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By Mike Schaller - AmeriSpan Staff

I wanted to study abroad because I had never been outside of the States and a semester in Spain cost the same as a semester in State College, PA. It Seemed like a no-brainer. I knew it’d be fun, but I had NO idea what was really in store.

Lesson 1- There is a degree of shock when you arrive in a place that doesn’t speak your language; Embrace it, it’ll go away.

I traveled with 3 of my closest college buddies and I thought I was the “Spanish expert” of the group because I had a couple semesters of college Spanish under my belt. I was in for a surprise when we showed up at the shuttle from the airport in Madrid to the Ave (the high speed train that would take us to Sevilla). I could form a sentence to ask where to go, but had no idea what the woman was saying when she replied in ultra-fast Spanish. So we finally made it to Sevilla and found our way to our host family. It was a little difficult at first trying to get to know each other. The only one that spoke English was the 16 year old daughter and her English was about as good as my Spanish. We were anxious to explore so we hit a local tapas place and felt like we were on top of the world. We cheers’d over our first drink together and it was sweet! Within the next couple of days School started, and we started to get into the Spanish way of life.

Lesson 2- SIESTA = AWESOME!

Every day at 2PM we’d come home for a big lunch with our host family, then crawl into bed and sleep for 2 hours. There wasn’t much choice, literally everything, and I mean everything shuts down from around 2-5 in the afternoon. No groceries, no bars, no movies, just naptime. It’s genius. Sometimes we’d spend the Siesta by the river where there was a vendor selling “Tinto de Verano” (kind of like Sangria). We’d pay 5 euros for a liter and bask in the glorious sun like kings. I can guarantee you our friends back at Penn State were not doing this in February!

There are too many stories to tell in one blog but I’d like to highlight the most memorable one which brings me to..

Lesson 3: A host family can take you places and show you things you have no chance of finding on your own. Take advantage of it!

One Saturday night, our homestay brother, Gabi, told us to get dressed up ‘cause he was taking us out for a night of REAL Sevilla. Don’t get me wrong, we partied Spanish style all semester (botellon, late-night discoteca, tapas, etc.) but this night would be different. We showed up at this plush club hidden in this little cove by the water and everyone was decked out. All the females were wearing traditional Flamenco dresses and all the gentlemen were wearing suits. We got inside and there was an incredible band playing music I had never heard. It was local Flamenco music, and it was awesome. Everyone knew how to dance, and dance with style, Flamenco style. We each found ourselves a lady to teach us the moves, and we were right in the mix. I looked around from time to time and thought I was in a movie. Ridiculous. Absolutely a dream! All of a sudden at midnight the band stopped and all the lights went out in the club. Everyone moved towards one side of the room and a bunch of people lit candles. There was a statue of the Virgin Mary called El Rocio. Everyone sang this song in a loud, boisterous voice and then blew the candles out. The lights came back on, the band started up, and the crowd went nuts! I was shell-shocked. Were we just part of some religious ceremony on a Saturday night in the middle Sevilla? Yes! That certainly never happened in Central Pennsylvania. That night will go down, without a doubt, as one of the best nights of my life.

By the end of my 15 weeks in Spain I was thinking and dreaming in Spanish. I was having deep conversations with Spanish women, in Spanish. Seriously? That woman at the airport shuttle should see me now! Please, please, please, please, if you’re reading this and are tossing around the idea of spending some time abroad- DO IT! And do it right. Get into the culture and take it all in. You’re about to change your life!

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By Hannah Gieseket - Guest blogger studying in Heredia, Costa Rica

I am finding that the most frustrating part of this experience so far is translating the information that I have learned in class out in the city. I find that when I am class I am able to understand a great deal of the Spanish that my teacher uses however when I actually go to a restaurant or a store sometimes I am not able to identify anything that the people are trying to say to me. I keep reminding myself the importance of being patient and that I have only been studying the language for a total of 9 days but I guess it is just part of personal pressure.

Yesterday I attended another of the school's dancing classes where we learned some group dances. The dance begins in a circle with everybody in pairs. However, through turns and different moves the women rotate around the circle between all of the men transferring partners. I have to say that my group's first couple of tries was pretty hilarious. I am assuming that some of the difficulty stems from the fact that in America these are not typical styles of dancing, except perhaps with square dancing. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time but it was really fun. It also helped to get to know other people in the class. Each song that we practice to, the salsa or the merengue, we have to change partners. While this provides additional practice it also makes it difficult to become accustomed to a specific person's dancing style. I thought I had rhythm, but I guess we'll have to wait and see...

Last evening I went with a group of students out to dinner and out on the town. It is interesting to observe the local nightlife including the differences in service and atmosphere. There is a lot more American music played that I first would have suspected. While sometimes it brings the comfort of home it also brings a shock to the senses when you step outside and remember that you are in a different country. Tomorrow I take another exam to test my skills and attempt to move to a higher level. Well, I guess that means that I must study!

« Recommendation: Ahora Hablo Medical Edition | Main | La Tomatina »

By Ana - Guest blogger studying in Heredia, Costa Rica

I am a fourth year medical student specializing in Family Medicine with Intermediate Spanish speaking ability. I was given the unforgettable opportunity to observe the socialized medical system in Costa Rica for two weeks and two days. This was made possible through the coordination and hard work of the school in .Heredia

I was given an introduction of the three parts of the Costa Rican public medical system "Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social" (CCSS) which is referred to as "La Caja" for short by Dra. Quiros. The system is like a ladder which treats patients and transfers them to the facility best able to beat their ailment The first rung of the ladder is the Ebais, the second is the Clinica, the third and top of the ladder is Hospital. Hospitals are separated into classes A through C based on their resources and equipment available to treat different ailments. Most class A hospitals are in San Jose, Costa Rica and are the most well equipped. In my short amount of time I was able to observe/assist all three rungs of the CCSS and two different classes of Hospitals.

