Today I learned that it's very difficult to teach someone to play a game in another language. Games have a very distinctive vocabulary, and if you don't know what to call the pieces or the elements of the game, it's difficult to instruct someone else in how to play.
This afternoon Nicolas had a game of Chinese checkers. The instructions were in English, and Antonieta could understand all of them except a key preposition. When they asked me to explain, I was at a loss. We got there eventually, but it was a new exercise for my language skills.
Games seem to be the theme of the day, because tonight I played poker with my classmates. Two of the guys from Brazil knew how to play, as well as me and the other American student. It's hard to explain what's in a hand and which ones you want to have, and that's the easy part when compared to discussion of betting.
What I've learned from all of this is a) games are universal, and b) it's difficult but not impossible to explain them in another language.
Tomorrow we're going to A Coruna, a city very close to Santiago that I've heard lots of great things about. Look for pictures in a few days!
15 January 2010
14 January 2010
People LIVE here! !Que suerte!
I can't believe some people actually live here. They aren't visiting, they aren't staying for five months, they live in this incredible city. It's like living in a fairy tale.
Today we went to El Museo do Pobo Galego and learned all about the history of Galicia, the region in Spain where Santiago is located. Galicia is completely different from southern Spain where I went the last time I was here. It's not what you think of when you think about Spain, but there is so much history and so much culture in Galicia.
The museum is in what used to be a monastery, and it was beautiful. Surrounding the museum is one of the coolest parks I've ever seen, El Parque de Bonaval. We took a tour of the park after the museum, and I took too many pictures because everything I see is photo-worthy.
After the park, we went to a little cafe for drinks and tapas before going to a concert in El Auditorio de Galicia by El Real Filharmonia de Galicia. The music was really good, and there was a student discount, just the way I like it. I love going out with the other people in my class because I learn so much. It helps that they're fun to be around too.
This weekend we're traveling. I don't know where we'll go, but I'm looking forward to it, and I'll be there with my camera.
Today we went to El Museo do Pobo Galego and learned all about the history of Galicia, the region in Spain where Santiago is located. Galicia is completely different from southern Spain where I went the last time I was here. It's not what you think of when you think about Spain, but there is so much history and so much culture in Galicia.
The museum is in what used to be a monastery, and it was beautiful. Surrounding the museum is one of the coolest parks I've ever seen, El Parque de Bonaval. We took a tour of the park after the museum, and I took too many pictures because everything I see is photo-worthy.
After the park, we went to a little cafe for drinks and tapas before going to a concert in El Auditorio de Galicia by El Real Filharmonia de Galicia. The music was really good, and there was a student discount, just the way I like it. I love going out with the other people in my class because I learn so much. It helps that they're fun to be around too.
This weekend we're traveling. I don't know where we'll go, but I'm looking forward to it, and I'll be there with my camera.
And I thought being in a new place where I don't speak the language would be the scary part.
If I don't make it back from Spain it will be because I got hit by a car. The cars drive really close to the people in the street. In La Zona Vieja, there aren't lines on the road, and people just walk wherever they feel like (and cars do the same). Every driver suggests with his or her vehicle (with the incentive of living) that pedestrians get out of the way. Where there are clearly defined lines on the road and sidewalks, I still fear for my life. If a crosswalk is not at an intersection with a redlight you just cross and hope the cars will stop. If you're not assertive they don't slow down. It's like they're testing you.
If that truck weren't parked it would be dodging people. These people don't even flinch.
I'm still learning how to cross the street with confidence, like a local, but crosswalks could be the most terrifying thing I've encountered so far.
If that truck weren't parked it would be dodging people. These people don't even flinch.I'm still learning how to cross the street with confidence, like a local, but crosswalks could be the most terrifying thing I've encountered so far.
13 January 2010
If plane tickets weren't so expensive, I would only shop in Santiago in the future.
