Madrid

Just wanted to post a few pics from the Prado Museum, the Reign of Sophia museum, and the Real Madrid game!!!!!!!

Instant Friends: Intercambio Party

     The best way to learn Spanish is to speak Spanish.  As much as possible, as often as possible.  To help us utilize the grammar, vocabulary, and colloquial terms that we learn in the classroom outside the classroom, Maica and Carlos set up an Intercambio party at the Emory Center.  Six native Spaniards came (although we were supposed to have 13,) and we had the opportunity to speed date with them in 2 languages for 15 minutes each.  At the end of every conversation, I took down their contact info so that we can talk again.  I've actually had my first intercambio date with a discoteca promoter named Luis.  Every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10pm-4am he stands on the street and tries to get people to go to his discoteca.  In simpler terms, he gets paid 5 euros an hour to get snubbed by drunk people.  However, club promoters are great people to practice your speaking with because they are lonely and desperate for positive human interaction.  So whenever someone approaches me asking if I'm going out tonight and I don't have anywhere to be, I will stop and chat.

      Thus far, I have not had a fully immersive experience.  There are two American girls also staying in my apartment (until tomorrow,) my Spanish classes are with other international students (from America, Japan, China, Korea, Brazil, Canada, etc.,) I have planned trips with other Emory students, and a lot of people really do speak English.  I have not been fully challenged to adapt to something completely new and different, and quite frankly I'm slightly disappointed.

     Instead of my environment challenging me, it is up to me to challenge myself.  In the next week, things will drastically change.  The American girls will be gone.  No more English at home.  I will stop speaking English with my Emory friends.  I will schedule regular intercambios with university students to improve conversational skills and build a friend network to hang out with.  To all the Spanish people reading my blog (and aren't just trying to find a recipe for paella... hit me up and lets talk ESPANOL!)  Maybe I can even find a boyfriend (I doubt any Spanish boy can handle this jersey girl.) WHO KNOWS.  All I'm saying is the adjustment period has come and gone, and now I need to overwhelm myself by trying to tackle Spain head on.

Saturday's Excursion: Segovia & La Granja

El cochinillo (baby pig)

Dia phone home

Segovia

Roman Aqueduct

     After waking up at 6:30 am, I put on 2 pairs of pants, sweater, leather jacket, winter jacket, scarf, gloves, and the hat my sister crocheted for me as a Christmas present.  I was bracing myself for a full day trip to the capital of the autonomous region of Castile and León, Segovia.  Not only is the city colder than Salamanca due to the high altitude, but the forecast called for snow!!

     We toured famous sites such as the Segovia Cathedral, the Roman aqueduct, and the Segovia Castle.  We were with a large group comprised mainly of Brazilians, Koreans, and Americans from our international courses.

For lunch, my Emory group went to a restaurant to eat the traditional Segovian dish called el cochinillo, aka baby pig.  It was the best pig I ever had!! Some people were freaked out that there was a leg on their plate or that there was hair coming out of the skin, but to me it just looked like lunch!
 

     After lunch we headed back to the bus to meet up with the other students.  Unfortunately, a group of 3 American girls didn't make it back to the bus on time and we had to leave without them to continue on to La Granja.   I tried to include the most notable pictures from the trip, but we weren't allowed to take pictures inside the cathedral :(

 

La Granja

Outside the palace

     I didn't like this place quite as much because we only got to tour a palace that wasn't nearly as impressive as the monuments in Segovia.  It probably would've been better to go here first.  We saw a beautiful and lavish palace FILLED with historic art/culture.  At the end of the day, it started heavily snowing.  Until this point I was properly dressed, but the high winds and wet snow soaked my pants and tore up my 3 euro umbrella.  I was so glad to get back on the bus and return home (to Salamanca) where my dinner was waiting for me (at 9:30pm.)

