Hola Hola!
I know it has been awhile since I have posted, but I knew I had to post sooner than later about my Ciudad Rodrigo experience. Some friends and I went to Ciudad Rodrigo for a day to celebrate Spain's carneval, which as described by Wikipedia is, "is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration orparade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life." There is also running of the bulls, and bull fights there.
Upon arriving, the group of friends I had traveled with was trying to look for some other friends. There were tons of gates/barricades all around the city as a barrier to separate people from the bulls. Some people enter the barricaded area in order to run with the bulls. Well, as we were searching for our friends just calmly standing around, I decided to do something very usual--people watch. So I looked around and asked everyone out loud, "why is everyone on that side of the barricade looking IN ON us? And how come there are no women on this side?" After hearing myself say this, I realized we were in the section where the bulls RUN! Shortly after, my friends and I bolted out of there and went to the other side where we felt safe :) I could not imagine what would have happened if we didn't notice until the bulls came.
After seeing the bulls run, we decided to go to another section of the city to see more bulls run! It was an overall great day as we were all dressed up as zorros, went on a carnival ride, and were able to drink in the streets--this is not allowed in Salamanca, but I think they allow it in Ciudad Rodrigo for the holiday!
I am leaving for Madrid in about 15 minutes-I'll try to post as soon as I can!
Hasta luego,
Christina
viernes, 11 de marzo de 2011
domingo, 20 de febrero de 2011
Getting into the Hang of things
It's been awhile since I've last blogged but a lot has taken place since I last did!
I have started my University class-Lingüística General at Universidad de Salamanca, and I also started my internship. I teach English to native Spanish speakers who are around the age of 10 at the colegio. Both are going very well and I am getting the hang of my schedule now, so I'm much calmer about where I'm going after my internship or class, or lo que sea (means whatever, more or less).
I love working with the kids here, they are so obedient and want to learn English which makes teaching it that much easier. It's fun to be able to read to the students and have them be so amazed by how well I speak English, I can relate with the way they speak Spanish without "foreign accents". Getting rid of my American accent has definitely become my number one priority.
At times when I'm out at night, speaking Spanish becomes like an act, I start to act out an accent so that it's not TOO as obvious I'm not from here. One night a Spanish hombre asked me if I was Colombian, so I guess it worked a little bit! Didn't get my goal as coming off as being from Spain, but I'll take Colombian for now!
The food here is delicious, so many fresh fruits and vegetables and very deliciously fresh fish, as well! Today for lunch, my Señora and I ate homemade french fries and filets, it was nice to have some American food for a change!
My laundry has pieced itself together and I keep track of what I have left and how many more days I have to wait to do it, it's totally a numbers game!
Last night when we went out, one of the discotecas was carding all the people who came in, because a lot of people under the age of 18 try to get in and they can't. We got in, nonetheless, but I'm pretty sure the bouncer had no idea how to read my Illinois/American ID so he just glanced at it and let me in. Too funny.
I am going to Madrid this weekend with everyone from the program and am looking forward to it! I can't wait to see all the museums and architecture.
Well I am going to indulge in the Spanish siesta
Hasta luego!
I have started my University class-Lingüística General at Universidad de Salamanca, and I also started my internship. I teach English to native Spanish speakers who are around the age of 10 at the colegio. Both are going very well and I am getting the hang of my schedule now, so I'm much calmer about where I'm going after my internship or class, or lo que sea (means whatever, more or less).
I love working with the kids here, they are so obedient and want to learn English which makes teaching it that much easier. It's fun to be able to read to the students and have them be so amazed by how well I speak English, I can relate with the way they speak Spanish without "foreign accents". Getting rid of my American accent has definitely become my number one priority.
At times when I'm out at night, speaking Spanish becomes like an act, I start to act out an accent so that it's not TOO as obvious I'm not from here. One night a Spanish hombre asked me if I was Colombian, so I guess it worked a little bit! Didn't get my goal as coming off as being from Spain, but I'll take Colombian for now!
The food here is delicious, so many fresh fruits and vegetables and very deliciously fresh fish, as well! Today for lunch, my Señora and I ate homemade french fries and filets, it was nice to have some American food for a change!
My laundry has pieced itself together and I keep track of what I have left and how many more days I have to wait to do it, it's totally a numbers game!
Last night when we went out, one of the discotecas was carding all the people who came in, because a lot of people under the age of 18 try to get in and they can't. We got in, nonetheless, but I'm pretty sure the bouncer had no idea how to read my Illinois/American ID so he just glanced at it and let me in. Too funny.