As if there wasn't enough to love in La Zona Vieja of Santiago, I found even more in La Zona Nueva today. I haven't spent much time there yet, so after lunch when everything opened again I set out for the Plaza de Galicia. Antonieta told me there were lots of stores there where I could find really cheap stuff. She wasn't kidding. After I went a couple places on my own she showed me two streets that run parallel to each other and pointed out all the places where I could find good prices. It's absolutely incredible what you can buy for very little. The cheap clothes aren't out of fashion (at least not in America), and they are plentiful. There's an entire store called Rebajas (Discounts). I tried to restrain myself and only bought a few things, but I'm sure I will be back. It will be a challenge not to go broke in la Zona Nueva, but at least I'll have an entire new and wonderful wardrobe! (Anyone who would like to contribute to my Santiago shopping fund can feel free to send me an email, facebook me, or leave a comment. I'll make it easy for you.)
Day 2 of classes went really well. The other students in my class are really wonderful, and it has been a pleasure to learn about Brazil and Japan along with Spain. I hadn't anticipated the added bonus of some extra culture with classmates from other non-Spanish-speaking countries. The more I talk to them the more I want to travel. But for now I'm really happy where I am. I'm learning a little more about Santiago every day!
Day 2 of classes went really well. The other students in my class are really wonderful, and it has been a pleasure to learn about Brazil and Japan along with Spain. I hadn't anticipated the added bonus of some extra culture with classmates from other non-Spanish-speaking countries. The more I talk to them the more I want to travel. But for now I'm really happy where I am. I'm learning a little more about Santiago every day!
12 January 2010
!Hola de Santiago de Compostela!
There is so much to say about what has happened since I left Saturday morning, but I will try not to ramble and hit the highlights.
The three flights were very long but altogether uneventful. I met a really nice old couple from Texas on the way to Newark. They were headed to Tel Aviv, but they're plane was delayed so their layover turned out to be as long as mine. They, along with the book Straight Man by Richard Russo, much people watching, and walking around the gigantic airport, kept me entertained during my 10 hour layover. On the flight to Barcelona I sat in a row with another American student who watched a movie the entire flight and a man who spoke only Spanish but did not seem interested in talking to anyone in any language. I spent those 7 hours trying to sleep since I still had very little to occupy my time. After a 2 hour layover in Barcelona I finally made it to Santiago de Compostela.
Someone from the school picked me up--she had a little sign with my name on it, just like in the movies--and took me to my host home. I live in the part of town called La Zona Vieja, which is the old part (think centuries old). It's absolutely beautiful. All of the buildings are made of stone, as are the streets. It's almost like being in a Harry Potter book in Hogsmeade. There are shops lining the streets, and people live in little apartments above the shops. We live above a little Fujifilm store where you can get pictures developed or buy a camera or film. You actually have to go into the store to get up to the apartment. It's really cute and very cozy. My host family is small--just Antonieta and her 10-year-old son Nicolas. They have been wonderful to live with so far. When I went up to my room, my friend Alex who lived with Antonieta last semester had decorated a bulletin board with pictures of friends from home. It was a little touch of the US, and it was a welcome comfort.
When I got here it was snowing, which is rare. It rains a lot, but they rarely see snow because it doesn't get cold enough. Because it doesn't usually get cold enough to snow, every building I was in was freezing. It has started to warm up since Sunday when I arrived, and today instead of snow we got the typical rain. It will rain for a little while, then the sun will come out, then it rains again. Everyone here just deals with the rain. People still go out with their boots, coats, and umbrellas and brave the weather.
Santiago is a small city, so everything is within walking distance. It takes about 10 minutes to get to the university where I have my classes, and any sort of store I could think of is close by. So far I have walked a lot, and I have enjoyed being able to do anything I want without needing a car.
As far as school goes, yesterday we took a placement test and were separated into two classes. There are 8 people in my class: 2 Belmont students, 4 students from Brazil, 1 from Japan, and 1 from China. It's a unique experience to learn about people from other countries in a language that is secondary to everyone involved in the conversation. In the morning we spend 2 hours studying grammar and then have a 30 minute break. After the break, we come back and change teachers for a class focused more on conversation and learning about the history of Santiago and Galicia. We go home for lunch at about 2:30 (Everything closes down in the middle of the day and people go home to eat. It's fantastic.), and then some days we meet again around 4:30 to see or do something in the city. For example, this afternoon we met in one of the plazas by the cathedral and our teacher took us on a tour of the cathedral and its plazas, giving us the history of Santiago.
