Author Archives: pricemv

Adapting

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I’ve been sitting here for about 20 minutes trying to figure out how to articulate my time here in London so far. I’m going to post photos (seeing as I’ve taked almost 700 so far) and tell stories through those 🙂

For my film studies class, we got to tour the Harry Potter studios. Needless to say I kind of freaked out. It took me 4 hours to get through the whole exhibit. I’m still in shock that I say some of the things I did. I’ve gained so much insight on film since I’ve taken this class and it’s definitely increased my passion to be a part of the film making process, especially production.And Harry Potter is HUGE chunk of my childhood. I actually teared up when I first got in there. It was bittersweet at the end to leave because I was revealed to all the secrets behind Harry Potter. Kind of like finding out that Santa Clause is your parents, I fell in love with the creators behind Harry Potter and not just the fantasy of it. And the class itself… what an amazing course. The Professor, Dr. D is brilliant. I love his teaching style, I’m a visual learner and he uses so many movie clips in his lectures. It’s great.

This photo was taken right before getting a on a speedboat with some people from CCSA and some new friends I met in the beautiful city of CARDIFF, WALES. I decided that I wanted to move there after college. I totally fell in love with this city. You look one direction and see the bay, the the city mixed with castles and modern buildings, rolling hills in the background, and England just across the ocean. What an amazing experience. The culture was a little different than London, which was nice to experience. I enojyed every second of this trip, even getting lost for 2 hours 🙂

This is my new best friend Victoria. She’s from Kentucky! We’re already planning a roadtrip to see each other this spring. We go do crazy fun things together after class like getting totally lost on the tube and ending up in places like THIS (see picture above). It’s so nice meeting all these new friends. Everyone is so friendly and open minded here, I don’t know what I would do without the group of people I’ve met so far! We are actually all going to Amsterdam next weekend which will be quite the experience! I hear it’s beautiful there also, can’t wait 🙂

Yes, the caption is correct. I went to the Quiddich world cup in Oxford. It was HILARIOUS and intense! Also, Oxford was breathtaking. The history there was so interesting. I went to a pub where C.S Lewis and Tolkien (famous authors…. you know, Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe and LORD OF THE RINGS…my FAVORITE) used to collaborate on their novels. Amazing.

To wrap this up, I’d just like to say that I am so thankful for this experience. I have grown so much as a person since I’ve been here. Talk about life changing. Cheers everyone 🙂

-Rachael

Almost Time to Leave….

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I can´t believe that I am leaving next week. I´m shocked that it´s been three whole weeks already but at the same time it feels like I´ve been here forever. I´ve become so used to my routine here already, and it´s strange to think that in eight days I will be leaving.

There are still some things that I find difficult or haven´t adjusted to, but for the main part I feel very comfortable here. I know my way around the city, and I even have a favorite grocery store. I still sometimes struggle when people speak Spanish too quickly to me, but even when I don´t quite understand someone, I can figure out what they mean through societal context.

Last weekend I went with a group of people from my program to Portugal. Being there made me realize how well I have adjusted to life here. In Portugal I constantly had to stop to try to figure things out, and it made me realize that I no longer do that here. I remember the first time I went grocery shopping here and I didn´t know that I had to weigh the fruit I bought before I took it to the checker, but now it´s second nature and I was surprised when I didn´t have to do the same in Portugal.

In such a short time I have become so accustomed to life here. The first couple times I saw the cathedral I was totally amazed by it, but now I walk past it every day without giving it a second thought. I still admire it, but it no longer seems strange to live next to something so old and beautiful.

I will try not to take things for granted in my last week here. I´m glad that I have been able to adjust so well, but at the same time it is important for me to notice how different it is here for me to fully appreciate it.

Annelise

I Dream Of Paris

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After class today our french teacher took us on a little tour of the city, to the places that we may not have been. We started off walking to Pont Neuf, which I had already been for my painting class, but had yet to have walked across the pedestrian bridge, Pont des arts, where lovers come and lock on their love. A tradition dating back till I don’t know when. The legend goes, that if you go there with the person you love and put a lock on the bridge and throw the keys in the seine your love will last forever. And man where there a lot of locks.

From Pont Neuf we walked to parts of Paris that I didn’t even know were there. But it was the Paris that I had wanted to see, old buildings that weren’t corrupted by tourists shops and “American friendly” restaurants. We walked down a little ally way with a very old road which housed the oldest cafe in the world. And if it didn’t say that on the sign you could probably still guess it because of the slanting walls falling into the street.

Final days in Paris, Bitter sweet

Lauren

 

“I get by with a little help from my friends!”

