The Return Back To The United States

I must admit, the transition back to life in the United States has been quite different and even challenging at times. Although I am very happy to be home, I greatly miss Spain and all the great rewards of the journey. I look back and think about the friends that I made, the bond with my host family, the great classes, and the culture. I truly miss all of these things and it is a struggle to deal with the reality that I finally am back home. However, spending quality time with my family and friends outweighs the sadness that I have from departing Spain.

When I arrived in New York for my layover, it was a culture shock for me because I was expecting everyone to speak Spanish. In fact, when I talked to a flight attendant, I inadvertently used Spanish because that had become my primary language this summer. The entire trip back home was extremely long and exhausting. I am just now recovering from my jet lag and adapting back to US Eastern time. For a while, I just wanted to sleep in my own bed and reflect on things. Not to mention, I was very stressed with the burden of unpacking all of my luggage as well. Regardless of these obstacles, I am happy and doing very well now.

The most drastic change from Spain back to the United States is definitely the communication. At times, I find myself speaking very quickly or searching for words during a normal conversation. This is something that never would happen to me before, but since I was accustomed to the conversational style in Spain, switching back to the English dialect has been difficult. For example, my mom and I went to the Apple store the day after I returned, and I just couldn't seem to find the right words when talking to the consultant. I was very frustrated, but I am gradually easing back into things.

Surprisingly, I wasn't really as happy as I thought I would be when I first arrived home. I was overwhelmed with many emotions that I just could not handle at the time. I wanted my space so I could gather my thoughts. However, now I am very happy to be back and I am completely satisfied with my experience. My time in Spain this summer was one of the best in my life, and I will definitely treasure the memories forever. Not only did my Spanish-speaking improve, but I feel that I have become a better person as a result of the experience too. My Salamanca Summer is one that I will never ever forget!

Here are a few photos of me unpacking and at the airport:

My First Week Back to Reality

My First Week Back to Reality

A Minor Set-back...
I was jolted back to reality quite prematurely as I nearly missed my plane from Barcelona, Spain to Atlanta, GA. My heart dropped as I came to the realization that my chances of making my plane before departure time were SLIM to none as I raced to my gate. Lo and behold, I had just made it! And then...I got detained. Apparently I had bypassed the passport check-point (unbeknownst to me of course) and airport security was NOT happy about it. So I was escorted back to the passport line and further and further away from my gate. After receiving a lecture from one of the security personnel, I was able to get my passport stamped and high-tailed it back to my gate, which was in the process of being closed off! Looking a HOT MESS, with dried tears on my cheeks and sweating like some kind of large farm animal, I boarded the plane. And, of course, I was the last person to board so I felt the stares of everyone I bumped and shoved while trying to make it to my seat all the way at the back of the plane. WHEW! What a tumultuous beginning to the long journey home. As soon as I sat down, I fell right asleep and slept for the first hour or two of the plane ride as a result of trauma, adrenaline and just pure exhaustion. It's a wonder I made it...

My First Week Back Home:

My first week back in the States has been great! I have definitely noticed some changes in myself but overall, nearly missing my flight made me appreciate home THAT much more! Below is an overview of what I've been up to since Spain!!

Le Petit Zinc

My Mom and I went to this small crepe place in downtown Detroit on Thursday, Aug 12th. It had been there for some time, but I had never heard about it. I was EXCELLENT and I highly encourage anyone interested to check it out! It is called Le Petit Zinc and offers traditional French Cuisine. It reminded me so much of Europe with it's courtyard, fountain, and old world charm. I, of course, had a lemon and sugar crepe and it was PERFECT! Just thought I'd share that with you all.

Chicago!!! One more time!

My brother attended a Sports Journalism camp in Skokie, Il (a Chicago suburb) that ended on Friday Aug. 13th, so for fun my Mom and I decided to drive down Thursday, Aug. 12th and hang out for the weekend. We ate at this cool breakfast place called Yolk, we went to the Chicago Institute of Art and saw great works of art by VanGogh, Monet and Serat, we went to Millenium Park and, OF COURSE, walked down the Magnificent Mile! (Shopping is always a must). All in all I had a great time and it was nice to spend that time with my Mom! Here are some pictures:

Our Hotel: The Palmer House Hilton Hotel, Chicago

Yolk Restaurant (1120 Michigan Ave.)

Strange Statues in Grant Park

Chicago Art Institute (with man in the way)

Garrett's Popcorn! and Me and Mom!!

