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