'08 in the Manca

2007 se acaba...............

What a year, so many amazing things have happened, met some amazing people and I'm so excited to spend another 7 months with them in the Sunshinnnnnnneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee of Castilla y León.
I will make a longer post when I have more time, probably when I get back to Salamanca.

Happy new year, feliz ano nuevo!

Salamanca = los amigos, los amores y las ganas de disfrutar.....

Feliz Navidad a tod@s....

We're going up to Scotland in an hour or so to spend Xmas in Carmyle so Im very excited for that...and to stop for Fish and Chips in Lockerbie....as I have not had them since about May due to Spain not having them and having the same old things, tortilla, chorizo, patatas bravas, tortilla, chorizo, patatas bravas.... you get the picture.

Here is the clip of Salamanca that was on the national news about the 'nochevieja universitaria' (fake new years eve) to give you all some idea of how many people were in the Plaza.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gyRrlbB3Ngk&feature=related - Xmas treat too with Ana Blanco presenting.

maybe this times differemt. I mean, I really think you'll....

Ya estoy en Guisborough
I miss Salamanca so much, I don't think I've ever been so happy as in the last few months. Os quiero un montón y os echo TANTO de menos.

on the eve of my home coming

I feel very sad that 4 months have passed. They have gone so quick and I can honestly say they have been the best 4 months of my life, I have always loved Spain but now, I think I love it a little bit more. What does England have that is better than Spain? Carpets? Thats the only thing that comes to mind. My Spanish is excellent now, I literally understand 100% of everything, radio, tv, randoms, lectures all is good.

The people I've met? Legends, special mention to Tom who has been awesome and we have had a blast. Flatmates? Legends...I knew I was lucky to have such nice roomies in 2nd year but I again have been lucky. Besides that I have especially got close to Anne and Emilie two french girls, especially to Emilie in the last two weeks and I'm so happy theyre staying all year.

Kirsty has also been a rock and has been lovely and caring, acting a bit like a Mother and mothering me.

Basically Salamanca is the best place I have ever lived and probably the best place I will ever live. Viva Salamanca!!

Avila reunion

Photos from the other night.



Photo 1 - Kike, kiko and myself.

Photo 2 - Chino myself and Kiko

NOXEVIEJA UNIVERSITARIA

WOOOOOO what a night.
Just seen Salamanca on the national news covering the biggest party I've ever been. 30,000 students in the Plaza Mayor, absoloutly amazing.
If that wasn't enough, EVERYONE was out, and after going to el pani and potemkim we came out and my phone started vibrating, 'who will this be at 3 in the morning' I was thinking....
'Hola Ste, soy chino que estamos en el harleys, vente tío' (Hi Ste, its Chino, were in Harley's, come!)

I was like WTF!? Chino is here, therefore I guessed Kiko would be here too....there was a massive queue and finally I got in and Chino was in the doorway and he came over and jumped on me, 'Estefen' he shouted and gave me a massive hug. Then I turned round and saw Kike who I hadn't seen for about 3 years (Kiko's and Chino's best friend who did both exchanges) and then Kiko came over as he was at the other side and gave me a massive hug (Remember its thanks to Chino and Kiko that I took up a real interest in Spanish and theyll always be ledgends to me even if we dont speak for long periods of time) so we were just catching up and talking shit, taking the piss out of Chino....the usual.
I will post some photos when Léa sends me them and update more

sentirme como una colilla entre unos labios al fumar

Adrian (my teacher from Uni) is coming to meet us in 1 and a half hours to speak about our oral dossiers....if I dont return, you know why.

xmas dinner/ I want to catch you when the current lets you go

I think currently I am on a permanent high, so many good things are going to happen this week then I come home next Tuesday, I can't wait.

To begin with Adrian (my Spanish Teacher) comes out to see us tomorrow to see how we are getting on, discuss issues such as oral dossiers, extended essays boring things like that. Got to meet him at 5 tomorrow then from there on my hectic few days begins!!

On Thursday going to see Marta and Angela to say merry Xmas and thank them for doing all they did to help me settle in, then on the night there is a pre new years eve celebration in the Plaza Mayor were all the people who are not going to be here for the real nochevieja gather there and do the usual spanish thing, talk to randoms and when the clock chimes 12 eat grapes (one for each chime of the clock) around all that I also have to fit a small thing called lessons in.

Luckily on Friday I have no lessons so we can prepare the flat for our Xmas Party. Julien is making some French thing with Emilie's help so should be nice, I am going to get some decerations with Léa and make the flat prettyful, and then people will come bringing wine, hornazo (typical food of Salamanca, what Gran had in the Plaza Mayor when my parents were here....) and wine and cava. Then obviously a standard night out as Tom is going home on Saturday.

Lots this weekend too but I'm sick of typing for now.

Photo is the nicest patatas bravas I've ever had in our favourite bar.

Sanli Tuncay!

Finally he grabbed his first goal for the club, hopefully he can now go on and have an affect like Tevéz did for West Ham. Unlikely as Dong Gook Lee amazingly gets in the side ahead of him...

Back to Salamanca, two weeks left to go, the first semester has gone TOO quickly, it doesn't seem like two minutes ago Ray, Tom and I were trying to make friends that were not English and now to think that was about 12/13 weeks ago. I don't want to leave all the amazing people I've met here but at the same time I want to go and see all the amazing people at home.

People keep asking me if I will miss Salamanca when I'm home? But to be honest I wont, I'm looking forward to having carpets on the floor, having a bath, eating junk food, going shopping and not seeing massive chorizos and hams everywhere, ENGLISH TV (Spanish TV is soo bad it is untrue) seeing all my family and my friends among other things, however saying that I am already looking forward to coming back after Xmas and meeting the new Erasmus people that will arrive at the beginning of February.

Tom and I are going to try and arrange a kind of English Xmas night for all the foreign friends we have, with typically English things we would eat for xmas, however finding them all is odf course easier said than done, crackers for example, to get the ingredients for stuffing is also proving quite difficult but we will see what we can do.
Also next Thursday is the fake 'New years eve' where all the students who won't be here for nochevieja celebrate it early in the Plaza Mayor, all with a handful of grapes as the clock chimes 12....speaking to people here they say the Plaza was chocker last year so it should be an amazing night and I will get plenty of people to take photos and put them up on here as I don't get my camera until after Xmas.

Plans for Xmas? Going up to stay with my Gran/Aunty and spending Xmas day in Carmyle (little village just outside Glasgow) Will be so nice to see them all as I feel like I aint spoke to them properly for so long (I wouldnt normally see Pat,John, Vick and Graeme that often but would always speak to them on the phone, or my Mum would tell me things what they are up to etc, we have skype but its not the same). Apparantly Aunty Pat is doing something on Xmas Eve as we will get there intime as Mum and Sarah have swapped their shifts in order for us to go earlier. Xmas day itself will be spent in my Gran's house as it usually is, but I'm going to help her cook for the first time as I've picked up lots of tips and she has a proper oven! Unlike our shitty one here in Calle Lucero!! I imagine (hope) people will pop down to Grans such as Les and Alexi, the Butlers, my Aunty Jacquie etc and also Pat and Mike if they are going up to Scotland as I have not spoken to them since I arrived here, they might have forgotton who I am....
This is long turning into an essay.

Nothing major to report from Sunny Spain, everything is fine, the usual is happening, fiestas erasmus, lessons, pinchos and vino however tomorrow I should hopefully have my train ticket to go home in TWO WEEKS time.
Anyway I need to sign off as I have a lesson at 6 and going to Nathalies tonight for her birthday drinks.