Week 10

Hello everyone,

I have done over 10 weeks now - just over two weeks to go before I come home for Christmas! I am really excited to get back now - I am having a great time but the closer it gets to coming back, the more I realise how much I've missed home and being around my family.

Last week was another quiet week - we had an Italian exam on Monday so I am glad we got that over and done with. We went for a drink with our Irish friends after the exam and then me and Niamh popped into town. In the evening, Nathan, Aine and Callum came round to watch I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, so that was a really nice night - I didn't get into bed until 2am! We also cooked another meal that night - we realised that we couldn't keep having salad every single night so we decided to make a bit more of an effort! We made a vegetarian Bolognese with vegetable pasta and it was really nice.

On Tuesday we didn't have any lessons as one of our teachers has literally gone AWOL (she hasn't been in for over two weeks but we haven't had a single email or notice on the Moodle page to say why she hasn't been in and when she's coming back!). We did turn up but heard nothing so we ended up going back home. We have planned to do a British vs Irish Come Dine with Me in a couple of weeks so we sat trying to decide what to cook! We haven't decided on a theme yet, or what we are cooking, but we have a good 10 days or so to decide!

On Wednesday we went to the gym for the first time in a couple of weeks - its really hard to find the motivation to get back into it when you haven't been for a while! But we both felt a lot better afterwards so it was worth going. We met Callum for a drink afterwards and then I phoned Charlotte and we had a big catch up so it was a nice day. Our Italian class was cancelled on Thursday so we didn't have uni again - I got some of my work for Warwick done (we have to submit essays throughout the year and three are due on Friday), so I got it out of the way as it was playing on my mind that I needed to finish them! I went for a walk on my own to the café to get a change of scenery so it was a quiet day but I got a lot done!

On Friday I woke up late so nearly didn't make my 9am lecture; I was meeting Nathan and Aine near the uni at 8:50 and I got in the shower at 8:40! So I had to run to meet them but we made it on time in the end. As soon as I left uni I went to the gym so it was a very productive morning! In the evening we met Nathan and Aine at 10y10 for a couple of drinks so it was nice to have a good evening and at the weekend there is always a really nice atmosphere so we had a lovely night. Callum came back to ours and we sat watching Friends for ages!

The weekend was very quiet - I finished off my essays and did quite a lot of work so it was very productive in terms of doing work! We went for a walk on Sunday to the Plaza Mayor to see the tree and the carousel in the square but it was so cold we didn't end up staying there for too long! We also watched our first Christmas film of the year - Love Actually! It is a classic.

The lights are being switched on at the weekend across the city so I am very excited to see them and feel really Christmassy!

Grace xx

Grace xx

Week 9

Buenos días!

I have been here for 9 weeks!! I have just under 4 weeks left until I come home for Christmas! Crazy how time flies.

This week has been quite quiet, although we have been out a lot walking around the town and meeting up with friends. The start of the week was really cold so we went to buy some new pyjamas and had a little shopping spree!

On Thursday, me and Callum went to see the Plaza Mayor as they had started to construct the Christmas Tree, the lights and the Carousel ready for Christmas. They have started putting lights up in all of the streets now, but apparently they don't actually turn them on until early December!

On Thursday afternoon I then went to an Italian workshop with Aine, and we were basically being taught by a bunch of Italian students who had come to Valladolid for the week on an exchange programme. There were only three of us that turned up so we all had 4 Italian people each teaching us - we played Italian hangman too which was quite fun.

Then in the evening we went to a few bars and cafes with the Irish as one of Hannah's friends was here from Milan. We ended up walking round for ages but it was a nice night.

On Friday we met up with the Irish again for a few drinks in the evening - in the daytime we had to go to the social security building to get a social security number here in Spain. It took us ages but at least its sorted now!

We also cooked for the first time on Thursday - we made pasta and a tomato sauce with vegetables in it! Its the first time we haven't eaten salad and cous cous - I was soo full!

Yesterday me, Aine, Nathan and Callum went to the cereal café to do some revision. It was really busy - although we definitely went at the right time because when we went shopping with Aine later on at around 6pm, there was a long queue outside of people waiting to order! We couldn't believe how busy it was there, and in general how busy the town was. We went for drinks at 10y10 in the evening which was nice, although that was really busy too as the football was on!

Our friend Gianluca is visiting today from Salamanca so we have been for lunch and are planning on showing him round the town later before he goes home.

Grace xx

Week 8

Hola!

I have just completed my eighth week here and I think it has been the best week yet. I had my mum and aunty Mandy here visiting from Monday-Thursday and we had a great time. On the Monday, they got here at about 6pm - the landlord was at our flat sorting the internet out so as soon as that was sorted I went to meet them at the hotel. We had a catch up in the hotel, and then hit the shops straight away! One of the big differences between Spain and England is that in Spain the shops stay open until late so you can literally go shopping at 9pm! We were going to go to the Bistro for dinner but it turns out that they close on Sundays and Mondays so we went to an Italian restaurant instead, and then for a coffee. I showed them round the flat and we sat in my bedroom for a bit. My mum bought me a really cute white Christmas tree so that is now sitting in my room, making me really excited for Christmas!

On the Tuesday, me and Niamh went to the gym early, and then I met Mum and Mandy at 10y10 for breakfast. We had to run to catch the bus to the Rio shopping centre and we spent a good few hours there shopping again. We got back later on and then mum and Mandy came for dinner at our flat - they got to try our signature dish of salad and cous cous...Then Niamh and Callum came with us to 10y10 for some drinks and I stopped at the hotel afterwards as they had two massive beds that could have easily had four people in! I ended up stopping the night after as well as I wanted to make the most of the time we had together, plus the shower was amazing!!

We walked around Valladolid a lot and started getting Christmas presents, and went on a bike ride around the park which was really nice. We went to different cafes and restaurants etc. too. I can't believe how quickly those few days went - I felt a bit deflated on the Thursday when they left as I had been so excited for ages about them coming to visit and then all of a sudden they had been and gone!

On Friday we had a test in the morning for our translation module, and then I started the year abroad work that we had to do for Warwick, so I had a day of working really hard! In the evening we went out with our Irish friends, our next door neighbour and his flat mates so there were quite a few of us. We just went for drinks at 10y10 but we had a really good night and a lot of laughs. We walked to the Cathedral and got a touristy picture!

The rest of the weekend has gone really quick - we went out again last night too so I am very tired! We went out with the Irish again last night and then ended up at a bar which was a really good experience; it was the first time I have felt like I was in a completely foreign country as it was very different to the sort of bars we would find in England! There were these dancers there who were dancing salsa and they were really good. Then the girl who had been dancing started doing all these moves and everyone copied and joined in so there was a big group of people all dancing together! Then the barmen put fire on the table to burn whisky or something - at first I was thinking that there was a fire, then I was told it was supposed to be there to do the shots with! I nearly ran out screaming! They played lots of music too which was really good, some modern Latino music and some old traditional Spanish songs.

Today me and Niamh went out for a drink this afternoon and then met Aine and Nathan, and we went to a new café that opened yesterday, called Cereal Hunters - basically, you get a bowl of any kind of cereal and then you can choose your milk (normal or all the plant based, dairy free milks) and they can die it different colours! Me and Niamh had just eaten so I didn't have anything but I definitely want to go back as Aine and Nathan's looked reallyyy good! It is a really good idea, and there were quite a few people there so I think it will be very popular.

Until next week...

Grace xx