Alcalá, I'm yours!

The official title of the city is Alcalá de Henares. According to Wikipedia, the city has a population of 203,645 people. It is home to an historic university (which I am attending), older than any university found in the US. The university, Universidad de Alcalá, was founded in 1499!! Alcalá is also the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote (I went to his house!!). Overall, Alcalá is the quintessential Spanish town. When you think Spain, aside from bullfighting, tapas, guitars, you think Alcala. But this city, nestled within little rolling mountains (which I can see from my window!!), is rich with Spanish architecture, cobble stone allies, plazas, and the kindest strangers I've ever met. Every time I have gotten a little turned around (maybe twice), a little abuelita offers simple directions, and repeats them twice for good measure. I know that of course not everyone has kind intentions. I am not naive, as my stepfather says. I have fallen victim to the occasional "que guapa" cat call from slightly drunk creepy men across the street, but what woman in Spain hasn't. I do make sure to ask that kind looking group of old ladies for help when lost.

I definitely have been surprised by the warmth of the Spanish people though. Earlier this week, I tried looking for flowers in a small super market on my street, not knowing where the nearest flower shop was. I wanted to buy flowers for my host family as a thank you for being so welcoming. I asked a young woman, probably only a few years older than me, if they sold flowers, and she said no. When I asked her, she was busy working, but she stopped her work completely to take me outside to show me where the flower shop was. The supermarket was at a strange intersection, so I couldn't really understand what she was saying except that the shop was very close. A man waiting to cross the street overheard and said he could take me there. At first I was going to turn him down, having been trained as a child to not trust strangers, and because I probably have an irrational fear of men I don't know due to watching too many episodes of Law and Order SVU. The girl immediately said I should go with him without a second of thought, which said to me that she didn't think he was a creeper and would go with him herself if she were in my position. There were also a lot of people out. It was a busy afternoon in the streets. So, I did, (which as I write I can see my mom rolling her eyes), but of course I didn't let me guard down. I didn't say anything first, but then he started talking to me, made sure I could speak Spanish, was impressed I was here attending the university, and said that he even had an exchange student living in his building. He walked me straight to the door of the shop and wished me luck for the semester.

Even the wait staff at every restaurant is patient and friendly to us Americans. I think back to my family's trip to Paris and remember when some waiters would immediately speak in English, even when my siblings tried to practice their French. There has only been one restaurant so far that has given us an English menu. I think that's a triumph! I guess that I am also impressed with myself that I have gotten this far and have lived through the week using only Spanish skills. I have gotten everything I need with Spanish. I think if I were in Madrid, many would assume I was a normal tourist, so I think this is a special situation being in a Spanish town that attracts Spanish tourists.

IT IS SO HOT HERE ALL THE TIME IN THE MORNING, IN THE AFTERNOON, DURING SIESTA, IN THE EVENINGS... It never gives up. But that is probably the only slightly negative thing I could say about this place. The city itself has a lot to offer, and when I need a big city fix, Madrid is only a half hour away by train (which is super easy to do). Also, not gonna lie, I have barely spent any money here. Dinner is so cheap, but so delicious!! Bonus!

I love it here. Alcalá, I'm yours!

Alright, that's enough for now. I am sweating too much to write more.