Orientation and the First Weekend

Well, the bus system isn't nearly as difficult as I feared. Sometimes the lines are a little bit confusing, but once you're on the bus it's fine, and most of the bus drivers and passengers are happy to answer questions and explain if you ask them in Spanish.


After wandering around to various academic buildings, Ashley and I managed to find the IUIEN (now called Instituto Franklin) building and our orientation session. Orientation was really helpful in explaining how things work around here, the placement exam was pretty easy, and I was able to sign up for all the classes I need.


On Thursday afternoon, we took a tour of Alcala, which turns out to be a very pretty city (although much larger than I thought - about 200,000 people live there!). Cervantes is everywhere in the city - I have already seen two or three statues of el Quijote, and there's a big one of Cervantes himself in the middle of the main plaza (aptly named la Plaza de Cervantes). The Alcainos have also preserved the house where Cervantes was born and the church where he was baptized. For lunch, we went to a bar and ordered sodas that came with tapas (small portions of food). My delicious lemon soda came with a bowl of sausage and potatoes and a piece of bread - all for only 2 euros!


On Friday, we had more orientation sessions and then took a trip to Madrid! I had never been on any train except the zoo train before, so I was pretty excited to ride on one. I like train travel - it is nice and smooth. In Madrid, Carlos (our tour guide and also the professor of two of my classes) led us around the city showing us the sights. The architecture in Madrid is absolutely beautiful. The old part of the city is mainly from the 13th century, and the new part is ultra-modern and chic. The main plaza, la Plaza del Sol, is shaped like a sun with streets shooting out of it in all direction like rays. I can't wait to go back and explore more of the city.

On Friday night, Alcala held a huge party in honor of "Los mayores" (the old people). There was live music and dancing in the Plaza, and the whole town was out eating, drinking, and strolling.

Yesterday was pretty quiet during the day. Ashley and I went to el Corte Ingles, the Spanish equivalent of Wal-Mart, and bought some stuff for our dorm. Then, at night, I went out with a big group of new friends (Americans and Spaniards) and walked around to various discotecas (including one that played the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears!). I am actually sore from dancing so much.

Things I have learned:
1. In Spain, a kebab is not something that is eaten on a stick. Kebab is actually the Turkish word for grilled meat. This meat is usually cooked on a rotating spit and then shaved off and served on pita bread. My Spanish roommates were really confused when I told them that in the US, a kebab is skewered on a small stick. Also, kebab sandwiches are really, really delicious.
2. The Spanish really do like to stay up late, including old people and little kids.
3. Many Spanish women carry fans to stay cool in the hot sun. I bought one and I plan to use it even after I come back to the US (Texas is hot, too!).