This is the first blog I am writing in Spain! I arrived in Madrid around 11 AM after a 6.5 hour flight from Boston, MA. After getting off the plane, I descended the jetway and loaded onto a bus to head to the international arrivals gate. After clearing customs, I went to the baggage claim and was met with an almost overwhelming number of travelers swarming their baggage carousels trying to retrieve their luggage. Notably, Shrek, dubbed in Spanish, was playing on a TV beside my baggage area. In Spain, the holidays do not end with New Years, since they celebrate Three Kings Day on January 7th. With that, the airport was still very busy with travelers going around Spain to celebrate.
Eventually, I got my bags, purchased my train tickets, and I made it to León on the high-speed AVE train in two hours. The first things I noticed walking to check into my apartment in León were the granite tile sidewalks and buildings that lined the city streets. After getting settled in and resting, I ventured through the city and visited the Christmas market and the León Cathedral. Christmas lights adorned the streets and glowed in the nighttime. The cathedral’s towers pierced the cityscape and reflected the setting sun beautifully at dusk. After the sun set, I walked alongside ancient Roman walls, and watched the town’s parade for Three Kings Day. This was my entire first day in León!
After a few days of getting acquainted in my new home, I began my classes at the Centro de Idiomas (University of León Language Center). As an international student, I am only taking Spanish classes, where I have class from 0930 to 1130 then 1200 to 1400. I have both classes Monday through Friday with the same small group of classmates, and one of our professors lectures exclusively in Spanish. That being said, since not everyone speaks English, it is super cool to remember that we are learning a common language in Spanish. The professors in the language center are very friendly and encourage the community of international students to view each other as a family, and to leave titles and formalities aside as we learn Spanish. There has been no syllabus review or discussion about course content, which is certainly a change from the more structured style of classes at ATU. Regardless of that, the best part about learning your host country’s language is that when you leave class, you get to practice it in every conversation you have with fellow students or members of the community. The only major caveat with that is that it is hard to unlearn some of the tendencies of the Latin-American Spanish I learned in the United States, but I still find it super neat to learn and adopt the mannerisms of Castilian Spanish.
I visited Madrid for my first weekend in Spain, leaving Friday afternoon after my classes. I got to have Spanish hot chocolate, which is literally just liquid chocolate served with churros. I stayed in a travelers’ inn, called a hostel, and was close to the city center for my next day of exploring. I visited the Spanish Royal Palace, the Almudena Cathedral, La Plaza Mayor, La Puerta Del Sol, and Retiro Park. I think I walked about 25 miles over the course of the three days in Madrid. The city is full of locals, Spanish visitors, and international travelers which combine for a very busy city almost all day. I had a good time in Madrid, but I found myself ready to return to León.
Pictures:
Statue of King Alfonso IX in León, Spain
Me in front of the Cathedral of Saint Mary the Royal of the Almudena in Madrid, Spain
