It's been awhile since I've blogged and as my time in Spain is coming to an end, I thought I should write again (before I'm buried in books for finals). Since I've last written I have been on my spring break trip with my roommate Anna, all around Portugal and Spain, seen my family and turned 21!
SPRING BREAK
on our trip we went to:
Lisbon
Lagos (Portugal)
Cadiz
Alicante
Valencia
Barcelona
San Sebastian
Granada
I had an amazing time! Anna and I both were amazed by Portugal. It is now one of my favorite places in the world. The people in Portugal are amazing friendly, speak English (almost never met someone who didn't speak English) and the country is beautiful! Lisbon was my favorite stop on the whole trip. We toured the entire city seeing, Belen, the castle, barrio alto, and everything else there is to see.
Our Second stop Lagos had some of the most beautiful beaches. We went on a boat with a fisherman where he took us all around the caves and arches that surround the beach. It was fantastic!
As for our Spanish stops, San Sebastian was my favorite. It is a BEAUTIFUL town in northern Spain with the best tapas! It combines mountains covered with trees and sheep with the beautiful bay.
I enjoyed Barcelona, but felt overwhelmed, and wished I had more time to explore and get to know the city. In addition, everything was very expensive, and Spanish was rarely spoken around me.
Alicante is a cute beach town with a fortress you can climb too. Which of course we did! Cadiz is somewhat similar, and the major site is a church with a yellow dome. Valencia is the old capital of Spain, and is where paella (the famous Spanish rice dish) was invented. Traditional Valencian paella is rabbit and chicken. We ordered some and it was BY FAR the most amazing paella I've had in my life. Completely worth the trip!
Granada of course has the famous Alhambra, which is where the Moors used to rule Spain from. It is an old Arab palace, and one of the most amazing sites you can see in Spain! I also enjoyed having a taste of Arab food, and ate Kebabs every day! haha
FAMILY & BIRTHDAY
It was great to have my family in Spain. Not only did I get to see them! But they also were able to see where I had been living, and why I love Spain so much. They visited Toledo and Madrid without me, and then joined me in Salamanca. I was really glad to show them around and introduce them to my city. On my birthday we went to Zamora, a city close by where my host mom is from. It had a beautiful church and a nice plaza. The next day we drove to Caceres, which seemed to be having a silly festival that included fighting dragons! It definitely made that stop memorable. The old buildings there were also amazing, and very interesting.
After that we drove on to Sevilla (city with way too many one-way tiny streets!) I was very glad that my parents had selected Sevilla (Seville in English) as one of the stops, because Sevilla is the capital of Spanish culture, flamenco, the 3rd largest cathedral in the world, the alcazar (an old Spanish palace), and great food. I really enjoyed showing them around the city and trying the typical Sevillian food.
The next city was Merida. Merida has some of the most amazing Roman ruins that I have ever seen. What makes some of it so amazing is that houses, and buildings are constructed around some if it! We saw an amphitheater, race track, and theater. They were all spectacular. *We also found a restaurant that had 100 types of tiny tapa sandwiches that were delicious! And of course the Parador, and old monastery, was our hotel and it made Merida extra special!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Madrid, una ciudad fantastica
Although I spent my orientation weekend in Madrid I wasn't able to fully take in the city until this past weekend. This time I had my close friends from BC, a better handle on Spanish, and a whole plan laid out of what I wanted to see.
Ricquelle and I stayed at Los Amigos de Sol hostel which we selected due to it's cheap prices, and great reviews on hostelworld.com. It turns out that we picked a great location as well! Upon arrival to the hostel, encouraged by the guy working the desk at the hostel, we decided to go explore Madrid's night life. We met up with our friend Lisette (who is studying abroad in Madrid) at a club called Kapital. It is a 7 floor club that has a different DJ and music theme on each level. Needless to say this place was an adventure within itself. But besides the floors, the coolest thing about Kapital is the crazy fog machine on the first floor, every so often it sends down mist from a giant machine which it has a cooling affect on those below!
The next day we wasted no time and were up ready to go at 9am! I had my guide book to Madrid handy with me, and I took Ricquelle to all the sites that are "can't miss" in Madrid. We walked around the whole city taking in the sites while Ricquelle said "I love Madrid!" over and over haha. She was also very pleased with the presence of the sun saying, "You don't understand! In London we DON'T see the sun!" haha. We walked and saw:
1--Plaza Mayor
2--puerta del sol
3--palacio real
The only one of these that costs money to enter is the palacio real, there was a long line to go in here, and we decided viewing the palace from the outside was satisfying enough! :) We then continued to walk towards the botanical gardens which are right behind the Prado museum. The student price to enter is 1 euro and for anyone else I believe it is 2 euro, which are both unbeatable prices! We explored and took lots of silly photos here. After this we met up with Lisette again, and she showed us another AMAZING park is a DON'T MISS location in Madrid. it is called Parque Retiro. In the park, Sasha, Ricquelle, Lisette, and I opted to take a 15 minute boat ride in the little man-made "pond." There are lots of little boats that sit around in the water as well that are rented for 45 minutes a piece and cost about 4.5 euro per person. The park was HUGE and had some street performers and beautiful landscaping. If one wants to go to a park and not pay for the Botanical Gardens this would be a great substitute or addition to the day.
