Personas+ Pastelerías+ Patito Feo= Reasons I love Spain

I wanted to give you guys a little update before I head off to my trip this weekend. I LOVE it here because each day I am meeting someone new and unexpected whether it be an American, Spaniard, French, German, or even Chinese person they are always very nice and want to get to know you. I think that is the best feeling of living in a town like Alcalá. I have started my classes at the regular university and I have to say on the first day it was very intimidating and overwhelming to be surrounded by people who speak the language perfectly. I am hanging on to my professor´s every word fearing that I miss something. Fortunately, I am taking a class called Enseñanza La Lengua or Teaching the Language, which deals with things that I can relate directly with my career as a teacher. Today, on my second day of class, I understood almost everything she said and was comfortable with the subject matter. Maybe I will actually get the courage to participate and ask a question one of these days!

I would also like to tell you that I have discovered one of the most dangerous places in Alcalá or really in all of Europe, the pastelería. Here, you are surrounded by these amazing homemade desserts all calling out your name. It´s so terrible and yet amazing at the same time. I have now had to set a budget for how much I spend per week here especially since it is less three minutes away from my school (yeah, I timed that today).

Spain also has another love of mine that I could not find in the U.S. but most certainly could find in South America. On Disney Channel, which in Spanish has become something that now makes me think during the program, Elena and I have been watching this series called Patito Feo. It is highly entertaining and even kind of racy for the age group of this show. It has become a way for me and Elena to bond during whether we are making fun of the characters or wondering why they all of a sudden are breaking out into song at inopportune moments. Nothing like a Spanish soap opera for fourteen year olds.

So I am off... This Friday I am traveling with my program to Astorias and Cantabria which is near the northern part of the country close to France and near the ocean! It´s supposed to be stunning... everything about Spain is! Love you all! Until Monday!