Here I am at the internet cafe again!
Today we went out to explore the city. It´s one of the girls in the program´s birthday on Monday and she wanted to get together today to celebrate by just wandering around and shopping. It was fun, but a very long day. I´ve been out for almost 7 hours! Tomorrow I have no plans, so I think I´ll just relax and maybe watch a movie. I´ve been thinking about buying a computer game that I can play that doesn´t use the internet. I don´t know how much free time I´m going to have once I start school, though.
We start our university orientation on Monday with a placement exam. Welcome back to school! After that the professors are all going to talk about their classes so we can get an idea of what we want to take. They gave us a list already and I´m thinking about taking a Spanish art history class, a Spanish movie class, a history class, and maybe colloquial Spanish. There´s also a regular Spanish class with grammar and all that stuff that everyone has to take. We´re required to have 5 classes so we will be considered full-time students. So we´ll see how that goes.
I don´t really have much to talk about today, so I´ll keep it short.
Missing everyone!
Bethany
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Take the art class and then remember EVERY DETAIL you learn so you can tell me!!
ReplyDeleteOh, Bethany, How I miss you.
ReplyDeleteI talked 'bout you at dinner tonight. Like a lot. And I'm so proud of you for jumping out of your comfort zone! you're such a changed but same person!
<3
Hi Bethany! So interesting to hear how you are faring, and being reminded of Lindsay's successes and struggles while in Alicante. I remember that she was much more comfortable once school started. It is good that there are students from Ripon with you. Lindsay knew no one from the US, and actually
ReplyDeleteended spending much more time with some Spanish friends. I really hope that your living situation improves. Certainly not the nurturing environment that one would hope for. Please know that I am really enjoying your entries, and keeping you in my prayers. Happy Groundhog's Day!
¡Hola Bethany!
ReplyDeleteJust read all of your entries thus far whilst eating a late lunch. Your descriptions of the beautiful city you now live in make me long to be out of freezing Minnesota and exploring the world again!
I can't help but draw many parallels between your host parents and mine in Buenos Aires. I also lived in an apartment with an older couple. They ended up being an excellent host family. Being home for dinner - on time - was crucial but the conversations we had about domestic politics, international affairs, Madonna, etc. were once-in-a-lifetime. Their immaculately well-kept home was intimidating at first - I too had my own bathroom, napkin, and towel - but after spending long, scorching days walking through the poorer areas of the city, I was very grateful for my living situation.
Although I am sure there are a few, I have never encountered a host family that hosted for financial reasons above all. Hosts love their cities, culture, etc. and want to help you experience it all fully. At the same time, they see you as a surrogate daughter and thus feel protective, which explains why they seem overly concerned about when you’ll be home and may wait up for you when you go out.
You did exactly the right thing when you asked directly for clarification about whether or not you can read in the living room. It can be scary to communicate openly with host parents but letting problems and questions build up until there’s a major cross-cultural fiasco is way worse. (I unfortunately know from experience.) ¡Bueno!
Finally, there were several people on my trip with complex dietary restrictions (lactose-intolerant vegetarians mostly). Food issues are dicey (no pun intended), and more than once my program had to help bridge the cultural gap between hungry students and needlessly-offended host mothers. Expectations on cleaning plates and eating a lot are normal, but if you keep having issues get someone from your program involved.
I hope my impromptu advice column helps. Study abroad is an incredible experience, especially for our generation, and you’ve taken leaps most people never will. Of course, I have never met your hosts, but I hope at the least you can use the above to figure out your next step. Good luck!
I would end with a fitting Spanish word, but my vocabulary is limited to Locotorios (Internet cafés) and restaurants. ;-)
<3 Laura
P.S. Agreed on clubbing. Highly overrated.
Thanks for all the advice, Laura. It´s nice to hear from someone who has had similar experiences. Things are definitely getting more comfortable now that we´re settling into a routine and I know basically what they expect. And thanks for caring enough to write such a long response! :)
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