Mi gatito nuevo :)

Yesterday I adopted a 3 month old kitten from the humane society. He is adorable--a snuggle bug and he loves to play! I haven't decided on a name for him for sure, but I like Simon because the markings on his back look like a chipmunk's. If I named him Alvin he'd be a trouble-maker for sure, so I'll avoid that. Whatever you name them is what they become so I better be careful!

I'm back home!

Hola! Llegué a casa finalmente. I got home tonight around 9:30 after a very long day--literally the sun was shining twice as long! Good trip overall :)

Hasta luego!

Packing

Just packing my stuff up for my flight tomorrow. My last day of class was good :)

Solo 2 días más...

Hola! Only 2 more days...I've been doing some last minute shopping and going to class still, even though we've taken our final exams in most classes. I'm really glad I went to Portugal this past weekend instead of studying in Salamanca because my exams weren't really that difficult in hindsight. Tonight we have a ceremony and little get-together afterwards to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the Masters program!

It's really weird, I'm actually doubting my English as I type this. I guess that's a good sign that I've been practicing my Spanish a lot. I always wonder how much more I can improve, but I always do. It's a shame that I have to go back home and get immersed in English again. I wish I could practice it more often in addition to teaching it. I might look into volunteering at this place close to home where I can help tutor students who speak Spanish as their first language.

Hasta pronto :)

Examenes Finales

I'm a little stressed--studying for my finals. Yay! Today I took my culture and cinema exam. Tomorrow I have my Evolution of Spanish exam, Thursday I have Grammar and Spanish Literature, and finally Friday I have History. Then I'm done and on my way back home Saturday noon. Me vuelve loca :)

Porto, Portugal

Hola! I'm back from visiting Porto, Portugal. It was fun and definitely a different experience there than in Salamanca. We arrived Friday night around 6 (and gained an hour from Spain time) and left today just after noon. It took us awhile longer to get home because despite the fact that we were using a GPS, we still managed to get lost a bit. The positive part of getting side-tracked was that we took a new route back that took us through the wine country! I've never seen anything like it--beautiful! (See pix).

Friday we went out to dinner down by the Douro River and walked around by all of the shops. There were a lot of people out shopping at that time. After that we came back to the hotel and crashed after such a long day. We woke up early Saturday morning and ate an awesome free breakfast at our hotel. Portugal has good food--especially pastries! After breakfast we took a tour bus around the city and stopped by the river again to take some pictures and walk around. The buildings and houses there are very white and even though I've never been to Greece, it reminded me of it. It's was beautiful! We then went on a boat ride down the river, got off, and walked down this VERY narrow two way street up a hill to go wine-tasting at Graham's. You know how in the movies they show people dancing and smashing the grapes with their feet to make the wine? It takes 5 hours non-stop to do that, and the people that used to do that would spend the first part of the day picking the grapes and then carrying them in these heavy baskets. I guess it's not as fun as it looks, but I would still like to try it someday :) Oh yeah, and the Port wine was yummy too--sweet. On our way back on the tour bus, we saw a ton of guys getting ready to jump off the big bridge into the river--locos! That was really high up.

After the wine tour we went out to eat and hit the breezy beach. It was pretty chilly, but nice. Needless to say, we didn't swim. I wonder if it would have been better if we went earlier in the day. For dinner we went to this pizzeria/gelateria, creperia and tried a little of all three things. Yum! They even offered a pizza with banana and ham or something.

I just realized that this is my LAST Sunday here. Next week at this time I'll be home...

Manana y el Finde

Tomorrow after class we're heading to Porto, Portugal in a rental car. It's the first (and last weekend) that we have Saturday and Sunday to do what we want. Next week is exam week too, so I'm trying to study tonight so I'm not cramming next week. Portugal will be the first country that I go to where I will truly have no idea what people are saying. I can understand Portuguese better when it's written than when it's spoken. Yikes! I wish I could have more time to see more of Spain...that will have to be next year I guess.

More touring of Salamanca

Buenas tardes! I just got back from another mini tour of some other important sites to see in Salamanca. The first place we stopped was La Casa de las Conchas, or the House of Shells, which is actually a public library. We also saw the residences of Nebrija (1441-1522) who was the first author of spanish grammar, and Unamuno (1864-1936) who was also an author and rector of the University. As I was walking back home after the tour with Jen, we noticed that this old church was open and it is usually closed, so we went inside. It's Jen's favorite church because it's imperfect looking inside...It survived an earthquake 100's of years ago.

Today the weather was a little cooler with some breeze! Oh yeah, and yesterday for lunch I tried real typical Spanish Paella with seafood. It was good!

Hasta luego...

