Ursuline Salamanca 2017

I came to Spain with so many goals and things I wanted to do, and looking back at the trip I really accomplished everything that I hoped I would.  I learned so much about Spanish culture not only from the class we took at the University but because I lived it for two weeks.  I got to experience what it's really like to live in Spain while also studying there and learning the language better.  My skills have improved so much in Spanish.  I used to never want to talk in Spanish because I thought my accent and pronunciation were off and I made so many mistakes and couldn't always say what I wanted to say, but now I feel comfortable enough that I spoke to someone in Spanish here that didn't speak English well.  Even though I learned so much in Spain, it didn't feel like a school trip.  We were given freedom to explore Salamanca and see places that the school didn't take us to which I really appreciated even though I enjoyed the school trips.  I'm so glad I...

https://youtu.be/qH5U00t25nw

This trip to Spain was the best learning opportunity I have ever had, and I enjoyed the two weeks a lot. It felt weird in the beginning because I had never been so far away from my family for such a long time, but I got used to the distance since I could call them everyday. When I was preparing for the trip, I was worried I would have trouble communicating in Spanish because I didn't have much experience outside of school. However, although I didn't know many words, I found it easy to speak with my host family and even with people in public. Next, I had never seen pictures of Spain before I arrived, so I didn't have any ideas about what it would look like. Salamanca was similar to the image I had in my head, but Madrid was vastly different since it was more of a big city than a small town. I didn't have a lot of ideas or stereotypes before, so I was not surprised by anything, but since we discussed it a lot in the meetings, I was expecting a lot of crime and pickpocket...

Being able to go on this once in a lifetime trip to Spain was an absolutely amazing experience! After coming home I have thought about all of the wonderful new things I have seen and done. It is so special that we had the opportunity to stay with a host family that taught us about Spanish culture. I miss my host mother Marta and I enjoyed getting to know her, her family and her wonderful hometown of Salamanca! Furthermore, being able to study at one of the oldest univierities in the world with top notch professors is, within itself, a FABULOUS opportunity that not many people would ever be able to participate in. The evening activities planned by API were so fun and truly helped explain Spanish culture. Also, paying one euro for speaking English, even though annoying and frustrating at times, helped my Spanish so much. By going on this trip, I have also made wonderful new friendships with my fellow Ursuline sisters and we will never forget our wonderful time in Spain together! Overall,...

https://youtu.be/RK0HcEbWUZ0

Upon returning from our fantastic trip to Spain, I have had plenty of time to reflect upon my experiences abroad. This trip was truly an unforgettable and lifechanging experience for me. I grew as a student and as an individual. I learned how to get by in an unfamiliar environment and how to overcome obstacles such as illness without my family to guide me. My experiences in Spain are especially important to me as I enter my senior year at Ursuline and prepare for college. This opportunity to study at a university and be independent was a great way to prepare myself for the years to come. My time in Spain also awoke within me a love for the Spanish language that I didn't know I had. I learned more Spanish outside of the classroom than in it. Each conversation with my host family, a clerk in a store, or  a person on the street giving directions helped me improve my Spanish ability. Even though I sometimes complained about not being allowed to speak English, I am proud of myself f...

     This was a truly incredible trip. Not only did I learn so much about Salamanca and Spanish culture, but I experienced a new way of living in another country.       I have always wanted to study abroad, but I never thought it would be as enriching as it was during this trip. I was immersed in the language wherever I went. I happily found that I was able to interact with my host mother, teachers, friends, and vendors in Spanish and that I improved greatly over the duration of the trip. The best part about taking classes in Spain was that I would go to school, learn about Spanish idioms or cultural practices, and then go home or to a store and put them to use within an hour afterward. It excited me that everything I was learning was so applicable to my life, to an extent it had not been in Dallas.       Living in Spain proved to me that I am capable of thriving in a new and different environment. I am so grateful for the years of Spa...

