the hand rail didn't seem very secure. but i will say it was worth the view at the top.
view of salamanca from the cathedral
view of the cathedral rom the top
my frozen yogurt with about 7 toppings! :)
for dinner tonight we had salad, tortilla, ham, sausage (much different than sausage from the US) and cheese. we finished it up with yougurt for dessert.
the prince and the princess of spain are in salamanca right now. i haven't seen them but i'm hoping i will before i leave. everyone i've asked isn't completely certain why they are here but suspect it is because they are showing their support of the poor economy in spain. i'm sure it may have something to do with the riots that happend a few days ago. i just hope i get to see them.
i think i am going to try to buy some food that i have been eating here so people can see what the food is like. we got our recipes today for the things we made in cooking class yesterday. i'm very excited to make tortilla. i think i may ask for my senora's recipe because i like hers more.
tonight is my last night of staying in!! woo hoo! i have my final tomorrow and then school will pretty much be over. i still have class thursday and friday, but my professors said they are open days... basically they will teach us and talk about anything we want to learn/talk about. i'm so amazed at how open and relaxed my professors are. nothing like in the US. we talk about so many random things... most things i wouldn't think of talking about with professors. i guess it's just another reason why i love this place so much. i'm off to shower and study for my exam. i'm a bit nervous for my exam, but i hope it will go okay!
Monday, July 23, 2012
sangria, paella, tortilla, and gazpacho
class today went well. i don't think i missed out on too much by missing class on friday. tomorrow and wednesday are my final exams. tomorrow i have my final in my conversation class. i'm not too worried about it. but i do need to review my vocabulary. there are soooo many new words! after class i went shopping for gifts. i would say that i am about 90% done. woo hoo! i just hope that everything will fit in my suitcases (fingers crossed)
for lunch we had soup, meat, salad, and melon for dessert. i don't think i've had the type of meat we had before.. if so my senora must have flavored it differently. it was still good nonetheless. after lunch i took my siesta.
tonight we had our cooking class. there were about 15 of us and we went to a super cute restaurant and one of their chefs taught us how to make sangria, paella, tortilla, and gazpacho. we will all be getting the recipes tomorrow. sangria is probably on of the most popular drinks if not the most popular. there are so many different ways to make it, but i really liked the recipe we had today. you can basically add any fruit to it except bananas, pineapple, and kiwis because they don't absorb the alcohol. you add a bottle of red wine, some rum if you'd like and sugar. it's delicious. i don't really like paella because i don't like shrimp. once i pick all the shrimp out i'm left with rice.. it's not my favorite... speaking of favorites.. i LOVE spanish tortilla and didn't realize how easy it was to make! slice up a potato, add some eggs. cook it on the stove and viola! i will definitely be making that once i return home. i definitely do not like gazpacho. gazpacho is a cold soup. it is made by blending water, bread, garlic, and tomatoes. it is put through a colander... add some ice and you have gazpacho. if you love tomatoes this is the dish for you! not so much for me.. but i did try it.
after cooking class i walked around with a friend for awhile. and then i came back home. i need to shower and start studying. dinner should be ready in about 30-45 minutes. i saw my senora snapping fresh green beans earlier today so i imagine we will have some. i'm sure it will be delicious.
until tomorrow!
for lunch we had soup, meat, salad, and melon for dessert. i don't think i've had the type of meat we had before.. if so my senora must have flavored it differently. it was still good nonetheless. after lunch i took my siesta.
tonight we had our cooking class. there were about 15 of us and we went to a super cute restaurant and one of their chefs taught us how to make sangria, paella, tortilla, and gazpacho. we will all be getting the recipes tomorrow. sangria is probably on of the most popular drinks if not the most popular. there are so many different ways to make it, but i really liked the recipe we had today. you can basically add any fruit to it except bananas, pineapple, and kiwis because they don't absorb the alcohol. you add a bottle of red wine, some rum if you'd like and sugar. it's delicious. i don't really like paella because i don't like shrimp. once i pick all the shrimp out i'm left with rice.. it's not my favorite... speaking of favorites.. i LOVE spanish tortilla and didn't realize how easy it was to make! slice up a potato, add some eggs. cook it on the stove and viola! i will definitely be making that once i return home. i definitely do not like gazpacho. gazpacho is a cold soup. it is made by blending water, bread, garlic, and tomatoes. it is put through a colander... add some ice and you have gazpacho. if you love tomatoes this is the dish for you! not so much for me.. but i did try it.
after cooking class i walked around with a friend for awhile. and then i came back home. i need to shower and start studying. dinner should be ready in about 30-45 minutes. i saw my senora snapping fresh green beans earlier today so i imagine we will have some. i'm sure it will be delicious.
until tomorrow!
Sunday, July 22, 2012
weekend recap
saturday we slept in a little. we headed into the city to do some shopping and hang out on the beach. we walked around and the city had a lot going on for their festival. we found a foosball tournament. equipped with trophies for the winners and everything. we walked most of the city. we stopped for lunch at a place that had 'kebab asia'. i wasn't sure what to expect but they gave us a HUGE sandwich which was absolutely delicious. you could get chicken or beef and it had lettuce, a house sauce, and was in a pita bread. it was so good and very filling!
my kebab! delicious!
after we had lunch we walked around for a little while longer and then headed to the beach. the beaches in santandar run along a peninsula that has a large palace. the beach was absolutely beautiful. the weather was a bit cooler, but with the sun it was absolutely perfect. the water was cold, but not as cold as portugal.
the beautiful beach!
the water was absolutely gorgeous!
once we left the beach we took a boat tour around santander. it took us by all the important places to see. it was really nice, but was very chilly on the ocean. it lasted about an hour and i got some great pictures.
