Oviedo

A few pictures from the past week.....

the castle of Segovia (the one that is said to have inspired Walt Disney)

the Roman aqueduct (Segovia)

the suckling pig we ate (Segovia)

the city of Toledo behind me

The Royal Palace (Madrid)

Hola todos,

We got up early this morning to head up to Asturia (the region) where Oviedo is located. It was about a 5 hour drive. Jamie kept telling us you need to be awake for the end of the trip the last hour or so. He is like a proud dad when it comes to him talking about Oviedo and the region of Asturias. I don't think I had much expectations but when I woke up I was speechless. There was mountains surrounding us all covered in snow at the peaks with little towns of colorful houses spread throughout the area.

I was impressed with the windmills and solar panel farms throughout the area using natural resources throughout the country. I have noticed that in public places in bathrooms for example the lights are on a short timer and you must push it to get light, to try and conserve energy. I love the sense that they care all though on the flip side I have decided they are still worse than the Italians when it comes to smoking. So they are saving the planet and killing their childrens lungs as they hold a cigarette in their childs face (yes I've seen it).

Once we arrived in Oviedo with a minor case of nervousness (all of us). I met my home stay parents. Its a couple in their 60's who live alone. They have an only daughter who is 31 and she is married, but still lives close. Their daughter is here almost everyday they told me. They seem nice and have many other international students here in the past. I am about one city block from the facildad where my classes are. I think its almost closer than my apartment in Philly to my home in Ritter (the education building). Tomorrow I am taking my placement exam for my classes so hopefully I will remember all the information I will need to know!

-Erika