Syllabus Week: CEGRI Style

Hey hey!

This was the first week of classes at CEGRI!  I finally feel like this semester abroad has arrived—I’m settled in my home, I have my class schedule, I’m learning my way around Granada, ohhh and an oral report due on Tuesday…

I forgot about the “homework” part of studying abroad. 

It’s been a while since my last blog.  (I wanted to wait a couple days to make sure reading it was worthwhile.)  Let me break it down.

Monday:

First day of escuela.  We all woke up bright and early to be at CEGRI (our school) by 8:30 to see our schedules.  For the first week when we walked past CEGRI on our tours, it was just a giant wooden door.  But inside it is beautiful.  It has a little atrium with all these plants.  I’ll take pictures for my next blog post.  There are a couple classrooms and two computer labs.  Although CEGRI is quaint and charming in its own way, it does have oddities.

After the most confusing 7 minutes of my life, I figured out my schedule.  My mind does not operate the same when I schedule using the Spanish words for the days of the week.  My schedule is thus:

Monday: Literatura 1-2:30pm; Spanish Art History 6:30-8

Tuesday: Culture of Spain 9-10:30; Culture of Islam 4:30-6

Wednesday: Lit. 1-2:30; Art 4:30-6 (We have field trips on Wed.)

Thursday: Spain 9-10:30; Islam 6:30-8

Since I had some time before my class, I got my phone fixed (yay for being able to communicate in a foreign country!) and we all went out for chocolate con churros.  We had heard a lot about chocolate con churros from those that have experienced the joy before.  I had high expectations, but I was still shocked when I saw the mound of churros (real ones, not the sugary coated things we eat in America) and the cup full of not Hot Chocolate as I had assumed, but a steaming cup of dipping chocolate.  It was in the moment that the waiter returned with about 30 churros and 5 cups full of chocolate that we realized we didn’t need to each order our own.  Still we did some major damage on that “snack.” 

After buying a notebook, MaryPat and I headed to our Literature class.  (I had so much sugar in my stomach, I felt that I had eaten an entire family of chocolate bunnies.)  I was apprehensive for these classes as they are all in Spanish spoken by actual Spaniards.  Around Literature teacher, Yaniera, is very sweet and really easy to understand.  Her class was a lot of fun for me because I was able to participate and feel confident in my Spanish, limited as it is. 

            I went home after class for lunch and a nap before returning for my Spanish Art History class with Monica.  Monica was our guide for the “Touristy” Tour.  She was as sweet as ever and easy to understand.  Needless to say I left CEGRI feeling pretty happy about the next four months with these classes.

A Toilet that doesn't take Toilet Paper? Weird

            That night we had a free Salsa lesson at this bar in the center of Granada.  The only Salsa dancing I know is what I learned in 6^th grade gym class.  It was pretty funny to watch at about 40 people attempted to squeeze in this tiny area and dance some pretty basic steps.  My partner and I mastered the spins and some other fancy Salsa moves.  The best part of the night was when the teacher (this short Spaniard) made MaryPat his partner.  Give MaryPat a couple more lessons and I think by the end of it, she’d be teaching him how to salsa!

We get excited to spend euros...they look like Chucky Cheese coins.

Tuesday:

            Since Monday went so well, I assumed my Tuesday class would also.  Ehh…my Culture of Spain teacher, Anxion (pronounced An-choin) is from northern Spain.  I am just starting to understand the Andalucian accent (the accent they have in Granada).  He comes in with something entirely different and quite quickly I might add.  I assumed I was just tired.  But I think this is going to be my most challenging class.  Looking ahead we have quite a few tests and some oral presentations.  Woohoo!

            My Culture of Islam class was really interesting.  The teacher, Alicia, is very nice and understandable.  As I have always been fascinated by history and other cultures, I think I will really enjoy this class.  (At least what I comprehend of it!)  I vaguely remember all this information about Muslim history from AP Euro and AP World.  But not enough to retell it in Spanish. 

