As I write this post, the first day of my sixth week here in Spain is coming to a close. Week five offered a trove of new beginnings and adventures, and also of quiet, steady enrichment of friendship and language ability.
After finals on the last Friday of June, I had two weekend days of respite before I began two completely new language courses, which in one month cover the equivalent of one 3 credit and one 1 credit course in a semester at normal American universities. The wonderful thing is, though, that the learning I experience is not confined to the four hours per day in the classroom, but rather is an all day, every day affair. Spanish inundates the world I live right now. I must use it to order coffee, to communicate with my madre, to read signs, and to talk to bus drivers, to name a few examples. I even use Spanish to communicate with two of my closest friends here! Learning simply is not measured by credit hour or by exam. Learning is taking, meditating, breathing, and living everyday life and everyday opportunities.
Speaking of meditating—and I mean thinking deeply, not that yin-yang, trance-y, or witchy stuff, mind you—I was doing just that about the phrase "dar a luz" in Spanish, which translates as to give birth. But delving a bit deeper, the phrase is simply breathtaking in its poetic beauty. Now, I'm going to ask you to break away from the simple, non-literal translation "to give birth" and dissect this phrase word by word with me. The verb "dar" means to give. The word "luz" is the indirect object of this phrase. So, this phrase literally means to give to light. How stunningly exquisite is that? In the context of the literal translation, to give birth, we understand that mothers give their babies to light for the very first time. The result of nine months of waiting and an excruciating labor is the baby's first basking in the light. Light, which symbolizes warmth and life and love is waiting to receive the child once it is given. Really, it gives me chills. How simply AMAZING are languages?!
Aside from learning and thinking about random words and phrases to bore you readers with (sorry, not sorry), I also partook in a few adventures this past week! My program, Spanish Studies Abroad, took us all on a trip to Guadalest and Los Fuentes de Algar. Guadalest is a small town (by small, I mean 200 habitants) about an hour away from Alicante, which is famous for its castle and breathtaking landscape. Oh, you don't believe me? Well, here.
Now you see why a town of 200 is tourist central. ;)
We toured the castle of Guadalest as well, which was amazing to see. It was built by the Orduña family, a family comprised of lawyers and soldiers, in the 17th century, and was sacked and conquered during the War of Succession in the 18th century. Later, it was repaired for accommodation, but is now a museum. Below is a photo of the library, the most interesting room in my opinion, and within the library, a photo of the family coat of arms. 
Here are a few other pictures from outside the castle:
Yes, this is what you suspected, a cemetery. Bodies (or what's left of them) do indeed reside in those walls.
Later, our taste-buds were delighted with some amazing paella at a local restaurant (if you don't know what paella is, please see my post "When Heaven Meets Kitchen," because paella is important, folks), and then trekked our way up to Los Fuentes de Algar, or the Fountains of Algar. Besides a deliciously exquisite scenery, the mountain water was simply an emerald-crystal, piercingly pure, cool revitalization to my system. After bathing in ocean water for a month, submersion in this water was beyond words. I felt as though the chilling touch of the pools and cascades were flooding and wracking my entire being, cleansing and refreshing my soul in a dancing, sparkling tide. Here is a picture to aid my description.
On a last note, I want to mention the unexpected joy I've discovered in my classmates here in Spain. In the past month I have gotten to know a girl from Japan and in the past week, a girl from England. The three of us have spent a great deal of time hanging out together. But you know what really intrigues me? The entire time we speak together in Spanish, because the Japanese girl cannot understand English, but we all know Spanish. Isn't that wonderful? Spanish is a bridge that connects minds from diverse cultures and builds pathways to friendships. Here is a photo of myself and my new friends! What better place to warm a new friendship than a sunny day at the beach?! :)
Well, having thoroughly, and unapologetically, I might add, dulled you with the intricacies of a fascinating phrase in Spanish, emerald waterfalls, and ancient castles, I suppose I must be kind and conclude my account of week five here in Spain. Thank you again for checking out my blog!
Blessings,
Laurel
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