Golfing

Of course, I had to spend time with my Dad too. So we had a Father-Daughter date and went golfing. That's all we needed to do to make him happy.

Changes

I've noticed a few things that are different now that I have lived in Spain. Below are a few of my observations:

(1) Eating Habits

I eat much smaller portions now. Here in the States, restaurants tend to serve huge meals that I used to be able to scarf down NO problem. Now, either my stomach has gotten smaller or I like the food in the States less, but I can never seem to eat everything on my plate now. I stop when I'm JUST at full, I don't go beyond that point. Also, the food in the States feels much heavier to me now for whatever reason. In any event, my eating habits have definitely changed for, in my opinion, the better.

(2) Still Thinking in Spanish

Even when I was back on U.S. soil, I had such a hard time letting myself speak English. I always jumped to Spanish first, which I guess is a good thing in terms of language retention, but kind of embarrassing when you answer and English-speaker in Spanish. It's faded more and more every day, so I don't really have that problem anymore, but I still do say certain things in Spanish and I still forget the English word of certain things at times.

(3) CanNOT Stop Thinking About Spain/Thinking I'm in Spain

Pretty elf-explainatory. I just forget that I'm back home sometimes and have to remind myself that I am. Sometimes I wish I could do things specific to Spain like go out for tapas or get a Fanta Naranja...or go on a weekend trip somewhere. But I'm definitely glad to be home and that is a blessing I do not take for granted!

Michigan...

Woooooo! Michigan, baby!

Hmm... doesn't quite feel the same, when it's not for Spain. Well... it is not to say that I'm not excited to go home - because I am, and very! Still, I will definitely miss my time in Salamanca.

Honestly, I would have never thought that I could grow attached in so little time. By the time I was walking out of my homestay, my senora was almost in tears. I (emphasis on "I") was almost in tears...

So, what exactly made Spain such an unforgettable experience? Aside from the amazing group of students with whom I shared my experience and the incredible and knowledgeable professors, there was a lot that made me love the Spanish experience. In fact, there is too much to list, here! Rather, I will try to show you!

Madam, need a hand?? (I make myself laugh)

Guernica requests that we only take photos from outside the room.

Is it even real???

These are only a few of the spectacular sites there are to see, in Madrid. Overall, it was an amazing journey, and helped me grow not only in my ability to speak Spanish, but also as a person. I feel that I have consistently stretched beyond my comfort zone, helping me attain a new understanding of the world around me, as well as a new sense of self.

As a final summary of our experiences, I've uploaded a video...

Until next time!

Maurice

Looking Back on Spain

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-my-gosh! I can't believe my time in Spain has passed by so quickly! Before leaving Spain, all my friends and family told me that this time in Spain is going to change me, and I thought they were being ridiculous. How much can happen in 6 weeks? In short... A lot.

This trip was full of firsts. It was the longest I've ever been away from home, and the first time I've had to travel without the guidance of an adult...well someone above the age of 35. It was the first time I've lived in a hostel, taken a European train, lived with a host family, taken the metro without chaperones, spoken Spanish extensively, been to Portugal, been to Spain, eaten tapas, eaten Spanish food, gotten mugged, made friends from Italy, France, Germany, Denmark, England, Slovenia, and of course Spain, used skype, and much, much more.

I've visited a lot of places in the six short weeks I was in Spain. I had the opportunity to explore Madrid for a day before the program and a day after. It is a beautiful city with lots of history. I took an art history class through the University of Salamanca, and to be honest, I really did not think it would be too interesting. However, my professor was really nice and fun, and there is something about learning about painters from the country your studying in. Also, I went to the Prado and Reina Sofia after the program ended, and I never thought I could have so much time at a musuem, let alone an art museum. Art is so much more interesting when you get to see the actual works you were studying. It was also fun looking at paintings and identifying their painters by the techniques and colors used.

I really enjoyed my time in Barcelona as well. It was just me and a friend traveling there, and the trip made me feel much more confident and independent. It was my first time navigating a city without my parents, adult chaperones, a large group of friends, or, for a period of time, without a map. I also got a good feel of the transportation systems in Spain through the experience. To get from Salamanca to our hostel in Barcelona, we had to take a train from Salamanca to Madrid, a metro from the train station to the airport, a plane from Madrid to Barcelona, a bus from the airport to the metro station, and the metro to our hostel, all with some walking in-between of course.