We all decided it was time for TAPAS! I ordered my favorite tapas --torilla espanola (otherwise known as torilla de patatas) and croquetas de jamon (yes that's right I like jam) --the croquetas are ham and cheese inside little balls. They are all very tasty. We all also ordered cervezas con limon (beer with lemon) and it is Spanish beer, Mahou with a lemonadey taste to it. DELICIOSO!
Then it was time for SIESTA! And after, Ricquelle and I wetn exploring for a tapas bar near our house. We found a little place, and ordered cervezas con limon again, as well as tortillas, some meatballs, and some potatoes. It was a cute little place on Calle Mayor (one of the main streets in Madrid). Included with our beers were free green olives, which normal people would enjoy, however Ricquelle and I left them untouched...haha. We went to this place the next day for lunch was well since we enjoyed it so much, and it always feels good to go to someplace where you know your money is well spent. And this time, the man who owned the place greeted us like we were old friends, and already started preparing what we wanted without even requesting it. In addition, he didn't give us olives! I know if I were studying in Madrid all semester, I would love to have a friendly relationship with a tapas bar owner, and have my own little "place" that I go to. In salamanca there are many tapas bars, but since I have three meals at home I do not frequent them.
Ricquelle and I also explored the Rastro (market) on Sunday in Madrid, as well as the stadium for Real Madrid. One of the best, and well-known club teams in Madrid. The tour/entrance fee to the stadium was 15 euros which we opted out off. Instead we walked around the perimeter of the stadium and the gift shop. We took silly pictures with posters of the players.
Here are a list of things NOT to miss while in Madrid
--the prado museum
--reina sofia museum
--plaza mayor
--palacio real (just the outside no need to enter haha)
--parque retiro
all of these activities can be done in one day! The only two that will take time are the two museums and the others are all walking activities through regions in Madrid. If you have time left over the botanical gardens, the stadium, and the market (only on sundays from 9-2pm) are all fun as well.
Madrid, has now made it to one of my top list cities. The city is not overwhelming like some major cities (for example NYC), there was never a point during my trip when I said, I am ready to leave. Madrid is a wonderful city; the combination of the friendly people, its beautiful parks, apartments with great views, and the Spanish lifestyle of relaxation and enjoying life makes it a place that you don't want to leave. Madrid itself is a "must see" city in Europe.
Ricquelle and I stayed at Los Amigos de Sol hostel which we selected due to it's cheap prices, and great reviews on hostelworld.com. It turns out that we picked a great location as well! Upon arrival to the hostel, encouraged by the guy working the desk at the hostel, we decided to go explore Madrid's night life. We met up with our friend Lisette (who is studying abroad in Madrid) at a club called Kapital. It is a 7 floor club that has a different DJ and music theme on each level. Needless to say this place was an adventure within itself. But besides the floors, the coolest thing about Kapital is the crazy fog machine on the first floor, every so often it sends down mist from a giant machine which it has a cooling affect on those below!
The next day we wasted no time and were up ready to go at 9am! I had my guide book to Madrid handy with me, and I took Ricquelle to all the sites that are "can't miss" in Madrid. We walked around the whole city taking in the sites while Ricquelle said "I love Madrid!" over and over haha. She was also very pleased with the presence of the sun saying, "You don't understand! In London we DON'T see the sun!" haha. We walked and saw:
1--Plaza Mayor
2--puerta del sol
3--palacio real
The only one of these that costs money to enter is the palacio real, there was a long line to go in here, and we decided viewing the palace from the outside was satisfying enough! :) We then continued to walk towards the botanical gardens which are right behind the Prado museum. The student price to enter is 1 euro and for anyone else I believe it is 2 euro, which are both unbeatable prices! We explored and took lots of silly photos here. After this we met up with Lisette again, and she showed us another AMAZING park is a DON'T MISS location in Madrid. it is called Parque Retiro. In the park, Sasha, Ricquelle, Lisette, and I opted to take a 15 minute boat ride in the little man-made "pond." There are lots of little boats that sit around in the water as well that are rented for 45 minutes a piece and cost about 4.5 euro per person. The park was HUGE and had some street performers and beautiful landscaping. If one wants to go to a park and not pay for the Botanical Gardens this would be a great substitute or addition to the day.
We all decided it was time for TAPAS! I ordered my favorite tapas --torilla espanola (otherwise known as torilla de patatas) and croquetas de jamon (yes that's right I like jam) --the croquetas are ham and cheese inside little balls. They are all very tasty. We all also ordered cervezas con limon (beer with lemon) and it is Spanish beer, Mahou with a lemonadey taste to it. DELICIOSO!
