July 6th, 2011

Wow. Where do I begin? I might have just had one of the best nights of my life. Today began as a typical day in Salamanca – we went to class, I took a siesta, and then went to my meeting for Flamenco dancing lessons (they start next week! Eek!) I then came home to shower because everyone from the foodie practicum was supposed to meet to go have a food and wine tasting at the professors “pent house” on the other side of campus.

It was amazing. They live on the fifth floor of an apartment building and have a huge terrace with a view of the Catedrals. The temperature was perfect and there was not a cloud in the sky. Andy had set out vino (wine), refrescos (soda drinks), jamón (ham), queso (cheese), salsichones (sausage), chorizo (more sausage), and atún (tuna) for us to try. (Little vocab lesson for everyone). The catch was, there were no labels on any of the food and drinks. We were given a paper and we had to compare them all listing them from best tasting to worst tasting. At the end he revealed what the most expensive items were and we discovered if they were the best tasting ones.

I have never had so much fun in my life. We all were having a blast, laughing and eating and drinking – what more can you ask for? Our professors are the best, after tonight I honestly am thinking about becoming a Spanish profesora! We learned so much about everyone tonight. One of the professors, Carla, just got back from a 39-day walk across Spain with her GIEU group. That is something I definitely would want to do. We learned that Linda has played the piano since she was 3, Sherri has the voice of Sara Barielles, Brandon is not afraid to go to the plaza with his retainer in… haha it was a ball. We listened to Spanish music and laughed till our sides felt they would fall off. We ended the night with a piece of dark chocolate covered almonds and Andy sent us all off with a bottle of wine for our Señoras! (Choni wants to drink it for my birthday!) I feel so lucky to be here with all of these people, everyone is so respectful of each other and very outgoing – we are like a family.

On my walk home I was trying to think of how I could describe in words what tonight was like, but I don’t think I am talented enough to translate it. I know I will remember it forever.

Buenas noches,

Katherina