Mi Primera Noche a Salamanca

What a blast! I’ve been trying all week to catch up on and tweak my sleep schedule, but with the time change, the siestas, and the stress it's been difficult. Add going out for a night on the town to the mix and I am completely messed up. But, you can’t decline offers for good times, especially when you only have 4 weeks to do it all in. Thus, I took off my responsible student hat and put on my party pants.

I was supposed to meet up with two guys from my study abroad program for a concert on campus. I left the house at 10:15pm and that is when I finally had an experience that was completely and totally different than anything I have ever had in The States. 

It was almost eleven-o-clock on a Thursday night and the streets were bustling. Not the typical bustle you would expect from a college city. It was what the normal kind of bustle is all over Spain. After siesta is over around 5pm people get back out on the streets. The elderly were out for walks, mothers pushed strollers, and children were running through the streets laughing. It was awesome. You can’t feel unsafe walking on the streets late at night when 6-year-olds are riding their trikes past you on the sidewalk.

I got to La Casa de las Conchas a little after the concert should have started. I couldn’t find anyone, anywhere. I listened for music, I peeked into bars and I could not find any sort of sign that there was even a concert happening at all. I was nervous for a second, but I had another friend I was meeting in less than an hour so I decided to just explore.

I asked around if anyone knew where a concert was taking place. People helped me look, but no luck. One guy started creepin. He asked in very broken English if he could “follow me home”… I assumed he meant “walk with me” and I was walking to La Plaza Major, a very busy location, so I made it as clear as I could that that was where I was going, that he could walk with me if he wanted to and that I was meeting a friend.

We walked and talked both English and Spanish, and stood in La Plaza Major for a while just talking. I kept checking my watch, praying my friend would not stand me up. Had a short political discussion with the guy and learned that he dislikes the U.S. President (The first Spaniard I have met to dislike him). I asked for his reasoning, and I had to make him repeat himself multiple times in different ways, not because I didn’t understand what he was saying, but because I couldn’t believe how ridiculous it was. 

Evidently he dislikes Obama because the children of actor Will Smith cried when they heard he was elected hahaha and he said he believes that if the children of Will Smith are crying then that means re-electing Obama was a bad idea. He was dead serious too. Hahahaha I really needed my friend to show up.

Low and behold Julia appears! Thank goodness. But me being nicey-nice asked if it was okay if my new friend tagged along. It ended up not being the worst of ideas, but he most definitely was a creeper. I met some amazing new friends through Julia and we immediately read each other’s minds. They helped me ditch the creep in the blink of an eye and the rest of the night was a blast!

We hit up some of the campus bars. Cheap shots, yummy sangrias, and familiar music and dancing. (Gangnam Style is EVERYWHERE!) Then we found a nice, quiet, cozy bar to sit and get to know one another. Another American in the group, Alix from France, Stephanie from England and Mike from... well everywhere, but he hails from Switzerland and we all just sat and chatted as though we were the oldest of  friends. It was lovely.

                       

Didn’t get home and in bed until 4am though, class at 9… PQ tried to get me to go to a discoteca on Friday night, but I was feeling Thursday night that morning and all weekend long. I'm getting too old for that kind of stuff haha But I couldn’t have had a better first night out in Salamanca.

Un Día Difícil

I'm having a rough day. For four hours every day I push my brain to focus so that I can understand my class work. I can not take notes, I can not look in my dictionary, I can't let myself think about anything besides each word that is coming out of my Professor's mouths. If I look away or check my watch or anything then I lose track of everything that is being said. I never imagined that one could use so much energy just listening and thinking. It is seriously so exhausting. Day by day I understand more and more of what is being said in class, but by the time my classes are over and I'm free for the day I'm simply too worn-out and ready for siesta. Normally I don't think this would be a problem except I have met so many wonderful people and I have such a short amount of time to hang out with them and explore Spain.

                                    


Salamanca is a University city and absolutely beautiful, four weeks is definitely not enough time to see everything that begs to be seen. It has countless students from abroad, and not just American students like I, with my unfortunate American mentality expected. It has students from China, Japan, Italy, England, Brazil, Switzerland etc. I have met enough English speakers to fill my need for escapes from the Spanish language, but I have met many amazing people who speak no English and the only way that we can communicate is through Spanish. This is rough for me as I am not fluent and so making small talk or making plans to hang out after class is a problem.

I walk to my final class every day with a sweet girl named Dora. She is from Brazil. She only speaks Spanish, but yet we have found ways to communicate, for the most part. I was even able to, in my beautifully-broken Spanish tell her how there is an American television program for kids that teaches children Spanish and the girl on the sow is named Dora. I told her how my mom watches kids for her job and that she told them I was exploring Spain with Dora and how excited they got. I'm pretty sure she understood because she smiled and laughed.

