My First Week in España!

Posted on July 5, 2014 by Miranda Sommer

Starting with the with my first day of travel I knew that this would be an amazing experience. After about 3 hours of sleep I got up early Saturday morning and headed off to PDX with my family. I met up with my Spanish buddy Arielle and we went through security together. That was the first time I had my hair patted down as my bun was apparently the ideal place to store potentially threatening objects. Finally we got on the plane to Philadelphia and had a pretty smooth flight. The Philly airport was an experience in itself because neither of us had been there. It’s kinda cute because they have rocking chairs you can sit in or they have stationary bikes you can use to help with jet-lag. However the more “international” section was kinda separate which made it a little confusing and we passed a lot of confused Spaniards who, like us, had no idea where to go. But, we made it and got onto this humongous glorious plane… I was in awe because I had never been on a plane this big. The flight attendants were very nice and we were served dinner which consisted of Mac n’ Cheese with broccoli, a dinner roll, a small salad, and a mocha brownie. Arielle and I were impressed. Additionally they had a good selection of movies that we could watch to pass the time. Overall it was the most comfortable flight that I have been on despite the inevitable long period of sitting and therefore lack of sleep. Needless to say once we arrived at the Barajas airport in Madrid we were a little low on energy but feeling good with excitement. We waited about 2 hours to make our connecting flight to Asturias. This flight was only a little over an hour. We arrived, got our suitcases and hopped in a taxi. All the taxis here are white and drive fast and spontaneous.

When we got to the AHA meeting place we were introduced to the coordinators/supervisors and given information packets. I turned around and my family was already there waiting for me. It was all a blur it happened so quickly. I met Maria Jose and her husband Jose whom I would be staying with until my Pepita (Maria Jose’s mom) came back and I would staying with her for the rest of the time. I also was matched up with another girl from the program, Lexi, because our hosts are friends. We all drove up to a monument, El Cristo, which is a huge Christ that over looks the town of Oviedo…. It won’t let me post pictures right side up… :p We had our first Sidra sampling after our excursion to the Cristo.Afterwards we finally got to go home and shower. And, as Spanish culture demands, I had my first dinner in Spain at midnight 🙂

First week done, three to go

Posted on July 5, 2014 by Arielle Houchin

After my first week in Spain I have done way more than I thought I would and have experienced a lot of the culture and I couldn’t be happier. We started school on Wednesday and only have class until two in the afternoon which leaves the afternoon to explore the city and really enjoy everything the city has to offer. The professors are really nice and are excited to have us in class and help us improve our Spanish, which can be a little difficult when you don’t know how to say something in Spanish and they do not speak any English. It is the best way to learn though. Our whole group also got the opportunity to go to an Espicha which is a tradtiional welcoming party in Aust. not all of Spain. We stood around big long tables and ate a bunch of different Spanish dishes specific to our area, they were delicious and some were a little unexpected. We were also treated to red wine and sidra, which lead to a lot of us drinking a little more than we should. After the Espicha my group of friends and I went “bar hopping” around Oviedo which was a ton of fun. We met a lot of interesting people and danced to some fantastic Spanish music. In the United States our bars close down by 2:30 but here in Spain the party can go until 6 in the morning, luckily I made it home around 4 am and was exhausted.

It was a great first week that included a lot of new experiences including gelato, classes in Spain, walking 7 miles in a day, food I have never heard of that tastes delicious, the clubs and nightlife of Spain, a traditional Espicha, Sidra, shopping in Spain and connecting with my host family and new friends. I cant believe how amazing Spain is and I cant imagine what is going to come in the next 3 weeks.

The traditional dancers and band

Week Two: One of the Best and Hardest Things I’ve Done

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Jennifer Hight

So this week was rather exciting. Our site offered a ride on the Panema River, which I took them up on. It was cold but rather exciting to be sailing and seeing all the different houses around us. Some houses were really well maintained while others were beginning to fall apart. Once again I was stuck by the difference of wealth inside the country. While on the boat Alex and I met a kid who spoke fluent English. He had a lot of questions about America’s political system so we had an hour discussion with him. It was interesting.

