That feeling of coming back home

Good news: My camera is back and running!  After taking an early bus to Madrid, navigating the Metro system to get to the Canons store, and attempting to explain my situation in Spanish (they eventually found somebody who could translate), I was able to get my camera repaired! And it was the same day, which I didn't expect. AND it didn't cost the 300 euro the originally estimated. So, I am a happy camper.

While I waited for my camera to be repaired, I wandered around until I found a small cafe on a side street. I snagged a booth in the back corner, from where I could watch all the people coming and going.  I bought a cup of coffee, curled up with my book, and read for two hours.  It was the most relaxing afternoon I have had in a while! After eating my bocadilla (a type of sandwich) that my host mom packed for me, I picked up my camera, found my way back to the Metro, called my friend Lauren and met up with her for churros con chocolate.

By 7pm, I was back on the bus on my way back to Salamanca. I slept during most of the two-and-a-half hour journey, and woke up as our bus got off the highway and started to slowed down. As I looked out the widow, I saw the Salamanca skyline all lit up.  It was beautiful; the church, especially, highlighted and towering above everything else.

I felt a sense of relief and comfort; it felt like coming back home.  I loved seeing Madrid again (I liked it much better second time around, actually!), and had a pleasant afternoon wandering the streets.  However, the more I travel and leave Salamanca, the more I like it.

It's trips like this that make me realize how lucky I am to call this small city home.

Oh, the irony...

First of all, just let me say that I realize what I am about to write about may make me seem materialistic, shallow, and whiney.  But I'm not, I swear.  It's just that all things, all problems, are relative. So as an outsider looking in, I realize that I should have nothing to be complaining about!

However.  I am very, very sad/frustrated/upset/confused, because my NEW CAMERA, my Canon Rebel T1i, my baby, is broken. I do not know what happened, just that it will not accept any memory cards anymore...meaning, I can take pictures, but nothing is saved. . I have tried everything, I swear.

I will not give up without a fight, though. So tomorrow I am getting on a 6AM bus and going to Madrid to meet with somebody at the Canon headquarters and get this all straightened out. Hopefully, she'll be back and running before I leave for Dublin, Ireland next weekend!   Cross your fingers, folks.

If not...well, I guess I'll always have the memories. And pictures from somebody's point and shoot camera. It's just not same! Please understand; I worked hard all summer to save money, and after months researching cameras and talking to people about different DSLR models I finally, finally, decided to spend my hard-earned waitressing money to buy my first DSLR, with my Euro travels in mind.

Any what happens, just 3 weeks in? It stops working!!!   But everything happens for a reason, right?!

On the bright side, LAUREN COOPER is going to be in Madrid at the same time! So we will be reunited once again, and I am so, so excited to see her!  It has been almost 5 months since we parted ways in Denver, as I returned home to Vermont and she went back to San Francisco.

So there's one plus.  Any maybe I'll check out a couple museums along the way?

Back to Madrid: the land of awesome plazas, lots of museums, and a lot of people!

Irony #2 (this is so off topic. But Dad, this is directed at you!):  I was told by my host dad last night to stop saying "por favor" and "gracias" so much.  As in, cut back on the "please" and "thank you"'s.  Dad, you raised me to be a polite young woman; thank you.  But I have been told to STOP BEING SO NICE! I suppose you could say taht I am, perhaps, too polite by Spaniard standards.   I have been looking like an overly grateful American for the past month.  To live like a Spaniard and to really become apart of this family, I need to drop my ways and toughen up a bit.

I don't think I'll be speaking to my host mom like my host sister does anytime soon (you would think it's WWIII when they have conversations!); however, point taken.  While manners are appreciated, if I really want to live and act like apart of this family, it's time to push the formalities aside.

Segovia: the land of aqueducts!

What a fun weekend I had; had an unofficial DU reunion in Salamanca, and had the opportunity to visit the city of Segovia.  

ISA Madrid had an excursion to Salamanca, so I had the chance to see some DU friends who are studying in the capital city.  Additionally, a few DU students studying abroad in Bilbao decided to visit Salamanca.  Had fun showing off my home city and taking them out at night.  With 10 DU kids here in Salamanca, about 6 DU kids with ISA Madrid, and 3 DU kids who visited from Bilbao, it was refreshing to see some familiar faces.  I am so lucky to know so many people studying abroad, and it was a reminder of why I chose to go to DU in the first place.  I have quite a few American friends studying here in Salamanca who went out on a limb studying abroad this semester; in many cases, they are the only people they know of from home who are studying abroad.  They are the "weird" ones.   I cannot imagine!  I am in the complete opposite situation; I only know of half a dozen DU students who are not studying abroad this semester.  