For two days I shadowed Dra. Quiros, a Neonatologist and Pediatrician in San Jose Costa Rica. One day was spent in the Hospital Dr. R A Calderon Guardia, the other day was an overnight stay in San Juan de Dios. I was able to view the facilities and departments through a personal tour of the hospital and observed first hand the management of patients in the Neonatology unit while improving my Spanish and expanding my medical Spanish vocabulary with the patients of Dra. Quiros. I was able to observe a birth in the labor and delivery unit of Calderon Guardia and the immediate neonatal care of the baby. This was a rewarding and familiar experience and was a great introduction for the weeks to follow.

I spent the mornings of five days of first full week in the Bernardo Benavides Ebais with Dra. Cespedes and Dra. Santamaria. This was an opportunity to see the entry point of the CCSS in action. There were a steady flow of patients with many of the basic medical ailments and some with more grave states which were transferred to the Hospital for evaluation. I was able to listen to the patient/doctor dialogue closely and experience the similarities and differences in primary care between this sampling of the Hispanic population and those patients in the United States. I brought basic medical supplies and over-the-counter medications from the United States as donations to the Ebais which has the fewest resources of the three parts of the CCSS.

In the beginning of the first full week I also spent afternoons and evenings (until 6pm or 8pm) in 'San Vincent De Paul" Hospital in Heredia with Dr. Quiros (brother of Dra. Quiros) and Dra. Alfaro. I was given a personal tour of the facilities and was explained the differences in resources and equipment in comparison to a Class A hospital such as those in San Jose I visited the week before. Dr. Quiros is an Emergency Physician who was stationed in "La Capilla" during my week there. La Capilla is the chapel in the hospital where patients admitted to the Hospital through the Emergency Department are kept until they are found room in their corresponding unit in the hospital. I was able to follow the management of patients in a non-acute setting and perform an Ingreso (patient interview) in Spanish. I was able to observe/participate in the San Vincent De Paul Triage room with Dra. Alfaro, Emergency Department Director, for two nights at the end of the week. I was able to experience first-hand how patients are evaluated and channeled as either requiring medical care in the Hospital or the Clinica depending on the severity of their ailment With the assistance and the observation of Dra. Alfaro and Dr. Quriros I further improved my Medical Spanish vocabulary, and given the opportunity to witness the management of Dengue.

My second week was spent in the Heredia Clinica where I observed, examined, and interacted with patients with Dra. Mendez, an Internist at the Clinica, as my Medical Spanish has much improved at this point. I attended regularly scheduled Medical Forums with the internists and discovered that the grievances of patient noncompliance, and the hurdle of trying to encourage lifestyle changes are consistent with the grievances and obstacles of those physicians in the United States as well. I was able to grasp more of the nuances of patient/physician relationship with this second half of the experience as well as expand my understanding of the CCSS system and practice my Medical Spanish.

This experience has changed my perspective of the medical system in America. I can now clearly see the differences and begin to understand how a socialized medical system serves a community, This new understanding will help me serve my patients in the future and I hope to return to Costa Rica again as a physician to learn and serve some more. Thank you for this excellent opportunity!

« Tomatina and New Aspirations | Main | Recommendation: Ahora Hablo Medical Edition »

By Hannah Gieseket - Guest blogger studying in Heredia, Costa Rica

It is now my second week in Heredia. I think that the biggest surprise so far of this week has been the cold wind that blows through town most everyday. Before I came to Costa Rica images of beaches and intense sunshine pervaded my mind. However, I can’t even begin to say how glad I am that I brought a small jacket with me. It has been used everyday. Some days there seems to be clouds with rain in the distance and even though the sun is shining here you can feel small drops of water touching you as you walk. Lately, I have been spending a good deal of time in the center of town at the park that is in front of town’s large church. The park has a gazebo, many benches, and some trees to provide shade. This seems to be a major meeting point for locals and also a place to sit and pass time. After classes and other extracurricular activities I tend to go to this central location to people watch. It is interesting to watch the old and the young as they go on their daily routines. There are vendors selling drinks or desserts. There is usually a clown there that is selling balloons and children kicking around a soccer ball. It is a wonderful place to pass some time and write in a travel journal.

Yesterday a friend from school and I went in search of a supermarket and found another market where fresh fruit and meat is sold. We wandered through the many different, brightly colored stalls where you can see many fruits that are familiar and others that are not. She had been recommended a “manzana de agua” or a water apple. This fruit has a bright pink skin and a white interior similar to that of a pear. She described the taste as “something like a lemon”. The fruit also has a large pit in the center. I have yet to try this fruit as I am enjoying all of the fresh bananas that as so flavorful here. Many of the stalls selling fresh meat contained the whole animal or sausages made from different meat. There were also many places that were selling tofu and other soy products. It appears that this is a popular cooking ingredient here. In the market there were also small restaurants with stools around them that many people were eating at. There were these large pancakes that appeared to be made from corn that many were eating for lunch along with some salad. I plan to return to this market for lunch someday soon to try some of the different foods that are typical of Costa Rica.

« My First Week in Costa Rica | Main | Discovering the Real Costa Rica »

By Bradey Rehak - Guest blogger studying in Valencia, Spain

Hola,

Today was a pretty laid back day. In the morning, I decided to make my way down to the Carefour store to buy some cheap pants for the tomatina tomorrow. I underestimated the distance to it and spent the better part of the morning walking to and from. However, I had the chance to see some new sights in Valencia so all was not lost. I picked up some sweats for 6 Euros. I figured this would be good enough to get splattered with tomatoes.

The fest is pretty big bringing in 30,000 people to the little pueblo of Bruñol. They will have 20,000 kilograms of tomatoes and one hour of madness. I am pretty excited about this hope chuck a few tomatoes while I am there. The festival has been going on since the 1950s and is doing pretty good I'd say from just stemming from a food fight.