Faro de Cabo Mayor. the oldest lighthouse in Cantabria (area around santander). it was built in 1830.
after the boat tour we headed back to our hostel. we grabbed dinner close to the hostel and called it a night. we didn't finish with dinner until around 11:45.
today we got up and went into santander for the morning. almost all the shops were closed, but we did find a small store that was open and walked through the santander flea market. the flea market was packed.. and i'm sure you could have found some good stuff if you had the time to dig around.. which we did not. we had to head back to get our suitcases and take the train back to santander. we left santander at 2. we got back to salamanca around 8:30. i got everything unpacked and reorganized my closet. there is a concert in the park near my house that i can hear. the music is very pretty. we just had dinner. i had pasta, potato salad, meat, and yogurt for dessert. i need to work on homework for awhile, and then i think i'm going to shower and head to bead. it was a very long day today.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
grande semana
dinner thursday night was absolutely delicious! it easily was easily one of my favorite meals so far. we had croquettes (they are a small breadcrumbed fried food roll containing mashed potatoes, cheese, and ham) we also had zucchini that had seasoned hamburger and melted cheese on it. i don't really like zucchini but you couldn't taste it. our meal was fantastic. i finished first and my senora asked if i wanted more.. which i didn't i was really full.. but the spanish way is to give you seconds.. they love to keep giving you food.
after dinner thursday night my senora, my roommate, our roommate from brazil, and i went up to the plaza to get ice cream. our roommate from brazil was leaving to go home friday and wanted everyone to do something together. we all took pictures together, but i had forgotten my camera. i'm supposed to get the pictures from our brasilian roommate through facebook. after we ate our ice cream there were 2 mariachi bands playing in opposite corners of the plaza. my senora LOVES to dance so we went to check them out. we had a blast. she danced with each one of us and it was so much fun. we didn't get back home until after midnight and i stayed in to pack for santander.
we left by train at 7:25am friday morning. we made it to santander around 1. we took a taxi to our hostel and have the cutest rooms. we are staying in a small town called el astillero (which translates to 'the shipyard') about 10 minutes from the city. when we checked in the owners told us that it was the grande semana for santander and that the entire city would be a party for the whole week. we had no idea. we got lunch at a small restaurant near our hostel and then headed back to siesta. one of my friends and i got up and walked around our little city to see what all there was. we have both the mountains and the water in this little town. it's beautiful. we are probably the only americans staying in this town. it's not touristy what so ever, and the people here have been so friendly.
last night we bought train passes for the weekend and headed into the city. all the buildings are so beautiful here. you can smell the ocean all over the city! from the ocean you can see the mountains in the distance. it's so pretty. it was definitely a fiesta. there were people everywhere. there were so many little stands set up in the parks serving tapas, wine, and beer. it wasn't a fiesta that was out of control, but a very nice get together. all the kids were playing in the park, they had a carousel and trampolines set up. we walked the streets for awhile checking out all the different buildings and searching for somewhere to eat dinner. we're guessing that people in santander eat dinner at a "normal time" between 6-8. it was after 10:30 before we found a place we wanted to eat and wasn't too expensive. most places will post their menus in the window so you can see what they have and look at the prices. it's amazing how much prices vary throughout the city. i had spaghetti for dinner.
while we were walking around we found a free concert that was being held outside city hall. there were so many people there. there was also another group of people playing in a small band. by the time dinner was finished it was pretty late so we had to take a taxi back. the trains stop running around 11.
once we got home we relaxed and watched some spanish tv! 1 of the girls is really sick so she didn't go out with us. it doesn't sound like she is feeling any better today. and her roommate is getting sick as well. it almost sounds like they may have the flu. i really hope i don't get it. i literally don't have time to be sick!
**my heart goes out to the families and friends of those involved in the colorado shooting. there are no words to express what you are going through, but know that people all over the world are thinking about you.*
after dinner thursday night my senora, my roommate, our roommate from brazil, and i went up to the plaza to get ice cream. our roommate from brazil was leaving to go home friday and wanted everyone to do something together. we all took pictures together, but i had forgotten my camera. i'm supposed to get the pictures from our brasilian roommate through facebook. after we ate our ice cream there were 2 mariachi bands playing in opposite corners of the plaza. my senora LOVES to dance so we went to check them out. we had a blast. she danced with each one of us and it was so much fun. we didn't get back home until after midnight and i stayed in to pack for santander.
we left by train at 7:25am friday morning. we made it to santander around 1. we took a taxi to our hostel and have the cutest rooms. we are staying in a small town called el astillero (which translates to 'the shipyard') about 10 minutes from the city. when we checked in the owners told us that it was the grande semana for santander and that the entire city would be a party for the whole week. we had no idea. we got lunch at a small restaurant near our hostel and then headed back to siesta. one of my friends and i got up and walked around our little city to see what all there was. we have both the mountains and the water in this little town. it's beautiful. we are probably the only americans staying in this town. it's not touristy what so ever, and the people here have been so friendly.
last night we bought train passes for the weekend and headed into the city. all the buildings are so beautiful here. you can smell the ocean all over the city! from the ocean you can see the mountains in the distance. it's so pretty. it was definitely a fiesta. there were people everywhere. there were so many little stands set up in the parks serving tapas, wine, and beer. it wasn't a fiesta that was out of control, but a very nice get together. all the kids were playing in the park, they had a carousel and trampolines set up. we walked the streets for awhile checking out all the different buildings and searching for somewhere to eat dinner. we're guessing that people in santander eat dinner at a "normal time" between 6-8. it was after 10:30 before we found a place we wanted to eat and wasn't too expensive. most places will post their menus in the window so you can see what they have and look at the prices. it's amazing how much prices vary throughout the city. i had spaghetti for dinner.
steet performer in santander pretending to be a baby.
ocean and port building in santander
**my heart goes out to the families and friends of those involved in the colorado shooting. there are no words to express what you are going through, but know that people all over the world are thinking about you.*
Thursday, July 19, 2012
a trip to the supermarket
last night a bunch of us ended up going out. we had a lot of fun, and the pictures i have are hilarious. i got my test back in class today and i got a 9/10! woohoo! i will final exams on tuesday and wednesday next week.
after class i met up with some friends until lunch. we hung out in our program office and told stories about our adventures last night. for lunch we had potato soup, fish, peppers, and melon for dessert. about 3/4 of the way through my fish had bones in it. it was a totally new experience. since i've never really eaten fish in the states, i didn't know this was possible, and my host my didn't mention it. here they put the fish in their mouths and then pull the bones out with their fingers. it really killed my appetite.
after lunch i went with the girls to go get train tickets for our trip this weekend. i was a bit nervous because many people talked about how most of the trains were full and how unfriendly the train staff is. we ended up having to pay a little more than i expected because we couldn't get on the return train that i had planned on taking. needless to say we have our train tickets and our hostal booked! i will be going to santander with 3 girls from my program. santander is in northern spain on the coast. i'm hoping it will be a relaxing beach weekend. there are also lots of cathedrals and monuments to see in santander. i'm sure we will have a blast!
