Adios Salamanca!

Tonight's my last night in Salamanca, and I feel so weird! It might be because I'm pretty disappointed that I'm not going to Amsterdam before classes start so I'm back to square one regarding the not-sure-what-to-do-for-twelve-days-before-classes-start, but it's also weird that I'm already a sixth done with my European journey. One month down, five to go! I don't know how I'll feel if all the other months fly by like this one did! Granted, we have a week left in this program in Barcelona, but I see that as the "vacation" part of the trip (even though this entire thing is generally a vacation... but I did have homework! And exams! And papers! And lots of tapas!), and it's only for five days. This is the end of the beginning! I'm not sure if I'm sad to go--a lot of my companeros are glad to be getting home (there's a lot of talk about what they're going to eat when they get back), but I can't say the same. I think I'm going to miss Salamanca, especially the Plaza Mayor at night.

This was my favorite part of Salamanca. Just people watching in the night breeze under the bright lights of the Plaza Mayor was the most wonderful thing to do every night. Photos don't really come close to the real sight though, unfortunately.

So to celebrate our last party night, we had a mini-party thrown by Ana and the assistant directors. We had a nice acoustic guitar concert by Miguel's friends. They look like ghosts haha but it was just the blue light

And then we went out for the night! I didn't drink (of course... I just don't see the grandeur of it all), but I had a lot of fun dancing on stage, of course!

I can't say that I've made friends for life on the trip, unfortunately. I do like some of the girls a good deal, but it seems like everyone's starting to get sick of each other. There's a lot of cattiness! And gossiping. I have no interest in the two so I tend to zone out and sit in silence as the girls go through the trash talk. I understand the need for it though--girls generally unite in the dislike of others. Weird, right? That's why I say girls are crazy, but that's just the way it is.

I love love loved my grammar teacher though--Carolina was so good at teaching and explaining things. She was really cute too and could really pull off Harem pants. And she gave me an A+ too WHAT UP! But I did do extra homework (I know I'm a nerd, but I'm proud of it hah!), but it definitely helped. I think my Spanish did get better... well, at least it unregressed!

This is my class! There were two really annoying boys in my class. Suzan and I bonded over our mutual feelings of annoyance.

For the last grammar class, Carolina bought us tapas, and I got this delicious zucchini tosta.

I can't figure out how to flip it because it automatically did it for me. Oh well!

I don't know if I would've been able to stay in Salamanca for an entire semester. I think I'd have the hardest time adjusting to my dorm--it just didn't feel very home-y. I like having a lounge to escape to, and we didn't have that. I'm thinking that when I get back to Rutgers in the Spring, I know that I might have to live in a regular dorm, and that might be a problem when I won't be able to have that luxury. But Suzan said that it might be because we feel unsettled because we know we only have a month here. Perhaps if I had to live here for half a year, I'd be able to make myself more comfortable because I would know that I'd have to spend a good chunk of time here. I'm not sure--I feel like all there is to do here is study and go out to bars. I suppose you can say that that's all you can do at Rutgers too, but there are a lot of clubs and etc that get me through the days (aka ballroom). And work! I don't know. I think in the end, a month was sufficient for me in Salamanca. ADIOS SALAMANCA!

MADRID REVISITED, PARTE DOS

And continuing!Kiersten looking perfectly angelic over flan, horchata, and cafe

Then we went salsa dancing!! I was waiting for this moment my entire life (okay, maybe just this month), and it turned out... interesting? We forgot our I.D.s, but a lady who worked on the streets giving out flyers got us in and with a discount (8 euro for a drink and entrance)--guess I finally look older than 17! Yes! We got ourselves mojitos (I think that may be "my" drink because it was really good) and there was no dearth of men who wanted to dance. But I forgot how grimy they can be--it was a club with salsa music, and I thought it'd be more like a salsa social. Whoops! The music was good, and dancing with Kiersten was really fun (she's such a good lead!! And very courteous), and some of the men were perfectly polite, but then there were the others who touched too much. A whole bunch insisted on dancing forehead to forehead, and it was just too close. All in all it was fun, but the lobos (wolves, aka grimy men) were a bit much. We stayed until 4:30 am when we finally got tired and walked back to the hostel to skype with some friends. Then a nice guy from Canada chatted with me as I sat in the stairwell for a bit (I love friendly strangers! And I love hostels for being the breeding ground for nice encounters with such interesting people). I fell asleep at 6:30 am, and I finally felt like I had partied Espanol style. It's about time!