Time is flying

I had a good weekend--it seemed extra long because I didn't really have any work to do. On Saturday I did some shopping in Salamanca and then went to the movies later on. On Sunday, we went on an excursion as a class to Zamora and Toro. The first place we stopped was the Iglesia, or church, of San Pedro de la Nave. This church is one of the last works of Visigothic art, dating back to the late 7th century. In Zamora, we visited La Catedral (cathedral) de Zamora, which was built in the 12th century. We also had some free time to explore the pretty little town...there were a lot of stores, although none were open. We ate lunch in a small park under some really cool looking trees. Finally, we drove to Toro to visit yet another church: La iglesia-colegiata de Toro. At Toro, there was a great view of the countryside and some really pretty gardens.

I can't believe that I have less than 2 weeks left only! It's true, once you start getting into a routine, it's time to go...

Es viernes-yay!

Hola! I love Fridays because we get out of class early and we don't have an evening class. Today the girls and I went paddle boating in the Río Tormes. It was really fun! (See pics.) The weather was great as always, and not too hot. I think I forgot to mention that we tried to go last Saturday morning, but nobody was there to help us. There is no number to call or schedule; I think the guy just comes when he wants. Anyways, we ended up finding a huge outdoor pool nearby last week to swim in instead. (Oh yeah, and at the pool, there were women sunbathing without tops...) So anyways we were lucky today that someone was there to help us. Afterwards paddle boating, we walked back and noticed on the bridge that people locked personalized locks with the date on the bridge...they probably locked it on and then threw the key in the river. One of them said 1982...I wonder if it's really been on there that long, or if someone just wrote that year for a different significance. Interesting. Also on our way back we had some Café helado in a little coffee shop called Café y Té. It was really good--strong, but good! I'm awake now that's for sure!

Oh yeah, I did well on my exams, so all of the studying paid off! The hardest test for me was grammar--I'm learning all of these new rules that I never learned in high school Spanish when I learned grammar. It's really helping me though!

Tomorrow I'm going shopping and watching a movie at the theatre for the first time. I'm excited--movie withdrawals. I try not thinking about the things I miss, but that's definitely one of them. I love watching movies. And reading books too, which I can do here more easily but I hardly have time! I'm going to try and read books in Spanish more often too.

Las Catedrales

I just got back from a mini field trip with my class to the old and new cathedrals in Salamanca. They're really close to our classes. I had visited the new one the first weekend I spent here, but since I went on my own, I didn't learn as much and I also didn't get to go into the old one. In the old cathedral at the front, there are a ton of colorful pictures that depict the life of Christ. This was done in the 15th century, when less people knew how to read. It's amazing how colorful the paintings still are today. (See the pic!) Also, I found it interesting that there are tombs under the cathedral. On the floor you can see blocks about the size of caskets all lined up with numbers on them. It's like a cemetery. They also had the arm of this priest who died during the Spanish Civil war in a little case. EWWW! (I took a picture but I can hardly stand to look at it!!)

Today I took my exams for Grammar and Literature--they went well overall I think. Tomorrow I have my exams for History and Evolution of the Spanish. Oh yeah, and I tried fried calamari today for lunch. It was good...

!Olé olé olé olé que viva España!

Yay! So I'm sure you've heard--Spain won the World Cup! It was a little nerve-racking. We watched the game at the Corte Inglés again, and it was even more packed! It's funny though, even though there were a ton of people there, it was practically silent when everyone was concentrating on the game. After we won, it was raining all sorts of beverages, fireworks were going off, people were beeping their car horns or blowing their trumpets and banging their drums. It was a spontaneous parade and sea of people in the streets of Salamanca after the game--chanting and waving their flags. I've never seen anything like it...and to imagine that I was in just one city, and the entire country was celebrating the first time they won it! Everyone walked to the Plaza Mayor--following the herd in the streets. The Plaza Mayor was just as packed. I'm sure it was like that far into the night, because when I walked to class this morning around 8 there were still people out in last night's clothes looking like they hadn't yet slept!

Before the game yesterday, we went on an excursion to Segovia, which is just north of Madrid. We saw a really cool looking cathedral in gothic style architecture, the famous aqueduct, and the Alcázar castle, where Ferdinand and Isabella got married. We got to go inside the castle and I saw a real throne! I took a lot of pictures on that trip.

Estudiando

Today seems like a really long day! The weather is nice like always, and class didn't go as long as it usually does--we got done at 1 and on Friday we don't have afternoon class! Afterwards, we decided to go to a Mexican restaurant for lunch...it was okay. I guess I'm a little spoiled with "La Estación" authentic Mexican food. I couldn't believe they didn't have chips and salsa for us. I like the Spanish food I've been eating here though (see pix).