after buying train tickets i came home and took a nap.. having two very late nights in a row will catch up with you! i went to the supermarket with a friend to get some snacks for the train and this weekend. the supermarket is SO much different than what i'm used to. we spent so much time looking at different things to see what they were. i noticed the following:
after class i met up with some friends until lunch. we hung out in our program office and told stories about our adventures last night. for lunch we had potato soup, fish, peppers, and melon for dessert. about 3/4 of the way through my fish had bones in it. it was a totally new experience. since i've never really eaten fish in the states, i didn't know this was possible, and my host my didn't mention it. here they put the fish in their mouths and then pull the bones out with their fingers. it really killed my appetite.
after lunch i went with the girls to go get train tickets for our trip this weekend. i was a bit nervous because many people talked about how most of the trains were full and how unfriendly the train staff is. we ended up having to pay a little more than i expected because we couldn't get on the return train that i had planned on taking. needless to say we have our train tickets and our hostal booked! i will be going to santander with 3 girls from my program. santander is in northern spain on the coast. i'm hoping it will be a relaxing beach weekend. there are also lots of cathedrals and monuments to see in santander. i'm sure we will have a blast!
after buying train tickets i came home and took a nap.. having two very late nights in a row will catch up with you! i went to the supermarket with a friend to get some snacks for the train and this weekend. the supermarket is SO much different than what i'm used to. we spent so much time looking at different things to see what they were. i noticed the following:
- milk and eggs do NOT need refrigerated
- i can buy a case of diet coke for $1.02!!!!! :)
- they sell ketchup in spain
- they practically give away bottles of water
- they have interesting flavors of potato chips
ham flavored ruffles! spanish people LOVE ham!
grilled ham and cheese ruffles!
the supermarkets here are very cheap. people started protesting today. i guess tonight is the big event in the plaza mayor. i think a few of us are going to go see what it's all about. i'm not exactly sure what they're protesting, but i heard it had to do with low wages. perhaps i will find out tonight. that's all i really have planned for this evening. i've been out until the wee hours of the mornig the past couple of nights and will probably want to go to bed early. our train leaves at 7:25am tomorrow, so that will be an early wake up call!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
¡que calor!
my first spanish exam went well. it was a little difficult, but i think that i did okay on it. hopefully we get them back tomorrow. after class i slept until lunch... i had a late night last night. for lunch we had white bean soup, peppers, and veal. we had watermelon for dessert. it was really good. after lunch i relaxed for awhile and then i went to the mall with a friend. i got out of the mall spending less than $20. woohoo! the fact that i don't have much room in my suitcases doesn't help. we had a bit of an adventure making our way back home from the mall. taxis don't wait outside the mall so we started walking in the direction of our houses and eventually saw a taxi we could flag down! he was a lifesaver. it was 99 degrees here today. very hot, but thankfully a dry heat. it's about time for dinner and then i'm going to get ready to go out tonight. one of the bars is having karaoke so that will be a lot of fun. i think almost everyone from our group is going out tonight. it's a lot of fun when we all get together.
today i had to confirm my flight arrangements back home. it's really sad to think about. tomorrow i will only have 9 days left. i sit and wonder how time went by so quickly. a lot of the people from my program are staying for 6 weeks, so most of them still have awhile left. it doesn't feel like i have been gone that long. this has definitely been one of if not the best experience in my life. it took a lot of work to get here, but i would do it again in an instant. i absolutely love the city of salamanca. i know i will be coming back. this city will always hold a special place in my heart. i've met so many wonderful people since i've been here. there are a lot of people within my program that i have grown really close to. many of them don't live too terribly far from me either. we've already talked about having a reunion once we get back in the states. i'm truly such a lucky, lucky girl. i feel like i'm sitting on top of the world. in the past 3 weeks i have seen and experienced so much. probably more than some experience in a lifetime. i've been to and so many beautiful places. today i was looking through all the photos i have taken and realized that most of my pictures don't do any justice. there is just so much to see and do in this world. i knew that this trip was going to be life changing, but i truly didn't expect what i am feeling. i feel so relaxed and happy. right now life is stress free. it's been a wonderful journey.
today i had to confirm my flight arrangements back home. it's really sad to think about. tomorrow i will only have 9 days left. i sit and wonder how time went by so quickly. a lot of the people from my program are staying for 6 weeks, so most of them still have awhile left. it doesn't feel like i have been gone that long. this has definitely been one of if not the best experience in my life. it took a lot of work to get here, but i would do it again in an instant. i absolutely love the city of salamanca. i know i will be coming back. this city will always hold a special place in my heart. i've met so many wonderful people since i've been here. there are a lot of people within my program that i have grown really close to. many of them don't live too terribly far from me either. we've already talked about having a reunion once we get back in the states. i'm truly such a lucky, lucky girl. i feel like i'm sitting on top of the world. in the past 3 weeks i have seen and experienced so much. probably more than some experience in a lifetime. i've been to and so many beautiful places. today i was looking through all the photos i have taken and realized that most of my pictures don't do any justice. there is just so much to see and do in this world. i knew that this trip was going to be life changing, but i truly didn't expect what i am feeling. i feel so relaxed and happy. right now life is stress free. it's been a wonderful journey.
portugal pictures!
sidewalks and streets in lisbon, portugal are very extravagant. little blue tiles constructed into intricate designs. i'm sure it took them forever!
pasteis de belem from lisbon, portugal. it is the most popular portuguese egg tart pastry filled with cream. often are sprinkled with cinnamon or sugar, and absolutely to die for!
me at 'boca de inferno' translates to 'hell's mouth'. such a beautiful place!
