AC Palacio de Santa Ana Valladolid

Christmas is here in Valladolid! I have one more day of class, and then 3 days of finals. Then I'm done! I can't believe it's gone so fast!!! Ahhhh
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This was for my journaling class. The question was about Spanish values vs. American values:

One of the most prevalent values in Spanish culture, from my perspective at least, appears to be the importance of family within society. It seems as if the family unit holds a lot ...

... as heater, stove, oven and heats warm water. There is a bench constructed directly on top of a part of the oven where the hot air and smoke passes.. the favorite place of cold asses... During the time of our stay there are many communal working days. We helped out constructing an enlargement of the chicken ren; built a dry compost toilet; deconstruct the inner roof construction and a wall of a room ...

... instead of a couch which is a plus. Though either way, it would be better than a stinky hostel. She really wants to go lap swimming when I get here and I am SO excited about that. I'm sure I'm super out of shape but I don't care. I haven't swam since I got here and I'm dying to. Otherwise, I plan to spend at least one day doing some hardcore touring...but just playing the rest by ear I guess. Yay for not having to buy a ...

We reached our campsite in Valladolid after driving through some of the freakiest weather ever. I mean I live in Montreal so I'm used to weather changed pretty quickly but this was weird. In our 5 hour drive we went through pouring rain and cold weather into sunshine. Then magically we were in 30 minutes of a winter wonderland. In the middle of Spain there was a forest covered in 3 inches of ...

... cultural setting, and survive and adapt just fine for 4 months. That may not be a Gandhi-esque world saving feat, but it's a substantial personal milestone.
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One test tomorrow (something to do for a change!). Our Spanish-style Thanksgiving celebration with the professors on Thursday. Then another free weekend with a possible day trip to Toledo with a couple other students.

Life is beautiful <3

... the school, I got a taste of Spain's private health care system, which is apparently quite a bit nicer than the public system. The doctor at the first place did a few tests and told us that he didn't feel it was appendicitis, however he suggested we get some tests done to make sure since I was showing classic signs of it.

We then headed from the clinic off to Campo Grande Hospital, the main hospital in central Valladolid, to get some analysis ...

... imposibles con las que me encontraría) saliamos rumbo a la estación de trenes de Valladolid.

Tras haber degustado los tres caramelos dulciora que pude engullir mientras miraba por la ventana del AVE pasar a 290 km la hora todo el secano de la meseta castellana (que poético oiga) habia llegado a Madrid.

Tras 10 o 12 escaleras mecanicas, un par de metros, varios pasillos móviles de la T2, un plastificador de maletas a 6 euros la maleta, tener que sacar 2 de los 4 ...

... s just be honest, really) the language. Though I don't claim to completely fluent at this point, my language skills have at least improved drastically, and I have a respectable grasp on what is going on around me. I may not be a native yet, but I'm not bewildered.

On the other hand, it seems like this month has been nothing. Back in the states, my week usually consisted of getting up and dragging myself to class, only to ...

... abroad. Just got the syllabus for that...it looks like 12 medium-length entries for the semester are required... Essentially...I'm planning on just taking some of this blog out and fluffing it up a bit to sound more formal :P (this plan will not be included as an entry lol). It's worth one credit....so if I take INS-251 (1. Cr.) when I get back...I'll fulfill a gen, ed.

That is about it for now.

There was an excursion to Valladolid and Tordesillas, two cities to the southwest of Pamplona, planned by the office of Cultural Activities. I had thought the excursion was for students only, but evidently it was open to the public... because there was only a handful of students and a bunch of older people. It was a ...