My schedule most days looks like this:
Buenos Dias
7:30am Wake up, get dressed, eat a chocolate croissant and juice (called zumo), catch the autobus to the University of Alicante
9:15am Intermediate 1 class with my teacher, Jose Luis. He's a really good teacher and very relaxed. We usually get a 10 minute break for cafe and I eat the bocadillo (sandwich) that my madre makes Emily and I for school.
12:00pm Oral skills and conversation class. I don't like this one as much because my teacher has a strong accent and speaks very quickly. I think I will understand more as time goes on though.
1:15pm leave the university and take the bus back home for comida.
2:30pm The most delicious meal of the day with Eva (our madre), Emily, and sometimes Lucia (the daughter). We chat during this meal; I mostly listen and try to speak whenever I know how to say something.
3:30-5:00pm Siesta time... which means I can relax, nap, do homework, or talk to the fam or Sam on skype. All the stores are closed during this time.
Buenas Tardes
5:00-9:30ishpmThis time of the day always looks really different. Some days I will go for a run to the nearby park and other days I will go to the beach.
10:00pm-2:00am This is the time to that Spaniards go out and socialize. They'll usually go to a bar or restaurant to get tapas (different appetizers) and drinks. Most Americans like to go to discotecas (dance clubs) or bars at this time, but the Spaniards socialize much more casually.
Last night was the first time we (when I say "we," I usually mean Emily and I) went out with girls from our program's group. It was fun! For dinner we got kababs, which are a mix between a gyro and a burrito... very yummy. And then we got delicious gelato that our new friend Kyle told us was the best in the city. We then went to a bar in el barrio (neighborhood) and got a "Alacuntus rosado vino" and Emily got a "sex on the beach." I'm pretty new to drinking, and learning that it takes me only one glass of wine to feel buzzed. Emily said I'm just a very outgoing version of myself after a drink--and I like that haha :)
Emily and I went to the beach yesterday afternoon and it was beautiful! There were lots of big waves (olas), which apparently is uncommon for the Alicante beach. We saw a few sets of tetas (you know what those are), and had lots of fun discussions about nudity, shame, and American culture. It was blowing my mind how normal it is for women to be topless here.
I'm learning new things about the Spanish culture everyday. A few of these are: Spaniards are very easy-going people, they're very diverse, and liberal/modern.
I'm also learning and noticing lots of things about our own culture: Americans are easy to spot (but we still haven't figured out what exactly distinguishes us from Spaniards), in general we're fat/unhealthy, and we rush/stress much more than they do.
Until tomorrow,
SarahBee
