Gracie's Expectations

I am really looking forward to visiting Salamanca and getting to learn more about the Spanish language and culture. While in Spain, I am especially excited to live with a host family and to really immerse myself in the Spanish language. I believe this trip will be a great opportunity to practice my speaking skills in Spanish and also to expand my vocabulary. Also, I am excited to use the "you'll only use this in Spain" words and grammar. I think that going to a university in Spain will be a new experience that will further develop my Spanish-speaking skills and introduce me to new vocabulary and grammar only used in Spain. Although I will be going to school, I am excited to see the wonderful sites of Salamanca and explore the many activities provided.  I hope that going to Salamanca and living with a host family will not only improve my Spanish-speaking skills, but also open my eyes to the new and exciting experiences around the world.

Darlene's Expectations

I don't want to say that I have expectations for this trip because there are times I have too high of expectations and am disappointed. However, I don't think I will be disappointed at all by this trip. I hope to increase my fluency in Spanish with the classes at the university as well as staying with my host family. I also hope to learn a little bit about Spanish culture and famous landmarks. Lastly, I hope to have fun in a new environment and be a little more independent.

Alex's expectations

I can't wait to visit Spain. I am most looking forward to immersing myself into the Spanish culture and trying new things. I am looking forward to growing a bond with not only my peers and teachers but also my host family. By being in Spain, I hope I am able to improve my Spanish speaking skills and expand my knowledge of their culture. Over all, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity that I have been given.

Sydney's Expectations

The first word that comes to my mind when thinking about the upcoming trip is this: walking.
Obviously there are plenty of other things relating to Spain that would make more sense, but walking for some reason is what really stands out in my mind. Whenever I think about the trip, I almost always see the image of myself and the other Ursuline girls strolling on the cobblestone streets  through Salamanca.  I think the reason I keep seeing this image is because a big part of the trip is us walking from place to place. We will walk to our classes and back each day, we will walk around the plaza at night, and we will walk through the beautiful city to explore. I'm looking forward to all of this, because by all the walking we do, I'll be able to really get a first-hand experience on the Spanish culture and the see the lives people there live close-up. I'm also exited that I get to do all of this while being with my friends and classmates. I'm looking forward to better understanding Spanish and sharing this awesome experience with all of you!

Alyssa's Expectations

I am very excited to travel to Spain in less than a week! I have never been out of the country before and am very excited to have this opportunity to learn more about another culture and explore in Spain. During this trip I am looking to improve my Spanish and try new things. I am excited to go to the University there and better develop my Spanish speaking skills through the classes and everyday use of the language. I also want to learn more about Spain's history and see some of its beautiful architecture and countryside. Finally, I'm looking forward to becoming closer with all the girls going on this trip and my host family.

Maria's Expectations

I am so excited to travel to Spain next Friday because, although I have learned a lot in my classes here, I believe that the best way to learn a language is through complete immersion in the language and culture. I look forward to practicing basic conversational skills that seem so easy in English, like ordering food and asking for directions. Also, I am enthusiastic to get to know the city of Salamanca and some Spanish history while I am there. I will also enjoy learning how to Flamenco dance and prepare traditional Spanish dishes. I have never been out of the country before, so overall I am mostly looking forward to getting to know a new culture separate from mine while bonding with the Ursuline group.

Alex's Expectations

I'm so excited for Spain! I expect further my Spanish skills each day and really immerse myself into the language. I expect it to be difficult at first but continually get easier. I hope to learn a lot of Spanish everyday and refresh my knowledge on concepts I previously learned. I also want to see the Plaza Mayor and the gorgeous architecture. Also, I expect to be fully immersed into the culture by the school, outside activities, and my host family. I have no idea what it will be like in Spain and I'm super excited to find out. I'm also super excited to meet my host family and create a relationship with them. Finally, I'm excited to continue friendships with all the girls on this trip! 

Alex

Kelsey's Expectations

I am very excited to travel to Salamanca next week. I am looking forward to seeing the sights, trying new foods, and speaking lots of Spanish. I have been anticipating this trip for a long time, and I can't wait to explore Spain with the other girls. As a group, I hope we have a great time and learn more about Spanish culture. There are so many things that are distinctly Spanish that I can't wait to experience in real life. For example, I can't wait for my first siesta!! I am also looking forward to improving my Spanish grammar and expanding my vocabulary. This is the perfect opportunity to practice conversational Spanish, an integral part of our foreign language curriculum. Overall, I can't wait to have lots of fun, take lots of pictures, and enjoy every second of our time in Spain!! 

Martina's Expectations

I am very excited to travel to Salamanca, Spain! I can't wait to experience the culture and improve my Spanish. I really think that being immersed in the language will be a great way to learn it quickly. I expect for it to be difficult, especially since I have had only one year of Spanish at Ursuline, but not impossible. I also expect that this will be a great opportunity to get a jump start on next year's (Spanish 2 honors) class. I also am looking forward to trying the traditional foods and experiencing a culture quite different from ours. I expect that we will be staying up a lot later than we do in the US and eating at different times which may take some getting used to. I also am looking forward to bonding with my host family and all the other girls!

Lauren's Expectations

I am very excited to have to opportunity to travel to Spain to further my Spanish abilities, both verbally and non-verbally. Through this trip, I expect to achieve a better understanding of Spanish culture and immerse myself in the Spanish language. My goal is to be nearly fluent by the time the trip is over and to increase my confidence in my Spanish speaking and comprehension skills. I expect that the task of interpreting and speaking Spanish all day everyday for two week will be difficult at first, for English is my first language. I am not used to speaking Spanish all of the time, so this will definitely be a challenge; however, I expect that as I grow accustomed to living in Spain with Granada, the woman hosting me, the Spanish language will come more easily to me. I am both excited and nervous to start classes at the University of Salamanca; on one hand, I cannot wait to be taught the Spanish language and culture by somebody who experiences it on a day to day basis and was raised in it, but I am also nervous that the classes will be difficult to comprehend. I expect to be overwhelmed my first day, but as I ease into the Spanish way of life and become accustomed to the classes, I will enjoy my new knowledge and fully relish in the Spanish experience. Even though I will only be in Spain for two weeks, I plan to make the most of my time and really use it to further my knowledge and experiences. I cannot wait to depart!