I received some complaints about not updating my blog recently, which I actually appreciated very much. I usually assume no one really read it, so its good to hear! Anyway, the reason its been over a week since I added anything was because classes have started. So this new thing called tarea (homework) is cutting into my free time. Here are the classes I am taking:
Advanced Grammar & Usage:
My mandatory Spanish language course. The teacher reminds me of a Galician Señora Ryan and the class even feels like I am back in middle school (we play games and/or listen to canciones (songs) every day).
Barcelona: Cuidad & Historia (City & History):
Self-explanatory. This is one of my classes a UPF, a local university. The class is taught entirely in castellano (what most spanish speakers refer to as Spanish I guess?). I decided to take it pass/fail.
Images of Spain in Contemporary Cinema:
This class will probably be my favorite. It is my second course at UPF. We watch a movie during our Wednesday class and talk about it on Monday, thats it. The only catch is that it is in Spanish (although subtitles were in English, whew!)
Sport & Society in Spain:
This is a sports sociology class. The teacher is British and very funny. I have this class with Julia and it is my earliest (10:15am). So we can help each other get there on time. This is my one course taught in English.
Language, Culture & Communication: Hispanic Perspectives
This is the class I picked up after dropping my third, extremely difficult UPF course. We just discuss language, culture and communication... regarding Hispanic peoples. Can be fun but is mostly boring, thank god Marissa is in the class.
Right now the classes in Spanish require a LOT of concentration, but I am excited because I know my comprehension will improve immensely due to them. Also, after convincing my department head to let Language, Culture & Communication count towards my Spanish minor, I will be able to complete my minor over here.
The classes are only M-Th which leaves plenty of room for weekend trip. So far I have planned trips to Galway, Granada, San Sebastian/Bilbao, and Berlin/Prague/Amsterdam (spring break). My roommate also has family in a small town in France, so we might go there for a weekend in March. All very exciting!
P.S. I put up two new photo albums, check them out! >>>
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Tidbits II:
>School supplies are different here. There is no lined paper or folders. Notebooks have graph papers and are much longer than in the US (Although, they do have Bic four-color pens!)
>To say chubby in Spain you say hermoso, which also means beautiful!
>Taxi drivers in Valencia are A LOT friendlier and talkative than in Barcelona.
>Kids get out of school at 5pm (the bus stop is right outside my apartment window) and they take normal city buses, not school buses.
>If you talk to a European for more than a minute the chances of them asking you "who is going to win, Obama or Hilary" is VERY high
>Spaniards are very defensive about their siesta break. They adamantly insist they do no actually nap during the day. (Nevertheless, I still find the mid-day siesta break very inefficient. I see stores bring in all their stuff off the sidewalk and close their shops around 1:30, then have to put everything back out around 3:30 only to put it all away at 6:30.)
>To say chubby in Spain you say hermoso, which also means beautiful!
>Taxi drivers in Valencia are A LOT friendlier and talkative than in Barcelona.
>Kids get out of school at 5pm (the bus stop is right outside my apartment window) and they take normal city buses, not school buses.
>If you talk to a European for more than a minute the chances of them asking you "who is going to win, Obama or Hilary" is VERY high
>Spaniards are very defensive about their siesta break. They adamantly insist they do no actually nap during the day. (Nevertheless, I still find the mid-day siesta break very inefficient. I see stores bring in all their stuff off the sidewalk and close their shops around 1:30, then have to put everything back out around 3:30 only to put it all away at 6:30.)
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Valencia & Tarragona
Part of IES orientation includes a weekend trip. Ours was to Valencia. The third largest city in Spain is known for its oranges and paella (neither of which we ended up eating) and is located three hours south of Barcelona. When we heard we were going to Valencia, we were all a little bummed. Past semesters had gone to places like San Sebastian, Granada, Sevilla. All much more well known destinations in Spain. Our Spanish friends and even a Spanish guide book made it seem like Valencia was the city to skip.
Nevertheless, as we discovered Valencia is very much a city on the rise. The Ayuntamiento de Valencia (city hall), has developed various project to revive the city including a beautifully designed, Gaudi-inspired arts and sciences compound (see pictures!), a Formula 1 race track, and a renovated port area that is home to the America's Cup (big sailing competition). Also, after a devastating flood, the city redirected the river the city was built around to an outlying area. This created a large river bed, now turned into a leisure park, that cuts through the entire city (I didn't get a picture of it, but it was very cool). All of this on top a rich and extensive cultural history (which is hard not to have in Europe). My bet is that in a few years Valencia will have a much better reputation.
The guide books of Spain mentioned Valencia had a vibrant nightlife, which we were looking forward to. Our tour guide told us Calle Caballeros was the place to go. It was one of those quintessential, curvy, European streets complete with one-person sidewalks and room for a car no bigger than a mini cooper. While in a cab navigating through the seas of pedestrians the driver explained the key was patience. There were a few fun bars we found, including one where we Kelsey ran into an acquaintance from Ithaca who is studying in Valencia (small world), and one jam packed with people salsa dancing. But perhaps we are spoiled by Barcelona.
On the way home to Barcelona, we stopped by Tarragona. Tarragona was the richest roman settlement on the Iberian peninsula and is located only an hour south of Barcelona. It was the summer residence of Augustus and contains ruins of an amphitheater, aqueducts, and ancient city walls and streets. The city felt more like an Italian than Spanish, for obvious reasons. But just like in Valencia, the weather is absolutely GORGEOUS! Around 70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. No wonder they call it Costa del Sol (I even came home with some new freckles). Our guides said that Barcelona will be having the same weather in about a month (not that its much worse, just about 10 degress colder).
Overall, we had a very good time. Waking up around 7:30 every morning took its toll (I was able to sleep on the bus like never before) but it also allowed us to make the most out of the weekend. This might sound bad, but perhaps my favorite thing about Valencia was the hotel room. IES put us in a 4star hotel with big, soft beds, clean, nice bathrooms and the best breakfast buffet I have ever had. Not that my apartment in Barcelona is horrible, it is just no 4 star hotel. Nevertheless, seeing another Spanish city made us all very glad Barcelona is our home, and it never felt more like home than when we were away.
Nevertheless, as we discovered Valencia is very much a city on the rise. The Ayuntamiento de Valencia (city hall), has developed various project to revive the city including a beautifully designed, Gaudi-inspired arts and sciences compound (see pictures!), a Formula 1 race track, and a renovated port area that is home to the America's Cup (big sailing competition). Also, after a devastating flood, the city redirected the river the city was built around to an outlying area. This created a large river bed, now turned into a leisure park, that cuts through the entire city (I didn't get a picture of it, but it was very cool). All of this on top a rich and extensive cultural history (which is hard not to have in Europe). My bet is that in a few years Valencia will have a much better reputation.
The guide books of Spain mentioned Valencia had a vibrant nightlife, which we were looking forward to. Our tour guide told us Calle Caballeros was the place to go. It was one of those quintessential, curvy, European streets complete with one-person sidewalks and room for a car no bigger than a mini cooper. While in a cab navigating through the seas of pedestrians the driver explained the key was patience. There were a few fun bars we found, including one where we Kelsey ran into an acquaintance from Ithaca who is studying in Valencia (small world), and one jam packed with people salsa dancing. But perhaps we are spoiled by Barcelona.
On the way home to Barcelona, we stopped by Tarragona. Tarragona was the richest roman settlement on the Iberian peninsula and is located only an hour south of Barcelona. It was the summer residence of Augustus and contains ruins of an amphitheater, aqueducts, and ancient city walls and streets. The city felt more like an Italian than Spanish, for obvious reasons. But just like in Valencia, the weather is absolutely GORGEOUS! Around 70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. No wonder they call it Costa del Sol (I even came home with some new freckles). Our guides said that Barcelona will be having the same weather in about a month (not that its much worse, just about 10 degress colder).
