Vida Diaria en Salamanca

After the initial whirlwind subsided, it’s strangely exciting to settle into a routine here in Salamanca. Each morning I wake up around 9 am, eat breakfast, and head off to class. Spaniards tend to not eat much in the morning in anticipation of their huge midday meal so this is definitely a change for me (usually I eat a ton in the morning)! Ana, my “madre española,” puts out crackers and bread to pair with nutella or jam, or margarine. There is also plenty of coffee— Ana uses a percolator so I’m in caffeinated heaven!

Like in the United States, I walk to class after breakfast. The University of Salamanca is only a fifteen minute walk away, but it’s really nice to be outside in the morning getting some fresh air instead of in a car! Although the first week I only had my practicum class, now I have an art history, a culture, and another course through the University of Michigan. All of my classes have students from the University of Michigan as there are a lot of foreigners in Salamanca right now. However, that’s to be expected since the Spanish students are on summer vacation just like in Ann Arbor.

I get out of class around 1:30 pm (or as the Spanish say 13:30) and because Ana serves lunch at 2 pm, I usually go to a park and read for a half an hour before heading home. Most of the general population in Salamanca lives in apartments so the parks are always very busy. Lunch is a huge affair. Ana usually makes a soup, a salad, and an entrée with two sides. Although I’m not really used to eating this much midday, I make sure to fill up since dinner won’t be served for seven hours. After lunch, the famous Spanish siesta period begins. Most local shops close (although some major chain stores like supermarkets, Zara, etc. stay open) from 2 – 5 pm so I use this time to do some homework and relax a little bit. I can’t stay inside for too long though because at 6 pm, I head to flamenco dance class. Flamenco is very unique to Spain (although it originated in Andalucía in the more southern region) and includes dancing, singing, and instrumentals. It’s very difficult but it’s a lot of fun.

Afterwards, I love to run in the park right alongside the Río Tormes. This is definitely one of the most beautiful places in Salamanca with an incredible view of the Cathedral and plenty of people walking, fishing, and sitting on park benches (a very Spanish pastime). It is a bit unusual to see other runners, but the Spanish typically lead a more active lifestyle so formal exercise is less common. There are also paddleboats available to rent for an hour or so very reminiscent of Gallup Park in Ann Arbor!

Dinner in Spain is more comparable to lunch in the US—smaller but still filling. Some typical foods are tortilla española, salad, and ham. Afterwards, I love talking with some of my housemates. We have quite a diverse group; in the three and a half weeks I’ve been here, I’ve lived with two Germans, a Russian, a Frenchman, a Brazilian, a Canadian, an Italian, and most recently a girl from Switzerland moved in. Needless to say, the apartment is very full. Later in the evenings I read, do more homework, or go to the Plaza Mayor with friends. The Plaza is absolutely amazing and especially beautiful at night (the gelato is to die for as well)! Check out the photos below for a better idea.