Wow! This has been a whirlwind beginning to our trip. First of all, I want to apologize for not being able to update this blog sooner. I have had numerous technological issues. Initially, I lost my adapter to convert my computer plug from the three-pronged United States model to the two-pronged Spain model. When I finally found a new adapter (a United States adapter at a store owned by a Chinese family living in Spain…strange cultural mix, huh?), I discovered that Spain is not as “wired” as the United States. Finding Wi-Fi is very difficult, and where Wi-Fi is located, it is either blocked or has extremely low connectivity and cuts me off frequently. Then, once I got to the dorm, it took me two days to figure out why my Internet was not working! Since J. Santiago, my translator, was in class, it took a lot of smiling and hand signals to communicate with the man at the front desk, but now, ladies and gentlemen, we are off!
It is really nice to feel connected to the world again. After twelve days in Spain, I am already learning a lot, but there are many times when I am silent. I can understand at least half of what people are saying around me, but I still have no way to respond other than “Si,” “Bien,” “Hace calor/frio/etc.” and “Tengo hombre/sueno/etc.” When I have moments of confidence and I decide to order food or a beverage, the server typically looks at me and then starts responding in a long string of sentences—in Spanish. At this point, I simply turn to J. Santiago with a look of utmost helplessness, and he begins translating again. Therefore, I am really looking forward to starting my classes next week. Even a basic knowledge of Spanish would be better than feeling like a complete outcast! For now, my e-mails and blog entries give me a sense of belonging when I often feel like I’m drowning in a “sea of sis.”
In order to update everyone and not bore you with one excessively long post, I will be updating this blog in installments. My first week in Salamanca is basically one of settling in, so I will have time to explore the city (it is much bigger than I expected) and post messages periodically, probably one each morning and one each evening. Once my classes begin next week, I hope to have caught everyone up to speed with our adventures and misadventures during our first two weeks in Spain! Plus, if you get bored reading my wordy posts (I am a student of nineteenth century British literature after all), feel free just to skip ahead to the pictures.
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