My next ambition is to find volunteer work in the area. I know this is something that I will enjoy because I have enjoyed volunteering in the past. Also, it will do wonders for my ability to progress with the language which I need to do. However, not just with the language but volunteering gives you the opportunity to help out others while at the same time meeting new and interesting people. I love to volunteer in short.

I have failed to access this as of yet, but I plan to get in contact with the local Red Cross chapter and see what they have to offer. The weather lately has been pleasant. Many believe that the stifling heat of summer might be gone for the year. The weather in Valencia is supposed to be beautiful in September and October. I am hoping that this is the case because I am tired of the heat in the past. I must go now and get mentally prepared for the Tomatina tomorrow!

« My Weekend | Main | Tomatina and New Aspirations »

By Hannah Gieseket - Guest blogger studying in Heredia, Costa Rica

It's hard to believe that I have already completed one week of classes at the school. Each Friday classes attend a graduation ceremony for those students that have completed their studies whether it be for one week or longer. Each class also takes an exam to see if those that will continue studying will move to the next level. This week was definitely one of getting to know the routine of the school and how the classes would progress. Since I began in the first level it was a lot of learning vocabulary including conjugation of regular verbs. The school not only does classes but offers many other exciting opportunities as well. On Wednesday evening I attended a cooking class that is presented by the mother of the director of Intercultura. Each week she will show us how to cook typical Costa Rican food. This week she showed us how to make "arroz con leche" which is a typical dessert found at birthdays and other celebrations. The class was also another way for us to become accustomed to hearing the language spoken and practice speaking as well. She had us discuss what we had done for the New Year holiday. This is an elective program so there were people there that spoke in many different levels. It was really neat to learn about the food of the culture, as it is another important aspect of life here. I have also been attending the dance classes offered Monday through Thursday. The instructor has been teaching us salsa and merengue. These are partner dances so on Thursday we were able to practice with some of his friends that he brought in. Each Thursday night a group from the school attends a club in San Jose, where we are able to practice dancing and have more exposure to locals. I was not able to attend this week but hopefully I will be able to go next week. My hope is that my dancing will have improved by then as well. I had to attend a meeting for those enrolled in a volunteer program. Joaquin, who is in charge of the volunteer program, wanted us to have a session to discuss culture shock and safety surrounding not only living here but also during our volunteer experiences. It is nice to meet all the other volunteers as well and he has also developed a type of support meeting for those that will have placements.

Last night it was my mama tica's birthday and she a large celebration with many family members. It was really fun to attend her party though everyone spoke so quickly that I could not always follow the conversation. It was mostly ladies in the afternoon and they were really having a great time. I brought her some flowers from a local market for her birthday and her daughter baked her a delicious cake. This weekend many of the students that were in my class are leaving to go to other places to travel or study in other areas. Some of us may try to go out on Saturday evening to see some of the nightspots. It will be interesting to meet new people that will be continuing their studies.

« School So Far | Main | My First Week in Costa Rica »

By Kent Truckor - Guest blogger studying in Valencia, Spain

This past weekend was a busy one but a good one. Friday night I went out with Nicolas for his last night in Valencia. He returned to Italy on Saturday. It is funny how things work out because it seemed like we bonded the last few days that he was around and then it was time for him to go. However, that is how life goes sometimes and I was thankful to have the opportunity to get to know him.

Saturday I studied for the better part of the afternoon and then we headed out to the Valencia football game against Sevilla. It was kind of slow at times but the game ended up pretty good with Valencia wining 2 to 1. It was my first time at a European football match and I was happy with the experience. I had friends from other parts of Europe with me to help explain something if I didn't understand it.

Sunday, a few friends and I from school went to the Oceano Grafico. It is a large aquarium recently built in Valencia. It contains eight different aquariums depicting the different seas and oceans of the world. I am pretty impressed with the aquarium and it contains many different things to look at. We also caught the dolphin show which is an always a good time.

Today, I had to scramble to the Museo de la Ciencias before class. My ticket was only good for today so I made my way there at 10. I think that this was my favorite of all the attractions. The City of Artes and Sciences in Valencia is absolutely beautiful and the Science Museum is no exception. It contains three floors of exhibits and is an interactive museum. I loved it and the whole thing was designed by my favorite architect Santiago Calatrava, one of the reasons I came to Valencia. I spent three hours there but could have easily spent the day with all the different exhibits and things to see. I next made my way to the IMAX movie about Captain Shakletons Expedition to cross the Antarctic in 1919, it was pretty cool and the scenery was amazing. I then headed to school. Now I am going to go rest because I am exhausted!

« My Weekend | Main | My Weekend »

By Hannah Gieseket - Guest Blogger Studying in Heredia, Costa Rica

It is hard to believe that is has already been two days since I first arrived in Costa Rica to begin my studies. The morning of classes we were asked to arrive early to the school so that we could complete paperwork and perform an informal interview in Spanish in order to determine our placement. That morning my house mother walked me to school to make sure that I knew where the school was in relation to her home. The walk is about twenty minutes but not difficult. It was a great time to see more of the neighborhood. All of the houses have wonderful colors and there are many small shops tucked into the rows of houses. The houses are all built in rows with no spaces and all have tall gates around the entrances. The closeness is very similar to the way houses are set up in American cities but quite different from rural and suburban areas where there are usually green spaces separating the homes. The weather here is beautiful but windier than I expected.

A school we received our placements and then gathered in a group for an orientation. After that we were split into smaller groups so that some people started classes and my group went out into the city for a tour. The city itself is quite busy with many taxis, buses, cars, and pedestrians. It was very exciting to see all of the new sites, smells, sounds, etc. Given that I have no sense of direction on a normal basis, I have been taking lots of time simply walking around the city on my own so that I can begin to get a sense of the layout. Even after only two days of classes I already feel much more confident with the language especially when speaking with my host family. There is much opportunity to practice speaking the language, which is so valuable to understanding and using Spanish. The school has many activities planned such as dance classes, cooking classes, and excursions so there is plenty of opportunity to also experience the local culture. I hope to attend many of these events to further my experience.