            Tuesday night we went out for a bit.  We had tinto verano which is red wine with lemonade.  It tasted very good, which means of course, it had almost 0% alcohol.  (Don’t worry, Ma!)  It was a pretty laid back night the highlights being when we bought Kinder Bueno at the end of the night—a really delicious Spanish candy, and when a boy in our program started to rap in the bar.  He was really good and if that wasn’t impressive enough, he began rapping in SPANISH.  Rhyming and all!  And here I am forgetting the word for aunt today.  (I’m pretty sure I actually slapped my forehead and said “DOH!”  The Simpsons is a popular show here, so you know…just reinforcing those American stereotypes.)

Wednesday:

            This morning I woke up and had my cereal alone in the kitchen.  This is what I noticed:

 Considering I have an irrational discomfort with pigs since reading Animal Farm, I sort of lost my appetite and now dislike being in the kitchen.  Especially the way the leg looks as if it’s pointing like a pig dictator. 

           

On Wednesday I had literature.  It was good.  Nothing too interesting there.  But Wednesday afternoon I caved and went shopping.  They have these huge sales through the end of February in Granada.  I don’t know why, but there are some good deals!  I bought a cute leather jacket—one purchase toward my effort of coming back to the states looking as if I learned a little bit about fashion while abroad.

            My art class on Wednesday we go on little field trips.  We are currently studying Gothic architecture and art.  There are no great examples of Gothic art in Granada, but the Royal Chapel (Capilla Real) is a pretty good example.  We weren’t allowed to take pictures in the Royal Chapel, but it was really beautiful.  The Shield of Carlos V and other artwork made for the Reyes Catolica were present throughout the chapel.  It is really interesting that these people were such devote Catholics and yet they decorated all these cathedrals and chapels with some religious art…but mostly their own symbols and crests. 

In Spain, and Granada especially, la familia de Reyes Catolicas are a very important part of their history.  In the chapel there were beautiful artwork on the alter.  It was sort of designed as a house with 9 boxes.  Each box had a different religious scene.  They had the usual, the birth of Christ, etc.  But then (because Isabel and Ferdinad’s favorite Saints were John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, they had artwork of their graphic deaths.)  Yes there was a box with a 3D representation of a man on his knees with no head, while a woman holds it over a platter.  They included all the sinews and bones in the decapitated neck.  It was disturbingly beautiful art.  Beautiful in the level of detail and skill, I mean.  Something else very interesting about the artwork on the altar was the human representation of God.  Normally Catholic art does not include any sort of picture of God, but this artwork had God at the top of it, with the Holy Spirit in the middle, and then Jesus.  Really lovely.  I wish I could have taken pictures.  The best part of the tour: the bodies Isabel, Ferdinad, their daughter Juana, her husband, and their son Carols V are all kept in Capilla Real. When Isabel had reigned she decided to make Granada the capital of Spain and the burial place for Spanish royalty because with the conquest of Granada, Christianity had finally overcome Islam in Europe, her marriage with Ferdinand and the conquest marked a united Spain, and she agreed to sponsor Columbus here! We were able to look at their coffins.  I got the chills when we saw them.  There were bouquets of flowers resting on the coffins (Ferdinad and Isabel were in the middle of course) and in the back of the tomb resting on a pillow was a crown and a scepter.  I could not believe I was looking at an item that was actually worn by such important historical figures in Spain.  We also were able to see Isabel's crown and scepter and Ferdinand's sword in an art gallery they had in the chapel.  Isabel's crown was silver and ringed with pomegranates to symbolize Granada.  

Thursday:

            Classes again.  In my Culture of Spain class we have to do volunteer work two hours a week in the community. They gave us a sheet with options.  Things like working in a hospital, with a movie club, children sports teams, teaching English to children.  It vaguely reminds me The Giver when they choose their volunteer hours…I’d like to work with sports teams or teach English to the children!

            After class, Kelly and I went out for some tea and then shopped around a bit.  It's really interesting to see some of the clothes they have with English phrases.  It is almost as if they don't have anyone who can speak both languages look over these shirts...and I've met quite a few Spaniards who know both...     
      

"Don't Say You Can't Cause You Can." Sage advice on a sequined t-shirt.  

"Check me out" "Can you do it?" "Back to the 50s"  There seems to be a lot going on here...

And my favorite...

"MURDER" "Passional American Murderers." "Guns! Surrounded by Love! Low on Gas!" Mmmk...