We got woken up at 9 am because we had to check out by 10:30 am which was a little rough, so we went to get some much needed coffee and churros. Then we went to a cidreria (a place that makes cider), and it was SO GOOD! Cider is my favorite--so sweet and apple-y! There were a lot of napkins on the ground there too, so that was a good sign before we even tried their goods. We got more patatas bravas, and they were even better this time. So good.

THEN we went to get more food at a place my professor recommended, but we were so full that we just got drinks. I love that we were able to just drink soda (or beer for her since she is a champ) without servers being angry that we were ordering so little or feeling like we aren't allowed to just sit for an hour in the restaurant. Since they don't work for tip, they're so much more relaxed! And generally Spaniards are really relaxed too. We never saw any bustling (except at the airport), and it was so nice. We were basically expected to just sit and relax at the restaurant! I loved it.Our server wanted to be in the picture too hahaha I liked him!

I forgot how much I missed talking to real friends--sure the people here are nice and sure, I skype and message my home friends, but it's so different having someone who really knows you right in front of you. Kiersten and I talked the entire two days basically and about everything (it took us a whole day to get to ballroom talk! yay!), and I missed it! We both were getting hoarse hahaha We both agreed that we don't talk very much in our respective European countries, so this was really wearing our throats out hahaha It's not that I'm a mute in Spain, but I find that I take on the role of the listener a lot more often in the relationships that I've made here.She said she's not going to miss me though. I think I will force her to. MUAhahaha

Then unfortunately I had to say goodbye for five more months to the love of my life. I dropped her off at the airport, and I was so sad! It was like saying goodbye to home for the second time. But I think it gave me a new viewpoint on my adventures here--I was really concerned before about my current relationships and friendships regressing as I left for half a year, but I remembered that the ones that are meant to be will be the ones that stick around, and those are the only ones that I want anyway. If friendships fade during this time that I'm gone, then I know those were the ones of convenience. I feel like proximity can disguise friendships as being stronger than they are, so I'm sure at the end of this entire European journey I'll be left with the ones who think that I'm worth the effort. And those are the friends I want!

So I'm not sad anymore! I can't wait until Belgium (even though I really should be psyched that I'm in Spain. I am, but sometimes I forget with all the excitement about Belgium!)fdkfsfjds Just have to get through these three finals first. Hope I survive!!

MADRID REVISITED, PARTE UNO

I should be studying for my two exams that are tomorrow and Wednesday, but instead I will write a huge post about my wonderful weekend in Madrid. I find that I always make the right choices. :p

First off before I get to talk about my romantic weekend getaway with Kiersten, I think I should mention that I lost my voice. I never lose my voice! Imagine a frog. Now imagine a man. Now imagine a frog-man. That's me.

Oh and on Thursday, Alissa and I went joined our flamenco dance group at a bar. They played flamenco music (which is basically like Spanish Viennese Waltz music) and some salsa, so we danced the pasos that we learned in class. And by "we," I mean "them" because I was too embarrassed. At least there were free tapas! I've concluded that I am not a huge fan of dancing flamenco (watching is cool though). I'm not sure if it's because I'm so terrible at it, but that's a very huge possibility. Too much stomping.

Girls who look cool flamenco dancing. That's not me.

