La Última Semana en Santander

Hola! Well guys, just like that, my time in Santander has come to an end and I am now on a train to Madrid. Man, I don’t even know where to begin. I apologize if this post is a little all over the place--I am currently writing this while running off 3.5 hours of sleep over the last two days. I have this new saying: “You can sleep when you die.” That’s the lifestyle I’m living right now. It definitely isn’t sustainable so I’m going to need to sleep eventually but sometimes you do what you have to do to fit everything in. So, let me start at the beginning of this week.

Well this was week four and so we had a very different schedule. At the beginning of this week, I looked at my schedule and knew it would be crazy. I had an all-day excursion Monday and Wednesday, class for 5.5 hours on Tuesday and Thursday, four big assignments due on Tuesday, two due on Thursday, and one on Friday with the big final exam on Friday morning. Yeah… so you could say it was a packed week. It started with us going to Bilbao on Monday morning. It’s around an hour and a half drive to Bilbao from Santander so we took a bus as a group. We stopped in a little town in the middle of Bilbao and Santander on our way there and it was so pretty! It was right on the coast so we got some pictures in front of the mar (sea) with los montañas (the mountains) in the background. Then, in Bilbao we toured the Guggenheim Museum and then explored the city after. I had way too much fun. I’m not a very artsy person but this museum was very unique (and inappropriate) so I enjoyed it a lot. After we toured the museum we found a restaurant where a group of friends and I ate and it was probably some of the best food I have had in Spain. It was such a nice place and the waiter was having a fun time talking with us in Spanish. Then...okay, I’m not a shopper but when I have something I really want and I find a store that has it, I can go crazy. Well, we went to H&M, which I know they have in the US, but they have clothes that are the style of Spaniards. I found some flowy shorts and pants and some shoes and I was way too excited. We also got helado and I found a Starbucks. I definitely didn’t get anything from there. There’s no way am I buying Starbucks in Spain. After we got home, I realized how different Santander is from other cities and it made me excited to explore the rest of Spain in the upcoming months. Tuesday was full of class and homework. Then Wednesday, we went to a pueblo (village) that has been well preserved from the Romanico times. I actually don’t know how to say it in English because there’s a difference between the Roman times, Romanesque times, and one other one. Too much roman for me… anyway, it was really cool but we didn’t really do much. I sat with my friends in a bar and got coffee and just talked. We then ate our goodbye lunch in this really delicious restaurant where I ate way more food than I should’ve but I was able to talk to one of my professors, Javi, and I really enjoyed lunch with him. He’s the reason DU goes to Santander because he grew up in Santander and is now a professor at DU. So he has a very thick accent when he speaks in English and then he’s fun to talk to in Spanish because he speaks it so naturally. Oh, it was great. So he had completed a half ironman race the weekend before and we were talking about it and he showed me a picture. The caption said “Finished ½ iron man” and I go “Solo medio?” which means “only half?” and he goes “Solo?! Solo?!” (only?! only?!). The table had a paper covering on it so he demanded a pen from my friend and proceeded to dramatically write out on the table what exactly a half ironman contained. Something like a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and then 13.1 mile run. He then ripped off that piece of paper and gave it to me very emphatically. Apparently it’s not “solo” in his mind, because it was very challenging and took him five hours to complete. Don’t get me wrong--it was a big accomplishment. I just loved how offended he got. After our lunch, we went to this other pueblo where, up in the hills, there were caves from a long time ago that we could go in and explore. I was exhausted after that excursion and just the entire week. Well then, on Thursday we had tons of class. In fact, we finished class at 7pm and had our final exam at 9am the next morning on material that we had learned in class that day. That’s how the intensive programs work here I guess, but it is a quick turn around. I was being positive and thinking, well at least it’s fresh in my mind. I wanted to do well on the exam so I stayed up until 3:30am studying. I wasn’t able to start studying until 12am because, by the time we finished class, and then with dinner being so late and taking so much time because that’s Spanish culture, I had no time to study except during my sleeping hours. Then, I woke up at 6:30am to study more. Well, after my exam, I was exhausted. I took a nap and just took my time packing. It was weird that the program had come to a close but it was also relaxing in a sense. I had a great goodbye dinner with my host mom and another french exchange student and then I went out with my friends after. We found a pizzeria called Sibrita’s where they had gluten-free pizza (that was amazing) and it was super cheap too! I was so, so happy. It was so good. I am going to dream about it, literally. So...in Spain, on the weekends, it is very typical to be out until 6am. The bars don’t even open until 2am or 3am. Anyway, since it was the last night, we went to the beach bar. It was so much fun but we were there until 6am. I had originally planned to wake up at 7:30am for breakfast to leave for the train station at 8am, so I figured it was not even worth it to go to bed. As I was trying to stay awake for the hour, I was journaling. You can tell in my journal that the words got progressively worse, handwriting wise, and--this is my favorite part--I switched to spanish mid-sentence and then fell asleep on my notebook for 30 minutes. This was my sentence…”I pray my experience all over Europe will be great. I also Tengo pizza y fue delicioso.” That translates as “I have pizza and it was delicious.” So, remember how I said just a few sentences ago that “I’m going to dream about the pizza place, literally.” Well...I think that’s what was happening. The restaurant and food had such an impact on me that I wrote about it in Spanish in my journal. Guys, I was dying laughing when I read it later on. It is a journal entry I will always remember.  Well, that is more or less my eventful week. I am so excited to meet up with Amanda and Peter and Alison and am also super ecstatic to get some sleep in a bed. Gracias y buenas noches (thank you and goodnight)!

