Well, I have 'manflu', I am feeling ill and have a terrible sore throat and just feel like doing nothing but being in bed or laying on the sofa in a big blanket. I have been given some medicine and some things that are supposed to put ends to colds and such however you are supposed to take them when you can first feel a cold coming, but hey, better late than never.
On Thursday we had what I like to call 'an English night out', as in we were drinking pints instead of the small beers they all drink out here, also there were lots of English people, infact we were all English so it was lovely to meet people who are at the same point in their degree as us and we could have a natter. So nice to hear some English humour too as there is no better humour in the world, good crack.
I have not really done a lot since my last post, but we did go on Friday to play Monopoly with Kirsty, RayTay, Tom, Julien and Nathalie which was fun as all the instructions were in Spanish.
On the friday night Lily was making pizzas at Rays but I didn't feel like it at all and had to go home, felt a big bad (but this was when my cold started) but I'm sure she'll understand.
I came home had a shave and went straight to bed but couldn't sleep cause some doyles were running riot down below.
This morning I was going to go to Madrid, but as I arrived to the train station we found out there were no tickets left so we couldn't go. BUT, no hay mal que por el bien no venga (every cloud has a silver lining) as I got home and Arsenal West Ham was on la2, so I watched my first full English game since I got here, it was great, lying on the seetee with some flu powders and watching Van Rapist (Persie) get some very needed points for my fantasy team.
I then spoke to Hayley online for hours, and she sent me the new babyshambles album and it was really nice to speak to her as we don't speak that much these days and she was a great girl and someone who I really liked and got on well with.
I was going to go to the Cinema tonight but I've been blown out so no plans for me, early night and I might even get up to watch the F1 at 7, COME ON LEWIS HAMILTON!!
Saturday, 29 September 2007
Thursday, 27 September 2007
Parla Català!
After making spaghetti bolognase that Gordon Ramsay would have been proud of, I'm going to tell you what has been happening por estas tierras castellano-leonesas (Salamanca..jaja)
So lessons are well and truly underway now, I have choosen most of my courses so far, I wanted to do both Catalá (Catalan) and Portuguese but unfortunatly they both clash so I had to choose one of the other and in the end I went for Catalan. The teacher is quite funny but I have a feeling the pace of the class will be really quick as most people in the class have either, lived somewhere where Catalan is spoken, have Catalan parents or have studied it before, but it will be challenging and interesting... We didn't really learn a lot in the first lesson we were just talking about the history of the language, its importance and where it is spoken etc etc.
I went out tonight to an erasmus party at a bar over here called the Irish Rover, which was good as I got free drinks for helping the guy promote it so Tom, Ray and I got quite drunk on Jack Daniels (Malibu for Ray, only gays drink it according to tom) as it was all free, we must have spent about €50 overall so I guess I got to say a big thank you to David. We came home quiet early (for Spain) at 4AM.
The next day we had lessons straight after lunch so I wolfed my lunch dow at home and ran down to Tom's to head over to class. Communication in Spanish infact, it only lasted one hour and Tom was hungry so we went for some 'pinchos' and we had 2 hours to kill until Catalan so we went to a bar and played......MONOPOLY! But this was not any Monopoly, it was a Spanish one however I was pretty bad and Rachel ended up wiping me and Tom out just in time to go to Catalan.
Nothing more to say and I got to peg my washing out
Os echo de menos
So lessons are well and truly underway now, I have choosen most of my courses so far, I wanted to do both Catalá (Catalan) and Portuguese but unfortunatly they both clash so I had to choose one of the other and in the end I went for Catalan. The teacher is quite funny but I have a feeling the pace of the class will be really quick as most people in the class have either, lived somewhere where Catalan is spoken, have Catalan parents or have studied it before, but it will be challenging and interesting... We didn't really learn a lot in the first lesson we were just talking about the history of the language, its importance and where it is spoken etc etc.
I went out tonight to an erasmus party at a bar over here called the Irish Rover, which was good as I got free drinks for helping the guy promote it so Tom, Ray and I got quite drunk on Jack Daniels (Malibu for Ray, only gays drink it according to tom) as it was all free, we must have spent about €50 overall so I guess I got to say a big thank you to David. We came home quiet early (for Spain) at 4AM.
