First Day of Class and Tapas

Day 3.

 

  My roommates and I set off after breakfast a little later than we intended (around 7:45) which meant we arrived 5 minutes late.  Luckily they had not begun to call out names to divide us into classes.  The auditorium of sorts was packed but very pretty.  There are a lot more people from the states in this program than I expected.  I have met several people from the University of Arkansas, Hunter College in New York (Our third roomie attends school there), and other schools all over.  There are also a lot of other international students--several are from Holland, some from Great Britain, others from Thailand, etc.  Megan was called away in one of the first groups because she is just beginning--which I think is incredible how well she is doing without speaking hardly any Spanish.  Then the rest of my MU group was called for the same class.  And finally me. 

There were just about 12-14 students in my class on the first day--the numbers keep fluctuating as people switch into the classes they need for credit. The first class today was Conversación y Cultura (Conversation and Culture) with Professora Esther Jimínez. She is a very energetic and expressive teacher. She began by handing out our class schedules and syllabus and then she explained the objectives, rules, and grading system.  We then began getting to know one another.  She told us about herself--she teaches Spanish and Italian, she has two children, she is from Madrid, etc.  Then she began going around the room asking everyone individually questions about their families, interests, and studies. 

At 9:50 our first class ended and we had a ten minute break. Here is my schedule: 

At 10 our next class began...we all stay in the same room all while the professors come to us.  Our second class is Lengua Español (kind of like a grammar class).  Our professor for this class, Marta, is younger and much quieter than the first and speaks less English.  Actually, both classes are taught completely in Spanish.  If there is something we really do not know we can ask in English and both can understand reasonably (Esther more so than Marta) but will answer or explain differently in Spanish.  There are a couple of interesting differences between classroom etiquette in the US and here in Spain.  For example, they find it very rude if you yawn or stretch.  You cannot leave the room without asking and they do not like you to eat.  In Marta's class we played a Spanish name game which helped me to learn everyone's name which was especially nice when I saw several of them on the Metro ride home later.  At 11:20 we had our second break which lasted 20 minutes giving us all more time to walk around, eat a snack or whatever. I was mildly upset to my stomach most of the morning but by this second break I found that a snack was very helpful for staying awake.  After our break it was back to a second round of Conversation and Culture.  This time we talked about Cultural Misunderstandings--like Americans stretching or eating in class because they don't know how rude the Spaniards find it.  Finally at 1:00 we were done.  I headed done and out front with my classmates where I found Megan.  Her day was pretty much like mine only with different professors.  After a while the rest of the group came out.  We talked for a bit but Megan and I needed to get home for lunch at 2:30 and everyone was hot, tired, and hungry. 

Lunch once again was yummy but much richer today.  There was another kind of soup, a salad, and fried Manchego Cheese a food called croquetas and for dessert we had chocolate pudding with a spongy cake underneath.

Unfortunately, there was not much time for a good siesta because the MU group was all supposed to meet at Maria Carmen's in order to plan the trip for our long weekend at 5. 

Amanda and I left in plenty of time to get to her house but we had agreed to meet up with Megan at the Avda. de America metro station (this is the station for Maria Carmen's house and it has three different exits on different streets) and we could not find her for 30 minutes.  By the time we found each other and become reoriented we were very late.  Everyone was quite alright with it and we soon began discussing plans.  This was difficult because we do not want to pay too much for these trips.  Barcelona was the number one choice but was also the most expensive because it will be pride week during the weekend we are free which means prices are way high.  Once this was determined we had to chose somewhere else...this required Maria Carmen to talk on the phone with several hotels and friends.  Eventually we decided on a trip to Sevilla for two and half days (we would leave on Thurs. June 18th) and a day and a half in Cordoba.  After making this decision Maria Carmen's sister took us down to the travel agent in their neighborhood and began talking prices. 

The agency was a small, very quiet space with turquoise walls and a lot of maps and flyers.  We all stood by as Manena began discussing the trip with him.  The computer system was down but he gave us a ballpark price which was much more expensive because of the ride to Cordoba, than the group in general was willing to pay...we put our names down and arranged to return and finalize plans tomorrow. 

From here we all headed back home.  Amanda and I lazed around for a while... I did homework and worked on this blog.  Around 8-ish Alice took us to a supermarket on Calle Mayor in order to by fruit and snacks for school.  Once we returned our groceries (apples, clementines, chips and tuna) to the house we three decided to go back out for Tapas.  Breakfast and lunch are included in the program, dinner is not because most Spaniards eat small evening meals out in the city.  So, Alice, Amanda and I set off through our neighborhood and eventually up Calle Mayor.  There were so many people out eating, drinking and talking.  The evenings in Madrid are so pleasant weather-wise that it is worth it to spend as much time outside as possible.  We looked at several different Tapas places but they were all either too crowded or too expensive (Calle Mayor is very touristy and thus pricy).  We passed through the famous Mercado de San Miguel which was packed and filled with tons of good smells.  Finally we made it to Plaza Mayor which is filled with different restaurants. 

We made a very good choice and split four different tapas and several apellidos (appetizers) and had una clara to drink (clara is beer with carbonated water and lemon).  We had a very good time.  There was street music and the different restaurants were lit up. After we had finished and paid we made our way home, the streets were quieter and darker.  It was very nice to make it home to bed on a full and comfortable stomach with friends.

 

Buenas noches a todos,

Emily

 

P.S. here are the photos from the day...enjoy!

 

 (Here is an ok picture of the front of Nebrija behind the gates)

 

(The reaping....Actually this where we were divided into classes; the professors called us all out by name to follow them)

(Another lovely Nebrija view, from my classroom this time)

 

(One of three metro exits for the stop nearest Maria Carmen's)

 

(Walking home from Maria Carmen's in the neighborhood)

 

 

 

(The church directly beside/in front of our street. We head down to the right between the two brick buildings to get home.  *Info about the church)

(Calle Mayor)

 

(Plaza de la Villa)

 

(To the supermercado...supermarket...for fruit and snacks)

 

(The small Plaza at other end of our street, opposite from the church...it was hopping last night. This was on yet another search for a nighttime meal)

 

(The giant market with a lot of people)

 

 

(Very yummy Tapas: Salmorejo, pepper wrapped tuna, calamari, salmon with this fantastic mustard/vinaigrette/rosemary sauce. It was a little more expensive because of its location, but we agreed that it was worth 7,40 euros a piece.)