The Intecambios - Best Invention Ever!

Salamanca is heavily known for their influx of international students. As a way of learning each other's languages, there is an informal intercambio "exchange" program. Basically, you meet up with a local who wants to learn English and you talk with them/hang out with them for however long at a cafe and such once a week. It's really supposed to improve your language and convo skills and it's a great way to teach each other about your cultures. To find one you submit something like this online or on a bulliten board. Here was mine:

“Hola, me llamo Lauren Garcia y soy de los Estados Unidos. Tengo 21 años y ahora vivo en Salamanca. Me gustaría practicar español con un estudiante nativo. Mi correo electrónico es lmgarci@g.clemson.edu . Gracias.”

Unfortunately, unlike my friends, I only received one email back. Booo. I’m going to assume that it’s because I had a Spanish last name and they wanted a blonde haired legit American, but we can never be certain. However, this is probably a good thing. Why? Because it forced me to go out and meet the locals! I now have 2 intercambios that I found on my own:

#1 Rosa – How I met her was briefly mentioned below in the last blog. Basically, I met her through her friend and she has been a miracle! She is so sweet and the best Spanish teacher ever! She studied Economics at the University of Salamanca, and then entered the Erasmus program in which she studied in Belgium for 10 months. Now, she’s out in the real world working for a bank and teaching middle-high schoolers English. Her English is so great and she helps me with the Spanish “street talk” which is awesome! I can’t wait to be fluent with her help.. and of course enjoy some more good times with her and her fun friends! :)




#2 Miriam. – I met Miriam late late on Saturday evening/Sunday morning. I’m so glad we met because she is so intelligent and so clean cut wonderful. I aspire to be like her! She studied physics for 4 years at Salamanca, 4 years of Economics, and now is looking for a job. Wow, it’s so crazy how educated people can be and how hard it is to find jobs here in Spain. Who wouldn’t want to hire this girl? She says that knowing English is an important part of getting a good job. So I hope I can help her and ditto for me! Stay tuned for all the cool things I learn from Miriam  And will have a picture of her too soon!