« Arriving to Costa Rica | Main | School So Far »

By Kent Truckor - Guest blogger studying in Valencia, Spain

This past weekend was a busy one but a good one. Friday night I went out with Nicolas for his last night in Valencia. He returned to Italy on Saturday. It is funny how things work out because it seemed like we bonded the last few days that he was around and then it was time for him to go. However, that is how life goes sometimes and I was thankful to have the opportunity to get to know him.

Saturday I studied for the better part of the afternoon and then we headed out to the Valencia football game against Sevilla. It was kind of slow at times but the game ended up pretty good with Valencia wining 2 to 1. It was my first time at a European football match and I was happy with the experience. I had friends from other parts of Europe with me to help explain something if I didn't understand it.

Sunday, a few friends and I from school went to the Oceano Grafico. It is a large aquarium recently built in Valencia. It contains eight different aquariums depicting the different seas and oceans of the world. I am pretty impressed with the aquarium and it contains many different things to look at. We also caught the dolphin show which is an always a good time.

Today, I had to scramble to the Museo de la Ciencias before class. My ticket was only good for today so I made my way there at 10. I think that this was my favorite of all the attractions. The City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia is absolutely beautiful and the Science Museum is no exception. It contains three floors of exhibits and is an interactive museum. I loved it and the whole thing was designed by my favorite architect Santiago Calatrava, one of the reasons I came to Valencia. I spent three hours there but could have easily spent the day with all the different exhibits and things to see. I next made my way to the IMAX movie about Captain Shakletons Expedition to cross the Antarctic in 1919, it was pretty cool and the scenery was amazing. I then headed to school. Now I am going to go rest because I am exhausted!

« A Night Out | Main | My Weekend »

By Hannah Gieseket - Guest Blogger studying in Heredia, Costa Rica

The anticipation of leaving for the trip made it difficult to sleep the night before, but I woke up early on Sunday to make the trip to the airport to begin my journey to Costa Rica. I will be studying in Heredia, Costa Rica for 12 weeks and volunteering for 4 weeks. I did not anticipate the flight to be long since I was leaving from Atlanta but I was anxious about the arrival at the San Jose airport since I would be arriving in a foreign country all alone. AmeriSpan had prepared me that it would possibly take a while to locate the family after I arrived. When you get through customs at the San Jose airport you are awash with taxi drivers and many people with signs trying to locate their next fare or the person that will be staying with them. It did not take me that long to actually locate my host mother and as soon as I waved to her she greeted me with a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. I immediately felt at home and more relaxed

Her daughter and her granddaughter were also with her so the drive home was full of conversation. Given that I am quite rusty on my Spanish, even the 3-year-old granddaughter was difficult to follow but they were so very patient with me and were willing to repeat things multiple times until I understood. The drive through the city was the first taste of the set up of my new home and I can't wait to see more. I start school tomorrow and I feel that I won't be able to sleep for fear that I will over sleep and be late to class. It has been a number of years since I have been in school so the anticipation is like a piece of childhood again. Feels like the first day of elementary school all over again where you wonder who will be in your class, will you be able to find everything okay, will you be able to keep up with your classmates. My host mother will walk me to school in the morning so I'd better get a good night's rest because we have to be there very early. I can't wait to see what tomorrow holds.

« Leaving Quito | Main | Arriving to Costa Rica »

By Kent Truckor - Guest blogger studying in Valencia, Spain

I just finished my eight week of classes and things seem to be going relatively well. I am officially over a third of the way done with my program and stay in Spain. I feel that I am making relatively good progress with the language however at times it is still a struggle to speak with native speakers when they are in a full blown conversation! However, I believe this is what the next few weeks are for. Little by little, I am progressing and learning what is happening.

We went out with Nicolas last night in Valencia. Nicolas is from Italy, is a good guy who loves to go out, and has a strong sense of humor. We went out with his German, Austrian and Italian friends. We went to a few bars and it was a relatively tranquil night, although not early by any means, haha. However, that seems to be the way in Valencia and the rest of Spain.

One of the things about this trip that I enjoy more and more is the people that you meet from all over the world and the more you learn about different peoples. Last night I hung out with people from three different countries. From where I am from this is a rarity at best. Through this, I have been given a greater appreciation for different cultures and different ways of thinking. Yes, I am here to learn Spanish and learn more about the Spanish way of life, but that does not mean I cannot learn about other countries if the opportunity presents itself.

The majority of the people I meet are kind and open to speaking about their countries and cultures. They are here for the same reason that I am and are happy to share about their countries. I have found my experience up to this point to be informative and interesting. It is a grand change from what I have known in the past. Tonight, myself and a few others are going to head to the Valencia CF game in hopes of cheering the team on to a season opening victory. I will let you all know how it turns out.

« Progress and Diversity | Main | A Night Out »

By Bradley Rehak - Guest Blogger studying in Quito, Ecuador

In preparing to leave a place where one has lived for two months, I believe it's good to contemplate a bit on one's successes and failures--in travel and entertainment as well as in language learning. Here, then, are the most prominent points for me.
Failures: As previously mentioned, a family with kids my own age would have been better--there would just be more to talk about, and there of course would not have been hearing problems to deal with. Given the situation, though, I think I found quite a bit to talk about with my family. I completely failed in climbing a volcano, Cotopaxi, due to altitude sickness. As I have learned, it takes many weeks to adjust to altitudes like that of Quito when you have lived close to sea level your entire life. I similarly failed to find a close group of Ecuadorian friends to spend most of my time with. Although I did meet many people, my base group of friends for travel, going out, etc were all European or North American descent. Although I can hardly be blamed for the Ecuadorians going to work during the week and having less money.