It makes it easier knowing that I have friends all over the world, facing the same challenges and experiencing the same emotions that I am.  Plus, it makes traveling Europe very exciting!  For example, I am going to London in a few weeks, and I already know of two DU friends who live there and who can show me around.  Plus, I have friends in Prague, Barcelona, France, Germany---I think DU should start a couch-surfing network for all us European kids!

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On Sunday, woke up early to catch a bus with ISA to head off to Segovia. Located west of Salamanca and north of Madrid, this small town is well known for the Roman aqueduct that stretches across the center of the city. While it is no longer in use, it was a functioning water source for the city until recently.  Construction of the aqueduct was finished in the 2nd century AD, when the Romans occupied this area of Spain.  As in, before there was electricity, machines and modern technology to construct this monstrous network:

After meeting in the city center, we headed off to visit an old church.  The artwork dates back to the 12th century.  The fresco's decorating the walls were beautiful, and while it was a fairly small church, it was representative of the Christian influence in Spain during Middle Ages:

After that, we toured the Alcázar of Segovia, an old castle built on top of a hill.  One an Arab fortress built in the 12th century (or earlier!), it has also been used as a residence for various kings and queens throughout history.  I won't go into detail about all the history and dates and specifics---but what a feeling, to walk through a bedroom and dining room once used by a famous Spanish king and queen. Spanish countryside, from the top of the castle:

After that tour, students had a chance to explore the city and grab some lunch.  In this restaurant district, this is what we saw: a traditional Segovian meal, very well known throughout all of Spain: 

We left the city to be back in time for dinner in Salamanca at 8 pm.  Like Lisbon, I wasn't anticipating liking Segovia as much as I did!  Similar to Salamanca in terms of size, it was very walkable and a safe city.  However, Segovia was different since it was so close to the mountains. A reminder of home! It was a bit more isolated and rural, so there were more trees, another pleasant reminder of home! How I miss autumn in Vermont. 

But does Vermont, or Colorado, have Roman architecture and art from the Middle Ages?! No way!  Can't get enough of this view; and can you believe it was all built by hand! A masterpiece indeed.  I understand why this city has been designated as a World Heritage Site:

On that note: I am having a much better week.  Last week, I freaked out a little bit about being so far from home for so long; I mean, a year is a LONG time! I am going to miss Colorado skiing, and will be super jealous when all my friends are knee deep in power this winter.  As I write this, my friend Ryan just commented on how he's going to stack his schedule so he can go skiing during the week!! I'll be fine though; I'll be surrounded by all this culture and language and will have so many opportunities to travel.  So there!

After talking to friends, family, and thinking about it, though, I am ready for the challenge of a year abroad.  I just booked my plane ticket to Oslo, Norway for Christmas, to see my good friend Thea (thanks Thea!).  My Dad and sister are coming to visit for my birthday, so that's another thing to look forward to.  My best friend Lauren is coming to visit Salamanca this weekend, and I'm off to Ireland in two weeks!  So really, I have absolutely nothing to complain about. Life is good!

Churros con chocolate

Spent Friday afternoon wandering the streets around Salamanca with my friend, Emma.  We met in the plaza, checked out a couple small bookstores, and enjoyed having a free afternoon.  Hungry, we decided to splurge on some mid-afternoon desserts.  It was an easy decision: churros. As most Americans know, churros are a traditional Spanish dessert.  But these locally, handmade churros were not like the sugary, doughnut-like desserts you can get from the food court at Costco or at the mall.  No; these churros were fresh out of the pan, crispy on the outside, soft and gooey in the middle, and still dripping in the oil they had been cooked in. In addition to the 6 churros we ordered, we were given a big cup of warm, rich chocolate for dipping. 

Delicious, they were.  Halfway through our feast, a señora stopped by, nodded at us, and commented on how delicious our food looked. So my point is, if you ever go to Spain, be sure to try some churros!

A Day in the Life

A normal weekday in Salamanca:

• 9:00 am: Wake up to my alarm clock...hit the snooze button since I don't have class until 1 pm.  Thought I could wake up early and brace the day! But who am I kidding. 
• 11:00 am: Finally decide to wake up; shower and get dressed
• 11:20 am: Eat breakfast. This consists of a piece of toasted white bread with jelly, a milked down cup of coffee, warmed up in the microwave, and a clementine
• Noon: Pop in my iPod and walk 20 minutes to the ISA office. I ask the ISA staff about setting up an intercambio, and I want another book from their small library
• 12:45: Walk to class at San Boal with some friends to go to our 1 pm class
• 1:00-3:00 pm: Spanish Culture class: taught in Spanish with ~17 other American students. Really like the professora who teaches, since she's enthuastic and easy to understand
• 3:15 pm: Walk 15 minutes back home to eat my biggest meal of the day with my host mom and roommate. This consists of a mixed vegetable soup, white bread, pork, and a yogurt. Yum! Afterwards, take a mini-siesta
• 4:00-6:00 pm: Walk back to San Boal.  I have an economics class on the European Union, taught by a Spaniard in English.  There's about 35 kids in the class, all Americans; an interesting but boring class. 
• 6:00-8:00 pm: Spanish economics class, also taught in English by a Spanish professor.  After class, I dash home so I can go for a quick run around the Parque de los Jesuitas and shower before dinner
• 9:15 pm: Dinner with my host parents and roommate.  Served a fried egg, mixed veggies and two boiled hotdogs. For dessert, yogurt and fruit. 
• 10:30 pm: Meet up with friends under the clock at the plaza to hang out for a bit
• 12:30 am: Walk home to go to bed, since I have a 9 am class the next morning!