Of course I couldn't resist buying an owl shirt...es un el buho!

            In Culture of Islam we had to choose a Muslim country to present on Tuesday.  I chose Morocco.  The program here is planning a group trip to Morocco the first week of February.  As my brother put it, my family doesn’t want me to go anywhere I couldn’t easily be “extradited” I am not going to be attending this trip.  I chose to present about Morocco.  I figure that way I’m still learning about the country even if I am not going.  (Plus Katherine isn’t going to go with either, so we are planning a separate trip to the Canary Islands or somewhere!)

            Thursday night we went to bed early because on Friday we were going to get up early to head to Sierra Nevada!

Friday:

            We all met up at 7am and headed up to Sierra Nevada.  Only an hour away (much closer, but going up the mountain takes a while.)  It was very cold at first up there, but once the sun was directly above it really warmed up. 

            I chose not to ski, as all my past experiences led to me crashing into things such as trees.  I felt attempting to ski again in a mountain—where the “bunny hills” are still on the mountain, I chose to just hang around the resort.  They had many restaurants and the view was unbelievable beautiful.  

Top Gun Pose.

Maverick and Goose.

Shoveling snow off the roof...glad that's not a normal chore back home...

There was a rollercoaster that we went on that, though short and not very high, was incredibly fast with lots of curves.  Basically we were able to control our own speed and the ride didn’t seem too safe as all these signs said to slow down whenever there was a turn.  Normally I love roller coasters, but I was scared for this one.  You couldn’t really enjoy the ride unless it was going fast, but at the same time the ride didn’t have safety railings along it.  Katherine and I rode together and I controlled it.  We, of course, screamed the whole time.  Me yelling, “I don’t want to kill us. I don’t want to kill us.”  So that was nice. 

Getting ready for the ride!

I couldn't decide on which picture...

Both of Katherine's faces were too good!

Reaction to the Roller Coaster...

Our own Betty Boop!

            Afterwards we took a lift up to the top of the mountain where there were a couple cafeterias.  We then ate lunch and talked for several hours.  All in all it was a really great day.  Being able to sit with friends and enjoy the magnificent view was a great way to spend our Friday.

I was exhausted when I got home, went to bed, and didn’t wake up until 1:00 today! Oops!  Overall the week has been really good.  I'm getting to know my host family better.  They're pretty low key, laid back people who feed me lots of protein.  I think I've eaten an entire school of fish in one day before.  With all the protein I'm eating I SHOULD be pumping some iron.  I've spent a lot of time with Eduardo, my senora's father.  I get the impression that he has an interesting view of Americans.  I wonder why...

Oh that's right...Passional American Murders...

Last night we went to a Flamenco show and then out to a discotecca.  The Flamenco show was really interesting.  We went to the neighborhood where La Alhambra is and that was the background view.  There was  curtain behind the stage and as the show started it lifted up to reveal the gorgeous view of the palace and Sacromonte neighborhood.  I wish that I knew more about the history of Flamenco dancing.  I think that I would have appreciated it a little more.  Still it was really great to see it.  Afterwards we went to a couple bars and discoteccas to dance. 

The first couple were fun.  The last place we went to was Granada 10.  It was huge and full of lots and lots of people.  I'm sure I'll be going back there again.  But it was way too late last night! We didn't get home until around 4:30am!  Now its time to do some homework...fun!




Hasta Luego.

Quote of the Night: "This is just like Zero Gravity! But not as much fun..." 
~ Kelly Gustafson


That reveals a lot about you there, Kel.

"Give him a coin, woman, for there is nothing worse in this life than to be blind in Granada"

¡Hola Todas!

My title for this entry is a quote I liked in my Rick Steve’s travel book!  This quote really expresses the beauty of Granada.  Today we went to La Alhambra, so brace yourself, lots of pictures coming your way.