I had such a blast in Spain!! I loved staying with my host family and getting to know them. I also enjoyed studying at the University of Salamanca and touring around the city. I really enjoyed speaking Spanish and have gotten much better at it!!! Overall, I really miss my Spanish family and all the friends I made on the trip. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone considering it in the future. Adios! Hasta luego!!

https://youtu.be/vfMsVPAIlqw

After returning home, I took the time to reflect on all the memories I made and experiences I had while I was in Salamanca. Not only did i improve immensely in my Spanish but I also adapted to a new culture. Through the classes I took at the University of Salamanca, I improved in my grammar, conversation skills, and knowledge of Spanish culture. My favorite class was conversation because I overall improved most in that aspect of my Spanish speaking. Additionally to learning and improving in classes, I also practiced my Spanish by speaking to locals on the street and speaking to storekeepers. One of my favorite things about this trip were the afternoon activities. My personal favorites were kayaking and biking. I loved biking because I got to see almost the entire city while riding on the bike. One of the main things I will never forget about Salamanca is the people I met. My host family was so sweet and I will try my hardest to keep in touch with them. In addition to the people I met i...

https://youtu.be/EjacVBP5G-4

What an amazing trip! From start to finish, my experience in Spain can be described as nothing less than fantastic. I will never forget the fun I had with so many wonderful people. Studying at the University of Salamanca was incredible, as the teachers kept the classes interesting and entertaining, and the afternoon cultural adventures were even more so. From flamenco shows to the Prado, there was never a dull moment. It was also awesome to hear people speaking Spanish everywhere we went, and being able to converse with them. I am proud to say that my Spanish speaking skills improved exponentially on this trip. I also had so much fun with our host family, who were such kind and helpful people. I am going to miss the beautiful architecture, delicious food, the relaxing siestas, and of course, my lovely host mother, but I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to immerse myself in a different language and culture, and I hope that anyone thinking about doing something similar do it, ...

As I look back on my trip to Spain, I can't help but wish I was still there. It was one of my favorite trips I have ever taken, and I am so thankful that I got to experience the Spanish culture in the way that I did. Being able to stay with a Spanish speaker and study at a renowned Spanish university like the University of Salamanca allowed me to grow in my ability to speak Spanish more fluidly, something that I would like to eventually accomplish. In this blog, I am going to talk about some of my favorite things I got to experience in Salamanca and Madrid. Plaza Mayor, Salamanca In Salamanca, I enjoyed walking around the small city, shopping, and stopping for gelato in the Plaza, pictured above. Even walking to school in the morning was a treat due to the unbelievable Cathedral we passed on the way. Visiting Madrid was another highlight of the trip. I loved getting to walk around the capitol and visit the Royal Palace and Prado Museum. I am the type of person that doesn...

Wow! What an incredible trip. My trip to Spain has completely transformed my life. I learned so much Spanish vocabulary, and I also learned how to better understand native Spanish speakers. I learned so much about Spanish culture as well. For example, it is customary to eat dinner as late as 9 or 10 PM. One of my favorite parts of the trip was the daily siesta. I didn't get that much sleep at night so it was really nice to be able to make up this lost sleep during the day. I also met some incredible people! I became close friends with all of the UA girls on the trip, and I also made some Spanish friends and some friends from different places around the world! It was so amazing to meet such different people from such different backgrounds. This trip really taught me so much about the world, and it made me a more cultured, internationally-minded person. If I could, I would go right back to Spain at this very moment!

What an incredible and unforgettable trip! I will never forget all of the amazing adventures spent with wonderful people in different, beautiful places! From studying diligently in the university to bustling down the river Tormes in a kayak, I have experienced different aspects of the culture in Salamanca. I loved hearing Spanish wherever I went and spending time with my host family. Submersed in a new culture, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Salamanca through studying in the university, spending time with my host family, and of course, eating delicious Spanish food! I am so grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime experience that has opened my eyes to a completely new and wonderful culture! I will miss walking from place to place, speaking in Spanish to everyone I meet, discovering new regions with my host family, and relaxing during siestas! I will definitely miss my kind host family, the breathtaking architecture, and the mouthwatering food! This trip was such a magnificent experie...

https://youtu.be/uP5RcbI7_Ag

I learned so much from this trip. I truly got to emerge myself into a culture different from my own. I especially enjoyed getting to take classes at the University of Salamanca; I improved in all three areas of study: grammar, communication, and culture. Outside of class, I was intrigued to see so many people out on the streets. I enjoyed meeting at the Plaza and I really liked how it was a central place in the middle of the city for everyone to enjoy. Looking back, I also had fun in all the activities we had planned. My favorite was definitely kayaking down the Tormes river. Overall, I got to know not only the girls in my group better, but I made so many new friends along the way. I am so thankful for this amazing experience and will continue to practice and enjoy speaking Spanish.

