Study Abroad Programs Blog

Recipe: Pan de Muerto

Today is Halloween, but tomorrow begins Mexico's Days of the Dead (Los Dias De Los Muertos) celebrations. Here is a recipe for Pan de Muerto, the "bread of the dead".


Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water

5 to 5-1/2 cups flour
2 packages dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon whole anise seed
1/2 cup sugar
4 eggs

In a saucepan over medium flame, heat the butter, milk and water until very warm but not boiling.

Meanwhile, measure out 1-1/2 cups flour and set the rest aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the 1-1/2 cups flour, yeast, salt, anise seed and sugar. Beat in the warm liquid until well combined. Add the eggs and beat in another 1 cup of flour. Continue adding more flour until dough is soft but not sticky. Knead on lightly floured board for ten minutes until smooth and elastic.

Lightly grease a bowl and place dough in it, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1-1/2 hours. Punch the dough down and shape into loaves resembling skulls, skeletons or round loaves with "bones" placed ornamentally around the top. Let these loaves rise for 1 hour.

Bake in a preheated 350 F degree oven for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and paint on glaze.


Glaze
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
2 tablespoons grated orange zest

Bring to a boil for 2 minutes, then apply to bread with a pastry brush.
If desired, sprinkle on colored sugar while glaze is still damp.


I found this recipe at Global Gourmet, where they also give you the history of the Day of the Dead.

Movie: Maria Full of Grace

By Sue Lavene

Maria Full of Grace (Maria, llena eres de gracia)

This is a distressing though honest view of one young woman's life-changing and life-threatening journey through the dark and scary world of drug trafficking, taking her from her rural town in Colombia to the streets of Queens, NY. Starting the film as an employee of a flower factory, pregnant Maria Alvarez, in search of some desperately needed money for her family, takes the risky plunge to become a "drug mule".

Playing himself in the movie, Orlando Tobon, often referred to as the "Mayor of Little Colombia", in his one-room travel agency in Queens, has worked with many immigrants for more than 15 years, collecting the unclaimed bodies of less fortunate drug couriers, raising money for their burial, helping people to find employment as well as tax preparation. You will find an interesting MSNBC interview with Orlando from May 2004 here.

My overall impression of this film was with mixed emotions, one of a microscope portrayal of an innocent woman looking to the promise of a significant sum of money through one of the most dangerous and hated activities in society. I sat through most of the film white-knuckled, praying that Maria would make it out alive to be able to use that money toward an honest and bright future in her adopted country.

On the other hand, at times, without getting onto a soapbox, I was angry at the reality that people do smuggle drugs into our country because of the upsetting effects of it seen in the media, though this film carefully focuses its energies back on the people swallowing the drug pellets. I couldn't help but feel the human side of the women's ordeals and their obvious desperation. Even though, at times, it's difficult to watch, I would recommend it. And for lovers of the Spanish language, it's shown in Spanish (with subtitles)!

Concert Review: Lila Downs & Mariza

By Jennifer Horigan

It's rare to find a perfect pairing of concert performers. I was lucky to see one such performance, the pairing of Lila Downs from Mexico and Mariza from Portugal. Lila Downs performed first. She has become recognized in this country with a small part in the film Frida. Originally from the southern part of Mexico, she sings many traditional and traditionally-inspired songs from Oaxaca and the surrounding areas. She took the stage of this performance hunched over, a drum swung over her shoulder, playing and dancing in time with the other musicians. She sang primarily in Spanish or the traditional Indian of the region, performing only one song in English, a tribute to Woodie Guthrie and the migrant workers who are prevalent in the southern United States. Her voice was like an instrument, running up and down the scales with ease. You could sense the pride, history, and ancestry in every note, every breath. She sang songs of celebration, songs of death, and even songs about native animals. She is definitely a product of her past and the many cultures and people she has met along the way. An amazing performer.

