I got to school and had grammar class. There was another student in our morning classes today, a guy this time, the only one, and he is from Japan. I got to know a lot about his life during the second part of the morning because we were partners int he communication class. But first in the grammar class we reviewed conjugations of preterite and imperfect and some of the irregular verbs as well as when to use which. I've learned this before but I still get it wrong sometimes. And I'm sure I'll still get it wrong sometimes even now. But the explanation was helpful and the "rules" were kind of what I already knew but stated in a way that covered a broader spectrum of situations which was nice. In communication class we basically just talked with our partner the whole time. Some of the conversation was structured and then when we got done with the questions we were supposed to ask and go over we just got to talk with each which I suppose is really the best way to learn. You've just got to practice. More and more and more.
In the afternoon class we talked some more about spain and the regions or communities that make up the country. We also learned a little more about what each of these regions is known for. And tomorrow we are going to be in the media center and we are going to make some kind of pamphlet or flyer about one of the regions.
When we got out of class Emily and I walked around trying to find some kind of grocery store or supermarket or somewhere we could get some simple foods or snacks to bring for our lunch so we would not be eating out everyday. Along the way we found an atm and I was finally able to get some money now that my card is working. We also unintentionally walked to the place where we were supposed to meet for the tour we were going on later. By then we were super hungry and basically just stopped at the first little cafe we came across. It wasn't a tapas place, but we did get a good sandwich and some chips. Then we started walking back toward our houses, still looking for a store. We stopped in some shops along to way to look at the rebajas, which are like these big sales or reductions in price. Most things are still more than I would like to pay though. And I really don't want to spend too much on clothes because I don't have that much money or that much room in my suitcase.
We eventually made it back to Corte Inglés and decided to go in and see what kind of practical items they had in the pharmacy section and found that we had a place to go if we ever needed things like toothpaste or lotion or soap or things like that. *side note. the cat is being super obnoxious right now. she meows sooo loud* And then we noticed another staircase we had not seen the day before. We had been to all of the upper levels the day before, but we didn't realize there was a lower lever. Finally we found our grocery store. We were able to find some snack foods and bread which you can get for fairly cheap, it's the peanut butter that was the most expensive *oh my goodness this cat is driving me crazy* We were also able to find some bottled water that was a lot cheaper than any of the bottles from the little cafes and such that you see everywhere. But at this point is was getting close to time to meet for our tour so we didn't actually buy anything because we didn't have time to take it back to our houses.
So we headed back over to the area we had been in earlier. The designated meeting place was puerta de jerez. Where there is this pretty fountain. We were a little early so I decided I had better break out the camera finally.
It was a little warmer today which made walking around and standing and listening to some spanish explanations of important things in the city more bearable. But what we saw today was also farther away from we we live. So we were very tired by the time it was done. I don't know if I'm ever going to accomplish the whole going out thing because I am tired at the end of the day and basically ready to go to bed by 10. But of course I stay up til about 12 or 1 anyway...
So we learned a little about puerta de jerez and then we saw part of the university of seville. Then we walked over to what I believe is called parque de maría luís or something like that. The biggest thing on this whole journey was seeing plaza de españa which is really big and really pretty and I don't remember the historical significance of it at all. But one of the star wars movies was filmed there. I do remember that.
After that we walked some more through this park, saw some cool looking museums, and finally started making our way back. We made it back to our houses without any problems. Actually I even had time left before dinner so I stopped back at the store to pick up a bottle of water and some granola bars so I could have a little snack at school if I should happen to want one. Dinner was ready basically right as I walked in the door. R asked me about my day and I responded in my slow and choppy spanish that always makes me look like a beginning student of the language compared to the other girls in the house. She had me call up to the other girls while I put my stuff in my room and then it was dinner time.
It's kind of weird, the whole dinner situation. The two other girls and I eat by ourselves but R and J stand in the kitchen and talk to us, mostly H and K, the ones who can actually carry on a conversation. R also takes our plates as we finish. We had this chicken and potato soup which was pretty good despite being an odd yellow-greenish color. But I'm not a soup person typically so maybe that is not actually an odd color for soup. I wouldn't know. There was also so small pieces of meat of some sort and bread of course. The salad had corn and what I think we pieces of crab maybe in it. J also had us try some of this sausage type stuff which wasn't too bad. I eat a lot slower than the other girls though which they laugh about. R and J that is. But there is so much food and I don't want to be rude and not finish what I'm given and it just happened to take me forever to eat this big bowl of soup. And after all of that food she still asks us what we want for desert. I feel like she's going to wonder why I have an orange every night but when it's that or a banana or yogurt it seems like the obvious choice. But it takes longer to eat an orange than it does to eat a cup of yogurt so I look even more like the slow one. Oh well. I guess I've only been here a couple of days. A lot can happen in 12 weeks.
So that was day 2. Nothing too exciting to report but for now that's fine with me.
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