estoy enferma

Hola!

The first picture is of the street walking to class and the second one is where the classrooms are. Their is a large basketball/futbol/meeting place in the center with classrooms surrounding it.

Today I woke up with a pretty bad sore throat. I went to the farmacia/pharmacy and a lady there helped me get some medicine. Tonight I am staying in and getting at least 8 hours of sleep in hopes that I will feel back to normal tomorrow. I knew that it was only a matter of time before I got sick! Annnddd I've been drinking water constantly as well as taking my usual vitamins and airborne. Owell...I guess not even herbal supplements can combat 5 long days and late nights.





Well...Spain just does not allow sick days so even though I was feeling under the weather I couldn't help but have a great day anyhow. After class and lunch we (all the students from CT) had our first excursion which was a tour of the colegio de espana, which was a tour of the historcial part of the school we are studying in. I will have to do my best to post pictures of the tour tomorrow because the places we went to were incredible. I learned that the college has been around since the 15th century! The details in the arcitechture are fascinating, pictures carved by hand into the marbel walls, stair cases, and Arabic and Hewbrew inscriptions everywhere. All of the ceilings are hand crafted and beautiful. We were told about an old tradition in the school where students would be lectured to by their professor for 5 years after which they are given only one oral exam at the end in order to become a doctor of the school. Well only 7% of the students passed and those who didn't were punished by public ridicule and thrown into the river. Those who did pass were given special parties, bull fights in their honor, and were allowed to write their name in red paint on the walls of the school along with their own unique symbol of victory. Their were names with symbols and dates from 1600-1996!





Salamanca is rich with history and symbolism it is nothing like the United States where buildings are put up and torn down without thought. Where city lights illuminate billboards, restuaruants, and stores. Their is hardly any advertising on the streets of Salamanca. Signs do not light up, and names of shops or cafes are written elegantly in paint on the walls. Lights do not blink, dance, or buzz here, they twinkle like stars. The buidlings in Salamanca are empathetic to the people. They reflect their emotions, their ambitions, their passions, as well as their past, future, and preasent. Everything down to the soothing cream and salmon color of the streets and buidlings. When dusk approaches the entire city bathes in candel light. It is very soothing to sit on the balocony or take a walk and breath in the colors of the city. I am content here.

Buenos Noches!

<3 Kelly