Skinny Spain Part I

     This is the first thing I saw when I walked into the local supermarket in Salamanca, named Carrefour.  I was astonished that there were rows and rows of fresh food as far as the eye could see.  I wondered to myself, "where is all the junk food?"  In the United States, usually the junk food takes up 90% of the store and occupies the center of the supermarket, while the fresh food lies on the periphery.  In Spain, I walked around for 15 minutes before I could find the processed products.  You are probably wondering why it took me so long... No I am not directionally challenged and no I was not drunk at 1pm.  I couldn't find it because the junk food was downstairs and I had to use the escalator located in the very back corner to find it.  After I rode the escalator down, I had to pass aisles of beauty products before I finally found the cookies and yummy cereals.

     The layout of the supermarket literally blew my mind.  Since I've been here, it is clear that there are SIGNIFICANTLY less fat people here thanks to the Mediterranean diet, less cars, the culture, and little things like the layout of a supermarket.

     The mediterranean diet consists of ...

• Many vegetables, fruits, legumes, and high quality grains
• Some fish, birds, and less dairy products
• Olive oil as the typical condiment (from the Romans)
• A little bit of wine
• Reduced intake of sugars and sweets
• Little to no "fast food"
• Paired with constant physical exercise

     Spaniards have maintained a healthy diet that creates a high quality of life.  However, it is clear that the American influence is gradually penetrating the rich culture and imposing negative effects on Spain.

New Posts Coming Soon

     I apologize to my loyal followers (aka sorry mom) for not posting the past few days.  I have been extremely busy with school/ trips/ applying for jobs/ etc. BUT the good news is I have lots of great things to say once I have the time to write them in a cohesive manner!  Check back in Monday night.

(Grandma's) Food for Thought

Grandma Gene holding my hand :)

     Literally, everyone's grandmother is the best cook in the world, and some people will get into altercations with others to defend their grammy's cooking.  Rumor has it, the fight between Sammi and JWow/Snooki on Jersey Shore in Miami started because Sammi told JWow that her nonna's sausage and peppers tasted like old hot dogs.  Snooki countered by saying that Sammi's nonna's lasagne tasted like catfood, and it turned into the brawl of the season.

     So why is it that we all think our grandma's cooking is the best cooking in the world?  Because it is.  Because their cooking is about more than just the food, its about the unconditional love they put into every dish and the sheer joy they receive from making our bellies full and seeing us smile.  Their meals offer us more than nutritional value, but also cultural, emotional, and intellectual nourishment.

     Every time that we sit down at the table with them, we have the opportunity to access our pasts including family history, heritage, religion, and even national history.  If it wasn't for my gwammy, I wouldn't know that when she was young girls who wore toe nail polish were considered trampy.  I wouldn't know what my mom and dad were like when they were teenagers (my parents were high school sweethearts.)  I wouldn't know about my Polish heritage: Perogies and Mushroom soup (only mushrooms handpicked by virgins in the forest) every Christmas, and Kielbasi every Easter.

Every time that we sit down at the table with them, it is a free therapy session.  We can tell them whatever is bothering us and they will only try to help us out.  If it's a secret, they will not tell a soul.  If we're mad at our parents, teachers, or siblings grandma will always be on our side.  Her solutions might include a 500 calorie oatmeal raisin cookie, but she always makes things better.

     Every time that we sit down at the table with them, we are molded into the person we will someday become.  Unconsciously, morals and habits are transmitted to us that we internalize to construct our own identity.  My grandmother knits for her local shawl ministry so that she can not only help others, but also "have something to show" for her time at night (instead of just absent-mindedly watching tv.)  At a young age, I was inspired to make crafts and volunteer as well as make sure that I too had something to show for my time.  In addition, she taught me the importance of family, tradition, and tasting everything.  No matter what she cooked I had to try it at least once (if I didn't like it I didn't have to eat the rest.)  I am so thankful that she put me through this culinary training because in Spain I can experience the culture in its entirety.  I try everything at least once.  That mentality translated to my life in general, and I am always willing to try something new.