The main road I walk through to go from class to my apartment: 

The building where I have classes:

Hardest part of my walk? Walking past all the gorgeous shoes and boots in the shop windows!

Early memories

Sitting in class my economics class today, doodling and only half paying attention to a lecture on the history of WWII (so redundant!), I started daydreaming.  I tried to figure out why I've always had a curiosity with foreign languages.  Granted, I'm not exactly fluent at Spanish and I struggle a lot with verb conjugations...but it's something I've always had a fascination with. So I thought back:

I'm at our home in Westford Vermont, and it's early morning.  I know this, because I'm still in my pajama's curled up on my parent's bed. I must have woken them up early, because they were still in bed, trying to sleep.  I'm young enough that my little brother Caleb wasn't born yet, but old enough to be able to remember it now.  Dad must have been annoyed with me, or something, as I was always asking questions and wanting to go do something.  So he taught me how to count in Spanish. "Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez," he said. "It means: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten."  Confused, I repeated it back, trying to comprehend that there was another way to count to ten than what I had been taught!  Spanish, he called it.  And so it began; my first exposure to foreign languages.

Fast forward: it's second grade, and a new kid is introduced to the class.  But he's different from any other new kids we had ever had.  With a foreign name and different clothes, he's from a place the teacher called "Bosnia."  He couldn't speak English, and couldn't understand what we said to him.  This confused me!  How could somebody not understand what the teacher said to him? I learned later that he had to leave his home because of a war, but too young to grasp what this meant, I did understand that he was much better at soccer than all the other boys.  And this was the commonality for now.  Who needed words and sentences when we could just play a game!

As I recalled these memories, though brief and fuzzy, I can't believe:
1) How quickly I've grown up, and
2) that I'm here in Europe, finally learning Spanish.

Park Benches

Have you ever sat on a bench on a park, without moving, for 5 minutes, simply watching the world go by?  After my run Sunday evening, I had a lot on my mind.  Plagued with anxiety about the upcoming year; about lack of challenge in my classes; about the holidays; about just not knowing what's going to happen this year, I was (once again) feeling extremely overwhelmed and powerless.


So I did what (seemingly) every person over the age on 65 does here.  I simply sat on a bench.  With no music to listen to, nothing to write with, nobody to talk to, the challenge was to let my mind unwind.  This is what people do here.  They aren't plugged into electronics or constantly engaged in conversation or rushing from one activity to the next.  How different from everything I am used to!

Five minutes; that was my challenge.  To not move, and to rest my bones on an old, black cast iron bench; how difficult could it be?  To simply listen to the sounds of children playing, couples chatting, and water spraying out of the fountain in the middle of the park; to feel the breeze gently drift through the city, and to watch the orange sun set in the hazy sky and rest behind the hills in the distance, feeling the warmth of the day slowly recede.  Sitting there, doing absolutely nothing, took some getting used to, but eventually, my mind settled down and I could feel myself relaxing.  This cleared my mind of all I was worried about.  After five minutes I stood up, feeling calm and rested, at peace and empty of the anxiety that had plagued me minutes before.

And I realized that I think I will be able to survive a year in this strange, new country.

Lisboa/Cádiz/Sevilla

What an adventure this past week has been!  It started with an ISA trip to Lisbon, Portugal last weekend, and ended with a brief visit to Sevilla. Here's what I saw along the way:

LISBOA (Lisbon): I absolutely loved this city. Located in the south west part of Portugal, it was a 6-ish hour long bus ride across the countryside.  Aside from the occasional towns and small farms, the Spanish/Porgutese landscape was very rural.  As our bus weaved its way through the rocky hills and mountains, I was reminded of the landscape from the movie “The Princes Bride.” Covered with small trees and yellow grasses, I understand why the word “Espana” in Latin means the land of rabbits.  It reminded me a lot of the Colorado landscape, like the drive from I-70 into Steamboat.  Beautiful in its own way, just not very lush.