Then it was time for SIESTA! And after, Ricquelle and I wetn exploring for a tapas bar near our house. We found a little place, and ordered cervezas con limon again, as well as tortillas, some meatballs, and some potatoes. It was a cute little place on Calle Mayor (one of the main streets in Madrid). Included with our beers were free green olives, which normal people would enjoy, however Ricquelle and I left them untouched...haha. We went to this place the next day for lunch was well since we enjoyed it so much, and it always feels good to go to someplace where you know your money is well spent. And this time, the man who owned the place greeted us like we were old friends, and already started preparing what we wanted without even requesting it. In addition, he didn't give us olives! I know if I were studying in Madrid all semester, I would love to have a friendly relationship with a tapas bar owner, and have my own little "place" that I go to. In salamanca there are many tapas bars, but since I have three meals at home I do not frequent them.
Ricquelle and I also explored the Rastro (market) on Sunday in Madrid, as well as the stadium for Real Madrid. One of the best, and well-known club teams in Madrid. The tour/entrance fee to the stadium was 15 euros which we opted out off. Instead we walked around the perimeter of the stadium and the gift shop. We took silly pictures with posters of the players.
Here are a list of things NOT to miss while in Madrid
--the prado museum
--reina sofia museum
--plaza mayor
--palacio real (just the outside no need to enter haha)
--parque retiro
all of these activities can be done in one day! The only two that will take time are the two museums and the others are all walking activities through regions in Madrid. If you have time left over the botanical gardens, the stadium, and the market (only on sundays from 9-2pm) are all fun as well.
Madrid, has now made it to one of my top list cities. The city is not overwhelming like some major cities (for example NYC), there was never a point during my trip when I said, I am ready to leave. Madrid is a wonderful city; the combination of the friendly people, its beautiful parks, apartments with great views, and the Spanish lifestyle of relaxation and enjoying life makes it a place that you don't want to leave. Madrid itself is a "must see" city in Europe.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Roma
Roma, el capital de Italia, is now one of my favorite cities in Europe. At this point in my life I have seen London, Paris, Madrid, and now Rome; and I feel that Rome and London are my two favorite. The argument for London is clear to me, it's incredibly diverse, has amazing history which can be seen through it's buildings and government system, is a welcoming city, and who doesn't like some fish and chips?! After having spent my orientation in Madrid, I was enamored by the museums and art history but did not feel the same welcoming presence that exists in all great cities. Also, Madrid lacks the same amazing history that pulls you in. Two weekends ago I spent exploring Paris with my BC friends. Paris is a great city, it has the eiffel tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame and the arc de triomphe; all of these are magnificent pieces of art within themselves. However, I did not feel a connection with French society and was somewhat relieved to be back in Spain after a great trip. Perhaps I just needed to learn more about Paris' history and the language in order to feel a stronger connection.
Now there's Rome, my newest favorite. Rome has it all, historic buildings, government, Vatican city (which has the largest Cathedral in the world), amazing art, an over the top welcoming culture and people, and of course THE BEST FOOD EVER! I think I am most attracted to cities with an incredible and depth history, especially when it revolves around the government system (with both London and Rome have).
Our first full day in Rome, we took a bus tour and had a very entertaining Italian man as our guide. We drove around all of the city taking in his stories about each building and monument. Our bus stopped outside of the Colosseum and the group gathered around while we learned about this part of Rome. Right outside of the Colosseum is Rome's "arc de triomphe" where slaves and prisoners of war were sold. This is significant since many of the gladiators were slaves and prisoners of war therefore they were sold right outside of the place that they would fight and possibly die. On one side of the arc is the Colosseum and on the other is Palatine Hill which is old Rome. Palatine hill has the old forum where the senate did everything, the market, and ruins of old houses where the Caesars lived. It was truly amazing to take all of this in.
From here we went to the Pantheon, which is an old temple. In the very center of the ceiling there is a giant circular opening for light to enter. On April 21st every year, the sun is directly above the Pantheon and shines light on who ever stands below, bestowing a 'god-like' presence. April 21st is important because it is the day on which Rome was created. We also saw the Trevi fountain and important sites.
My friends and I decided to go to the Colosseum. The ticket cost 12 euro, and included the Colosseum and Palatine hill. It seemed a bit pricey, but completely worth it. The Colosseum was gigantic, and it seems unbelievable that people used to fight in the center for entertainment. The next day we used the rest of the ticket to enter Palatine Hill. After seeing all of these historic sites, it made me want to take a class on ancient Rome. I know I have studied this in the past, but I seem to have forgotten most of it!