So on FRIDAY, I left right after class to catch a bus to get to Madrid at 4:30pm. I met up with KIERSTENKDFJKFJDK at the hostel, and it was so good to see her! I miss(ed) her. Our hostel was right next to a metro station (p.s. I love metros. They are so cool), and it was really clean and safe! I was a little worried about the safety because my professor was concerned for me, but they had video cameras and lots of locks, so it was fine. And the people there were nice too! I was surprised to hear so much English (and I assume that they were from America), but it was nice to be surrounded by so many hip, young travelers. And I'm guessing I'm one of them too! :D

Anyway, after we siesta-ed, we went tapas hopping! We basically did that all weekend. The first place we went to introduced me to goat cheese. We couldn't figure out what to order (it's pretty hard when you don't know what half of the things mean), so we picked a tosta (toast, basically) with crema de something something, and it turned out to be goat cheese. It was super grody. I took a bite and that was more than enough for me hahah but the beer I got was good, and they gave us a free tapa of chorizo (that I love) and bread, so I handed all that wonderfulness of goat cheese to Kiersten.

Then we went to ANOTHER tapas place, and we got patatas bravas, which are essentially fried diced potatoes with a creamy, spicy sauce on top. They're my favorite tapas here (except calamari), but this place only made them mediocre-ly. Then we went somewhere else for ice cream, and I got arroz con leche flavored ice cream! That's essentially rice pudding flavored. It had bits of rice in it! It was really good. And then we had a mango smoothie made with frozen yogurt. OH how I miss fro-yo. As soon as I get back to New Bruns, I'm going to have me a huge helping of Fruity Yogurt. Yum yum.Double-fistin' that ice cream!

By that point, we had eaten enough food (clearly), so we walked it all off until 1 am and went back to the hostel to sleep. LUCKY ME, I HAD PEOPLE MAKING OUT ON THE TOP BUNK hahahaha I was woken up by the creaking of the bed and couldn't fall asleep to the melodious sound of the smacking of their lips. And then a condom (unwrapped, thank goodness) fell on my shoulder through the crack between the wall and the bed. Awesome hahaha but slightly not. Weird. And it sounded like the girl was the predator. I heard her say, "You're 20 right? And a virgin? Oh alright" but the "oh alright" was more like "OHHHH allrIiiIIIGHTTTT" dayum girl!

On Saturday, we woke up pretty early to get breakfast and then go shopping. It was so nice to go real clothes shopping--I'm super picky, but I still got a shirt from Zara! And it was only 4 euro! July is the month of super sales in Spain apparently, so I'm planning on taking full advantage of that (meaning skipping class on Wednesday to go shopping muahaha)

For lunch, we went to a grocery store and got a baguette (SO WONDERFUL), wine, waffle cookes, candy, and nectarines to eat at El Retiro, which is basically like the Central Park of Madrid. It was really nice out, so there were a lot of people just hanging around. It was fun not needing to worry about drinking underage (although we were a little worried about drinking in public--not sure if that was allowed but oh well!) because it's not like we ever want to abuse the privilege. We're safe drinkers (although she is a champ now from all the pub drinking in Wales)! But my body started turning red again so I stopped. Stoopy asian genes.

And this was really weird, but there was a man sitting pretty close to us who was watching us sometimes and had his pants unzipped. Kiersten thought she saw some rummaging down there. That's weird. I'll just forget that that ever happened.

Then we went shopping some more (unintentionally! We totally meant to just go back and siesta, but the stores beckoned us), and after the siesta we had some MORE tapas! My professor told us to look for places with lots of napkins on the floor because that was a sign that a lot of locals go there and that it's very good. I was pretty skeptical, but she was totally right! We got a calamari bocadilla (which is like a baguette sandwich) and a tosta with shrimp and garlic sauce. SO GOOD. And then we went somewhere ELSE (after taking ten minutes debating whether or not we should stay since that place was so good), and we got really good flan, a bocadilla of manchego cheese (that might be my new favorite cheese), and a horchata. I've never had horchata before, and it's really good! I can't really describe the taste. Apparently it's a drink made of almonds, but it didn't taste very almond-y. All I know is that it was delicious.

To be continued! Pictures of the food will follow yumyumyum

Toledo and Night Life!

