Yesterday Anna and I decided to go to San Sebastián for the day. We caught the bus at 11:15 and took the bus back home at 6:00. We didn't do much, just walked around, sat on the beach, and talked. It was fun, though, and we laughed a lot and had a good time. While we were on the beach we turned around and all of a sudden there was a man walking around completely naked. There were about 7 people on the entire beach because it was pretty cold and windy, so it's not like he fit in with the topless sunbathing women and all. It was a bit strange. Anyways, we ran into lots of English speaking people. People from America, England, Scotland, Australia, everywhere. Lots of French people too. Today my host brother told me that Spain is the second biggest tourist country, France being the first. I can believe it, there are so many tourists here in Pamplona right now because San Fermin is coming kind of soon. My host mom was complaining about all the tourists that are here already. It's going to be so crazy here in San Fermin. I'm so excited.
Pamplona's soccer team, Osasuna, is one of the finalists for the King's Cup championship game, so everyone is going crazy with Osasuna propaganda. In the newspaper they have this thing where you cut out one coupon every day for three days, and on the last day you go somewhere with the coupons and one euro and they give you a shirt that says Osasuna on it. The game is June 11th against Betis from Seville. The next Monday all the kids who are in the last grade of school here have a test called the Selectividad, which is somewhat like the SATs, but it pretty much determines the rest of their lives because you can't get into certain programs in college if you don't get a certain grade on the Selectividad. I wonder how many kids from Pamplona and Seville are going to do well on that test because I know how much they'll be studying.
I think ipods would be a great gift. MP3 players are really popuar here right now, especially those. I sure wounldn't mind having one!
Posted by: Chloe | Sunday, 19 June 2005 at 11:37 AM
I am an old time exchange student. I have not been back to Spain for 25 years. Before this long hiattus, I had gone back many times. During the many trips and extened stays of my youth a wonderful freindship developed. Although my friend and I have not seen each other in 25 years we have remaind close. We now have gown children.
My problem when is that I want to take my friend's children a nice gift. But I don't know what would be nice for a couple young Spanish ladies (one in late teens and another in her mid twenties). We are contemplyting getting them ipods, but I don't know if they are popular in Spian. Can anyone tell me if this would be a good idea. Or if there would be something better?
Thanks
Posted by: Chris Gonzalez | Thursday, 16 June 2005 at 07:57 PM
So I am sure you will be cashing in coupons for an Osasuna shirt; what a great souvenir to add to your collection!
Posted by: Teresa | Sunday, 05 June 2005 at 06:03 PM
aha... the selectividad must be like the french baccalaureat... what a terrible thing, a bunch of tests decide your life.
Posted by: Anna Rae | Sunday, 05 June 2005 at 08:19 AM