The next day we had lessons straight after lunch so I wolfed my lunch dow at home and ran down to Tom's to head over to class. Communication in Spanish infact, it only lasted one hour and Tom was hungry so we went for some 'pinchos' and we had 2 hours to kill until Catalan so we went to a bar and played......MONOPOLY! But this was not any Monopoly, it was a Spanish one however I was pretty bad and Rachel ended up wiping me and Tom out just in time to go to Catalan.
Nothing more to say and I got to peg my washing out
Os echo de menos
Tuesday, 25 September 2007
Joo! Ya han empezao las clases
It was quite a quiet weekend really, with nothing happened that is worth writing about, apart from going to Tom's on Saturday night for Currrrrry.
Anyway, yesterday lessons started, my first one was 6-8 (yes 8 at night) it was called 'la ensenanza de la gramatica espanola', which is basically how to teach spanish grammar to people, it was really interesting and I think I will really enjoy the course. The teacher (Juan Felipe) is really nice and friendly however he speaks quite quietly so you have to listen really carefully and for people at the back I doubt they could hear well. I was so pleased at understanding 99% of what he said and was chuffed at how far I have come since I started learning Spanish, to understand a proper Spanish lesson in a top Spanish university made me feel really happy and made me realise that I really am Bilingual.
It's hard to describe how the lesson was different from home really, the lesson was from 6-8 and we arrived about 5.50 to find the Aula (classroom) and we were waiting till 6.15 and noone had come, however when all the Spaniards walked in at 6.10 we should have clicked..... lessons in Spain dont start on the hour, despite it putting this on the timetable, they start at 6.15! Another thing I was amazed at was, with it being a two hour lesson we had a 15 minute break at 7-7.15 which I was amazed at. Apart from that it was pretty similar to back home.
After the lessons tom and I met with Marta and Lorena to go to our facultys cafe/bar which is so cheap it is untrue, we all got beers and bocadillos de jamón (ham sandwich) which only came to like €4 which is like £2.70!
Anyway, yesterday lessons started, my first one was 6-8 (yes 8 at night) it was called 'la ensenanza de la gramatica espanola', which is basically how to teach spanish grammar to people, it was really interesting and I think I will really enjoy the course. The teacher (Juan Felipe) is really nice and friendly however he speaks quite quietly so you have to listen really carefully and for people at the back I doubt they could hear well. I was so pleased at understanding 99% of what he said and was chuffed at how far I have come since I started learning Spanish, to understand a proper Spanish lesson in a top Spanish university made me feel really happy and made me realise that I really am Bilingual.
It's hard to describe how the lesson was different from home really, the lesson was from 6-8 and we arrived about 5.50 to find the Aula (classroom) and we were waiting till 6.15 and noone had come, however when all the Spaniards walked in at 6.10 we should have clicked..... lessons in Spain dont start on the hour, despite it putting this on the timetable, they start at 6.15! Another thing I was amazed at was, with it being a two hour lesson we had a 15 minute break at 7-7.15 which I was amazed at. Apart from that it was pretty similar to back home.
After the lessons tom and I met with Marta and Lorena to go to our facultys cafe/bar which is so cheap it is untrue, we all got beers and bocadillos de jamón (ham sandwich) which only came to like €4 which is like £2.70!
Saturday, 22 September 2007
Si fueras como el aliento en la arena, llegarías hasta el corazón de quién se esconde como yo...
Been a few days but I guess I've been kind of busy for the first time since I got here.
Tuesday and Wednesday nights were taken up by the footy, on Tuesday I went to see the Madrid game with Mats and then we went out after with Astrid and Camilla and on Wednesday we went to see the Barca-Lyon game, however I didn't stay out much as we had a meeting on Thursday at the Uni and I needed to get up early for it.
So roll on the meeting, there was an absoloute machine of a man talking switching from language to language, I think in total he spoke about 6 languages fluently, not bad.
So anyway, we found out who our coordinator was and we found out how we picked our courses, (we can pick 2 from outside our faculty, so I think I'm going to pick 2 courses from the translation faculty) It is a bit strange, as for the first two weeks you can just wander into any class to get an idea of it without being registered on it, we have to make appointments on Monday to go and see someone to meet and finalise our courses, as long this is done before the 8th of Oct its all good, so basically classes dont officially start until 8th Oct, This would only happen in Spain.
After the meeting we went out for some Tapas and went to Carrefour (like Marks' and Sparks but not as good) to buy stuff for Ray's fajita frenzy on the night. It was all fine but the guacamole was terrible, it had cheese in! CHEESE!? I'm so craving Guacamole from Marks and Sparks...
