The First Week

So, Valencia is amazing. It has only been a week since I left the states, but I have already done so much! Today, actually, is the first day of classes. I already had an art history class this morning and still have a spanish civ class and a literature class later this afternoon. The UVA in Valencia building is a great facility, and I'm currently in the library, which has free WiFi.

Well, an update on my time here so far...

The fight from Dulles to Madrid wasn't bad at all, mostly due to the fact that I slept the entire time. I was extremely comfortable, since I shared an entire row of four seats with only one other person. Quite lucky.

After the flight, we had a four hour bus ride across the eastern plains of Spain before arriving in Valencia around 6:30 PM local time. Although I really wanted to enjoy the view along the way, I passed out within half an hour of boarding the bus.

Our drop-off point in Valencia was at the soccer stadium where Valencia CF plays. The only other time I had really seen the stadium before was while playing the videogame FIFA, so it was cool to see it in real life. The unloading of the bus was quite chaotic, as all 150-ish of us students travelling together were trying to find both our luggage and our host families.

I could not be happier with my host mom. Begona, or as well call her, "Ama", has been widowed for 8 years and lives in a great apartment just south of our school and the stadium. She's a vivacious little lady of some 65 years who talks, smokes, and laughs more than any person I have ever known. Ama has two grown sons that live in the area of Valencia, and one, a marine biologist, has already visited. Rounding out our household is Lunita, a lazy little dog that evens out Ama's ridiculous energy, and my roommate, Chris, who is also a third year at UVa. We had never crossed paths while in Charlottesville, but it's been a great match.

Ama is very nurturing, and is an incredible cook. So far we've sampled many authentic Valencian dishes, including the traditional paella and another version that uses noodles instead of rice. While the food is amazing, the portions are too much even for me, and Ama is constantly telling us to eat more. In contrast to her matronly care, she insists that we go out almost every night. "Es importante que salgais esta noche", or "It's important that you all go out tonight" is the usual dinnertime refrain.

The nightlife is Valencia is as impressive as it is long in duration. It's customary for the younger sector of Valencia's population to go out around 11, and not return home till 7 de la manana. I guess that's why the Spanish love their siesta.

But don't worry, Mom, I have done a lot more than going out at night. We visited Sagunto, a city just north of Valencia on Saturday, and had the chance to explore the Roman Ampitheatre, the ruins of a sprawling castle, and el Calvario, which was this amazing route for the Stations of the Cross that climbed up the side of a mountain and ended at a stunning white chapel.

Chris and I have explored the city a good bit, passing through the massive park that runs through the middle of the city, over the course of the old riverbed. In the 50s, there was a terrible flood in Valencia, and the solution was to reroute the river through the outskirts of the city. We've also ventured down to the beaches, the port where the America's Cup is held, and throughout the city center, which is incredibly beautiful.

Yesterday was the feast day of San Vicente Martir, the patron saint of the city. He was martyred around 304, and apparently converted his executioner before his death. Apparently the executioner only knew one way to say thanks. There was a huge procession through the city center that started just after Mass in the cathedral. The mass was one of the most beautiful that I've ever been too, even though the archbishop's homily was a bit difficult to understand. After the mass, the procession flowed from the baroque doorway throughout the Plaza de la Reina, whose streets were covered in rosemary, thyme, and other herbs. At the head was a brass band that cleared the way for the procession. Following the band was a myriad of people, including a group of women dressed in mourning clothes escorted by men in top hats and tuxedos, all of the clergy in their red robes, and finally the golden statue of San Vicente. The experience of this procession on a sunny 70 degree morning was by far my favorite moment of the trip so far.

Well, now that I've gone on forever, I have to go eat the lunch that Ama packed for me before my class at 1400.

I'll try to update this thing weekly. This weekend Chris and I are headed to Paris, so look forward to reading about some crazy/enriching Parisian adventures.

Adios, chicos!