We heard that the Vatican gets very busy early on, so we decided to be the first ones there on Saturday. Hence, we woke up at 6:30am! St. Peter's Cathedral was magnificent, and I enjoyed exploring each part of the church. It was very interesting to people watch there as well because people had come from all over the world to be there. There were nuns from all over the world. From the cathedral we moved onto the Sistine chapel. The sistine chapel is the "official residence of the pope" however, we did not see him! haha. The chapel itself if very small and the walls and ceilings are covered with paintings. I was able to zoom in on the most famous image from the ceiling of Adam reaching out towards an angel.
Upon returning to Spain, I been "wikipediaing" all of the places that I saw while in Rome. I had learned some stuff on the guided tour but wanted to know specific details. I learned that more than half of the people who fought as gladiators were volunteers; there was so much honor bestowed upon the fighters that people volunteered themselves (and their lives/bodies) to be part of this type of entertainment. There were also gladiator schools where prisoners of war, slaves, and the volunteers were trained. I then decided it was time to watch Gladiator! And I currently in the middle of it! So I thank Rome for it's history, amazing food, and a great trip!
Now there's Rome, my newest favorite. Rome has it all, historic buildings, government, Vatican city (which has the largest Cathedral in the world), amazing art, an over the top welcoming culture and people, and of course THE BEST FOOD EVER! I think I am most attracted to cities with an incredible and depth history, especially when it revolves around the government system (with both London and Rome have).
Our first full day in Rome, we took a bus tour and had a very entertaining Italian man as our guide. We drove around all of the city taking in his stories about each building and monument. Our bus stopped outside of the Colosseum and the group gathered around while we learned about this part of Rome. Right outside of the Colosseum is Rome's "arc de triomphe" where slaves and prisoners of war were sold. This is significant since many of the gladiators were slaves and prisoners of war therefore they were sold right outside of the place that they would fight and possibly die. On one side of the arc is the Colosseum and on the other is Palatine Hill which is old Rome. Palatine hill has the old forum where the senate did everything, the market, and ruins of old houses where the Caesars lived. It was truly amazing to take all of this in.
From here we went to the Pantheon, which is an old temple. In the very center of the ceiling there is a giant circular opening for light to enter. On April 21st every year, the sun is directly above the Pantheon and shines light on who ever stands below, bestowing a 'god-like' presence. April 21st is important because it is the day on which Rome was created. We also saw the Trevi fountain and important sites.
My friends and I decided to go to the Colosseum. The ticket cost 12 euro, and included the Colosseum and Palatine hill. It seemed a bit pricey, but completely worth it. The Colosseum was gigantic, and it seems unbelievable that people used to fight in the center for entertainment. The next day we used the rest of the ticket to enter Palatine Hill. After seeing all of these historic sites, it made me want to take a class on ancient Rome. I know I have studied this in the past, but I seem to have forgotten most of it!
We heard that the Vatican gets very busy early on, so we decided to be the first ones there on Saturday. Hence, we woke up at 6:30am! St. Peter's Cathedral was magnificent, and I enjoyed exploring each part of the church. It was very interesting to people watch there as well because people had come from all over the world to be there. There were nuns from all over the world. From the cathedral we moved onto the Sistine chapel. The sistine chapel is the "official residence of the pope" however, we did not see him! haha. The chapel itself if very small and the walls and ceilings are covered with paintings. I was able to zoom in on the most famous image from the ceiling of Adam reaching out towards an angel.
Upon returning to Spain, I been "wikipediaing" all of the places that I saw while in Rome. I had learned some stuff on the guided tour but wanted to know specific details. I learned that more than half of the people who fought as gladiators were volunteers; there was so much honor bestowed upon the fighters that people volunteered themselves (and their lives/bodies) to be part of this type of entertainment. There were also gladiator schools where prisoners of war, slaves, and the volunteers were trained. I then decided it was time to watch Gladiator! And I currently in the middle of it! So I thank Rome for it's history, amazing food, and a great trip!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
mis clases!
OKAY....so I finally have settled down into the classes that I will be taking for the rest of my time in Spain... I had a two week period to try out classes (like most colleges/universities in the U.S. do as well). I have settled into four classes:
*literatura hispanoamerica (latin american literature)
*historia de la filosofia (history of philosophy)
*introduccion al ensayo hispanico (intro to spanish essay)
*la historia de la mujer y sociedad en espana (history of women and society in spain)
It's been my first week in each of these classes and I really enjoy them and the professors very much. I am glad that I choose the integrated program now since I feel that I am really learning something. I am taking subjects that interest me, and improving my listening Spanish; finally all those silly listening practices from school have paid off! The only disadvantage of taking classes with Spaniards (as opposed to with other international students and NO Spaniards) is that one must pay attention at all times. If one finds themselves distracted by the slightest thing they might miss something important. Well you could say this applies to classes in America as well, however, if you space out in America you will still be hearing English, instead of Spanish. This is the only course that required me to buy books (4 to be exact) and they all look very interesting. I look forward to reading them!
The literature course is my class with the most international students. The majority of these people are from the U.S., England, and Korea. There are also Spaniards in the class. This class is taught by a young (in her30's) female professor who is very excited about the subject matter.