I am going to Madrid this weekend with everyone from the program and am looking forward to it! I can't wait to see all the museums and architecture.
Well I am going to indulge in the Spanish siesta
Hasta luego!
jueves, 27 de enero de 2011
Lavandería. Cuantos minutos???!!
Hola a todos!
This is going to be a long blog, so if you don't have a good 10 minutes to read, I suggest you come back later! BUT it will be worth the 10 minutes.
Yesterday, I needed to do my laundry, VERY badly. I had ran out of towels so I couldn't shower and I also ran out of essentials, things you need to change everyday... Anyway, the program I'm with gave us 3 lavandería locations in our pamphlet. The day before, Emma and I went to one of those 3 but it was closed. I don't mean temporarily, I mean the place did not exist anymore.
My next option was a "drop off" lavandería. I chose this one as it was only 8euro to wash dry AND have the clothes folded. Little did I know it took about 30 minutes to walk there from where I live, maybe a little more considering the number of times my friend and I got lost. We arrive at 5:00 and the man tells us my clothes will be done by 7:00. We had somewhere to be at 6:45, on the COMPLETE opposite side of town.
We arrive there WITH our homework hoping we can sit down in a warm place and work together.......WRONG. When they say 'drop off' laundry, you are literally escorted out of the place.
Not knowing where to go, Emma and I saw a little "bar/cafe" and walked in. Old people old people old people! As we were about to turn around and walk out, the man behind the counter had spat out "Hola". Not wanting to be rude, we ordered a cafe con leche (coffee with milk) and sat down next to all the 80 year olds playing cards and farting dust.
After we were done chugging our coffees, we left the place, walked around, sat down, walked around, sat down and walked around. We went into a bunch of heated tiendas and "fake shopped" to stay warm. At 6:00 I returned to the lavandería to ask if my clothes would be done in 30 minutes, the man said absolutely not, they were still so damp. He said come back at 6:45 which is when we needed to be at our dance class!!!!
More time was wasted in a pastry shop of deliciousness. I ordered a pastry that had cream cheese filling on top of the croissant. After ordering, the young man asked us where we were from as I was responding, "Los Estados Unidos", my cream cheese filling from my pastry dripped down the counter of this man's pastry shop. I have now completed the stereotype of an American living in Spain, and ashamed of making a mess, I scattered out of there.
By the time we were done eating, Emma and I decided the best option would be to take a taxi from the laundería to dance class this way we wouldn't be too late.
The taxi picks us up, takes us to the dance class and NONE of our program members were there!!!!! We just paid for that taxi for NOTHING???? WHAT?!!!!!!!! .....................
We were literally 1 minute EARLY.
What a day that I hope I never have again! Too much weight for such small shoulders!
Lesson learned: plan in advance with towels and clothes and never do your laundry 30 minutes from where you live.
~~Christina
This is going to be a long blog, so if you don't have a good 10 minutes to read, I suggest you come back later! BUT it will be worth the 10 minutes.
Yesterday, I needed to do my laundry, VERY badly. I had ran out of towels so I couldn't shower and I also ran out of essentials, things you need to change everyday... Anyway, the program I'm with gave us 3 lavandería locations in our pamphlet. The day before, Emma and I went to one of those 3 but it was closed. I don't mean temporarily, I mean the place did not exist anymore.
My next option was a "drop off" lavandería. I chose this one as it was only 8euro to wash dry AND have the clothes folded. Little did I know it took about 30 minutes to walk there from where I live, maybe a little more considering the number of times my friend and I got lost. We arrive at 5:00 and the man tells us my clothes will be done by 7:00. We had somewhere to be at 6:45, on the COMPLETE opposite side of town.
We arrive there WITH our homework hoping we can sit down in a warm place and work together.......WRONG. When they say 'drop off' laundry, you are literally escorted out of the place.
Not knowing where to go, Emma and I saw a little "bar/cafe" and walked in. Old people old people old people! As we were about to turn around and walk out, the man behind the counter had spat out "Hola". Not wanting to be rude, we ordered a cafe con leche (coffee with milk) and sat down next to all the 80 year olds playing cards and farting dust.
After we were done chugging our coffees, we left the place, walked around, sat down, walked around, sat down and walked around. We went into a bunch of heated tiendas and "fake shopped" to stay warm. At 6:00 I returned to the lavandería to ask if my clothes would be done in 30 minutes, the man said absolutely not, they were still so damp. He said come back at 6:45 which is when we needed to be at our dance class!!!!