View of the countryside from the bus:

Back to Lisboa. I had a blast. The first afternoon, we toured an old fortress that overlooks the city and ocean, and has beautiful views.  This is where I bumped into a couple DU friends, who were also touring Lisboa with their ISA group from Sevilla. 

That night, I met up with a small group of friends. We got sushi in the bar district (Barrio Alto) and ended up staying out until 4 am. Had fun getting drinks and socializing in the streets of Lisbon.  Like cities in Spain, the city comes alive as the sun goes down and young people come out to party.  Needless the say, the next morning was rough as we all got a 9am wake up call.  By 10:30 am, all the ISA students were put onto buses and dragged around the city. We saw a couple huge churches, an old dungeon on the river, and a monastery.  All very interesting and full of history, since Lisbon is such an old city.  By 2pm, we were dropped off at the hotel and given free reign to go off and explore. 


Inside one of the churches:

My priority? Beach. I love the beach, and I love to swim, so I found a group of kids that also wanted to explore. There were 7 or 8 of us that took the train half an hour outside the city and wound up in a small neighborhood. Before leaving, we grabbed a couple towels from the hotel, bought few bottles of wine and food to make sandwiches, then took off, not really knowing where we would end up. 

This is what we found:  

We spend the afternoon building sandcastles, swimming, and napping in the warm sand.  We also met a couple German guys on the train who decided to tag along and spend the day with some crazy Americans.  Aside from a very large and very naked Portuguese woman stretched out in the sun, and some old, weathered fisherman drinking beers in the boathouse, there weren’t really any other people at the beach.  It was a nice break from all the walking we had been doing, and lord knows I love sunbathing.  By 7:30pm the sun was low in the sky, and we watched the sun set behind the bridge. The bridge was designed by the same architect who built the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco; very beautiful.  By that point, we were out of food and drinks, and ready to head back to the hotel. 

Fun times at a la playa:

That night, me and a few girl friends got Italian food (we were all craving pasta!) and hit the streets of Lisboa.  Again, I met up with my DU friends, Gabe and Kim, and had a lovely evening meeting their friends from Sevilla. Made it back to the hotel around 3am, where I proceeded to pass out in the very comfy hotel bed, surrounded with thick, squishy pillows.  A welcomed change from the thin mattress and worn, single pillow that I have at my home-stay! 

Made it back to Salamanca the next day, after a long, boring bus ride that seemed to take twice as long as it did going there! I was sad to say goodbye to Lisbon. The buildings and streets were so colorful full of people. Well known for their colorful, tiled buildings, the city, with its rolling hills and ocean views, entranced me with its strange language and rich culture.  The fun and vibrant nightlife was a plus, too.

My roommate and I, Gail, inside one of the churches:

The trolly's made the city feel much different than Spain:

Me at the top of one of the castles:

CÁDIZ: How did I end up here? Funny story. So we get back from Lisboa Sunday evening, tired and hungry.  I was very happy to be home, and had no intention of traveling again anytime soon.  The next day, though, after my classes, a couple guy friends suggested taking a bus to the south of Spain for the rest of the week, since we weren’t going to have classes on Wednesday, because of a religious holiday.  

Why not? Classes here are fairly easy and I can miss up to 3 classes; plus, we don’t get days off during the week very often.  As I was debating it with a a couple girl friends, one girl pointed out that you will never regret going somewhere new; you’ll only regret deciding not to go. So I bought a one-way bus ticket to Cadiz, ran home to tell my host mom my plans, quickly stuffed my bag with a couple outfits, sleeping bag, my iPod and camera, and took off that very night!

Woke up the next morning (after another rough busride) in Cádiz! One of the oldest cities in all of Europe, this small, coastal town is the very city that Christopher Columbus sailed from.  It didn’t feel very old with newer buildings, but my friend Maury pointed out that it’s because the salt water wears down the buildings, so they need to be replaced over time.

What did I do in Cádiz? Beached it. We swam in the ocean and slept in the sun, I read my book and simply enjoyed watching the people and listening to the waves. When we weren’t at the beach, we were hanging out at the hostel we stayed at, cooking food or meeting other travelers on the rooftop terrace. For 15 euro a night, it wasn’t a bad deal. We got a free (very minimal) breakfast, and were given access to a kitchen and bathroom. Standard, as far as hostels go. (And let me tell you, it was much cleaner and felt much safer than the couple hostels I experienced in Eucador!)

I traveled to Cádiz with two other girls, and three guys. The six of us made a pretty good team, if you ask me. 

Here’s a view of the beach hung out at:

A beautiful sunset over the old fortress:

One of my favorite pictures from the week: 

The group at the beach:

Sevilla: After two nights in Cádiz, the group spilt up and three of us decided to stick around and take an hour-long bus ride to Sevilla.  Despite being extremely hot and unbearably sunny durning the day, I absolutely loved this city.  A little bit bigger and more modern feeling than Salamanca, Sevilla was a colorful, vibrant, and friendly city.  Honestly, it felt just like it should have; after reading about Spain for years and years in Spanish classes throughout middle school, high school and college, and after watching video clips and seeing pictures of this classic Spanish city, it lived up to all the hype. 