I woke up this morning around 9:15am ready to start my day of tourist-ing.  Carmen was gone, but Eduardo (her dad) was here.  When I was ready for breakfast (corn flakes cereal) he brought me a bowl of warm milk.  Then I realized that there had been a miscommunication last night at dinner.  I had told Carmen that I liked my cereal with warm milk.  Turns out, I don’t.  Surprise.   I ate it anyway, too embarrassed to admit my mistake! I felt like a cat with a bowl of steaming milk.  Still I ate it and grabbed my bocadilla (sandwich for lunch).  I headed out for the Plaza de Isobel Catolica.  Carmen said it was about a twenty minute walk, and I figured heck I’ll recognize my way. And I did for the first ten minutes.  Then I got lost and was freaking out because I was going to be late.  I kept thinking “what will I do if they leave without me?”  Visions of me sitting by the fountain of Isobel, eating my bocadilla, sobbing flooded  my head.  After asking three people three different times, I found it!  The last person had a map and seemed to be a tourist too.  We seemed to understand that pointing and saying “sigue derecho,” and “es cerca” doesn’t really cut it when you are lost and confused. 

            At last I arrived and excitedly walked into MaryPat’s open arms.  It had only been a day but I missed Kelly and MaryPat! The group walked to La Alhambra as we shared stories enthusiastically about our senoras.  (Kelly wins hands down as her Senora didn’t know she was COMING! Ah! But it worked out and now Kelly has an amazing senora.  She is a professor at the University and takes Kelly out to plays and for tapas! Estoy feliz para Kelly.)  Talking became difficult as we walked up the STEEPEST hill I have ever walked up in my life.  I immediately regretted wearing my north face as it was so warm.  But once we started touring La Alhambra, it cooled off. 

            I explained what La Alhambra was a little in my last post.  Without boring you all with the history, or perhaps getting it wrong, I just tell some interesting details.  In my Spanish Art class we will be visiting La Alhambra a lot.  I am sure I will get more detailed throughout the semester!  Basically La Alhambra was like a closed off city.  Tall walls surround La Alhambra protecting it from invaders.  Within there are two large homes or I suppose palaces.  Little cities existed around these palaces.  The foundation for some of these homes still exist.  It was interesting to see how the “common” people had homes with communal bathrooms, but as we continued our tour we saw that the richer people, military people, and royalty had buildings with bathrooms and latrines.  

That's a bath...imagine bathing when its cold outside! Brr!  But there was fire pit behind this wall to heat the water.

I don’t know why, but bathrooms are always interesting when you visit historic sites.  I always think, “how did these people figure out scaffolding, algebra, water systems, but not indoor plumbing.”  It all seems so intricate and advanced!

Foundations of the homes of the "common" people.  Look at the flooring! It's ceramic!

I was very excited...

Miguel Angel is in the red.  He is our program director and a really fun guy.

            We were lucky that it was such a beautiful day because the buildings are just gorgeous.  I took so many pictures and recorded some videos to attempt to capture the incredible beauty of La Alhambra.  Everything had intricate detail.  Even the ceilings.  The ceilings in many rooms looked as if they had been carved out of wood, but it turns out that they carved individual pieces and put it all together like a puzzle.

One of the ceilings. Muy bonita.

  

 

            These buildings were built by Muslims.  The architecture switched to something less decorative when Christian rule took over.  I found that interesting considering how beautiful cathedrals are.  Still the architecture of this place was so impressive.  Granada apparently is on a fault line.  It moves ever so slightly every day.  So the pillars they built are not made of only stone, but have a layer of lead between the pieces.  Because lead is a softer metal it acts as a sort of cushion and allows the pillars to move ever so slightly as the ground shakes.   Otherwise the structure would not hold.  How intelligent!

Justine and Me

            We saw the room where the Sultans would reside.  It was interesting the way the room was set up.  If it is really sunny out as soon as you walk in your eyes have to adjust.  This was so that you could not see the face of the Sultan, but the Sultan would be able to study your face for a bit.  And in this room the ceiling was covered in stars.  In the center there were 7 levels with stars, representing the 7 levels before heaven.  Really cool.

            There was one room that was designed in such a way that if you whispered in one corner, it could be heard in the corner across from it as if the person was actually whispering in your ear.  I love what you can do with acoustics.  It reminded me of the echo spot on campus that Colin showed me.  If you stand in this small spot in front of Foellinger and say something, you can hear an echo. 

            We continued to see amazing viewpoints of Granada from on top of these buildings. 

