Yesterday was a long a drive to Cordoba- 5hrs long! Luckily I met Paqui, a Spanish woman who sat next to me in the bus. We talked for most of the trip in Spanish and although I didn't understand and speak much espanol, she was pacient and helped me get acquainted with espanol. She was from El Carpio, a little town near Cordoba, and she was so nice that she treated me to coffee and donut even though I tried to refuse.
When we arrived in Cordoba, the group went immediately to the medieval festival in the old center of town. I loved it! It's way better than any of our Renaissance festivals in the US. They had MUCH more food, especially meat (ribs, salami, sausage, whole pork legs, etc), and authentic, handmade items. I bought a leather bracelet for 5 euros while a friend bought an iron ring for 30 euros. The festival was such a unique and fun experience.
Late at night, the whole group decided to take a stroll in the outskirts of the city, where the famous bridge and mosque that represents Cordoba is located. I always enjoyed watching the Travel Channel when people traveled to different countries and famous cities, but I thought that realistically if I ever went there I wouldn't appreciate it as much. But that night on the bridge it was so beautiful. It's a place where you could take your date and just stroll around free of worries. It was so rejuvenating.
And before I came to Cordoba, I had never heard of it and asked myself why I chose it. I had qualms about it...what if it's boring, full of old mosques. I don't know what I will be saying after the program, but right now it seems like I made the right choice. Cordoba is beautiful and exciting in its own way with quaint streets, mosques, friendly Spanish people, and it's a chance to really immerse myself in the Spanish culture in comparison to Madrid, which is filled with tourists and English speaking people.
Today we met our families. I was SO NERVOUS to meet them, because I want them to like me and I wanted the perfect family- whatever that is. My family here is composed of my madre- Magdalena, her daughter- May, and her son, who is in Malaga at the moment. Magdalena is quite older and her daughter, who is still living with her, is around 40 years old. It feels lonely this first day because we can't contact any of our Spanish friends without a cell phone.
I was mad and frustrated at one point today, but I always reminded myself of what Inma, our program coordinator said, "Give it a chance." I was supposed to meet a friend who would walk with me to the university to make sure we know where to go tomorrow, but I couldn't understand the directions that Magdalena was telling me. I have a limited vocabulary...and I just interpreted something like "turn right...follow Aeropuerte...ham...drinks." I found the "Jamon" restaurant but I wasn't sure if that was what she was talking about so I walked back and forth along the street area looking for my friend. Deciding it might be too far to walk by myself I went back to ask Magdalena. She wasn't any help and I just left again attempting to find the university on my own since she had already given me the directions on the map. I was jealous that many of the host moms chose to walk with their student to the university, but mine didn't. It's not a big deal and I found out- if it's even true- when I got back that she had a headache. Good thing is I found the school and some familiar faces along the way.
Now, I have to improve my Spanish, because I'm really slow at conjugating verbs and have a limited vocabulary. I know now how frustrating it feels to learn a new language in a foreign place.
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