Walking

After spending an entire week in Murcia, I've found that I probably walk about a mile or more everyday. Right now it gets kind of tedious, but I'm sure once I get used to doing it so often it'll be better. So really, I get exercise everyday and get to look around the city and the people everyday. We've been browsing a lot of stores over the past few days because it's "Rebajas" or sales month in Murcia/Spain I think. Stores have crazy prices and everyone is going nuts. The times we've gone out, I've tried on a few things but European sizes are beyond confusing. 

Yesterday I went over to Isabella's apartment with Chris and we just drank some wine and then just went out until about 2:30, so it was an early night. 

Today I saw the museum of art in Murcia and it was really nice. I enjoyed it because it was smaller than most art museums and very quiet. It may have been quiet because from 2-5 everything is closed and most people sleep. Then, we got some cafe con leche, half of a bizcocho and sat in the plaza where the sun gave its wonderful heat. It was literally warmer outside than in my bedroom. While we sat there, more and more people started appearing. It turns out there was a church service going on in the plaza with spanish guitars and singing. It was very beautiful. 

I've figured out how to work my gas stove, but tonight I'm going to attempt to work my gas oven so I can make eggplant for my friends. Hopefully it works, if not I was just told to bring the ingredients and cook at their place. 

It's only been a week, but everyone and myself included feel like we've been here for MUCH longer. I hope that as soon as classes start and it gets warmer, the days will go by faster. 

How could I forget. Murcia is the major producer of oranges in Spain and I bought a couple at the market the other day. Around 1:30pm, I sat on my kitchen balcony and ate the best orange I've had in a long time. 

Photos

Streets of Murcia, Spain

My tiny bedroom

La Catedral de Murcia

Delicious pizza at 5am 

Boutique disco

Landing is always good

Five airplanes and 1 bus later, I have finally arrived in Murcia. I knew my luggage was heavy, not 12 pounds over the limit heavy; however, I only had to pay $50 once because the lady at American Airlines checked my bag all the way through to Madrid even though I was switching to British Airways and Iberia decided not to charge me. On the way, I randomly met another girl in London who was going to study in Murcia and one of the guys I had met in the Facebook group. 

The first time it really hit me that I'd be away for six months was while I sat on the bus from Alicante to Murcia. I had all my luggage and realized that for six months I would be living out of those bags and not seeing many familiar faces. After I arrived at the bus stop in Murcia, I literally had to walk 1 block to get to my apartment where my landlord waited for me at the door. She seemed like a very sweet lady who reminded me a lot of family members in Uruguay. 

After fitting Ana, my luggage and myself in the tiny elevator, we stopped at the last floor and waited for my new roommate to open the door. I can't remember her name off the top of my head, but she is from Turkey and a grad student studying math. She has been here since July, so I got to ask her some questions. Because she isn't very good at spanish or english at that, we speak very VERY slowly to each other and I try not to use any idioms, slang, etc. In February, one of her friends will be living with us too. Right away, she offered to make me an omelette and toast with off brand Nutella. Surprisingly, I fell asleep at midnight with the sounds of busses and crosswalk signs that make a ding ding noise before you aren't supposed to cross. 

This morning, I woke up to a 63 degree room. I think I need to plug in the space heater. My alarm clock was set for 8am so I could have enough time to get to orientation at 10am at the Merced campus which only about 15 minutes from where I live (15 minutes if you don't get lost and if you walk fairly slow.) My room mate wasn't awake, so I had a granola bar, got ready and headed out with my backpack and my map. I met a lot of the students I had talked to through Facebook about Murcia and got to at least meet people. They're kind of lucky to be living with so many people of their same age, but then again I think once I got used to the city and making friends, I wouldn't mind living in a more relaxed environment. 

Later, I went to Vodafone and got a SIM card for my brother's old phone and Mercadona to buy some food so my Turkish roommate doesn't feel like she needs to cook for me (today she made some very Turkish macaroni). In the supermarket, I rolled my basket behind me and found soymilk for 1 euro ($1.41), some ham, cheese, juice, cereal and margarine. Once I figure out what I'll want to cook later, I might have to go back and buy more. If I were in the mood to spend money, I would have spent it very quick because January is "Rebajas" month, which means there are sales in EVERY story. 

Classes don't start until February 15, February 5 I leave for Milan and until then, I'm going to take a siesta.

Once I have a good chunk of photos, maybe this weekend, I'll post them up. 

Last July, I had the crazy idea to apply to study abroad. At first, I couldn't decide between studying in Uruguay, Argentina or Spain. Six months and many inquiry emails later, ISEP placed me at Universidad de Murcia in Murcia, Spain.

Today, I find myself with a bed laid out with clothes and an open suitcase...six days before I leave for six months. I wouldn't say it's laziness, but more like not being able to decide what I could need from my room for six months. Over the past 20 years, I've been able to hoard so much junk into such little space that it's very difficult to decide what to bring and what not to bring. As long as my suitcase stays under 50 lbs, or me being able to lift it, it'll all work out.

Good weather in mind, I fly out of Minneapolis on the 20Th, "land" in Chicago and then take off for JFK Airport in New York. From there, I'll fly into London, then Madrid, then Alicante and finally a 40 minute bus ride to Murcia. In Murcia, I'll be living with two other girls in an apartment with three bedrooms, one bathroom and a terrace.
Address: c/ García Alix, 12 5º B MurciaMurcia, Spain 30005