'boca de inferno' in cascais, portugal. it was breathtaking!
belem tower in lisbon, portugal. it was once used to prevent attacks on lisbon from the ocean.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
just when i thought i had it figured out
i've been trying very hard to pick up all the little spanish quirks. one of the main differences is the way the spanish people eat. bread is served with lunch and dinner and should be held in the left hand. while you are eating you hold the bread in your hand. spanish people know how to clean their plates and they can do it in a hurry. typically nothing is eaten with their hands. they use a fork and knife to cut everything. i have noticed that when you eat fruit here you peel it first. regardless if it is an apple, peach, orange, or banana. sure we peel bananas and oranges in the states, but in spain you do it with a knife. i have that part down, eat nothing with your hands.. except watermelon. when you get a slice of watermelon spanish people cut it as if they were making slices out of a pie and they proceed to eat it with their hands. i didn't realize until today.. while i was cutting my watermelon into neat little squares with my knife. tonight my senora served pizza and spaghetti noodles in a light red sauce. a meal that isn't new to me here, but apparently i didn't pay attention the first time. you do not eat your pizza with your hands.. you cut it and use a fork. okay, got it. so one would assume you cut your spaghetti and eat it the same way... wrong! you twirl your spaghetti and eat it. there are so many differences it's almost hard to believe. although my senora doesn't mind if we eat 'the american way' i'm just trying to pick up as many cultural differences as i can.
i will post portugal pictures tomorrow. i just don't have time tonight. i need to study for a bit and then i'm going to meet up with some people and go out.
we went paddle boating today. it was warm, a good workout, and beautiful. the first picture is the bridge we have to cross to get to the pool. the second picture is on the other side of the river looking at salamanca. gorgeous! i love this city!
i will post portugal pictures tomorrow. i just don't have time tonight. i need to study for a bit and then i'm going to meet up with some people and go out.
cielo de salamanca
class monday went really well. i have my first test tomorrow in my grammer class. i think it will go okay, but i definitely need to study.
yesterday after class i walked around the city until lunchtime. after lunch i took a really long siesta and then met up with the girls to try and figure out where we are going to travel. we thought we had found the perfect place on the southern coast, but we couldn't find a place to stay. we're still throwing some ideas around.. i still have my mind set that i will be going somewhere.. just not sure where yet.
we were supposed to have a cooking class last night, but at the last minute the restaurant called and said they were without electricity so they had to cancel. they are supposed to reschedule that next week. since most of us had told our senoras we wouldn't be home for dinner we found a place to eat in salamanca. the restaurant was cute and we were able to eat outside on the street. i had lasagna, and "drunk" chicken (chicken soaked in beer). it was pretty good.. and very cheap. my meal included bread (which usually you have to pay extra for here), 2 courses, dessert, and a sangria for 9E ($11.97). after dinner i came home and worked on homework
today in class we went over what was going to be on the exam tomorrow. after class i did a little shopping while i waited for our cultural activity. today we went to "el cielo de salamanca". it's in one of the buildings at the university and is very pretty. it represents all the different horoscopes. we weren't allowed to take pictures, but this is one that i found online.
yesterday after class i walked around the city until lunchtime. after lunch i took a really long siesta and then met up with the girls to try and figure out where we are going to travel. we thought we had found the perfect place on the southern coast, but we couldn't find a place to stay. we're still throwing some ideas around.. i still have my mind set that i will be going somewhere.. just not sure where yet.
we were supposed to have a cooking class last night, but at the last minute the restaurant called and said they were without electricity so they had to cancel. they are supposed to reschedule that next week. since most of us had told our senoras we wouldn't be home for dinner we found a place to eat in salamanca. the restaurant was cute and we were able to eat outside on the street. i had lasagna, and "drunk" chicken (chicken soaked in beer). it was pretty good.. and very cheap. my meal included bread (which usually you have to pay extra for here), 2 courses, dessert, and a sangria for 9E ($11.97). after dinner i came home and worked on homework
today in class we went over what was going to be on the exam tomorrow. after class i did a little shopping while i waited for our cultural activity. today we went to "el cielo de salamanca". it's in one of the buildings at the university and is very pretty. it represents all the different horoscopes. we weren't allowed to take pictures, but this is one that i found online.
when i got home it was time for lunch. we had white bean soup, roasted chicken (one of my favorites!), salad, and watermelon for dessert. the watermelon here is absolutely delicious! i could eat it at every meal.
it's siesta time now, and i can't wait to take a nap. tonight we are going boating on the rio Tormes. it's one of the most popular places to get pictures of salamanca. i think it will be a lot of fun and a bit refreshing. it is pretty warm here today. if i have time later i'm going to post some of my pictures from portugal. tonight i'm going to be studying. wish me luck on my first exam in spain!
Sunday, July 15, 2012
portugal!
the wifi was broken at the hotel, so i couldn't post while i was in portugal.
friday afternoon we took a charter bus to portugal. it was about a 6 and 1/2 hour bus ride. most of us slept throughout the trip. it was about dinner time when we arrived and everyone got ready really quickly and we went out. near our hotel was an arena that had a small mall and restaurants below it. we split into smaller groups and found somewhere to eat. my group went to a very nice pizzaria. our waiter was superb! probably the nicest person i've encountered on my trip. my meal was delicious. our waiter spent a lot of time talking to us about different things they do in portugal, and differences between portugal and the US. he let us try one of portugal's famous beers for free. it was really good. he also gave one of the girls a salad for free because she was still hungry after her meal. he stayed about 30 minutes after his shift ended to talk with us. he was really nice. i was so excited that our first experience in portugal was wonderful! after dinner a couple of the smaller groups met up and went to see the movie magic mike! it was a lot of fun.
saturday we had a day tour with a guide. she took us around the city and showed us some of the best views from portugal. the ocean was absolutely beautiful. after our tour we had free time. we stopped and grabbed lunch and it was a horrible experience. our waiter was rude.. and after we left he chased us down the street and accused us of shorting him 3 euros. we proceeded to count the money again showed him it was correct and he counted it again to be sure.. i couldn't believe it. we told several people about it and they all agreed that wasn't normal and assumed he may have been trying to get more money out of us because he were foreigners. we did a little bit of shopping but for the most part portugal had the same stores that salamanca has.. only more expensive.. portugal was more expensive than salamanca, but i assume that it's because most of the cities are very touristy. we went back and took a nap and then got ready for the evening. we went to a restaurant close to our hotel because one of our program directors went out with us. afterwards, we took a bus downtown to find dinner. we ended up eating at this cute little restaurant. the food was absolutely delicious and i treated myself to cheesecake for dessert! so good! after dinner we were going to go out but it was way too cold. it gets much colder in the evenings than it does in salamanca and the wind was terrible. everyone was freezing.
sunday we went to go see an area called hell's mouth. it was so pretty. afterwards we went to the beach. the weather was warm but the water was so cold. if you stood in the water for a minute or two your entire body would go numb. i only went in the water up to my knees but a couple people jumped right in.. they were freezing. we grabbed lunch after the beach and made our way back to salamanca.
when i got home tonight they were just finishing dinner. we had spanish tortilla and a couple slices of ham. it was really good. i'm really tired as i didn't get to sleep much on the bus home. i really had a great weekend and loved all my time in portugal. my only complaint is that i wish i would have gotten another stamp on my passport, but it's rare when traveling within europe. i'm going to do my homework and head to bed.