Two days wasn’t enough! I can’t wait to go back and see another Flamenco show, tour the church (it’s the 3^rd largest in the world!) and take a rowboat out on the river.  However, I did get to experience the city from the perspective of a student. Once again, I met up with my DU friend, Gabe, who’s living in Sevilla. He showed us around, and took us out on Thursday and Friday night.  I had fun meeting his friends and seeing how things are done in Sevilla versus Salamanca. 

Three DU students in Sevilla:

First of all, the city’s much bigger, so we had a lot more walking to do. However, because it’s so much further south, it stays warmer at night, so more people were hanging out in the streets. In fact, one of my biggest surprises was seeing on of the plazas around 4am, after everybody had left; it was absolutely trashed, with empty bottles and garbage everywhere. However, by the next morning, any evidence of partying had been clean up by the street workers. 

Crowded streets of Sevilla, around 2am:

Highlights from Sevilla:

-Spent an evening socializing at the Torre de Oro, an old 13^th century tower built next to the river.  Another big surprise? I met about 10 other DU students here. I thought there were a lot of us in Salamanca (there’s 10), but there’s close to 30 DU students studying abroad in Sevilla! So while it was nice seeing some familiar faces, I’m glad I’m in a city where there aren’t quite as many DU students. Part of why I did chose Salamanca was to meet new people and get away from DU. 

-Friday afternoon, Gabe took Emma and I to the Plaza de España (which, other than Asian tourists, was virtually empty since it was SO HOT in the middle of the afternoon). Very beautiful and ornate. 

My friend Emma and I in the Plaza:

-Watched the sunset over the river. Unlike Salamanca, I saw a lot more people running and biking here, and exercising in general. During the day, the city was dead, but by 6pm, the city came alive. Infact, we were out at a plaza later that night, and it was at least 2:30 in the morning---and this family had their little girl out! Life here is just so much different. 

Sunset over the river:

My favorite part of Sevilla? The flamenco show!!! Being the city where this traditional Spanish dance was created, I wasn't sure if we were going to have time/money to make it to one. However, our last night in Sevilla one of Amos's DU friends led us to a small, hole-in-the-wall tapas bar, where we squeezed in and caught the last 15 minutes.  The woman was very emotional and seemingly angry; I think that was the point, though. 

In conclusion: I CAN'T WAIT TO COME BACK!!!

So here I am, a week after coming back home from Porgutal. It's been a whirlwind. I came home last night and just slept. My host parents couldn't believe that I wasn't going out, and they teased me about it, but hey! Viva la vida, baby. Mom and Dad, no need to worry; after this I'm going on a run then finishing up my economics homework, having dinner around 9 then going to bed. 

I can't wait to have more adventures in Spain and beyond, but now I want to focus on getting to know Salamanca a little better. Next goal: make some Spanish friends and get involved in the community here!

So, I fell in love with Lisboa...then I fell into the ocean!

This will be a short post since I'm in a rush.

Just bought bus tickets to go to Cadiz tonight with a few friends, since we don't have class on Wednesday---so I need to go home and pack! A last minute trip to go to the beach and stop by and see Sevilla; wish me luck!

For now, though, I will say that this past weekend was incredible; I saw a couple castles in and around Portugal, stayed in a super fancy hotel with ISA, met up with some friends who are in the Sevilla program, took an afternoon to go to the beach, and went out to the bars for a night. And endured a 6 hour bus ride there and back...

I LOVE PORTUGAL!

 View of the city from the top of the hill:

Good times at the beach!

Thoughts on the European Union

"Do you consider yourself Spanish, or European?" This was the question I asked my host parents last night during dinner. I'm taking two classes, one about the economy of Spain and one about the economy of the European Union, that have sparked some interesting dinner conversation and debate.  (I'm also in classes about culture and language; not as interesting, but that's beside the point).

If you've read a newspaper or checked the news in the past day, week, or even year, you probably know that Greece is in a pretty messy economic crisis.  Here are some quick facts on the current economic situation:

-Fiscal deficit was 10% in 2010

-Unemployment among 15-24 year olds is 43%

-Over $147 billion in loans has been given to Greece 

-Inflation is close to 5%

What it all boils down to is that they are not helping the strength of the Euro. With an economy the same size of the American economy, the European Union has an uneven distribution of wealth, resources, and development.  Why should countries like Germany, with unemployment at 7% and inflation at 1%, have to bailout the Greeks?  Should Greece be kicked out of the EU, temporarily?  I mean, they weren't exactly honest on their "application" to the EU; they lied about how much they collected in taxes and were misleading.  And nobody caught them until it was too late.  So the question has become, "Do you consider yourself a German, or a Greek, before your consider yourself a European?"   There's this idea of "we are all in this together." 