Katherine enjoying the view

I can’t believe I’m living here.  To see these mountains, walk cobblestone paths, and see these historic sites is wonderful.   I took so many pictures my camera died before half of our tour finished.  It was a 5 hour tour. 

Definitely a long day for us all...

We stopped for lunch (a sandwich of ham, cheese, lettuce, and butter?)  It was good though.  We also walked through the gardens.  They had black bamboo shoots.  Very rare.  After the tour we walked back to Plaza Nueva, back down those steep hills.  I’m lucky I had Katherine by my side.  She prevented me from stepping in any dog poop.  (Downside to Granada-people apparently do not see the point in cleaning up their dog’s messes.  Watch out where those doggies go…)

            We got to Plaza Nueva and were in desperate need of a drink, so we ordered coke at a little restaurant.  And the coke here must be special because I can’t see any other reason it should be 2.62 euro!  After talking and sitting (ay ay ay am I sore!!) we headed to our homes.  I walked half the way with Kelly and got a little turned around.  But I was happy to see that I am starting to recognize places and my block. 

            I came home and only Eduardo was here.  My internet wasn’t working so I watched Charlie’s Angel on my computer.  I forgot how much that movie doesn’t make sense. I wasn’t sure what to do with myself so I looked over some Spanish vocabulary and thought about what I wanted to say to my Senora.  We didn’t eat until around 9:30 and I was starving.  She made spaghetti and we had Flan in a snack pack again…probably not a treat I’ll bring back to the states.  But we had a really good conversation!  I did a lot better with Spanish and we were able to communicate well.  I could tell she was getting more comfortable talking with me as well because her Spanish became faster.  Also, I told Carmen I like cold milk with my cereal.  I know I didn’t speak it perfectly, but I love the feeling of understanding.  And when I’m in that mode of speaking Spanish, I start thinking in it.  The word for “to shave” just came to me!  I probably haven't thought about that word since high school. Immersion is definitely the way to go.  I regret always being too shy in my Spanish classes to speak.  Although I do know the phrase “no sé” (I don’t know) very well from those days. 

            Tomorrow classes start.  I’m actually really excited to learn more about Spain.  And tomorrow night we have a free Salsa class! Buenas Noches.   

           

   P.S. People really do eat those ham flavored chips I guess!

"Oops! Oops!"

Hi Everyone.

I moved in with my Senora, Carmen, today.  She seems very nice.  She walked to the hostel to get me and we walked back to her house.  Carmen helped me with my luggage, but still by the time we got to her house my back was sore!  She lives about 10 minutes away from the Center of Granada. It was so lovely out today that on our walk back I actually started to sweat.   Normally not a good thing, but it meant it was warm!

I was very nervous to speak with my Senora.  I figured out a couple sentences that I wanted to say to her, such as “I have a small appetite,” (I want to come back to the US the same weight!) and “I study creative writing.”  I did well with those and she is extremely helpful and patient (I actually typed out paciente…I am in a phase where I am no longer thinking in English or Spanish…but a confused mix of both.)  For the most part I can understand her.  But I am still struggling, but I think that I will get better.  She corrects me when I say something wrong which I appreciate. 

She lives in an apartment building that is in a good location.  It is a nice apartment with I believe 4 bedrooms. As soon as you walk in there is a tiny foyer and it has very pretty statues and furniture.  It looks the way I image Grandma Foley would have decorated.  Lots of religious art.  They are Catholic.  The rest of the house is hardwood floor and tiny, but nice.  If I have learned anything in the past four days is that space is a luxury not a necessity and you don’t need much.  (Mom this doesn’t mean I’m going to be getting rid of any of my clothes, so don’t touch!)  The living room area is nice AND I do get my own bathroom and shower!  I really like that.  But I asked her when I should shower and I think she was telling me to shower at night mostly because of the temperature of the water.  I’ll have to switch around my schedule there. 

My room is small, but nice.  It is right at the front of the apartment which will be nice when I come home late.  I won’t have to make too much noise.  Hopefully I can just slip into my room!  There are two beds, an end table, a closet, and a little circular table with two folding chairs.  I was able to fit all of my belongings just fine.  But there really isn’t that much space for me to be doing P90X , which I had convinced myself I would do.  I’ll have to figure out my own workout program while I am here.  The floor is marble.  So I might be quite uncomfortable doing any crunches or yoga.  There are some gyms I could join, but I think I might just stick to running in the park and doing crunches.

