Excited to return to continue off where I left off a year ago.
What a rare opportunity to return to Northern Spain to complete what I promised myself to do: celebrate san fermin in Pamplona (PARRRRTY!!), learn more Spanish (si si, muy bueno!) and the cherry on the cake: do a route of the Camino de Santiago.
John asked if I plan to do the running of the bulls.. he warned that a few foreigners always get injured or killed because they simply don't know how to navigate the course like the locals. My reply? Hell yes I will. You only get to live once! I survived cliff diving into the Atlantic last summer, I can handle a crowd and some angry bulls. Just don't fall or be the last one!
Unlike last summer, the University de La Rioja will assess our Spanish language proficiency in person instead of an online portal. Time to brush up on common phrases and common greetings while on the flight. Dos cervazas por fovor will only get me so far... I look forward to improving my listening and conversational Spanish. I feel I can read it well enough as it is similar to English on paper, just the grammar is backwards. Excited and nervous to take the test, tests are always unnerving!
After the four week course at UR, I plan on following the Northern route (800km) along the North coast of Spain for the camino. However, the option exists to simply do the French route since I will be based in Logorno. The final decision will be left up in the air for now, however I will prepare for the 800km journey because I love the ocean and the quiet sea side towns and hamlets that dot the Spanish north coast. Perhaps I will try surfing again in Zarrutz!
This is going to be another life changing summer! Thank you Centennial GEO office! I will represent our college and not do anything I wouldn't do at home. Go Canada in the Pam Am games!
JY