My history of philosophy class is interesting, and I feel a step ahead since I have already taken a full year of philosophy at BC. I have also taken other political science based philosophy courses. The professor seems very passionate about this course. The class is packed, and it is completely full of Spaniards.
My intro to the Spanish essay course is smaller and has mostly Spaniards. I like this professor best because he speaks slower (normal speed) so I am able to write down everything that he says. I have also made an acquaintance in this class. Her name is Ana Maria and she is from Colombia originally but she lives in England. She asked me if I was from Spain; this seems to be a common question for me which I feel has it's advantages and disadvantages. I enjoy blending in and having people approach me with Spanish first rather than English. Also things are not made any easier for me because it is assumed that I am from Spain (or another Spanish speaking country). HOWEVER...this also doesn't encourage other international students to approach me since they think I am a Spaniard and therefore am "intimidating." haha.
My fourth class, history of women in Spain, I enjoy very much as well. This class is taught by a woman, who is in her early 60's and very upbeat. She cracks jokes here and there and makes the class a fun time. I really like the subject matter, and so does she, which prompts her to speak a mile a minute. There are two guys in the class too, haha.
Overall, I'm enjoying my educational time in addition to my free/exploring time. :)
hasta luego!
*literatura hispanoamerica (latin american literature)
*historia de la filosofia (history of philosophy)
*introduccion al ensayo hispanico (intro to spanish essay)
*la historia de la mujer y sociedad en espana (history of women and society in spain)
It's been my first week in each of these classes and I really enjoy them and the professors very much. I am glad that I choose the integrated program now since I feel that I am really learning something. I am taking subjects that interest me, and improving my listening Spanish; finally all those silly listening practices from school have paid off! The only disadvantage of taking classes with Spaniards (as opposed to with other international students and NO Spaniards) is that one must pay attention at all times. If one finds themselves distracted by the slightest thing they might miss something important. Well you could say this applies to classes in America as well, however, if you space out in America you will still be hearing English, instead of Spanish. This is the only course that required me to buy books (4 to be exact) and they all look very interesting. I look forward to reading them!
The literature course is my class with the most international students. The majority of these people are from the U.S., England, and Korea. There are also Spaniards in the class. This class is taught by a young (in her30's) female professor who is very excited about the subject matter.
My history of philosophy class is interesting, and I feel a step ahead since I have already taken a full year of philosophy at BC. I have also taken other political science based philosophy courses. The professor seems very passionate about this course. The class is packed, and it is completely full of Spaniards.
My intro to the Spanish essay course is smaller and has mostly Spaniards. I like this professor best because he speaks slower (normal speed) so I am able to write down everything that he says. I have also made an acquaintance in this class. Her name is Ana Maria and she is from Colombia originally but she lives in England. She asked me if I was from Spain; this seems to be a common question for me which I feel has it's advantages and disadvantages. I enjoy blending in and having people approach me with Spanish first rather than English. Also things are not made any easier for me because it is assumed that I am from Spain (or another Spanish speaking country). HOWEVER...this also doesn't encourage other international students to approach me since they think I am a Spaniard and therefore am "intimidating." haha.
My fourth class, history of women in Spain, I enjoy very much as well. This class is taught by a woman, who is in her early 60's and very upbeat. She cracks jokes here and there and makes the class a fun time. I really like the subject matter, and so does she, which prompts her to speak a mile a minute. There are two guys in the class too, haha.
Overall, I'm enjoying my educational time in addition to my free/exploring time. :)
hasta luego!
Monday, February 9, 2009
sevilla--a trip to southern spain--
the trip to sevilla was just what I needed, warm weather, beautiful scenery, and more bonding time to get to know the people in my group better! The bus ride was about 7 hours each direction and we made two stops along the way for food and bathrooms. Upon arrival we all checked into the hotel and had free time to explore. My group of friend and I decided just to wander random streets to take it all in. Sevilla has many very small streets that are barely wide enough for a car to drive down (it reminded me of the tiny town I stayed at in high school, Benalmádena). After a sufficient amount of exploring was completed the API (academic programs international) group departed for the evenings festivities of a flamenco show. The show was set in a small venue and had a singer, a guitarist, and a male and female dancer. The performances were all very good, and I was most impressed by the male dancer.
The next day we went on a tour of the Alcazar, which is the old royal palace in Sevilla. It was incredibly beautiful and grand of course. It reminded me of the Alhambra in Granada because of the building had an Arab style in the architecture. Following this we took a tour of the cathedral , which is the third biggest in the world. It also houses the tomb and body of Christopher Columbus. We walked to the top of the bell tower, which consisted of 34 ramps, and took some pictures. After this we had free time to wander Sevilla and decided to look for the bull stadium, and one of the sites which is the Torre de oro, an old watchtower.