Yesterday we went to Toledo, which is the religious capital of Spain. I don't remember much except that we saw the third largest cathedral in the world there (it was beautiful), and it was really hot. That is all.

Ta-da! It's gorgeous. Look at the light from the top. It took 500 years to build, but I can't imagine how even 500 years could possibly be enough to make such a masterpiece. I wish I could've taken pictures inside!

There was a mariachi band! Influence of the Central Americas.

I think this garbage can is so funny hahahahah

I love my camera. Look at how beautiful that empanada came out! It has lomo (aka loins in the dictionary...) and chorizo YUM

I finally went out last night! I've been a nerd for a good part of this trip because I have class so early in the morning, and yesterday was the first time I could go out all night because I didn't have anything to wake up for today (besides lunch)! Alissa and I before going out, taken at the prime angle as deemed by Suzan.

We went bar hopping (it's so nice not needing to worry about an I.D.), and I feel like we went to every single bar in Salamanca.
It was a really weird night--first, we got mooed at by a guy through a safety cone. Then there were a billion bachelor/ette parties going on, and apparently here they all dress up in costumes or alike. There were groups of guys in Roman gladiator costumes and girls in bumblebee costumes, but my favorite was this group of guys dressed as devils with this one guy dressed as cupid, as in wearing wings and a human diaper. He grabbed me and tried to put a sticky arrow on my forehead hahaha
Then this other guy asked me if I was Korean, and when I said no and that I was from America, he gave me two thumbs downs. What the hekkz!
I got hit on a lot by drunk guys, but I think it has to do with me being Asian. I heard a lot of "jumble mumble CHINO jumble mumble" that I didn't quite understand. Apparently, I'm exotic here! How interesting.
Spaniards play a lot of techno music, and then they also decide to stick in really random strange things to play like YMCA or Grease Lightning.
We got back around 4 am, so I slept almost all day today. It was wonderful! I forgot to do my essay though... whoops!

Informational

Sorry but this post won't have any pictures. There should be photos galore when I come back from Toledo tomorrow night though!

Just wanted to let you know that I have Google Voice, so you can text me! Honestly, you might as well just completely change the number that you have in your cell phones to this one 732 443 0088 because the calls always get routed to my cell phone. I'll get your texts online, so I can text you back if I'm near my computer. And you can call me and leave a voicemail :)

AND I have my new address:
Avenue Victor Gilsoul 74
1200 Woluwé-Saint-Lambert, Belgium

Please send me peanut butter. They don't have it in Spain, and I'm not sure if they'll have it in Belgium. Oh how I miss it.

HI KIERSTEN

hello

DANZA!

I can't believe that I'll be out of Salamanca in two weeks! It's a little scary that I've reached the halfway point of my study here in Spain, but I'm really excited for Barcelona and Belgium. Before I know it, I'll be back in the States!

We got to see a really cool flamenco show yesterday--I'm taking a class on Spanish dances (Flamenco, Sevillana, a thing they call Rumba but is really not Rumba and more like zumba), and our teacher performed so we went to see her. It was really cool! I feel like flamenco is like spanish tap dancing. There's a lot of stomping and hand flourishes and counts that I don't understand. It actually makes me miss ballroom a lot. I asked my teacher if anyone teaches ballroom around here, but she said not in the summer. Poo. Hopefully Belgium will be more successful.That's my teacher!

The other night, Suzan and I went to a bar to go dancing and when we got there, there were police and a large crowd outside of it. Turns out that a 14 year old girl got caught drinking, and I'm assuming she got sick so the bar had to call the police. The drinking age here is 18, but in Salamanca no one ever checks I.D. I always see teeny boppers at the bars, and no one says anything but since the police were there, they started carding for that night. I forgot my I.D. so Suzan decided to sit outside to watch the hub bub.