On the Panema River with Alex and Naomi.

Houses on the river.

The next day Naomi and I went to a flea market, and in the afternoon we met up with Alex to get a coffee. While walking to meet Alex I ended up on tv. This guy came up to me and asked me if it was alright if he asked some questions. Hoping to practice my Spanish I agreed. Next thing I know, I’m in a Messi jersey giving an interview on how wonderful the Argentine soccer team is!

On Tuesday we all went to a sports bar to watch the Argentina game, and went nuts when they won. But that was nothing compared to the USA game that night. It was the single most patriotic thing I have participated in ever, no doubt made even more so by being in a foreign country. We sang the national anthem twice, chanted USA every couple of minutes, along with another chant of “I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!” And yes, the all caps was necessary. We were that excited. Of course, the US lost and the bar owner gave us all free shots for mourning. It was amazing.

Watching the US game with the other Americans.

And of course, today is the fourth of July so we all went out to a bar to celebrate the independence of our country. The national flag monument here is lit up red white and blue, but I didn’t take a picture because to get there I would have to walk through a very sketch part of town. It would not have been safe, so instead I went with my friends to a restaurant and had a steak for America.

Celebrating the 4th of July!

However, not everything about this week was happy. Yesterday we went to the Memorial Museum for the Disapeared during the dictatorship that was only about 20-30 years ago. It was hard to get through the museum, the pictures of the missing are haunting. The hardest part for me was to look at pictures of children who had been killed/kidnapped during this time. Many of them still have not been found. We heard a story that happened about a year ago of a young girl who lived in Spain. At age 24, an old man came to talk to her and she learned something shocking. Her parents were not her biological parents. Her mother and father were two of the disappeared (it is used as a noun here) and the grandfather knew her mother was pregnant. The people who raised her tortured and killed her real parents before kidnapping her and fleeing the country. How do you live with that information?

The children of the Disapeared.

Even worse, in the building across from our university, they used to torture and execute Argentines during this time. When I look in the windows for the basement I can see the torture rooms, it is chilling to walk by this reminder every day. I can’t fully explain how horrifying it truly is to be constantly reminded of this when I go to class. Once again, I’m struck by the differences between the US and Argentina. It’s hard to think any country could do this, and their motto “nunca mas” reminded me heavily of WWII. (It means never again). Not only that, but the burning of un-approved books and the concentration camps also pounded this in.

In this building, they tortured and killed many Argentines. I see it every day on my way to school.

So while I am in a beautiful country, I am constantly reminded of the horrors it committed on the way to and from school every day. And I think this experience will make the biggest impact on me from my time in Argentina.

“These crimes only exist in a society that refuse to see”-quote from the Memorial Museum.

Pre-Departure/Intro

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Courtney Fennimore

After finals week time has really flown by for me! Only 6 days until its goodbye USA! I have been extremely busy and haven’t had time for an intro post, so I’ll just put that in with my pre-departure now!

First of all my name is Courtney Fennimore and I’m studying Elementary Education at WOU. I want to teach fourth or fifth grade. I just recently turned 21 so that’s pretty exciting! I’m currently working two jobs; I’m floor associate at Kohl’s and a part time nanny. The picture below are of my Dad, younger brother and I, the other is me and some of my best friends on Halloween!

Why do I want to go to London? Well, I have been dreaming of going since I was little. I think it all started because I wanted to be a princess and I was convinced that one day I’d meet Prince William and we’d get married. (A dream I grew out of as I got older!) I’ve also always been a musical person and the British music scene is probably the best in the world. My favorite bands and artists are: Ed Sheeran, The 1975, Arctic Monkeys, The Beatles, One Direction (seriously they’re adorable), and Mumford and Sons. Of course they all happen to come from across the pond! Also I feel like I should mention I watch a lot of Doctor Who, so that really feeds into my love of all things English.

(I met Ed 2 years ago and it’s probably the greatest moment in my life so far. Go listen to him if you haven’t, seriously).

I have always had the desire for adventure and to explore new places so when this opportunity came up there is no way in the world I was going to let it pass me by!