I have to say, though. My time in Salamanca will definitely be the most memorable. I loved my walk to and from the University. It was so beautiful with all the historic buildings. We saw many cathedrals and churches and famous sites all over Spain, but the cathedrals and all in Salamanca still held their own. All my classes were interesting, and I liked how I was learning things that were actually useful. My host family was great as well. I'm really going to miss Senora. I'm never going to look at another egg or bottle of olive oil the same. They will always remind me of Spain. I'm going to miss all the other students that I've stayed with as well. At times like this I really appreciate facebook.

All in all, this was an amazing, eye-opening experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Leaving Spain

As I finish my summer here in Spain all I keep thinking about is how fortunate I am to have had this experience. Before I came all of my friends and family told me that this would be the best summer of my life but I didn't know what to expect at all. I knew it would be great but I didn't expect to have the opportunity to travel to 7 different cities in Spain, I didn't realize that my señora would welcome me as warmly as she did, and I didn't think I'd come out of this with as many new and close friendships that I have now.

When I landed in Madrid airport 6 weeks ago, I immediately felt awkward and uncomfortable. The first spanish conversation I had was with the person at the information desk about bus tickets to Salamanca. She replied very quickly and quietly to my question and I didn't understand her at all. I was so scared that the next 6 weeks would be just as discouraging with me having to ask people to repeat themselves over and over again. However now that's not the case at all. Living here in Salamanca has given me the skills and the confidence to conserve and reach out to the community. I'm really happy that I got over that discomfort because I would not have gone to Madrid or Barcelona and would have missed out on all the incredible experiences.

Living with Sagrario and speaking with her every day was a very valuable learning experience. Everyday at lunch we'd watch the news while we ate and she would explain to me things that we're happening in Spain. That was very helpful to me because it give Sagrario and I more things to talk about then how my day went and I in turn learned a lot about the Spanish culture. Sagrario was amazing to live with. The food was delicious, even when Sagrario served me parrotts, she always provided everything I needed, and took care of me when I was sick. Some of my favorite memories living with Sagrario would include how she calls half the people on television ugly, when I was sick we watched the Girl with the Pearl Earring together, and going out to lunch with her and Luis. I'm truly going to miss her constantly gossiping on the phone with her friends and repeating herself over and over again.

I was also very lucky to have excellent teachers, who made a great effort to make sure that I understood them and that I learned the things that would help me to make the most of my time here. I especially enjoyed History of Art because when I went to the Prado and the Reina Sofia it meant more to seeing the paintings when I know their significance. Cultura Española was also a very useful class because it made me aware of Spanish customs that had I not been aware of would have put me in very uncomfortable situations. I loved my "Learning and Living Abroad" class because it was specifically directed towards teaching us things that would make the home stay more comfortable and places that we should visit that we would not have know about otherwise.

I think I am most thankful for the friendships I made with the people in my program. I didn't know anyone going into this experience and now I have lots of new friends that I share lots of great memories with. For example our bus rides to the excursions, studying for midterms, meeting for dinner, and hearing everyone's stories about their homestays will definitely come to mind when I recall this summer. I'm glad that everyone is a student at U of M as well because it makes saying goodbye less difficult.

And here are some of my favorite pictures that reflect my experience best.

Our welcome dinner. At this point all these people were strangers to me.

First night out with everyone.

Watching Spain become Champions at Corte Ingles.

My birthday with all my new friends

View from Cathedral in Sevilla

The seventh beautiful Cathedral I saw

View from the roof of the Cathedral in Spain

The Erics and I at our group photo

To everyone that read this, thank you and I can't wait to see you again.

El Último Blog

WOW! Is the six weeks almost up already? Well, I guess the saying that time flies by when you’re having fun really is true! It’s very hard for me to write this last blog entry because I have made so many new friends, memories, and travelled so many places, that quite frankly it is overwhelming. I knew that my Summer in Spain would be amazing, but I had no idea that it would be this fun and gratifying. The trip has simply been rewarding in a plethora of ways. My Spanish speaking has improved drastically, I received the experience of living and interacting with a foreign family, and I visited several historical monuments. My Summer in Salamanca will definitely be one that I will never forget, and I am grateful that I can follow up my Senior year at Michigan with such a positive experience.

