First off, I have to apologize for not posting an entry for the past few weeks. I have been getting accustomed to life here in Spain, and I rarely have time to check my e-mail! (but of course there is always time for facebook).
What a change it is to be living in a different country. And I thought moving to Witt was an adjustment! Every part of my daily life here has changed, from the customs, culture, food, housing and school. Let me first explain what my days here look like. During the last two and a half weeks I have had an intensive language course through my abroad program, CIEE, at the University here in Alicante. My classes are all in Spanish and are a review of the important Spanish tenses and vocabulary. Monday to Thursday I have class 9 to 11 and 12 to 2 and then I’m done for the day. I have to take the bus to school, and is only about a 15 minute ride, and the same heading home.
I choose to live in a home stay during my time here, so whenever I return home, it is to the neighborhood of ‘la florida’ in an apartment building right next to a park. I’m living with a retired couple, however they have 4 children with their own families that come over frequently for lunch. That is yet another thing to get used to here, the eating schedule! Breakfast is very small and I eat before I head to class. My host mom packs me some juice, a piece of fruit and a small sandwich everyday and then when I get home we have the biggest meal of the day, la comida, or lunch. Stores and businesses close from 2 to 4 or 5 for lunch everyday and is an important time for families to get together, eat and enjoy each others company. After lunch I sometimes take a siesta if I was out late the night before, or head into town to go to the beach or to study. Dinner is usually around 9:30, or earlier if I have plans and then I have free time until I feel the need to sleep!
Life here is so much more relaxed than at home, and at first it was a stretch for me as I love always being on the go at home. However I have gotten used to, and starting to really enjoy a relaxed lifestyle where the importance is more on socializing and enjoying life than being stressed and always doing something.
There is so much more that I will talk about, like my biggest obstacle everyday, the language, as well as the activities I have been doing and every once in a while some stories and information about Witt.
Hasta Luego/Until next time..
Ashley
CIEE Language and Culture Fall 2010
(group of students from the U.S. that I am studying here with!)