This is the gluten free pizza place!

My host mom and I made gluten free banana bread!

~Semana Tres (Ya?!*)~

  *Ya = "Already" in Spanish

 

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a great week. This week flew by! It was my last week of language class and I am actually really sad it’s over. It was a really cool and fun class. There were two Indonesians, two Italians, two Chinese, and then three of us Americans in the class. And then the teachers were so very sweet! On Friday--yesterday--we took a field trip to the Mercado. It is similar to a farmer’s market but then there is fish and meat and fruit and vegetables and pretty much everything you could ask for when it comes to fresh (and I mean really fresh) food. We had a paper with a list of questions and types of food that we had to list which forced us to ask “los españoles” questions to practice using our Spanish in 'real life.' We were in groups and it was fun to interact with the Spaniards. One of the ladies we talked to who was working there was so nice and eager to help us. I should’ve asked for her name and taken a picture of her because she was so cute and "amable" (kind)...oh well. But, I was content at the end of the day because I had three or four people tell me that my Spanish has improved so much since the first day of class. It was encouraging but it also pushed me to want to work even harder because I still have a long way to go. For example, I have had two people stop me in the street to ask me for directions. I must look like a really nice person. 😇 Anyway, the first time, when these men asked me where a certain beach was--I just said “No se, no se, lo siento.” (I don’t know, I don’t know, I’m sorry.) That was probably two weeks ago. This second time, it was a really sweet lady and I understood part of it, but the problem is Spaniards speak muy rápido (really fast) and, if I’m caught off guard, my brain isn’t ready to process it. However!! I understood more than I have in the past and, as I started to give her directions, I asked her a question to clarify and it was apparent I had an American accent and so she goes “Lo siento” and touches me all compassionately and walked on. That is how it is here if I’m not talking to my host family or teacher. They automatically think I can’t speak the language and don’t give me a chance. One of these times, I’m going to have the guts to tell them I actually speak Spanish and that I just need them to slow down a little. A little more practice and I will be better for sure. Although it's hard to give directions even in my native language when I don't know the city. But to my great surprise, I am really enjoying learning in Spanish and I literally cannot stay away from the language. I want to continue learning it and continue to live here and take classes here, especially because I feel like I am finally falling into a ritual. And of course, now it’s time to leave. But that is why I’m really happy I’m going on to study in Sevilla and also that I’ll be there for four times as long as I was here, yet I am now disappointed that my classes won’t be in Spanish in Sevilla. ← I never thought I would say that.

