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Published: January 16th 2011
I’ve been in Salamanca for an official week today! I feel like I’ve already been here forever, and yet the days seem to have flown by. It's still hard to believe I'm going to be here for months at a time! I can't wrap my head around it. I walk to class and pass by grand old cathedrals and huge, ornate plazas cuddled up amongst crowded cobblestone streets. I almost expect to see swordsmen and horses galloping about, but then an auto-bus will come whizzing around the corner to snap me out of my reveries.
We flew from London to Madrid, then took a 2 1/2 hour bus ride from Madrid to Salamanca under gray skies and rain. Out of the 28 AIFS students, 8 of us are staying in the student residency. The rooms are really nice- I’ve got a pretty comfy bed, a desk, my very own bathroom, and lots of shelves and closet space. (I can’t wait to start decorating by putting things up on the wall- my “Beat Bama” poster of Cocky is going up first!). The dorm has Spanish students and international students alike. Just walking in with my bags, I heard groups speaking Italian,
Portuguese, and Spanish, in addition to our English group. How cool is that?
Tuesday was the beginning of orientation classes. I tested into advanced and superior level courses, so the first part of the day I have advanced grammar for two hours, followed by advanced conversation and writing. Then I move to superior level culture and end with superior level art history. The advanced level is just right- I can understand 95% of what is said, although it requires unwavering concentration. My superior level classes are obviously more difficult, as the professors speak at a much faster pace and expect you to be more fluent. But the last two are mostly listening rather than participating, and it’s much easier to listen and understand than it is to try and respond. My brain definitely works hard! I’ve never taken a Spanish class lasting more than one hour, and now I sit through no less than 5 straight hours of Spanish! Of course, my life is now 24/7 Spanish, but the academic side of it is trying at times. But all of my profesoras are excellent- very relaxed and fun. I’m surprised at my comprehension level as well! I can already
tell I’m going to learn SO much and improve SO much. My mind is already taking on a dual quality where my thoughts in English occur almost simultaneously in Spanish. Heck yea! However, I have found that understanding Spanish is easier in a classroom setting where it’s quiet and your ears are perked and attentive. Trying to figure out what someone is asking in a crowded bar or a noisy restaurant is a different story!
I have a whole new appreciation and respect for people learning a second or third language. You know when you are in a store or restaurant, or walking around town, and there’s a group of people jabbering away in Chinese or Spanish or something? And you think “Geesh, how annoying?! Why can’t they just speak English? This is America!”
I will never think that way again.
Why? Because being in a country where you only sort of speak the language is hard! Sometime you just NEED to speak your native tongue, just to get your exact thoughts out without thinking about conjugating verbs or finding the right words. In public places I do make the effort to speak to my American companions
in Spanish though, just to avoid the slanted stares from the locals. A word to the wise: think twice before judging tourists or foreigners, you might be in their shoes sooner than you think!
The ever exciting yet challenging language barriers aside; my favorite thing about Spain so far? The SIESTAS! I don’t know how the rest of the world functions without them. During the siesta period, roughly between 2 and 5, the city shuts down- stores close their doors, cars desert the streets, and everyone goes home to enjoy a hearty meal. So far I’ve liked the cafeteria food, which usually consists of some sort of soup, vegetables, meat and fish (sometimes rabbit!), potatoes (lots of french fries surprisingly), salad, and fruit. Yes, there is a LOT of food! But after a breakfast consisting of nothing but toast...and...toast...I’m starving by lunchtime. Then, after stuffing my face full of heavy deliciousness, a nap is the perfect thing. After a rejuvenating snooze, there’s time to do homework, run, go shopping, or meet up with friends in the Plaza Mayor.
Dinner is served around 9 or 9:30pm, and then the city shakes off it’s drowsiness and the night life begins!
I’ve come to learn that Spaniards don’t spend large amounts of time in their homes. They live out in the streets! Out of Europe, Spain spends the most money on physical appearance- you will NEVER see a local wearing sweatpants or a sweatshirt. Everyone always has on nice shoes and a nice coat, (girls usually wear boots or heels), and their hair (even, if not especially the men) always has the appearance of being perfectly quaffed. That’s because everyone is out taking walks and talking and going out to see and be seen. There is no kicking back on the sofa with Ben and Jerry after a long workday. Spaniards don’t live to work, they work to live! Especially in Salamanca. Welcome to the party city, folks.
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Marcus Yancey
non-member comment
Sweet
Nice post