This trip has changed my life. I feel that I have learned more about the Spanish language and culture in 2 weeks than I could in a year. Being in the culture, emerged, helped me understand other customs.  The classes were greats reviews and we had great teachers. I am in love with the city of Salamanca. The different activities kept us busy 24/7 which is exactly what I like on a trip. My favorite activity was the kayaks even though my boat flipped. This trip has been my favorite vacation to date. I already miss the ice cream and all the new people that I met. I can't wait to continue learning spanish through high school and college and I hope to go back to Spain as soon as possible.

The trip to Spain was such an amazing experience and I am so glad that I went. I made so many great memories with all of the amazing Ursuline girls and teachers. The fun activities, such as kayaking and biking were a fun way to experience the Spanish culture. Although they were difficult at first, classes in spain not only helped me improve my Spanish speaking skills, but also helped to prepare me for next year's Spanish class.     The food in Spain was both delicious and abundant. My favorite meal that I had with my host mom, Marta, was Paella. It was very tasty with many different flavors. Although it was delicious, I eventually got full, but people in Spain sure love to eat, as Marta kept giving Allie (my roommate) and I more and more food.  The Architecture in Spain was very beautiful and old, another thing that I loved about Spain. It was amazing to see the Plaza Mayor every day because it is so beautiful. I am so glad t...

We are back in Texas! I am sad to have left Spain and I will miss the amazing culture, but I am so excited to be back home. It was so nice to see my family again and eat American food! I ate pei Wei and ice cream my first night back and it was so delicious! Although I am excited to be back in Dallas, I am so sad to have said goodbye to all of the amazing girls that I have gotten to know on this trip. I was pretty tired today because of the time difference so I went to bed at 8 pm yesterday! One thing that I have missed about America is driving. It was very nice to have walked everywhere in Salamanca, but after 2 weeks I was pretty tired. One thing that I miss about Salamanca were the beautiful buildings. The architecture in Spain was so beautiful, intricate, and old! It was so beautiful and while Dallas is gorgeous, it is definitely nothing like Salamanca. This church in Segovia is my favorite building that we saw in Spain.   Cars!!! T...

My traveling journey has officially begun. I have now been to Europe, I have now lived with a Spanish family, I have now been in a country where English was not the primary language. I learned so much from my two week visit, and I feel so much more confident in my Spanish. I can only imagine how amazing a month or a year would be abroad! I was not ready to leave Spain! When we were leaving Madrid, we passed many train stations with metros that go to Barcelona, Valencia, Seville and I so badly wanted to hop on one of these trains!! I know that there is so much more to see and to learn, and I am eager to experience it all now. I know that as I continue to travel and see more that I will continue to build on to the definition of "culture" and what it is. In my opinion, I think the biggest way culture was defined in Spain was through their night life because there were so many people out all the time! I loved being able to walk outside and see smiles and laughter as family and fr...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VflwrPYEKUY

https://youtu.be/4LHVfdBpInE

Wow. What an experience. I really did not want to leave Spain yesterday. First off I would like to thank my teachers for taking care of us for so long. Secondly, to my host family Sarah and Amadeo, you guys were the best. I really think my Spanish improved the most from talking with them while eating dinner and having them correct my mistakes. I wouldn't have tried so many new Spanish foods without their help. Truly felt like their daughters on this trip and I am grateful for that. A huge thank you to my parents for allowing me to go on this trip because I know it was not cheap. I am grateful to have gotten closer with many on this trip and the laughs and adventures I will not forget. Spain, overall, was an absolutely beautiful place to be and a great start to more Europe adventures in the future. Salamanca, so pretty, antique, and peaceful was the perfect town for students, but I wish to have had more time in Madrid because just after one day there, I wish we had been there much l...

https://youtu.be/p2ndt9N-bCk Este es mi video in la plaza mayor.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pXR6-DiuZwk

During Spain, my friends and I; who at the beginning I did not even know, made so many memories. I will never forget all of the foods I ate, especially because it was so much. I loved the routine my roommate and I had, especially getting coffee and orange juice from this one shop. Although I didn't like paying Euros every time I spoke in English, this helped me learn to say what I needed to in Spanish; and for that I am so grateful to my Spanish teachers. I learned more in this experience than ever before in my life simply because I was surrounded by Spanish. By the time we got to Dallas, my friend Sarah and I were weirded out by the announcements in English because it didn't feel normal. With learning Spanish, I not only gained knowledge of the imperfect and preterite tense but I also shared an experience with the other girls in my grade that no one could ever replace. I will miss my host mom Augustina and her obsession with a transformation show and cherries, also hearing the...