After lunch we had some ice cream and then headed to the girls' dorm to start studying for our mid-term exams that are next week already. There is so much to learn in such a short amount of time--thus the need to study on Friday afternoon. We took a break to try and find Blake's room key. She lost it this morning and figured she left it in her room, but then couldn't find it there either so we went on an adventure. It was hilarious! We ended up borrowing a broom from the janitor to use to search inside of this huge closed recycle bin on the side of the road. In the end, we still didn't find her key! Tomorrow it's supposed to be very hot outside, so we're thinking of taking a paddle boat down the river. Sunday we have another excursion with our class, so I'll be staying in Salamanca this weekend again.

Viva Espana!

Wow! Last night I watched Spain and Germany play in the semifinal for the World Cup and it was crazy here because we won! Usually I don't get into sports, but it's impossible not to when everyone else is :) This time I went to the Corte Inglés to watch the game outside with this huge screen. It was packed!...Kind of like a tailgate with a ton of people. (See the pics.) On Sunday they'll play against the Netherlands for the final game. Spain's never won before so I can't even imagine what it will be like here.

It's been very hot here--up to 100 and there's not air conditioning in a lot of places like we have it in the U.S. They don't even allow air conditioning in the University so once it hits about noon everyone whips out their personal abanicas (fans) and starts waving them at their faces. I really don't mind the heat though. I'm getting used to things now, which makes it easier. It's weird when you live in another country you start to notice how inconvenient things can be when you don't have a car, or have a washing machine/dryer, etc. Everything is harder, but you get used to it.

I'm on my lunch/siesta break right now until 5 pm, so I think I might take advantage and actually nap.

Adiós!

Back to class

On Sunday we went on an excursion as a class to two places in the state of Castilla y León--Ávila (las murallas-Medieval walls) and Alba de Tormes (the Castle of the dukes of Alba). We also learned all about Santa Teresa, and even saw her dried up heart and arm in a glass case (gross)!! It's cool to be in places that have so much history. It takes you back so you can imagine what happened centuries ago.

I had class today again after having a break for the conference last week. I'm learning a lot about the culture (today we talked about food!), the most recent history, as well as the history of the Spanish language that we speak today. In my grammar class we're reviewing everything I learned in high school Spanish at a "review pace." It's mainly for the native Spanish-speakers in my class that already know how to speak the language and need to know why they use the grammar they use so that they can teach it. It's also good for me so that I know I'm using the right words when I speak and write the language.

The food has been great! Today for lunch I had chicken breast, lentil soup, and a fresh fruit salad. For dinner I had gazpacho soup and a "tortilla espanola" which is like an omelette with potatoes, onion, and cheese.

Tomorrow I plan to do some shopping after class--they have some really good sales on clothes. Everyone wears dresses here, so I may have to find one :) They also just recently opened up a Corte Inglés, which is like a mall that has everything. I'm also kind of having movie withdrawals, so I'm hoping to find someone else that is interested in seeing Eclipse--it opened here the same day as in the U.S.

Adiós!

Ayer y hoy (Yesterday and today)

Bueno, son las ocho y cuarenta de la noche el sábado y estoy en casa durante un partido de fútbol muy importante para Espana. It's 8:40 p.m. on Saturday and I'm at home during a very important soccer game for Spain. I was planning on going to the Plaza Mayor to watch it again like last week because it's really cool to see there, but I took a longer siesta than I expected. It's nice to know that I can just walk over there when I want, but you know how naps are...they make you lazy!

Anyway, yesterday was the last day of the ELE international Spanish teachers conference. Overall, it was "okay." I was looking forward to learning more applicable ready-to-use activities in my classroom. It was more theory-based and geared toward teachers at the college level. After the conference I went home to eat and then met some friends to experience Salamanca at night. People don't really start to "go-out" until after 11 and the discotecs stay open way into the morning. A lot of the music was in English too.

Earlier today I took a tour of the city of Salamanca with some friends. I'm beginning to like it here more and more as I'm finally having an opportunity to see what it has to offer. We went to a couple of places. First, La Casa Lis, which I thought was really cool. It's an art nouveau and art deco museum. They had a pretty big Picasso exhibit, creepy looking dolls from France and Italy, glass and metal figures and sculptures, etc. Also it looked really pretty inside with stained glass flowers everywhere. Unfortunately I wasn't allowed to take any pictures though. On their website there are pix. http://www.museocasalis.org/ I also had some traditional Spanish hot "chocolate," which was AMAZING! After the art museum, we headed to the New Cathedral (see picture) and also toured inside. Then on our way to this old monastery we found this historical site called La Cueva de Salamanca (the cave), whose history is mixed with old literature. We were able to then climb up some stairs and see a pretty good view of the city from there too (see picture). Then we tried getting into the monastery but it wasn't open--I guess it has a really pretty garden. From there, we headed for lunch at the usual Spanish lunch time between 2 and 3 p.m. We ate from a menú del día. First, we had bread and wine/water. Then, we had salad/gazpacho. Then, the main meal chicken. Then, vanilla ice cream for dessert. The lunches are like dinners here :) Anyway, I'm going to go see how the game is going on t.v. possibly. I keep hearing horns from my window that are echoing down the street!

