And if you also have any funny experiences or stories while in Spain, I want to know as much as I can about their culture, clothing, food whatever share with me! Thanks!

The WHOLE experience?!!!

That would take ages, as long winded as I am about my favorite year

Hey Nicole, I would love to hear if it's going to make me learn!! I'm studying abroad in Madrid and just would like to hear stories on anything!

I wouldn't even know where to start. it so fun. I have had a couple of friends that studied in Madrid. One of them loved it, and the other was not very pleased with her experience. the latter has lived in afew other country's too, and doesn't seem to have a lot of positive things to say about them, so I am guessing that her negative experience in Madrid may have been due to a lack of flexibility on her part.

How long are you planning to stay? Will you stay in dorms or with a family. I gather from your other post that you will be studying at a spanish University and not a language Institute . Correct?

I'll start with an easy one. Clothes.
Spaniards wear sweaters in three colors: navy, black and gray with a collared white shirt underneath. THey wear lightish colored blue jeans (the women seem to prefer them a little tighter than we would, much to the delight of American men abroad). Rarely do people wear tennis shoes with their jeans - leather shoes. In fact I was stunned by the agility of the spanish women in Salamanca that managed to stride to class in enormous high heels, while I would be teetering along the cobblestone streets in my birkenstocks.


[This message has been edited by Nicole (edited 11-15-2000).]

Nicole wrote:
"Spaniards wear sweaters in three colors: navy, black and gray with a collared white shirt underneath. THey wear lightish colored blue jeans"

Hi, Nicole.

Three colors??? I think that´s too much variety. I would say that Spaniards wear ONLY black sweaters (Lacoste) with a white shirt underneath and Levi's 501 blue jeans with the 29 size...

Nicole, please, don't get angry with me, I was only joking . I don´t think you wanted to say that ALL Spaniards wear ONLY this kind of clothes (or did you?).

Maybe someone who has never been in Spain could take literally your words and think that we live in a huge private school with our uniforms...


Saludos

No, of course not. I was exaggerating. But, I can often spot a Spaniard in the States by the clothing. It takes a practiced eye though.

[This message has been edited by Nicole (edited 11-16-2000).]

okay now this is just hilarious cause look at this picture on my site. www.geocities.com/missmadrid98/meandspanishguys.jpg
When i read this thread i thought this picture would suit it perfectly cause of what the guys were wearing. (you want to hear something funny, see the guy all the way to the left, he is making a hand gesture and a funny face. Well when i developed my pictures and got them back, he was in 5 of them, doing the same thing, making the same face and hand gesture, never knew who the hell he was but he showed up in 5 of the pictures)

------------------
Spain Page!! Check it out! http://www.geocities.com/missmadrid98



[This message has been edited by missmadrid98 (edited 11-16-2000).]

Okay, Food:
You might want to look at the Food, drink and Entertainment section. Under certain restaurants, you will find many a nostalgic entry about mouthwatering Spanish dishes.

From, my own, limited, vegetarian while in Spain experience - Castilla y Leon is pork country. Lots of pork sausages, chops - roast suckling pig (which although I would like to try, because it sounds so delicious, I am not sure I could due to the brutality of it) where they take a baby pig that is still nursing and kill it and roast it.

There is apparently delicious, fresh seafood, especially in certain parts of the country. Wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables.

I liked a lot of the Spanish food that I tried, but I am partial to spicier food. I also don't think of Spain as being as absorbed with food and cooking as france or Italy. There, if you ask someone in the market how to cook something, you could easily engender a lengthy discussion that little by little includes the opinions of all passersby. Spanish food is hearty, good comfort food, with yummy bean dishes and warm bread.

What I thought was the coolest were the tapas though - little plates with small portions of different dishes. Being a "picker," I loved being able to try bits of this and that and go away feeling full after having spent only a couple of dollars.

My favorite though, I think everyone else knows this, since I never shut up about it, is the cafe con leche. I LOOOOOOOVE Spanish cafe con leche. I have taken to drinking cappucinos in the U.S., but it doesn't come close. I love dipping the sugar cubes in the coffee and then dropping them in after the edges of the cube start to melt from the coffe it soaks up. delicioso!

Thanks nicole and everyone! Your input and stories do help. Just so I'm not going in with a major culture shock, so I'm prepared. Any other infos or personal stories on your stay, please share with me. Thanks!!!

This link will bring you to my online story about being a student at La Universidad de Sevilla for a wonderful semester:
http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Paradise/4632/spain1976.html

[This message has been edited by Sofia (edited 11-19-2000).]

