Mary Baldwin College - Bluestocking Yearbook (Staunton, VA)

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Melissa Forman Baltimore, Maryland Susan Gabbard Dunwoody, Georgia Amy Gavigan Greenville, N Carolina Courtney Georges Charlottesville, Virginia Jennifer Gibbins Anniston, Alabama Betsy Gwaltney Smithfield, Virginia Julie Hickey Austin, Texas Jennifer Hofmeister San Antonio, Texas Susan Hyatt Hopewell, Virginia Mary Irvin Edinburg, Virginia A Junior Abroad . . . Ann Dorst Spain. Espana. Flamenco dancers and bullfights. Dark haired romantic men in pirate shirts and tight black pants. Your usual stereotypes were all I could think of when I first considered going to Spain to study for a year. Besides the obvious panic at the thought of actually trying to speak the language, let alone take classes in it, that is. Junior year abroad was an idea I always thought was interesting, but I never imagined I ' d be doing it. However, with alot of help from Dr. Ely and many others I found myself headed for Madrid last August. Madrid is the capital of Spain, and I live with a Spanish family pretty near the center of town. The Lanuzas are a family of seven, the mother, Maricar- men, three sons, Alvaro. Gonzalo, and Alfonso, one sister, Teresa, and two cousins who study in Madrid, Maria and Natalia. There are also numerous aunts, uncles, grandparents and grandchildren who visit frequently. The house is always full of people, all of whom are like my own family. The Spanish are very friendly and the Lanuzas some of the friendliest. From the very first day they ' ve made sure I felt that the house was my house, and they were my family. Our day centers around the main meal of the day. which in Spain is lunch, eaten at 2 or 2:30. We all eat together and discuss the day. Some people will tell you that the art of conversation is dead, but it isn ' t in Spain. We talk about everything from fashion to world affairs to the latest episode of Falcon Crest, one of the most popular television shows in Spain. The afternoon, contrary to popular opinion, is not spent sleeping the siesta, but relaxing and catching up on errands, etc. Dinner is at 8:30. a much more informal meal. The Spanish day runs longer, too, with everyone up until midnight or later. The family is the center of Spanish society, the home still a ref- uge from outside. The Spanish take their familial duties very seriously, and take care of each other. The siblings who don ' t live at home visit almost ev- ery weekend, bringing the grandchildren with them. Even uncles and aunts and more distant relations drop by often There ' s a definite feeling of close- ness and caring, with the certain knowledge that there is always someone there to lend you a hand if you need one. My stay in Spain would not have been even half the experience it was without living with and becoming part of the Lanuza family. I attend classes at the University of Madrid in a special program for Americans. The classes are taught by university professors in Spanish, but with special consideration for the fact that we are still learning the language. There are classes in art. his- tory, literature, political science, economics, folk- lore, music, geography and many more. Classes are geared more to lecture than they are here, which was a little difficult to get used to. Generally, your opinions aren ' t asked for, nor is discussion required, although by the time the exams roll around, it be- comes obvious that you ' re expected to know all of the material, and to be able to write about it. Multiple choice is not a concept in Spain. You usually don ' t have textbooks, homework, or due dates, whicrn means everything depends on attendance and your ability to comprehend the information in class. The teachers are super, and incredibly patient as they explain and reexplain until we finally understand. Although the teaching style is different, I ' ve learned a lot this year. Although Spain is about the size of Oregon, the country and the people are not all the same. The people who live in the north are as different from the people in the south as the dry, hot southern country- side is from the rainy, lush mountains in the north. Travel overnight from Madrid to the city of Barcelo- na on the Mediterranean coast and you will swear you are in a different country. Spain ' s history has certainly left its mark. The Moor ' s occupation of Spain is easily visible in both the faces of the people and the architecture. The years of the reconquest made Spain the home of many of the most beautiful castles in Europe. Spain ' s position as the most pow- erful country in the world under Carlos I, Felipe II and Felipe III is just one part of Spanish history that make it a fascinating country. But Spain isn ' t just history, and life in one of the major European cities is never boring. There is always something to do and see In the summer, the people stay out until two. three, or later in the morning, as a real Spaniard would not be caught dead beginning his evening out before eleven Junior year abroad in Spain has turned out to be one of the best experiences I ' ve had — an exper- ience never to be repeated Although I can always visit Spain, the chance to live there as part of a Spanish family will never come again. I haven ' t just learned to speak the language, I ' ve become a little Spanish myself, and I think a little part of me will always be. Viva Espana!

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ON- ' S5 D ? Kristen Barner Circleville, West Virginia Nancy Benson Kearny, New Jersey Charlotte Blair Lynchburg, Virginia Dana Both Richmond, Virginia Robin Boulware Unionville, Virginia Diana Brant Marion, Virginia Chris Byrd Staunton, Virginia Terri Calnan Katy, Texas Jennifer Cheadle Burke, Virginia Diane Chismer Williamsburg, Virginia Melisa Coffin Monroe, Virginia Kelley Conner Hurricane, West Virginia Maud Davis Richmond, Virginia Lori Dehlin Manassas, Virginia Robin Edmonds Reston, Virginia Mary Douglas Erikson Orlando, Florida Megan Evans Johnson City, Tennessee Rush Farmer Alexandria, Virginia Amy Fischer Marietta, Georgia Audrey Fisher West Hartford, Connecticut Newport News, Virginia Rita Alvis Parkersburg, West Virginia Yumiko Arimoto Tokyo, Japan 26 people sophomores

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SOPHOMORES Amy Irwin Fairfield, Ohio Ayako Isoqai Kanasawa, Japan Michelle Jackson Richmond, Virginia Cou rtney Keyes Richmond, Virginia Meg Libby Columbia, Maryland Lisa Lotito Annandale, Virginia Denise Lockett Johnson City, Tennessee Jenn Maguire Richmond, Virginia Lucinda Marshall Staunton, Virginia Leslie Mason New Castle, Kentucky Caroline May Marietta, Georgia Carroll McMath Oakton, Virginia Jill Moore Midlothian, Virginia Susan Morey Somerville, New Jersey Tess Mosley Lutz, Florida Erin Murray Butte, Montana Jenni Netting Pylesville, Maryland Liz Nickiis Garden City, New York Amy Norman Atlanta, Georgia Elizabeth Peck Moorestown, New Jersey Sheresa Perry Midlothian, Virginia Karen Phillips Hendersonville, N. Carolina Daye Rollin Severna Park, Maryland Eileen Schroder Atlanta, Georgia Elaine Scott Virginia Beach, Virginia 28 people sophomores