So on Thursdays I helped Julien to make a curry and for Tea we went to Ray's for tea with Julien, Lily, Ray, Tom and myself and had a mexican, it was so nice and probably the best meal Ive had here.
Here is the dish I contributed, I like to call it Muchos nachos.
Friday, well Tom has been locked out his flat for two days so it was my turn to babysit him, we had curry for lunch at mine (soo nice) and we just hung out here as it was raining very heavily.
We headed out to Tom's to see if his neighbours had a spare key and got soaked and she didn't so it was our seetee where he would be sleeping (only gays use this word according to Tom). We then got dinner, some chicken thing I had which was nice, we then went to O Haras to meet some people we know here and then we headed to our new favourite bar, paniagua for some kalimotxo and came home about 3 as we were both knackered.
Right now I'm going to make dinner and then sit down and listen to the Boro Sunderland game and chill out.
Tuesday and Wednesday nights were taken up by the footy, on Tuesday I went to see the Madrid game with Mats and then we went out after with Astrid and Camilla and on Wednesday we went to see the Barca-Lyon game, however I didn't stay out much as we had a meeting on Thursday at the Uni and I needed to get up early for it.
So roll on the meeting, there was an absoloute machine of a man talking switching from language to language, I think in total he spoke about 6 languages fluently, not bad.
So anyway, we found out who our coordinator was and we found out how we picked our courses, (we can pick 2 from outside our faculty, so I think I'm going to pick 2 courses from the translation faculty) It is a bit strange, as for the first two weeks you can just wander into any class to get an idea of it without being registered on it, we have to make appointments on Monday to go and see someone to meet and finalise our courses, as long this is done before the 8th of Oct its all good, so basically classes dont officially start until 8th Oct, This would only happen in Spain.
After the meeting we went out for some Tapas and went to Carrefour (like Marks' and Sparks but not as good) to buy stuff for Ray's fajita frenzy on the night. It was all fine but the guacamole was terrible, it had cheese in! CHEESE!? I'm so craving Guacamole from Marks and Sparks...
So on Thursdays I helped Julien to make a curry and for Tea we went to Ray's for tea with Julien, Lily, Ray, Tom and myself and had a mexican, it was so nice and probably the best meal Ive had here.
Here is the dish I contributed, I like to call it Muchos nachos.
Friday, well Tom has been locked out his flat for two days so it was my turn to babysit him, we had curry for lunch at mine (soo nice) and we just hung out here as it was raining very heavily.
We headed out to Tom's to see if his neighbours had a spare key and got soaked and she didn't so it was our seetee where he would be sleeping (only gays use this word according to Tom). We then got dinner, some chicken thing I had which was nice, we then went to O Haras to meet some people we know here and then we headed to our new favourite bar, paniagua for some kalimotxo and came home about 3 as we were both knackered.
Right now I'm going to make dinner and then sit down and listen to the Boro Sunderland game and chill out.
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
Sigo buscando una sonrisa derepente en un bar..
I have got some photos from my friends out here to show the horrible weather from the last few days... but luckily the sunshine has now returned!
Nothing much to say today, went out last night to watch Real Madrid V Werder Bremen, was a really good and open game, and was lovely to see Raúl back to form. Went out for some kalimotxo after the game and that was that.
Monday, 17 September 2007
Storms in Salamanca
Yes believe it or not the last two days we have had lots of storms and lots of thunder and even some lightning, and on Sunday something happened that I have never seen before, hailSTONES, and the stones is capitaised on purpose as the hail was the size of small stones, I was standing under this shitty tent in an Medieval market and I was right in the corner so my back and the back of my legs were getting pounded with big frozen stones, and I had three quarter jeans and a small top on so I was freezing and for that reason I feel quite ill today, I have a sore throat and the classic symptoms of a cold, it probably didn't help hanging out with Tom as he was ill but I will get over it. It also didnt help that Eirik hit the top of the tent roof as I was kind of hanging out so loads of water and frozen hailstones went all over me, but dont worry guys, I am planning my revenge....
Bueno haber....