Overall, we had a very good time. Waking up around 7:30 every morning took its toll (I was able to sleep on the bus like never before) but it also allowed us to make the most out of the weekend. This might sound bad, but perhaps my favorite thing about Valencia was the hotel room. IES put us in a 4star hotel with big, soft beds, clean, nice bathrooms and the best breakfast buffet I have ever had. Not that my apartment in Barcelona is horrible, it is just no 4 star hotel. Nevertheless, seeing another Spanish city made us all very glad Barcelona is our home, and it never felt more like home than when we were away.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Tidbits:
(For Pierce)
>Spaniards do not eat peanut butter (you have to pay 4 euros at El Corte Ingles for it, as Kelsey discovered)
>Pillow cases are abnormally long, with openings at both sides
>Kissing on the cheek is VERY prevalent (which is something I find very awkward)
>Hijo de puta (son of a whore) is a strong insult, but puta madre (whore motherish) means great or fantastic
>There are no late night places to eat or order from, unless you go to McDonald's (which is surprising because they really do go out until dawn)
>Spaniards do not eat peanut butter (you have to pay 4 euros at El Corte Ingles for it, as Kelsey discovered)
>Pillow cases are abnormally long, with openings at both sides
>Kissing on the cheek is VERY prevalent (which is something I find very awkward)
>Hijo de puta (son of a whore) is a strong insult, but puta madre (whore motherish) means great or fantastic
>There are no late night places to eat or order from, unless you go to McDonald's (which is surprising because they really do go out until dawn)
Monday, January 14, 2008
Hippies are the same everywhere
This weekend we decided to do some cultural sightseeing. Our theory is to see as much as we can before classes start to know what is worth going back to. On Saturday we visited Montjuïc and on Sunday Parc de la Ciutadella (slideshows below!). Both these places are definitely worth a second visit.
To get to the top of Montjuïc we took the funicular railroad to Montjuic and then the gondola lift up to the castle. It was during the gondola lift that we discovered Emily, my roommate, is terrified of heights. I was scared she was going to throw up or pass out or both. But she just gave me her camera and put her head down. It probably didn't help that the entirely glass gondola was swinging a little more that usual due to the wind. The highlight of the visit was definitely the views. If you look at the slide show you will see eight panoramic pictures of the city in a row. They start at the port, then the old town, l'Exiample and so on until the outskirts. It was quite impressive. After a walk around the castle we went to the Joan Miro museum just a little bit down the mountain. From the rooftop terrace of the museum we could see the sun set on Barcelona, giving all the buildings a beautiful Mediterranean glow (see slideshow).
Parc de la Ciutadella, as our RA Paula had told us, is a great place to go on Sundays. As we walked through the park we saw the zoological museum, the lake and the Cascada fountain (under constuction). Apparently, the park was home to a large citadel used to control subversive Catalyunians by force. This much hated symbol was demolished as soon as it was recovered by the Catalynians and made into a park. Perhaps the park's representation of nature over 'the man' explains why it is such a draw for the hippy population of Barcelona. The grassy avenue inside the park becomes a festival of sorts on Sundays when dread-locked, guitar-playing, ribbon-dancing Barcelonians congregate. We passed the entire afternoon admiring the spectacle. The scene was reminiscent of the Commons in Ithaca. To prove to Kelsey once and for all that I can juggle, I went up for one of the performers and asked if I could try (learning that pelota does in fact mean ball in Spanish, just not in the context I used it). The same performer also tried to teach my apartment-mate, Niki, how to baton twirl.
The only thing that drove us away from these sights was the temperature that occurs at sunset. When we first arrived in Barcelona, we were confused by the amount of down jackets, hats and scarfs worn by the locals. Especially when we were hot in just our fall coats. However, our upstate New York tolerance is fading and while the weather is still averaging mid 50s, we are beginning to feel the chill. But don't get my wrong, I am definitely NOT complaining!
To get to the top of Montjuïc we took the funicular railroad to Montjuic and then the gondola lift up to the castle. It was during the gondola lift that we discovered Emily, my roommate, is terrified of heights. I was scared she was going to throw up or pass out or both. But she just gave me her camera and put her head down. It probably didn't help that the entirely glass gondola was swinging a little more that usual due to the wind. The highlight of the visit was definitely the views. If you look at the slide show you will see eight panoramic pictures of the city in a row. They start at the port, then the old town, l'Exiample and so on until the outskirts. It was quite impressive. After a walk around the castle we went to the Joan Miro museum just a little bit down the mountain. From the rooftop terrace of the museum we could see the sun set on Barcelona, giving all the buildings a beautiful Mediterranean glow (see slideshow).