For some reason I keep thinking there won’t be much of a cultural difference. Yes they have accents and call stuuf different names, but I think at the core British and American people are pretty similar. Of course once I’m over there I’ll be able to see if i’m right. I am a little weary about using The Tube I’ve only traveled in the Western US so I have never used any kind of subway system! Just looking at that map is a little overwhelming. I’m hoping it’ll be as easy as they say, or that someone will be around to help me out!

Right now I’m not nervous at all, I’m actually really calm. I’ve been so busy with work, family, and my classes assignment I don’t think I have really had time to let the fact that I’m going really sink in. I’m sure once I get on the plane it will finally hit me!

Introduction & One Week Until Departure Posts

Posted on July 3, 2014 by John Goldsmith

I’ve been very busy and sick since finals week ended, and I haven’t gotten around to my introduction post, so this post will serve as double duty for my Introduction and my week until departure post. My name is John Goldsmith, I am an English lit major, and this summer I will be participating in CCSA’s London Summer program at King’s College London and will be taking a literature course on Shakespeare while I am there. I chose to participate in this program for several reasons. While most of my goals for this program are academic related, my primary goal is to branch out and immerse myself in a new location with new faces. At Western, I have been lucky enough to have made incredible friendships through my work as a Peer Mentor (picture on the right) as well as my years on campus (picture on the left). My friends at Western provide me with feelings of safety and security, but I don’t want to become too dependent on the relationships and connections I’ve made at WOU. By participating in this program, I am able to expand my horizons by living in a brand new city with people whom I’ve never met before. I am certain that this program will not only encourage me academically, as I will be studying in one of the premiere cities for English Literature, but I will also be able to make myself a more adaptable person in the real world.

I have one week left until I leave for London, and so far everything seems to be going smoothly. I am a bit nervous about the travel and the overall experience, but I’m more excited than anything. Last night, on our program’s Facebook page, the other students and I had a very lengthy post regarding which characters from the Harry Potter series and the Lord of the Rings were superior to their most similar counterpart. Having a post like that, where we were all able to express our opinions and be ourselves, made me much more excited about meeting the people I will be studying with over in London. I have also started the readings for my class, but due to being chronically busy and recently falling sick with a nasty cold, I haven’t been able to read as much as I would like. Aside from my readings, I am prepared for my month in London. I have everything I will need for my time over there, and all I have left to do is pack my suitcase. Until then, I will be relaxing and making the most of my time home before I leave.

Week 1 of Classes

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Marissa Gowen

Even though I have been here in Queretaro since June 26 this week is my first week of classes. I have had a crazy week so far. On the first day of classes I had only one class for 25 minutes because the teacher was late. I have learned over the past few days that most Mexican professors show up late to class. Tuesday was a normal day of classes but Wednesday was crazy. I took the wrong bus to get to the university. I am okay but it was a scary experience for me to deal with. I talked to the people around me and asked them where I was. Luckily everyone was helpful and my host mom found me and took me home although I missed class I am glad that I am safe. I learned fast that you have to stay calm and call your resident director and your host mom. On a lighter note I have had the best food ever here though I would recommend taking it slow when it comes to eating the food here. I ate too much one day and I got sick with a bad stomachache. I have learned that it is important also to make sure that know which direction you are going before you go anywhere. That is all for now.

Arrival to Queretaro Mexico

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Marissa Gowen

When I arrived in Mexico City I was scared it first because it was so big. Going through customs was crazy and almost everyone was nice but in a hurry. I felt excited that I was in Mexico but to be honest I was a little afraid of being away from home for so long. The fact that people walk so fast in the airport did scare me at first because they seemed to push you along instead of me walking normally. In comparison to the Portland Airport the airport in Mexico City is huge. I remember being afraid of getting lost and that if we didn’t have Carmen in that moment we all would have been lost. That’s all for now I will post later this week.

Myth & Method

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Bridget Rayburn

I am really enjoying the class I am taking here. I am only here for three weeks and we have class Monday-Thursday from 10am-1pm, although I get out of class early most days. My professor’s name is Mags and we have four different lecturers that come in depending on the topic of the day. The class is titled “Myth and Method in Psychology”. Being a psychology major, I have found every lecture to be very interesting and engaging.