Successes: I learned quite a bit of Spanish. My speech has improved significantly (and significantly more after a beer or two) and I have learned a ton of vocabulary. This was exactly what I set out to do. I also met a lot of people--even if I didn't form strong or lasting friendships, I still had many lengthy conversations in Spanish on a wide variety of subjects. I ate a lot of good food, which compliment can be paid directly to my host mom, who almost never repeated meals and kept me well-fed. I managed to avoid being robbed (up until now), having only lost a stocking cap while in Quito. And I took a ton of good pictures, with which to bore my friends and family for years to come. In sum, I believe I can say Mission Accomplished.

« The Beach | Main | Leaving Quito »

By Kent Truckor - Guest blogger studying in Valencia, Spain

Today we began to study the past tenses of the Spanish. I am excited about this because this will give me the opportunity to no longer sound so one-dimensional when I talk. In my class, I now have students from Germany, Poland, US and China. I appreciate the diversity and it seems to make things more interesting because of this. I do not believe the school would be as fun if it were not for the diversity.

As time progresses I see and meet more new people because the enrollment of the school is always changing and adjusting. This is good and bad at the same time which I figure you can guess the reasons. However, I appreciate the change and look forward to meeting new people. I have spoke with a friend about traveling and visiting other locations in Spain. From what I have seen of Spain and what I have heard I think it is a must to visit other locations.

My teachers have told us that each part of community of Spain holds something different from one and other. I would like to experience each part of Spain at one point but I know that this is a little bit on a stretch to do. Therefore, I plan on focusing on some parts of Spain. The north and central part of Spain possesses much beauty in the way of castles and cascading mountain ranges; the coasts and the south posses beaches and a lively night scene.

I am amazed at the diversity that Spain possesses in regards to the landscape, the culture and the people. The country is made up of different communities and each community is very proud of its heritage and culture. Therefore, each one of these communities makes an effort to hold on to its heritage and differentiate itself from the others. This makes for a dynamic travel experience for anyone; especially considering that, each one of the communities is not that far logistically from each other. In conclusion - I believe that Spain is a wonderful country to visit for travelers - you will just want to make sure you bring your Spanish dictionary with you :)

« My Weekend | Main | Progress and Diversity »

By Bradley Rehak - Guest blogger, studying in Quito, Ecuador

I finally got my chance to go to the beach. It's something I've been awaiting a long time, so let me just get to the juicy details.

We arrived in Canoa, on the western coast of Ecuador, early in the morning, and so had to wait around until checkout in order to secure rooms. But then we went immediately to a very lightly populated beach to lay around for the afternoon. There were many tent-shelters set up so we rented one for the day for a couple of dollars, then commenced sleeping. Which as anyone who has ever been to the beach will tell you, is a bad idea. We relaxed for a few hours, intermittently entertaining ourselves with swimming in the surprisingly warm water, attempting to body surf (at which we all failed), and inventing games (me) such as Throw the Little Sandstone Rocks at the Big Sandstone Rock from a Large Distance and Try to Break Them. Then we napped some more before our Big Date:

Happy Hour! The bar at our hostel had two for one drinks, so we got right down to it. This was followed by an invigorating game of beer pong, and the not surprising trip later to a local disco. Over that time we met many Ecuadorians who were eager to join our group, and practiced quite a bit of Spanish. However, the day led to quite predictable results:

Sunburn! You may remember that I noted my first week in Quito how powerful the sun was. It was even more so at the beach. We all paid dearly for our naps in the sun, as the four of us awoke to matching burns on our stomachs and backs. And a bit of pain. Our stay was not to be wasted, so we once again sought shelter beneath a tent on the beach, and spent the second (and last) day at Canoa watching over people do and enjoy what we wished we were doing. And napping in the shade. The entire ordeal turned out to be quite pleasant, however, and we avoided the concomitant pain of surfing and other such activities while merely enjoying the idea of them. Then it was back to Quito for more school.

« Study Abroad Program Selection | Main | The Beach »

By Kent Truckor - Guest blogger studying in Valencia, Spain

This past weekend was a really good weekend. Friday night I went out with Anna and Nicola to the Barrio de Carmen. It is a district towards the center of town with many bars, restaurants and so forth. We went to a bar called Johnny Maraccas. It was a bonito bar decorated in the style of a Jungle. It had an aquarium in the wall and in the bar, I was pretty happy with this. They played salsa music and so forth. It was Anna's last night in town before she returned to Canada and school.

I met a couple at Johnny Maraccas from London, England. They were pretty young and excited to find other people who spoke English. Some other cities are different such as Barcelona and Madrid with English speaking people. However, in Valencia you don't find many people who speak English, actually not many at all. I can't imagine that it would be difficult for them to get around because they did not speak any Spanish therefore I doubt they will forget this trip. We spoke of the differences between America and England. I enjoyed their company and hope they enjoy their stay in Valencia.

The next night: Nicola, myself and three other friends headed for a small pueblo named El Puig north of Valencia about twenty minutes for their annual summer festival of the running of the bulls. The town is small and pretty but kind of dirty in some parts. I like the older buildings and the small streets. When we arrived there by tren, the city was very quiet. I think most people were either resting or eating when we arrived at 10:00PM. I loved it; many families set up dinner tables out in the street outside of their homes and ate dinner outside before the running of the bulls began.

This was my first experience of the running of the bulls having not made Pamplona in July. The first bull was released at Midnight with about 200 people fleeing for their lives, haha. I watched it from the top of a large barrier with a senor of the town named Miguel. He was a very friendly guy and we talked about family, friends, work, the running of the bulls and so on. I would say he was in his 70s and I asked him if he was going to run with the bulls and he told me "No, it was for the young." haha - I appreciated his conversation and learned a little more about the culture of Spain.

