Last night, I got back from eating and posted about the amazing free tapa I had eaten, and then about 5 minutes later Cristian came home and asked me if I wanted to go and watch a film at his friend's house. I was really tired, but I had been hoping to go somewhere with Cristian so I agreed and went with him.
His friend's house was outside of the casco in the new town, so Cristian drove us there in his dad's car. Before the film we stopped outside a shop and met 2 of his friends and he bought some coca cola and snacks. Then we went to his friend's house and there were another 3 people there (7 of us in total). I chatted to them a bit before we watched the film but didn't really talk much. When they chatted amongst themselves it was difficult for me to keep up.
By the time we put the film on it was midnight and I was too tired to understand much of it. When I'm tired my mind wanders and I can't concentrate on it enough to understand anything. Funnily enough I was still thinking a lot in Spanish and about Spanish phrases I had heard that night - I just couldn't concentrate on the film.
After the film I was really tired and I think Cristian was too so we left straight away, and chatted a bit in the car. I think I learnt more from the little bit of chat in the car on the way home than I did in the rest of the evening. I also learnt what 'cojones' are. (Look it up if you care).
It is interesting to see the difference between English and Spanish university students. The first and most obvious difference is that Spanish students seem to study in their home town (at least in Toledo) - Cristian and a lot of his friends still live at home, and everyone I've talked to who is a student here says that they grew up here. This is completely different to the UK where most people try to get as far away from their parent's house as possible! It was also interesting to see that they were sitting at home and drinking coca cola on a Saturday night. In the UK when a bunch of students get together on a Saturday night, they don't normally drink coca cola! In fact you only had to look at the mess on the pavements Sunday mornings in Coventry to tell how much the students there used to drink on a night out. I obviously can't say whether this applies to student life here in general as I have only been out with them once and it is holiday time, but it seemed pretty different from my memories of student life back in the UK.
This morning when I woke up Charo offered me something good for breakfast: I had tostadas which are toasted French bread (ok Isabel I know it's Spanish bread too :-p) with garlic, olive oil, tomato and jamon. After breakfast I went for a walk and to read some of my book, but in the end I felt too hot and returned home. The rest of the morning I felt slightly sick and just watched TV.
For lunch I had pisto (vegetables in tomato) to start, followed by chicken and chips, followed by natillas. After lunch I had a siesta and I think I could have slept for hours. I always set an alarm though so that I only sleep for 30 minutes but today it was hard to get up again!
In the afternoon I watched Toy Story 3 in Spanish with Paula, followed by Pirates of the Caribbean (also in Spanish). After that I walked into town and had a jamon and tomato sandwich, and some octopus salad.
Not the most exciting day but I had some nice food today. This is the last weekend I will be spending by myself, and the end of the second week which marks the half way point through my trip. I feel like I've been here forever! (In a good way!)
Comments
Thats why I am sending this to Nan now, as it is the half way point. You seem to be quite settled now and enjoying Spanish meals and habits (including sesta).
I think you are doing really well and fitting in with your family and the way of life. Your Spanish is obviously improving all the time but I also think you are blending in with the way of life very well.
You will have lots of memories to bring back with you. xx