¡Buenas Noches Amigos!
Today was my first day at the Universidad de Alicante. It was a beautiful day with amazing weather. No rain. A friend and I took the bus to campus and got yelled at in Spanish by the bus driver. Something about my friend not putting the money in correctly... it was very confusing but somewhat comical after it was all over. My first class of the day was my Spanish Composition I class. There are about 10 students in the class and we have Juan as our professor. He is really relaxed and has great style. Haha. We are going to use a workbook and read a few novelas. We will have two tests and some compositions, which shouldn´t be too difficult.
Before I begin telling you about my second class, let me begin by telling you that I wanted to drop immediately. My second class is El Gobierno (Government) and when I looked at the class roster there was only my name and another guy´s name (who is in advanced, might I add). So of course I was intimidated... two students, one teacher... I like the ratio a little less even. However, I told myself that where God put me is where He wants me to be. So I delt. Then 2:40 rolled around. The other student was really nice but I was so nervous with the teacher because he spoke so fast. At times I could not keep up. By the end of class it got a little better. Anyways the whole climax of the story is that I was talking to the guy after class and it ends up that he is involved in Campus Crusade for Christ on his campus! Since he is studying in Alicante the whole year, he told me that he has been to a non-denominational church around Alicante. How amazing! I was so excited! I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would meet another guy from Cru in Alicante. If I would have dropped the class I never would have met him. It is so crazy what happens when you just go with what the Lord provides. He meets our needs before we even know we need something. ¡Que bueno!
I know I have been lacking in the details of this blog (and in the picture department which I am working on). The language barrier definitely creates interesting circumstances like with the bus driver this morning. Things also get lost in translation along the way... I pray that I will improve and that things will become more clearer. I love speaking with my host family. They are wonderful. Tomorrow Alba and I are going to watching Grey´s Anatomy in Español. She is a fan as well! I am hoping this weekend I will have some more time to spend with both of them. Maybe we can go to the grocery store. The food Feli cooks is amazing. She was very pleased that I like just about everything because now she can cook whatever she likes and whatever they usually eat. I remember that the first night we had caviar on crackers. One night we had a mixed dish of peas, eggs, and ham, which was delicious. We also had salmon, which is one of my favorites. Feli even packs me lunch for school - usually consisting of a sandwich (un bocadillo) and an orange (una naranja). Spain has the best oranges I have ever tasted, even better than Florida. Many times with the language differences, we just end up laughing at the misunderstandings.... which happen a lot.
I am really torn with the traveling situation. Being in Europe, makes you want to see everything, everywhere, immediately. However, I must remember and consider that my first goal, the reason I came to Spain, was to learn Spanish. I know I will be very disappointed if I come back only learning a little. I want to see everything in Europe but it might be more beneficial to stick to Spain and a few other key areas for the first part. In order to learn the language. Honestly, it doesn´t matter where you go, everything is beautiful. Many things are more famous than others but no matter what this is the experience of a lifetime. I am meeting so many wonderful people from all over. I have only positives in my life. Thank the Lord.
Well I am going to attempt to work on the pictures soon... so stay with me.
¡Hasta Luego!
Sarah
PS okay if you go all the way to the top of the page there is a heading called ´"My Pictures" and under that are two photobucket.com links. One is for Madrid photos and the other consists of some Alicante photos. ¡Enjoy!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Alicante
¡Hola! Estoy en Alicante. Es una ciudad bonita.
English...
I am in Alicante! It is amazing and beautiful and perfect. I stayed with my host family the very first night. They are wonderful. Feli is my host mother and Alba is her daughter. They are so kinda, loving, gracious, and patient. The first day was very overwelming with all the Spanish. It was difficult to keep up. But now we are having actual conversations in Spanish, like around the dinner table for instance.
Life is very different here. Everyone eats lunch around 2 or 3 and then takes a siesta - even some of the stores close for a bit. My family eats dinner around 9 or 930. Very late. But I am used to it by now.
Tomorrow is my first day of classes at the University of Alicante. I am taking 3 Spanish classes, a Spanish conversation course, Government and Politics of Spain, and finally, Spanish Culture and Civiliation. 17 credits in all. Only one class is in English. But that is the way I prefer it because I am learning so much more just struggling through.
We have done so much already. We have explored, went to the beach (la playa), and today I went shopping for a bit because I didn´t bring very many warm clothes. It is in the 50s and 60s here now. I even bought a hairdryer (un secador) which I like better than my US one!
The food here is wonderful, although it took my stomach a few days to get used to it. Feli is a wonderful cook and I cannot wait until she teaches me. Right now I am learning all the ingredients names! I have a book where I write all the new words I learn in... it is going to be very big by the time I come home in June.
I am going to post a few pictures but if you have facebook that is the best way to view my albums. I do not have a lot of time to put pictures on both facebook and this blog. There is SOOOO much to do and so much to learn! Spain is absolutely wonderful. I couldn´t ask for a better atmosphere or a better host family. They seriously are the best! Right now they are watching television before bed so I better get going.
Hope this post finds everyone well in the States!
Love,
Sarah
PS Actually I am not going to post pictures because it is taking forever to load... So I will try something different another time... Sorry about the wait. I am sure you are all in anticipation! haha :)
English...
I am in Alicante! It is amazing and beautiful and perfect. I stayed with my host family the very first night. They are wonderful. Feli is my host mother and Alba is her daughter. They are so kinda, loving, gracious, and patient. The first day was very overwelming with all the Spanish. It was difficult to keep up. But now we are having actual conversations in Spanish, like around the dinner table for instance.