Or are they?

My host parents didn't really have an opinion about the European Union.  In fact, they don't really pay much attention to current events outside of Spain.  When I asked them if they knew how many countries were in the EU, they didn't know (Do you? It's 27, but only 17 use the euro).  They did have comments to say about the Spanish government; that it was corrupt and dysfunctional.  They're excited for the upcoming November 20th elections (which, ironically, marks the 36th anniversary of Franco's death).  This has been a good way to practice my Spanish and get to know understand a little bit more about current events in Spain. 

I know a bar owner who is from Greece, so I asked him about it, too.  His name is Tassos, and he's lived in Spain since 1996.  He thinks that Germany should bailout Greece.  He told me that during WWII, Germany occupied Greece and stole all this gold, and never paid them back....I didn't really understand the nitty-gritty details, but his point was that Greece should stay in the EU.  He told me about how corrupt Greece is, though.  There's so many people who have nice cars, big homes, and most people avoid paying taxes.  He described the mansions that rich Greeks own, on small islands; none of them paid any taxes, though. How unfair is that?! This, he said, would never fly in a country like the US.  Which is why they're in such a crisis right now.

With 23 official languages spoken in the European Union, it's hard to feel the same sense of European nationality that Americans have.  However, the EU was founded on grounds of promoting peace following WWII. So maybe kicking Greece out of the EU isn't the best idea ever. It'll be interesting to watch these events unravel over the next few months.   

Moral of the story: don't lie, and spend your money wisely! 

These stats are from my class notes and a little bit of research---to any economists out there, correct me if this is wrong!

(https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gr.html) 

In other news: I have a confession to make. I love McDonald's! After my morning classes the past couple days I've been absolutely starving. I don't generally eat the biggest breakfast ever, since it mostly consists of white toast (bleh!), and lunch isn't until 3pm! So I've been going to the McDonald's in the Plaza Mayor and getting a "capricho," which is a snack wrap, for 1.90€.  And it's delicious, every time. It's so much tastier and more filling than the thin, oily meat that I'm served at home.  It makes me SO HAPPY! But I need to stop, as it's very uncool of me. 

Interesting to note, however, that you can buy bottles of beer at McDonald's. Kinda cool, eh?

Off to Portugal tomorrow with ISA; can't wait!

A Bird Just Pooped On My Shoulder

So I'm sitting on the steps of an old church, getting free Wifi from the McDonald's across the road, and a bird just pooped on my shoulder! But that's a sign of good luck, right?


I've been through literally every emotion since I got here. Except for being homesick, which I'm sure will come. Last night I was walking back home from the Plaza Mayor, thinking to myself, "there's NO WAY I can make it here for one year. I'll get sick of this small town, and the people, and the different food. This was such a stupid decision!"  I went home and scribbled angrily in my journal, then woke up this morning and felt great!

While I still have some reservations about staying here for a full year, that's something I'll have to think about more seriously in the upcoming weeks.

Doubts aside, classes are going well, and while I still don't understand 100% of what my professors say in class, I am finding that I can understand more and more as time goes on.  Academically, the classes aren't that challenging, and I'm definitely learning just as much in the classroom as I am out on the streets of Salamanca.  For example, my host mom taught me that "mariposas" means butterflies, and that "Chévere," a term I picked up in Ecuador (meaning "cool") has no meaning here. Instead people "qué guay."


Keepin' my eyes peeled for aggressive birds!

(PS: there were 2 posts in one day because my internet has been very sketchy the past few days! So sorry to overwhelm)

Second Guessing & Comparisons between Ecuador and Spain

I've been thinking a lot about the time I spent in Ecuador last winter.  I was in Quito, the capital, for 4 weeks, doing volunteer work with a program called UBECI.  I was living in the south of Quito, in one of the poorer parts of the city.  It was the first time I had really, truly experienced poverty.  I saw what it looked like, smelt like, and could only imagine the future for these children. I lived with other international volunteers and a host family, and spent my days going to different markets working with the children whose parents worked in the markets.

Skyline of Quito from downtown:

South America was incredible.  From the friendliness of the people to the beauty of the green, lush Andes mountains, I saw and experienced something new everyday.  I went to Mitad del Mundo (the middle of the world, ie the ecuador), rode up Teleferico and saw the city of Quito from the top of a mountain, experienced the nightlife, and took a 10 hour busride to see the Pacific Ocean in Montañita (a popular beach town).  When I wasn't having fun adventures, though, I was working with poor (mostly indigenous) Ecuadorian children.

