THURS. 2 APRIL

Given the sudden workload this week (oh wait, I have to do WORK in Spain??), it’s been a pretty uneventful past couple of days. Here are some of the highlights:

1) Tuesday night we enjoyed another group outing to the movies.
Not surprisingly, many of us congregated at the Super 24 Horas in Plaza G.G beforehand to grab some snacks. I’d like to take this time to honor Super 24, which has been so good to us during our time in Spain. This, my friends, is your one-stop shop for anything from shampoo to cheap wine, gummies and overpriced ice cream to magazines. God bless, you, Super veinticuatro (24) for being there every time we need you. And no, I didn’t just overdo it…this place is a big deal.

Caramel Milka bar and coke light in hand, I joined the rest of the group to see “Retorno a Hansala,” a very sobering account of various Moroccans who died during their efforts at immigrating to Spain. The acting was incredible and several times I caught myself tearing up like the estrogen-packed woman that I am. The guay-est part was that I could understand about 90% of the movie! It’s finally becoming more relaxing to watch Spanish movies and television because I don’t have to think quite as much about translating as I have in the past. “Retorno a Hansala” was much easier to understand that the previous movie we saw about Che Guevarra, which was in Latin American Spanish. This just goes to show how I’ve already become so accustomed to the very distinct Castellano Spanish, even though I learned Latin American Spanish in school. GUAY!

2) Although I have failed to mention this in my blog, many of you probably already know this. About 3 weeks ago, I applied to a nannying Internship in Honduras. With two interviews behind me, I was accepted this week! The plan is to spend mid-July to mid-August watching the two young girls (both under the age of 2-and-a-half!) of an American missionary family in La Ceiba, Honduras. Although I won’t be getting paid, my flight and all my food and accommodations are taken care of for only $2000 that I have to raise. Traveling to Honduras was a very natural response to my current condition: a rather severe case of travel fever. I am thrilled to be traveling to yet another Spanish-speaking country, entirely different from Spain as it may be. I feel extremely blessed and excited as I anticipate this new adventure.

3) Everyday on my walk back from class, I have to find pretty creative ways to avoid the Spanish Red Cross personnel on Calle Toro. Actually, it reminds me a lot of the commons at JMU, where I will goes as far as to fake a cell phone conversation or even walk an extra half-mile around campus to avoid the fliers and surveys being shoved in my face. Although Calle Toro is definitely less extreme, neither the headphones nor the cell phone tricks work on La Cruz Rioja de Espana (Spanish Red Cross)…they almost always try to stop me. When they ask if I have a “momentito,” usually I just say, “Lo siento pero tengo prisa” (sorry, but I’m in a hurry). I realize this sounds kind of rude, but usually I really am in a hurry…I’m HURRYING home for siesta! When I’ve shared this reoccurring experience with other group members, they confess they’ve never been stopped themselves. HOW??!

And wouldn’t you know it, on my walk home from the University yesterday I was flagged down by yet another one. This time, without headphones and with time to spare, I decided to stop just for the heck of it (and because he was pretty cute;)) Thanking me for stopping, we introduced ourselves and he asked if I was from Salamanca. When I said no that am just studying here, he said he was sorry but they’re only looking for Salamantinos to volunteer. Wait a minute, did he seriously think I was Spanish? And the other volunteers of Cruz Rioja too? Walking away, I couldn’t help but smile and think that I had them all fooled. They think I can speak Spanish!

Spring Break technically started for me yesterday. Classes after 2pm were canceled today, and seeing as I only have one 5pm class on Thursdays, I had a completely free day! I woke up a little before 11, had an awkward, silent breakfast with cranky old Luis, retreated to my bedroom to do my devotions, went for a run, and showered all before siesta☺ And yes, I did say “run.” Thankfully, virtually every street in Salamanca is flat. The combination of crosswalks and dodging slow old people also allows for plenty of breaks along the way. After a delicious lunch of tomato macaroni, salty fried chicken, bread, and fruit,
Allison left me for Italy. I told her she better not like it better than Spain, but after hearing about Alex John’s trip to Rome and Venice, I know it’s going to be a close one.
Later, I walked to the University to turn in an old homework to my cuento professor. As I have done in the past, I sat outside on one of the wide stone benches to check my email and such; however, the PAINFULLY slow Internet connection forced me to turn right back around and buy a café con leche at café del arte. The warm greeting and small talk I enjoyed with my new BFFL camarero (waiter/bartender) was worth that euro twenty and more.

In other news, Asencion has continued to serve Allison and I boxed red wine with dinner. A cuter old woman you never saw.

Alexandra, Megan, and I leave tomorrow morning for Madrid on the 9am bus. We’ll arrive before noon and have an entire day and night in the city to ourselves before meeting up with our families Saturday morning.
The rough plan for the week is as follows:
Saturday night: Alex and I take our sisters out for a night in the city!
Sunday: Touring Madrid
Monday: Daytrip to Salamanca, siesta lunch with host family
Tuesday: Daytrip to Toledo
Wednesday: Touring Madrid
Thursday: Daytrip to Sevilla?
Friday: Saying goodbye to mom and Bee☹ Spending a lonely night by myself in Madrid
Saturday: Meeting up again with Alexandra…spending Saturday and Sunday with her.
Monday: Returning to Salamanca in the afternoon

Stay posted next week for Spring Break news