Vale!

Each of the classes I am taking at Carlos III are amazing.  Every class is taught in Spanish and I am getting credit to transfer back to UCR.  I am taking classes related to what I am interested in doing for my career.  For my "Periodismo y medios de comunicación en español" class for instance, one of our assignments is to create a blog about a topic and continue writing about it with a classmate. It's not the blog you are currently reading, but another blog that will make it's feature opening soon.  My friend Matt and I are writing about food.  It will include food from different places we visit, what we expected, and what we experienced during our food excursion.  We decided on food because it is a common interest we both share about Spain and traveling in general.

Spanish language class- We are learning phrases and words from Spanish used here.  Spanish from Spain and Spanish from Mexico for instance are not that big of a difference, just short phrases, how some words are used, and a slightly different accent.  One of the assignments for homework was to ask our host parents what certain phrases mean.  For example, a phrase that is used here is "que te sea leve," meaning "I'm sorry you have a lot of things to do."  Also, a very common word used here that I noticed right when I got off the plane is "vale," meaning "okay."  Short, simple, gets the message across, and a word I found to be my favorite.  Vale!

Medioambiente y sociedad en España- A geography class, may not be my favorite subject, but this class has to be the most interesting geography class ever.  We are learning about the environment and society in Spain.  I'm not a science major, but the way this class combined science and society is pretty amazing.  My teacher told us the first day he likes teaching American students because we have a lot of things to say and are a fun group to teach.

Historia del Presente: España hoy-  How Spain is at this moment is the subject of what we are learning.  We are studying current issues that Spain is dealing with. We are learning the root of where things came from as well, tying it to history from a while ago around the 1900's. "Zapatillas esparto" for instance are shoes used in the 1930's in Spain, and they have come back in style with newer looks. The shoes look somewhat like the famous "TOMS" shoes, which also happens to be one of my favorite pairs of shoes.  The quote "things come back in style" definitely applies here. Recent issues is a subject I am very interested in and I always try to be updated with what is going on in our world. In this class I am learning about a specific country, issues for the country, and having my mind be open to new ways of thinking.  In the United States, I've gained a brief knowledge of different countries by history classes I have taken.  This history class I am taking is unlike any other.  I am learning the most recent history of how a society in this country came to be and how it may be different from how the United States is right now.

Cine español- The number one class I was planning on taking!  I am learning about different types of movies and Spanish directors that have put the movies on the screen.  My major at UCR is taught all over the world, and I am learning every great thing about the topic in Spain.  Having my friends in that class makes it even more fun.  We end the school week 7 p.m. on Thursdays! :)  

Spanish director: Pedro Almodóvar

I can't believe I am already going to start my fourth week in Madrid!  Cheers to the current and future, experiences and memories! Keep on livin'

Mi vida en España

España!  The friends I made, the family, the food, my school, being able to take the metro/bus/train to school...everything...AMAZING!  If anyone is considering studying abroad, DO IT!  It has been more than a week and I will not give it away for anything.  I can't say that everyones study abroad experience will be the same, but the rewards one will acquire and experience in another country goes beyond what is expected. Whether you experience the luckiest or the unluckiest of things, it's how you deal with it.  Studying abroad really tests your capabilities and sometimes you have to keep reminding yourself
"I'm actually here and it's my turn to be on my own."  It may not always be perfect, but you have to keep on going.  I'm learning more about myself and opening my eyes to what more another part of the world has to offer.  Everywhere I turn is a new adventure!  Something new to be seen, even as simple as a sunset.  The laughs and adventures, and the memories to take with me are irreplaceable. The things I've seen in Madrid, are things I can only imagine.  The Palacio Real for instance, breathtaking and lucky to be standing right there, watching it with my own eyes.  Things I've only seen on TV or in magazines, are things that have become a reality for me now.  I am truly marveled by everything here.  The nerves I felt before this trip are gone.  I am comfortable in this new city, which I am proud to say is my home for the next couple of months.

The food:  One of my favorite topics to talk about.  The salad comes with vinegar, oil, and salt.  A lot of meat products and potatoes.  I had paella the other day (a popular seafood dish in Spain), something I wanted to try since I got here and love it.  Just recently I went to Lavapiés with some friends and had the best Indian food I've ever had, that town is so diverse.  Churros con chocolate:  a Spain tradition and I will not forget the first bite, officially my favorite dessert.  Going to another country is where you really taste the wonders of the world.  The culture it comes with is something that really enriches one's life, like mine.

A different lifestyle definitely, and took sometime to adapt too...I knew I was not in California anymore.  Whether it be walking around downtown, attending classes, eating with the family, knowing the ropes to public transportation, finding that thing you go "WOW" over because you haven't seen anything like it, or going out with friends, dancing and singing to every song we love for La Noche en Blanco (a tradition in Spain where the streets are covered with people, a lot of music, and basically every place is open all night), one is immersing themselves to the new culture & I am loving every minute of it!

Thankful for the every laugh and smile the city, and people have put on my face.

September 8th:  My 20th birthday, one I will never forget.  Had dinner at Casa Mingo, not expecting to see everyone that was there.  A birthday for the books <3

Each moment one is living is something to take in and experience, and when one can look back at it and smile one knows it was a moment to remember forever.  If you have the chance to do something incredible, do it.  Keep on livin'