The next day on our own we walked to the Maria Louisa park, and the Plaza espana which were BEAUTIFUL! A little fun fact about Salamanca is that tapas were invented there, so of course we had to try them on our first night! I'm really glad I got to see Sevilla again learn the historical aspect. But I was ready to go home, to Salamanca.
The next day we went on a tour of the Alcazar, which is the old royal palace in Sevilla. It was incredibly beautiful and grand of course. It reminded me of the Alhambra in Granada because of the building had an Arab style in the architecture. Following this we took a tour of the cathedral , which is the third biggest in the world. It also houses the tomb and body of Christopher Columbus. We walked to the top of the bell tower, which consisted of 34 ramps, and took some pictures. After this we had free time to wander Sevilla and decided to look for the bull stadium, and one of the sites which is the Torre de oro, an old watchtower.
The next day on our own we walked to the Maria Louisa park, and the Plaza espana which were BEAUTIFUL! A little fun fact about Salamanca is that tapas were invented there, so of course we had to try them on our first night! I'm really glad I got to see Sevilla again learn the historical aspect. But I was ready to go home, to Salamanca.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
DAY FOR WOMEN!
So, today AND yesterday were days designated specifically for the women of Spain, and therefore fiestas and celebration occurred. I am not sure of the name of the holiday but there are two day a year in which women in Spain are designated "the Boss" of the family. It is a day where women go out with their friends and eat together leaving their husbands helpless at home (hahaha). It is very official where the Mayor of each town makes an announcement that the day is for women. To make the day even better it was SUNNY today! and in the plaza mayor in Salamanca women did a dance traditional to Salamanca. They also wore clothes specific to Salamanca, which were dark robe-like dresses. It is mostly a holiday for older women (since they are the ones who have been married for a long time), but it celebrates women in general. Salamanca specifically is throwing many fiestas tonight in the bars to celebrate women...although I am not attending (due to my early morning departure for Sevilla) I have heard that there will be many. Even my host mother, Aurelia and my host brother Jesus told me about the parties tonight.
Right now it is snowing with HUGE snowflakes. It's quite a site. and makes me happy to be inside away from the cold. I am really looking forward to Sevilla this weekend. Although I have been there before during my high school years, I am looking forward to really taking in the culture and history of this city. The real beauty in all Spanish towns is the architecture; Spains history is a mixture of Arab (the Moors), Spanish, and Jewish influence which results in spectacular buildings. I also am looking forward to the warm weather!
I am finding that I am really enjoying my time here in Salamanca. I feel like I'm really getting to know what it feels like to attend the University as a Spaniard. Every day I wake up, and I have a cup of hot chocolate (Cacao), with some biscuit type things (more like crackers) and then I'm off to class. The majority of the students in my class are Spaniards, however, in my literaratura hispaneoamerica I have a few other Americans, Koreans, and Brits. In my other two classes it is a majority of Spaniards. After class I go to my house...completing the same walk I did to class in reverse. However, I still do not know any of the street names, I just see a store name and know that is the store that I turn left or right at.
I am really enjoying my family. My host mom is really sweet and makes me and Anna feel welcome. She is very talkative and shares details of her life with us that helps us get to know her better. She even shared that Tony Hawk (yes, the famous skateboarder) was once a student studying at her house (just like me)! I enjoy the time I am spending at home and now with internet I am able to communicate better with the outside world. So now, I am off to pack for Sevilla...and shall write upon return!
Right now it is snowing with HUGE snowflakes. It's quite a site. and makes me happy to be inside away from the cold. I am really looking forward to Sevilla this weekend. Although I have been there before during my high school years, I am looking forward to really taking in the culture and history of this city. The real beauty in all Spanish towns is the architecture; Spains history is a mixture of Arab (the Moors), Spanish, and Jewish influence which results in spectacular buildings. I also am looking forward to the warm weather!
I am finding that I am really enjoying my time here in Salamanca. I feel like I'm really getting to know what it feels like to attend the University as a Spaniard. Every day I wake up, and I have a cup of hot chocolate (Cacao), with some biscuit type things (more like crackers) and then I'm off to class. The majority of the students in my class are Spaniards, however, in my literaratura hispaneoamerica I have a few other Americans, Koreans, and Brits. In my other two classes it is a majority of Spaniards. After class I go to my house...completing the same walk I did to class in reverse. However, I still do not know any of the street names, I just see a store name and know that is the store that I turn left or right at.
I am really enjoying my family. My host mom is really sweet and makes me and Anna feel welcome. She is very talkative and shares details of her life with us that helps us get to know her better. She even shared that Tony Hawk (yes, the famous skateboarder) was once a student studying at her house (just like me)! I enjoy the time I am spending at home and now with internet I am able to communicate better with the outside world. So now, I am off to pack for Sevilla...and shall write upon return!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
internet!
News of the day--I have internet at my home! yayyyy now homework and communication will be much easier!
I have also decided to make a list of things I've noticed about Spain, they are meant to be somewhat funny, I hope you enjoy!