     Today was my grandmother's birthday, and I could not get her off my mind all day.  I wrote her a sentimental Happy Birthday email, but it really upset me that I could not be with her.  I am so grateful for all that she has done for me.  From driving me to soccer, swim, gymnastics, girl scouts, to letting me kill a tree's worth of paper to color on when I was young (now I've reduced it to only killing a branch... I'm going green remember.)  With every meal that our grandmothers prepare, we are one step farther away from ever repaying them for all of the love, care, and happiness they put into our lives.  But it's okay because they don't expect us to ever repay them.  That's not why they cook us the most delicious food in the world.  Our grandmas make the most amazing meals solely because to see us happy, makes them happy; and they would sacrifice their heart and soul if it meant putting a smile on our faces.

Thank you Gwammy and Happy Birthday :)

Bandz Will Make Her Dance: $$$ and Opening a Foreign Bank Account

     Today, I received my debit card in the mail from Deutsche bank!  Since it is currently Rebajas (similar to Black Friday for an entire month,) I can now swipe away :)  When I was researching the abroad money situation, I had a hard time finding concise information so let me give you the run down..

1. If you exchange dollars to euros, your money will disappear.  As of today, the exchange rate is 1 USD = .75 €.  This means that the euro is more valuable than the dollar when traded on the open market, this does not mean the dollar sucks (don't be an ignorant American.)  There are winners and losers.  You are the loser, as well as domestic producers because their products are worth less.  However, because the USD is worth less, US exporters are able to compete with other countries (hey China) on the global market.  China actually withholds a large amount of USD in reserve in order to raise the value of USD against their yuan so that Chinese products will have greater demand.  Now you are ready to earn your macroeconomics degree!
2. Conversion charge of USD to € is about 3%.  In theory, you will only get 72% of every dollar.
3. Don't exchange large sums of money at the airport, you will get robbed.  Only exchange enough to hold you over until you can get to a bank/ATM (maybe $40-60 to cover a cab ride.)  In addition to the 3% conversion charge, Currency Exchange shops will keep another 4-6% of your money, knocking it down to 67% of every dollar.  To demonstrate the difference between using a bank and an airport currency exchange: 

• $100= (100x.75)-(100x.03)= 72 € at the bank.  (Americans are losers)
• $100= (100x.75)-(100x.03)-(100x.05)= 67 € at the airport. (Americans are even bigger losers)
4. To avoid these ridiculous surcharges, exchange large quantities of paper money at a bank teller or withdraw from your debit/credit card through an ATM.  You could even get a group together and pool your money so that you avoid the charge (usually need over $200).  
5. Research if your bank has partner banks in your destination in order to avoid the additional service fees.  For example, Bank of America and Deutsche bank have connections and I can withdraw money from a Deutsche ATM free of charge.  I know that Citibank also has a program like this.  Otherwise, Visa is widely accepted and generally has fair rates.
6. If you need to open an account at one of these American banks, do it 2-3 weeks before you leave.  I did it the week before and my mother had to pay a lot of money to mail my debit card to Spain.
7. Find out what your bank/credit card company charges for foreign transaction.
8. Notify your bank that you will be in a foreign country.  I just logged on to my mobile banking and sent an email.
9. Consider setting up a foreign bank account like me so that you can have a debit card that isn't charged every time you swipe!  This is also convenient is you get a small job.
10. You can only WITHDRAW money from ATM's in Spain.  To deposit my euros, I have to go up to the counter with my card.

I make it rain.

To open up a foreign bank account, you will need (at least)...

1. Passport
2. Address & phone number
3. 3 month or longer stay
4. Money to deposit
5. Basic banking vocabulary (such as I want to open an account)

All of these tips I learned from experience, but if you want to read it again in a slightly more descriptive format, I've included 2 links.


