Alexina V. - Salamanca, Spain - Fall 2009

Busy. Unreal: the first two words that come to mind when I think back to my last few weeks and days in Chitown before leaving for Salamanca, Espana. I say busy because, amidst packing (and my mom yelling at me to get ride of the mounds of clothes strategically thrown on my bedroom floor), shopping, calling the banks, and working like a mad woman to earn some spending money, I spent many a nights out on the town with my family and closest friends. I found myself yearning to create as many memories as possible with my family and best friends. Lo and behold, I did just that; created memories on too many nights that turned far too abruptly into forgotten early mornings. For this reason, and this reason alone, my pre-departure experience seemed unreal. It was difficult for me to fathom the idea that I was leaving my home, my family, and my friends for four months. However, one must remember that life is, indeed, a journey and to each his own path. Your family and those who matter will be there when you return. They’ll find their own little ways to show you how much they love you (thank God Facebook can be utilized for more than people stalking). I will impart to you a message my best friend Molly wrote me the night before I left: “Enjoy this experience, for it’s an opportunity that may never come again. Remember that you will have many a rough days and it’s at those times in which you must remember how bright the sun shines and, not only does everything happen for a reason, but things will always work themselves out. Do five things you would never do, just because you can, make new friends but don’t forget who you are and what you believe in, and take too many pictures, for you can always delete the ones you don’t really like. Most importantly (and this may be the most crucial tip I am leaving you with), kiss a Spanish man, two, or three. J.”
I must say that Molly was right. Thus far, my experience in Salamanca has been an amazing one that I will never forget. Although I am here with two of my best friends, I have already become best of friends with other IES students and, in the last month, we have done far too many things to recount it all here. Among the highlights have been meeting my awesome host family (complete with a mom, dad, twenty-three year old brother, nineteen year old sister, two cats, and a turtle named Coco), taking part in the two week long feria (which included delicious tapas and cerveza for less than two euros), traveling to Asturias--where we spent the evening looking for a Woody Allen statue, drinking sidra (Asturian alcoholic apple cider, eating chorizo a la sidra (chorizo cooked in sidra), walking around the beach in Gijón, and spending time with best friends--, horseback riding (we were actually allowed to let the horses trot, canter, and stray from the line), watching the sunset every Thursday night with a cheap one euro bottle of wine, cheese, bread, and six of my best friends, standing two feet in front of legit Salvador Dali, Goya, el Greco, Picasso, and Velásquez paintings, celebrating two 21st birthdays Spanish style, people watching and playing spoons and the compliment game in our Plaza Mayor, booking relatively cheap flights to Ireland and Paris, and, really, just learning the Spanish culture—especially its night life (i.e. Sangria, calimocho, botellons, tapas, canas, etc.)
Of course, you, too, will have your rough days and the best thing you can do is remember that things will get better and that you cannot let one little thing ruin your trip. By the way, for those of you participating in the IES program, I would recommend that when IES sends you a preliminary registration form (for classes) don’t take the time to search for classes at the university. Pick random classes and send the bad boy back—!!!ASAP!!!--because this is how IES determines class selection order (not by seniority—like most schools do—) and not a single person had to enroll in the classes they originally picked on their preliminary registration form. Trust me, it will make your life ten times easier and you will avoid the rough week I had of stressing over class selection because the IES class I wanted filled up before it was my turn to register.
I wish you all luck and hope to hear from you soon! Let me know if you have any questions about anything. Vale?

Alexina