amorousodious

We took our placement exams at 9,30 at the center. Alicia and I figured out that it takes us about 45 minutes to walk to the center, which isn’t too bad since there’s a lot to see on the way. The exam wasn’t too difficult, but reminded me that I badly need a review of when to use the subjunctive.

After the exam Alicia and I started trying to find electronic stores to buy an adapter for the computer. We were largely unsuccessful at attempting to translate the word “adapter” and so we didn’t make much progress. We headed back to the center to use the computers.

After checking my 62 unread emails I compiled a list of email addresses of people I told I would give a link to my blog. I updated Part 1 of my blog, as you all know, and I sent the email. Thank you so much, by the way, to those of you who responded to my email and commented on the first update! It was great to hear from everyone.

Alicia and I walked home and ate a baked pasta dish with shredded carrots and other vegetables in the sauce. It was one of my favorite dishes that Lucia has made so far. Her cooking is definitely superb. After lunch, Alicia and I took our siesta, and woke up just in time to get to the cathedral for a walking tour of part of the city. Unfortunately, we got a little turned around on the way there, but we ended up making it in time to catch the second group that left. We walked through the plaza redonda, la Plaza de Santa Catalina, and down a street with tiendas that sold things like ceramics, baskets, and traditional clothing that were native to Valencia. We looked at a few different iglesisas (churches) and then ended our tour at the Estación del Norte which is the only train station in Valencia. Alicia and I walked over to an electronics store that was close by after the tour, but they didn’t have what we were looking for. After asking for directions a few times and making slight fools of ourselves (estúpidas inglaterras) we ended up finding the enchufa at el Corte Inglés. We went to the library and went online for a bit until it closed and we got kicked out. We walked home, stopping to take some pictures of the moon near the Torres (towers).

Por la cena (for dinner) we had bocadillos de patata (the same kind of potato thing I had on the first day in Valencia) but Lucia added tomatoes to it, which in my opinion made it a lot less dry, and much nicer to eat. Claudia arrived shortly thereafter, and we played with her a bit before heading out to the Corona 15 where the center had organized a night out for the students.

Corona 15 is a really cool place. It’s decorated to look like a jungle, and connected to the two trees in the middle are waist high tables for tapas or to set your drink (be careful of the dancers though, a lot of glass bottles were smashed after being set down). There are benches along each of the sides and more tables along those. Most of the people there, being that it was a night out for the center, were from the center, and danced and drank and made fools of themselves as American kids do. I had a good time dancing with my friends, but I think the next time I go out I would rather find someplace where I can actually use Spanish and try to dance salsa and meringue and such.

Alicia and I got home around 2, while most people were still at the bar. We were tired though, so we went right to bed.