How to exchange money
How to get the best exchange rate

Everyday I'm Hustling: My Daily Schedule

My Spanish business class

     Without my schedule, I am nothing.  I have trouble relaxing for extended period of time (more than 12 hours.)  There is something inside of my that needs to feel productive in order for me to be happy.  Although I encountered different meal times here in Spain, I am certainly not taking a semester vacation.  My schedule is as follows:

Kanye's workout plan

	Lunes	Martes	Miercoles	Jueves	Viernes
7:30	Wake up	Wake up	Wake up	Wake up	Wake up
8	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast
8:30	Leave casa	Leave casa	Leave casa	Leave casa	Leave casa
9-11am	Grammar	Grammar	Grammar	Grammar	Grammar
11-12pm	History	History	History	History	History
12:15	Snack/HW	Snack/HW	Snack/HW	Snack/HW	Snack/HW
1:15-2:15	Business	Business	Business	Business	Business
2:45	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
4	Run	Run	Run	Run	Run
6:15-7:30	Literature	Culture	Literature	Culture	FREE
8-9pm	HW	HW	HW	HW	Tapas
9pm	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner
10pm	HW	HW	HW	HW	HW
12:30	Bed	Bed	Bed	Go Out	Go Out

     I have 5 hours 15 minutes of class every. single. day.  I'm honestly not used to sitting on my badonkadonk for so long... any suggestions on where I can find one of those donut seat cushions for people who broke their collar bone???  However, the more involved and active I am in class, the quicker it passes.

     After so much sitting, I like to run around the city in a different direction everyday.  I love seeing the whole city because it dates back to the Roman empire.  I finish up with some classy YouTube yoga in my cubicle room (I can't even extend myself diagonally without hitting the walls.)  But I'm not complaining because I love my room, my host mother, and Spain in general.  It's possible that I'll miss my flight back to the US if I can find an internship here :) more on that and the horrible state of the Spanish economy later...

V and Sophia in history class

     Many people ignorantly think that because Spaniards usually take a break for lunch and possibly a siesta, that everyone here is lazy.  This is far from the truth.  Here is a list of things that I have learned about Spanish culture.

1. Only children and the elderly take siestas.  Adults usually work.
2. Because they take a midday break, Spaniards work until 8 or 9pm.
3. Lunch, instead of dinner, is the time that families are supposed to be together and interact with each other.
4. Since they eat lunch so late, it is custom for your stomach to growl everyday.

Eat. Pray. Love.

     Yesterday, I attended Sunday mass with my host mother, Marí.  I probably haven't been to mass since I was confirmed in 9th grade, but I wanted to experience everything Salamanca has to offer and I certainly have a lot to be thankful for.  The service was held in this beautiful, old church called Parroquia Sancti Spiritus.  At 1pm, we walked about a quarter mile to the church and squeezed in the doorway; it was filled to maximum capacity at about 200 people, and there were no seats left so we had to stand! It was mostly grandparents with a few younger families sprinkled here or there but no one my age.  After 45 minutes of readings, songs, collection, communion, and prayers, mass was over and we walked back to our apartment.  A delicious Sunday paella was waiting for us :)

       From what I gathered, Marí doesn't necessarily strictly practice Catholicism but her beliefs are important to her.  To me, it does not matter what religion you practice as long as your beliefs help you to lead a better life and don't harm others.  Although many religious traditions may seem weird or crazy, most of the time the objective is to promote personal growth of the individual(and/or community) mentally, spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, and/or physically.  Therefore, there is no reason to dislike or discriminate against someone just because their set of beliefs/practices are different because in the end we are all just trying to become the best person that we can be.

     I am not one to shy away from other cultures or religions, because rather than counting the differences, I try to find similarities and appreciate the uniqueness.  Most importantly, if I decide a certain practice or habit does not suit me, its not because the foreign culture is wrong or stupid, it is because I was raised a certain way in a certain environment by my own incredible family.  My creation is different from every American, every New Jersey resident, every 19 year old girl, and even different from my own siblings; Not better. Not worse.  Different.  I apply this perspective on a daily basis, so that I can achieve a greater understanding of the world around me as well as how things interact with each other.  An open mind is more valuable than a knowledgable one because with tolerance, there are no limits.