I swear time is twice as fast here as it is in America. I had my midterm test for my culture class on Monday and I have my final this Friday. I’m learning a lot about the history of Spain in that class. Then I’m also taking a composition class in Spanish, so my schedule is full. On Thursday, the Denver group went to the “Palacio de Magdalena.” It was so very beautiful. It’s a really close walk from my house and it’s located on a peninsula that overlooks the city and the sea and the town of Somo, which is on the other side of Santander. The history of the palace is very fascinating and they also had penguins outside!!!! I was definitely in my happy place. However, it was on that excursion that we heard about the terrorist attacks in Barcelona. Last weekend, we were planning a trip to Barcelona, but then we decided to stay in Santander because we are only here for a short amount of time and we wanted to enjoy everything this city has to offer. I am also going there with Amanda in about a week and a half so it seemed wiser to stay here anyway. It makes me so sad for those families who lost someone. The attack wasn’t very close to here but I think we are all so used to being in America, where we don’t even have to think about terrorist attacks. Here, it is different. There are terrorist attacks happening all around Europe. But my teacher told us, there is no place in the world that is safe. And that is true. Even in America--and so that’s why I think none of us should take our lives for granted but we should strive to enjoy every single moment.

I am really learning a lot about classes--about the language, about history, and about myself. Although I don’t think I notice it all the time, I am having to make decisions and do things I wouldn’t normally have to. My “routine” is out of place and because of that, life is different so I am going to be different. The thing that’s tough for me to comprehend is that I’m changing at 10mph, for example, where I think everyone who’s life is the same right now is only changing at 5mph. And that’s how life works. We all have different periods in our lives where our level of change speeds up or slows down and it’s hard to hold on to people that are going at a different pace than me. I am learning the value of true friendships and how important my relationship with Jesus is because He’s one person that will always be by my side. So no matter how I feel, I am not alone. And I believe there will always be great people in my life, too. My host family has been amazing and I have also met some really sweet people on this trip. As I was contemplating all this and more on my walked home the other day, I was listening to the song “Details” by Sarah Reeves. This is one of the verses:

You map the road of my traveling

You never let go, no, You're here with me

In every high, low and in between

You are my one and only consistency

And this is the chorus:

You know me better than I know myself

Your ways are higher than anything else

You have the plan far beyond all my wildest dreams

Just like You paint the fiery skies

You chose the color of my eyes

From the start until the end of time

You're in the details, You're in the details

If you get a chance, I really encourage you to listen to it. It’s an accurate depiction of my life right now. God knows me better than I know myself and He is mapping the road of my traveling and so, I’m not going to worry and you shouldn’t either, because God’s got this.

Next week is going to be a crazy busy week with lots of excursions and class and events taking place, so I’m sure I’ll have a lot to tell you guys next week too. :) Have a fabulous weekend and I’ll talk to you all soon! Hasta la próxima (until next time)!

This is a mansion that's really close to my house. It's really pretty but spooky at night...

PENGUINS!!!!!

"La foca" - a seal

The water is so pretty here!

"Comedor" - dining room in the palace

The sitting room of the palace. It reminded me of Darcy's house in Pride and Prejudice for some reason.

This is me getting in trouble because our tour guide thought I wanted to play it, not just take a picture...whoops.

The outside of the palace.

My host mom's daughter, Daniella, and a French exchange student who was here for the week!

A cup of chocolate with some gluten free cookies. Don't mind if I do.

This is my school here. It's called UIMP but it's pronounced "Weimp"

This was the "mercado." Was there a strong fish smell? Yes. Did I survive? Barely...

This is the grandson of my host mom.

