9:20pm
I just returned home from our meeting tonight and some shopping. I have learned a few things about Spanish customs:
- Stores (las tiendas) have the following hours: 8:30 – 2:00pm & 5:00pm – 8:30pm
- There are ample opportunities to recycle. Next to every trash pick up there are two huge recycle bins, one for plastics and another for glass. In addition, there are sometimes bins for old clothes.
- In order to get a plastic bag for your items at the grocery store, you have to pay .01 Euro because they encourage you to use your reusable bags (like the green publix ones)
- The toilet flushes differently. It took me 5 minutes to figure out that I needed to pull the button on top of the toilet up to make it flush
- Many people use toilets that clean you after you go to the bathroom with water instead of using toilet paper – I opt out of this option, surprisingly
As I venture around, I think of many things that I would like to share with you, but I cannot always remember them when I begin to write.
I went to the store today and needed lotion but did not know the word for it. I was glad when the person understood what I needed when I referred to it as something you use after you shower. It was about 10 euros for lotion, shampoo, conditioner, and soap. I also bought some notebooks for school. The paper is longer than I am used to and it is graph paper not lined. My mom would like this!
We tried to buy phones today; however, everywhere we tried was sold out due to the large demand for go phones.
I am finding it more difficult to write in English as I spend my days talking in Spanish. My Spanish is definitely improving but I do have a ways to go. I usually understand English speakers when they use Spanish, but it is difficult to always understand Spanish speakers because they talk quickly and with more difficult words.
Dinner will be served soon. I believe we are having fish.
Adios!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Day 2 - First day of school
May 30
8:36 am
I am on the bus going to school!
I woke up at 8am and had fresh squeezed orange juice. Our padre, Julian, made it from 10 to 16 oranges. After breakfast (el desayuno), he walked us to the bus stop and was planning to go to the local market to buy fruit. There is a market every Monday morning here. He said he only buys fruit here because it is inexpensive and very good; however, the clothes (la ropa) is cheap and ugly.
He cooks because the madre, Hermi, works.
Hasta luego!
8:36 am
I am on the bus going to school!
I woke up at 8am and had fresh squeezed orange juice. Our padre, Julian, made it from 10 to 16 oranges. After breakfast (el desayuno), he walked us to the bus stop and was planning to go to the local market to buy fruit. There is a market every Monday morning here. He said he only buys fruit here because it is inexpensive and very good; however, the clothes (la ropa) is cheap and ugly.
He cooks because the madre, Hermi, works.
Hasta luego!
Day 1 - El primero día
May 30, 2010
4:45 pm
I am here! My name here is Kristina.
Yesterday I left for Spain after a full day in Atlanta at the aquarium with family and friends. Melanie, my roommate, and her family joined us.
When we later arrived in the airport, the flight had been delayed. Needless to say, we ended up leaving two hours after expected takeoff due to our plane being struck by lighting on its last trip. We nonetheless switched planes and then took off!
The flight was long but I was very lucky with my seat partners. I sat near a lady who had just visited her lover in New York and a man bringing a group of students to study in Spain for the summer. The lady did not speak much English and her boyfriend does not speak much Spanish. Thus, she is trying to learn English. She spoke with me most of the flight and told me to start a journal of new words I learn and categorize them. I now have a front and back sheet of paper with common phrases in Spain.
In Spain, lunch is referred to as “comida” not “almuerzo” and when you meet someone it is better to say “encontrada” in lei of “mucho gusto,” which means I am pleased to meet you.
We arrived in Spain at 11:15am (4:15am Central time). We are all a bit tired but also too excited to sleep just yet. I then met my family! The madre y padre picked me up from the bus stop. The family sometimes speaks very fast and it is sometimes hard to understand everything they say. However, they understand we are learning and are very willing to help us learn the language. They do not speak English.
After they picked us up, we walked to their chalet, which is four stories high and a bit narrow. There, Melanie and I met their two daughters who gave us a tour of the house. The furniture is simple and the lifestyle “old fashioned”.
We then sat down to lunch, which is usually at 2:00pm and the largest meal. We had rice with vegetables and crab meat. The father served everyone her food and then served himself. He gave us wine, which he explained was 14 years old. They only drink wine on Sundays and sometimes on Saturday. After we finished the rice and salad on the table, there was another course of very lightly fried chicken or “pollo”. It may take some time to get used to a larger meal in the middle of the day.
Now, I have just finished unpacking my room where I have a closet, bed with a trundle, a nice window, and a view of other chalets in the area. I cannot wait to adventure around Alcala and Madrid. We have a welcome meeting tonight where I will learn more about classes, which begin tomorrow.
I am going to take a “siesta” or nap before we head out. Hasta luego!
4:45 pm
I am here! My name here is Kristina.
Yesterday I left for Spain after a full day in Atlanta at the aquarium with family and friends. Melanie, my roommate, and her family joined us.
When we later arrived in the airport, the flight had been delayed. Needless to say, we ended up leaving two hours after expected takeoff due to our plane being struck by lighting on its last trip. We nonetheless switched planes and then took off!
The flight was long but I was very lucky with my seat partners. I sat near a lady who had just visited her lover in New York and a man bringing a group of students to study in Spain for the summer. The lady did not speak much English and her boyfriend does not speak much Spanish. Thus, she is trying to learn English. She spoke with me most of the flight and told me to start a journal of new words I learn and categorize them. I now have a front and back sheet of paper with common phrases in Spain.
In Spain, lunch is referred to as “comida” not “almuerzo” and when you meet someone it is better to say “encontrada” in lei of “mucho gusto,” which means I am pleased to meet you.
We arrived in Spain at 11:15am (4:15am Central time). We are all a bit tired but also too excited to sleep just yet. I then met my family! The madre y padre picked me up from the bus stop. The family sometimes speaks very fast and it is sometimes hard to understand everything they say. However, they understand we are learning and are very willing to help us learn the language. They do not speak English.
After they picked us up, we walked to their chalet, which is four stories high and a bit narrow. There, Melanie and I met their two daughters who gave us a tour of the house. The furniture is simple and the lifestyle “old fashioned”.
We then sat down to lunch, which is usually at 2:00pm and the largest meal. We had rice with vegetables and crab meat. The father served everyone her food and then served himself. He gave us wine, which he explained was 14 years old. They only drink wine on Sundays and sometimes on Saturday. After we finished the rice and salad on the table, there was another course of very lightly fried chicken or “pollo”. It may take some time to get used to a larger meal in the middle of the day.
Now, I have just finished unpacking my room where I have a closet, bed with a trundle, a nice window, and a view of other chalets in the area. I cannot wait to adventure around Alcala and Madrid. We have a welcome meeting tonight where I will learn more about classes, which begin tomorrow.
I am going to take a “siesta” or nap before we head out. Hasta luego!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Preparation
The adventures of Kristin in Spain will begin at the beginning of June.
I hope you enjoy Spain vicariously through me these next two months.
I hope you enjoy Spain vicariously through me these next two months.
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