Submitted by Caitlin Baker on the 2012 spring semester program in Granada, Spain…
Nerja
Granada has been getting a lot of rain the past week or so, which has also brought a return to cold weather. It’s hard to believe that we are in April and Delaware is enjoying 80 degree weather, and here in the South of Spain it is struggling to hit 60 degrees! However, the rain has actually been very welcome for many people since Spain, and especially Andalucia, had been experiencing a pretty bad drought these last few months.
It was with this weather that our group headed to the coast to two different beach towns – Almuñécar, in the province of Granada, and Nerja, in the province of Malaga. These are popular tourist towns in Spain during the summer for both nationals and foreigners alike. Even though the weather prevented us from hitting the beach, we were able to see some other sites in the towns, such as the caves of Nerja. The following day we headed to the mountains of Alpujarras, also in the province of Granada. The views were absolutely breathtaking and despite a little cold (it even ended up snowing!), we had lots of sun and a very enjoyable time. It was pretty cool to be able to see such contrasting landscapes all while staying in one region!
Submitted by Julia Paganucci on the 2017 winter session program in Japan sponsored by the Department of Behavioral Health & Nutrition…
One thing that I love about taking a class on the healthy preparation of Japanese food, is that I’m able to eat so much of it. I’ve tried so many new things here that I never imagined I would. I have eaten a plethora of sushi, ramen, tempura, really anything that has to do with fish. Some of my new friends and I will go searching for unique places, the types of places you can’t find anywhere else. We were lucky to find an amazing cheap sushi place right by our hostel, we’ve already gone there so much that the chefs that cook right in front of you probably recognize us!
For the past couple of months, whenever I saw a video that showcased a restaurant in Tokyo, I would make note of it. This has helped us find places to eat, since there are so many and the language barrier here is difficult to deal with sometimes. We’ve gotten perfectly round and golden pancakes, sushi rolls you have to wait over an hour for because they’re so good, a tofu meal that came straight from the soy factory, dorayaki with maccha ice cream, colorful vegetable tempura and even cotton candy that’s bigger than a person’s head!
Submitted by Caitlin Baker on the 2012 spring semester program in Granada, Spain…
Barcelona - House by Gaudi
Barcelona, Paris, Prague, and Pieszyce! These are the places I was lucky enough to visit during my Spring Break over the past 10 days. I had a blast traveling with friends to these different cities. Each one was interesting in its own way and it was definitely an adventure having to orient ourselves in each new city and figure out the ins and outs of getting around.
Barcelona was a great place to start the trip since it allowed us to warm up to traveling, but we were still familiar with the language and culture — more or less (many natives of Barcelona speak Catalán as well as typical Castellano Spanish.) In Barcelona we were able to see lots of Gaudi architecture as well as Poblé Español, which is known as a “little Spain”. It is an enclosed “city” that has typical architecture, shops, and restaurants of each area of Spain – such a great way to get to know the country as a whole while not having to travel very far!
Paris is of course an amazing place to visit. It has just as much charm as everyone talks about and lots of beauty to see and be explored. It is a huge city so it was a little overwhelming to navigate at first and it was definitely a shock to be in a place where we spoke zero of the language. All that aside, we were able to get our footing and enjoy many of the famous sights including Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Seine River, and more!
Our next stop was Prague, an absolutely beautiful place. It seems like a fairytale city out of a children’s storybook! Although it was a bit cold and rainy while we were there, it still didn’t take away from the wonder we felt at our surroundings. Since Easter was just around the corner, there were lots of Easter markets set up around the town for us to enjoy as well as all the classic sites of the city like the Prague Castle and the Astronomical Tower.
Last, but not least, we arrived to Pieszyce, a small town in southwestern Poland about an hour away from Wroclaw. We were lucky enough to stay with my friend Olivia’s family during our time there and it was so nice to be able to spend the Easter holiday with them. They were so generous, warm, and friendly, not to mention extremely hospitable – we always had plenty to eat!! We mostly stayed at the house since it was a holiday weekend and everything was closed in the small town, but we were still able to enjoy so much of the Polish culture in hearing the language, eating the food, and enjoying the company of such welcoming people.
Prague - Top of Astronomical TowerParis - In front of Notre Dame
Submitted by Hannah Junior on the 2017 winter session program in Cuba sponsored by the Department of Art…
This week on my study abroad program, I focused many of my photographs on the people of Cuba. Something, I found very unique to this country is that no matter what time of day, people sit outside their homes on a step, chair or porch and just people watch whoever walks by. Sometimes, they catch up with neighbors, share gossip with friends, smoke or play dominoes. Either way, there are always people out on every street, which is something very peculiar to see in the United States especially in a big city. People in America are always busy and on the go, rarely ever stopping to chat with a neighbor. To be honest, I can not really remember the last time I did so myself. It was really nice to just be able to walk down the street and have a bunch of strangers saying “hola!” (hello!) to me with a genuine smile on their face.