Speaking solely Spanish is a very strange experience, but I really enjoy it. It's often frustrating because I can't always say what I want to say, but I have already seen improvement and it's only my third day here. I am looking forward to a great semester!
If you would like to see the photo album so far, you can click here.
The three flights were very long but altogether uneventful. I met a really nice old couple from Texas on the way to Newark. They were headed to Tel Aviv, but they're plane was delayed so their layover turned out to be as long as mine. They, along with the book Straight Man by Richard Russo, much people watching, and walking around the gigantic airport, kept me entertained during my 10 hour layover. On the flight to Barcelona I sat in a row with another American student who watched a movie the entire flight and a man who spoke only Spanish but did not seem interested in talking to anyone in any language. I spent those 7 hours trying to sleep since I still had very little to occupy my time. After a 2 hour layover in Barcelona I finally made it to Santiago de Compostela.
Someone from the school picked me up--she had a little sign with my name on it, just like in the movies--and took me to my host home. I live in the part of town called La Zona Vieja, which is the old part (think centuries old). It's absolutely beautiful. All of the buildings are made of stone, as are the streets. It's almost like being in a Harry Potter book in Hogsmeade. There are shops lining the streets, and people live in little apartments above the shops. We live above a little Fujifilm store where you can get pictures developed or buy a camera or film. You actually have to go into the store to get up to the apartment. It's really cute and very cozy. My host family is small--just Antonieta and her 10-year-old son Nicolas. They have been wonderful to live with so far. When I went up to my room, my friend Alex who lived with Antonieta last semester had decorated a bulletin board with pictures of friends from home. It was a little touch of the US, and it was a welcome comfort.
When I got here it was snowing, which is rare. It rains a lot, but they rarely see snow because it doesn't get cold enough. Because it doesn't usually get cold enough to snow, every building I was in was freezing. It has started to warm up since Sunday when I arrived, and today instead of snow we got the typical rain. It will rain for a little while, then the sun will come out, then it rains again. Everyone here just deals with the rain. People still go out with their boots, coats, and umbrellas and brave the weather.
Santiago is a small city, so everything is within walking distance. It takes about 10 minutes to get to the university where I have my classes, and any sort of store I could think of is close by. So far I have walked a lot, and I have enjoyed being able to do anything I want without needing a car.
As far as school goes, yesterday we took a placement test and were separated into two classes. There are 8 people in my class: 2 Belmont students, 4 students from Brazil, 1 from Japan, and 1 from China. It's a unique experience to learn about people from other countries in a language that is secondary to everyone involved in the conversation. In the morning we spend 2 hours studying grammar and then have a 30 minute break. After the break, we come back and change teachers for a class focused more on conversation and learning about the history of Santiago and Galicia. We go home for lunch at about 2:30 (Everything closes down in the middle of the day and people go home to eat. It's fantastic.), and then some days we meet again around 4:30 to see or do something in the city. For example, this afternoon we met in one of the plazas by the cathedral and our teacher took us on a tour of the cathedral and its plazas, giving us the history of Santiago.
Speaking solely Spanish is a very strange experience, but I really enjoy it. It's often frustrating because I can't always say what I want to say, but I have already seen improvement and it's only my third day here. I am looking forward to a great semester!
If you would like to see the photo album so far, you can click here.
!Estoy Aqui!
I'm here! But I just now managed to get on the internet and my computer is dying. Expect a full update very soon.
07 January 2010
The TEXtravaganza
I found out my visa was ready Monday and spent the last two days going to Houston to retrieve it. My wonderful friend Sarah came all the way from Florida to see me before I left, and she was able to make the trip with me, thankfully. We drove to Houston on Tuesday morning, spent the night, picked up the visa Wednesday morning and got back to Tennessee Wednesday night. It was about 14 hours of driving each way, but I am now authorized to be in Spain as late as July. We christened this trip the TEXtravaganza, and if you would like pictures and a play by play you can click here.
The big day is almost here. My plane leaves early Saturday morning, and I will be in Spain on Sunday and starting classes Monday!
The big day is almost here. My plane leaves early Saturday morning, and I will be in Spain on Sunday and starting classes Monday!
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