Typical lunch/dinner at the kitchen table.  Marí could feed an army!

Third Time's the Charm; weekend's party in review

Plaza Mayor Meet Up Spot

Chupitos = shots

     On Thursday night, I went out with my Wisconsin sister and her friends at 11:15pm.  Everyone meets up in the Plaza Mayor before they decide where to go.  After picking up more Wisco students and a British boy in my class, we walked to La Chupitería (chupito=shot.)   They had 1 euro shorts, but we were pretty early.  My Emory friend Alexis came 30 minutes later with International Business grad students in my business class.  I joined Alexis's group and walked to Paniagua, a slightly grungy bar with more artsy people.  The veterans of the group ordered a tasty drink called Agua de Valencia, champagne + whiskey + orange fanta.  There, Alexis and I met two German grad students, one of which lives in the same German city called Münster that my sister lived in last year.  Our final destination of the night was a discoteca called el submarino.  Flashing, blue lights and loud house music facilitated some good, hearty Jersey fist pumping.  I also practiced my Spanish talking to a Brazilian boy taking classes at my university.  For my first night it was pretty fun.

American Mob

     The next night, we met in the Plaza Mayor again and had a group of over 20 people from about 15 different states.  American students taking classes at the University have a funny way of finding each other and sticking together; at least at the beginning of the semester.  It is not my plan to only hang out with English speakers, but Spanish students have exams until the end of January and I am still working on making international friends.  We went to and filled various bars, but it seemed like no one was out. Regardless, we still had a great time and Alexis and I ended up meeting two Brazilian lawyers.  One of them complemented me on my Spanish... his ability to lie assured me that he was probably a decent lawyer.

Brazilian Friends

     After two strike outs of meeting Spaniards, Alexis and I hit the jackpot.   This time, we met up around 1am, and it was only two of us.  From the Plaza Mayor we followed the music to a densely populated street full of bars, including the one that we visited on Thursday, Paniagua. We hopped around, starting conversations with anyone who would listen to our less than perfect Spanish.  Alexis and I were straight up pimps getting cell phone numbers left and right on our flip phones, just like we used to back in middle school... except my flip phone in middle school actually had a camera.  After I had used up my Spanish capabilities for the night, I called it a night and took a taxi back to my apartment.

Some Wisco kids :)

      It's true that your speaking improves the most at the bar.  This is true for some or all of the following...

1. Its easier to approach someone when you are in an informal setting (and looking mighty fine)
2. Bar convos are slightly less difficult than analyzing Spanish literature or responding to your teacher's question that you don't even know the answer to in English
3. If you can properly formulate questions, you don't have to do too much talking
4. A little bit of alcohol solves self confidence issues
5. Salamancans don't mind broken Spanish after a few shots
6. A laugh and a smile mean the same thing in every language

     Now that I know where the party is, Salamanca will definitely be seeing (and hearing) more of me.  After all, practice makes perfect :)

Go Green or Go Home

     In Spain and Europe in general, being green is really in right now.  I quickly created a table to help Americans that don't even realize how different it is.

In	Out
Turning off the lights	Turning on the heat
Walking	Driving
Bicycles	Deep wash cycles
Stairs	Elevators
Paying for plastic bags	Putting recyclables in trashbags
1 minute showers	Shaving in the shower w H2O running
Unplugging chargers & appliances	Using appliances

Supermercado

     Every time that I leave the room, I turn off the lights (and television) even if I am just going to the bathroom.  To conserve water: I turn on the shower for 10 seconds to get wet, turn it off, rinse out shampoo for 20 seconds, turn it off, put conditioner in my hair and apply body wash, turn it on for another 20 seconds, and thats my shower!  At the grocery store, customers have to pay for the cheap plastic bags.  All of these habits/policies reduce waste and have enormous benefits for the individual and the environment.  They simultaneously decrease utilities costs and carbon footprints, promoting a cleaner and healthier life.

