The "Study" Part of Study Abroad
Despite all of the amazing things there are to see, do, and eat in Spain, I have to keep in mind that the "main" reason I am here is academic. While I only need one class to fulfill my graduation requirements, my schedule is filled with many interesting classes. (apologies in advance, this will be pretty text-dense seeing as I don`t tend to photograph my classes lol)
Isabel is an absolute sweetheart, and actually took us out for tapas and a movie one afternoon to make up for a class she will have to cancel later in the semester. We got to chat and learn more about her. She actually received her PhD in Spanish Literature from UW Madison, small world!
Due to the nature of the course, we are learning about more of the coloquial ways to communicate in Spanish. It has been fun to use what I have learned in this class to talk with my host family and use phrases that are "more Spanish."
El Museo del Prado is an absolute gem in the middle of Madrid. With classic works of art from many famous artists in many different eras using many different mediums, spending time here was an absolute must for me.
Fortunately, this class allows us to visit the mueseum once a week to study the different works and all of the history surrounding them.
1. Spanish Conversation
The first day of this class was a bit of a shock. When I walked in to the classroom, it became apparent that there was only one other student besides myself enrolled in the course (it is the most advanced Spanish course offered by the program, and most students haven´t taken Spanish as long as Claire and I have).
Luckily, Claire (who went to my high school), and our professor Isabel, are great people to be around and make learning Spanish in the classroom enjoyable for a change (compared to the classes I have had to take at the U).
Luckily, Claire (who went to my high school), and our professor Isabel, are great people to be around and make learning Spanish in the classroom enjoyable for a change (compared to the classes I have had to take at the U).
Isabel is an absolute sweetheart, and actually took us out for tapas and a movie one afternoon to make up for a class she will have to cancel later in the semester. We got to chat and learn more about her. She actually received her PhD in Spanish Literature from UW Madison, small world!
Due to the nature of the course, we are learning about more of the coloquial ways to communicate in Spanish. It has been fun to use what I have learned in this class to talk with my host family and use phrases that are "more Spanish."
2. Spanish Civilization
With a whopping four students, this class has been a fun way to develop my knowledge about Spanish culture.
The professor for this class is another Isabel, and she is just as sweet. Isabel believes that a large part of Spanish culture is expressed in the foods from the country`s various regions. Accordingly, she has been bringing us vaious traditional treats during our class period.
In addition to satiating my inner foodie, this class has offered a lot of insight into Spain`s political structure, geography, and history. One of the things I was most excited about when choosing my study abroad program was learning about a culture different from my own. This class is a perfect way to do that.
The professor for this class is another Isabel, and she is just as sweet. Isabel believes that a large part of Spanish culture is expressed in the foods from the country`s various regions. Accordingly, she has been bringing us vaious traditional treats during our class period.
In addition to satiating my inner foodie, this class has offered a lot of insight into Spain`s political structure, geography, and history. One of the things I was most excited about when choosing my study abroad program was learning about a culture different from my own. This class is a perfect way to do that.
3. Culture, Globalization, and Media
Technically the ONLY class I need to graduate, so I didn´t really have a choice in the matter of enrolling in it. Luckily, just like the rest of my classes, this one has been very interesting and has provided me with new perspectives.
Alissa, one of our program coordinators, described the professor for this class as "cooler than I could ever even hope to be," and now I know what she means. Every day, David arrives with his motorcycle helmet and leather jacket, and proceeds to teach in London-influenced English.
At seven students, this is tied as my largest class. It is nice to be around more students from our group because with my internship and love of siestas, I haven´t spent too much time with many of them yet.
Academically, the class is interesting, but none of us really know exactly what the professor is getting at yet. If nothing else, we are definitely learning about the differences in teaching styles that exist between Spain and the US. And to be honest, I kind of like it. Professors here seem to be more focused on your ability to understand a concept than to meet a deadline.
Alissa, one of our program coordinators, described the professor for this class as "cooler than I could ever even hope to be," and now I know what she means. Every day, David arrives with his motorcycle helmet and leather jacket, and proceeds to teach in London-influenced English.
At seven students, this is tied as my largest class. It is nice to be around more students from our group because with my internship and love of siestas, I haven´t spent too much time with many of them yet.
Academically, the class is interesting, but none of us really know exactly what the professor is getting at yet. If nothing else, we are definitely learning about the differences in teaching styles that exist between Spain and the US. And to be honest, I kind of like it. Professors here seem to be more focused on your ability to understand a concept than to meet a deadline.
4. Art at the Prado
El Museo del Prado is an absolute gem in the middle of Madrid. With classic works of art from many famous artists in many different eras using many different mediums, spending time here was an absolute must for me.
Fortunately, this class allows us to visit the mueseum once a week to study the different works and all of the history surrounding them.
Our professor, Marta, knows everything there possibly is to know about art, Spain, and history in general. I like visiting the museum with an academic purpose because we look at each piece much more thoughtfully and learn so much more about its historical context and significance than I ever would if I just went to the museum by myself just to peruse. Even still, I have taken some time to simply wander through the collections and am just astounded by the sheer beauty (and oftentimes bizzareness) of every piece in the museum.
