First classes done! AND the traveling begins!!! Week 4!

Finished up the intensive period!! My last week was full of two exams and a composition, but I think it finished well. Our final exams were at 9am on Friday and then Lindsey, Chelsia, and I left from the school (with our very full backpacks) for the train station to head to Madrid for the weekend! My first time on a train and we were on a high speed train – it was SOO nice and comfy…a very easy way to travel. We were sitting at a table and I wanted to start singing “Snow, snow, snow” from White Christmas!! We had a great time!! We feel pretty confident in our traveling capabilities after this trip. We stayed in two different hostels for our two nights there – that was a new experience, but both hostels were nice and I met someone from Finland in the first one and another guy originally from Japan, lived in the New York and Texas for a time and is now studying is Les Bone. We were able to get to the Prada (free entrance!!) and see some great Goya pieces, the Reina Sophia and see Guernica by Picasso along with some other very great pieces of art (again free entrance!! We planned very well ;) ). We enjoyed walking around and experiencing the city in the parks, Puerta del Sol, and Plaza Mayor. The atmosphere has a great energy!! Also, we became pretty savy with the metro system – that is really slick for getting around places!! We saw the cathedral and royal palace from the outside and also went to the Rastro on Sunday which is the largest flee market in Europe.


Madrid is definitely faster moving then Sevilla, a lot more traffic and the cars are not willing to wait for you as they are in Sevilla. That is an observation I’ve made – in Sevilla pedestrians definitely have the right away and they do not wait for the cars to stop, but walk right into the cross walk (must be in a cross walk) and the cars always stop. Though, in Madrid it wasn’t quite that way. :) Also, it is a new experience to have you buy every meal out! It gets quite spendy, while also you get to experience all different types of service :) We had some great luck and some not so great luck. Tipping in Spain is not very common and not necessary; therefore the need to impress isn’t always there. I feel I understand a little better what some experience when they are labeled as “foreigners” and therefore get a different service. We had one incident where we could hear the workers making fun of us – I guess they didn’t think we spoke Spanish well…that was kind of sad, but also a great learning experience. It gives you a new perspective and also makes you appreciate when you do have great service – which we did as well throughout our trip.


On Saturday of our trip we went to Ávila for the day – which is the town of St. Teresa of Avila, my patron Saint. That was really fun and special for me to think that I walked where St. Teresa walked. We walked along the wall that surrounded the city. Something we found out is that Ávila is actually a lot bigger than we thought and we have to get through the modern part of the city to the historic part that was the original city when St. Teresa lived. We also made it to the convent where we saw St. Teresa’s relics which included the right finger of her right hand! It also included her discipline, a piece of cloth she wore, a sole of one of her sandals, and a few other things. We were able to see the chapel inside the convent – very beautiful and go inside the room that was beautifully decorated to mark the place of her birth. We planned to look inside that cathedral and arrived at 5:20 (it closed at 6) but found out that the last people are let in at 5:15…sad! We finished up the day with stopping at a pastry shop and trying a yema which is a pastry the nuns make this is made with egg yolks and sugar.


A fun moment for us was when we realized we are “competent in Spanish” (as Lindsey said it perfectly). We may not understand EVERYTHING and we may not be able to say everything either, but when we needed directions we didn’t hesitate to ask in Spanish. It’s a great feeling – there this still so much to learn, but it’s a start. Also, the people in Madrid are easier to understand then those of Sevilla because they do not have the strong accent of Sevilla. Therefore it made it very easy to understand most people that we interacted with.


Today (Monday) we do not have classes because it’s a festival in Sevilla. So, I slept in as our train did not get back from Madrid until 12:30am and we had to walk home so it was a late night for me….I had lunch and then went on a walk with friends by the river while also getting some ice cream at the best heladaría in Sevilla – Rayas!! YUM! Tomorrow I will start my new classes starting with grammar class of Present Day Spanish which will focus on conversation and using the phrases and words that are used in every day speaking. Then I’ll have my history course called Spanish Civilization. These two courses will last from 8:45-11:10, every day Mon-Thurs. Then I’ll my culture course which I have once a week on Tuesdays from 1-2. On Mondays and Wednesdays I’ll have my dance course in Spanish folk dance from 4-5. That will be it for the classes! But there is so much learning, walking, exploring, homework, and trips to be in the other parts of my day.


Again more photos below!


I hope all who are reading this are doing well and enjoying the little updates I can give! For those in Minnesota – I hope you are surviving the snow and cold alright…I have to say if I ever feel cold, I think of you all and feel a lot better :) I think I need to go buy a sun dress soon…

The stadium at the ruins of Italica - the games were free for the people!

The ruins of a house

Finals are done!  Heading to Madrid for the weekend by TRAIN!! My first time on a train and we were taking a high speed one!! WHOOT

The Prada -- Great Goya pieces!

In Avila - eating at a quaint little restaurant, Spanish style

Walking the wall of Avila - the Cathedral is behind me

With St. Teresa

Rocking the city scene - mastering the metro

Guernica of Piccaso

In front of the royal palace

Having a famous pastry...can't remember the name!