Anyways, the morning was encouraging. Just like the day before I understood more in class today than I did yesterday. Poco-a-poco, little by little things are starting to click that didn't click just weeks ago, but I don't feel like I'm understanding things fast enough.

After class today Dora came up to me with a smile on her face and seemed very excited. If I understood what all I think I understood, she was asking me where I lived and inviting me somewhere, but I didn’t understand most of everything and she couldn’t understand my broken responses. We both just gave up and said we’ll see each other in class tomorrow.

That brought my spirits down a bit. As much as I’m excited to hang out with my English-speaking friends I don’t want to limit my friends simply because I can’t understand some of them. I was a little somber when I got home. I explained as best as I could to PQ. Opphh, my brain is tired from the morning.We talked a bit before siesta, over almuerzo. Small talk still gets a little confusing and with myself already feeling exhausted and sad about not understanding stuff I kind of just zoned out for a second while she was talking. I was watching her talk but not really listening until I heard her ask, “Comprende?” I shook myself out of my trance, and took a big sigh so as to keep from crying. Quietly I responded, “Nnnoooooooo” and tears started forming in my eyes.

“Tranquilo, esta bien. Tranquilo” She consoled, telling me to relax, and that everything was fine. We talked slowly, I was still a bit overwhelmed, but that was good for us and good for me too. She gave me a big hug. Nice to have a good hugger for a host-mom, and then we went our separate ways for the rest of the evening, but poco-a-poco, things will get better.

Primer Día de Clases

Yep, and I thought the hard part was over. FALSO! I studied a bit before class this morning, but like I am realizing with everything, no matter how much you try to prepare yourself for something you can never be fully prepared for anything. I may have passed the placement test, but the hard work is only beginning.

Here's my schedule:

9am: Avenzado Langua Española

Two hours of intensive language study bright and early in the morning all about the many many many different verb endings and other grammatical jubilee. Two weeks ago I felt like the small amount that I knew would be enough to get my by. First day of class I am slapped in the face with the realization that that just aint so. In total I think I understood about 30-40% of what was being discussed in class. Not a great way to start, but we can only go up from here.


11am: Avanzado Conversación Redaccion

One quick hour in a small class taught by the same Prof. who gave me my placement test. She is super laid back, in fact they all are. "Tranquilo", everyone keeps saying; quiet, carefree, peaceful.

Work hard and stay calm. It's what I've been told a handful of times already.

11:00am to mediodía, random group chats, little actividades de conversación and then poof my second class for the day is done.

For my final class I book-it all the way across campus, through the Plaza Major and back up the street like I'm heading home. I will never be able to be on time for this class. Está bien. My American friends who have been here all semester tell me that in España everyone is more laid back than The States. The clock is a guideline, not the end-all-be-all, and rushing and worrying is not necessary. I really dig that.


12pm: Avanzado Cultura Español

20 minutes late, but at least next time I will remember where the building is. This time I spent more than 10 minutes looking for someone who could understand my nervously broken Spanish plea of, "Do you know where this building is!?" Didn't find anyone who could help except here comes this sweet girl from my second class rushing past. She stops to ask me if I know where a building is, turns out we are looking for the same place. "No sé". She grabbed my arm and told me to come with her.  Definitely helpful to have a Spanish speaker with you when you're lost in Spain. Bam! The first people she asked for help understood her perfectly of course, pointed us in the right direction and that was my adventure for the day... wait a second, did I just have and adventure in Spain with Dora,, THE Dora?

That class was cool. Muy fácil. And, if I understood correctly, which I'm pretty sure I did, I won't have a final exam for this class either. Now that is muy bueno!

My final class goes by quickly and I basically just have to sit and learn about the culture of España by watching movies and video clips, listening to music and looking at pictures. It's a nice way to wrap up the day.

This will be my life Monday through Friday for four whole weeks. If this is what I have to do in order to finish my degree I'm pretty sure I can handle it.

I just have to remember, tranquilo.

Held Hostage in el Apartamento de mi Madre Españoles

My host mom Paquita, (PQ as I like to call her in my head) has been feeling under the weather all day. She was kind enough to walk me to campus for my test this morning and patient enough with me when I told her that in addition to not having a phone, I sort of forgot the paper with her address on it, and my map. She reacted as though I had just spit on a baby in a stroller. I had to calm her down. "Esta bien. Esta bien. No hay problema." Though inside I was thinking, "Crap! I'm gonna get lost in Spain on my first day." I kept an eye on landmarks so as to find my way back, but tried making some small talk too. Immediately hushed every time. "Mirar! Mirar!" (Look! Look!) she would gently shout. Wanting me to stop talking and just pay attention to our walk. She is sweet enough though.

