Salalah-lah-lah-lah

The 3 hours of Arabic a day I think are paying off! I already know about half of the alphabet by heart, and the second I learned today.. So I can start sounding out and reading almost anything in Arabic script. We are learning so many new vocabulary words a day, its hard to keep up and use them so I can remember them. But my family is helping me so much.

Today was our last day of class for the week- tomorrow morning we are flying to Salalah in the south of Oman. Will be interesting to read about the trade, see the House of the Queen of Shebah, and try to piece info about the historical conflicts there. Plus it will be cooler. Yipee!

However, it will be hard to leave my family for the weekend- they are so fun! Last night we went to the beach at a club here in Muscat. We broke fast sitting on the sand of the beach and watching the sun set... it felt so postcard-y, and was so gorgeous. Some other students went as well, and we all swam a bit, walked along the beach, enjoyed the darkness, and gathered some impressive seashells. Was coated in sand once we left, but every grain was worth it.

A Weekend Where?

Another day of class, siesta, Cafe y Te (my favorite coffee shop here), and homework. I have a short presentation on Isaac Albeniz, a musician from Spain. We stopped in a few shops we have been curious about since day 1, so that was fun! And dinner, as always, was full of laughter and good wine. Had pasta with mushrooms and onions, crackers, and tomatoes. Yum!

Found tickets away for the weekend for verrry cheap (downer- i have to leave at early hours!) to PARIS! I wasn't really planning on it, but a good friend of mine is there... and its cheap... and its close... and everyone is going to Barcelona.... so why not!? (I love you Mom and Dad!! aka, dont freak out haha)

Had an "intercambio," a sort of informal interview where we practice Spanish with students from Madrid, today as well. Really nice guy and he gave me some pointers about touring the city.

And thus, I'm off to bed... to class... and the weekend (yay for no class on Fridays)!
Ciao

Day of Exploring

After a long morning in class, Hayley and I relaxed in an afternoon at the Thyssen. It was also my first metro ride since arriving in Madrid. (Crazy no? Thats how close our flat is to everything; we walk everywhere!) The art was very interesting; kinda a strange mix- but it kept us on our toes! With the new addition, we were only able to get through the first and second floors before its closed...... so I guess we'll just have to go back!

On the metro ride home, I decided to get off at the Plaza de España to find the park Maria is always trying to describe to us. It ended up being a LOT farther away than I thought, so I got some exercise and an interesting walk along Grand Vía (the theater/movie/shopping street). And I didn't get lost! Hizzah!

This week we are busy with homework at night--reading assignments, questions, short presentations, and blogs. Especially since we are all going somwhere this weekend, we won't have the weekend to catch up on homework.

Tried palmeras de chocolate, a popular pastry, this morning.. very interesting. But just going to the pastry shop was an experience in itself! ¡Delicioso!