As I exited the train at the Salamanca train station on June 27, 2010, I had mixed emotions about the journey that I was about to embark upon. Would my host family accept me? Would I like the food in Spain? How would I cope without seeing my family for 6 weeks? All of these questions were lingering in my head. Despite this, I can firmly say that I do not regret my choice to study abroad. I feel that I have become a much stronger, independent person from this experience. Dealing with adversity such as the chaos in Portugal and having to solely use my Spanish to maneuver through situations have all bettered me as an individual. Also, when I arrive back in the States, I will be more appreciative of things such as air conditioning and drinking water. These components are very limited in Spain and I will never take them for granted again!

For me, going to my two Cursos Internacionales classes each day and my Michigan class four days out of the week was very beneficial. The structure of the classroom here in Spain is much different from that in the United States. For example, in my Cursos classes, I learned about the history, traditions, customs, and celebrations in Spain. These things are very applicable and interesting, especially when you are able to travel and see them first hand. When I traveled to Madrid, I saw the “Guernica” after learning about it in my art history class, which enabled me to take much more away from the portrait. Even though these classes were great, my Michigan course was definitely my favorite. The reason for this is because we were never exclusively boggled down to the classroom. We visited tapas, took an excursion to the markets and supermarkets, and toured notable places around Salamanca. The class was very interactive and I enjoyed going each day. Lastly, my agri-business practicum was absolutely amazing! After visiting the ham, cheese, and wine factories, I definitely have a new found appreciation for quality food!

A large part of my experience is this Summer is due to the places that I traveled to on the weekends. When I came to Spain the first time, my family and I only went to Madrid and Barcelona. So this time around, I made it a priority to travel to as many cities as possible. That goal became reality as I was able to visit Sevilla, Granada, Toledo, Madrid, and Lisboa, Portugal. You don’t really know the true value of traveling within a country until you actually experience it. Staying at the hotels in these various places was almost like an excursion in itself, considering the fact that we had time away from our host homes. So, from the extreme heat in Granada, to our super futuristic hotel in Madrid, I will hold these memories with me forever.

The hardest part of my Spanish experience has been saying goodbye to my friends that I have made from other universities. I met people from Florida, Alabama, London, and Indiana. Over the course of the Summer, I became very close with these people after seeing them everyday and going out with them. Just the thought that you may not see these people soon or ever again is very disheartening, but thankfully for modern technology, I can stay in touch with them. Last Friday when my new friends left, I was very sad, but I’m much better now and I have even talked to them since then. The good thing about having a group that is all from Michigan is that we will see each other all the time in the Fall. So, to my other great friends that I have met this Summer, its not goodbye, but rather I will see you later!

In summary, my time in Salamanca has been absolutely amazing. I feel that I have so much more exploring to do, but I know that it is now time to go home and enjoy my family. I have a lot of work and chores to do over the next few days to prepare for my departure, but I am up for the challenge. I want to send a special thank you to my host madre, Mrs. Iluminada for her hospitality, as well as a thanks to all my teachers. You have all contributed to the great time I have had here. So, for today I leave, but for tomorrow, we shall be reunited very soon! Salamanca, Summer 2010, one for the history books!

Final Thoughts and Memories

As I sit in the airport in Amsterdam, it's hard to belive that my time in Europe is finally coming to an end. After almost 12 weeks in this amazing part of the world, I'm glad to say I have learned so much this summer!

When I first borded the plane in Detroit in mid-May, I had no idea what to expect. I had never traveled by myself before and I was very concerned about simply transfering planes and getting to Europe (and with all my stuff!) But somehow I managed...I learned how to use the metro system in some huge cities like Paris and Madrid, how trains and buses work, and more.

When I first got to Spain, I was also very nervous about the host family situation. At first, it felt very akward to basically walk into someone else's home and start living there. I quickly got over this however, and felt very blessed to have been placed with someone amazing like my Señora and her family. Rosa is an amazing person and whenever I see someone cooking tons of food, I will definitely think of her! Her family was also awsome and it was a great experience being there for her family reunion with her family from the Canary Islands.

I also feel very lucky to have been able to take some amazing classes at La Universidad de Salamanca, both with teachers from UM and some from Salamanca. One of the coolest parts of my classes, for me, was meeting people from all over the world. I had classes with students from Brazil, various parts of the United States, China, Japan, France, and more. I also meet many people from all over the world on weekend trips, like people from Germany and the Netherlands. For me, it was also great practice when my professors and classmates did not speak English. It forced me to speak Spanish and not rely on English so much, like I can do during my classes in Michigan. Overall, my classes were great and I learned a ton, whether it be about Spanish art, the government and history of Spain, or the culture of Spain.


