Loco Spain
LOCO SPAIN
by
Emily Elaine T. Dung them
I was the team leader of a group of university students from one of the Institute of Foreign Studies (IFS) break semester exchange program in Salamanca, Spain. I've never been to Europe before then and I am minoring in Spanish so needless to say I was so excited and so ready! It was a dream come true! Being a student exchange and experience first hand a culture totally different from yours and away from the protective wings of their parents is one of the things that change the life I would never have come if not for programs like these.
Four years ago, I went to Appleton, Wisconsin for an entire year as an exchange student in high for a sabbatical. You can still say today that I am a better person for it. I won life lessons that have helped me throughout college and I know I will help in the future. That experience also helped me to be a good team leader or an "ate" the other girls that have never been away for so long before. I was also living proof and a spokesman for the parents to let them know that they were making the right choice to let go of their children – even for a little while – so they can experience the world on their own.
Four words: Best. Sem. Rest. Never.
All that is completely different in Spain. Everything was in Spanish (of course), eating at odd moments and newer (lunch at 3 and dinner at 10!), Is shown public affection everywhere (I actually made an interesting way to see people – ha), the time was almost close to zero (! I remember it was November), which was due strictly nap (The city is dead for 3 hours) and then party like crazy during their holidays (no way anyone would go home at midnight – it just starts then). Salamanca is also known as UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most popular and beautiful to visit. I never cared much before the architecture, but it was definitely magic in the gold walls of Salamanca. There were students from around the world and, of course, being most girls who were undoubtedly was crazy seeing all the beautiful children Spanish at the University to students, Prince Felipe of Spain (Yes! was in Salamanca for the day and we were lucky to see it!), Andre – a Brazilian student in school that all filipino girls loved us, David Beckham at Real Madrid's game (well, he is not Spanish, but still!), even for the guy selling coupons in the magazine stands. It was fun for us to get the attention they've done since we were foreigners – as if someone looked at the face, Spanish university student saying they were not a 15 ("quince") in the 10.1 Beauty (beauty) level, and a handsome guy saying, "Hello guapa, que tal? "We took things in stride and laughed at ourselves and what was happening, because everything was different, and Spanish only liked to live life. We were young and I do not think there was a better time in our lives to be in Spain.
The first time I had breakfast (Breakfast), I was surprised and said, "That's it?" My host mother – left a glass – Leonor orange juice, butter and a slice of toast in the table in front of me. I noticed that in Spain they do not really eat that much in the morning. After breakfast, I like to walk for about fifteen minutes the streets of Salamanca cold but sunny to get to Spanish class. Everyone walked in the morning – people are going to work, the grandparents doing your daily routine, parents dropping their children to school, and hundreds of college and university students running to their classes.
Then I see the other girls in the Philippines and other foreign students in our school, Enforex, and give each other twice, and come to class. I had the best teachers crazy and more interesting than learning Spanish was not only difficult and easy at the same time, but also fun and up to date. Did you know Spanish girls that do not change their last names and only one person is supposed to pay when a group of friends out? My class consisted of a Japanese girl who was much better in Spanish than me (but could not pronounce the years rrrr!), a major type of Slovakia just wanted to learn a new language after his retirement, a Brazilian guy was cool and carefree as it was close to Portuguese to Spanish anyway, another Filipino friend, whose presence made me feel more comfortable and a sweet German blonde girl always invited me to parties. I expected to go to class every day and are very excited about what was going to learn something new later.
Classes last 9-2 hours and the siesta begin. Everything was closed and during that time we all Filipinos return home to eat our families. It would be incredibly hungry by then it was not used for the feeding program, but as was their largest meal of the day, I was with the total time away. My host mom always prepared soup, two (note: DOS) main dishes, lots of bread and yogurt for dessert. Honestly, the food for me was fine and I guess the weirdest thing I ate was rice and ketchup – nothing else. It is safe, however, that the Spanish loved their olive oil, as it must have had at each meal (olive oil is cheap there). My parents were foster home during their nap break at work, so it would talk to them a little and get to practice my Spanish before taking a nap.