At the most basic level, the volunteers provided childcare for the 15-20 children we would collect everyday.  Their parents were stuck sitting at a booth, day in and day out, where they would sell anything from meat and vegetables to used shoes and clothes.  This meant that after school (which got out in the early afternoon), these children had nowhere to go and nothing to do.   So to pass the couple hours we had with them, we played soccer, jumped rope, sang songs, and read books in English as well as Spanish.  While it was interesting and rewarding, I also felt like I could (and would) be easily replaceable.  Nevertheless, I am so grateful for the opportunity.  I laugh and cry thinking about everybody I met and all the things I saw and felt.

I was glad to say goodbye after 4 weeks and head home for Christmas in Vermont, but there was definitely some guilt associated with that.  How unfair was it that I could just come in, get a glimpse into the daily lives of these people, and leave 4 weeks later to go back to a life where happiness is (generally) based on material goods?

Last fall when I had to chose between South America and Spain, it was tough.  While I loved the South American people and culture, I wanted to see another part of the Spanish culture.  I decided not to study abroad in South America because I wanted the ability to travel and see Europe.  I had always dreamt about seeing Prague, Rome, Munich, Berlin, the Swiss Alps.  While there's so many places I want to see in South America (Machu Piccu, Buenos Aires, Patagonia, the Amazon!), I have to remember the advice that my mother has always told me when I get overwhelmed about traveling: "Those places are not going anywhere."

There's still time!

So why did I write all about my time in Ecuador, when I'm here in Spain? 1) Because, like I said, I'm making all these comparisons. And 2)  Because I'm feeling GUILTY for having chosen to live here instead of somewhere more culturally and economically diverse than the US.  I guess the main reason I chose Salamanca, Spain, was for the comfortability, affordability, safeness, and flexibility of the city and of ISA.  The first week has been amazing, and I'm starting to come down from my high.  As I reflect on my experiences so far, I'm second guessing myself as I compare my study abroad experience to my other DU friends that are living in other parts of the world.  Some people are doing amazing volunteer work, others are living in places they will probably never have the opportunity to see again! South Africa, Buenos Aires, India, China---I feel so boring for just being in Spain.

So I need to keep reminding myself that I am ME, and this is my own experience.  I am not just in Spain, I'm in Salamanca! I chose Salamanca for a reason---and I am so excited for what's to come.

Once again I am reminded by a quote: "Go forward with confidence in your dreams, and live the life you have imagined."


Here are some pictures from my time in Ecuador.  To me, they represent the huge contrasts and economic disparity that exist between Ecuador and Spain, yet you can still see many similarities.  I could not help but compare my time in South America to my time in Spain.

1) The apartments.  This is my apartment in Ecuador.  Similar to my apartment in Spain in that it also feels less "homey" than a spacious house in America with carptded floors, it was also very small and close knit.  However, as you can see, the basic utilites are much better in Spain:

Outside my apartment in Spain:

Outside my apartment in Quito:

Bathroom in Spain:


Bathroom in Ecuador:

Meat sold in a store in Madrid:

Meat sold in a restaurant in Quito:

Church in Salamanca:

Church in Quito:

Plaza in Madrid:

Plaza in Quito: 

I could go on; I think I've made my point. There are so many similarities and so many contrasts between the culture and lifestyles of the Spanish and Ecuadorian people.  From the value placed on the family and food to the importance of the plaza and influence of the church, I feel very lucky to have seen and lived in these two different parts of the world. 

(Also, here's a link to the organization that hooked me up with UBECI; I'd highly recommend it if you are looking for some awesome volunteer work! http://www.volunteerhq.org/)

Reflections: One week down

One week in, and I can't believe how quickly it's gone by. A week ago I was so overwhelmed by everything I was seeing and everyone I was meeting. It's still overwhelming, but I'm starting to find my place in Salamanca.

I was talking with my friend Mark about it tonight, since we're both going to be here for a year. He put it perfectly when he said we just need to take it one day at a time.  To try to imagine everything we're going to experience is too much.  For now, it's best just to take this new life one day at a time!

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Here are some reflections on my first week in:

*The best thing that's happened to me this week: the friends I'm making.  For the most part, all this ISA kids I've met are very friendly and fun to be with.  We've already had some fun times, and I'm so excited for all the trips we're going to take and all the memories we're going to make!

*The worst thing about this week: The food. My body needs to get used to the different ingredients and foods that are here.  I think it will come with time.  I don't consider myself a picky eater or high maintenance, but I've been finding myself skimping on meals because I just can't force it down!  It's generally so oily and gives my a tummy ache.  Good thing there's a pastelería right down the street....

*Biggest surprise of the week: Everyone was right about the nightlife here. They weren't kidding when they said that people stay out until the sun comes up. And it's not just the young college kids; there's all sorts of people staying up dancing, socializing, and hanging out at the bars.