Lila Downs was a delicious appetizer for the delectable main course, Mariza. Mariza was born in Mozambique and raised in the most traditional Fado neighborhood in Lisbon. She was born to a legacy of emotional folk music. She peppered her performance with stories of her childhood, of the music she loves, the Portuguese poetry that is her inspiration, and the marriage of African and Portuguese that is deep within her heart. During the performance she stood in the center of traditional musicians: various guitars, a cello, violin and viola player, and simple drum. Every note she sang was acted upon, whether through dance or arm movements. And her voice, that voice, was the finest crystal. Every note sang with perfection. You could feel Fado's history every time she opened her mouth. The final song was sang in a traditional Fado style. The music has flourished in small bars in Portugal, without amplification or bravado. Her three guitar players played without amplification, she sang without a microphone, but the music filled the room, as if we were transported to a small bar in Lisbon. A stunning ending to a breathtaking night.

If you ever have the chance, please see both of these artists, these strong women. Their performances go beyond music. They encompass history, culture, poetry, civilization. It would be an evening you won't soon forget.

Question of the Week

By Beth Klemick

As the coordinator of AmeriSpan's Academic Study Abroad, I have been asked the same question many times this week, and I believe it is important to share my answer with everyone.

The Question of the Week
I am interested in your Academic Study Abroad program in Costa Rica (Universidad Veritas). Is it possible for me to take two elective courses and one Spanish class rather than the three Spanish classes and one elective course?

Our Answer
Yes, AmeriSpan can assist and tailor your Academic Study Abroad program in San Jose at Universidad Veritas to meet your individual needs. We are well aware that many students want to have a study abroad experience but also need to fulfill requirements for their major; if Spanish is not your major, you should not have to forgo studying abroad. The best advice I can offer, if you wish to partake in more electives than language classes, is to have as many electives that will be relevant to your major requirements approved by your college or university. The difficulty that students run into when opting not to participate in the standard program model is that, at times, their desired and / or required elective courses overlap with one another, making scheduling a little tricky. So, the more approved elective options you have will increase the likelihood of a class schedule or program that will meet most of your wants and needs. As an important side note, tuition will change if you opt for a schedule outside of the traditional model of three Spanish classes and one elective, as will the total number of credits you will be able to obtain.

Happy weekend!

Choosing a Foreign Language Dictionary

Many times, language participants ask which is the best dictionary to buy for their target language. With so many choices out there and with everyone having a personal favorite to recommend, how do you know what the best choice is for you?

First, you need to assess your current level in the target language, be it Spanish, Portuguese or any other language. If you are a beginner, there is no reason to purchase a large hardcover dictionary becuase, at least at first, you will not have the need for a dictionary that big; ultimately, buying a dictionary that is too large could hinder your learning. Instead of thinking of ways to say things that you already know, you may become too tempted to look up new ways to say things instead. In the long run, it is much better to start with a smaller dictionary and upgrade to a larger one when you are ready.

Second, dictionaries have different layouts. You need to decide what you are comfortable with so that you don't choose a dictionary whose layout is confusing to you. Go to a large bookstore near you that carries a variety of foreign language dictionaries and flip through a few to decide what layout is easiest for you to use. Try looking up a few words to see how comfortable you are with the dictionary. If you don't like one, try another.

The most important thing to remember is not to use your dictionary as a crutch. Rather, your dictionary should be a useful reference tool when it is truly needed. Spanish and Portuguese dictionaries, grammar guides and phrase books are available in our online store.

AmeriSpan Guarantee

We at AmeriSpan are always looking for the best way to deliver top notch customer service at a good value just for you! As a result, we have just launched our Triple Guarantee. There is no risk in choosing an AmeriSpan program because you'll get the best program, best price and can cancel for any reason and get a full refund on every dollar we have received for your program. Below is a summary of each component that makes up the Triple Guarantee:

Satisfaction Guarantee
Your satisfaction is our main concern. If you aren't satisfied, we'll pay for a week of group classes at the same program or another of your choice.

110% Price Guarantee
You never pay more with AmeriSpan because if you find a price lower than ours, we'll match it and take another 10% off.

Full Money-Back Guarantee
Change your mind for any reason and we'll refund 100% of any money paid to AmeriSpan...no questions asked.

