Zaragoza.....The Life of an Erusmus Student
Links
Meike´s Art Site
Michelle´s site
Our flat explained in Spanish by Pedro
Other people's thoughts (Spanish)
Extra picture gallery
ARRIVING
I arrived in Spain on the 15th of September thinking I would be able to understand at least something since I had taken a spanish class in my first year at the University of Bath. Strange thing was that this didn’t seem to be the case. When reading stuff it was ok...and later my dad described this as knowing the language passively. My first head on experience of how little Spanish I really knew was when I was in a taxi from the railway station in Zaragoza to my room. Boy oh boy wasn’t my Spanish bad!
Next up was me trying to buy a sheet, pillow and a pillowcase. Thinking ahead, I looked up these words in the dictionary and made my way to the shop. Well I can honestly say that the guy didn’t speak a word of English and I did very well in making myself understood even though my vocab list was probably appalling! Lol! And then to my horror I discovered that I didn’t have any money with me! EEEEEEek! Well those were the first few days...very intimidating and new! Now just over three months later, things are looking a lot better!
LIFE
I live in a flat with 13 other people here in Spain and it’s great fun! All very different personalities but the great thing is that we really get along with each other. Their names are as follows:
Romain (France), Manue (France), Mark (Spain), Mareike (Germany), Ludo&Marie (the lovebirds from France), Maria (France), Jorge (Spain but has just moved out now...December 2003), Jon (England), Clotilde (France), Lucha (Ecuador, and cleans the flat), Rafael (Brazil) and then Pedro (Spain...but has just moved out too!)
THINGS I´VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE
My first trip to the Pyrenees,Fiesta El Pilar and Barcelona
The Pyrenees and Pau (France)
Clo's birthday celebrations
Alcañiz and surroundings
After Christmas Holidays
Jaca and Skiing inn Astún
Farewell party for Rafa and Clotilde
Trip to England and Scotland (3/3/04 - 15/3/04)
Madrid
I go to a Spanish class two hours everyday here! I think I can finally say that they really are helping me! Who ever said spanish was easy to learn???!!!!!!??????? Well, the class i go to has about 30 students but they never all turn up on one day, so often there are only about 15 or 20 students a day. I have befriended a couple of people here too. Especially Susanne (Germany), Ling (China)and Kristina (US). Infact Ling wants to learn and practise english so Kristin, Ling and I basically go for a cup of coffee after every spanish lesson. Well, that sunday evening on the way back from Alcañiz, I went to a Christmas party organised by Kristin's church. This was very nice becuase there were so many people there from different countries and we sang many songs I knew in english and dutch, in Spanish! Good culture induction I guess! LOL!