Finally, I am really glad I meet such amazing people during my time in Salamanca. I know that when I return to Ann Arbor, I will continue to meet up with my friends from Salamanca and, although it will not be the same as in Spain, we will hopefully continue to live "the dream."

For now, I am back in the States and back to normal life, but I know that one day I will return to Europe, I place that I feel in love with in only 12 short weeks.

¡Hasta Luego!

How To Enjoy Spain to the Fullest

1. Do not, I repeat do not leave every weekend for another city. You will miss out on plenty of opportunities to make friends with the locals, and you probably won't be able to accomplish this in one night. If you were to go out one night with the goal of making a friend or two in one weekend that you have free, its going to be very difficult. Things like this take time- you will have to learn the slang, what Spain defines as cool, and how to connect with another person. Just be a carefree vagabond (think Jim Morrison) and you should do just fine.
2. Eat at all three Leonardo's late night restauruants. You will thank me later. Each one has a different menu and each is incredible. At the one that serves hamburgers north of Amadeus, definitely get the number nine and do not let this opportunity pass you up.
3. Never walk in the grass on streets. There are many dogs in the city and... well you get the idea.
4. Bring a towel, toilet paper, kleenex, and any other items you will normally take for granted at your home in the united states. They will not be provided for you.
5. Comfy shoes are a must, or some sandals with silken straps like Reefs. You will walk an average of 5-10 miles a day and will go through hell if you bring just classic rubber sandals (although I have developed some wonderful callouses).
6. Do not wear the Spainish flag around town, especially in northern europe. This signifies a higher class person with a lot of money. Very bad.
7. Take a siesta every day for at least 30 minutes. After 5 days of continuous clubbing, you will appreciate this. Trust me.
8. Bring earbud headphones. I have over the ear DJ headphones and could never watch movies before bed as it would be extremely uncomfortable to sleep with giant earmuffs of rap on.
9. Bring a very good alarm clock. After a couple weeks of living like a Spaniard, its going to get progressively more difficult to wake up
10. Have no reservations, no second guessing, never feel sorry for yourself, never beat yourself up, and so on. Keep your chin up because you will encounter a lot of failure your first few weeks in the city. Be strong and have a wonderful time!

Suggestions on What NOT to do in Spain...

Hi all,

As this experience is coming to a close, I've come to find quite a few things that I wish I had known BEFORE arriving in Spain. Below is a list of things I would advise NOT doing while in Spain. Hopefully this serves a purpose and proves helpful when it comes time for you to travel to Spain...

When Traveling around Spain:

1.) DON'T wait to the last minute to buy train tickets

-the closer to the date you want to travel, the more expensive the train ticket. Try if you can to plan ahead to save as much as you can on travel cost. Makes for a less stressful trip.

2.) DON'T always rely on taxis

-of course taxis are more direct, however, they can get pretty costly if you use them every time you need to go somewhere. Try and make use of the public transportation system, especially when in Madrid or any other city with a Metro system. Its definitely more economical.

3.) DON'T be afraid to ask for help

-clearly, if he/she looks creepy you're not going to walk up on someone and ask for directions, but don't be afraid to ask a local if you are lost or need to know the best route to take. Nine times out of ten he/she is going to be quite helpful and you may end up making a friend or two.

4.) DON'T plan everything to a T

-leave room for spontaneity. Some of my best experiences here resulted from unplanned occurrences, so embrace the unexpected!

When Going Out

1.) DON'T bring anything more than the essentials

-I always tried to pack as light as possible...even if that means utilizing pockets or other articles of clothing to secure money and IDs. Keeping the items you bring to a minimum and keeping them close to you at all times is the best way to prevent the loss of something valuable.

2.) DON'T walk alone

-remember the buddy system in 1st grade? Use it!

3.) DON'T leave with randoms

-Don't care how cute he/she is...not such a good idea.

When Traveling Back Home From Spain

1.) DON'T pack too much

-If necessary, send clothes/items home before leaving so that you have enough room for everything you need to pack. Another option is buying another suitcase to check on your way home. Just remember that you have to pay extra for every checked bag after ONE, so plan accordingly.

