A Week of Ups and Downs...

   Last week was a very complicated, emotional week for me. I just was getting way to overwhelmed with everything that I let it all get to me at once, and on top of it all I got sick! It was Hanna's last week, so I was a little worried about when she leaves and what I was going to do, because she was practically my only friend to go to lunch and dinner with, to go shopping, and hang out and whatever else we decided to do. Then I got sick and just had to stay home and sleep and wait for it to go away. Sometimes I think I put way too much pressure on myself. This week became a week of sickness, emotions, and self-reflection. A rollercoaster with 180 degree turns, loops, twists, and speeds from 0 to 60 in 5.2 ;) (Name that song!)
     Let's see fun things I did last week...Tuesday night there was a going away dinner for the Brazilian group that was studying at my school. The dinner was at the restaurant that I eat at everyday called Dominus. The whole group of Brazilians were very very nice and friendly. Two of them lived in my host mom's apartment with me. After dinner they invited me to go out with them to go dancing and have some drinks! I decided, ya know, why not, I need to meet some people! We started at a bar called La Chupeteria, which everyone goes to in order to start off their night, because los chupitos (shots) are 1 euro. I started off with a Corona haha. The bartender was playing a lot of Brazilian music and the girls were teaching me how to dance to the songs, it was fun! I met two girls from Spain that are in Salamanca studying at the University through two girls from Brazil. They were super nice and we continued hanging out the rest of the night. We bar hopped for a while, going to the bars that the girls liked best. I'm not sure why, but Tuesday nights are the nights to go out, along with Thursday and Saturdays, but I mean people still go out on all the other nights too! This Tuesday, however, was very packed! Every bar we went to was crowded! Bars here stay open very late (well early technically), some until 10am! We ended up staying out until 5:30 am. We ended at bar that people go to dance at and it was a lot of fun! I met a lot of people, some guys from New York, and some others. I went home very tired and woke up the next morning very tired also. However, I was just so happy that I had met some people!

 The restaurant that my host mom owns and I eat at everyday!

      Some other fun things from the past week....Hanna and I discovered two new restaurants that are so delicious! One is El Bardo and they have an amazing Menu del Dia, which is their special of the day. This came with 3 courses plus a dessert! It was so yummy! They have a vegetarian choice, so I went for that one and so did Hanna! We were both stuffed by the end of it. I've never had a 4 course meal at lunch time before haha, sure is different than my usually turkey sandwich, baby carrots, and banana I would eat in the library while studying, sometimes I would have a nutella and peanut butter sandwich, just to mix it up a bit! Here it is something different each day and I think it keeps my taste buds alive! I could go on and on about the food over here!

 Crema de Verduras

 Veggie stir fry

 Crepe con queso 

 and dessert! 

 So delicious!

 The other place we found was a cafe called Mandala. The first time we went we just got some drinks. They have like 20 different flavors of hot chocolates, I tried Coconut. They also have all natural juices, not just orange, but raspberry, strawberry, mango, etc. And they have batidos (milkshakes), tea, coffee, everything! The second time we went we went for lunch to try their menu del dia, which was buenisimo!!! This place only had the starter and then the entree and then dessert, so not as big as El Bardo, but just as filling and yummy!

 Crema de verdura

 Veggie lasagna! delicious!

 Strawberries and whipped cream for dessert!

     

         Let's see... I also took an informational tour with Maria a lady that works for my school and is an art teacher. She showed Lei and I important places in Salamanca and I learned a little more about the history of the buildings I walk by everyday! It is incredible how much history Salamanca has! Spain is such an old country full of history and exciting information! The U.S. is a newborn compared to Spain -lol- I love it :) It was all so interesting! 

      The week ended with me being sick and I went to bed on Friday at about 10pm and slept in late on Saturday. I was lazy all day Saturday and then, being that it was Hanna's last night in Salamanca, we went to dinner at a tapas bar we had been wanting to try called Bambu. It was really crowded (there was a futbol game), but we had the best patatas bravas we had tried so far! 

 Patatas bravas (red), calamaris, morcilla, tortilla espanola.

    After Bambu, we really were wishing we were in Segovia to go to La GuaGua so we could have drinks and candy! But, to our advantage there was a candy store right around the corner and we were able to buy the same candy we had at La GuaGua and took it to another bar-El Corrillo, the first Jazz bar in Salamanca- to eat and have a drink! We talked, drank, and devoured our candy in celebration of Hanna's last night in Salamanca, it was bittersweet, but I know she will have an awesome time in Madrid, and I can go visit! Just a bus ride away :) 

     

   I think I took advantage of how well I felt Saturday night, because Sunday morning I woke up super sick! So I slept late, but I had to go meet Hanna at Dominus for our last lunch! It was Paella, like every Sunday, so it was yummy :) I really like paella! After lunch I helped Hanna lug her suitcases to the bus station and said good bye :( It was sad! Then I went home and slept, slept, slept, slept. Haha, the only way to get better of course is to get rest! Monday I woke up still sick, my head hurt, so I rested all day Monday besides going to school and today I feel a lot better! The cure?? Lots of sleep and vitamin C! Oranges and orange juice! Haha I am still gonna take it easy this week so that I make sure it goes away completely :) 

    The week was fun and sad at the same time. I had ups and downs about meeting people, since right now at school it is Lei and I. A new group comes in March! But, I have two intercambios, girls that want to practice English and help me practice my Spanish that I meet with every week, so that is great practice and a great way to get to know more people! I also have many more opportunities to meet a lot of people! No fear :) I just had to realize I have a lot of time left here and being sick just made me feel very down because I was just stuck inside trying to get better. This week will be great and so will the upcoming weeks! I think I may have just gone through a period of culture shock -lol- I just needed to take a deep breath and have patience, Rome wasn't built in a day, either are friendships, and I can't become fluent in a language and learn everything in one day either, so therefore... patience and perseverance and dedication :) 

    Missing everyone a lot and looking forward to the amazing experiences I will have!

Until next time....Tana <3