Thanks again guys! So by studying in spain and having to adjust of course to the language, culture and people. What do you feel is has helped you personally accomplish? And have you guys made any life-long friends? Just wondering!

I felt like I really grew up that year. I acted totally immature for a while- danced, drank and kissed a few boys, but at the end of it, walked away with a greater sense of my own identity and feeling like I had really accomplished something. I learned to communicate in Spanish, made some wonderful friends, and traveled around by myself. I was pretty shy until then, but being able to go around by myself, and meet people made me feel a lot more confident.

I became quite a bit more flexible. By the end of the year, I was able to stand in line without losing my sanity when it didn't move for five minutes; learned to stroll, instead of stride everywhere, and learned to creatively manage situations where nothing was convenient (there were tons of transport strikes when I was there).

I don't know about life long; it has only been a few years, so... Unfortunately, I am not in contact with most of the people I hung out with. Things change, I didn't have email at the time, and my parents have moved twice since then, so there is no way for people to find me if they wanted to. It sucks, because I would love to talk to them again. I have been trying to figure out how to do that, even though I know at least one them is married, and I don't have her new last name.

When you go, do a good job of keeping in touch afterwards, because the experience is so unique, no one else will be able to share with you except the people that were there too.

I agree wholeheartedly with Nicole - especially the last few lines of her post. I couldn't have put it any better.
As for me, Spain was the greatest experience of my life and I don't know if it is possible to write it all down here because there is a lot to tell from four months. However speaking of friends, I met my best friend there. We were pen pals before that and we finally met and that strengthened our friendship. One of my friends met the guy she is going to marry there. Just be friendly and open and don't be afraid to use your Spanish.

Nicole, you express your feelings very well! I know what you mean, every word! I studied in Madrid in "89 and it still has a profound effect on my life today. I came back a totally changed person, and still shapes who I am today.
As far as making friends, I still keep in touch with my roommate from Brazil, so meeting people from around the world, not just from Spain is an asset.
All you want to do is get back to Spain once you leave it!
When I returned, I surrounded myself with the Spanish community here in San Diego, and made friends with a great group of people...not to mention meeting my husband. I am so fortunate to have my Spanish community here, sharing stories, recipes, and copas, reliving memories or planning trips "home".
Anyway, just like all of you, not a day goes by that an object, memory, or smell doesn't conjure up a specific memory of Spain.

For me too. I have lived and worked other places, but that was the most special year of my life. I made some bad decisions, some good ones - learned soo much. I felt so open that every single person I met and spoke with contributed something to my life, even those people I met on the train and stayed up all night talking to before parting ways in the morning. I loved it.

Unfortunately, I have not found a big Spanish community anywhere else that I have lived, maybe in L.A. I will....

For now, my addiciton to this site serves the purpose. I can't explain to anyone - even my boyfiend, who I started dating after that year (he had spent a year in France, and our first conversations were sharing tales of our year abroad) is of the "let it go" mentality. I am sure there were a lot of people in our program for whom the experience was not as explosive and pivotal as it was for me. But, oh well, what wonderful luck I had to have that experience...

I know what you mean, I drove my American friends crazy for years, trying to drag them to Cafe Sevilla (San Diego), talking about my travels there, etc...They did not understand. In fact, my family did not understand until they finally went to meet my in-laws last year and all my mother kept saying was, "I understand now", my parents now have the "travel bug" and are going back next year...without us!!!!

As far as my new "friends" on this board, noone "understands" me like you all!

"As far as my new "friends" on this board, noone "understands" me like you all," sobs laduque with arms wrapped around the monitor.

Jules
As a mother of a 20-year old daughter who is in Madrid doing a semester, I would first advise you to ask yourself, what you would want to accomplish by studying abroad. When my daughter was selecting a country where to spend a semester, she looked at various programs. She did not want to spend a semester without credits. It was a toss between London and Madrid. The program in London (London School of Economics) was an intensive program and required one-year study and she did want to be abroad to spend most of her time studying. The program that she is now is not that intensive
She has time to make friends and study also. Looked into the program. Her program provided 4-weeks of orientation - learning Spanish history and culture. She opted to live with a family. It was at first difficult to adjust to new rules. For example long showers are not allowed. Just six minutes. No guys allowed in her room. She has to call to let the senora ahead of time whether she was going to be in for dinner. She adjusted to the new rules. By choice, she spends more time with the Spanish students and worked hard to speak Spanish all the time. To date, she speaks Spanish like a Madrilena. She enjoys her program because it allows her to go out and meet new friends rather than spending too much studying. Look at the programs of the school to give you a better understanding how you want to spend your semester or year abroad. There will be adjustments the first 2 months. My daughter said the mistakes of some students is that they keep on comparing differences between the U.S. and Madrid. I will be visiting Spain next month and I will update this board of my Spain experience.