2.) DON'T forget to say goodbye

-Whether you stayed with a host family or in a residence hall, you are most likely going to meet people that make an impression on you. Consider doing something nice for these people. It may be a professor you truly enjoyed or a host parent that was SUPER nice. Regardless of the person, if they mattered to you, I'm sure he/she would appreciate a gift, a thank you note or some other thing to remember you by. And you'll feel great knowing that you were able to show your appreciation in some way. Chances are, if they meant a great deal to you, you meant a great deal to them as well. So show some love!

What NOT to do in Spain

What not to do? Well, I can't say that the city itself had any major glaring problems. Any problem I had stemmed from the contents of the University of Michigan progam.

I'll try to nit-pick a little, but over all it is a great city!

First: Do not feel rushed to see the whole entire city in one afternoon! I felt that i needed to explore the whole entire city because I thought there would be a lot to do. During the week, if you're not busy with school work, you'll have plenty of time to wander around and find neat little spots in the city that you can enjoy. I have walked the entire city at least 3 times by now just from getting lost. There is a lot to see, but don't feel rushed.

B: Do not...I'm having a really hard time writing this. I guess I would suggest to NOT go to the same places every day/night. This city has a very wide variety of restaraunts, tapas bars, bars, clubs, et al. It is nice to find a place where you know some locals and can make friends in your daily routine, but check out other places! Find out which place has the best patatas bravas. Find out which place has the cheapest beer. Discover everything

Additionally: Do not rent hotels. Try and find hostels. Plan your trips far in advance so that you aren't stuck with a 250 euro hotel room for 1 night. It really puts a damper on the funds when you have to buy things at the last minute. I didn't have any plans when I came here and ended up paying a lot of money for last minute reservations and such.

This place is great. There isn't much that you can do wrong besides speak English and piss of the locals.

Recommendations for Future Students

It’s hard to believe that this past weekend was the last of the trip. It is hard to believe that my time here as passed by so fast. I had a very busy weekend. On Saturday I went to Segovia. Segovia is where my señora, Sagrario, is from so she was able to tell me lots about it. Our first stop was the aqueduct. It was created to transport water into the city. It’s incredible to see because it’s 10.6 miles long and was made without cement. It’s also one of the last surviving monuments made by the Romans, so I felt lucky to see it for that reason too. After the aqueduct we walked through the town to the Cathedral. While we were in the Cathedral a wedding party walked through. I love weddings and the Cathedral we were at was a beautiful place to get married and actually later that day we saw the same bride at the other places we went to visit. After the Cathedral we went to The Alcázar de Segovia. That was my favorite part of the trip because the castle was something straight out of a Disney movie, it even had a wishing well. The rooms in the castle still had furniture set up in them, unlike like Alcázar in Andalucia that I saw so it was easier to picture what it may have looked like years ago. Our last stop of the day was the Palacio de La Granja; once again another beautiful monument. It is so huge that in our two hour tour I don’t think we even saw a quarter of it.

Window of Cathedral in Segovia

Alcazar in Segovia

Thongdam and I at Palacio de La Granja

Sunday I went to Madrid. We took the metro from the train station to the center of the city and then made our way to the Reina Sofia. I was really excited to go to the art museums in Madrid because most of the paintings we studied in History of Art are there, either in the Prado or the Reina Sofia. Visiting those museums made me realize how different it is to see a famous painting in it’s actual size, in color than to see it on a piece of paper. There’s absolutely no comparison. It was incredible to stand in front of the famous paintings by Picasso, Miró, Dalí, Goya, Velázquez, and Sorolla. I especially liked seeing Las Meninas because I did a project on it earlier in the summer. I also liked seeing Dos de Mayo and Tres de Mayo because I didn’t realize how large they were and I was blown away.

Me at the Reina Sofia

Guernica!

Palacio Real in Madrid

I have had a great time here and would definitely recommend this program to future students. My other recommendations to future students are:

1. Speak in Spanish every opportunity that you can. Your time in Spain will pass quicker than you think so it’s best to be practicing your Spanish throughout the trip. Talk to your señora, tell her about your day, watch the news together and ask questions about the stories, or show her your schoolwork and discuss it. Other ways to practice speaking Spanish is to reach out to other international students. Or go to the same bar or tapas restaurant and make a relationship with the people who work there. That also helps make Spain seem more familiar.

2. Try to reach out to your host family. Offer to help around the house and make an effort to get to know them. It’ll be a much more comfortable six weeks if you’re on good terms then if you never thank them for anything.

