Soccer and Chocolate

Mother Nature must be in a good mood this week.  Salamanca has been enjoying some beautiful weather the past few days...Perfect weather for a soccer game in the park and chocolate ice cream in the Plaza Mayor.  I think I was outside for a total of almost seven hours yesterday:  A walk to the train station to buy tickets to Valladolid with Julia, a coffee break, sitting on the ledge that overlooks the city in my favorite park, playing soccer with some friends next to the river, and finally, savoring a delicious dark chocolate ice cream while sitting in the Plaza.  Everyone was out and about yesterday.  There were so many people in the parks and in the Plaza.  Salamanca is starting to warm up and I love it.  Unfortunately, I have a lot of homework to get done this weekend.  I went out this morning and bought my newspaper but for the rest of the day I will be studying grammar and writing an essay about immigration.  Maybe I'll go out later to watch the sunset.  My friend Julia and I are taking a day trip to Valladolid, the capital of Castilla y León, next Friday.  It'll be nice to spend some time in a new city and have a change of scenery for the day.  I can't believe it's almost March!  When did that happen?  Time is flying by.  I'll be talking to you all again soon.  Besos y abrazos.        

Un Día Impresionante

I just returned from a much-needed walk.  Nothing clears my head quite like a stroll along el Río Tormes.  It's such a peaceful place.  No matter what has been on my mind, the beauty of this place calms my thoughts.  Today is one of those days when you wish you had your camera and at the same time are glad that you don't.  I took slow, quiet steps.  I smiled as an elderly couple passed me walking hand in hand.  I listened to the water flow and the birds sing.  I absorbed it all.  These are the days that make me realize how precious time is.  In the States, I feel like my time is so rigidly scheduled that I don't notice things like I do here.  I'm looking into the same sky and feeling the same breeze...it's strange to think about.  I know that when I'm home, certain things from my time here will stick with me...at least I hope so.  Walking for the sake of enjoying the day.  Fresh fruit for dessert.  Sipping coffee with good friends.  Time for myself.  I'm thinking of you all and sending good vibes your way.  Hasta la próxima vez.      

A Perfect Weekend...

As I wrote in my last post, I was in Toledo and Madrid this past weekend.  It was nice to be able to visit those places again.  I also enjoyed spending time with some of the people that I hadn't gotten to know very well.  All in all, we had an amazing weekend.  The weather couldn't have been more pleasant:  a clear blue sky, the sun shining brightly, and a fresh breeze in the air.  I don't have much to write about Toledo since we did essentially the same tour as last semester.  But Madrid is a different story. Three other girls and I were able to get tickets to the Real Madrid soccer game on Saturday night.  Woot woot!  Mind you, I know diddly-squat about soccer.  But I had so much fun.  It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  I have been comparing it to when I watched the bullfight last semester during Las Ferias in Salamanca:  it wasn't something that I was desperate to witness.  I don't love bullfights just like I don't love soccer.  But there is a cultural aspect to both of those events and I know that I would have regretted not going.  Real Madrid slaughtered Racing Santander 4-0.  I'd like to believe that they won because Emily, Mary Kate, Haley, and I were there.  

On Sunday morning, we took a tour of the city and ended at Museo del Prado.  Having already done the professional tour of one of the most famous art museums in the world, my friend Julia and I tackled the Prado on our own.  After exploring for an hour or so, we decided to get some lunch and stroll through the city.  It was a perfect Sunday.  We bought some ice cream, roamed the streets that had hosted a massive protest only hours before, and eventually settled on the grassy knoll next to the Prado and soaked up the sunshine.

I returned home last night both exhausted and refreshed...if that is possible.  Exhausted because we did so much in such a small window of time.  Refreshed because I spent so much of that time breathing the crisp air and taking in the splendor of a Sunday afternoon in Spain.  

 

       

Adelante, Juntos Adelante

Happy (early) Valentine's Day to everyone back home.  I had a little time on my hands today so I thought I'd write a quick update.  This past weekend was pretty relaxing.  I bought a paper to read throughout the week, went out for coffee, and sketched a little bit.  As tomorrow approaches, I have realized that it has been four years since the fatal shooting at Northern Illinois University.  While our community should always remember those who lost their lives in that tragedy, it is important to always look ahead.  Forward, Together Forward.  This upcoming weekend I will be in Toledo and Madrid with AIFS again.  A couple of friends and I are desperately attempting to purchase tickets for the Real Madrid soccer game on Saturday night.  It is not working.  I will update my blog and post new pictures on Facebook after this weekend.  Feliz Día de San Valentín a todos.   

