We made it!

We had a slight delay getting off the ground in Chicago but that was the only problem. We then a 5 or 6 hour bus ride to Oviedo. We stopped for lunch where the students had sandwiches the size of their forearms. We arrived in Oviedo around 4pm and the host families were there ready to pick up their students.

Friday we met with the students at the school at 10am for some ice-breaker activities and then lunch at the school. The professors were thrilled to find out that there is a new staff making lunches and the food is not all fried!!! After lunch, we selected 'Amigos Secretos' which is like Secret Santa with out buying a million gifts. The students drew names of other students who are not from their same high school or who are not roommates. We instructed the students to be like guardian angels for their 'amigo secreto'. They are also to either write a note or think of something else concrete to do for their 'amigo secreto' each week.

Friday evening we had an orientation with the host families, students, and the host family coordinator (Marivi) to remind everyone of the importance of the honor code and to discuss what makes the IU Honors Program different from other study-abroad programs.

Included are a few pictures from yesterday: the students with their host families at the orientation, the students playing one of the icebreaker games called 'Cien Pies (100 feet = centipede), the student group in front of the cathedral and the statue 'La Regenta' in central Oviedo.

On Monday, students will take their grammar exam which will be compared to the exam they take at the end of the program to see how they improved over the summer. We instructed them to not study for the exam but to spend time with their host families this weekend! Tuesday is a holiday in Oviedo. This is the first time since the program began that this holiday has fallen during the program. It normally falls in May. We will meet many of the host families and students in one of the parks in the city to celebrate!