3. Travel on the weekends. Cursos offers some excursions but I found that it’s more fun to plan your own trips. If you go on your own then you don’t have to keep to a schedule and your travelling experience is because you’re more independent.

4. Salamanca is a very safe city but always walk home with someone. Also when you’re traveling keep a close eye on your belongings. Don’t bring a tote that doesn’t have a zipper and put your valuables in the bottom of your bag.

5. Eat Jamon Iberico every opportunity you can. It’s delicious and very hard if not impossible to find in the states.

6. Take advantage of office hours to voice your concerns to the staff. They want you to have a good experience and receiving feedback is helpful. If your having a problem the staff is a great resource so don’t be afraid to go to them.

7. Bring comfortable walking shoes. Most of the students live about 30 minutes away from the university so if you don’t have good walking shoes those long walks are needless to say uncomfortable.

8. Always remember to turn the lights off in your room because electricity in Spain is expensive and it makes the señoras very mad.

What not to do in Salamanca...

Well... unfortunately, our 6-week adventure is coming to a close. With only one week left, I think it's safe to say that I've made the majority of my mistakes and felt most of my regrets (that sounds sadder than it really is... I've, also, embraced as much Spanish culture as I could, and it's been great!). Having done that, I have compiled a list of things that I would warn students NOT to do on their trip to Spain.

Regarding Salamanca...

1) Don't ignore it. I found myself constantly pushing it to the side to travel to other sites, during the weekends. In my head, I thought, "Hey... I have another X weeks of Salamanca, but only one weekend for Segovia/Portugal/etc." Luckily, I caught myself in time to be able to embrace Salamanca, as well; about halfway through the trip, I realized that I'd be spending a lot more time with various time-consuming activities, taking away from much of the time I'd have to explore Salamanca. There's a lot to see, here! Make sure you don't miss it! (however, if you do miss it, I'll provide you with some pictures of what there is to see, below).

Casa de las Conchas. In English? This is what we call "The Shell House."

Pictures won't do the justice for the cathedrals. Rather, I'll give you a preview of the ceiling.

2) Take advantage of the "Cursos" tour. I went via "Tour Office" of Salamanca. This isn't bad, but it was costly, and they didn't keep all of their promises (I'll be completing my tour of Salamanca, this week). The "Cursos" tours are free, and pretty good, from what I've heard.

Don't come here!!!

3) Go places... do things! To my regret, I haven't had as many experiences as I would have liked with such things as restaurants and Spanish bars, here. The upside to this is that I've been able to enjoy the great cooking that my senora has provided; the downside is that I haven't been able to enjoy the great cooking that the city has to offer. I guess this is more of a note to prepare yourself to balance between the two, especially if your senora does not cook very well ;p

Regarding travelling...

1) On the trip to Salamanca, try to coordinate a flight with another student. This will definitely make things easier on you. After having endured the 20+ hour trip to Salamanca, I was in no mood to talk... much less in another language. I was, also, nervous - I wasn't very confident about my Spanish-speaking abilities. Having a group would have definitely made this part less stressful (however, if you are not able to gather a group, you can definitely survive, and it is an accomplishment, in itself!)

2) Travel! I know I mentioned that neglecting Salamanca is not recommendable, but neither is neglecting the rest of Spain! Balance is key! During my time in Spain, I've spent two enjoyable weekends in Salamanca. Unfortunately, I missed the opportunity to visit other areas of Spain (I'm thinking of Barcelona and Sevilla). If I ever return, they'll be the first ones on my list! I would definitely recommend Portugal - that was my favorite of my travels (minus the bus problems).

Portugal is nice...

Regarding miscellaneous things...

1) Come with an open mind. Be prepared to try things that you've never tried before - you won't regret it! By this, I refer to your comfort zone in relation to social activity, food, etc. I continue to push myself to try new foods and new activities, and until now, I have not been disappointed. During my time here, I've not had a single familiar plate (err... minus a pizza)... I've eaten things that I've consistently rejected in the United States. To my surprise, I've loved all of them! Now, in addition to some memories of some incredible experiences that I've had in Spain, I'll also be bringing back some incredible foods!

Spanish Tortilla, coming to a table near you...

I've, also, enjoyed the night life, here. I'm not very big on the bar scene, but Spain may have swayed me. The culture is just too rich, in these bars... this is not something you want to miss out on!

