Leaving in one week!

In one week, I leave Portland on my way to Spain. I'll spend about five days doing some travel within the States, but after that I'm heading off to Salamanca!

Here are some things I'm looking forward to:

First and foremost, my host family and simply studying and living in the Spanish language and culture. I'm looking forward to simply trying to slip into the culture of Spain while I'm abroad. This is really what I'm looking forward to the most, being immersed in Spain. Everything else that I'm looking forward to is part of this.

Of course, being a bibliophile, I had to love these pictures of the biblioteca antigua. I'm sure that I will find a library--if not this one--at the Universidad de Salamanca, and spend many a happy hour there. I have to have something to read after I finish La sombra del viento.

This is a picture of one of the cathedrals, but I am looking forward to churches in general as well. Which brings me to the next concept: art.

It seems practically impossible to try to find a picture that shows art in general, so I won't even try. But the art in the architecture and in museums is something I expect to enjoy. Not to mention art in music, which I love dearly.

Food. I have eaten Argentine food, which is quite similar to Spanish food, all my life, so it isn't as if this is going to be terribly exotic. But I do love that food and am looking forward to being surrounded by it.

Just getting lost on the streets. There is little I like more than going out to wander on streets that I don't know (with a map or enough knowledge of the area to get back safely, and preferably with a cell phone), and I greatly look forward to doing this while I am abroad.

See you in a couple weeks, after I arrive in Salamanca!

My Plan for Spain

In Spain, I am going to study with two different programs and in two different cities. The first month will be spent in Salamanca, with International Studies Abroad, and the rest of the time I will be in Seville, with Spanish Studies Abroad. I decided to do both programs so I would be able to have some time at the beginning to ease into the language and culture and so I would be able to spend as much time as possible in Spain. It also provides the opportunity to experience the culture and history of both Salamanca and Seville.

Salamanca is home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, one of the first places where Muslims, Jews, and Christians studied the writings of the ancient Greeks together. Many of my classes have mentioned this period at least in passing, and I think that visiting the University of Salamanca would be a wonderful experience.

The reason I chose International Studies Abroad was partially that the schedule would allow me to spend the most time possible studying in Spain and partially that I wanted an opportunity to adapt gently to the Spanish language and culture before the fall semester starts in earnest. I was afraid of having all my classes in Spanish (which they will likely be anyway, and I know I can handle, but I'm still slightly afraid of it), so I wanted to be allowed to lapse into English while I adjust.

Seville is an absolutely beautiful city, filled with a culture that mixes both European and Moorish influences. When I visited three years ago, after I finished high school, I fell in love with the city and wanted to return there someday. I have never doubted whether I want to study in Seville, only if I wanted to study in other cities. Added to the beauty of the city, I have friends who live near Seville, whom I will be able to visit at times and will spend the few days between programs with.

I chose to study with Spanish Studies Abroad in Seville because of their emphasis on using Spanish only, and their incorporation with the universities. I want to be able to live in the local language and culture, not just as a tourist. I want to be able to sing in the university choir, spend time at a local Catholic parish and possibly get involved there, and participate in normal life in the city.

See you in Salamanca!