They would place two holsters on the bull's horns with flammable balls. They would light the balls on fire and then release the bull to run through the streets. Once the flames burnt out, they would get the next bull ready and repeat the process. They ran three bulls and it lasted until 4:00 AM. None of the bulls got hurt, maybe just a little tired. It was pretty wild to see in the dark streets to flames running down the street because the bulls were black. I liked it a lot and was able to take a moment to soak it in and realize just how different this is from my home. It was a good night and a great weekend.

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By Bradley Rehak - Guest blogger studying in Quito, Eucador

Having studied abroad four different times now, in three different languages (even if one was English), I considered myself quite exercised in the selection of such programs. In order that others can more easily find success than I did—and avoid some of my failures—I now offer my perspective on the process of choosing a program. The basic assumption behind my advice is that one genuinely wants to learn another language. For those interested only in travel and drink, this advice won't be entirely helpful.

First of all, let me dispel the importance of choosing the right country. Most people make their decisions solely on where they want to be, usually in close proximity to beaches or mountains. I cannot stress enough: it doesn't really matter. Once you've decided what language to learn, there are much more important considerations. I spent two of my experiences, in Mexico and Ecuador, in countries that I had never really thought about visiting. Trust me, as long as you make a sincere effort to learn your language and meet locals, you will enjoy whatever country you end up in.
That said, what does matter is your school: the quality of the teachers, the levels of instruction offered, and the diversity of students. Teacher quality is obvious: teachers with degrees and advanced degrees in the language of instruction are far superior to those that lack it, especially when it comes to difficult explanations. You also must ensure that your level of ability is taught at a prospective school, especially for advanced students, as most schools emphasize beginner levels. You don't want to get stuck in a group that is studying only aspects of the language that you already know. Finally, diversity of students is the single most important consideration for a school: by this I mean the school should also teach languages (usually English) to locals. This, and language interchange programs after school (intercambios in Spanish) are the most crucial keys to meeting locals, making friends, and PRACTICING, outside of school, your language of instruction. Having been to schools with and without local students, I can say now that I wouldn't even consider a program in the future that lacked local instruction.

Finally, choosing a host family is also crucial to language learning. Don't even think about living in a residence, because—especially as an English speaker—you will learn very little. Living with a host family is absolutely essential in order to practice and think about your language on a daily and hourly basis, and learn words that you would never come across otherwise. And if you are really serious about your language, choose a family with kids—whether they're your own age or younger. Even though they can be annoying at times, they are usually the most interested people in talking to you, or showing you off to their friends, and therefore are an excellent means of meeting locals and practicing the all-important slang of your home country. Best of luck!

« Interesting Locals | Main | Study Abroad Program Selection »

By Kent Truckor - Guest Blogger studying in Valencia, Spain
Hola,

Seven weeks down - so far so good! This weekend it looks like we might be making it to a festival in one of the small pueblo outside of Valencia. This time of year and into September there are many festivals in the small pueblos throughout Spain. I am excited about this because back home in the summers - the small towns that are arround where I live have festivals as well. It seems like there is a point in summer where weekend after weekend there is a festival happening somewhere and I am excited to partake in it here because I missed all of mine back home.

The festival is in El Puig, which is about 20 minutes north of Valencia by car on the coast. I have heard that they are good times with plenty of food, drink and music. Also, each little pueblo has the running of the bulls which I have never seen before but I figure could be good to check out. It is unclear if they have a hostel or any such sleeping arrangements so we might just sleep on the beach, we'll figure it out!

Next week is my eighth week here and as always the faces change at the school and people come and go. I feel that it is important that I branch out into other forms of experience here; whether it is in volunteering or maybe taking a class or two at the local university. I feel that I have gotten a pretty good handle on what the area of Valencia has to offer and I am willing to change things up some now. I imagine my classes will still keep me busy at the language school - however a change never hurt anybody.

Today one of my roommates leaves to return back home and start university. It is weird, interesting to see the changes of roommates and people as they come and go. You get to know them it seems in a rather short time, but in just that short of time, it is time for a change again. This is very much as how life goes I figure and it doesn't bother me as much, it is just interesting to see. It seems the people of Spain are accustomed to this and take life as it comes, which I figure is a pretty good method from what I have seen.

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By Bradley Rehak - Guest blogger studying in Quito, Ecuador

Having given a brief description of the cloud forest reserve, I'll now describe some of the interesting details of the location, that is, the interesting inhabitants that make up the forest and that draw people to the refuge.

A tree that largely dominates the secondary growth areas in the cloud forests of Ecuador is known in English as the dragon's blood tree, or merely drago in Spanish. Why? When one jabs something sharp into the bark (such as the small knife that the guides use so the tree will heal quickly) it quickly begins to ooze sap, a sap that happens to look and flow almost exactly like blood—almost as if it were the backdrop of a horror film. The sap can then be rubbed on one's skin, causing it to turn white and foam. This is done because it is an effective antibiotic; the many old scars in these trees attest to its capacity in this from machete wielding locals who sold the sap to Western pharmaceutical companies.

Another tree has bright green leaves with red tips that make it appear to be dying; in fact the color is a signal for hummingbirds to feed, as the flowers of the tree hang hidden below the leaves. Hummingbirds happen to be one of the most populous inhabitants of the area, and there are dozens of species of them here as well. It's impossible to walk around the trails without one of these birds buzzing, literally, past your head every once in a while. The sound is that of a giant mosquito, and therefore takes a while to become accustomed to.

The secropia is the easiest tree to pick out (at least when it's full-grown). In adulthood the leaves acquire the ability to reflect light, and therefore appear as bright white spots in the forest when viewed from far away. As young trees, however, they look completely different, as the leaves grow from being the size of a hand to the size of a large piece of poster board.

