My last few days in Valencia

Tuesday July 24, 2007

I woke up and walked to class with Jordan. In conversation we prepared for a test and in grammar we went over the subjunctive. I stayed after school to study in the library and update my blog about my Rome trip. I went home and took a 3 hour siesta. We had dinner at 10 then I stayed up until 3am studying for my conversation vocabulary final.

Wednesday July 25, 2007

I got up at 7am to study. Jordan and I got to school early. I think my conversation vocab final went well. In grammar we reviewed for the final. I stayed at school for an hour to use the computer. Matt and I decided that we really wanted to see more of Valencia. We went to the Museum de Beleas Artes and I remembered my camera this time so I could take pictures. I got some great pictures of the river gardens too. We walked around the Plaza de La Virgen, bought postcards, went to see the really nice post office to buy post card stamps, went to Valor to have chocolate con churros, studied for our grammar test on a park bench in the city, got some drinks at Consum then I went home. I studied, used the internet, took a nap, had dinner, studied, read about where I am going on my excursion through Spain in my Spain book and went to bed.

Thursday July 26, 2007

I walked to school with Jordan for the last time. In conversation we had our final exam which was an oral exam and we were assigned time slots to come in. I was not there Monday when groups and times were assigned so I was assigned to Alexa and in the first time slot- 9:15am. I think we did an ok job with our oral exam. I studied for my grammar final in the library until the final at 11:15. I think that final went well too. Everyone was so happy to be done. I got a picture of our entire class and Sunita and I got pictures around the school. I used the wireless at school then headed home with Jordan for comida with madre, my niece and my sister. We had fried chicken and fried potatoes. Surprise, surprise- it is all fried. Liz came over and we were going to find a hotel for San Sebastian and Madrid, but decided just to go to the beach instead. The beach was fun- most everyone from the program was there. After chillin on the beach for a little while I went to Horchata Daniel with Annie, Lee and Emily. We took the metro and had horchata (sweet frozen, drink made from tiger nuts) and fagros (glazed rolls to dip in the horchata)- which are both very famous in Valencia. I took the metro back to my house and got a shower. I had dinner by myself and watched a movie which was nice and relaxing. I made a map of where I am traveling and e-mailed it to friends and family. I met up with Liz and Alex then we walked to a bar near the soccer stadium. The school was sponsoring a bar night with free Aqua de Valencia and reduced priced drinks. I danced with a lot of people including some middle aged Spanish women when we were in a group dancing lesson. I ended up having 4 aqua de valencias because they were not very strong and I felt fine. It was also cool because most everyone from the program was there. And then we went to another bar to get more free drinks- I had 2 free mohitos which were so good. They had mint leaves, sugar and other good stuff in it. At this point I still felt fine. There were a few funny instances like Randee using the guys restroom because she could not find the girls. We walked back to the orgional bar and gathered the crowds to go to La Indiana. We took taxis there and got to the club around 3am. The club cost 18 euros to get in for guys and it was free for girls, but it was worth it because that included the price of a drink and the club was awesome. There were several rooms with different styles of music where a lot of people were dancing. There were also other floors, but they were closed off because it was a Thursday night. The coolest parts of the club were the large aquariums which had real sharks in them. I got my free drink- a big red bull and vodka and by this point I started to feel the alcohol. It was a good feeling. I would not call it drunk because I could still understand everything that was going on around me and I could walk and talk fine, but my friends said that I was extremely funny. I had a lot of fun dancing. We left that club at 6am and took taxis to the beach. We watched the sun rise and I got some great pictures of the sun rise over the Mediterranean. We left there at 7:30 and after waiting for a taxi I decided to take the metro home by myself because it was now running for the people going to work. I fell asleep on the metro, but was fortunate to wake up at my stop. I walked home and got there at 8:30am. I went to sleep right away.

Friday July 27, 2007

I woke up at 12:30 after getting only about 4 hours of sleep. I got a shower and got ready for comida with the group for our departure meal with the teachers and all of the students in the program. Jordan was all packed because he was heading to the airport after the lunch. He said by to madre then he and I walked to the lunch. We exchanged stories about or evenings and he had an interesting evening too. He went into the ocean with his ipod and ruined it, he lost his shoes and had to buy new ones and his night went on. He said he had a terrible night, but I had my best night in Valencia. We got to the comida and it was great. The school had reserved and entire restaurant just for us. I sat with Phil, Joe, Jessie and a few other people. We had bottled water, sangria, salad, muscles, bread, chicken paella, and ice cream all on the school. It was the best meal I had in Valencia and I was so glad that I went. The people I sat with were great company and it was just a great way to end the program. Everyone got pictures with the professors and everyone else. It reminded me of what it was like to go to small school because that was basically what it was and I really liked it. UVA can seem so intimidating sometimes because of its size. I said my final good byes to the teachers and the other students in the program. I will not see some of them again because they go to different schools. The UVA kids will all have reunions when we get back. It was said that it was now really over. The 5 weeks went by really quick and I had a great experience. Jordan left. We said our good byes and he left for the airport. I will see him again because he is on my return flight to the USA. I walked around Valencia with Caleb, Lisa, Liz, Phil and Alex. We went to the post office and to El Corte Ingles. I said bye to them and came home to pack. Now I am at home updating my blog and about ready to pack. I have to write 2 more post cards, mail those, go to an ATM and finish packing. I have dinner with madre at 10 then I am going to the train station. Caleb, Liz, Annie and I leave for Granada at 12:50am. I am really looking forward to our 11 day adventure!