Madridman, are you making fun of me? I'm very sensitive, you know!

Laduque, I know exactly what you mean. I came back and just went on and on about my year abroad, until people's eyes glazed over, which didn't take very long. I would promise myself not to talk about, but I couldn't help myself.

That is why this forum is so cool- other Spanophiles with whom we can revel in our nostalgia and dreams of future trips.

Once again "All hail Madridman!!" shouted the hamburger headed follower in the west.

Just "pulling your hair", laduque. I'm VERY sensitive too. <sniff!>

With head all Sesame Seeded and No Place To Go, MadridMan

I too, am experiencing the "let it go" mentality. Even friends who appreciate travel and other cultures do not understand my longing to get back to Spain. Now that I am home, there are a few things that I would have done differently, and I am just waiting until an opportunity comes along. First, if you are going to be living with a host family, spend time with them, eat meals with them, get to know what their opinions and experiences are. Ask your senora if she will let you help her prepare a meal. I traveled a lot while I was there (which I would also recommend) but I didn't make enough time for my "family." Also, speak as much Spanish as you can, even if it makes you uncomfortable at first. You will miss the opportunities when you get back! Branch out from your American friends in the program because it is very easy to spend all of your time speaking to them in English. But, as everyone has said, you will get so close to them, stay in touch. Also, walk as much as you can because it is the best way to see everything. Eat at local restaurants, talk to as many Spaniards as you can, and don't take it for granted! I think that so much of the learning actually takes place once you get home. I guess that is enough of my tangent. I think it is so interesting that so many people are so ignorant about Spain, but those of us who have experienced it are so passionate about it. Reading this board just takes me back!

Oh boy, this "let it go" stuff is getting me choked up. I do try and shut up about Spain, basically I'm reduced to mumbling "it's great" whenever the topic arises. If I get started, it's "glassy stares" time! But not a day goes by without me spending time there in my heart

(BTW Nicole, you wrote "boyfiend" )

Must have been a Freudian slip

Jules21

Please let us know what you learn from studying abroad. I am so excited for you. My first trip to Spain will be a study abroad through NYU, so not only do I get to go to Spain, I get to go there with my fellow New Yorkers! What type of program are you looking at? How long will you be there?

I spent an amazing year in Sevilla in '92-93 that still shapes me to this day. I have sooo many stories. I lived with a family for about a month and I didn't like the family and they lived "en el quinto pino", so I moved out to an apartment in Triana (an option that wasn't promoted at all by the program (CIEE)) with Spanish roommates. It's possible to be there and learn very little Spanish if you hang out only with people from your nationality. As much as the program says "In Spanish only", when Americans are together they speak English. And chances are your classes are full of Americans too as mine were. We met Spainards through "intercambios", people who want to practice their English in exchange for talking to you in Spanish. I put up a sign for intercambios in the university, instructing people to write their numbers there, and it was filled the next day. The other day I talked to one of my original "intercambios", she's now in Memphis teaching Spanish. Northern Spain is probably better than Sevilla from a language standpoint. Noone had ever thought to mention to any of us about the Andalusian accent. At first, I couldn't understand a thing, and we thought it was us until we went to Paris during a puente and ran into lots of Spainards there from other parts of Spain that we could understand perfectly. I spent another year in Sevilla teaching English, and after that I spent a month at a language school in Nice, France. I was so scared I was going to lose my Spanish or get mixed up. But at this mostly European school, I met Spainards and hung out with them for an amazing four weeks and my time in Nice helped my Spanish more than my French. Sorry for rambling on . . .

I am so envious that you were able to stay another year teaching English. I always wanted too, but had heard so much about the economy being bad, that I didn't even try.

When I chose my program, I did so, because the Spanish in Salamanca is said to be so "pure", the best in Spain, etc. What that often means though, is a lack of diversity and other influences. It was a good choice for me as a beginner, but having been to Sevilla, I can imagine a year there would have been amazing. My university also had a program in Madrid and in San Sebastian. I wish I could have spent a year in each place.

