Experience of a Lifetime

In May 2008, I had the opportunity to travel with a group of fellow language students on a UAB faculty-led study abroad trip to the city of Jaén in the province of Jaén, Spain.

While there, I had the opportunity to live with a host family and take classes at the Universidad de Jaén.

During our stay, we also had the opportunity to visit Cazorla, Granada, and Madrid. It was a truly enriching experience that has both shaped and enhanced my language skills and understanding of the Spanish culture.

This blog is an account of my experiences in Spain and is in no way affiliated with nor a representation of the experiences, thoughts, or opinions of the UAB Study Away office.


Tuesday, May 27, 2008

So Little Time.

It seems that I always have so much to say and so little time in which to write it all down. Time always goes by so much faster than I can chronicle.

Today, we had our final exam today in our culture class. It is finished!! Now, only one more class for our trip and we are done!

After class yesterday, I came home for lunch. We had a dish called Musaca, I think. It contains sliced pan-fried tomatoes, ground beef, some zucchini (or what appeared to be very like it) and cheese. It was extremely good! Afterwards, I went with Amanda to a lovely little park here in Jaén.
We stopped and got some amazing ice cream along the way. A little later on, we met Sarah and after a couple of directional mistakes and bus rides, we found our way back to the Cathedral... and we went shopping! It was such a restful and relaxing afternoon. I bought a very cute bag that will work for my purse on the trip home. I am very excited!

Today, we are going to the castle here in Jaén. I am very excited! I have heard that you are able to see the entire city from the hill that the castle in on and that it is quite an amazing place. I am looking forward to getting some fun pictures.


I am so looking forward to some less stressful, more people-filled rest of the time here. I like to have time that the stores are actually open to be able to go and shop, rather than never having any down time to do relaxing things.

I found out that not only are we leaving at 6:00 am on Friday, but we are leaving here from the University... so that means a 45 minute walk... which means I have to leave just after 5:00 am if I am going to walk... and even though apparently my family has a car that we used when we went to the Mercadillo in a neighboring town on Sunday, they hardly ever drive it. I think Luis (the Dad) may be the only one who has a drivers license. Apparently, it is quite expensive to be able to obtain one... and besides all this, he bakes and thus works until like 7:00 am. So, I may be walking here... totally NOT fun in the dark with a suitcase, backpack, bag, and bag-sized purse... it could be one very un-fun beginning of a day. I guess we´ll have to see.

So, the mercadillo that I mentioned was much like trade day in Collinsville... very interesting. The one here is supposed to be larger, so I am excited to see what it is like when we go on Thursday!

Home is only three days away... and I cannot say that I have ever been more excited to be going home.

3 days, a long walk, and 2 flights totaling 4000 some-odd miles until then...

No comments: