Reunidas Turns 40

My study abroad program had its 40th anniversary this week. We had an official ceremony on Tuesday, and man, was it weird. It was so old-fashion traditional Spain. First of all, it was in the old University building in downtown Madrid and I don’t know what I was expecting but it sure wasn’t the grand ornate hall with gold leaf and intricate painted ceilings. It was more of an opera hall than any university room I had ever seen. Then to begin the ceremony a man dressed in black robes, with a three foot feather coming out of his hat and carrying a giant scepter led the directors of the facultades, (schools) dressed in what appeared to be shinny blue ponchos and white bow ties, up to the head table. Every time someone got to up to give a speech they had to be lead to the giant podium stand by the man in the scepter and then led back to their seats. At the end of the speeches he pounded his scepter on the ground and then came in the university brass band, followed by the woodwinds, and then a small symphony. The music was great but the whole ordeal was just so strange to me. Luckily it was followed by free food and wine, so not all bad.
Then the following night was all got treated to free tapas and drinks again at a nice restaurant. We had croqetas, tortilla Espanola, calamari, and octopus.