My favorite species of wildlife was the tapaculos, which means show-ass. These birds apparently have the habit of sticking their butts up in the air and then back down quite rapidly and continuously—a fact which I was unable to verify because they are difficult to spot. More heinously, they have a cry that sounds almost exactly like that of a member of a Mexican mariachi band, the guy that yells "rrrrrrrRRRRRRRR AH HAAAAA!" The birds lack the "AH HAA" part, but their trill lasts for ten seconds or more, rising in pitch the entire time. Needless to say, it gives the impression that while walking through the forest one is really entering a raucous party.

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By Kent Truckor - Guest blogger studying in Valencia, Spain

I just completed my first exam for level one at the school. I think it went fairly well. It wasn't the slam dunk that I was hoping for but none the less I am happy with the performance. What I was most happy with was the conversation section. This makes me happy because this is why I have come here - top be able to converse with people who speak Spanish. Granted it was not on the level of how conversations go outside of school - a little slower speaking and more topics that are general. However, I understood everything that she was saying to me and was able to converse with her for 10 minutes or so fluidly. I am very happy with this.

The other parts of the test included: reading, listening, grammar, and writing. I am pretty happy with how these parts went as well however, grammar through me a couple curve balls that I wasn't expecting.

Either way, one hurdle down and on to the next. If all goes to plan I should have the ability to complete four levels of classes while I am here. That would put me at the conclusion of B2, a very good place to be. The levels that proceed from what I have heard are for mastery of the language and I figure I have the rest of my life to do that - of which I am pretty confident it will take :)

It is interesting for me now to think about where I am now and where I was when I first came here. My first day here I did not understand much at all and now I feel like I have made great leaps forward. There are times when I am listening to Pepe that I don't feel as if he is speaking a foreign language anymore which is a cool feeling. Then there are times when I don't know what the heck he is saying, haha. I am happy with the progress made so far and look forward to learning more tools to use with the language so that I am able to converse more effectively with others.

This weekend, which is almost here - the weeks are cruising at this point we might try to hit a festival in a small pueblo near Valencia. Many pueblos this time of year are holding festivals and I hope to make a few before the summer is over. One festival that I don't want to miss is the tomato fight held at the end of august. I have yet to figure out where it is, but I want to partake in this event with a passion. I figure it is something I can tell my grandkids :)

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By Bradley Rehak - Guest blogger studying in Quito, Ecuador.

Seeking some natural beauty and a bit of a break from the big city, I spent last week in the cloud forest, in a refuge called Bellavista. Originally a small farm, the land was bought by a conservationist couple (the man English, the woman Colombian) after winning a competition for it against a logging company. While finishing up other projects in oversees locations such as Madagascar, the land was inhabited purely by cows and chickens, which made the area appear inhabited by farmers while the owners were away. They returned after a couple of years and began constructing lodging for ecotourism, building trails and protecting and learning about the wilderness.
The refuge is about a two and a half hour trip from Quito, that final half hour by SUV through rudimentary mountain roads switch backing up a mountainside. One finally arrives at a set of buildings built out of bamboo poles and thatch roofs. The buildings are interconnected with thatch-covered walkways as well. The walkway leads out along a spur to a geodesic dome that is the center of life in the refuge. The main area of the dome serves as a restaurant/dining room for the guests, while a large portion of the lodging, perhaps for thirty people, is located above the dining area and accessed by a set of stairs and then ladders to the top two floors, which are hostel-style dorms. The top floor is completely surrounded by windows, which offer an excellent view of the neighboring mountains and valleys.

There are six other buildings located on the reserve, which serve to house some of the workers, guests that overflow the main lodging, and researchers who require a more isolated sector of forest.

Running through the entire area is a system of trails, most of which were built strictly for tourism and therefore offer breathtaking views, access to important indigenous plant and animal populations, and a range of difficulty levels for all levels of fitness and ability. There are four waterfalls in the area as well, which serve as endpoints for some of the trails. Everything in between and among these man-made features is forest, most of which is secondary growth but also some primary growth. In all, the reserve encompasses 700 hectares (about 1700 acres) of beautiful, cloud-encircled wilderness.

« A Walk to School | Main | Cloud Forest »

By Kent Truckor - Guest blogger studying in Valencia, Spain

Something that I have realized even more in the past couple of weeks is that the great thing of studying abroad in a school such as this is that not only are you provided to learn about the culture and the people of Spain - but also your classmates who hail from other parts of the world.

At first, I wanted to close myself off to anything that wasn't Spanish because that is what I came here to do. However, I realize that that is being very close-minded and that is not what this is all about. This time is for experiencing what I come across and learning on a multi dimensional level - not just what I hope to facilitate.

Friends of mine, that I have made, hale from Turkey and China. All though they are not Spanish, they can teach me much about people who come from these countries and subsequently people different than me.
This might be the greatest gift I take from my time here - maybe even greater than the language.

This past weekend I was greeted with the hospitality of my Turkish friends for dinner. It was terrific and delicious too, but what made it even better is the conversation that accompanied the dinner. It is refreshing at times and other times painful to discuss global issues with people from other parts of the world. However, I would not trade this opportunity for anything for this is how one learns. I came here not only to learn the language but also to further develop myself as a person. Whether this is in the form of a language or a different way to approach things is entirely connected.

Tomorrow we have a festival in Spain and have no class and a lot of the business around the city will be closed. Something I have learned about Spain is that they seem to live a counter life to that of the United States where it seems like nothing ever stops. Although this provides convenience to some, I wonder if it is better. Yes, I cannot deny that I will be miffed when I realize tomorrow that there was something I forgot to buy at the grocery store and the grocery store is closed. However, is it such a bad thing that the people here take time off to be with families and friends? I don't think so.

