These first couple of days in Salamanca have been more than I could have ever expected. With settling in to my new family, and immersing myself into the language, I am able to have conversations with different people from all around the world.

Challenging myself in every situation I am given I have noticed myself grow and become more comfortable with speaking this eloquent language. In order to keep the students in a constant Spanish mindset, every day after class our teachers have taken us on these gorgeous tours of the city. So far we have been able to see la historía de Salamanca, las cathedrals y a neighborhood with beautiful graffiti art. My favorite tour we have taken so far is when we toured the new and old cathedrals. They are filled with so much history and the view is breathtaking both inside and out. As we went inside, the looming Romanesque and Gothic walls made you feel safe and enclosed while also feeling exposed to God.

With the windows strategically placed higher up in the building it was a way for those in the church to create a sense of heaven during mass.

As the stain glass windows allowed the light to pour in, I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the fact that I was in a church that was originally built in the 12th century. With all this enlightenment at my fingertips, I just want to learn and continue to travel more to see this magnificent world and all it has to offer!