More time was wasted in a pastry shop of deliciousness. I ordered a pastry that had cream cheese filling on top of the croissant. After ordering, the young man asked us where we were from as I was responding, "Los Estados Unidos", my cream cheese filling from my pastry dripped down the counter of this man's pastry shop. I have now completed the stereotype of an American living in Spain, and ashamed of making a mess, I scattered out of there.
By the time we were done eating, Emma and I decided the best option would be to take a taxi from the laundería to dance class this way we wouldn't be too late.
The taxi picks us up, takes us to the dance class and NONE of our program members were there!!!!! We just paid for that taxi for NOTHING???? WHAT?!!!!!!!! .....................
We were literally 1 minute EARLY.
What a day that I hope I never have again! Too much weight for such small shoulders!
Lesson learned: plan in advance with towels and clothes and never do your laundry 30 minutes from where you live.
~~Christina
martes, 25 de enero de 2011
Ay Dios Mio!
Hola Hola Hola!
Today was a little crazy! I went to my class, came home, ate, relaxed, went to finalize my academic schedule and then tried to go to la lavandería to wash my clothes. My friend Emma and I arrived there at the lavandería at about 6:25PM and they were closed, weird because they weren't supposed to close until 8:00. Not planning for a worse case scenario, I didn't save enough "essentials" for the week and therefore had to buy some! ¡Que lástima!
Talk about frustrations :] Hopefully tomorrow I can wash my clothes so I do not go around all of Spain looking "not-so-put-together."
It is 9:00PM here and now time for dinner. Hopefully next time I write I will be wearing clean clothes and less frustrated!
Buenas noches,
Christina
Today was a little crazy! I went to my class, came home, ate, relaxed, went to finalize my academic schedule and then tried to go to la lavandería to wash my clothes. My friend Emma and I arrived there at the lavandería at about 6:25PM and they were closed, weird because they weren't supposed to close until 8:00. Not planning for a worse case scenario, I didn't save enough "essentials" for the week and therefore had to buy some! ¡Que lástima!
Talk about frustrations :] Hopefully tomorrow I can wash my clothes so I do not go around all of Spain looking "not-so-put-together."
It is 9:00PM here and now time for dinner. Hopefully next time I write I will be wearing clean clothes and less frustrated!
Buenas noches,
Christina
lunes, 24 de enero de 2011
No Spain, no gain
Hola a todos!!
My first week here has been absolutely amazing! Although it took me a few days to adjust to the 7 hour time change, my sleep schedule and appetite are back on track.
The first thing I noticed when arriving to Spain was the signs in the airport. They were in English, this bothered me because I came here to learn Spanish and struggle in doing so! Once I got to my destination of Salamanca, Spain I discovered that NOTHING was in English and my Señora doesn't speak a drop of English, either. The immersion had begun once I stepped foot inside of the casa.
If you are looking for complete immersion in any language, I think finding a smaller town is perfect. Unlike bigger cities like Madrid and Barcelona, not a lot of people here know English therefore in all situations I am forced to speak Spanish around the clock, which was exactly what I wanted before coming here and I am glad I have it right under my nose!
The food here is excellent. They eat a lot of soups, pastas, breads, fruits, basically all really healthy delicious foods. What I also enjoy is that everyone in Europe walks around from place to place which is both good for the environment and for ones health.
My first week here has been absolutely amazing! Although it took me a few days to adjust to the 7 hour time change, my sleep schedule and appetite are back on track.
The first thing I noticed when arriving to Spain was the signs in the airport. They were in English, this bothered me because I came here to learn Spanish and struggle in doing so! Once I got to my destination of Salamanca, Spain I discovered that NOTHING was in English and my Señora doesn't speak a drop of English, either. The immersion had begun once I stepped foot inside of the casa.
If you are looking for complete immersion in any language, I think finding a smaller town is perfect. Unlike bigger cities like Madrid and Barcelona, not a lot of people here know English therefore in all situations I am forced to speak Spanish around the clock, which was exactly what I wanted before coming here and I am glad I have it right under my nose!
The food here is excellent. They eat a lot of soups, pastas, breads, fruits, basically all really healthy delicious foods. What I also enjoy is that everyone in Europe walks around from place to place which is both good for the environment and for ones health.
One thing that I do not like very much is that European people never smile at strangers. Everyone stares at everyone else and doesn't look too happy doing so. I know that once I get home the smiles will be great to see!
Overall, I love Spain! ¡Ole!
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