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Seemed like an appropriate title considering its the half way point and that the boys are learning choreography to a Beatles’ song and this experience would not be even half of what it is, if it weren’t for the friends I’ve made.

Friends at a look out point from our tour of the Fortress (see below)

Lost in Translation story of the week:
*mass chaos in studio*
Me: “What’s going on?”
Gwen: “Huh?”
Me: “What’s going on?”
Gwen: “I don’t understand what’s going on.”
Me: “Yeah! Me either, I don’t know what we’re supposed to do!”
Gwen: “No no no! I don’t understand what’s going on.”
Me: “Right…me either.”
Gwen: “….no, what is ‘going on’ ?”
Me: “OH! What is happening! What is happening right now.”
Gwen: “Ooooh! …..Then I still don’t know…”

Gwen, not in the chaos of the studio but in the city. On a chess board that made me think of Harry Potter!

Shopping and interacting with no-so locals:
Went to the local mall which is only about a 5 minute walk from where I’m staying. Vivra needed a “plaster”. She asked us where to find one. No one knew what a plaster was. Turns out it was a band-aid. Calling it a plaster is apparently a British thing but I quite enjoy the term! Another friend needed shampoo but had already checked out so Joni and I were recruited to go back and grab some for him. Neither of us speaks German. After a moment of struggle I decided to just ask the guy standing there; “English?” After explaining what we needed he helped us and continued to explain, “I’m not actually from here!” well, “Neither are we!” But he still was helpful and I was brave enough to try to interact with (who I thought to be) a local.

Today (our one day off for the week) I went into the city with a group of people for food and touring. Along my previous blog theme of picky eating, I don’t particularly care for Asian food….but the group chose a Chinese food place so I went along. I actually enjoyed the buffet and was satisfied.

All of us at lunch at the Chinese buffet! I’m slowly getting used to how restaurants are different here.

We took a tour of the Festung Hohensalzburg (the Fortress, Castle place) and even had an audio guide! The view was spectacular. We shopped at the little market along the river and I got a nice scarf after conversation with vendors. Now this is the more interesting part, I interacted with actual locals and supported a young woman’s bachelorette party fundraiser. They were all dressed up and explained to us the Austrian tradition for the friends to say “goodbye” to the bride the night before her wedding and I got a cookie. Seemed like a lot of fun and made me want to get married in Salzburg! The day in the city ended with another addition to my rubber duckie collection! Thanks to Joni, I now have a Mozart rubber duck. I was so surprised, excited and grateful!

Joni, all dressed in his going to the city outfit and the duck that he got for me! 🙂

I took a zillion pictures all the way up to the top of a tower at the fortress. This was not even half way up and next to the giant gold ball is the chess board from the picture above.

One of the pictures from the panoramic view at the top of the tower. This one has the most of the city, other angles have more of the fortress or open land visible.

More seriously, it has been interesting talking and learning about other cultures and in a single conversation having 5 different countries’ view points. Last Friday’s topic was drinking/driving ages. Last night’s was (prompted by the horrible news of the shooting in Colorado) more politically inclined and included a discussion about criminal activity, the death sentence and jail vs. mental institutions. It sounds rather dark as I write about it here but it was rather fascinating and intellectual. Not simply a compare and contrast session. The individuals involved were some of the oldest students at this program and it was genuinely nice to have sophisticated conversation. Not to mention impressive, because of how well everyone speaks English as a second, third or fourth language!

“Lean on me” …literally.
Helena informed us one afternoon that she had a “purple” on her arm (most likely from partnering). What’s a purple? Exactly what it sounds like. A bruise. I will never use the word bruise again, they will forever be purples. Except mine is more of a greenish brown.

Evenings have become massage trading time. Soon enough, we’ll all owe each other hand massages. Legs make good pillows and a buddy’s shoulder is a nice spot to rest an elbow during or at the end of a long day of dance! It’s really neat how much we can learn from each other as fellow dancers and not just from our (also incredible teachers). One classmate studies Pilates and Yoga and showed me a stretch just different enough from what I knew to help my injured hip release some tension.  Sadly, tonight we said goodbye to an injured friend going home to Norway with promises of pictures and updates! Safe travels to Helle.
“When you’re not strong, I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on!”

Goodbye to Helle in the Lobby of the dorms 🙁 So glad to have had the chance to get to know her and can’t wait to have her be a guest teacher for my ballet students someday 😉

Little by little my pile of “stuff” is growing as I accumulate souvenirs (good thing pictures are digital!). When I first arrived I was asked if my other suitcase was in the mail. Ha, nope! I’m amazing and fit it all into one……at least on the way here…

Tschau!

