Here at Last!

So I have made it to Salamanca! It was quite a long journey - mentally, physically, and emotionally, but well worth it.I am now in Spain! I arrived six days ago, and was glad to meet another girl (Michelle) from my program (Academic Programs International - API) on my flight from LAX to Philadelphia. Thank God she was there sitting next to me because, during our hour and a half layover in Philadelphia, I came to the horrible realization that I did not have my wallet! Talk about panic! It had my credit cards, driver's licencse, passport, euros - basically all the most important stuff. So I left my carry-on with Michelle and went running through the airport like the biggest idiot. I rarely loose things, and it was just unbelievable to me that of all things, I would misplace something so vital. I talked to a US Airways employee and told them that I thought I left the wallet in my seat on my last flight. After what seemed like the longest run of my life, I was paged over the intercom and got my beautiful red wallet back just in time to board my flight. Saint Anthony must have interceded on my behalf!
After arriving in Madrid, I met my resident director, Inma, and the rest of the API students at the airport. We spent four days in Madrid and had the most wonderful time visiting the incredible sights. The group of API students and I toured the Royal Palace and Cathedral of Madrid, strolled the gorgeous Parque de Buen Retiro (the Spanish equivalent of Central Park in New York), and visited the world famous Museo del Prado. We also explored the Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol (both historical, central areas of the city for shopping, eating, and meeting people) and of course, enjoyed a little taste of Madrid’s nightlife. We went on two excursions out of the city – one to the beautiful original capital of Spain, Toledo, and the other to El Escorial, which is a royal monastery once used as a palace and fortress. Our four days in Madrid were unforgettable, but I was very excited the leave the city and get to Salamanca. On Tuesday afternoon we took the two and a half hour bus ride to Salamanca. As the cathedral’s spires came into view, I nearly cried I was so happy. How much time and effort had been put into preparing for that wonderful moment!


I have been in Salamanca for nearly three days now, and I cannot express how lovely and different it is from everything I am accustomed to. It is all uniform in architecture because the old parts of the city are made of sandstone and the new parts have been designed to complement the old. The people here are full of life and even the little elderly couples meet their friends on weekday nights in the stunning Plaza Mayor for sangria and tapas. The first day that I arrived I was very overwhelmed and felt quite alone after my roommate, Hanna, and I said goodbye to our new API friends and got settled into our residencia. The API students are all spread out, some living in another residencia and the others in homestays with Spanish families. Our residencia has some essentials to be desired, but overall it is quite comfortable and our landlady (although she speaks no English and it has been a challenge to communicate with her) has been very accommodating and understanding with our language barrier. We took our diagnostic placement exam for Spanish the morning after we arrived in Salamanca, and I was totally panicked that I would not place into Advanced. I must place Advanced here in order for Cal State Long Beach to accept my units when I return home. So, I was so relieved when I found out that I placed into the right level and can definitely bring my units back!

Apart from learning my way around the city and starting classes, I did a little shopping for some necessities in my room. But who knew that asking for household goods could be so complicated! I was trying to ask the saleslady if she had scissors, but instead I asked if she had earth….dios mio! I said “tierras” instead of “tijeras” and that “j” made all the difference. And as we all know, necessity truly is the mother of invention, and I have no doubt that I will improve my Spanish because I seriously have to!

My classes started this morning, and so far so good! The professors are experts in teaching Spanish, and I’m really looking forward to everything academically. In an hour, I am planning on meeting a couple of the API students to take a walk around the city and explore. But right now, I am about a minute away from my residencia, in a little pretty little nook of the city with a wonderful view of the two cathedrals and historic university. The sun is out, the weather is perfect, and I feel so blessed to be in Spain happy, healthy, and loving life!