I have also decided to make a list of things I've noticed about Spain, they are meant to be somewhat funny, I hope you enjoy!
Things I’ve noticed about Spain
Specifically
1—people obsessively carry umbrellas even if it is sunny outside
2—if you are a woman over 60 years old you automatically wear a fur coat in the winter
3—dogs are incredibly well trained here, therefore it is not unusual to see a dog just walking down the street, unleashed, by itself, basically a dog walking itself and the owner strolling behind
4—HOWEVER, these incredibly trained dogs do not have well trained owners, and hence poop on the sidewalk is a daily site, that must be avoided
5—little kids are always dressed up and therefore are twice as adorable!
6—people tend to smell good in
7—Spanish women do not move, repeat, do NOT move, if you come to a walking face-off with a woman, move, you will not win haha
8—
Monday, February 2, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
por fin, SALAMANCA!
finally I have reached my destination! I am now in Salamanca and arrived here on Sunday evening (18:00 to be exact...haha). I spent the rest of my time in Madrid enjoying the big city environment and looking forward to traveling to my smaller city.
Escorial was really interesting, we visited a monastary that was GIANT and received a historical tour of the building and saw where all the kings and queens were buried. It was really a magnificent place. However, I have found that in the places that are the most beautiful you are not allowed to take pictures... so if you want to see the monastary you must google it!
We then took a bus to Salamanca, and I took a nap. Upon arrival I was met by my host mom who is named Aurea, and she is very nice. She was wearing a big fur coat and greeted me with a kiss on both cheeks, which is the common way to say hello in many European countries. We grabbed my bags and drove to her apartment which is very nice. I am sharing a room with my a girl named Anna who is really nice and from Oregon. It is strange getting into a routine of going to classes and then home for meals. It seems to be a common practice in Spain, but is somewhat odd for an American to live at home while attending college. Anyway, every meal we eat with our host mom Aurea, and sometimes her 27 year old son, Jesus, who also lives at the house. So far I´ve had some grilled cheese with ham and bacon, tortilla espanola (at thick spanish omlette with potatoes and onions), and some chicken and vegetables. Overall it´s been a positive experience.
This week has been the first week of classes which seems strange since I´ve had over a month without school! I have signed up for a history class about women and society in spain, literature of South America & Spain, photography, as well a literature class on poetry. I had my literatura hispanoamerica today and it was really fun. I can tell that I am going to like the class a lot! So now onward with my day, I promise a review of more classes and food soon! :) O, and I have a historical tour of Salamanca this saturday so look out for pictures! Hasta luego, Marisa
Escorial was really interesting, we visited a monastary that was GIANT and received a historical tour of the building and saw where all the kings and queens were buried. It was really a magnificent place. However, I have found that in the places that are the most beautiful you are not allowed to take pictures... so if you want to see the monastary you must google it!
We then took a bus to Salamanca, and I took a nap. Upon arrival I was met by my host mom who is named Aurea, and she is very nice. She was wearing a big fur coat and greeted me with a kiss on both cheeks, which is the common way to say hello in many European countries. We grabbed my bags and drove to her apartment which is very nice. I am sharing a room with my a girl named Anna who is really nice and from Oregon. It is strange getting into a routine of going to classes and then home for meals. It seems to be a common practice in Spain, but is somewhat odd for an American to live at home while attending college. Anyway, every meal we eat with our host mom Aurea, and sometimes her 27 year old son, Jesus, who also lives at the house. So far I´ve had some grilled cheese with ham and bacon, tortilla espanola (at thick spanish omlette with potatoes and onions), and some chicken and vegetables. Overall it´s been a positive experience.
This week has been the first week of classes which seems strange since I´ve had over a month without school! I have signed up for a history class about women and society in spain, literature of South America & Spain, photography, as well a literature class on poetry. I had my literatura hispanoamerica today and it was really fun. I can tell that I am going to like the class a lot! So now onward with my day, I promise a review of more classes and food soon! :) O, and I have a historical tour of Salamanca this saturday so look out for pictures! Hasta luego, Marisa
Saturday, January 24, 2009
mas aventuras
So day 2 has come and gone so quickly and now it's day three in Madrid. Yesterday I went to the Prado art museum which was amazing. It is an internationally known museum that holds pieces from famous Spanish artists such as Velasquez, Goya and Greco (who is actually Greek...) After a quick break for lunch, we visited the Reina Sofia Museum which holds all the modern art including Picasso, Miro, and Dali. It was very spectacular as well.
I then returned to the hotel for a meeting and discovered my luggage had arrived! YAY! The meeting was boring, but necessary and then the group ventured out for some dinner at 10pm. It was hard to find a restaurant that would seat 13 people, but finally we found a place where we could all split some pizzas, it was fun.