Friday - Went to meet Tom about 11ish, then we went to the 'casetas' with some friends of his flatmates, had a bite to eat and some cañas (beers in the smallest cup ever) then we met Kati (another Colombian friend of Toms) and they took us to Bar Llamas which was pretty full and even outside you couldn't move so we decided to go to another bay that they liked called Paniagua which I have to say was extremely busy and crowded but it was excellent. Some absoloute top music, from the killers to primal scream to despistaos, and we were all sharing huge glasses (probably about 2 pint glasses) of beer (lager to us) and calimocho (red wine and coke which sounds horrible but it is lovely and very sweet), the bad thing was that it was very smokey so when Marta rang me and said want to go somewhere with her and her friends wel me and Tom said yeah why not. We then went to Siglouno where we saw RayTay and her flatmate Jo Jo was DJing, however we only stayed a short while and went off to another place with Marta, Lorena, Tom, Philip (dutch guy) and me. We went home at about 7ish and had a really good night and met some great people.
Saturday - Got up late, was going to go to Avila to see the lovely Gema, but in the end I didn't feel like it plus I had loads to do (Lo siento nena si estas leyendo esto). I watched the qualifying for the F1 and was appauled at the Alonso wankfest. The rest of the day I was with Ray and Tom just having a wander and then went to see Real Madrid V Almeria but after that I went to bed cause I was cream crackered.
Sunday - Got up and cleaned my room and then had dinner. Then went for a mooch around the market when the hail came, so I ran to Tom's and got cleaned up and then we went for some dinner and to watch the most boring match ever (Como me aburro Riijkard) barca 0-0 osasuna but met some nice people in a bar who were lovely and reminded me of Yedra' s dad and her friends with good banter flying around.
So far today I have just had dinner and a shower and then I got to sort out some Uni stuff, fun not.
Well I'm leaving this or I will be writing all day.
Os echo de menos
Bueno haber....
Friday - Went to meet Tom about 11ish, then we went to the 'casetas' with some friends of his flatmates, had a bite to eat and some cañas (beers in the smallest cup ever) then we met Kati (another Colombian friend of Toms) and they took us to Bar Llamas which was pretty full and even outside you couldn't move so we decided to go to another bay that they liked called Paniagua which I have to say was extremely busy and crowded but it was excellent. Some absoloute top music, from the killers to primal scream to despistaos, and we were all sharing huge glasses (probably about 2 pint glasses) of beer (lager to us) and calimocho (red wine and coke which sounds horrible but it is lovely and very sweet), the bad thing was that it was very smokey so when Marta rang me and said want to go somewhere with her and her friends wel me and Tom said yeah why not. We then went to Siglouno where we saw RayTay and her flatmate Jo Jo was DJing, however we only stayed a short while and went off to another place with Marta, Lorena, Tom, Philip (dutch guy) and me. We went home at about 7ish and had a really good night and met some great people.
Saturday - Got up late, was going to go to Avila to see the lovely Gema, but in the end I didn't feel like it plus I had loads to do (Lo siento nena si estas leyendo esto). I watched the qualifying for the F1 and was appauled at the Alonso wankfest. The rest of the day I was with Ray and Tom just having a wander and then went to see Real Madrid V Almeria but after that I went to bed cause I was cream crackered.
Sunday - Got up and cleaned my room and then had dinner. Then went for a mooch around the market when the hail came, so I ran to Tom's and got cleaned up and then we went for some dinner and to watch the most boring match ever (Como me aburro Riijkard) barca 0-0 osasuna but met some nice people in a bar who were lovely and reminded me of Yedra' s dad and her friends with good banter flying around.
So far today I have just had dinner and a shower and then I got to sort out some Uni stuff, fun not.
Well I'm leaving this or I will be writing all day.
Os echo de menos
Friday, 14 September 2007
Yo pienso en aquella tarde....
Buenasssssssssssss
Before I start I have to give so many thanks to Japanese Charlie for helping me set all this up as I suck at computers.
Well I have some spare time so I can let you all know what is really going in Salamanca.
I have enrolled at the Uni and stuff and we have a welcome meeting on Thursday which should give us more information and we start properly on the 24th, when we will get our student things and things like that. Apparantly we choose 3 modules from 'filologia' and the rest we can do anything around the uni, physics, pe, basically what we like, I'm hoping to pick up Portugese or Catalá but I don't know if it will be possible.
It was lovely to see Marta and Natalia today, as they were in Liverpool two years ago and we get along fine and I'm sure they will help me should I run into any difficulties. Also they're going to introduce us to more of their Spanish friends which is a good thing, and also people like Bea, Miguel and Anyi all come back in a week or so, so that will be great to see them all and catch up, I'm also imagining that Kiko will be through soon enough as Bea is his girlfriend, and I'd love to see him as hes a top guy.
