Yesterday was a pretty crazy day packed full of activities! My day started early in the morning at the Madrid airport when I got on my flight to Alicante!
The plane we took was a small one that we had to board by going outside and climbing up the steps! I felt like I was in a movie as that was the only place I had seen this done before. Once on the plane I recognized some of the other students from my school that will be also be studying in Alicante, which was very relieving.The flight to Alicante went very quickly, as it was just about 45 minutes. Coming in to Alicante the views were gorgeous! I could see the sea and next to it the city and then behind the city the mountains.
When we arrived at the airport the six of us Spanish Studies Abroad students who arrived on the same flight all went together to find our luggage. After waiting around for awhile we finally figured out where our bags were! We headed out into the waiting area and were greeted by Marisa, the Assistant Director for Spanish Studies Abroad, who had a huge smile on her face! We all chatted for a bit and met a couple more students who had arrived around when we did, and we also got a large folder full of information about our schedules for the upcoming weeks! From there we split into groups and took taxis into the city.
I was greeted at my home with large smiles and a very welcoming attitude by my host parents Lirios and Pepe. The apartment I am living in is very nice and spacious! It has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, plus a living and dinning room. There is more than enough space for all of us. Besides having a lovely spot to live these next four months, I can already tell that I will be living with a great host family!
Upon arriving I unpacked, showered, and then participated in the Spanish tradition of siesta, which is the tradition of taking an afternoon nap. After a refreshing two hour nap I had a brief lunch and then chatted with my host parents for the next couple of hours until we left for our first orientation session.
The orientation session consisted of getting to know the other Spanish Studies Abroad participants and eating tapas! The food was delicious! Out of all of the different dishes we had I would have to say that my favorite was the croquetas. Not only was the food good, but so was the information we got from Pepa, the director of the program.
I woke up this morning incredibly well rested and feeling great. My day got even better when for breakfast I had toast with olive oil and cheese, a very typical Spanish breakfast. It was so simple but yet incredibly delicious! I would be just fine having the same meal for breakfast these next four months.
The rest of the morning was spent at another orientation session where we discussed specifics on our individual programs and went over details about insurance and housing. After the orientation we walked back and relaxed at home for a bit. For lunch we ate gazpacho, which is a cold tomato soup (but fresher and lighter), french fries, chicken, and we had fresh fruit for desert! After eating I once again enjoyed a nice afternoon siesta.
After siesta I got in contact with some of the other students from the program and we decided to go exploring. We met at the Plaza de los Luceros, which is in the middle of the downtown area, and also one of our meeting spots during orientation.
We decided to go check out the beach so we headed down, which as my host mom told me the first day will always take you to the coast. When we got to the port, after a unexpectedly short walk, and turned left on to the Explanada, which is a beautiful walking area lined with palm trees and wave designs on the path.
We quickly made it to the beach (Playa del Postiguet), which is just as beautiful as the pictures I had seen on Google Images months before. The sand is incredibly soft and there were no shells in sight so we all kicked off our shoes and dug our toes into the sand. The beach and water were both very crowded, and for good reason as it was about 90 degrees Fahrenheit! We walked the shore line getting our feet wet and enjoying the cooling affect of the water. We spent about an hour at the beach before we decided to continue exploring.
We made our way back up on La Rambla, another prominent street in Alicante. We passed some very tasty looking ice cream shops and restaurants, but decided not to buy anything. We eventually made our way to one of the Cortes Ingles department stores to do some shopping and take advantage of the air conditioning. We went to the super market section of the store and bought ourselves some of the things we needed like shampoo and conditioner.
Once back at the apartment I unpacked my things and relaxed in my room a bit before dinner. For dinner we had grilled cheese, made with very good cheese not the Kraft slices I use at home, and one of the most delicious salads I've ever eaten!
Even after one day here I feel very comfortable in Alicante. It feels like a very safe city, it is very clean, and it is surprisingly easy to get around. Some more exploring is in store tomorrow as we get to tour the University of Alicante where we will be taking classes! I've heard great things about the campus and I am very excited to see it in person.
Hasta pronto!