And LUCKY ME, a 14 year old boy came and started talking to me hahahaha I could smell the alcohol on him, and he said that he was from America too and when I asked him what he was doing in Spain, he said, "Well, I heard the girls are pretty here." And then he told me he has an apartment here by himself ahahaha and just decided to come to Spain because he was bored of America and how he talked to the policeman who smelled the alch on him but let him go and was such a bamf ahahahah I could be a cougar. Awesome. Or I look like I'm 14 too. hahahaha

Suzan and Samira at the flamenco show. Samira is from Switzerland, so I'm going to try to visit her while I'm in Belgium! There are quite a few other international students in our dorm, so I got to meet some Brazilians and Parisians. Cool, huh?

It's legal here to smoke indoors, so people are always smoking everywhere. I secretly love the smell of smoke (okay maybe it's not so secret now), so I relish it! But I still try to only breathe in a little of it because I know it's so bad for my lungs. But yum.

Madrid and World Cup!

I have no concept of time here! I feel like I've been here forever, but it's only been a week. And I don't really remember what I did! Dang. Must be the heat.We went to Madrid this weekend, and I am so so glad that I'm going back again (WITH KIERSTENKFJDKLFJDFD)

I had tapas for the first time, and my how good it felt to eat real food again. They just kept bringing plates and plates of these little appetizers, so we had tortillas, little fishies, meatballs, salad, beer, sangria, monchego cheese (new favorite, perhaps?), prociutto... I think I ate my weight's worth. THE BEST calamari in the world hiding behind salty little fishies.

VIVA ESPANA

I just got home from celebrating the SPANISH VICTORY AND ENTRY INTO THE WORLD CUP FINALS. I still can't quite believe how lucky I am to be in Spain during the first time that Spain got into the semi-finals and finals in 90 years....fdjfkdkjfdsjfhjhkjsdIt was crazy today. We went to a bar to watch the game, and it was so fun. I drank my first sangria and my first European beer, and they were both good! I was nice and happy during the game, but SUPER INTENSE TOO because the results of this game changes our lives! Well, it's slightly less dramatic than that sounds, but it does. Our group is going to Madrid this weekend, but we can't get back Sunday night as planned because our bus driver refuses to drive us back during the game because he wants to watch hahaha I'm really hoping to watch it in Madrid because it's a large city and I hear it goes CRAAAAZY there! I thought it was already pretty crazy here.All decked out in Spain spirit!

People cheered and screamed continuously during the entire 93 minute game. And even when we missed goals 4 times, they would cheer as if they were saying, "It's okay! Good try! It'll be better next time!" They are so supportive at all times as opposed to us Rutgers students who scream, "YOUUU SUCKKKK" to our football team.The cheering sea of red

After we won, we all screamed for like 15 minutes straight (hence my froggie voice now) and then sang the spanish anthem. VIVAAA ESPANAAAA and WEEEE ARE THE CHAMPIONSSS

And then we all rushed in the streets. There was a sea of red and yellow everywhere, and everyone was screaming and cars were beeping for hours afterwards. Random people cheering in the streets

That's the majority of our group, intoxicated (only off of the happiness from the victory, of course)

Then we went dancing at a bar, and it was really fun (and sweaty). A random girl introduced herself to me because she thought I was cool from the way I was busting a move--NO JOKE! Finally people are understanding the genius of my dancing.

Anyway, I think I'm finally tranquila now. It only took four hours to calm me down hahahaSpanish flags everywhere! I need to buy a jersey now.

On a completely different note, I got a WONDERFUL dark chocolate and white chocolate croissant the other day. YUMMMJust look at those layers of goodness. Gracious. I totally meant to take a picture before I took a bite, but I got a little too excited and forgot. Whoops.

And we were in the newspaper!! See if you can find me. Hint: I'm Asian.
Okay, now it is time for me to go to bed. It's 2:23 am and I can barely sit still, but I have to wake up at 8 am tomorrow, so I should try to hold myself down. Toodles!

First Day of Classes!

