Sooooo, I am finally in Salamanca. I am laying in my bed trying not to fall asleep considering the fact that I really haven’t slept in about 30. Claire and I just got back from a guided tour courtesy of our host madre of la Plaza Mayor and the streets of Salamanca. She is such a chatty lady. (This thankfully makes things a lot less awkward). As soon as we got off the bus from the Madrid airport (which was actually way longer than they originally told us) and she was assigned as our madre she tells us to follow her only after snatching one of my leopard print suitcases. (Come to find out she is 72 years old--- which is actually really embarrassing on my part considering I was struggling down the street with my luggage at the age of 21. Oh well.) She is 72 and her husband is 65. Neither look a day over 55. Spanish people apparently don’t age. During dinner she explains to us that it will only me herself, Claire, and me dining since her husband doesn’t eat dinner because he has gotten fat over the last two years since he quit smoking. This man is by no means fat. However, according to Spanish standards and this woman he is gordo. It is really bizarre/funny to hear her saying all of this especially since he was sitting right there with us. For dinner she made us these ham, egg, and cheese sandwiches which were actually really delicious. She also made homemade croquets which were bangin’ as well. Tomato salad and yogurt were also included. She fixed Claire and me twice the amount of food as she did herself because she said that she didn’t want to get fat. Well, apparently I’m going to gain like 20 pounds on this trip but I think I’m okay with it. During dinner we watched celebrity gossip shows (on which I had no clue who the celebrities were).
They said they have been hosting students for about 30 years now. They have been hosting jmu students for about 9. This makes me feel better since I can’t imagine that I will be the worst guest they have ever had. She explained that when we come in at 4 or 5 in the morning make sure we don’t bang doors too loud because it scares her and wakes her up. She knows what’s up.
Our apartment is pretty great. It kind of looks ghetto from the outside since its littered with graffiti and its on this side street but its actually really quaint inside. My room has a chandelier as well as a leopard print blanket. I love this. Also. if I look out the window I can creep on the neighbors. (I may have given them an accidental free show earlier.) The one downside of our home is that we don’t have internet. However, I went an entire semester without a computer and about 2 years with shotty internet so this isn’t even that big of a deal to me. Oh well, I’m over it.
I am going to take the most amazing shower in the morning. We have to meet our group at la Plaza Mayor at 9:15 a.m. for an orientation day. It’s weird but this time difference thing isn’t even hitting me that hard. For instance, we got to Madrid at around 8:30 a.m. local time but at home that would be 2:30 a.m. My body is being such a champ about this no sleep situation.
Our madre also explained to us that when we come in at 4 or 5 in the morning make sure we don’t bang doors too loud because it scares her and wakes her up. Our padres also advised us not to mix liquor, wine, and beer. They told us that we shouldnt throw up in the house but to do it in the plaza instead. She knows what’s up. What great advice.
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