What is the University of Salamanca’s new years Eve?

Here are some articles we have written other years about this event:

- Eve Universitaria Salamanca 2011

- Eve Universitaria Salamanca 2010

-New Year's Eve 2009 SalamancaUniversity

For a brief summary, a few days before the students studying in Salamanca - Spanish or foreign - return home to celebrate Christmas with their family, they celebrate new years eve all together first in the Plaza Mayor and then later in the streets and bars of the city.

It is not an old tradition - perhaps only 15 years old  and the first time it was held was between a small groups of friends but it has grown and is not only in Salamanca. The other night, there was expected to be expected to nearly 40,000 people, perhaps more eating the typical grapes (normally made of jelly), to celebrate in advance the arrival of the new year. The origin of most people will be Salamanca but also from other parts of Spain , for example, Portugal and even Europe.

It started at 21.45 in the Plaza Mayor with live performances on stage which lasted until twelve o'clock, when all attendees ate the 12 grapes that were given out before ( imitating the Spanish tradition of eating grapes on 31st December  at the stroke of midnight). From there, the party moves to the bars and clubs of the city.

Many staff were there to avoid problems with the crowds in the Plaza mayor in the  minutes immediately preceding and following the event.

We assume that the students had a good time and we hope they all went to class the next day!

Happy new year!

Extra-curricular activities 17th-21st December

Monday 17th, 19:00: Board games. With a person from the school, we will go and learn how to play Spanish card games. Price: Your consumption. Meeting place: Tía Tula.Approximate duration: 1h

Tuesday 18th, 18.45: Exhibition. Un país suspendido, Art Situacions y Viveka Goyanes are two exhibitions currently in the DA2. Meeting point: Tía Tula. Approximate duration: 1h

Wednesday 19th^, 19:00: Ice skating. We will go and practise ice skating at the ring which is temporarily in the Plaza de la Concordia. Price: According to the number of participants. Meeting point: Tía Tula. Approximate duration: 1h. Assistance must be confirmed before Tuesday at 14h

Thursday 20th. 19.00. Cooking class. Roscón de Reyes. You will learn how to make Roscón de Reyes and then you can eat it. Price: 7€. Meeting point: Tía Tula. Approximate duration: 1h.

Friday 21st, 12:00: Christmas party. Various activities will be organized to celebrate the start of the Christmas holidays. Meeting place: Tía Tula.

Remember to sign up for the activity at reception beforehand (the minimum number of people needed for each activity is 3). If the cost is not stated then the activity is free. We recommend our students to participate in the activities so they can get to know other students in the school, so they can broaden their knowledge of Spanish culture and to practice and improve their Spanish in a fun way.

Tía Tula experience

I’m a student from Belgium and I’d like to share with you my experience of Tia Tula.

This autumn, I had the opportunity to study in Salamanca for three months, from early September until December.

The first day when I arrived, I was a little nervous not to find where to go, what to do, how to adapt to this new type of learning. Due to the staff and the teachers, I directly felt like at home. They all were very welcoming and friendly. My first day to Tia Tula was really nice and I’ve never felt uncomfortable.

The classes are really good. I improved my Spanish and today I’m able to speak and understand people pretty well – anyway much better than when I arrived! During the lessons, we practice every competences (reading, writing, audition, speaking) and we discuss about every kind of subjects.

The teachers are amazing! They are always ready to listen to you and answer to your questions. They are incredible at doing their job! I learnt the best Spanish with the best teachers. They are motivated, professional, close to us. I always can rely on their advices and I enjoy the classes every day. They always push the students as far as they can and want to be sure that you have everything you need to succeed. The staff at the office has always been welcoming and I’ve been able to talk to them in any concern.

Moreover, Tia Tula is situated in the heart of Salamanca, city of reference as the center of the Spanish language. In Salamanca, the purest Spanish accent is spoken, which means that you learn the best Spanish of Spain.

Tia Tula is a private school for foreigners. Therefore I met a lot of students from the world and it was amazing to discover their culture, their language. They were in a good mood every day, motivated to discover the city, to go out. I’m leaving with many memories even if it’s going to be hard to see off.

But one thing is absolutely sure: I’m coming back soon!

By Justine Pons (student intern)

Salamanca by night!

I’m in Salamanca since August and, shame on me, I had never visited the whole city by night. It was a big mistake that I wanted to change!

That’s why, a few days ago, I went through the city with a friend to have a walk and take pictures of the main monuments by night. It was a wonderful experience! Forgetting the cold weather, I saw Salamanca on its better side.

We began from the Plaza Mayor, with our cameras until the Roman Bridge (photo). Everything was shining; it was a beautiful landscape to admire. The bridge by day and by night are completely different!

Then we went to Casa Lis, the University en the Casa de las Conchas (photo). We used to see these monuments by night and it was a great experience to discover them a second time during the night, with all of the lights. We also visited the cathedral and a few little churches.

We had the chance to assist to the Huelga (November 14). Very Spanish!

Finally, it was a little short but an amazing experience to discover the city like if it was the first time.

I have two more weeks to discover the end of the city by night!

By Justine Pons (student intern)

Extra-curricular activities 3rd-7th December

Monday 3rd, 19:00: Merienda. We will go to the café El Mandala where there is a variey of tea, shakes and cakes that we can try. Price: Your consumption. Meeting place: Tía Tula. Approximate duration: 1h

Tuesday 4th, 19:30: Tapas/intercambio. We will go on a tapas route and do an intercambio at the same time with foreign students and English students at  Tía Tula.  Price: +- 6€. Meeting point: Tía Tula. Approximate duration: 1h

Wednesday 5th^, 19:30: Cinema. Somebody from TíaTula will accompany you to the cinema to see one of the films on show. Meeting point: Tía Tula Approximate duration: depends on the film chosen. Price: 6,70 €

Thursday 6th. Public holiday. Día de la Constitución Española. It´s a day that celebrated in Spain in which they commemorate the celebration of the of the constitutional referendum in 1978

Friday 7th, 11:30: Film. A brilliant opportunity to immerse yourself in Spanish cinema. Meeting place: Tía Tula.

Remember to sign up for the activity at reception beforehand (the minimum number of people needed for each activity is 3). If the cost is not stated then the activity is free. We recommend our students to participate in the activities so they can get to know other students in the school, so they can broaden their knowledge of Spanish culture and to practice and improve their Spanish in a fun way.