Ahh, the longing. A lot of has to do with the counry itself, Spain. But, so much of it was that time in my life too. It is a year that I could never repeat. It was the last time I wasn't worried about the future, money, career, or about what other people thought. I just let go and had a wonderful time.

Nicole,
The economy was bad when I taught English too, but I think the people with money wanted their kids to perfect their English so they could compete in the bad economy. I found enough students because I papered every bus stop and university bulletin board with my signs. And when I didn't get any calls, I printed another hundred signs and did it again.

Since I've been on this side of the Atlantic, I've tried not to get caught up in the worrying and materialism so prevalent over here. And mostly I've succeeded. Ande yo caliente y riase la gente

Caminante-
I was on the CIEE program during the 90-91 school year. Ahhhh. I too was with a family, but I stayed with them for a full semester before I got an apartment with some friends. I was fortunate to have been set up with a great family. My case was unusual in that I had my own bedroom and bathroom and the family went to their casa del campo every weekend(I went w/ them on occasion too). I don't recall CIEE having a problem with my moving. I love the accento andalu and I think that if one can understand that, then one can understand virtually any Spanish(o Castellano, for those of you who were about to say so) in the world. What a wonderful year. By the way, I'm still in touch with my "family" and with many of the friends I made there, both Spanish and non Spanish.
Jen

I was not comfortable at all with my host family. I waited until the end of the semester and then moved in with three other female students. My experience, my Spanish and my finances dramatically improved. Although one of my roomates was from Surinam/Holland, we spoke only in Spanish.

It is really good advice though, to get to know the family, to not focus entirely on your American friends if you can. The bonds that you form with them are certainly part of the whole experience too, but getting out there and making friends with Spaniards is essential.

Ahh. I am getting all dreamy again... It was so fun...

Hi Jules,
In case 2 replies from me show up, sorry, I hit enter. I studied a semester in Salamanca and it was wonderful, incredible, the best thing I have ever done. Couldn't possibly tell you "the whole experience," it's way too long, but I can tell you that you will hardly do any studying but lots of absorbing the culture. Try to get an intercambio, where you and a Spanish student get together to speak English and Spanish -- great for learning slang and finding out where the Spaniards hang out. Try all the food even if you think you won't like it. Live with a family, I think it is the best way to learn about the culture and real life experiences. The family I stayed with was incredible, not everyone has so much luck, but try to find a program that lets you switch if you are not happy with the family. yes they have rules: turn off lights when not in the room, wear slippers and don't go barefoot, you may not be allowed to go in the kitchen and eat whenever you want. But you get over that. Try to speak Spanish all the time, even with your American friends. I can't stop speaking spanish even though I have been back for 5 months now-- and in the midst of a deep depression due to Spain withdrawal. Definitely stay in touch with the people you meet there, they will be your lifeline when you get back and your friends from home estan harta of hearing about spain. Clearly I could write a novel on this topic so email me if you want more info!
que te lo pases bien--

Hey thanks for replying to me. So did you have a hard time adjusting as an american? I'm going there to study in the spring. What were you hardest adjustments? Was it the program that focused more on the spanish culture or just your choice? I would defenitly love to hear more!!

Hi Jules,
Lucky for me I didn't have a hard time adjusting at all. I think you just have to try to go with a really open mind, read all the info your study abroad program sends. It is odd at first to always hear Spanish but I grew to love that. Other people had trouble getting used to the food, both the kind of food (pretty heavy) and the eating schedule -- it is like 7 hours between meals and not common for a host family to give you a snack. Also some pisos have a different kind of water heater where you have to ask for the hot water to be turned on, I didn't have that so I don't know the specifics...The classroom building in Salamanca didn't have heat so we wore coats during the winter in class... Some people from my program had issues with the Spaniards-- they tend to not like waiting in line and cut you, and also if you are bumped into on the street they don't apologize.

Before I went I didnt' realize how easy my program would be classes-wise, but since 2 of my classes were with other Americans it was no work at all, so we had way more time to sit in the Plaza Mayor and drink coffee and party till 8 am every day-- better than classes any time.

Coming back is when the true adjustment happens -- way more culture shock coming back to this awful place than going to Spain where is was so much fun!

Hope this helps --I'll answer any more questions you have.