My Bed

After I was settled in, I went to the supermarket with Carmen.  I walked around with her while she bought some food she needed.  The supermarket was nice.  It didn’t look any different than any supermarkets at home (except for all the Spanish food and Spanish people).   At the supermarket I told Carmen about my small appetite and my dislike of onions.  And mayonnaise but that doesn’t seem to be a main part of the Spanish cuisine.  I was able to buy shampoo and conditioner and body wash at the supermarket.  I just need to get a hairdryer and notebooks for my classes now. 

After the supermarket, Carmen showed me the walk from her apartment to CEGRI (the school.)  It isn’t too bad and I think I’ll be able to recognize everything.  She said that this area is very safe.  And she told me that she has WiFi (WeeFee) but has to plug it in?  I was a little confused and I don’t want her to plug anything in and not have her telephone line or something.  Hopefully I will understand later what she was talking about.  But if she did have WiFi that would be extremely nice.      

Last night we had our "Welcome Dinner."  We went to this really nice restaurant that fit all 69 of us on the program!  We were served this salad (lettuce, tomatoes, asparagus, and the biggest green olives EVER), a stew (really yummy rice, chicken, carrots, beans), and this meringue drizzled in chocolate (sooooo amazing.)   

Amy, Justine, Kelly, and MaryPat

Me and the lovely Katherine Seck

Yumm

Even more yum!

Afterwards we attempted to go to a local pub/party.  It was a bust.  Definitely a lost in translation moment.  I think from now on we might want to stick to the more Touristy places with people from our program.  Once interesting thing about this place was watching people dance.  Most of them (girls in this case) stood around and swayed their hips.  That was it.  Looked like 8th grade boys dancing.   There was one couple dancing, however.  And WOW. They would start out a foot apart, you know swaying, and then BAM basically run into each other for an aggressive kiss, then push each other away.  It was a lot of running into each other, pecking, and thrusting away.  It's what I image 2 pigeons fighting would look like.  The best part of their dancing, however, was when she slapped him with the beat of the song and all.  It was very interesting.  Needless to say I don't think my dancing style was made for Spain.  After we realized that we had been led astray, a song with the chorus "Oops! Oops!" appropriately came on (Spain seems to be in on the joke.)  

Then we left for the Irish pub.  This place was way to crowded.  So we stayed for a bit and then left.  On our way out we came across cat calling #2: Three guys walking in and looking at us and one says in this Borat like accent, "I lovvvveeeee it."  And then I proceeded to trip on my shoes and make a whooping sound which god only knows how he interpreted it.  

After all that MaryPat, Kelly, and I came home, packed, and stayed up late giggling, forcing Kelly to sing Chi Omega songs, and loving rooming together.   It was a really good first couple of days.  Lots of learning experiences, lots of fun adventures, and good laughs!

Lovin' on our blogs :) Nice Face Kel

Well, we just had lunch. We sat around a table in the living room in front of the TV.  (My kind of people!)  Carmen made a delicious soup with carrots, green beans, potatoes, cabbage, and chorizo (spicy sausage.)  And this salad that was olive oil, tomatoes, and corn.  It was muy bien.  In the apartments there is no central heating.  But under the table is an estufa and you put your feet on it.  It warms you while you eat.  Carmen’s father, Eduardo, is very nice.  I can understand his Spanish well and he seems to understand my broken Spanish mixed with English.  I am looking forward to learning Spanish better so that I can communicate more with them.  Now I am taking a siesta.  Carmen can tell that I am tired!  I’ll try to post this if I can get internet later.  It feels strange to be so cut off right now because my cellphone that I just bought is not working! It won’t activate so I can’t reach MaryPat or Kelly or anyone.  I wonder what I’ll do about tonight! Eek!

Hasta Luego.  Tomorrow we are going to tour La Alhambra! (Apparently the tour is about 4 to 5 hours...better charge up my camera battery!) Also, I had pictures for my post, but my computer is not recognizing my media card.  I am so close to cleansing myself of all PC's and getting a Mac!

P.S. I currently have WiFi! Yeah!