Student Journals: AIFS in Salamanca, Spain

Abigail Blackburn
Miami University of Ohio
University of Salamanca, Spain

Wow, has Spain been all that I thought it would be, or what?! Salamanca, while a bit cold at times, is so exciting and there is always something new to discover! The Catedral is so unreal. Everytime I look at it, I can't help but think that it isn't real. My familia isn't the normal family that you would think you would stay with, but it is still great! I am staying with a woman and her mother. Mayte, my senora, is about 65ish and has three grown children, the youngest is 24 and the oldest is probably late 30s or early 40s. Abuela is funny, and so sweet. Me and my roommate live in an apartment with Mayte and Abuela. It is a comfortable size and we have our own bathroom. Mayte is a great cook! She always makes the most interesting dishes! But, her only fault is that she cooks enough for an army, when there are only 3 people eating, and she expects us to eat it all! Going on trips from Salamanca is so easy. We catch a bus to Madrid and get on a plane or a train.

The AIFS trips are really cool. Andalucia was so great...my favorite city in Andalucia is Sevilla! The streets were lined with orange trees, like ours are lined with oak trees. It was so awesome. And then in Granada we were fortunate enough to see a Flamenco show!! It was so cool. I have also traveled to Barcelona, where I got to see all of Antoni Gaudi's amazing buildings. Then over Carnaval some girls and I went to Ibiza, a small island near Mallorca. It was gorgeous! We also went with another travel agencies to a Futbol game in Madrid... Although we didn't get to meet David Beckham, the game was amazing. Also, one other girl and I went on a weekend trip to Tangier, Morocco! Morocco was amazing! I definetly want to go back and see Marrakech and Casablanca. Salamanca has offered me so many new experiences and I know that I have so many more to come!! Salamanca is starting to warm up, so I know that there will be so much more to do now that we won't be all bundled up in scarves and hats! I can't wait!