On a side note, I'm noticing definite OCD tendencies (more on that later I'm sure), and coming from a girl whose got her own OCD issues I think that's saying a lot.

Anyways, I've been home off and on today, but shut-up in my room whenever I've been home. Just catching up with family, posting pictures, organizing things etc. Having to sit and make small talk is probably the most stressful part of this experience now that the test is over. And after a day like today, with my placement test and adventure finding my way 20 minutes back home from Uni, making small talk was the last thing I wanted to do. Honestly I could really just use a bubble bath, some wine and some solace. I'm settling simply for the solace.

Still getting used to the eating schedule in Spain. Té and a pastry for breakfast, a large meal around 2pm followed by that wonderful siesta we Americans have all heard so much about, and then a small dinner that isn't until around 9 or 10pm. Being that it's just my second day here I assumed PQ would just do what she did last night and knock on my door when cena was ready. It was 9pm my first night, so 9:20 comes around and I peak my head out of my room. Found the kitchen closed down, lights off and her bedroom door shut. ????

Qué? No cena?

My study abroad paperwork mentioned that in Spain the kitchen is kind of a sacred place and students shouldn't assume that they can just go in there and dig around for food... I was screwed.

Thank goodness for bringing way too much food for the plane ride in my carry-on.

I figured, okay, no hay problema. I'll just eat some granola and a fruit roll and jump online to watch some American television.

Si, hay problema.

To save energy, and money I'm assuming, (but perhaps it's the un-diagnosed OCD) PQ likes to unplug the internet before she goes to bed... double screwed.

Fortunately good always comes out of bad, and Bing! Bang! Boom! I typed up this new blog post.

Un Exam Muy Importante

Reflection:

Two years ago I was living in Michigan con un novio who had just two years left of law school. I had three years left for my degree... Si hay problema. Decision? Let's attend Western Michigan University AND a Community College at the same time! I can double up and take 22-credits each semester so that I can move back home to Minnesota when the boyfriend does. Stupid decision? Sure, in some regards, yes. But with hindsight being what it is, especially today. BEST DECISION EVER!

Morning Before Exam:

Freaking out! FREAKING OUT!!! AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Two years of pushing my way through Spanish classes, and four months of non-stop studying and stressing preceding this trip abroad have all come together for this. If I pass with high marks then I will be able to take my final 6 credits of advanced Spanish and finish my degree. If I don't pass, then this trip will end up being a fun but expensive waste of time that will set me back from my degree another year and a half. No pressure right? See my reasoning for the freak out? So yes, the insides of my elbows are sweating, I've got some kind of something dancing around in my stomach and I have a feeling that vomit is inevitably going to come out of my mouth before this morning is over.

After Exam:

That exam was the most nerve-wracking thing I have ever done in my life! During the entire exam I felt like at any moment I was going to foam at the mouth from whatever was coursing through my veins, fall to the ground and die, there, on the beautiful old marble floor. People would hover over me and ask me (in Spanish of course) if I was okay and I'd be unable to answer, not because I was dead, but because I wasn't able to understand a single word they were saying. But I digress.

80 multiple-choice questions. Facil no? But it was a timed test so actually muy dificil. La Profesora would give us time warnings, but I can not listen to Spanish AND read it at the same time. Ended up rushing through the last 20 questions with cinco minutos left to go and had already guessed on a handful of questions, not mentioning the multiple wrong answers I'm sure I got on the questions I thought I knew. Yeah, not feeling the greatest about this one. On top of that there was a literal one-minute exam with La Profesora in front of the rest of the test-takers. Thankfully she asked if I had a boyfriend and fortunately I can talk about mi novio until the cows come home. Hopeful, but realistically unsure. Oh well, what's done is done.

Resultados:

Somehow I seriously fricken did it! The Multiple-Choice Guessing Gods were looking down upon me with favor and said, "You know what, let's just give this one to her." Literally as I walked back to campus for my results I pleaded with the Universe (yes I capitalize 'Universe' I'm kind of a hippie), "Just give me this one. I worked my booty off to get here in more ways than one. I don't want to have to dispute the results and fight for this too. Please, just let something simply happen for me, finally." Granted I did put in quite a bit of work in preparing for this exam, but I'm so used to having to stretch and fight and bite and claw to make things happen for me that I just assumed that was going to be the case this time too. I was ready for the bad news. Ready to fight.

Waited on campus for my advisor, which seemed like forever. I almost couldn't take it. Then I hear Maria call my name from behind me. Heart attack! She had a smile on her face, but that meant nothing to me. She showed me a piece of paper with my schedule on it and there I was looking for a word, any word that looked like it meant, "advanced". She talked for only a minute before I couldn't take it any more. As politely as I could I stopped her and asked, "So, advanced classes!?" (She knew from our talk this morning how important that was for me) "Si!" I looked again, "avanzado" or course. Duh! I literally started to cry. I imagine the way I felt was exactly how I will feel one day when I hold my first born child... or when those amazing pair of boots finally go on sale.

