bmgray’s blog

Posted on January 30th, 2008 by bmgray.
Categories: Uncategorized.

1 comment.

My first week

Posted on January 30th, 2008 by bmgray.
Categories: Uncategorized.

Yesterday I had to be at school by 10:00 am to take an Spanish placement exam. There are other American students here doing a direct program. They are a group of about 7 or 8 students who take culture and language classes together everyday in the International Relations building. The other Americans that I meet with for orientation are here for ISEP exchange and have chosen to do the pre -semester language intensive program. After this program we will take classes at the University. There were probably 35 students from all over Europe studying through the ERASMUS program taking the exam with us today. Our language classes will start tomorrow and last until the semester begins in February.

So far everything has been nice here in Murcia. I really like my apartment and am happy with my bedroom. I have my own bathroom and a balcony off my room (unfortunately the park across the street is under construction so it overlooks bulldozers at the moment). I feel like I am beginning to know where I am for the most part when I am walking around. If I have problems getting back to my apartment I can simply ask where the Cathedral is and I can find my way from there. I am very thankful for an apartment in such a great location! I am very close to the plaza with the Cathedral and also the main street for shopping.

Today was my first day of classes and I enjoyed it a lot. Spanish class has always been my favorite, now I have Spanish class 24 hours a day! We talked about Spanish culture and common language mistakes today. We will have this intensive class for two weeks before our classes begin in the University. I am very happy I decided to take this class because not only will it help me with my language skills, but I have also met other international students from all over the world. There are students from Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, Czech Republic, Peru, Portugal, Brazil, Italy, United States, England and more! We are all in the same boat so it is nice to have people to share your time with here in Spain. We are all from different parts of the world but we all have one thing in common, the Spanish language.

Tomorrow my roommate Christina is leaving and a boy from France will arrive. We have been trying to hang out the past week after my classes and orientation, but by the time I get home she has to go. Every night she goes to a “aero-box” class and she doesn’t like to change her schedule.

Tonight I think I will go out with a few friends from my Spanish class to a place called Badulake. On Wednesday nights they have free Beer and Sangria. I have only gone out one other time and I went to the same place. It seems to be “the place” for the International students to go. The first time I went I went with an Italian guy who lives next door to our apartment. He is friends with my roommate Lize and was over here a couple nights ago hanging out. He asked me if I wanted “to exit” with them. I don’t know why people always want to speak English! To exit? He meant “go out”. Well Lize ended up backing out and it was just me and the Italian. He ended up being a little too much and I decided to go home early. Hopefully tonight will be better.

So far here are the things I like the most about Spain:

-the slower pace of life

-the way the old men slowly walk around with their hands folded behind their backs

-cafés

-fresh fruit–I have yet to experience the outdoor market on Thursdays

-streets lined with orange trees

-history everywhere

-Burger Kings in old palaces

-Siesta time when everything closes and people not only nap but just sit and enjoy themselves in the plazas and parks

-tiny groceries, tiny cars, tiny everything

-the Spanish lisp

-all the Dr. Latorre look a likes in their brown turtlenecks and sport coats

-history everywhere =)

2 comments.