Week 6

Hola a todos! (Hello everyone)

I have now completed my sixth week here in Spain. I do feel like I've been here forever in some ways, but then in other ways the time is flying by!

On Monday, we had classes during the day so we didn't do anything exciting. We met Callum for a drink during the evening and we dressed up a little bit so that was nice to go out after having lectures all day. The city is a lot more alive during the evening - the Spanish tend to do more during the evening than they do in the day! Maybe that's why they have a siesta. We were talking to the waiters about dancing and they said they would teach us salsa, apparently that's really popular over here! We were talking to them about their eating and sleeping hours - they don't eat lunch until between 3-5pm and their dinner time is around 9-10pm. I would be so hungry if I waited that long! Although they find it weird that we eat so early, they were saying 'do you not get hungry at night time?!'. They were very sure that we will adapt; apparently by the time we get home we will be eating late and having siestas every day but I'm not so sure!

Tuesday was quite a quiet day; we went to the gym in the morning, and spent most of the afternoon doing work before our lecture from 4-5. Then Callum came over in the evening and we watched Shrek which was nice. On Wednesday we had 4 hours of lectures so we were back and forth to uni - in the evening we went for a drink and then had another film night - we watched Bridesmaids! On Thursday we met Callum in the morning and went to our Italian class. Niamh and I then went into town in the afternoon and had a look around the shops for a bit before coming back and having dinner.

The weekend has been quite busy. On Friday, we had planned to go out, as we hadn't been out properly yet in Spain, apart from to 10y10, haha! After our translation class in the morning, me and Niamh went to the gym and then we went back into town to do some shopping again. In the café there was such a cute little girl, who must have only been about 1 years old - she kept waving and blowing kisses to us, she was such a smiler! We also bumped into Gabi, one of the waiters, outside the supermarket, he apparently lives really close to us. Then Callum came over and we sat in the lounge listening to music etc. I cleaned the flat a bit which took me ages but I don't mind doing it and I love feeling so accomplished afterwards, haha! We initially went out at about 7pm and sat outside at 10y10. It was quite busy but as it was the weekend the atmosphere was really good. We couldn't decide whether we wanted to go out or not so we ended up going home for a bit and then going back to 10y10 until 2am, although they gave us a free drink so that was very nice! We were trying to teach David (the waiter) some English but he said it was really hard! They don't pronounce vowels in Spanish the same way that we do in English so it is quite hard to get used to the differences at first.

On Saturday we had a bit of a lie in as we had been out the night before. We walked into town and to the park in the afternoon to get out of the house - there was some sort of event going on but we couldn't work out what! We also kept seeing brides in their wedding dresses in and around the park so I don't know whether that was something to do with the event or not! Callum came over and we got ready to go out whilst watching Beauty and the Beast (the classic version). We love a bit of Disney! Our flatmate asked if we liked it because she could hear us singing! We did end up going out on Saturday - David and Gabi said they were going to come but they didn't finish work until 3am (well at 3am the clocks went back to 2am, but in our heads it was 3!). So we went back to ours for a couple of hours to chill for a bit before we went back out. I tried to sleep but I couldn't so we sat chatting and Niamh and Callum were playing a drinking game. We went to a bar called Juanita which was absolutely packed! I'm not really into clubs but it was nice to go and dance and see what it was like, and at least now I can say I've been! There were quite a few clubs around in the centre so it was busy - apparently that's quite normal for Spaniards to go out at 2am in the morning! At home we go out a lot earlier, but then maybe that's why they need a siesta in the afternoon! It was nice to go because a lot of people were dancing and there was a really lively atmosphere! We eventually left at around 5am (6am in our heads!) and the boys walked me and Niamh home, although it was starting to get light by then! Never in my life have I stayed out so late.....safe to say we didn't want to do much yesterday. We went for a drink with our next door neighbour called Mike; he is also an Erasmus student and is from Germany. Afterwards him and Callum came to ours for a bit.

Until next week!

Grace xx

Week 5

This week has been a fairly quite week as we haven't particularly gone anywhere new or done anything that we haven't before - although we have been keeping busy! We have been to the gym a lot, been to 10y10 a lot and attended nearly all of our classes (except for an 8-10pm French lecture which we definitely were not feeling up for!)

On Thursday night we went out for a drink with our friend Aine, which was really nice. Then on Saturday we decided to go out again. We went to this place which did lots of ice cream, cakes and pastries - after living off salad every day for lunch and dinner I definitely fancied something sweet! I had a frozen yoghurt and cherry thing, and I ordered a small size, but it definitely wasn't small! We then went back to 10y10 for a drink and we had to sit outside as it was so packed, but it was really cold!

We went back to the flat and watched Sleeping Beauty, but then the waiter David said that 10y10 was open until 3am and Niamh suggested that we go out again and get another drink, so we ended up going back out until 2.30am. They were playing some really good pop and salsa music and there were loads of people chatting so there was a really lovely atmosphere. We started off sitting outside but then one of the waiters asked if we wanted to move inside as someone was about to leave, so we managed to get a table in the warm! We had a really good night. 

This photo was taken on Wednesday night when we were just chatting and deciding what to dress up as for Halloween!

 We tried to roast these marshmallows but I managed to set it on fire - oops!

Today we had a really lazy day as we have been going to the gym a lot and had a lot of lectures so we were pretty tired. Also we didn't get to bed until 3.30am so we needed a lie in! We went for a walk to Campo Grande and sat by the fountain so we did get out for a bit, and then watched the X Factor tonight.

I am really enjoying my time here, but there are definitely moments when I am really missing home and my family and friends. I have been getting used to cleaning and do all the housework, although I did pick the iron up the wrong way round and ended up burning my fingers on the hot bit! I have 8 weeks left so its going really quick, so I am looking forward to seeing everyone when I get back. I have skyped my parents and my aunty and cousins this week so its been really nice to see them and feel a bit closer to home.