Find Your Center

Last night Camilia and I had our first Mistica class at the mistic center. It is a giant building shaped like a star from above and has all these gardens and crazy passages etc. Very cool. We had to take the bus home though because it's kind of far and it gets out the same time that dinner starts. Exciting. We got mistaken for Spaniards by a woman. cool. And then we had hamburger patties and fries for dinner...it was funny. No homework as of yet...weird. Instead of reading books here and then talking about them, the professors read them and give a lecture on what they say and then you can read if you want to find the book in the library...I hope my Spanish is good enough to be correct on what I am hearing in class...

First Day of School

I had my first class today. I think it went ok. I could understand what the professor was saying most of the time and if I started missing words I could pick up enough to figure out what was going on...I hope. It is raining today and I am getting frustrated that I don't know what to do at night. Either I need to meet some Spaniards, and fast, or Camilia will have to come out and find a bar with me. I just need to be more confident with my speaking I think and go talk to some people. Many of the people who are a little older than us are very nice and open, but other students stay in their groups which is pretty annoying for me. O well.

Sunday in Ávila: Which Church to Go to?

Today has been relaxing kind of. After breakfast I went for a walk around the old city. Finally saw the Convent of Saint Teresa. Very Pretty. Everything is closed up except for a sweet shop and some wine/ham shops. Every hour or so some bells start ringing. It's pretty cool. This afternoon we had paella for lunch...AWESOME! and then Maria Fernanda, Camilia, and I went and looked around the monastery that we are staying next to and the cathedral there. Very cool. Very pretty. Lots of old things and there is a museum of natural science and one of oriental art. Crazy things. Now, I don't think I have time for a siesta, but I couldn't sleep easily last night so maybe it's good to be tired...

Madrid: My Day with EJ

Today we took the train to Madrid. We rode a bad one and it ended up taking over two hours. We got impatient so we got off at an early stop and took the metro to the center of the city. We went first to La Plaza Mayor where EJ met us because he was in Madrid as well. We saw El Palacio Real y El Parque de Buen Retiro and more. It was a fun day. Camilia and Courtney went to an art museum around 3 so I hung out with EJ. It was a nice day and I was happy to spend some time with EJ. Like Madrid a LOT. Great atmosphere and lots to see within walking distance. I have been walking so much it seems. Also, el comedor gave us sack lunches to bring so we had picnic in the park. How cute.

Ávila at Night

dinner: soup made from the potatoes and beans at lunch and a grilled cheese and ham sandwich...it was delicious! haha. After dinner Camilia and I walked to the old city and wondered around. Lots of teenagers oddly enough. It was nice to stroll. We need to meet some people who know where to go at night...we did get a call of "reina reina" however so...tomorrow = MADRID!

I Have a New Orange Phone!

Today has been very enjoyable. We missed breakfast..whoops and went out for coffee/hot chocolate and churros instead. Delicious and a cute cafe/bar. Afterwards we searched out phones before going to orientation with Sonsoles, our program director, at the school. Easy to get to and easy to navigate.

Phone Time! Camilia and I bought pre-paid phones at Orange. Some network I have never heard of. A phone for 19 euros. bueno. Also, it is orange. awesome! Starting to find my bearings here and already recognize places that can help point home, though we always carry a map still!

We met a guy from New York here. He is really nice and funny. He never knew Spanish before and is working really hard at it and has been here a while. Also, we met a girl who lives on our floor and sat by them both at lunch. Yay for meeting people.

Went to the market the first time today and got some laundry stuff and soap for my bathroom. Working on a plan to go to Madrid tomorrow....EJ IS THERE!!! My first call on my new phone was to EJ who told me he is in Madrid (whoo hoo for meeting up) and he's going to a Real game on Sunday (not so jealous). haha. Stores around here have lots of Real merchandise...uhhhh. o well. I found a date to go to Barcelona that could be amazing...

First Day: Damn Three-pronged Electronics

Me duele la cabeza. There is a reason you learn this song so early in Spanish classes. My flights went well...both arrived early and left the seat next to me open: score! I tried to sleep on the way to Madrid, but it was so uncomfortable...a little, but not much. I watched Whip It on the plane...pretty good movie. ok.

When Courtney and I got here we waited for Camilia and we had a driver who spoke only Spanish, but for basic purposes everything was smooth. Spain looks different than I thought, maybe not, but kinda...make sense? There are a lot more mountains. Lots of hills and valleys and cities built on mountain sides and the trees are all crazy! As we got closer to Avila, we were so high that we were looking down on clouds and fog in the valleys...pretty weird.

Got settled, my room door likes to jerk me around and it never locks or unlocks within the first 8 turns of the key. Character? I have my own bathroom! Exciting...and a nice sized closet, not that I brought enough clothes to fill it.

We went for lunch at 2:00...dining is pretty interesting. The comedor has a long table and you sit in the next available chair as you enter so you sit next to random people all the time. At lunch I got a list of ingredients from a man training with the police academy for the custard-like desert we were given (flour, sugar, vanilla, milk) haha. it was delicious. They serve you in courses: soup, salad, meat, desert, and there is water, wine, and some sort of soda gaseonera? You can have your choice.

After lunch we took our siesta...MUCH needed! I just passed out until Camilia and Courtney got me at 4:30 and we wondered around Avila and looked around the walled city. Love the city planning. They have both been to Europe before so maybe it was weird that I was obsessing over the narrow roads and the buildings and the sidewalks, etc...at the top of the hill there are the walls and a GREAT view of the landscape below...mountains, fields, cityscape...very cool. We then returned for a little orientation and then we had a little time for leisure before dinner.

Dinner was more soup...I have no idea what was in it, but it was tasty, and a potato-kiesch type thing. I had the wine and soda mix drink for dinner...delicious. We sat by a guy from Madrid who was working in Avila who gave us some tips on what we need to see when we visit...maybe this weekend? Tomorrow is our last day of orientation and then we don't start classes until Monday. Need to go shopping. Need to get a phone.

So much Spanish though. We decided to speak to each other in only Spanish and all the people at the residencia speak only Spanish. Falling into it ok I think? I am understanding people...four months and I think it will be good. We shall see...