2) Don't speak in English. You're here to learn Spanish! It won't be easy, but it'll be worth it. If you get a conversation going in Spanish, your U of M peers will likely follow. Also, take advantage of your senora, and any housemates you may have. I've had various roommates, some of which are only beginning their Spanish studies. This means that I was slightly more fluent than they were... the feeling of being able to help them out is great! Also, the Spaniards are happy to see foreigners attempt to incorporate themselves into the culture, here!

That's all that comes to mind, right now. I think these are the most important ones, and the rest are things that you learn from experience, and grow from. Well... the clock is ticking... I have to take as much advantage of Spain as I can!

I'll see you in a week, mom!

Love,

Maurice

Future Students: What not to do in Salamanca or Spain

Prior to entering the 2010 Salamanca Study Abroad program, I had very little feedback from previous students, and the information that I did hear was all positive. I feel that it is pivotal for future students to be cognizant of both the good and bad of the Salamanca program. Given this, in this blog, I will offer a few suggestions for future students that will include things that they should and should not do. These helpful suggestions will enable future students to maximize their time in Spain, while avoiding certain things that could potentially affect their level of enjoyment. So, 2011 Salamanca students and beyond, brace yourselves for the information that you are about to receive!

In Salamanca, you will quickly notice the distinctions in studying areas and space. At Michigan, we are accustomed to studying late in the UGLI or Grad, free of any disruptions. However, the library here in Salamanca closes relatively early, which leaves students with few options of places to study late at night. The point that I am trying to make here is that you should not place your studying and work on a back burner because you do not want to do work in a cafe or even a bar. I’ll be the first to admit that I was very irritated when I realized that I had to study at a cafe in order to use their WI-FI. However, after a short time, you will get over the initial reluctancy and you will adapt to the environment. Along with this, when you do go places to use their WI-FI, it is necessary that you or one of your study partners buys something. You definitely do not want to upset the management, especially considering the fact that you are a visitor in a foreign country.

Café Y Té was frequent place for studying

Next, the work load in Salamanca may contrast drastically from the amount of work you would typically receive in Ann Arbor. From my experience, there have been some days when I have had much free time because I only had a few assignments, and there have also been days when I have been submerged in homework and studying. So, time management will be a critical thing during your time here in Spain. Make sure that you do not spend too much time doing other things such as partying, taking siestas, or hanging out with friends. In other words, avoid anything that is too time consuming, or anything that will effect your academics. For example, to force myself to do work, I go to the Cursos Internacionales building everyday to complete all my studying and assignments. Once you arrive in Salamanca, you too will find your own niche and develop your own schedule.

Backpack always on my bed (STUDY, STUDY, STUDY!)

The night life in Spain will also be a large part of your experience. Bonding with fellow students in the Michigan program as well as other students that you will meet from around the world while going out is extremely beneficial. I have met people this Summer while going out that I will maintain friendships with for the rest of my life. With this, there are a few measures that you must follow to remain safe while going out. First and foremost, never go out alone anywhere in Spain. As Americans, we all stick out as foreigners, and many times we can be pinpointed as easy targets. Plus, the bigger the group, the more fun you will have. Next, try to bring a designated amount of cash out with you, leaving purses, wallets, ID’s etc at home. These are items that you definitely do not want to lose during an eventful night. Lastly, try to hang out with people that live close to you because you can walk back with these people as the night draws to an end. If you practice all of these things, you will be safe and enjoy going out.

Friends going out

On the weekends, it is very common for students to travel to cities all around the country. For example, on my trip, I have traveled to Lisboa, Portugal, Toledo, Sevilla, Granada, and Madrid. There is nothing wrong with traveling on the weekend, but you must be very attentive and take certain measures. Always follow the orders of the instuctor or guide leading the excursion, even though you may not want to do what they ask of you. Next, men wear your wallets in your front pocket and women try not try bring purses out wherever you go. Pick-pocketers are over-flowing in tourist type places. My roommate from Colorado told me about a kid on his trip who was robbed because he had his wallet out, making him very vulnerable for a thieve. Lastly, only go to tourist areas because the people tend to be warmer than in places with more locals. By doing all of these things, you will definitely be safe and able to enjoy your trips!

Granada

La Alhambra

The list of things that I have compiled about what you should not do in Salamanca or Spain is only the beginning. You will quickly catch on and learn about the things that you just should not do. I know the things that I have mentioned may seem a bit overwhelming, but they really are not. Just have fun and make the right decision, and your time in Salamanca will be the best of your life!

FUN IN THE SUN!