Salamanca Jitters?

so it's my first blog entry. i think blogs are gross since you assume people are interested in reading about your life all the time, but i hope you will read one every once in a while to see what i'm doing and catch up.

i leave for Salamanca, Spain in 2 days! i have pretty much everything ready - my one suitcase is pretty small (i'm so proud of myself!). i still have to find a gift to give my señora that i'm living with. she lives 10 minutes from the campus, so i will luckily be able to walk and enjoy living nearby to my classes. i am nervous about the classes at the Universidad de Salamanca, since it is known as the Oxford of the Spanish World. how intimidating! i have been reading some articles in El Pais/news in general, Spain's history and Manolito Gafotas to keep my spanish reading skills up to date. i'm nervous that i haven't spoken spanish for a while and hope that it will return to me quickly when i get there.

i really would like to make myself obey an all-spanish-all-the-time rule (except for these posts of course). i feel that this is attainable, and i hope to observe it almost all of the time. i don't think i will skype that much - just depends on wifi availability and not disturbing people around me.

i am also eager about learning about spanish opinions in general. since i've been there before, i don't think i will be shocked by the food or customs. i hope to engage with spaniards my age and develop meaningful friendships with a few. i don't want to depend on the program americans. i hope that even if i am not knowledgeable about most things, that those abroad will recognize my curiosity to listen and experience new things.

sorry that this post is about my goals abroad and lacks capitalizations...i hope to write on here at least 2 times a month? that sounds like a reasonable goal. and buena suerte to those of you going abroad and staying abroad! marina, sarah, ben, catherine + lexi - i'm sure you all will have a wonderful time!