Parc de la Ciutadella, as our RA Paula had told us, is a great place to go on Sundays. As we walked through the park we saw the zoological museum, the lake and the Cascada fountain (under constuction). Apparently, the park was home to a large citadel used to control subversive Catalyunians by force. This much hated symbol was demolished as soon as it was recovered by the Catalynians and made into a park. Perhaps the park's representation of nature over 'the man' explains why it is such a draw for the hippy population of Barcelona. The grassy avenue inside the park becomes a festival of sorts on Sundays when dread-locked, guitar-playing, ribbon-dancing Barcelonians congregate. We passed the entire afternoon admiring the spectacle. The scene was reminiscent of the Commons in Ithaca. To prove to Kelsey once and for all that I can juggle, I went up for one of the performers and asked if I could try (learning that pelota does in fact mean ball in Spanish, just not in the context I used it). The same performer also tried to teach my apartment-mate, Niki, how to baton twirl.
The only thing that drove us away from these sights was the temperature that occurs at sunset. When we first arrived in Barcelona, we were confused by the amount of down jackets, hats and scarfs worn by the locals. Especially when we were hot in just our fall coats. However, our upstate New York tolerance is fading and while the weather is still averaging mid 50s, we are beginning to feel the chill. But don't get my wrong, I am definitely NOT complaining!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Pictures!
It took me forever, but I finally figured out how to post picture slideshows! As you can see they are on the right side below the post archive section. In order to see captions just double click on the slideshow. Enjoy!
Friday, January 11, 2008
"Your not going to learn any spanish in Barcelona"
Before leaving for Barcelona, several people said that very phrase to me. My Spanish adviser and the modern languages department chair were both visibly angry at my choice of abroad location. This made me question my decision, despite knowing Barcelona was such a unique, exciting city.
However, they were very wrong. In fact, while having drinks with a bunch of native university student I mentioned this, to their shock and incomprehension. They explained that Catalán is mainly spoken in the household or between close native cataluynians friends. If they were to meet someone of the street, they said they would always start with Spanish. Well this was so nice to hear, I had already noticed its truth. In just six days, I feel my Spanish improving, my confident rising, and my accent having more of a lisp (When pronouncing certain sounds, like a 'C', Spainards make the 'th' sound and it sounds lispy. For example, they say gra-th-ias instead of gracias).
This isn't to say Catalán, the other official language of Catalunya (the state of which Barcelona is the capital) is not prevalent. We arrived on the Ephipany, January 6th, which is essentially Christmas day for the Spanish (the children receive gifts from three wize men, los tres reyes, on the night of the twleveth day of Christmas). The city was filled with Christmas decorations and signs saying Bon Nadal (merry Christmas) all over town. This still remains the only Catalán word I have retained, and probably because it reminds me of Rafa Nadal (the tennis player). But I hope to learn a few basic phrases to show the native Barcelonians my appreciation of their culture. I hear they like that.
However, they were very wrong. In fact, while having drinks with a bunch of native university student I mentioned this, to their shock and incomprehension. They explained that Catalán is mainly spoken in the household or between close native cataluynians friends. If they were to meet someone of the street, they said they would always start with Spanish. Well this was so nice to hear, I had already noticed its truth. In just six days, I feel my Spanish improving, my confident rising, and my accent having more of a lisp (When pronouncing certain sounds, like a 'C', Spainards make the 'th' sound and it sounds lispy. For example, they say gra-th-ias instead of gracias).
This isn't to say Catalán, the other official language of Catalunya (the state of which Barcelona is the capital) is not prevalent. We arrived on the Ephipany, January 6th, which is essentially Christmas day for the Spanish (the children receive gifts from three wize men, los tres reyes, on the night of the twleveth day of Christmas). The city was filled with Christmas decorations and signs saying Bon Nadal (merry Christmas) all over town. This still remains the only Catalán word I have retained, and probably because it reminds me of Rafa Nadal (the tennis player). But I hope to learn a few basic phrases to show the native Barcelonians my appreciation of their culture. I hear they like that.