Instead of class yesterday, my whole class went to the Freud museum. It was nice to get out of the classroom and explore. The museum was a little out of the city in a nice neighborhood. The house where Sigmund Freud spent his last years has been turned into a museum about his work. The house was beautiful and had a nice garden in the back. Inside the house were some of Freud’s original things, including lots of the books he read.

As I was exploring the home where Freud died, I came across a small couch with a blanket draped over it. After doing further investigation, I discovered that this was the couch where Freud would analyze his patients dreams and perform psychoanalysis. It was amazing to see the real place where one of the most important people in the field of psychology worked.

Here is the house where Sigmund Freud died.

Day 3

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Arielle Houchin

Today is my third day in Spain and we had our first real school outing today. It was an amazing trip to a Cathedral and Museum, to be in a place with so much history and art was simply amazing. This was a trip of a lifetime and I feel very fortunate that AHA sends us on such exciting trips that are a real core aspect of the city. After the Cathedral we went to a local bar that served us a traditional cider that is poured way different than I expected. The server holds the bottle up by her face while holding the glass as far away from it as she can, and then she pours. It is definetely a drink that you pour outside since quite a bit of it gets all over the street, but it was amazing to watch. This morning also included a stop in Oviedo’s old school building that was built in 1608, where we listened to the heads of the program and they explained random aspects of the summer to us. It was all in Spanish which was a little hard to understand at some points, but ultimately it was a great experience to listen too. Being in that building was equally as fantastic, to think that has been around and in such great condition since 1608 is a fantastic accomplishment. Later my walking buddy and I spent the afternoon walking around the city for an hour, getting 15,000 steps in one day is hard work! It was a good day making new friends and spending time with the established ones. I also had a great day with my host family where I got to talk and listen in Spanish and understand quite a bit. Having time with them over meals is really special and important for my learning. It doesn’t hurt that the food is FANTASTIC!

Beautiful and fascinating

This day will be hard to beat.

Day 2

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Arielle Houchin

Today was my second day in Spain and it was very different to navigate than I originally thought. We had our first meeting at AHA and my host family walked me to the school and we were instructed to find our way back to the house if the host member could not walk with us, this made me quite nervous. Luckily my instructor set me up with another group of girls who were going to the same general area that I was, otherwise I would have been fully lost and confused. Even though my “walking buddy” and I got a little bit lost, we were able to rely on the help of strangers to find our way. It was great to know that the people were so friendly and willing to help out two American girls who had no idea what they were doing! I will admit that it was a beautiful city to get lost in, completly different than the city I live in. Evenutally we made it back about an hour later than we were supposed to, but with few streets labeled and it being our first day, our host families weren’t to upset that we were late for “la comida”.

Later in the day I got to meet two more “sisters” and their nephew, who was adorable. It was great to see them interact with the baby and get a chance to observe their caring nature and hear some slow Spanish. After the baby and the sisters left I got the chance to go out with my “madre” to “El Centro” which is in the center of the city and houses tons of shops, apartments, offices and restaurants. It was amazing to see so many people out and about walking and eating in the patios. My madre told me about all the stores and the four major churches that sit along the outside of the center. I tried to follow what she said and I was happy that I understood about half of the conversation. She is very understanding and wants to talk to me as much as she can and try to help me understand the area, which is really nice and helpful. I ended up helping her with a little bit of her shopping and even that was an experience different than that in the United States. The main department store that we were in had associates everywhere, most of them without name tags, which made it hard to tell that they were employees, and tiny little random kiosks spread throughout the store that were not closed off to the customers. You could walk right up next to them while they ring up your stuff and most of them did not even have a place to set what you wanted to buy. It was very interesting but a quick process.

After our shopping and my guided trip around town I came home to very tired feet and and understanding of why they eat dinner so late, you are STARVING after walking all around the city. Now it is about 9:40 at night and we are about to have “La Cena” and I am very excited for it. Everything I have had to eat here has been amazing and they are such talented chefs. I want to learn all that I can about their amazing culture and I am glad I am here.