Celebration:

I have never felt so amazing and relieved in all of my life. I want to celebrate! For now I only know my advisors and my host-mom who is sick on the couch. Probablemente not the best idea to get a drink on my own... no wine or bubble bath at home for my usual celebration routine, so I walked slowly back to mi casa. Street musicians playing, everyone coming out from their siestas. Wonderful people-watching. Celebration enough I suppose. Feeling relieved, feeling relaxed, feeling calm and happy.

Sola en España

My trip started off with no flaws and new wonderful airplane friends. Don’t you just love that? Feeling energized and ready to go.

Five hours into my travels, time to kick-it U.S. Airlines style on the long flight out of Philly. Terminal A already prepping me to be completely surrounded by Spanish speakers. Uummm *biting lip and crossing fingers* Lets do this!

No sleep, no internet, (Thanks for the shotty pillow and lack of entertainment U.S. Airlines.) long flight. So many people have been there done that. I’ve had my fair share too, but this was something entirely different for me. Kind of gross, but in a cool way if that makes any sense. People already getting annoyed with my lack of Spanish ability. I swear I understood what the lady on the plane was asking me, she just had to give me un minuto to finish forming my response in my head!

After a long sleepless, Spanish study session flight… Madrid! Beautiful cloudy and rainy morning in España. Muy Bonita! Got my checked bag and exchanged some U.S. bills for more euros. I’d bought a money pouch to keep my bills safe under my shirt, making sure to heed my mom’s advice about pick-pockets. Started to think maybe she meant to keep an eye out for people who will steal your money right in front of your face. Screwed over at the one and only phone stand in the airport. $60 euros for a phone card that I’ll use once to call my advisor in Salamanca so they can pick me up. $40 euro cab ride to the bus station.

Taxi did not build my confidence either. “¿Cuál es su nombre?” I asked. “No Entiendo” was his response. Wait a second. I know, “no entiendo”. Heck, “I don’t understand” is the first damn thing I learned in Spanish. I tried different ways of asking and I know I was saying something at least close enough, but to no avail. We sat in silence for the entire 15-minute drive.

Bus station. Gross. Just like the lovely bus stations back home. Also finding that asking “Habla ingles” does not guarantee someone will say, “Why yes, of course I speak English.”

Somehow on my 20ish hours of no sleep I was still able to purchase the correct bus ticket, found some crap-tastic bus station food for my belly. Not the first meal I was expecting to welcome myself to Spain. Oh well, experiences, experiences.

Everyone I’ve encountered so far has been really pissy and impatient with me. Perhaps it’s the city attitude, or more likely it’s my perspective from my exhausted, cranky, stressed-out American eyes. Have yet to find a public bathroom with toilet paper available so I can blow my fricken nose. Yeah, I’m probably just cranky.

Sat by the platform and finally wrote in my paper journal after an 11-month hiatus. I have way too many hiatuses from that poor little thing.

20 minute sleep on the 2 hour bus ride. The scenery was lovely on the overcast morning. Everything looks and feels older and more interesting. I’m sure that’s just my mentality, but I’ll go with it. Even the cows in the beautiful pastures seem exotic. Cute wittle brown speckled cows nursing their cute wittle brown speckled baby cows.

Then, low and behold, like a beacon in the night, an English-speaking Spaniard! Relief! My advisor, Inma welcomed me with open-arms and European kisses on my cheeks.

To my Spanish mama’s house we went. A 20-minute walk from campus, tight and crowed cobblestone European streets. So cool to this foreigner, I’m sure quite the opposite to the Spaniards.

Pequita, my host-mom reminds me of someone, I’m just not sure who yet. She is very tiny and cute like my aunt Deb, hospitable from the get-go like Nathan’s mom and friendly like my mom… maybe that’s it. She just seems so familiar because she is like a bunch of different people that I love all rolled into one.

I took quite a bit of alone time to unpack and de-stress. Mi habitacion es muy pequeña pero very cute. (There is no word for ‘cute’ in Spanish. My love of an extensive vocabulary is going to suffer. Bonita can’t really mean pretty, beautiful, lovely AND cute can it!? Yes. Yes it can.)

Lunch with Paquita. Muy delicioso. Then siesta. Lord how I needed a siesta. Somehow I understood enough of what Paquita said to know we were planning to go for a walk together afterward. Well, my siesta basically turned into a full-night’s sleep. Slept too long, no time for a walk, but up in time for dinner (at 9pm!! Yeah, more on that later) then study, study, study. 

HUGE test in the morning.