« Reflections | Main | The Benefits of Studying with Other Nationalities »

By Bradley Rehak- Guest Blogger studying in Quito, Ecuador

Having grown up and lived most of my life in Iowa, I'm used to going about my business without really thinking about the scenery in the background. In Iowa, the scenery that exists—the parks, hills and prairies—are all quite distant from the cities, at the very least in the cities that have been home to me. Quito, of all of the places I have lived outside of the States, is by far the most beautiful to walk around. I'll demonstrate by describing the simplest of things: my walk to school everyday.

I exit the small apartment building in which I live and turn left, walking along the edges of the Parque Metropolitana, which is the largest undisturbed forest/green space in Quito. The clouds usually hang low in the early morning, giving the clouds a rather misty look. I cross the street to another park that sits on a hill that makes up the eastern half of Quito. It's quite a steep drop-off that is occupied by a series of steps. Standing at the top I directly face Volcan Guagua Pinchincha, which is the largest of the numerous volcanoes and mountains that directly border Quito. I can see the western half of Quito's houses and buildings climbing partway up the sides of the volcano, eventually giving way to undisturbed forest and grassland on the mountainside and then a summit shrouded in clouds. At the bottom of the steps and the park I turn south.

Now facing the Panecillo, a hill that separates northern and southern Quito, I walk down a major street named after a national hero, Aloy Alfaro. On sunny days a statue of the virgin is visible at the top of the hill. It is an image taken from the Book of Revelation: a 50-meter tall Mary stands on top of a chained and defeated serpent. On a incredible visible day, Volcan Cotopaxi, the second highest mountain in the country and one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, hangs in the background.

I finally come to the most important street in Quito, Avenida 6 de Diciembre, and turn right to finish the short walk to the school watching the sun passing between the tall office buildings that line the street. I finally arrive having seen more natural beauty in 20 minutes than I do at home in a month.

« Random Thoughts | Main | A Walk to School »

By Kent Truckor - Guest Blogger studying in Valencia, Spain

Today I completed my 6th week of classes. Next week we have our examen for level A1. I am pretty happy with what I have learned in A1 and what I have learned so far. I realize I still have a long way to go, but I am excited with the progress so far and what I will learn in the weeks to come. I think the major push of students is about over as next week will be the third week of August and many colleges are beginning to start classes in the United States. This means less chaos in the school, which is a good thing.

This weekend there is a festival in the small pueblo of Puich, which is just outside of Valencia. Many of the small pueblos around the city of Valencia have festivals this time of year in August and I would like to catch a few of them. I figure there will be good food, music, and bulls somewhere - there are bulls everywhere in Spain.

The weekend looks to be rather tranquil I believe. Come next Tuesday there is some sort of holiday in Spain and therefore the city of Valencia will just about shut down. They take there holidays very serious around here :)

With the recent turn of events in London, it has led me to think more about traveling and my return home. It wasn't to long ago when I made the flight across the Atlantic and it is something very sobering to think that there are people trying to destroy life in the same route that I have taken in the past. However, I realize that there is not much I can do about things I don't know or don't understand. Therefore, I have to keep living my life just as I would have the day before. I am incredibly grateful to the people who worked to bust those trying to commit such an atrocity.

In the weeks gone by, I have learned that there is a great amount that I do not know about the world. This makes me want to learn more and more. This trip was not the first time I have felt this way, but it has definitely reinforced the feeling. Language is one of the assets that I seek to gain, but I also hope to gain a greater ability to accept things that are different from my past and what I know. One can go through life with blinders on, but there is a whole world they are missing in doing so. I aim to be different.

« Mindo | Main | Reflections »

By Bradley Rehak - Guest blogger studying in Quito, Ecuador

Everyone needs a break from (slightly) organized writing, right? This way I can share a few items that wouldn’t merit an entire blog.

Machismo: I don't think it's surprising for foreigners, particularly women, who travel to Latin countries to find themselves the object of whistles, snickers, animal sounds, and—if they understand enough Spanish—somewhat vulgar suggestions. Surprisingly, most of the girls that I know are entirely oblivious to most of them, as I quite often am the only one to notice the things listed above being directed at them. Having been myself the object of catcalls—was taken for an Australian and some Ecuadorian girls kept saying "good day", among other things in Spanish—I must say that noticing it makes one extremely uncomfortable, therefore it is my recommendation to be as oblivious as possible in South America if you’re a blond girl. Judgment: opposed.

Traveling Drinking Tours: Holidays such as Carnival are often celebrated by young people in the form of a traveling drinking tour, wherein a large, old bus or even an empty dump truck is packed full of people, decorated with florescent lights, equipped with crates of beer or liquor, and is then driven around town for hours to the rhythms of thumping techno music. Judgment: in favor.

Hopscotch Injuries: While visiting Ambato in became involved in a heated contest of hopscotch. Either my memory doesn't serve me well, or as a child I played the game entirely wrong. Either way, I lost in the most embarrassing fashion by twisting my ankle while trying to make a long jump against my skilled Ecuadorian rivals, who apparently had not been playing for the first time. Judgment: opposed.

Rafting: The rafting that I participated in near Mindo consisted of ten or so truck tires lashed together with twine and a belt, filled with gringos, and then set afloat down a quite shallow and incredibly rocky river with a nine-year-old and a fourteen-year-old as guides. No one fell out and no one was hurt, despite my firm belief that it was only a moment away. Unfortunately, considering the danger, the "rapids" were quite small, but not small enough that we could drink beer during the ride. Judgment: in favor, but with some hesitations.

« Breaking the Routine | Main | Random Thoughts »

By Bradley Rehak - Guest blogger studying in Quito, Ecuador

Somewhat to the northwest of Quito is a small town called Mindo that is surrounded by cloud forest and is known among tourists—mostly Ecuadorians—as a sort of adventure spot. It was in Mindo that I went "rafting" as previously mentioned. However, there are other interesting things abou