Insane Spain
SPAIN INSANE
by
Emily Elaine T. Abonal
I was the team leader of a group of students from one of the Institute for Foreign Study (IFS) pause exchange semester in Salamanca, Spain. I've never been to Europe before that date and I am a minor in Spanish and then goes without saying that I was so excited and ready! It was a dream come true! Being an exchange student and knows first hand a culture completely different from yours and away from the protective wing of their parents is a life change and things that never would have occurred if not for programs like these.
Four years ago, I went to Appleton, Wisconsin for a year as an exchange student in high school during a sabbatical. I can say today that I am a much better person because of it. I won life lessons that helped me throughout college and I know will help me in the future. This experience also helped me become a good team leader or "ate" the other girls that have never been away for so long. I too was a test of life and a spokesman parents to let them know you made the right decision in letting their children - even for a while - so they can experience the world of their own.
Four words: Best. Sem. Break. Ever.
Everything was totally different in Spain. Everything was in Spanish (of course), who ate the most strange, last time (lunch and dinner 3 a 10!), had to show affection in public places (which makes a very interesting way to see people - hah), the time was almost freezing (remember it was in November!), which strictly obeyed the PAN (the city is dead for 3 hours) and then as a crazy for their parties (no way anyone would go home at midnight - only then it starts). Salamanca space is also known as the City UNESCO World Heritage and one of the most popular and beautiful places to visit. It never interested me much of the old architecture, but it certainly was magic in the walls Salamanca gold. There were students from around the world and, of course, that is, most girls who were undoubtedly was seeing all these guys Loca handsome Spanish, students of the University, Prince Felipe of Spain (Yes, it was in Salamanca for the day and we were so happy to see it!) Andre - a Brazilian student in our school every Filipino young ones, David Beckham when the Real Madrid game (Ok, not Spanish, but still!) Outside Chico selling stamps on the newsstands. It was fun for us to get the attention they've done because we were foreigners - as someone who seen on the face, an undergraduate student in Spanish saying that you were a 15 ( "Fifteen") in the 1-10 record beauty (beauty) level, and some beautiful child, saying "Hola guapa, que tal?" We've made it easy and laughed at ourselves and what happened because all was different, and the Spanish just wanted to live life. We were young and did not think there is a better time in our lives to be in Spain.
The first breakfast (breakfast), I was surprised and I said, "That's all?" My host mother - Eleanor - left a glass of orange juice, butter, and a piece of bread on the table for me. I noticed that in Spain, they do not actually eat until morning. After breakfast, I like to walk for fifteen minutes through the streets of cold but sunny Salamanca to go to Spanish class. Everyone walked in the morning - People go to work, grandparents are doing their daily routine, parents leave their children in school, and hundreds of college and university students hurry to their classes.
Then I saw that other Filipino girls and other students in our school of foreign languages, Enforex, and give each other twice, and teach the class. I had the best, craziest teachers and more interesting was learning Spanish is not only difficult and easy at the same time, but also fun and up to date. Did you know that Spanish girls never change their last names and only one person must pay when a group of friends outside? My class consisted of a young Japanese that would have been much better Spanish than me (but I could not pronounce the rrrr's!) An old Slovak, who only wanted to learn a new language after his retirement, a Brazilian guy who was cool and unconcerned as Portuguese is about the Spanish anyway, another friend from the Philippines whose presence made me feel more comfortable, and a sweet young blonde German, who always invited me to parties. I was eager to go every day to class and wait to see what new thing that was to learn later.
Classes will last from 9 to 2 hours nap and was about to begin. Everything was closed and during that time that all Filipinos and go home to dinner with our host families. I would be terribly hungry by then, because I was not used at mealtime, but as it was their major food of the day off, I was finally at full distance. My host mother always prepared soup, two (Note: Two!) Dishes, bread and many yogurt for dessert. Sincerely, the food was good for me and I think the strangest thing I ate rice and tomato sauce - nothing else. It is certain however, that the Spanish oil added oil, because it should have had all the food (olive oil is not cheap). My parents were foster home for a nap break at work and I would talk to them a bit and learn to practice my Spanish before taking a nap.
