First week in Salamanca

So, my first week in Salamanca went something like this…

Monday: Placement exam; Orientation

Tuesday: Classes; Sleep

Wednesday: Wake up with a sore throat & headache; Class; Sleep

Thursday: Class; Doctor’s; Pharmacy; Class; Class; Sleep

Friday: Sleep; Coffee & Churros; Lounge around all day because I can’t sleep anymore…

       Doesn’t seem so bad right?... aside from the whole “Wake up with a sore throat & headache” then the “Doctor’s; Pharmacy”. That’s right; within my first full week in Spain I get ….tonsillitis!!!!!!!! and the opportunity to experience a doctor’s appointment in Spanish, as opposed to my usual French with Dr. Schaeffer.  Difference between the medical system in Spain and the U.S.: In Spain you don’t make an appointment, you show up and wait, and despite the full waiting rooms, I didn’t have to wait long; seeing the doctor is FREE, no co-pay, ever; and prescriptions…super  cheap compared to the U.S., and insurance doesn’t even cover them. Overall I’d say it’s pretty awesome, and my doctor complimented me on my Spanish J

       So aside from my illness, which will now finally permit me to have my tonsils removed when I get home, my week was pretty good. For classes I’m taking: El mundo arabe en el mundo hispanico (The Arab world in the Spanish world); Lengua Española (Spanish Language-I’m in the most advanced level of this grammar course); Cultura Española (Spanish Culture); and Cine española e hispanoamericano (Spanish and Latin American Cinema).  Something that makes each of these classes awesome: El mundo arabe- we’re learning the Arabic alphabet; Lengua- well grammar is boring, but this class should definitely help improve my grammar, so that’s cool; Cultura- my homework this weekend is to eat paella and try two types of wine, and then report on which one I like better; Cine- all we do is watch movies, including some awesome one’s I’ve already seen, and some I’ve been wanting to see.

      I have also registered for a French class, I take the placement exam next week and classes start the week after. The class is through another program here in Salamanca, it starts later and ends later, so I’ll miss the last 4 classes, precisely the number I’m allowed to miss before automatically failing it and losing the credit. What’s cool about this class other than I get to practice my French? SUNY Cortland is paying for it!!!

All in all, I’d say I love it here <3