friday afternoon we took a charter bus to portugal. it was about a 6 and 1/2 hour bus ride. most of us slept throughout the trip. it was about dinner time when we arrived and everyone got ready really quickly and we went out. near our hotel was an arena that had a small mall and restaurants below it. we split into smaller groups and found somewhere to eat. my group went to a very nice pizzaria. our waiter was superb! probably the nicest person i've encountered on my trip. my meal was delicious. our waiter spent a lot of time talking to us about different things they do in portugal, and differences between portugal and the US. he let us try one of portugal's famous beers for free. it was really good. he also gave one of the girls a salad for free because she was still hungry after her meal. he stayed about 30 minutes after his shift ended to talk with us. he was really nice. i was so excited that our first experience in portugal was wonderful! after dinner a couple of the smaller groups met up and went to see the movie magic mike! it was a lot of fun.
saturday we had a day tour with a guide. she took us around the city and showed us some of the best views from portugal. the ocean was absolutely beautiful. after our tour we had free time. we stopped and grabbed lunch and it was a horrible experience. our waiter was rude.. and after we left he chased us down the street and accused us of shorting him 3 euros. we proceeded to count the money again showed him it was correct and he counted it again to be sure.. i couldn't believe it. we told several people about it and they all agreed that wasn't normal and assumed he may have been trying to get more money out of us because he were foreigners. we did a little bit of shopping but for the most part portugal had the same stores that salamanca has.. only more expensive.. portugal was more expensive than salamanca, but i assume that it's because most of the cities are very touristy. we went back and took a nap and then got ready for the evening. we went to a restaurant close to our hotel because one of our program directors went out with us. afterwards, we took a bus downtown to find dinner. we ended up eating at this cute little restaurant. the food was absolutely delicious and i treated myself to cheesecake for dessert! so good! after dinner we were going to go out but it was way too cold. it gets much colder in the evenings than it does in salamanca and the wind was terrible. everyone was freezing.
sunday we went to go see an area called hell's mouth. it was so pretty. afterwards we went to the beach. the weather was warm but the water was so cold. if you stood in the water for a minute or two your entire body would go numb. i only went in the water up to my knees but a couple people jumped right in.. they were freezing. we grabbed lunch after the beach and made our way back to salamanca.
when i got home tonight they were just finishing dinner. we had spanish tortilla and a couple slices of ham. it was really good. i'm really tired as i didn't get to sleep much on the bus home. i really had a great weekend and loved all my time in portugal. my only complaint is that i wish i would have gotten another stamp on my passport, but it's rare when traveling within europe. i'm going to do my homework and head to bed.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
museum, churros, and more wandering
today after class i went to a bunch of small shops. i didn't buy anything, just looking around for gift ideas. a lot of the shops carry the same things, but the prices can really vary. i also had some time to kill before we went to an art museum. the art museum we went to in salamanca actually used to be a house. it's unique because of it's close proximity to the cathedral. there typically don't allow houses to be built so close. it had an absolutely beautiful stained glass ceiling. i luckily got a couple pictures of it before our guide told us we couldn't take pictures.
after the museum i cam home for lunch. we had soup, salad, veal, and a banana for dessert. after lunch i tried to siesta for a bit but decided to go to the corte ingles (large shopping store) with a few girls. after the corte ingles we went and got churros. i don't like chocolate, so i only had a little piece of one. we walked around a little bit and then went home.
we just finished dinner and had noodles, pizza, and yogurt for dessert. tonight there is a big party in the plaza mayor to celebrate spain winning the euro cup. it's kind of like a championship tour. i don't think i'm going to go up there.
we leave for portugal tomorrow afternoon. i believe it is a 5 hour bus ride. it's supposed to be very pretty and we will be on the beach. there are about 20 people going so it should be a lot of fun. i've yet to pack.. but that shouldn't take long.. how much do i need for one weekend?
i've been very tired the past couple of days. i know it's because i'm staying up way to late and i haven't gotten to take a good siesta in a few days. some people are going out tonight and i'm debating whether or not i'm going to go. a lot of the bars in town are starting to do promotions for the weekend. for many people their weekends begin on thursday night.. i had better get going if i'm going to get all my stuff done and try to go out tonight!
next post will be from portugal! i'm crossing my fingers for free wifi at the hotel!!
after the museum i cam home for lunch. we had soup, salad, veal, and a banana for dessert. after lunch i tried to siesta for a bit but decided to go to the corte ingles (large shopping store) with a few girls. after the corte ingles we went and got churros. i don't like chocolate, so i only had a little piece of one. we walked around a little bit and then went home.
we just finished dinner and had noodles, pizza, and yogurt for dessert. tonight there is a big party in the plaza mayor to celebrate spain winning the euro cup. it's kind of like a championship tour. i don't think i'm going to go up there.
we leave for portugal tomorrow afternoon. i believe it is a 5 hour bus ride. it's supposed to be very pretty and we will be on the beach. there are about 20 people going so it should be a lot of fun. i've yet to pack.. but that shouldn't take long.. how much do i need for one weekend?
i've been very tired the past couple of days. i know it's because i'm staying up way to late and i haven't gotten to take a good siesta in a few days. some people are going out tonight and i'm debating whether or not i'm going to go. a lot of the bars in town are starting to do promotions for the weekend. for many people their weekends begin on thursday night.. i had better get going if i'm going to get all my stuff done and try to go out tonight!
next post will be from portugal! i'm crossing my fingers for free wifi at the hotel!!
ceiling at the art museum! how beautiful!