Frustration

Calling all Spaniards!  Breaking news!  Not everyone who lives in the United States is filthy rich.  Honestly.  And no, Fabi, I have never eaten lunch in the living room.  Never.  Last night my nerves were tested a little bit.  I love Spain but it drives me crazy that a lot of people have the impression that all Americans are loaded with dough.  Last night, like most nights, I was watching a news program with Angelita and Fabi.  The segment was about the life of luxury that some Spaniards are lucky enough to live:  dinner for the low price of 200 euro a plate, indoor pools, 900 euro watches...you get the point.  I couldn't believe some of the things that these people were spending their money on.  It was incredible.  Obviously, there are many people around the world that can afford to live this lifestyle.  I am not one of them.  So naturally, I was a little taken aback.  I exclaimed, "Por Dios..." many times throughout the segment.  And then Fabi turns to me and says, "Pero hay gente así en Miami...en todos los Estados Unidos."  He could have just as easily said New York or Los Angeles.  But our whole country is not like Miami, New York, or Los Angeles.  Another frustration:  Men always want to be correct.  In general...not just in Spain.  During dinner last night Angelita mentioned that sometimes when there are a lot of people in the house for meals, they eat in the living room because there is more space.  She asked me if I remembered eating in there.  To which I replied, "No.  No he comido en el salón.  Nunca."  Fabi did not believe me.  But it is absolutely true that I have never eaten in that room.  But they would not let it go.  Angelita told Fabi to stop insisting on the fact that, in his opinion, I have eaten in that room many times.  It continued all through dinner.  And out of respect for my homestay family, I let it go.  There is a point when you have to just accept that they are not going to agree with you.  Anyway...I did not intend for this to be a rant about my host family at all.  I love them so much.  But there are always little glitches in the system.  They are inevitable.  And honestly, the bumps along the road are part of the learning process.  Everyone has a different perspective.          

Amendment

Correction:  This is not just any other Sunday in Salamanca.  I finished reading a chapter of the novel for my Literature class, looked out my window, and saw a rainbow.  And as I gazed, a flock of storks flew into the city from the East.  The rainbow is already gone but it was beautiful. 

Mission Accomplished: Spanish Etiquette

It has been a very uneventful Sunday here in Salamanca.  I woke up a little later than normal, ate my typical Spanish breakfast (two pieces of toast with jam, two galletas, and coffee), read some of the paper that I bought yesterday (I'm on page 13 of 63...yes, a 63 page weekend paper), started and finished my Translation homework, started and finished my Academic Writing homework, ate lunch with the family, and I just woke up from a little siesta.  Now I have this whole afternoon without much to do.  Oh well.  It's actually nice to have some down time since this past week was busy.  But I have a feeling that I will have much more free time on my hands this semester as opposed to last semester.  I love Salamanca so much but the novelty of this place is starting to fade away.  I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing.  It's normal.  I've done all of the things you're supposed to do in Salamanca as a tourist or a foreign student.  But since I'm lucky enough to have more time here than most students, I've reached the point where my life here is comfortable and not as exciting as before.  Don't get me wrong...sometimes when I'm out for a walk, I look around and say to myself, "I can't believe I get to live and study here.  It's so beautiful."  And I do realize that to many of my friends and family back home this experience is extraordinary.  I know that when I'm home this summer, it will hit me just how special this experience is and I will have a new appreciation for it.  Anyway...moving on.  Last semester I wrote about Spanish table manners and how I did not posses them.  Well, that has been rectified as of today.  I decapitated the shrimp in my paella with ease and never once set my unused left hand in my lap.  Angelita complimented me and I left the kitchen with a smile on my face.  I think I might be getting a bit of a cold.  But don't worry.  It's nothing that Tylenol and an orange can't fix.  Os quiero.  Un beso a todos.  Os echo de menos.                   

Back to School

As I wrote last weekend, we had a placement exam on Monday morning.  I'm happy to say that it went very well and I'm loving my classes already.  They are challenging but that's the point.  I am taking four courses this semester:  Latin-American Literature, Grammar, Academic Writing, and Translation.  Sounds like fun, right?  But in all seriousness, it's nice to be taking classes that force me to work everyday.  I'll stay busy and I know that I'll learn so much this semester.  On Monday night, AIFS treated us to a little meet-and-greet party.  It started off with all of us full-year students clumping together but eventually I branched out and met a bunch of people who are new to Salamanca this Spring.  Free pizza, dancing, old friends, new friends...you can't beat that.  It was so much fun.  For the most part, my life here in Salamanca picked up right where it left off.  I have been going for a "paseo" and studying every day.  I still love to watch the news with Angelita and Fabi.  It's comfortable.  Angelita jokes with me all the time that I'm "the girl who doesn't go out."  That's okay with me though.  However, I have promised a couple of my friends that I will go out for an official birthday drink when I turn twenty-one.  On Wednesday night I attended a Flamenco and Sevillana dance class.  I am certainly not a dancer but I enjoyed it.  Flamenco and Sevillana are two traditional Spanish dances.  My partner and I were doing more of a hoedown "swing your partner round and round" sort of thing.  What's important is that we tried our hardest.  Not much else is going on here in Salamanca.  Although, everyone is talking about this Siberian cold front that has infiltrated the country.  It is cold.  When I go for walks, I wear two scarves, gloves, a headband, and my heavy winter coat and all I hear on the streets is the whistle of the wind and people shuddering, "Que frío..."  Spain is in a panic but it feels just like a Chicago winter to me...minus the snow.  At least it's sunny.  Hasta pronto.