Emily

Free Dory!

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Hola everyone,

One week from tomorrow I’ll be on a plane somewhere over the Atlantic. It’s hard to believe that three weeks have gone by already. I’ll be glad to go home and see my family and friends again, but it’s really hit me that I’ll probably never be in Barcelona again, and I only have one more week to take in as much as I can.

Earlier this week, I slathered myself in sunscreen and went to the beach. It was nice to be by the water again, even though it really different from the Oregon coast (i.e. it wasn’t freezing).

The Mediterranean Sea

I also visited the aquarium while I was there. There were sharks, penguins, jellyfish (my favorite!), and the most poisonous fish in the world. It wasn’t as good as the Newport aquarium, but it was still tons of fun, until I realized that Dory from Finding Nemo was being held hostage.

Free Dory!

Yesterday I went to a market in the Gothic Quarter with some of the other interns. We had a good time, and I got to explore that area again, which is one of my favorites in the city. I had chocolate and churros, a popular dessert here, and walked around the old buildings. I decided to go in the Cathedral next, but it turns out it has a dress code. The security guard took one look at my shorts and turned me away with a look of barely concealed disgust. The dress code is meant for respect, and I get that, but disgust is one expression you don’t want a guy to have when he looks at your legs, you know?

At any rate, here it is from the outside, free from the perils of exposed knees.

I think I mentioned a few posts ago how my apartment is allegedly on the third floor, but is actually on the fifth. I got sick of not knowing what the deal was and decided to look up how numbering works in Spain.

In the US, the bottom floor of a building is called the first floor. In Spain and most other countries in Europe, the bottom floor is called the ground floor, and the floor above that is called the first floor. That makes sense, but it doesn’t explain how the fifth floor becomes the third floor. Maybe the designer had a strange sense of humor or something.

Well, I hope you all have a fantastic week! I know I will!

Cicely

Finally a Weekend Excursion!

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We finally went on a weekend excursion! All the students who are studying abroad in Argentina traveled to Cordoba, the 2nd largest city in Argentina. This is a place where families usually go for vacation during the summer time. We left at 3 in the morning…yeah I know crazy right? We all piled onto a bus that didn’t have a bathroom, and rode for 6 hours to our new destination.

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We finally arrived at 9am and our journey began. We took a tour of the city which was not what anyone was expecting, but we got to drive on a road with 100 curves so it was worth it! After our tour we went to Villa Carlos Paz where we got to zipline and practice archery. Our day ended with us walking up a mountain to the monumento de le Cruz. This climb was 1.5 miles and included walking on sharp rocks and loose dirt. Along the way there were mini crosses signifying each of the 14 stations of the cross. Once reaching the top, it was well worth the climb. This cross is 15ft high and is located in the highest point in Carlos Paz. It got built in 1934 when a group of neighbors wanted to make a replica of Jesus Christ of Calvary. On the cross reads ” Christus Vivit Regnat et Imperat,” which means “Christ lives and reigns queen.”

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I don’t know about anybody else, but I grew up with cuckoo clocks covering my walls at home. So when we witnessed the reloj cu-cu, it was truly wonderful! I guess this clock is the hallmark of the city and many tourists visit Carlos Paz to see this clock chime. It just so happens that we got there right at 12:00 so we heard the bird chirp 12 times. It stands 7 meters high, and is definitely the biggest cuckoo clock I have ever seen. My family will appreciate this picture for sure!

Melissa

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Cute and cuddly or dangerous and downright venomous?

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For our first excursion we went to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. This place was amazing! We spent a lot of the day there and it was arranged so we got VIP access to the animals. I petted a dingo called Rafe, fed more than one kangaroo, had some one on one time with a very cute koala, and had about 10 different birds land on me at once. I am so lucky to have gotten this opportunity because most people do not.

Although the sanctuary was fun I have barely started my journey here. We have also set out on out first of many adventures that will take us all the way up until the end of the program and our return to the US. Right now, I am on North Stradbroke Island staying at Moreton Bay Research Station. We are still in Queensland, but it feels more tropical here. We spent the day looking for different species on the beach. It was a lot of fun, but it got even better as soon as the sun went down. We went torch (flashlight) hunting for koalas and bottle nosed dolphins. Although I have already seen koalas, I have never seen them in the wild and it was really amazing to look up and see them just sitting there looking at us like it was completely normal. Even though that was a blast I cannot describe how excited I was when I saw my first dolphin. They swam right up to us and stayed around for a little while. It was very cool.  Katherine