Monday, January 7, 2008
How many blondes does it take to...
...figure out the wireless internet in the Hotel Gran Ducat-Barcelona? Apparently three. So now I can update you all on our first two days of living in Barcelona!
All of us made it in one piece, although Kelsey's luggage is still MIA. The hotel is very nice, minus the receptionist speaking about as much English as Brian speaks Spanish and the odd earthquake sensation that occurs about every half hour. To celebrate our first night, we treated ourselves to a pizza and a bottle of cava (Catalunyan champagne) in a restaurant over looking Las Rambles (the central pedestrian street of old Barcelona).
Today, the first full day, was full of educational opportunities. After I checked in, we bought our metro tickets and went exploring. Our plan was to check out everyone's apartment as a way of learning the metro. Mine, being the furthest from the city center, was first. We thought we found it, but my key wouldn't work. With neither cell phones or a working pay phone (it just ate my two euros), we decided to move on to Kelsey's. (Don't worry, after meeting up with my RA I figured out that we were looking at Plaza St. Joaquim instead of Plaza Joaquim Folguera. Oops!). Kelsey's apartment is within walking distance and one metro stop away from mine and borders a beautiful park. Hayley's is in Eixample, the more centralized barrio, where we had our first menu del día (three courses for a fixed priced, muy barato y delicioso!)
After dinner, we headed to our first class, international strategic management. The course is a regular course at the Universidad Pompeu Fabra's business school, ESCI, so it started today, but the rest of the classes don't start for a few weeks. The course is offically taught in english, but the professor and about half of the students are Spanish. Let's just say there should be some interesting stories.
Well, we are off to get something to eat for dinner. Yes, it is 11pm, but we are trying to get in the swing of la vida Español. Adios for now!
All of us made it in one piece, although Kelsey's luggage is still MIA. The hotel is very nice, minus the receptionist speaking about as much English as Brian speaks Spanish and the odd earthquake sensation that occurs about every half hour. To celebrate our first night, we treated ourselves to a pizza and a bottle of cava (Catalunyan champagne) in a restaurant over looking Las Rambles (the central pedestrian street of old Barcelona).
Today, the first full day, was full of educational opportunities. After I checked in, we bought our metro tickets and went exploring. Our plan was to check out everyone's apartment as a way of learning the metro. Mine, being the furthest from the city center, was first. We thought we found it, but my key wouldn't work. With neither cell phones or a working pay phone (it just ate my two euros), we decided to move on to Kelsey's. (Don't worry, after meeting up with my RA I figured out that we were looking at Plaza St. Joaquim instead of Plaza Joaquim Folguera. Oops!). Kelsey's apartment is within walking distance and one metro stop away from mine and borders a beautiful park. Hayley's is in Eixample, the more centralized barrio, where we had our first menu del día (three courses for a fixed priced, muy barato y delicioso!)
After dinner, we headed to our first class, international strategic management. The course is a regular course at the Universidad Pompeu Fabra's business school, ESCI, so it started today, but the rest of the classes don't start for a few weeks. The course is offically taught in english, but the professor and about half of the students are Spanish. Let's just say there should be some interesting stories.
Well, we are off to get something to eat for dinner. Yes, it is 11pm, but we are trying to get in the swing of la vida Español. Adios for now!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Four days & counting
In four days I will arrive in Barcelona, Spain for my semester abroad.
For those of you interested in my exploits overseas, I thought a blog would be an easy way to keep you updated. I will be posting anecdotes and tidbits as the semester goes on. Pictures, slide shows and possibly videos will also be available. Feel free to comment and ask me questions!
For those of you interested in my exploits overseas, I thought a blog would be an easy way to keep you updated. I will be posting anecdotes and tidbits as the semester goes on. Pictures, slide shows and possibly videos will also be available. Feel free to comment and ask me questions!
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