Intermedio

Halfway. That’s what “intermedio” means. It’s crazy to believe we’re already halfway through our semester abroad. 

“Intermedio” is also often used to refer to one of the three primary levels of Spanish learning, being the middle level. I considered myself to be at the high-intermediate level when I came to Spain. Although I may not consider myself at the advanced level yet, I’ve improved my Spanish skills. Being halfway through the semester means we just had our midterm exams. 3 of my 4 classes had them, and I’m happy with the grades I got on those. Half of my classes are based on improving language skills, and the other half focus on specific topics we discuss in Spanish. Both kinds have been super exciting, and I’m enjoying my classes. 

Another way to say “half” in Spanish is “la mitad”. This refers more closely to something like the portion size of food. Trying new foods is one of my goals while I’m abroad. This has been more of a challenge than I thought because when I buy groceries to make cheap(er) meals at home, I want to know that I will like it. To save money (as much as possible, at least,) I haven’t been eating out very often, which is where I would try new, well-cooked food. A goal I have made good progress on, besides the academic ones, is going to the gym and staying active. I’ve been walking to locations when possible to get some kind of “cardio.” I finally caved and got a gym membership. I’ve had a lot more free time than I expected, so I decided going to work out would be a good use of this time. I researched places to play basketball, but unfortunately, there aren’t many options. My school has a men’s program but not a women’s. (They must not have Title IX haha.) So, for now, I’ll work on strength and cardio at the gym. 

“El medio” is another translation, but I think it better fits when talking about something that’s average. But who wants to be average, right? Instead, I want to write about what I can improve on this upcoming half-semester. The first is my faith life. I have been diligent with listening to a devotion every morning as I get ready for my day, but my Bible journaling hasn’t been as consistent. I’m very excited that I will be going to London for Easter. I’ll meet up with the two other girls from Spain, David, who’s been studying in Galway, and Allie, who’s been studying in London. We will attend the Easter service at the WELS mission church in the London area. After that, I will work on doing a Psalm at least every other day in my journaling Bible. Another area I want to improve on is using Spanish outside of class. I use it during class, of course, but outside of class, I say the bare minimum when ordering food or coffee. I want to push myself out of my comfort zone and talk with the barista or server. If I go out with friends, I can have a small interaction with another person who’s there, just to practice. It’s never as scary as I make it out to be in my head. Finally, I’d also like to work on not relying on my comfort zone. This can be taken in many ways. For one, as much as I love spending time with the girls from back home who are in Spain, I want to take advantage of the opportunity to get to know new people. I also want to explore new areas of Madrid. Being a big city, I’ve only made it to a few of the neighborhoods. There are so many that have attractions, cafes, and little events. 

A fourth translation (yes, there are many) is “el centro.” As you might guess, this has the connotation of “center.” I like to consider Madrid a center of cultural diversity, but I love the Spanish culture, even though some aspects surprised me. For example, I knew dinner was usually late, but even when I ate at 8 pm, my roommates thought it was early! It’s also very common to smoke or vape, which is one cultural trend I’m not trying to adhere to! Another surprising aspect is the laidbackness. (I’m honestly not sure if that’s a word, but I’ll explain.) For example, they walk very casually, which I try to do, but the American in me wants to walk fast to get there as quickly as possible. They also don’t take things as seriously. I feel like people in the States get offended fairly quickly, but people are very chill here. They aren’t bothered by what others are doing. I love that they aren’t laidback with their attire, though. The nice dress is a good change of pace from the everyday sweatpants and t-shirts usually worn in the US. I’ve been dressing similarly to the locals here, and when I speak in Spanish, I feel very much a part of the culture, which is a great feeling. 

The fifth (and final translation I will use) is “el tiempo.” I think it looks like “time,” and it’s closely related. Although usually referred to as halftime of a sports game, I will use this translation as an excuse to talk about the travel I’ve been able to do. I have taken several day trips to various locations in Spain, including Segovia, Toledo, and Salamanca. Of those three, my favorite was Segovia. I loved the Alcazar, the Cathedral of Segovia, and the Aquaducts; they were all so beautiful! I also went to Portugal for a weekend, spending a day in Lisbon and Sintra. These cities were both fantastic, also. It wasn’t easy to walk through Lisbon, which has all the hills, but the views were worth it. A local led our tour of Sintra, and his knowledge was very evident. We enjoyed it a lot. The most recent trip was a weekend in Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The weather was absolutely perfect for the beach time we were hoping for, and we would’ve loved to stay longer. (We had exams to study for, though.) This upcoming week is spring break. My parents, aunt, and uncle are visiting for a week, and we will spend time in Madrid, Granada, and Barcelona. The final part of the weekend will be in Dublin and London. Other upcoming trips include Amsterdam and Prague, and hopefully Italy and Paris! 

I’m feeling incredibly blessed with all these opportunities to be immersed in the culture of various places. God is so good!