First impressions of Spain

Hey there friends! Many of you know that this semester I am studying abroad in Valencia, Spain. I'm here through Oral Roberts University and studying at a small institute for students from abroad to study Spanish here. There are 5 other students here from ORU and I'm rooming with my friend Holly. We live with a Spanish family in their apartment, so we get the full Spanish culture experience!

I've been in Spain for a week and a half now and so far I love the culture here! I was expecting to have some culture shock, but the only thing I've really had to adjust to is the meal schedule, which then affects the rest of the day. The Spanish don't have very big breakfasts, usually just a coffee and a piece of toast or something small. Lunch is their most important meal of the day which is around 2 PM. In the home the mom prepares food for every lunch and dinner and the family eats together. Dinner is also much later, around 9 PM, where they eat bocadillo often times. A bocadillo is sort of like a sub sandwich with fresh bread usually with some sort of meat or something. Rosa, my host mom, is a great cook! She doesn't like to follow recipes, but tries new things, and invents her own delicious desserts! It's pretty great eating here (and not in saga!! haha). Also, between meals they like to have "meriendas," pastry snacks, and coffee. The coffee portions here are tiny, but they cost less like 1.50 euros, which is less than $2!

The night life for the young people here is also very different! On the weekends (Thursday-Saturday) everyone goes out to bars and clubs. Clubs and discotecas are open all night until the morning and they don't fill up until about 3 AM! Last Friday night was our first real night out and we went to a popular club around 2:40 am. We get in and there were people there and music playing, but it didn't seem very lively. But by 3:15 it was full and everyone there was dancing and having fun. We've been told that it's very normal to stay out until 6 or 7 in the morning! I'm getting to experience things that I would never have done in the states. haha

It's been very cool living here so far because you can pretty much walk anywhere you want to go in the city. In Valencia there used to be a river that ran through the city, but after it dried up they turned it into a long park. We live withing good walking distance from a couple really good parks and I can't wait for it to get warmer and for the plants to bloom so that I can go and just sit in the park.

So far things are going pretty well and I can't wait for them to get better : )

(us 5 girls from ORU in the park Los Jardines Real)