I officially have finished my first full week of classes! Things have definitely been less busy this week and it has been nice to have some time to relax and not feel so rushed. This weekend mostly everyone in my group has decided to stay in Salamanca. It is a Holiday this Monday so there are tons of events and activities going on this weekend AND no school Monday! We all decided it would be a good weekend to enjoy Salamanca and have a weekend that isn't booked with traveling excursions.
The theater show we went to Tuesday night was very interesting. It was all women and only dance…I guess you can say we had a hard time interpreting the message, but the dancing was absolutely phenomenal. Afterwards we went to get dinner together as a "family." Originally we had decided on going to a place to get good paella, a very popular Spanish dish that is rice, vegetables, and meat. When we finally sat down and saw pizza on the menu there was no hope. We all ordered pizza and split 2 bottles of wine. I have to say, it was really nice to have "American" food. Afterwards we walked around the Plaza Mayor and watched some acrobatic group that was performing. We went to get ice cream nearby and my friend Derek that the lady working was beautiful. He tried to tell her she was pretty "tu eres Hermosa" but instead said you are my sister "tu eres hermana" needless to say she was a little confused!
Class has been going really well. Luckily I have great teachers and enjoy my time spent in class. In between my morning classes I meet with some of the kids in my group at a local café. The owners name is Feliz, which literally means "happy". He is the cutest old man and is always so friendly. Some mornings he even gives us FREE CHURROS! Here is a picture of Heather, Feliz, and I from yesterday morning.
Two nights ago I had my first "intercambio". I met with a local student named Javier to help him prepare for his English exam. It was actually very fun to talk to him in English and Spanish. He was very interested in sororities and fraternities…I tried to explain it to him but they have nothing like it here in Spain. Javier decided the closest thing to a sorority would be a convent! I told him he had the right idea, but with demasiado chupitos and muchas fiestas (too many shots and lots of parties). We are meeting again next week to continue practicing both English and Spanish. It is really great to practice Spanish with someone my age and very entertaining to learn more about their culture and how they perceive Americans.
Some of my favorite things Javier said he found intriguing about American life were water bottles, eating fruit, tennis shoes, and eating habits in general. No one has water bottles in Spain and people do not eat or drink unless they are sitting in a restaurant or in their home. I have noticed that my brother David has an unusual obsession with my water bottle and thinks it is absolutely hilarious, as does Javier. Javier said people in Spain "comida para disfrutarla" they eat to enjoy the food, so they cannot believe we would eat or drink while doing something else, including walking, reading, talking on the phone etc (Dad I am sure you are loving this concept). He also can't believe Americans eat the skin of fruit or eat fruit with their hands. After he mentioned this I noticed that Marianna and David always peal and cut their fruit (even apples) and eat it with a fork. Javier also loves that Americans wear tennis shoes in public, here tennis shoes are only appropriate if you are going to the gym and often times people will wear flats or nice shoes with their work out clothes and CHANGE THEIR SHOES at the gym! It's hilarious! Anyways Javier says you can spot an American from a mile away because they have on tennis shoes, are eating or drinking in the street, and always carry water bottles. I don't wear my tennis shoes to class but I am totally guilty of carrying my water bottle with me everywhere, eating fruit with my hands, and eating on the go. Guess you can say I'm proud to be an American!
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