Author Archives: Rebekah Sophia

03.03.14

¡Hola y bienvenidos a mi blog! Here I will provide detailed descriptions of random thoughts and events that occur during my time in Salamanca, Spain, as a part of a study abroad program, as well as any future traveling or inspirational experiences.

Upon arriving in Madrid two weeks ago, all the Americans fell asleep. I’ve found that while we dream in Salamanca, those we hold connections with back home are living our yesterday. In a sense, we are a part of two days everyday. This has been a concept hard for me to shake in learning to live fully here, both in this moment and in these surroundings.

 
I have been lucky to live in a number of beautiful places. While San Diego is known for its beaches and sun, Salamanca has been just as beautiful, with its rich history and depth of character. Some of the buildings date back to the 12th Century, and you can practically feel the wisdom and experience seeping through the stone walls, and through the tombs lying beneath the Catedral Vieja. Some highlights deserving recognition include; the pastries, la atmósfera bien tranquila, the outline of the city, and the freedom to have the ability to live without needing a car.
There are lots of young people, both Spanish and foreigners, who come to study at the university. I have yet to see someone walking down the street without class; it seems style is almost a requirement for occupying this city. From fur coats to costume jewelry, the dress is a much-appreciated change from the lazy attitude towards appearance that many in the US often harbor. I wasn’t kidding when I told friends I’d return a more cultured woman. And at the same time, the smallest cravings of things American (and Mexican) have issued some of the highest rewards. Tacos, for example.
My main experience with culture shock was going to see El Correo del Toros this past weekend at Ciudad Rodrigo. I stayed for only two of the four bullfights/corrida de toros. It got a bit emotional. A bunch of men (toreros) with pink and yellow capes began to play with the bull, distracting it for the first jab, which was made by a lancer on a horse (picador).
After the toreros took turns pinning the bull with decorative swords, the matador entered scene. He had the bull run after the red cape, and in its exhaustion, the matador stabbed the bull a few times more. I did not expect the blood to be so bright. There was a moment in both fights where the bull was breathing super heavily, and looked up and around the stadium, as if searching for escape. He was eventually finished off (estocada) by a man with a short knife to the back of the neck and spinal cord. I don’t see how any other Taurus does it.
It has been quite a time, and there’s still so many more adventures waiting to be had. Hasta la próxima vez.