Hello all! It's been a while since I've blogged...so I suppose now this will become like the summer travels of Rebecca Kneisley blog. I am now at the end of my fourth day of my month in Spain! The days pass by SO quickly here! Ihad an overnight flight that left from Atlanta Saturday evening and arrived at the Madrid airport early Sunday morning. Our dear new friends the Humes who are missionaries in Madrid were so gracious to pick me up from the airport and let me spend the rest of the day with them on Sunday and sent me on my way to Salamanca Monday afternoon. The Humes invited me to go to church with them which, even though I wasn't sure how long I'd be able to last that morning, I was really excited about! And that ended up being my favorite part of my trip so far! Their church is a precious little Spanish Baptist church with much of the congregation comprised of American missionaries. The pastor who spoke was actually visiting from London, so they had someone translating his message into Spanish for most of the congregation and I didn't end up having to use one of the translating headsets they normally offer visitors. It was so exciting to be able to understand the Spanish prayers and worship songs...what a fantastic way to have my first immersion into Spain! The rest of Sunday afternoon was a wonderful day of rest with the Humes family...spaghetti lunch (which was delicious at the time but I should've appreciated it more...I already miss my American food!), then a MUCH needed nap, a walking tour around the town with Mr. Humes and their son Ethan, and finishing the day with an old Frank Capra movie (this family is SO like mine!). And it was a definite blessing to have such a restful day to prepare me for what turned out to be a rather hectic travelling day on Monday from Madrid to Salamanca! Who would've known it would be such an ordeal to get from one city to another that's only three hours away? It took me what seemed like forever at the Madrid airport to figure out how to get a bus to Salamanca! After a couple of VERY unhelpful Spaniards working at the little information desks (I think as soon as they heard my accent and I started stumbling over my words they stopped listening), and after dragging my luggage at least 3 times across what seemed the entire airport (I fluctuated between having drama queen pity party moments and being pleased that I was having one of those terrible transportation problems in Europe that I feel like everyone has to experience at least once in a lifetime), I finally made it to the metro station which got me to the bus station 30 minutes later and I was finally in a bus on my way to Salamanca at 3:30 (which is when I was originally supposed to be arriving). The ride to Salamanca, however, completely erased all the stress of the three hours before! Breathtaking views of the Spanish countryside--wide open fields sprinkled with vivid yellow and red flowers interrupted by the occasional rambling little stone wall...and BIG BLUE sky! That's one thing that I have loved about Spain...the sky has been a beautiful clear blue every day so far! When I arrived in Salamanca my program director Maria met me at the bus station and took me to my host home, where I met my host mother (an elderly woman in her 70s named Isabel) right away informed me that she was about to go meet some of her friends and wanted me to come with her! Next thing I knew I was in a taxi with her and her daughter on our way to a restaurant where we were greeted with a large table of her loud elderly Spaniard friends. That was my second favorite immersion experience, and so much different from the Spanish Baptist church experience! The Spaniards periodically would start banging on the table with their hands and heartily singing what Isabel told me were university songs. Then these old men from another table would turn around and join in too and it was just one big happy fiesta. :) Since this is dragging on to be super long (sorry I'm so bad at being concise!), I'll sum up Tuesday and today with a few highlights:
1) I started classes yesterday and love them so far--they're just at the right level for me to be challenged while not overwhelmed. I'm taking Grammar, Conversation and Composition, and Spanish Culture. My grammar professor is my favorite--her name is Andrea and she is HILARIOUS--and so full of energy and really stylish too...I want to find out where she gets her clothes!
2) My favorite spot in Salamanca so far is the Plaza Mayor (see pic below)! The architecture is phenomenal and there are so many fun cafes with tables set up outside--perfect place for an afternoon cafe con leche! My roommate Erin and I strolled through the plaza today with a couple new Canadian friends who are in our classes and got helado (icecream!).
3) Travel in Europe is so cheap! We are sad we only have three weekends to make little excursions. This weekend we're planning a daytrip to Madrid...there will definitely be photos!
Please keep me in your prayers. I know many of you have been praying for me and I am so amazed and thankful for how the Lord has so graciously answered so many prayers! Some particular ones that He's answered so far were for safe travels, my luggage arriving fine, getting along well with my roommate, and adjusting well to my classes! He is good, and He is in Spain!
Photos: My friend Mateo entertaining us with some of his jazz piano skills at a cafe in la Plaza Mayor; la Plaza Mayor; me with my wonderful new friends Mrs. Humes and Adrianna
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