Lunes, 19 de Enero

I have to be honest; I’m feeling really frustrated right now. Although Salamanca is extremely exciting and I love being here, I am having a much harder time adjusting to the limited internet and phone situations than I thought I would. I miss my friends and family so much…I really took for granted having the phone and internet right there all the time whenever I wanted to communicate with someone. It hasn’t been a big issue until today though. The JMU office is very close by and I thought has free WiFi and drinks/snacks. But when Allison and I went today, we discovered that, for whatever reason, our Mac computers don’t work there. Reluctantly we headed over to our café del arte. We didn’t buy drinks this time, but thought it was ok since we had gotten them each time before. I was able to skype with Alex for a while, but then a man working there came to my table and yelled at me that Allison and I were taking up too much room sitting at different tables and other people couldn’t come sit down and we were using the internet for too long and blah blah blah. I would have gladly moved before if he had just asked, instead of blowing up eventually, all at once. It was really embarrassing and I felt completely defeated because now even that option for internet access has been shattered. Where can I skype my boyfriend? Everything is so complicated in another country and I’m sick of people not being able to understand me. Everything is so expensive and I also bought a bunch of the wrong stamps today too. Everything is so easy in the states…I know what I’m doing and there’s easy access to everything. Anyway, I need to remember how lucky I am and not get so easily discouraged.
Last night, the group dinner was a lot of fun. I was able to meet a few other girls I hadn’t gotten the chance to talk to yet (Mary, Jeannie, and Annie.) There was so much food!! They started with a salad (green olives, iceberg lettuce, tomato, tuna, and hearts of palm)—a very strange combination, but tasted good. Next, they brought out French fries (some of the best I’ve ever had) and delicious rotisserie chicken. Then dessert (ice cream or flan), then café con leche. Everything was delicious and I ate too much as usual. We returned home and just relaxed and read. I’m reading the first Confessions of a Shopaholic and am really enjoying it so far…makes me feel so much better about the money I spend. I was in bed by 12:30 but couldn’t fall asleep until 4:30!! I eventually went into the bathroom to read my Bible, I was praying like crazy. It’s soo hot in this house and the pillow and mattress are very flat and hard. Hearing Asencion hacking in the next room, people and traffic outside, and Allison’s steady restful breathing didn’t help either. Apparently, most people had trouble sleeping last night. Surprisingly though, I felt ok today and decided not to take my siesta today so I could sleep better tonight. We’re waiting for dinner at “home” now and will meet some group members in the Plaza at eleven to go to a tapas bar. This morning we went to the University to take our exam to see which intensivo group we belonged in. It was easy at first, but much harder at the end. I was the very last person, and didn’t even finish the last 6 questions. Thankfully though, I still managed to make it into the higher level. Our professor is named Javier and he seems really nice and funny. It should be interesting to learn colloquial phrases and Spanish culture. Already I am learning that it’s not bad manners to throw your trash on the floor at a bar or restaurant…I have noticed that there are very few (if any) trashcans anywhere, but especially in those places. Also, it’s bad manners to accept an offer for food or drink on the first time you’re asked. So when we’ve been saying “no mas, por favor” to our madre, she thinks we’re just being good mannered…yikes. We’re also learning some curse words and filler words. Should be pretty laid back and helpful. After class, Allison and I bought postcards and stamps and notebooks on the way home and just barely made it in time for siesta lunch. We had potato soup (very good) and little rotisserie-style chicken cutlet things (also very good), bread, and fruit of course. At lunch, I found out that they never got the card I sent a few weeks ago with the picture of our family…weird. We always watch TV at lunch, which fills in any awkward silences. Sometimes it’s news, animal planet, or Hollywood gossip, today was a cooking show (all hilarious). Later, Allison and I tried looking at boots again, but to no avail. It’s overwhelming because there are so many and all the kinds I want are above my price range. It’s 9:00pm now: dinner time.