From 5pm, everything comes to life. Sellers start your open (open) signs, people begin to fill the streets again, and others who began their march to work. In my case, I'd like to meet other Filipinos and other friends I made in class, and we tried many different coffee shops and restaurants near the square, went shopping, going crazy in Mango, H & M or Zara and we our daily routine is well known in Spain and very rich chocolate with churros. We saw the movie in Spanish, and no matter if we do not understand most of it, just hang out and have been sitting around the Plaza Mayor - the most beautiful part of town - to see people walking in the cold of the city to see the sights and just for the heck of it, are hundreds of photos of everything and anything, and just breath in the culture and the magic of what was happening around us.
After dinner out, go home to do homework, resting or hanging with our families again, I'd like to meet friends put under the clock the famous Plaza Mayor, an hour before midnight. Late at night school for university students came from a night walk (exit) and stay until Dawn (tomorrow). Hundreds of people, mostly students, you want to wait and meet friends before going to bars and nightclubs. Thursday officer was out all night and everyone, all shapes, sizes, nationalities, ages and even sex - get out. No people elsewhere, like the Spanish they know do and how to have a good party. I enjoyed every minute. It was a good and fun way to meet other students and also to dance to Spanish music. (Bailamos?) With everything going on around you and all handsome and pretty, you just have to dance. I do not think I danced a lot in my life full! Everyone bars are close together, so I walked from one place to another and completely forgot the cold. Who would have thought that the streets could be alive and scattered young people to the 3 - on a Monday? Friends met and liked before finally go home and walk in well-lit and safe Salamanca.
The end weekend we went to school tours and we've seen the aqueduct of Segovia, revolves around the enchanting city of caste, Toledo, visited and went to several museums Madrid, like the Museo del Prado (my favorite) and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. I have seen the most famous paintings by Picasso, Dali, Miro, El Greco, and more. I even learned to see a Real Madrid soccer game and saw the most famous soccer players in the game World - (!!), Beckham, Ronaldo, Raul, Robinho, etc. These names may not seem like much, but it is the former soccer player and soccer am is almost a religion in Spain, this means much much much!
I had the best time - and I'm sure everyone also. But I must say that this was not always as easy as the rest. Certainly, there was a feeling of being completely overwhelmed by once again love and afraid of everything in it is not found or does not fail at the moment. Some people are nostalgic for a couple days, a couple intimidated by the language, and a girl, even had an allergy and had to go to the clinic for a shot. I thought that being a student to change from one year in high school could easily be ready for anything. But to be a team leader was different. It was intimidating at first because I thought of all responsibilities he had, but I quickly learned that nothing really prepares you to be. You just do it. I became a team leader using the skills I learned in life and in my past experience exchange, sharing what he knew to others and telling them crossing was completely normal, and very understanding and sense of humor, and give much love and hugs. Being a team leader increased my usual growing for a trip. And they are definitely still be a good thing.
I think the other, and great, one thing I liked in Spain are not really there. It was the group was. For some reason, who immediately bonded and mixed all our different personalities and crazy. We went to an interesting group - a daughter bought almost every day, another girl broke his heart a German child Poor's, the only man she had for a new understanding of the female psyche, another girl learned to laugh at herself when she said the wrong thing to a child. Being in a group like the love that is easier to have a better time in a foreign country because they always had someone to rest, complain and have fun.
Three weeks may seem a little long, but I think Salamankers personally and for others (which is what we call ourselves), who left Spain and returned to being a little different, more open in our opinion, much more grateful for our parents and things we have here at home, and one hundred richest individuals. We have over a thousand digital photos of all our collections together and forget we have never experienced in Spain. Being there and experiencing what happens when you are a new exchange student, and really help others have this type of experience also, remember that was an exchange student is one of the best things you can experience. You earn far more than you can imagine and its effects can last a lifetime. If I could be a student exchange in all parts of the world, I would. I wish I could share what I know now the whole world and I just want people to actually experience the same thing.
When we went to the airport to leave the Philippines, some girls were reluctant to say goodbye and some parents are beginning to mourn. It's hard to let go, but deep down I knew that these parents would be happy and proud of it. I knew we were having the best time. And we did. Muchissimo.
email: elaineabonal@yahoo.com
Elaine is in its final Abonal year at the Ateneo de Manila, the Philippines, from 2006.
About the Author
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