Un día en la vida bonita de Meredith :D

The first week here in Salamanca I didn't really have a set schedule so I was surprised the second week when things fell into place and I started doing the same things daily. I start my day off by waking up at 9:15 but sometimes I am awoken by the lovely construction outside my window.

I get ready for class then grab a yummy breakfast made just for me by my señora. My breakfast always consists of tostadas and strawberry jam with a delicious cup of coffee. I asked my señora the other day where she buys her coffee. She told me that she buys a few different types and makes a mixture. She must be an expert at coffee because she makes the best cup of coffee I have ever had. The typical Spanish breakfast is light but I am getting used to it. I do miss my daily dose of cereal though.

After breakfast I get my stuff together to walk to class. I enjoy walking so it is never a problem for me. I also am use to walking to class because that is what I do everyday back in Ann Arbor. I am in three classes in Salamanca. Two are through the cursos internacionales program and the third one is a course taught by University of Michigan teachers. My first class is Art History in Spain. I like it because it is something I normally would not take back at home but would like to learn more about. My second course is a Spanish culture class. I love this class. My teacher is a ton of fun and I have learned a lot from her about the differences between Northern and Southern Spain along with other cultural differences. My last class is with Andy. I also really enjoy this class because we talk about practical things I can use while in Salamanca. Also we compare the differences between life in Ann Arbor versus life in Salamanca. I finish class at 1:30 and walk back to my apartment. Every time I walk back I always see "the clapper". When I first saw this guy I was so freaked out because it is so odd!

I always have lunch with my señora. We chat and watch the news together. Lunch here is the biggest meal so I am always stuffed when we are finished. The food coma I feel after lunch puts me in the perfect mood for a siesta. I take a 30 minute nap then wake up and usually do homework. Then I meet up with my friends and we either go on arranged tours by the University or we talk walks through the parks here. I love spending the afternoons here walking around and taking in the city. Every thing here is so beautiful and I enjoy looking at architecture so there is plenty for me to see.

I come back to my apartment in time to talk with my señora for a little way then have dinner with her. Dinner here is later but it is something I am use to. Before this program I was taking a spring course at Eastern. It was from 5:30-7:30 and I had a 30-40 minute bus ride there and back so I had to wait to eat dinner until 8:30-9ish. I like eating later because then I am not hungry before I go to bed.

After dinner I either work on homework, go on a walk, hang out in the plaza, or read a book. Things here in Salamanca are really laid back. I love their lifestyle and hope to bring some of it back with me to the US. Below I have posted a picture of the plaza at night. It is so beautiful at night. It is like a dream being able to go there every night.