As lessons have not started I have not been up to much, thinking of heading to Avila tomorrow to see the lovely Gemilla and for a chance of scenery and to get some of them legend cakes they have there! Do'nt know what is happening tonight due to the fact that I may have to get up early to take the train tomorrow to Avila, but if not a few beers could be on the cards I guess.
I love everything about Salamanca, on various occasions I have walked home alone at 3, 5 and 6 in the morning and I have always felt safe, safer than even in Guisborough which is strange as only about 18000 people live there...less chavs, innit. My uni is mint, the people have good crack (well most) and there are plenty of bars and restaurants to eat out in that are all very reasonable, infact some seem too cheap to be true, but hey Tom, RayTay and myself aint complaning. We have found a mint cheap tapas bar called Bambú which is just of the 'Plaza Mayor' (the main square) so in a prime location, we are already becoming one of their best customers I feel. We're also looking less like 'guiris' everyday and hopefully we dont stand out too much, although I guess we do more than some but a let loss than others
Football is back this week! Yey! Hopefully we will find somewhere to check some English games out, mind you I doubt Middlesbroughs trip to West Ham will be on live, which is una puta mierda. Real take on Almeria at 10, so I'll be seeing that.
Reet, I'm going to sign off as the washing machine as finished and I need to peg it out as its lovely and sunny then maybe a siesta....when in Rome..........
Stephen
Before I start I have to give so many thanks to Japanese Charlie for helping me set all this up as I suck at computers.
Well I have some spare time so I can let you all know what is really going in Salamanca.
I have enrolled at the Uni and stuff and we have a welcome meeting on Thursday which should give us more information and we start properly on the 24th, when we will get our student things and things like that. Apparantly we choose 3 modules from 'filologia' and the rest we can do anything around the uni, physics, pe, basically what we like, I'm hoping to pick up Portugese or Catalá but I don't know if it will be possible.
It was lovely to see Marta and Natalia today, as they were in Liverpool two years ago and we get along fine and I'm sure they will help me should I run into any difficulties. Also they're going to introduce us to more of their Spanish friends which is a good thing, and also people like Bea, Miguel and Anyi all come back in a week or so, so that will be great to see them all and catch up, I'm also imagining that Kiko will be through soon enough as Bea is his girlfriend, and I'd love to see him as hes a top guy.
As lessons have not started I have not been up to much, thinking of heading to Avila tomorrow to see the lovely Gemilla and for a chance of scenery and to get some of them legend cakes they have there! Do'nt know what is happening tonight due to the fact that I may have to get up early to take the train tomorrow to Avila, but if not a few beers could be on the cards I guess.
I love everything about Salamanca, on various occasions I have walked home alone at 3, 5 and 6 in the morning and I have always felt safe, safer than even in Guisborough which is strange as only about 18000 people live there...less chavs, innit. My uni is mint, the people have good crack (well most) and there are plenty of bars and restaurants to eat out in that are all very reasonable, infact some seem too cheap to be true, but hey Tom, RayTay and myself aint complaning. We have found a mint cheap tapas bar called Bambú which is just of the 'Plaza Mayor' (the main square) so in a prime location, we are already becoming one of their best customers I feel. We're also looking less like 'guiris' everyday and hopefully we dont stand out too much, although I guess we do more than some but a let loss than others
Football is back this week! Yey! Hopefully we will find somewhere to check some English games out, mind you I doubt Middlesbroughs trip to West Ham will be on live, which is una puta mierda. Real take on Almeria at 10, so I'll be seeing that.
Reet, I'm going to sign off as the washing machine as finished and I need to peg it out as its lovely and sunny then maybe a siesta....when in Rome..........
Stephen
Thursday, 13 September 2007
Put your hands up for Salamanca
Hello all from the beatiful autonomous region of Castilla y León, or if we are being more specific, Salamanca.
I'm setlling in very well now, loving the place and have met some cool people, and others who are just totally annoying and I can't bear to spend more than a couple of hours with them, but hey, I'm happy overall. Luckily I get on like a house on fire with my flatmates so all is good.
Right now I got to go and make lunch as it is lunch time here (2pm)
Adiós chic@s
I'm setlling in very well now, loving the place and have met some cool people, and others who are just totally annoying and I can't bear to spend more than a couple of hours with them, but hey, I'm happy overall. Luckily I get on like a house on fire with my flatmates so all is good.
Right now I got to go and make lunch as it is lunch time here (2pm)
Adiós chic@s
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