Fun Fact: The Prado actually houses its own Mona Lisa. Unlike the one you would find in the Lourve, this one has a vibrant, mountainous background. There is much debate over the origins of this painting. Based on carbon dating this painting is the exact same age as the "real" Mona Lisa. However, it is believed that the painting was done by one of da Vinci´s apprentice`s at the same time he worked on his masterpiece. The brush strokes are nearly identical, which makes some people disregard the apprentice theory completely, since they are conviced da Vinci did in fact complete the work himself.
5. Internship
Agencia EFE is one of the most prominent news agencies in all of Spain, with offices across the globe. It is now also where I spend 15 hours a week (I was originally told I would only need to work 10 hours each week, but was a bit blindsided by our program director. This made me disappointed at first because I work enough in the US and am in Spain to explore. But, the work is interesting and the people are nice so I am more optimistic about the rest of the semester now).
With the first week at EFE under my belt, I am beginning to feel more confident in my ability to adjust to the work environment. I was thrown into the mix right away, and as a result have been able to pick up on a lot of things in a very short amount of time. (Unfortunately, the security desk was unable to pick up on the correct spelling of my name, so I am now Jilliam. Nice to meet you).
One thing that I have observed about the Spanish workplace is the frequency of “leg stretching” breaks that the people here take. Whether it is going out to grab a smoothie, cigarette, or just to walk around, these breaks happen quite frequently. I was nervous at first about leaving my assigned desk because I did not want it to look like I wasn't working hard. In fact, I didn't even learn where the bathroom was until my fifth day- when I asked, Luis seemed surprised that I didn´t know yet. The normalcy with which everyone takes breaks is comforting and makes me feel like I won't have to worry about appearing as a slacker, since I am used to working for hours on end without a break.
So far, the only sort of break I have taken was for tea and conversation. Luis tends to brew himself tea at around five or six in the afternoon, and has offered me some each time. Of course, I accept, and we chat for a while about many things. I learned that Luis` dad is from Malaga and he knows a lot about Spain. We talked about the different trips we take with the program and he gave me insights about all of the different cities, including some great ideas of things to do in Madrid. We have also talked about the goings-on of our countries`politics. It has been really interesting to hear a foreign perspective on current US politics. The general atmosphere here around politics is much more open to discussion than in the US. Here, people will have a civil conversation without taking differing opinions personally. It is much more conducive to dialogue and makes me feel a lot more comfortable engaging in politically-themed discussions.
The relaxed atmosphere and easy-going nature of everyone here also makes me feel more comfortable making mistakes, because I know that if I do something wrong, I am not severely inconveniencing anyone. I also feel more able to ask for help because I don't feel as bad about interrupting as I have at previous jobs and internships. I think it will be really good for me to learn how to admit when I do not know how to do something and to speak out and ask questions when I have them. These skills will be very useful in the future and will also make my time at EFE this semester even more beneficial.
With the first week at EFE under my belt, I am beginning to feel more confident in my ability to adjust to the work environment. I was thrown into the mix right away, and as a result have been able to pick up on a lot of things in a very short amount of time. (Unfortunately, the security desk was unable to pick up on the correct spelling of my name, so I am now Jilliam. Nice to meet you).
One thing that I have observed about the Spanish workplace is the frequency of “leg stretching” breaks that the people here take. Whether it is going out to grab a smoothie, cigarette, or just to walk around, these breaks happen quite frequently. I was nervous at first about leaving my assigned desk because I did not want it to look like I wasn't working hard. In fact, I didn't even learn where the bathroom was until my fifth day- when I asked, Luis seemed surprised that I didn´t know yet. The normalcy with which everyone takes breaks is comforting and makes me feel like I won't have to worry about appearing as a slacker, since I am used to working for hours on end without a break.
So far, the only sort of break I have taken was for tea and conversation. Luis tends to brew himself tea at around five or six in the afternoon, and has offered me some each time. Of course, I accept, and we chat for a while about many things. I learned that Luis` dad is from Malaga and he knows a lot about Spain. We talked about the different trips we take with the program and he gave me insights about all of the different cities, including some great ideas of things to do in Madrid. We have also talked about the goings-on of our countries`politics. It has been really interesting to hear a foreign perspective on current US politics. The general atmosphere here around politics is much more open to discussion than in the US. Here, people will have a civil conversation without taking differing opinions personally. It is much more conducive to dialogue and makes me feel a lot more comfortable engaging in politically-themed discussions.
The relaxed atmosphere and easy-going nature of everyone here also makes me feel more comfortable making mistakes, because I know that if I do something wrong, I am not severely inconveniencing anyone. I also feel more able to ask for help because I don't feel as bad about interrupting as I have at previous jobs and internships. I think it will be really good for me to learn how to admit when I do not know how to do something and to speak out and ask questions when I have them. These skills will be very useful in the future and will also make my time at EFE this semester even more beneficial.
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