Click here for complete details: Triple Guarantee

By Elizabeth Gregory

CD Review: Mensch

When last in Germany, I popped into a music store. I always try to pick up a CD of some popular music of the country I'm in since many times world music selections can be lacking at home (plus it's a relatively cheap souvenir for myself). Prior to my shopping trip, I asked my host brother who was popular in Germany. After listing to many groups and soloists that I hear on the radio at home, he finally admitted that "the only good non-techno singer in German music that a lot of people like is Herbert Gronemeyer". Based on his suggestion, I picked up a copy of his CD Mensch. I love this CD. It's a great mix of slow songs and fast songs. In a strange way, he kind of reminds me of Sting. Even the parts where I don't know what he's saying, I find myself singing along. There is a lot of variety on this CD, and you can really feel his emotions which vary based on the type of song he is singing. I highly recommend this CD for anyone looking to expand their world music collection. It's also a great one to have in the car when you're struggling to find some good "driving music".

Highly recommended by Elizabeth Gregory

International Arts & Crafts

Arts and crafts refer to anything made with one's own hands, a skill. It doesn't matter what the medium is that the crafter or artist chooses to use as each piece is made from the heart, involving a soulful expression of self. With each country's own culture, attitude and life experience, what becomes is a special uniqueness in the eyes of the world, an honest expression of one's world, thoughts and experiences.

With all that differentiates people around the world, arts and crafts are one thing that breaks all barriers and transcends cultures. By looking at what each culture hand crafts, you are seeing into their soul, their story, their outlook, their life. Hence, arts and crafts can be a very powerful expression of self.

Here are some of my favorite crafts as seen around the world:

1. Matryushka Dolls (Russia)
These wooden nesting dolls have a special meaning for me because my great grandparents, who were born in Russia, gave them to me when I was a little girl. As an adult, all I have to do is pick up one of these painted figures and instantaneously be transported back in time!

I read several different stories on its origin, and the one I like the best comes from Russian Crafts:

"In old Russia, the name Matryona or Matriosha was a very popular female name among the common people. Scholars say this name has a Latin root "mater", meaning "Mother". This name was associated with the image of a mother of a big peasant family who was very healthy and had a portly figure.

Subsequently, it became a symbolic name and was used specially to create brightly painted wooden dolls in such a way that they could be taken apart to reveal smaller dolls fitting inside one another."

2. Barro Negro aka Black Pottery (Mexico)
The town of San Bartolo Coyotepec in Oaxaca state is well known for their handcrafting of black pottery, a special procedure for which was developed by Dona Rosa, whose son, Valentin still carries on this tradition at the Alfareria Dona Rosa. The present day pottery, which is shiny, smooth and black, should be used for decoration only and not for cooking or serving as its light grayish brown utilitarian predecessor.

The large shop has 4 sides of shelving all well-stocked with hundreds of pieces of black pottery for sale. There's a large pile of urns, like the ones that carried mescal, located on the grassy area in the middle of the store. You can watch Valentin demonstrate how the black pottery is made and take some great pictures of him and his pottery, as I did in November 2003.

I enlarged and framed my photo of him making a vase with clay everywhere and have it displayed at home on my wall above where my own two pieces of black pottery are sitting. It's a very inspiring display, reminding me of my trip.

More information about black pottery and Dona Rosa can be found at TomZap.

3. Haiku (Japan)
I have stretched this topic a bit to include this traditional Japanese poetry because it's so reminiscent of my elementary school days in Language Arts class! What's really fascinating about this particular art form, originating in the Middle Ages, is that some of the best Haiku poems describe everyday situations in a brand new and exciting way.

As random as they sometimes seem, haikus are very consistent in Japanese, with 5, 7 and then 5 syllables in 3 separate phrases, each complimenting the others. In English, though, the number of syllables is not so consistent, hence changing the sound of the flow. Another rule of thumb is that the phrases cannot rhyme.

If you haven't seen this type of poetry since you were young, like me, here's an example of what's known as "urban haiku":

Silence--a strangled
telephone has forgotten
that it should ring

It's comically refreshing, is it not?!?