Today was my first day of classes, and I think I'm going to really like them. It's just unfortunate that I have so many Rutgers students in my classes--I would have liked to meet more international students. In my grammar class, everyone's from America except a lady from Malaysia and a girl from Taiwan. In my literatura class that I think I will really like (mainly because my professor seems really smart and Spanish and adorable... and because I just love literature in general!), everyone's from America except one guy from England. He's cute, but he has that thing where he's like "hellz to the yeah I'm good-looking! Line up, ladiezzzz." I'm not on the prowl anyway, but I could tell that every single other girl was checking him out hahahah There are really few guys in this program, but I think that goes for almost all study abroad programs.
It's over 90 degrees every day here, but I think I'm getting used to it. Everyone still changes clothes multiple times a day though haha but I'm hoping as a group we're getting less stanky.
I went for a run today, and it was wonderful. I was unsuccessful in getting sangria last night (some girl took my drank) and having a good time, so I was kind of feeling bleh today, but running made me feel so much better. I finally had time to myself where I didn't really have to think about things. It's so nice running in a beautiful environment--and the hills really are doing something for my legs! We all agree that this month in Salamanca will give us all really nice legs and butts since there are steps and hills everywhere.

So I found this ice cream the other day, and I thought it was funny:
And this woman was posing on the street as a saint and not moving. Reminds me of Atlantic City but not.
I feel like everyone on this trip wants to go out and drink every night, and that's the only way to befriend all of them. Me being the very light drinker makes it harder to talk to everyone, but that's okay. I'm slowly making my way around to the entire group, and I'm ashamed to admit this but... I can't wait to do homework! I hear that they don't really give any on this trip though. SAD (but only for me, I'm sure).

Off to study in the Plaza and then get some croissants! I might opt for ice cream instead though... always a bad choice because it makes my stomach hurt but OH WELL!

The Beginning!

Hola from Salamanca! I finally have internet again, and it feels SO GOOD! I realized that I'm way too attached to technology, so I felt so incomplete without a phone and internet. Oh well! I'm so happy to feel connected to the world again.I just used google and all the search results came up in Spanish. I am officially in Spain! I think I'm finally accepting the fact that I'm a trillion miles away. But it's nice!

Salamanca is a beautiful city. All the buildings are so old and ornately decorated, and I love it! The first time we walked around, we spent the entire time with our jaws on the ground. I don't think the pictures do it justice, but here's an attempt (p.s. click on the pictures to make them bigger because these tiny things really do not cut it):Random side buildings are just beautiful.

The Juan Tormes Bridge, I think.

A room in my university that used to hold Masses.


Some girls and a very dark me in front of more architectural beauty!

Someone's backyard?!

Plaza Mayor! Even more beautiful at night, so maybe next time I'll get a shot of that.

This is the view from my window. Holy crap, right?

This is a cathedral. Look at how huge it is!

I really like being here. I was a little mopey the first night when I was alone in Madrid, but when I met up with the group, it turned around. Most of the people in the group are really nice, so I made some friends! Or amigos, rather. Shocking, right? We start our classes tomorrow, so being the nerd that I am, I'm excited! I'm pretty sure the excitement will wear away after the first day, but I'll relish in it now!
I spent the first night here eating amazing ice cream in the flavors of tiramisu and ferrero rocher, two of my most favorite foods. YUM YUM. Amanda and I decided not to go drink because we were so jet laggy and because we had a placement exam the next day, and I was so glad we decided to do that because sitting in the Plaza Mayor at night with delicious helado is the best thing ever. I didn't want to leave! There was a little spanish band playing on the side, and the Plaza was bustling with people even as we were leaving around 12:30 am. Apparently, people here go out the most around 2 am! Dang. But I'm guessing the siesta gives them the energy for that.
And I didn't really believe that siestas existed until now. The shops seriously close after lunch until like five-ish!
The people here have a style that I really like. It's casual, but chic. I'll try to take some spy people of these fashionable people. The kids are more fashionable that I am!
I think there was more to say, but I need to get ready to go to a bar soon! Apparently, there's a free open bar somewhere tonight... should be fun! I want to try a sangria.
OH! And my address! I'll be here until July 31:
Rector Esperabe 49-65
37008 Salamanca, Espana
Off to shower because I smell. Terribly.