     I have embraced the environmentalist culture; as a result, I am much more conscious of my effect on the environment.  I used to take 10 minute showers with the water running the entire time.  Now I take 3 minute showers with the water running for only 1 minute.  For such a "developed" country, I am surprised that the US has not embraced these policies to the same extent as Europe.  A few governmental policies and Americans too could practice greener habits that promote a healthier population, leading to decreased healthcare costs.  Unfortunately, our politicians are too busy fixing our financial problems to realize the incredible benefits.  Although being green has not become popular yet, when I return to the states I will continue to wear my new green habits like they are the latest from Coco Chanel!

"The Life of Studying is Much Better Than the Life of Working"

"The Life of Studying is Much Better Than the Life of Working"-Marí (host mother)

     After another delicious dinner prepared by my host mother Marí, our discussion about her parents' priorities led to a very insightful discussion about her decision to work instead of attend school.  When Marí was younger, she decided that she didn't want to stay in school because she preferred to work on her parents' farm.  She worked day and night while her brother and sister studied at the university.  As a result, she has bad knees, a bad back, as well as many other aches and pains.  Although her sister is older, Marí said that her sister is "much younger inside and out."  She advised me to work hard in school because I do not want to end up like her.

     In my opinion, Marí looks great for being 64 years old, she exercises with her friends everyday, and she is doing very well for herself considering her lack of higher education.  Apparently, her husband earns the money but she "controls the purse," while taking care of the household chores and housing international students to bring in extra income.  Marí also said "when I have money, I like to look at it" instead of spend it.  Since her parents had to pay for education, they didn't buy Marí unnecessary luxuries and she learned to be frugal.  We are both very thankful that our parents considered education a priority because it had an extremely strong influence on who we are today.  Even though we have only known each other for a short period, Marí truly inspires me to take full advantage of the enormous advantages I've been blessed with.

Secret photo during my grammar class!

     I have formulated a list of goals for the time that I spend in Spain that will all amount to my main goal of FLUENCY...

• In general, speak Spanish as much as possible but specifically: only speak Spanish in the apartment, with my host sisters, with my classmates during school hours, and when I meet new people.  It is much harder than you would think to stick to only Spanish because almost everyone that I meet wants to practice their English!  This will be a challenge that I face daily, but I must resist the urge to revert to my comfort zone everyday.
• Learn 5 Spanish vocabulary words every night before bed.  This will make everyday conversation easier.
• Participate in class as much as possible.  If I do my homework and pay attention, participation should be no problem.

     For those who want to make goals or New Year's Resolutions of your own, I have summarized a very helpful article from livestrong.com about successful goal setting.  The actual article is specifically gear towards losing weight but I find its applicable to a variety of areas!

1. measurable goal
2. dare yourself
3. tell your friends and family
4. reach out to your online social network for support and accountability
5. find a workout buddy or online group
6. prepare
7. plan a reward for yourself
8. visualize success at your resolution looks and feels like
9. believe in your ability to do this, praise yourself, and take pride
10. if your mess-up, forgive yourself and recommit to your goal

10 Steps to Succeed at New Year's Resolution of Weight Loss

RAGE RAGE RAGE

Wisconsin sister

     Tonight will be my first night on the town since I arrived on Sunday!  I don't fall asleep until after 2 am so hopefully I won't be affected very much for class tomorrow.  I am hanging out with a group from Wisconsin.  I don't know very much, but check in with me tomorrow for how it went!!  Hopefully, I can make new friends, practice my coloquial Spanish, and enjoy myself after 5 hours of class yesterday and today.  With so much time spent in the classroom, I feel like I am in high school again.  The upside is that I don't have any homework but to "review" my notes from class.