Life is very different here. Everyone eats lunch around 2 or 3 and then takes a siesta - even some of the stores close for a bit. My family eats dinner around 9 or 930. Very late. But I am used to it by now.
Tomorrow is my first day of classes at the University of Alicante. I am taking 3 Spanish classes, a Spanish conversation course, Government and Politics of Spain, and finally, Spanish Culture and Civiliation. 17 credits in all. Only one class is in English. But that is the way I prefer it because I am learning so much more just struggling through.
We have done so much already. We have explored, went to the beach (la playa), and today I went shopping for a bit because I didn´t bring very many warm clothes. It is in the 50s and 60s here now. I even bought a hairdryer (un secador) which I like better than my US one!
The food here is wonderful, although it took my stomach a few days to get used to it. Feli is a wonderful cook and I cannot wait until she teaches me. Right now I am learning all the ingredients names! I have a book where I write all the new words I learn in... it is going to be very big by the time I come home in June.
I am going to post a few pictures but if you have facebook that is the best way to view my albums. I do not have a lot of time to put pictures on both facebook and this blog. There is SOOOO much to do and so much to learn! Spain is absolutely wonderful. I couldn´t ask for a better atmosphere or a better host family. They seriously are the best! Right now they are watching television before bed so I better get going.
Hope this post finds everyone well in the States!
Love,
Sarah
PS Actually I am not going to post pictures because it is taking forever to load... So I will try something different another time... Sorry about the wait. I am sure you are all in anticipation! haha :)
Thursday, January 7, 2010
First Days in Madrid
¡Buenos dias!
Yo estoy en Madrid, España. Madrid is absolutely beautiful. It is unbelievable.
I arrived in Madrid Wednesday morning. The flights (vuelos) went very well. On the way to Miami, I sat next to a woman from Ecuador who is involved with Samaritan's Purse and with the House of International Prayer. She was very encouraging and even told me a key phrase - "Habla más despacio, por favor" (meaning "Speak more slowly, please"). Then on the long flight I sat next to another interesting guy. Everyone spoke Spanish on my long flight - it was crazy!
Anyways so when I got to Madrid I picked up my luggage (thankfully it arrived with me, unlike other people in my group). Then I took a cab to the hotel; I even had a conversation with the cabby although I was kinda nervous. :) When I got checked it, I decided to do a little exploring. I went to La Puerta del Sol and La Plaza Mayor. You could definitely get lost on the streets of Madrid. It is beautiful. At La Plaza Mayor, there were gypsies dressed up as some crazy things, trying to earn some tips. There were also painters with amazing paintings! Later that evening my roommates (who are studying abroad in a different area of Spain) and I went to a restaurant called La Catedral - it was amazingly delicious!
Today, we took a walking tour of Madrid even though it was raining and snowing! We went to El Museo del Prado and saw Velázquez's Las Meninas along with paintings by El Greco and Goya. They were stunning to see them up close. Then we went to El Museo Nacional Centro de Arte. At that museum we saw Picasso's Guernica. I couldn't believe I was looking at a real Picasso. However, today I am seriously jet-lagged and kinda sick. It wasn't the best day... but hopefully tomorrow I will feel better and I will be able to enjoy myself more.
Tomorrow we are going to the ancient city of Segovia and to The Valley of the Fallen. Hopefully during free time tomorrow, I will be able to see a few more things, hang out with some more people going to Alicante, and get a phone card!
I'll keep you posted. Please keep me in your prayers!
Love
Sarah
Yo estoy en Madrid, España. Madrid is absolutely beautiful. It is unbelievable.
I arrived in Madrid Wednesday morning. The flights (vuelos) went very well. On the way to Miami, I sat next to a woman from Ecuador who is involved with Samaritan's Purse and with the House of International Prayer. She was very encouraging and even told me a key phrase - "Habla más despacio, por favor" (meaning "Speak more slowly, please"). Then on the long flight I sat next to another interesting guy. Everyone spoke Spanish on my long flight - it was crazy!
Anyways so when I got to Madrid I picked up my luggage (thankfully it arrived with me, unlike other people in my group). Then I took a cab to the hotel; I even had a conversation with the cabby although I was kinda nervous. :) When I got checked it, I decided to do a little exploring. I went to La Puerta del Sol and La Plaza Mayor. You could definitely get lost on the streets of Madrid. It is beautiful. At La Plaza Mayor, there were gypsies dressed up as some crazy things, trying to earn some tips. There were also painters with amazing paintings! Later that evening my roommates (who are studying abroad in a different area of Spain) and I went to a restaurant called La Catedral - it was amazingly delicious!
Today, we took a walking tour of Madrid even though it was raining and snowing! We went to El Museo del Prado and saw Velázquez's Las Meninas along with paintings by El Greco and Goya. They were stunning to see them up close. Then we went to El Museo Nacional Centro de Arte. At that museum we saw Picasso's Guernica. I couldn't believe I was looking at a real Picasso. However, today I am seriously jet-lagged and kinda sick. It wasn't the best day... but hopefully tomorrow I will feel better and I will be able to enjoy myself more.
Tomorrow we are going to the ancient city of Segovia and to The Valley of the Fallen. Hopefully during free time tomorrow, I will be able to see a few more things, hang out with some more people going to Alicante, and get a phone card!
I'll keep you posted. Please keep me in your prayers!
Love
Sarah
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