Second Week in Cuenca

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I have completed my second week.  It seems like Iโ€™ve been here forever, but it also seems like time is flying.  I love the siestas; itโ€™s going to be difficult to get adjusted back to my work schedule back in the states. 

Some things have changed.  The school decided to let us choose whether we wanted to stay in the hostel or in the residence hall.  It was a difficult decision, but I decided to stay in the hostel.  Only one person went to the dorms.  The Senoraโ€™s name is Pepa โ€“ I love me some of her cookinโ€™!!!  I never knew there were so many ways to prepare vegetables and other foods.  The produce here is sooo much better than in the states.  It just tastes so fresh, natural, and succulent.  She is also a sweetheart.  She calls me her โ€œHermanaโ€, which means sister.   I included a pic of when we celebrated her birthday.    There are also pictures of the dogs โ€“ there are four – Lobo, which is the Spanish word for Wolf.   Youโ€™ll see why when you see his pic.  He is beautiful.  Then there is Lily.  I was sitting in her spot at the table and she took the spot next to me.  She is such a little baby.  The long-haired brown one is Tachi.  She is the most laid back dog ever.  If she could speak, I think she would say, โ€œWhatever dudeโ€.  And finally Gaurgi.  Or something like that.  She is a princess โ€“ very regal looking. 

I have had a difficult time this week learning that I am not as young as the others and feeling like I donโ€™t belong.  L  In fact, I decided to stay at the hostel instead of going to Madrid with them.  Pepa was very perceptive and guess what?  I now have my own room with a full bed instead of a twin.  And the best part โ€“ it has AC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am so much happier.  Also, I have decided to take a bus to school in the mornings because my feet could not take any more of the hills.  I bought some tennis shoes and I donโ€™t mind walking back afterwards because thereโ€™s hardly any uphill moments then, thank God.

Other changes โ€“ about 50 Taiwanese students arrived this weekend and our group will be splitting into classes with them.  I love change, I love change, I love changeโ€ฆ.. Youโ€™ll find a picture of them, too.

I found the mall and had a day of retail therapy to lift my spirits. Not only that, but I got to eat at McDonalds.  I was so content.

We went swimming in a pool last weekend and I have never been in water so cold in my life!  Nevertheless, Iโ€™m lovinโ€™ it!

Pepa took me out to dinner last night and I ate something interesting that I have been wanting to try.  Youโ€™re gonna love this, LOL.  It is called mortruela โ€“ it is a mixture of meat and liver of different kinds of animals, like hen, chicken, lamb, rabbit, and pork.  It kind of looks like something a dog does outside.  See if you agree.  But it was good.  I also tried lamb intestines, they were pretty good also.

My Spanish has improved immensely, except for my verb tenses, which I have started really trying to study seriously today.  While using WordReference online, I saw a word and decided to look it up.  Lo and behold, it describes meโ€ฆ I am a tiquismiquis โ€“ a stickler or a fuss pot.  LOL.  Til next week!!  Hasta luego.

Some of the Taiwanese students

Lily

Mortruelo.  No, it's not dog crap.

Lobo

Tachi, in her usual position.  They love the cool tile floor.

Gaugi - too snobby to look at me.

My new room - dig it?

Pepa's birthday party

Tracy Terpening

Hi, my name is Tracy Terpening and I grew up in Annapolis, MD. I am 40 years old and I have conquered many difficult circumstances in my life to get where I am today. I started college at the age of 37 and have not looked back since. At times, it has been an uphill battle, but I have gathered my wealth of wisdom, experience, resourcefulness and strong will. As a result, I have been able to confront and rise above all obstacles and my positive attitude has kept me on my path. In addition, I have maintained a grade point average of 4.0. I am currently studying Foreign Languages with a concentration in Spanish at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Thanks to FEA, I will be spending the summer of 2013 studying Spanish abroad in an immersion program in Madrid, Spain, which will allow me to meet academic requirements to major in Spanish. I also plan to major in English, with an emphasis on Professional Writing, a field in which I will be able to use my translation skills. I plan to pursue a career in which I can influence society to be more tolerant of other cultures and lifestyles. Outside of my field, I plan to find ways to contribute to the integration of Hispanic culture into the United States. Additionally, I aspire to help women and children who are the victims of domestic violence, as well as members of the LGTBQI community; thus being bilingual will enable me to reach that many more people.