By 17:00, it all comes back to life. Stores to start putting in again its open (open) signs, people begin to fill the streets again, and others who begin to walk back to work. In my case, would meet Filipinos one or more other friends I made ??in class, and try different cafes and restaurants near the Plaza, it was crazy to go shopping Mango, H & M or Zara and our daily routine of Spain is well known and very rich chocolate with churros. We have seen movies in Spanish and do not care you do not understand most of it, just walked and sat around the Plaza Mayor – the most beautiful part of town – to see people turned in the cold city ??to see the sights and for the sake of it, took hundreds of pictures of anything and everything, and just breathed in the culture and magic of all that was happening to our around.
After dining out, going home to do homework, resting or hanging with our families again, I'd like to meet my friends at the famous Plaza Mayor clock one hour before midnight. Late at night, high school for college students out of a night partying (going out) and staying out until dawn (morning). Hundreds of people, mostly students, wait and comply with their own friends before going to bars and nightclubs. Thursday was the official night out and everyone, of all shapes, sizes, nationalities, ages and even genres – out. No party other people as the Spanish do and know how to have a good party. I enjoyed every minute of it. It was a good way to have fun and meet other students and also to dance to Spanish music. (Bailamos!) With all that was happening around him, and all the handsome and beautiful, I just had to dance. I do not think I danced a lot in my entire life! All the bars were side by side so you would walk from one place to other and forgot the cold. Who would have thought that the streets would be alive and full of young people at 3:00 a.m. to 1:00 Monday? Friends gathered and enjoyed before finally going home and walking the streets well lit and safe Salamanca.
On weekends, we went to the school organized excursions and thus we saw the aqueducts in Segovia, toured the city and breed magical, like Toledo, and was visited in the different museums in Madrid such as the Museum Prado (my favorite) and the National Museum Reina Sofia Art Center. I was able to see the most famous paintings by Picasso, Dali, Miro, El Greco, and more. Even we got to see a football match Real Madrid and saw the most famous footballers in the world play – Beckham (!!), Ronaldo, Raul, Robinho, etc. These names may not seem like much to you, but it is the ex-football player I am and football is practically a religion in Spain, which means much much much!
I had the best time – and I'm sure everyone well. But I have to say that it was not always easy, as everything else. There was definitely a sense of being overwhelmed in a whole new love and being afraid of everything in it, is missing and not really missing home at the same time. There are people who nostalgia a couple of days, a couple are intimidated by the language, and a girl, even has an allergy and had to go to the clinic for vaccination. I thought being a student exchange for a year easily in high school had prepared me for everything. But to be a team leader was different. It was daunting at first, because I thought about all the responsibilities I had, but quickly learned that nothing really prepares you to be one. You just do it. I became a leader team using the skills I learned in life and in my previous exchange experience, share what they know to others and tell them that what they were happening was completely normal, and have understanding and a sense of humor, and giving lots of love and hugs. Being a team leader to grow during my usual times any trip. And no doubt always a good thing.
I think the other, and large, what I liked most of Spain did not actually come from there. It was the group I was with. For some reason, they instantly bonded and mixed all the different personalities and our insanity. We went to an interesting group – A girl shopping almost every day, another girl broke the heart of a poor German boy, the only man with us to have a renewed understanding of the female psyche, another girl learned to laugh at herself when she said something wrong to a waiter. Being in a group of lovers as made it easier for have a better time in a strange land, because there was always someone to lean back, filing a complaint and have fun.
Three weeks may appear shortly, but I think personally for Salamankers others (that is what we call ourselves), who left Spain and returned to being a little different, a more open-minded in our views, much more grateful for our parents and the things we have here at home, and a rich and a hundred others. We have more a thousand digital photos of all our collections together and never forget what we experienced in Spain. Be there and experience what happens when you're a student exchange again, and really help others have that experience also made me remember that being an exchange student is one of the best things that any person might experience. It makes a lot more than you can imagine and the effects can last a lifetime. If it could be an exchange student in all corners of the world I would. I wish I could share what I know now that the whole world and I want people to really get to experience the same thing.
When we were in the airport to leave the Philippines, some girls were reluctant to say goodbye and some parents are beginning to mourn. It's hard to let go but deep I knew that these parents would be happy and proud of it. I knew we would be better than ever. And we did. Muchissimo.
email: elaineabonal@yahoo.com
Elaine is a senior dung them year at the Ateneo de Manila in the Philippines since 2006.
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