For more haiku poems, including some that are reflected in really neat (in an engagingly spooky way!) black & white photos, look for "Photo Haiku" at Haiku Poet's Hut.

4. Balcones or Casitas (Colombia & Venezuela)
These adorable 3-dimensional wooden models that depict scenes from typical Latin American houses are my absolute favorite craft around! They are part of the miniature world that secretly inspires me. Often hung on a wall, they depict a typical scene of a patio, balcony, window, doorway or interior room with a fireplace called chimeneas.

After the wood is assembled, the model is painted, then the finishing decorative pieces are attached, such as floor and roof tiles, wood stairs, old style tiny wood windows and clay pots and hanging baskets with flowers.

5. Photography (Everywhere!)
Even though photography is generally seen as an "art", it brings with it more considerations than many typical arts and crafts because it affects people directly, especially when snapping photos of the local people while traveling.

Even local photographers need to have a level of sensitivity when photographing their own. Jim Kane, founder of Culture Xplorers and avid photographer, describes the process as "Culturally Sensitive Photography" and gives us eight guidelines to consider when photographing people that you can even use photographing your own country.

As you shoot your own personal portfolio of photos throughout the years, you can start to notice how your own sense of photography style is developing; after shooting lots of the same types of photos and applying your personality to them, your style emerges. Since I'm a contemplative sort of person by nature, I tend to take more pictures of the subtle nuances of life when I travel, from potted flowers and plants and a row of colorful fruit displayed at a fruit stand to a construction guy napping in a wheelbarrow and a small child innocently feeding birds in the park.

Since photography is one of my passions, I thought I'd share what's worked for me for better photos on the road:

• Bring more rolls of film than you plan on using and don't be afraid to use them! You may not return to your destination for a long time; why not capture as much of the daily life as you can while you are there?
• Take the rolls out of their boxes and put them all in a clear baggie for the purposes of check-in at the airport (see next tip).
• Even if you are going through only one airport checkpoint, politely(!) insist that the X-ray official to check your camera and film by hand rather than scanning it through the X-ray (even if they say it's harmless!).
• Take pictures from different angles, getting down low to the ground to take a picture of a child or higher up as necessary.
• Be willing to take off-centered photos. It's really liberating; you'd be surprised!
• When taking a landscape picture, scan the horizon horizontally and snap picture after picture in smaller segments to be pieced together (when they're processed) to get a more expansive feel. It's a great display for a scrapbook!
• When you get home, photos developed, pick out your favorite or two, enlarge and frame them (Target has an enlarger and it's pretty reasonably priced!) and then display them in your house as a daily reminder of your trip abroad.
• Or better yet, make a scrapbook of the whole trip if you have time (at least commit to doing one page, it'll usually progress to more!). One of my favorite websites to find inspiring scrapbook layouts and general scrapbooking tips is Creating Keepsakes. Happy scrapping!
• There are lots more helpful travel photography tips, compliments of Fodor's.

So, the next time you are looking for a different kind of travel, how about a trip planned around crafts, following your heart from country to country in search of the hand-made wonders that each culture has to offer?

By Sue Lavene

Movie: Love Me If You Dare

Love Me If You Dare (Jeux d'enfants) is one of the coolest movies I've ever seen, and it is easily one of my favorites. The vivid color and unconventional plot are reminiscent of Amelie, everyone's favorite French film, but Love Me If You Dare tells a story all its own.

Starring heartthrob Guilluame Canet as Julien and Marion Cotillard as Sophie, Love Me If You Dare begins when Julien and Sophie meet as children; they immediately commence an exciting (and oftentimes disturbing) game of outdoing each other with outrageous dares. (Cap ou pas cap?) The games continue through college and into adulthood, and with each dare it becomes more difficult for Julien and Sophie to admit their love for one another. I won't tell you exactly how things turn out for them, but I have to say that it was the most romantic, yet strangely unromantic, ending to a movie I can say I've ever seen.

Again, it's not your typical romantic comedy, but that's what makes it so cool. You'll laugh, you'll be shocked, you'll fall in love with love. Love Me If You Dare is out on DVD, and I highly recommend checking it out.