~Semana Dos (Week 2)~

Well it’s Viernes (Friday)! I made it through another week. Tomorrow, I am halfway through my first program already...boy, does time fly. Last week felt like a vacation and then this week felt more permanent. I guess I am more settled in you could say. I am more used to the eating habits of Spaniards now and the type of food that they eat. In fact, my host mom has a cook come in at least once a week to cook and the food is delicious! She makes a plate called Paella which is very common here in Spain. It’s rice and a whole bunch of seafood. I do not like seafood but here, I’ve made an exception. And I’m so happy I have because it is so very delicious. I am also figuring out what times work for me to workout or nap or go to bed or do homework. Everything is one big change, but in the end, it’s the same result. I still do everything I did in America--it’s just all scrambled up here. I’m convinced Spaniards’ clocks are just wrong. It doesn’t get dark until about 10:30/11pm here and then the sun doesn’t rise until about 7:30. Change all the clocks two hours earlier and--bam--problem solved. But I guess that’s just not how things work here.

It has rained a lot here the past week but I’ve enjoyed it. I was able to wear my rain boots and raincoat and use my umbrella. I took a picture in front of the UIMP sign, which is the University I am going to here in Santander. (See below) UIMP stands for Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo. Oh, another highlight this week is that I really like the supermercados (grocery stores) here. The main one is called Lupa and they are everywhere. There’s one every few blocks. I have one five minutes from my house that I go to almost every day.

So, as far as classes go--I am really enjoying learning. Not that I hate being taught, but if you know me well, you know I have the patience of a lightning bolt (as my dad likes to say). Here in Spain though, I find it interesting. I have a two and a half hour class about Iberian Culture in Spanish and, even though it’s super hard, I really enjoy it. I enjoy my language and composition class, as well. The only thing is, sometimes my brain is on overload because I am in class a lot and it’s all in Spanish and I have to really focus to comprehend everything and then I still don’t understand a lot of the time. It’s getting easier everyday, though. I find it definitely helps when I get more sleep. Last night, I finally got eight hours of sleep for the first time since I’ve been here. It was glorious.

Yesterday we had an excursion downtown where we toured the cathedral and then went to a museum--but I don’t remember the name of it. I find I have that problem a lot here...where I go to some place cool but when someone asks me “where?” I literally have no idea. I should start writing it down. I am learning a lot of new words and meeting/getting to know some really cool people. I also am purposely trying to take some time for myself where I am not constantly spending time with other people. I think by doing that, it is helping me fuel this passion to learn and it also gives me more time to do the things that I want to do. I turned off all notifications for snapchat, facebook, instagram, messages, and email. I only check social media when I want to/every once in awhile for something important and it is so nice to be in control of that. I know this sounds silly, but I think my notifications were in charge of me because I would just answer whenever one popped up but now I get to choose when to respond. I have Whatsapp to communicate with friends and family and that is the only application where I keep the notifications turned on. So if you want to reach me, download Whatsapp--it's free. :-) I do check my email once a day to make sure there’s nothing important I need to check, so that works too!

Well, I don’t have as much to tell this week but I do have more pictures to share this week. I’m grateful it’s the weekend and am excited for what’s to come. Thanks for reading and I’ll talk to you all very soon! Adios!

Shh, don't tell. I was craving pizza.

My friend Marissa at the museum 

My friend Andrea at the cathedral

The inside of the cathedral

Another beautiful picture of the beach I took on one of my runs

A building downtown that I thought was really pretty!

This was a park that I found on one of my runs

Rainy days call for rain boots, a rain jacket, and an umbrella:)

~Semana Uno (Week 1)~

For pictures, see end of post.

¡Hola mis amigos! Well it is now Saturday and that means I have made it through the week. I guess it doesn’t matter where you are--the weekend is still a wonderful thing. It has been a roller coaster of a week. There have definitely been times where I consider moving here because I love the beautiful beach and palm trees or the fact that it doesn’t get dark until 10pm. Then, there are times where I miss America and the comforts of home so much that it hurts. I think this week was definitely an experimental week. There are 16 other students in the program all from DU, but almost none of us knew each other before this trip. There is a benefit to that because then that allows us to start fresh become friends at the same time. The hard part is that we are all so different. We are learning to navigate life in Santander very quickly and I am sure, in no time, we will have our groups. We all live in very spread out parts of the city. I am the only one that is by the beach, which is nice, but it is a more heavily tourist part of town and I am about a 25 minute walk to anyone else’s house. Without any phone service, it’s very tough to connect and meet up at places. Luckily, we have wifi at our houses and can message through WhatsApp so it’s working out. It’s very cheap to get a phone plan here so that’s also a possibility.