Some of the adjustments are smaller things like people cutting in line - which might get you smacked around here -; people standing super close to you when they talk so that you keep backing away, and they keep moving forward; hours of operation (siesta) and having to plan ahead for stuff instead of knowing that there is always a Quick Trip around the corner in case you need anything; the eating schedule. I thought I was going to die in the beginning when the family I stayed with would give me a hearty breakfast of Nescafe in milk (blech - I didn't mind it so much then, but I tried that when moved to L.A., because we didn't have a coffee maker. I almost thought I was pregnant, because I kept getting nausseous in the morning after drinking that stuff) and a magdalena. I would go home for lunch and the time would slowly tick by as I waited until 4 p.m. sometimes to eat. Oh how my belly suffered in the beginning. Then I learned to have a little mid-morning tapa at the school cafeteria.

I made up for it later though. whew! I really went nuts with the churros, pasteles, pan integral - with EVERYTHING.

I agree though. It was harder for me to adjust to life back in the States after a year in Spain. It felt really good in some ways, the calm, bucolic setting of U of I, but I just felt so sad about somethings. I honestly didn't have the heart to go out to bars and discos. It just seemed sooo lame compared to the rockin, dancing fun (not just sloppy drunk barfing American college student "fun") I had in Salamanca.

Majesty318 - did you have ice cream/gelatto at that place in the Plaza Mayor? I am assuming it is still there, and I remember it was soooo good. We got to the point where we had to have it almost every day.


[This message has been edited by Nicole (edited 12-18-2000).]

Nicole, we definitely enjoyed the helado at Cafe Novelty at least every day... avellana was my favorite. That was our favorite spot in the Plaza, we went every day after comida and watched the guy do flips through the Plaza and then come beg for money -- maybe he was doing that when you were there too How much do I miss that....

I really really really (well you all know how it is) want to go study in Spain. How hard are the classes? Im just wondering about free time. How much time are you normaly left with? do they have breaks like we do here in the US?

Thanks.

I went for the spring semester, I would definitely recommend going for the whole year though. We had off for the Monday and Tuesday of Carnaval and 2 weeks over Semana Santa and Easter. The program I went with is rumored to be the easiest (no I didnt know that beforehand ) so I had no work at all. I took 2 classes with Americans and 2 with Spaniards. The Spaniards I think had work in those classes but my program watered everything down for us as far as turning in assignments and taking exams. We missed class all the time to travel, basically it was 90% free time and 10% for classes and schoolwork.

Sounds like a great way to spend your college career. I had a feeling that those study abroad programs were more like a vacation. I wish I had done some of these when I was in school.

Leche

Our was a little more stringent about attendance. You failed the class if you missed more than five days. It seemed like such a strain at the time, because I wanted to travel constantly. I missed up to five in a couple of classes esp those on Mondays or Fridays), alhtough at no other time in college did I even dream of missing that much class. Classes were easy for foreigners, and I still got the most mediocre grades of my college career.

It was almost worth it, although I may have some explaining to do when I apply to grad schools. I had a hell of a good time and got to see a lot...

Nicole,

As usual your comments are so insightful! Maybe when I visit my son in L.A., I will have the opportunity to have dinner/lunch with you.

My daughter's term in Spain will soon be over and she was glad she chose to spend a semester in Madrid. One of her side trip was a bus tour of Italy and France for 14-days.

I will leave soon for Spain on Dec. 28 and will return Jan. 15, 2001. Happy Holidays and a Prosperous New Year! I hope you still have my e-mail address. Take care!

I do dear! email me when you come out here, and we will get together! Do you still have my email address?

Have fun in Spain. I am off to Miami this week end for the holidays.

I will be thinking of all my fellow board members freezing in that beautiful northern snow while I tool around in my Mom's sea kayak. hee hee . (I DO kind of miss the snow, esp for christmas)

Oh, Nicole, how envious I am!

You may have seen my "deje nieve...' post in "General Chatter", when I was sitting around on 12/6 watching 12" of snow drop down on Chiacgo. Well, about another 12"-18" have fallen since then, and tonight the temps are WAAAY below Zero(f)! I mean, I'm dreaming of a white chritmas and all, but this is ridiculous! So enjoy that Sea Kayak for all of us up here and have a Merry Christmas!

(I realize this has nothing to do w/ "Studying in Spain", but I couldn't stop reading these wonderful reflections on Spain and Sapnish experiences until I came upon Nicole's little missive about Yuletime in the Tropics....Sigh.... )

Nicole, I'll gladly wrap some snow up and FedEx it to Florida for you! Have a great time - get tan - enjoy and a very Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad & Mele Kalikimaka and Hau'oli Makahiki Hou. (Got to mix up the languages somehow)

Puna, could you please send some of that snow here to Hawaii? I'll send you some sun and heat (que nos sobran). Mele Kalikimaka a ti también