Here is my video link https://youtu.be/pT16Y0gX6X0

https://youtu.be/w77RWfZkWOM

On our final day of the trip, we all woke up ready to get to the airport. We finished packing our bags, ate an amazing breakfast buffet in the hotel lobby, and met downstairs at 7:45 to board a bus to the Barajas Airport in Madrid. Once we arrived, we waited in line to check in and were each asked a series of questions by security about our trip. We made it through security and onto the train to the gate with little trouble, and we quickly made our way to gate R14.  Since we were the 8th group to board, we waited for a little while outside the gate. Some girls used this time to finish up buying souvenirs for family and friends while others used it as time to relax their feet from the journey to the gate. We boarded the plane and got in our seats and enjoyed a very long 10 hour flight back home to Dallas.  Now, back home in Dallas,, I am reminiscing on all of the amazing things we did in both Salamanca and Madrid. I will greatly miss the Spanish culture and all of t...

Here is the link to my video about the Plaza Mayor in Salamanca! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1C_8mWpyMU

The trip to Salamanca was one of the best experiences of my life. I loved every minute of it and enjoyed bonding with many girls as well as the teachers. I particularly was fascinated with the Palacio Real in Madrid as well as the Prado. My language as well as cultural intellect real grew these past few weeks. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to experience such an impacting and educational program.

       Today was quite an eventful day! To kick off our last day in Salamanca, Sarah and I had breakfast before school at Valor, a chocolatería. Chocolate con churros was perfect for a cold morning.         The last day of school was bittersweet-- while we were happy to have completed our courses, we were sad to say goodbye to our wonderful teachers. After school, we had our graduation in the old university. The significance of essentially becoming graduates of the University of Salamanca, which celebrates its 800th anniversary next year, was truly special.         After lunch, we packed our bags and said our final goodbyes to Salamanca. The time has flown by, yet we have become so at home in the wonderful city. On the two-hour bus ride to Madrid, we had a nice time playing music and talking, reminiscing over the past fourteen days. We arrived in Madrid and got settled in the lovely Hotel Regina.         ...

Hello friends and family!! Today was yet another day of fun adventures in Spain! I enjoyed school a lot more today now that we are finished with exams. I love that every class is completely in Spanish and that there is so much participation among students. I can really see how much being immersed in the Spanish culture and language has improved my Spanish. Today in culture class  we were all rewarded with a delicious Spanish "dulce." After class today, my roommate Sydney and I went to enjoy some authentic Spanish tapas since we are coming to the end of the trip. Sydney and I went to a popular cafe in Plaza Mayor to enjoy the Spanish version of calamari. It was a lot more chewy than the American version because the calamari was in big peices with little breading, but it was so fresh. I love the environment of Spain and that wherever you are whenever you are you are always surrounded by lots of conversation, laughs, and smiles. I have very much enjoyed "Plaza Mayor" ...

       Today was la leche! Café con leche that is. This morning my friend and roommate, Lauren, and I had time to stop before school at our usual breakfast spot "Cafeteria Zingaros." I got a warm fluffy crossaint with the best orange juice in Salamanca and... café con leche. Lauren got a classic chocolate con churros, a typical Salamanca snack, well it's what she would have got but later it was revealed as a crossaint. With this we were ready for class and began learning all about different Spainish cities and their celebrations. After class, Lauren and I had crawfish, rice, lamb, cherries, salad and watermelon. Needless to say, we were stuffed. Before being filled to the brim, we filmed a bit of our blog and asked locals to be in it. Then we rested, and went to McDonalds to get away to study. We had a McFlurry and "Lemon y nada," while studying for our quiz tommorow. After our study break, we headed to the plaza, which was two minutes away. In the Plaza Mayor w...