I definitely admit it is different than I expected. I actually did not know what to expect. There have been two nights with my host family that I absolutely loved. For dinner, which we have at about 9pm, it was a candlelit dinner with two courses and Sangria and dessert. The food was delicious but I also just loved the time we spent talking. I feel like I have already improved a lot with my speaking and understanding in Spanish, especially with how confident I am, so it was enjoyable for me to have a conversation with the entire family. My host mom has a cook that comes and makes dinner in the afternoon. In Colorado, I do not like fish besides sushi. Here, they have a dish called “paella” that is rice with all sorts of different fish like shrimp and mussels and clams. I actually really enjoy it! It’s very fresh. In Spain, for lunch, which is from 1-3pm roughly, it is common to order “El Menú del Día” which is where you choose off a limited menu and get two courses, dessert, and a drink for between 12-18 euros depending on how nice the restaurant is. I’ve also gone to the grocery store about 3 times already and I’m always so proud of myself for figuring out how to pay and ask for help. It makes me feel like a local. The store is called Lupa and I have one right down the street from my house. One of the things I’ve noticed is that it is really hard to work out. Don’t get me wrong, I walk about 15,000 steps a day but that isn’t a good old workout at a gym. The University’s gym is very small and there are no fitness gyms here that I’ve seen. I’ve gone on a run and it was wonderful but my sleep schedule is too messed up right now to do it consistently. I need a schedule first so I can get to bed early enough to run before class. But the run was definitely one of my high points this week. It was so beautiful and the weather was perfect.

School was hard but good! I really like all my teachers and they are teaching me a lot. I have found that my “accent” is very hard for them to understand. Even if I know how to say the sentence, they don’t understand me because I say it weird. They also have a heavy accent and don’t use as much slang as mexican spanish so it is very difficult to try to comprehend everything they say. I think spain spanish is so pretty though. My favorite word that they say here is “vale” which just means okay, but the way they use it in a sentence makes their language sound very beautiful and it flows so nicely.

Well today we had an excursion as a group where we toured Roman ruins and made bricks out of mud and straw ropes and saw the inside of the huts and then the insides of massive 10,000 square foot houses for Romans who were very rich. I’m glad we went on the excursion but everything was in Spanish and there were a lot of words that were tough to understand because they were tools or things about their history. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t even understand it in English. It would have been even better if I wore the appropriate clothes. It was rainy and there was a lot of fog and mist which made it super cold because we were in the “mountains.” Although, compared to Colorado mountains, they were just hills. All of us had all planned to wear shorts and tank tops because it has been so hot the last few days. Instead it was cold and windy so we all froze and that just didn’t help us enjoy it as much. I’m really happy I still have the rest of tonight and all day tomorrow to hang out and chill before week 2 starts.

Two more things that I anticipated to be easy but that has actually been hard is the time difference and down time. Eight hours is just enough where I am pretty much on opposite schedules as my friends and family back home. There are small windows of time where I can talk to someone but then they have to be available too. It works, it’s just harder than I had thought. Also, I had heard that it is easy to get lonely because you have nothing to do and you have so much free time. WRONG. At least right now--because we have been so busy so I have hardly had time to have any down time. I guess if you know me, you know down time and me just don’t go in the same sentence. But I’m striving for it! I will get my down time one of these days...or weeks...or months...

I miss all of you and hope all is well! Thanks for reading! I keep thinking my blogs will get shorter and then that doesn’t happen. Hmm, well ¡hasta luego!

This is the view of the sea from downtown.

"El helado" (ice cream) here is so good!

This is the rich Roman house we visited on our excursion.

This is where we ate lunch on our excursion. The water was so so clear! It was beautiful!

These next two photos were the ones I took on my run!