*Biggest disappointment of the week: I'm not speaking as much Spanish as I had hoped. I want to make more of an effort to meet Spaniards and distance myself from the Americans.  Can't be too hard on myself, though; it's only been one week!

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So after dinner, I went to the Plaza Mayor to take some photos and write in my journal, and I bumped into some of my American friends.   We got drinks at a cafe and tried to play cards, but the waiter told us it wasn't allowed! Whoops.  In a few weeks hopefully we'll get this whole European thing down. I'm sick of looking like such an American! Here are some of the shots I got tonight at the Plaza:

The clock:

Friends:

The moon:

I read a great quote today: "What we seek, we shall find." I'm excited to figure out what my time in Spain brings me. 

Happy October!

I’m sitting in a small park, across the street from my apartment building. Across from me, there’s an old man sitting on a bench with his wooden cane resting against his leg. To my right are four señoras, sitting, chatting, with nowhere to go, nothing to do. Simply watching the world pass by.

Here’s a picture I took of four old men in the park this afternoon. I asked them if I could take their picture, and they just laughed. To them, it’s normal, but to me, it’s such a different way of living.

I’ve only been in Salamanca since Sunday, not even a week, but it feels like so much longer.  I imagine this first semester is going to fly by, kind of like my first semester at DU did freshman year.  I feel like a freshman again, having to get to know a new city and adapt to a different way of life.  I still haven’t gotten over the beautiful architecture that I see everywhere I walk.  From the old, stone churches to the towering apartment buildings and crowded plazas, I can’t imagine any city that it compares to in the United States.  

As for the food? It’s ok. What I miss most are foods like cereal, pasta, and mac and cheese. All those cheap, processed foods that are so very American!  I can’t complain, though.  The food my host mom makes is all very fresh. She grew up in the countryside, so she loves vegetables.  I’m very grateful for this, because I know other ISA students who are fed lot of meat and rice. Carb overload!  What I don’t like is that most of the food is cooked in oil, so it has an oily flavor and consistency.  Nobody here uses butter to cook. Maybe this is how they stay so thin!  

There’s only been one meal I didn’t like, and that was a beef stir fry served with a garlic and oil sauce that tasted and looked like soy sauce.  Ugh. And there was a tortilla she served with tuna, a very common meat here. No me gusta!  The tuna came from a giant can, like cat food.  For some reason, that really bothered me.  As advised by ISA, though, I tell my host mom when I don’t like meals, because if I don’t say anything, and lie and say I like it, she’ll make it again and again.  I know some students here are too afraid to say anything to their señoras, for fear of offending them, but I said something.  It wasn’t awkward or anything, and she’s hosted so many exchange students in the past that she doesn't take it personally...I hope! 

But, here are some meals I did like:

I like my host mom, Montse.  She’s younger than most of the other señoras that host American students.  She’s really good about letting me practice my Spanish with her, and corrects me when I’m wrong (which is a lot!) and speaks slowly enough so that I can understand her. It’s small things, like the difference between “por” and “para,” or “ser” and “estar” that I have problems with remembering sometimes. I don’t mind asking for help though, because that’s the only way I’ll learn! I hope that by the time Melissa and Dad come to visit, I’ll be speaking like a native.  My main goal is to not have an obvious American accent!

But, I need to avoid hanging out with Americans all the time if I’m ever going to improve.  

Back to the food: Hotdogs and fried eggs are very common. A lot of dishes are served with a fired egg on top, which is mixed into the dish. I don’t like fried eggs very much, because they’re usually pretty oily and don’t have much flavor.  Plus, to me it just seems weird to mix eggs with rice and veggies! Same goes for hotdogs.  Hotdogs are served as a main part of the meal, eaten like a sausage, without ketchup.  In my American mind, hotdogs are supposed to have a bun and be drowning in ketchup! 

Another weird, random thing: nobody here eats whole wheat bread, that I’ve seen. It’s all white bread. Not a huge deal, but something to get used to, coming from a culture where we have so many different types of bread. 

Well, it’s 7:30 pm. An hour and a half until dinnertime...and I’m so hungry! I need to get used to the different eating schedule here.  The streets are starting to get more crowded as families head to the parks and plazas. The cafe’s and restaurants are starting to get busy, and the city is coming alive as people have woken up from their siestas!  This is so unlike anywhere I’ve ever lived.

I started writing this about an hour ago. In front of me, the old man is still there. Still alone, just looking around, lost in though. To my left, the four señoras are still talking,and  haven’t moved. Two other women have joined them.  The plaza I’m in has more young kids running around screaming and laughing. 

There’s so much more I want to write about, so many things I’m noticing and experiencing. I know I have a whole year here, but I’m afraid it’ll fly by! I don’t want to take any of this for granted. So, I’m off to the plaza to join the masses!