ELE Encuentro Internacional

!Hola todos! Today we attended an international conference for teachers of Spanish. We're also going tomorrow and Friday. It went all day, so we did this instead of classes, which is a nice break. (It's funny that I say that considering I've only had two days of class...it's just kind of intense!) It's really cool to meet people from different countries who are also teaching the language. I've also learned a couple of new activities that I can apply to my classes. On the other hand, my impression is that Spaniards are pretty boring (very formal) when they give presentations. I ate in the residence's cafeteria for lunch today with the other students that live on campus. I also went to a little chocolatería and tried Spanish churros y chocolate. It's normally something the Spaniards eat in the winter, but I HAD to try them and they definitely satisfied my craving for chocolate!

Also, last night was really exciting--I went to the Plaza Mayor to watch the fútbol (soccer) game between Spain and Portugal. It was filled with people! And, it was even cooler because Spain won. It was insane! People shouting and wearing flags and honking their horns. I took a video and some pictures.

Anyways, I better go because it's getting late. I keep telling myself that I'll go to bed earlier the next day, but it never works out. It doesn't even get dark here until after 10 pm so it makes it difficult.

Buenas noches :)

First Full Day!

!Buenas! Estoy en mi cuarto en el apartamento de mi familia Salmantina. (For those of you that don't know Spanish: I'm in my room at my Salamancan family's apartment.) I have internet at home from Spain's time 3 to 10 pm! I'm happy I chose to live with a family, even though I think I'm the only one that's NOT living on campus. My host mom is nice and very helpful, but it's hard to judge things here because not many people smile; they seem very serious. It's hard to get used to :(. I think she's divorced because she doesn't have a husband and I met her oldest of two sons. They also have two dogs...I'll have to post a pic.

Today was the first day of classes and it was exhausting I have to say! I only slept 4 hours because I was going through all of the materials and lost track of time. I have class during the week from 8:30 until 2:00 everyday and then a lunch break until 4:40, which begins my afternoon 2 hour class. The afternoon class is pop culture and film, but today watching a movie in a dark theatre so late in the day was really bad for me...I was trying so hard to not fall asleep and I succeeded but I didn't concentrate on the movie very well! I guess the trickiest thing for me right now is learning how to get around in the city. I've gotten lost a few times walking to and from the apartment, but I found my way because the people are VERY willing to help. I'm talking to a lot more natives of Spain than I had the opportunity to do with the natives of Costa Rica. I feel like I've been here longer than I have!

Oh and something very coincidental happened! On Sunday when I got here around 6:00 pm I unpacked my bags and then needed to head to the University for an orientation at 7:00. I ended up arriving about a half an hour late because Vicen's (my host mom) car needed to be jumped by her not-so-willing son! She needed to drive me because she really didn't know exactly where the building was and it would be faster. Anyway...I missed the majority of the meeting, but at the end when I was getting all of my materials a girl came up to me and introduced herself. I told her where I was from and then she looked shocked. It's turns out she (this is crazy!) is one of two teachers from Arrowhead High School that are in the program and she also graduated from Arrowhead in 1999. If you didn't know, I also graduated from Arrowhead. I've also met a lot of people from New Jersey, where I was born. There's I think 38 teachers in the program and I've already met 3 from the Milwaukee area! It's great how things work out :)

Anyway, I had lots to say today--we'll see what tomorrow brings.

Hasta luego.

Packing Packing and more Packing

Well, it's midnight and I'm finally done packing. It's tricky for me to pack light! Tomorrow we're leaving for the airport around 12:30 in the afternoon. I've got to call my host family bright and early in the morning so that they know when to expect me. Hopefully I get through...Probably the next time I post will be from Spain :)

Preparing for my trip!

This Saturday I leave for my trip to Salamanca, Spain! I'm really excited, but also nervous as expected for a long trip. I'll be in Spain until July 31st. I'm taking classes at the University of Salamanca to work towards a Masters in Spanish Language and Culture. Instead of living on campus I chose to stay with a host family so that I can learn even more about the culture. Hopefully this family will be as wonderful as the families I have had in Costa Rica! I'm sure I will love Spain just as much!