Wednesday, June 30, 2010

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 :)

Monday, June 28, 2010

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.

Friday, June 25, 2010

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 :)

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

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!