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
a new discovery
i think my 15 minute walk to class has become my thinking time. i don't walk to class with anyone from my group because i'm the only one that has to go to that particular building. this morning as i was walking i wondered if the residents of salamanca take their scenery for granted. as an american i'm in such awe of the architecture and the character of all the buildings. i'm sure that people who live here don't realize how beautiful it is. the building here are so much more interesting to look at than in the US, but i guess the US doesn't have the long history that spain has. well atleast not in the midwest. i mean come on, this city has a new and an old cathedral. the old cathedral was completed during the 14th century and the new cathedral was completed in the 18th century. there's nothing new about that!
i've also noticed there's a lot of graffiti here, and that really bothers me. people take an absolutely beautiful building and destroy it with their careless acts. (although i must say i am a bit proud of myself when i can read what it says if it's written in spanish). a friend of mine lives of a cute little street and up the entire street the outside of the buildings are covered in graffiti. it just really makes me sad.
after class i walked around the city. i like taking new roads and finding buildings i haven't seen yet. salamanca has a lot of really small roads that connect to the main roads. today i found a shortcut to my friend's house that i didn't know about.
for lunch i had soup, fish, and salad. fish is really starting to grow on me.. when i walked in the door from my adventure i felt my nose cringe when i realized my senora was making fish for lunch. it really is pretty good, and i ate the whole thing. i had watermelon for dessert.
after siesta i met with some of the girls i'm going to travel with.. we were talking about our trip to paris and trying to figure out the details. i noticed that we had read some of the prices incorrectly and it turns out the trip may be way more expensive than i thought. we're kind of in a dilemma as to what we should do. i'd really love to go to paris, but i think i would like to stay more than just the weekend. unfortunately, my schedule just doesn't allow that. i guess i'm creating more reasons to come back! :) we're starting to look into possibly traveling somewhere in spain, but haven't made any decisions. it is so hard to plan a trip to a foreign place while in a foreign place. our directors have been absolutely wonderful with helping answer questions, and helping us look things up. they really don't want to take charge of planning our trip because they want us to experience it. not to mention every time we find prices for things we have to convert them from euros to dollars to see what it would cost in the states. it's really making my brain hurt.
our activity for the day was a bit of a let down. our program directors told us that there were spanish students our age that wanted to meet with us so that we could practice spanish and they could practice english. everyone was really excited to meet with them and practice. there were about 20 people from my program that went to meet with the students and there were only 2 spanish students there. they organized a basketball game, but i didn't play because i had flip flops on. i didn't expect to be playing sports.. everyone thought it would be more relaxed and that there would be more spanish students. oh well, i guess you live and learn.
for dinner we had something new. i'm not sure what it was, but it was very good. it had bits of ham, potatoes, cheese, and egg. we also had slices of ham, and salami. i had yogurt for dessert. there's so much ham here. i will have had my fair share by the time i leave.
i still have homework to do tonight. i should probably do that soon. it's 10pm here and it's still light outside that is a bit deceiving. i'm used to it getting dark much earlier, but i love having long days.
i've also noticed there's a lot of graffiti here, and that really bothers me. people take an absolutely beautiful building and destroy it with their careless acts. (although i must say i am a bit proud of myself when i can read what it says if it's written in spanish). a friend of mine lives of a cute little street and up the entire street the outside of the buildings are covered in graffiti. it just really makes me sad.
after class i walked around the city. i like taking new roads and finding buildings i haven't seen yet. salamanca has a lot of really small roads that connect to the main roads. today i found a shortcut to my friend's house that i didn't know about.
for lunch i had soup, fish, and salad. fish is really starting to grow on me.. when i walked in the door from my adventure i felt my nose cringe when i realized my senora was making fish for lunch. it really is pretty good, and i ate the whole thing. i had watermelon for dessert.
after siesta i met with some of the girls i'm going to travel with.. we were talking about our trip to paris and trying to figure out the details. i noticed that we had read some of the prices incorrectly and it turns out the trip may be way more expensive than i thought. we're kind of in a dilemma as to what we should do. i'd really love to go to paris, but i think i would like to stay more than just the weekend. unfortunately, my schedule just doesn't allow that. i guess i'm creating more reasons to come back! :) we're starting to look into possibly traveling somewhere in spain, but haven't made any decisions. it is so hard to plan a trip to a foreign place while in a foreign place. our directors have been absolutely wonderful with helping answer questions, and helping us look things up. they really don't want to take charge of planning our trip because they want us to experience it. not to mention every time we find prices for things we have to convert them from euros to dollars to see what it would cost in the states. it's really making my brain hurt.
our activity for the day was a bit of a let down. our program directors told us that there were spanish students our age that wanted to meet with us so that we could practice spanish and they could practice english. everyone was really excited to meet with them and practice. there were about 20 people from my program that went to meet with the students and there were only 2 spanish students there. they organized a basketball game, but i didn't play because i had flip flops on. i didn't expect to be playing sports.. everyone thought it would be more relaxed and that there would be more spanish students. oh well, i guess you live and learn.
for dinner we had something new. i'm not sure what it was, but it was very good. it had bits of ham, potatoes, cheese, and egg. we also had slices of ham, and salami. i had yogurt for dessert. there's so much ham here. i will have had my fair share by the time i leave.
i still have homework to do tonight. i should probably do that soon. it's 10pm here and it's still light outside that is a bit deceiving. i'm used to it getting dark much earlier, but i love having long days.
the kitchen at my house
my room. my bed is near the window.
the bathroom.
i've yet to figure out how to use the swinging shower door without getting water all of the floor!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
just your average tuesday in salamanca
this morning i woke up and had breakfast. for breakfast i have juice, toast, and little cookies that taste very much like graham crackers. it's what i have everyday.
class was fun. in my grammar class we do a lot of activities to really make the time fly by. my teacher makes the class enjoyable. after class i stopped and bought a pair of shorts.. only because it was a really good deal! i feel like i could wear pants here every day because it is cool in the mornings and evenings.
for lunch we had soup, a piece of ham that was very salty, and cooked red peppers. it was good. i had watermelon for dessert. i didn't siesta today. i did rest a bit while catching up with things on the internet.
we had an activity today to Huerto de Calisto y Melibea. it is a garden in salamanca within the school buildings. it was very pretty, and had a great view of the cathedral. it was unique because inside the garden is a well. it is a tradition and very romantic for couples to visit the well with a lock. many of them write their initials, place the lock on the well, and throw the key down the well. it is supposed to symbolize that they will be together forever. there were hardly any locks on the well when we went, so our director thought that maybe someone cleaned it up for the summer so people would have room to place their locks.
after the tour i walked around the plaza with a few people to talk about the trip we are planning.
for dinner we had spanish tortilla, a couple pieces of ham, and salad. we had yogurt for dessert. after dinner i was hoping i would take a nap, but i didn't. i went out for a little while with some friends because today was one the girl's birthdays. they got tapas, but i was too full to eat anything. i had a tinto de verano. it was very good.
it's late so i should probably get to sleep! this city never rests and that makes it very hard to get on a schedule, but i wouldn't trade it for anything!