     My daily schedule is as follows:

• 9-11 Grammar
• 11-12 History
• 1:15-2:15 Business
• Today, I also had Culture from 6:30-8

     This is really different form my Emory schedule when I had 2 classes everyday except friday from 11:30-2:15pm!  I have not adjusted enough to form my opinion.  If you prefer to study independently, Spain probably isn't the place for you.  However, for students that like interaction and discussion (or need it bc they are trying to learn a language,) the extensive class time functions very well.

Grammar class during the break

First Day of Kindergarten All Over Again

La Universidad de Salamanca

      I didn't know what to expect.  How big are my classes?  Are my professors mean?  Will I understand them?  Are my friends in any of my classes?  Will I pee my pants?  Will I have a lot of homework?  Why did I choose to take only Spanish classes?   Will I cry for my mommy???  It was like the first day of kindergarten all over again without arts & crafts/I had to take my nap (siesta) at home.  JK it wasn't nearly as terrifying as kindergarten.  I was more excited than nervous because my passion for Spanish language and culture kept me up ALL night.  I couldn't wait for my first day.

      I walked into my grammar class and was faced with the most difficult decision of where to sit… I picked a seat in the very center of the class, close to another girl in my group.  After most of the students filed in, a pattern emerged; American students on one side and Japanese/Chinese on the other.  Although we are in an environment where diversity is strongly encouraged, all of the students including myself chose to sit with people of similar descent.  I will address this issue in a later post.  Disappointing but it was the first day and the professor told us that tomorrow we have to intermix; we will see how that goes.  However, the professor and the class were very fun and I am in the process of perfecting my grammar.

     After 2 hours of grammar, I immediately walked down the stairs into my Spanish history class and sat front and center.  Our teacher gave us a worksheet with pictures corresponding to major events/works/periods of Hispanic history, but its safe to say that no one knew how to chronologically order the 13 pictures except Roberta, an American woman much older than the typical college student.  She knew so much about these paintings, people, places, and monuments that we all wonder why she is even taking the class.  Regardless, I have a lot of respect for someone who still has a passion for learning and the courage to attend school at her age despite the judgment of others.

Tapas con el vino

     FINALLY, I went to my Spanish business class in a different building.  I was disappointed that I will mostly be learning Spanish business vocabulary words and customs rather than how Spain functions in the global economy.  I guess my expectations were unreasonable considering it’s a 200-level class.  Although it is in Spanish, there are many different levels of speaking ability as well as many nationalities: Brazilian, Belgian, Swiss, Canadian, British, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and American.  Its incredible that students with very diverse backgrounds have committed to learning Spanish and were all attracted to the University of Salamanca.  Apparently it is the 2^nd oldest university in Europe, Oxford was established first, and the buildings are a true testament to its historic background.

Dia's menu!

      Overall, classes seem manageable and I am very excited to be bombarded by Spanish history, culture, business, literature, language, and more culture all at the same time.  After an hour information session on Spanish tapas customs, like how to order, names of drinks/glasses/wines, and how Spaniards pay, I had my first real tapas tonight with my Emory group!  I had pancetta, pinchos morunos, a form of beef shish kabob, and farinato, tapas typical of Salamanca.  They were absolutely delicious.  My host mother told me that Salamanca is famous for their tapas or “planchos.”  In 2 out of the 3 bars we entered, they were playing American artists like Michael Jackson! Side note: Bars in Spain are different from American bars, which are known as bares de copas (copas are alcoholic drinks with soda like gin and tonics.)

    Now that I known how to “picar” like the Salamancans, I feel much more comfortable going out at night and meeting people.  Now that I have a phone, the possibilities are endless.  A quick warning to everyone living in Salamanca, watch out because Dia (my nickname) is trying to chill!!  

     Here, I learn more in a day than I learn in an entire month in the States.  It makes me feel like I am missing out on so many other cultures, I am even considering studying abroad again with the business school! Anything is possible.  Time for me to complete my first Spanish assignment of the semester! Hasta luego!