Today we took a bus to Toledo, which is an hour away from Madrid. It was very beautiful and seemed very historical. We took a drive around the city then a walking tour. We saw a famous Greco painting as well as an old synagogue that was transformed into a church after the expulsion of the Jews as well as the grand church in Toledo which was amazing. I've never seen a more beautiful cathedral. Tomorrow we head to Escorial and finally Salamanca where I will meet my host mom!
I then returned to the hotel for a meeting and discovered my luggage had arrived! YAY! The meeting was boring, but necessary and then the group ventured out for some dinner at 10pm. It was hard to find a restaurant that would seat 13 people, but finally we found a place where we could all split some pizzas, it was fun.
Today we took a bus to Toledo, which is an hour away from Madrid. It was very beautiful and seemed very historical. We took a drive around the city then a walking tour. We saw a famous Greco painting as well as an old synagogue that was transformed into a church after the expulsion of the Jews as well as the grand church in Toledo which was amazing. I've never seen a more beautiful cathedral. Tomorrow we head to Escorial and finally Salamanca where I will meet my host mom!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
arrival...
so the day has finally come for me to begin my adventure in Spain! let me first begin by saying that my name is Marisa and I am a junior at Boston College studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain for the spring semester. I am going through a program called API (academic programs international) where I will be taking classes at the Universidad de Salamanca, integrated into the classes with other Spaniards!
Yesterday was the day of departure...although it still feels like today with all of the time changes I've been through. My flight was scheduled to leave at 6:05pm from Logan. However, the plane decided it would be a great time for the left engine to take a break, thereby delaying my flight an hour and a half. This caused me to miss my connecting flight to Madrid, but I was still in a chipper mood since I was on my way to Spain to begin my semester abroad. Upon arrival in Madrid I discovered my luggage, along with a few others who had missed the same connecting flight as me was suddenly missing...SIGH. So now I'm crossing my fingers that our bags will come tomorrow.
Despite the loss of baggage my time here so far has been great. I'm staying at the Hotel Regina and have a roommate named Ashley from Colorado. She's really nice and we're getting along well. We both went out exploring and in search of a reasonable place to find some clothes and toiletries to tide me over until my baggage arrives. I am most awed by the beautiful architecture that is all over Madrid. The buildings are very old fashioned and have a majestic look to them. It gives the giant city a homey feeling, and really demonstrates the culture and history of the Spaniards. I've also noticed that although Madrid is giant, it is able to embody a calm and relaxed way of life unlike many American cities such as New York. When I'm in New York, I am always aware of my surroundings so I don't get hit by a car, or even a fellow pedestrian walking down the street. However, here everyone seems to be moving at a slower pace, but still managing to make it to their destinations. A little strange thing Ashley and I noticed was that everyone we walked by smelled noticeably good, haha. Everyone was wearing perfume and cologne, but just the right amount!
After we explored on our own the group took a walking tour of La plaza de Sol y la plaza mayor; two beautiful locations in Madrid. Each is a site of beautiful buildings and statues located in the center of Madrid. So far (one day) besides the loss of my luggage which I hope will return to me tomorrow (fingers crossed!) I have enjoyed myself! I look forward to a day full of museums tomorrow! y ahora, buenas noches!
Yesterday was the day of departure...although it still feels like today with all of the time changes I've been through. My flight was scheduled to leave at 6:05pm from Logan. However, the plane decided it would be a great time for the left engine to take a break, thereby delaying my flight an hour and a half. This caused me to miss my connecting flight to Madrid, but I was still in a chipper mood since I was on my way to Spain to begin my semester abroad. Upon arrival in Madrid I discovered my luggage, along with a few others who had missed the same connecting flight as me was suddenly missing...SIGH. So now I'm crossing my fingers that our bags will come tomorrow.
Despite the loss of baggage my time here so far has been great. I'm staying at the Hotel Regina and have a roommate named Ashley from Colorado. She's really nice and we're getting along well. We both went out exploring and in search of a reasonable place to find some clothes and toiletries to tide me over until my baggage arrives. I am most awed by the beautiful architecture that is all over Madrid. The buildings are very old fashioned and have a majestic look to them. It gives the giant city a homey feeling, and really demonstrates the culture and history of the Spaniards. I've also noticed that although Madrid is giant, it is able to embody a calm and relaxed way of life unlike many American cities such as New York. When I'm in New York, I am always aware of my surroundings so I don't get hit by a car, or even a fellow pedestrian walking down the street. However, here everyone seems to be moving at a slower pace, but still managing to make it to their destinations. A little strange thing Ashley and I noticed was that everyone we walked by smelled noticeably good, haha. Everyone was wearing perfume and cologne, but just the right amount!
After we explored on our own the group took a walking tour of La plaza de Sol y la plaza mayor; two beautiful locations in Madrid. Each is a site of beautiful buildings and statues located in the center of Madrid. So far (one day) besides the loss of my luggage which I hope will return to me tomorrow (fingers crossed!) I have enjoyed myself! I look forward to a day full of museums tomorrow! y ahora, buenas noches!
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