class was fun. in my grammar class we do a lot of activities to really make the time fly by. my teacher makes the class enjoyable. after class i stopped and bought a pair of shorts.. only because it was a really good deal! i feel like i could wear pants here every day because it is cool in the mornings and evenings.
for lunch we had soup, a piece of ham that was very salty, and cooked red peppers. it was good. i had watermelon for dessert. i didn't siesta today. i did rest a bit while catching up with things on the internet.
we had an activity today to Huerto de Calisto y Melibea. it is a garden in salamanca within the school buildings. it was very pretty, and had a great view of the cathedral. it was unique because inside the garden is a well. it is a tradition and very romantic for couples to visit the well with a lock. many of them write their initials, place the lock on the well, and throw the key down the well. it is supposed to symbolize that they will be together forever. there were hardly any locks on the well when we went, so our director thought that maybe someone cleaned it up for the summer so people would have room to place their locks.
the well with only a few locks
the well with the locks
this is a picture i found online to show how many locks are typically on the well.
for dinner we had spanish tortilla, a couple pieces of ham, and salad. we had yogurt for dessert. after dinner i was hoping i would take a nap, but i didn't. i went out for a little while with some friends because today was one the girl's birthdays. they got tapas, but i was too full to eat anything. i had a tinto de verano. it was very good.
view from the garden
my realization
***this should have posted monday, but there was an error***
last night for dinner we had quite the assortment. we had a fried egg, salami, potato salad that had potato, onion, tomato, and green olives, a slice of ham, and bread. for dessert i had yogurt. i stayed in last night to finish homework and relax. i love going out and doing things, but it's nice to relax once in awhile.
this morning i had class. classes here are going so well. they are completely taught in spanish. my grammar teacher is very easy going. we haven't had homework yet. he is a lot of fun and very, very laid back. he doesn't like to hear us talking in english and if he does he will throw a piece of chalk our way to get us to stop, in a joking manner of course. my conversation teacher is very energetic. she allows us to speak in english only when we don't know how to say something in spanish, and then she will translate it. i got my first homework assignment back today. i had a few small mistakes that she corrected, but i think she counts things for participation. i know that i will have 2 tests in each class the last week of classes.
after class i stopped by the program office to get help with planning our trip. i think a group is really leaning towards going to paris. after lunch and siesta we are going to meet up and look into it some more. we need to get the trip booked within the next day or two because we are really running out of time.
i've spent one full week in salamanca and i feel like this city has changed me. as americans we are so used to getting and doing everything right now. it's completely different here. everybody is so relaxed it's absolutely incredible. there's no rush to do or get anywhere. for example, if you go out to dinner and order a drink... it may take a little while for your drink to come because your waiter/waitress stopped to talk with a friend. and the same goes for getting your bill after a meal. the just expect that after you're finished eating everyone will sit back and talk.. you don't just eat and leave here. i've noticed a few times where i've gotten a little peeved that the check took forever to come or that i didn't get my drink immediately and then i realize it's just not how things are here.
i think salamanca is going to teach me patience. and for those of you that know me... know that is something i have little of. walking to class today i was trying to compare how things are done in the US compared to how things are done here. it's quite interesting. i think this city will also teach me patience for people who don't speak english. until i came to spain i've never been on the other end. here, i have thoughts and things that i want to say, but they are often far too complicated for my spanish vocabulary. knowing what you want to say, but not how to say it is extremely frustrating. at work i often have to call insurance companies and more often than not i get someone on the other end who i can barely understand. in my american world of get things done as fast as possible i get so aggravated with them and i really shouldn't. people here have been so patient with us as a group trying to live and communicate in this city. it's truly a wonderful thing. i really feel like my comprehension of the spanish language has greatly improved, but i often find myself at a loss for words, or it may take me too long to think of what i want to say. i translate everything in my head and repeat it a few times in my head before i actually say it. i try so hard to make sure that the sentences i say are correct, and maybe i should focus more on my speaking. i'm going to make mistakes, i know that. but it's better to try and make the mistakes then not speak at all. i believe that the majority of the people that i come into contact with will correct me when i say something wrong. but it's just so new to me to not always be able to communicate.
in our program office there is a quote i really like it says: "you are the one that looks different, eats strange food, needs unusual comforts, and speaks a foreign language." i really like it. everytime i stop by the office it's a nice reminder that this city and the people aren't going to adapt to me. i have to adapt to them.
on a lighter note, all through europe i have noticed how absolutely adorable the children here are. i've yet to see a child that i didn't just want to take home with me. the kids are so well dressed and so put together. little boys running around in striped suspenders with matching shoes, and girls in beautiful dresses with matching hair pieces and shoes. not that kids aren't adorable in the US, but i feel like people here spend so much more time getting their children ready, and buying very, very nice clothes for them. i'll have to try to take pictures so i can show everyone. people here don't dress down. i've yet to see people wearing sweat pants, sweat shirts, or tshirts around the city. everyone goes out in their "sunday best" every day. it's been quite surprising
for lunch today we had noodles with a very, very light red sauce. we also had broiled chicken (one of my favorite things my host mom cooks!!), and salad. i also had yogurt for dessert. i worked on homework and took a small siesta after lunch.
our program took our entire group out for tapas tonight. tapas are not to be confused with appetizers in the US. in the US we get appetizers when we go to dinner and share them amongst the entire table. in spain, tapas are a small single portion snack to tide you over until dinner. because most people have lunch between 2-2:30 and then dinner around 9:30-10 people will stop to get tapas before dinner. there are so many different kinds of tapas. i had one that had bacon, eggs, and potatos in it. it was good, but i thought it was pretty greasy. we also went to another place and i got something that resembled spanish tortilla. it was made of bread, ham, egg, and had a cheese i wasn't familiar with on top. when you go out for tapas you usually stop at more than one bar/restaurant. common drink for tapas are a small glass of beer, a clara (beer mixed with clear soda), and tinto de verano (red wine mixed with clear soda). i chose the tinto de verano at both places and it was very good.
after tapas a group of us went to get ice cream and sat in the plaza for awhile. the plaza mayor is the "hangout" since it is in the center of the city and there are always so many people there. if you want to go anywhere in salamanca you more than likely have to pass through the plaza mayor. it's a great place to people watch.
i'm going to relax and catch up on some stuff before bed!
last night for dinner we had quite the assortment. we had a fried egg, salami, potato salad that had potato, onion, tomato, and green olives, a slice of ham, and bread. for dessert i had yogurt. i stayed in last night to finish homework and relax. i love going out and doing things, but it's nice to relax once in awhile.
this morning i had class. classes here are going so well. they are completely taught in spanish. my grammar teacher is very easy going. we haven't had homework yet. he is a lot of fun and very, very laid back. he doesn't like to hear us talking in english and if he does he will throw a piece of chalk our way to get us to stop, in a joking manner of course. my conversation teacher is very energetic. she allows us to speak in english only when we don't know how to say something in spanish, and then she will translate it. i got my first homework assignment back today. i had a few small mistakes that she corrected, but i think she counts things for participation. i know that i will have 2 tests in each class the last week of classes.
after class i stopped by the program office to get help with planning our trip. i think a group is really leaning towards going to paris. after lunch and siesta we are going to meet up and look into it some more. we need to get the trip booked within the next day or two because we are really running out of time.
i've spent one full week in salamanca and i feel like this city has changed me. as americans we are so used to getting and doing everything right now. it's completely different here. everybody is so relaxed it's absolutely incredible. there's no rush to do or get anywhere. for example, if you go out to dinner and order a drink... it may take a little while for your drink to come because your waiter/waitress stopped to talk with a friend. and the same goes for getting your bill after a meal. the just expect that after you're finished eating everyone will sit back and talk.. you don't just eat and leave here. i've noticed a few times where i've gotten a little peeved that the check took forever to come or that i didn't get my drink immediately and then i realize it's just not how things are here.
i think salamanca is going to teach me patience. and for those of you that know me... know that is something i have little of. walking to class today i was trying to compare how things are done in the US compared to how things are done here. it's quite interesting. i think this city will also teach me patience for people who don't speak english. until i came to spain i've never been on the other end. here, i have thoughts and things that i want to say, but they are often far too complicated for my spanish vocabulary. knowing what you want to say, but not how to say it is extremely frustrating. at work i often have to call insurance companies and more often than not i get someone on the other end who i can barely understand. in my american world of get things done as fast as possible i get so aggravated with them and i really shouldn't. people here have been so patient with us as a group trying to live and communicate in this city. it's truly a wonderful thing. i really feel like my comprehension of the spanish language has greatly improved, but i often find myself at a loss for words, or it may take me too long to think of what i want to say. i translate everything in my head and repeat it a few times in my head before i actually say it. i try so hard to make sure that the sentences i say are correct, and maybe i should focus more on my speaking. i'm going to make mistakes, i know that. but it's better to try and make the mistakes then not speak at all. i believe that the majority of the people that i come into contact with will correct me when i say something wrong. but it's just so new to me to not always be able to communicate.
in our program office there is a quote i really like it says: "you are the one that looks different, eats strange food, needs unusual comforts, and speaks a foreign language." i really like it. everytime i stop by the office it's a nice reminder that this city and the people aren't going to adapt to me. i have to adapt to them.
on a lighter note, all through europe i have noticed how absolutely adorable the children here are. i've yet to see a child that i didn't just want to take home with me. the kids are so well dressed and so put together. little boys running around in striped suspenders with matching shoes, and girls in beautiful dresses with matching hair pieces and shoes. not that kids aren't adorable in the US, but i feel like people here spend so much more time getting their children ready, and buying very, very nice clothes for them. i'll have to try to take pictures so i can show everyone. people here don't dress down. i've yet to see people wearing sweat pants, sweat shirts, or tshirts around the city. everyone goes out in their "sunday best" every day. it's been quite surprising
for lunch today we had noodles with a very, very light red sauce. we also had broiled chicken (one of my favorite things my host mom cooks!!), and salad. i also had yogurt for dessert. i worked on homework and took a small siesta after lunch.
our program took our entire group out for tapas tonight. tapas are not to be confused with appetizers in the US. in the US we get appetizers when we go to dinner and share them amongst the entire table. in spain, tapas are a small single portion snack to tide you over until dinner. because most people have lunch between 2-2:30 and then dinner around 9:30-10 people will stop to get tapas before dinner. there are so many different kinds of tapas. i had one that had bacon, eggs, and potatos in it. it was good, but i thought it was pretty greasy. we also went to another place and i got something that resembled spanish tortilla. it was made of bread, ham, egg, and had a cheese i wasn't familiar with on top. when you go out for tapas you usually stop at more than one bar/restaurant. common drink for tapas are a small glass of beer, a clara (beer mixed with clear soda), and tinto de verano (red wine mixed with clear soda). i chose the tinto de verano at both places and it was very good.
after tapas a group of us went to get ice cream and sat in the plaza for awhile. the plaza mayor is the "hangout" since it is in the center of the city and there are always so many people there. if you want to go anywhere in salamanca you more than likely have to pass through the plaza mayor. it's a great place to people watch.
i'm going to relax and catch up on some stuff before bed!
Sunday, July 8, 2012
la alberca
today the group went to la alberca. la alberca is a very, very small village about 45 minutes to an hour from salamanca. it was too small of a village to have a formal tour, so we were free to just look around. i picked up a few gifts while i was there.
in the beginning of june every year, the village of la alberca releases a very small pig to roam the village. the pig wanders the streets and people will feed it and sometimes let it stay in their houses. the pig does this until january when it is killed and then eaten. we looked for the pig running the streets today, but we didn't have any luck finding it.
after we visited la alberca we went to a natural pool. i had no idea what to expect and boy was i surprised. it was more or less like swimming in the river. it was definitely full of nature. it was really rocky and there were pricky things on parts of the ground so you had to be careful where you walked. we spent a few hours there. a group of us left the natural pool early to get out of the sun and have ice cream.
tonight i'm not planning on doing much of anything. i've had a long couple of days and definitely need to rest. i also have a little bit of homework i need to finish for tomorrow.
in the beginning of june every year, the village of la alberca releases a very small pig to roam the village. the pig wanders the streets and people will feed it and sometimes let it stay in their houses. the pig does this until january when it is killed and then eaten. we looked for the pig running the streets today, but we didn't have any luck finding it.
after we visited la alberca we went to a natural pool. i had no idea what to expect and boy was i surprised. it was more or less like swimming in the river. it was definitely full of nature. it was really rocky and there were pricky things on parts of the ground so you had to be careful where you walked. we spent a few hours there. a group of us left the natural pool early to get out of the sun and have ice cream.
the plaza mayor in la alberca
meat shop in la alberca. these are very common all over spain.
natural pool
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)