I attached three portraits I took of people doing just this. The first, an old man waving to a neighbor while keeping an eye on his street early one morning. The second, a woman peering curiously at me through her gated front door. The third, an old man enjoying a cigar outside his apartment one evening. One thing, I have grown to admire about Cuban culture is their connectivity to one another. They co-exist with one another, choosing to share day to day experiences with each other instead of being overly self involved. This is something I hope to bring back with me when I return home.
Submitted by Jaclyn Roman on the 2012 spring semester program in Granada, Spain…
Good Friday “Soledad” procession representing the Virgin Mary
A powerful aroma of incense fills the air and the faint sound of a drum is audible. Immense crowds of people occupy the streets and children squeal at the sight of street vendors selling popcorn, peanuts and toy horns. This is Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Andalucía.
Yesterday, Easter Sunday, marked the final day for processions. Each day of Semana Santa starting on Palm Sunday, representations of the different Biblical passages leading up to Jesus’ resurrection demonstrate the true spirit of the Easter season. Unfortunately, this year brought unusually inclement weather, and the processions scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Thursday were cancelled.
Lucky for me, the conditions held up fine once I returned from my trip to Italy, and I was still able to experience all of the processions on Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. As a Catholic myself, I have fond memories of the Easter holiday. Since my Mom is Italian, food has always been at the heart of the celebration. Of course, stored even further back are the childhood memories of the Easter Bunny gifting me with Reese’s peanut butter cup eggs and jelly beans.
For me, I have to say this year definitely marks the most exhilarating Easter experience I have had. Seeing Spaniards and tourists of all nationalities gather to watch such spectacles is truly indescribable. There is a certain happiness and hope that fills the streets and it’s difficult, especially for someone like myself foreign to this custom, not to relish the atmosphere.
Although I have to say I did miss the Reese’s bunnies this year, I am eternally grateful to have been in Spain at such a special time of year as Semana Santa. Among everything else I have experienced up until this point, being here at this time has allowed me to form an even stronger bond with the Spanish culture.
Submitted by Marisa Wanzie on the 2017 winter session program in London, England sponsored by the Department of Communication…
The deep rooted history and culture of England is truly astonishing. We all know about the slew of artists, writers and scholars that this nation has to be proud of. I’ve noticed that while Americans are familiar with the names and the works of these people, the Brits are familiar with every establishment these people have stepped foot in. In a matter of a week, I have dined in pubs that have been frequented by J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Charles Dickens, just to name a few. For those of you that are unfamiliar with England, it’s important to note that every street corner has a pub that dates back hundreds of years. While they all look quite similar from the outside, it is inside where the hidden historic gems reside.
The more time I spend in London, the more that I am beginning to understand the true reason that “pub culture” is such a huge part of British culture. It’s a truly remarkable experience to be able to enter a random pub and discover that the table next to you used to be where J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis would dine and edit one another’s stories. The pub culture pride truly stems from the fascinating history of the pub-goers who came before you. Even more intriguing is the fact that you never know which diner next to you will become the next brag-worthy regular of the establishment!
Submitted by Jaclyn Roman on the 2012 spring semester program in Granada, Spain…
As I write this week’s blog, history is being made in Spain. Today, March 29, 2012 is the day of a National Huelga, or worker’s strike. For those who are unaware, Spain currently finds itself in a serious economic crisis with an astronomical unemployment rate of about 23%. As a foreign student studying here, the economic slump has little influence on my daily routine. Although the strike is very much intriguing to me, I’ve decided to play it safe and watch the news in the safety of my apartment.
Even if a somber environment has invaded Granada, it is in fact a temporary one with Semana Santa (Holy Week) right around the corner. Semana Santa is the week that falls in between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Most Spaniards receive vacation time for the week (including foreign students such as myself), and it truly is a special time of year. Each day, processions are held to represent Biblical passages and the stages of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Being a Catholic myself, I very much anticipate Semana Santa, but am told the processions can truly be enjoyed by everyone regardless of their religion.
Similar to most other students in our study abroad program, I have made travel plans for part of our vacation time. I am very excited to be headed to Italy (Rome, Naples and Capri), but am happy to say I’ll be back in Granada by Thursday night to experience one of the highest acclaimed processions – Silencio (Silence).
As we approach one of the most recognized times of the year in Spain, I can’t help but feel proud to be a part of it all. Tuesday night I headed to a local bar to watch Real Madrid defeat APOEL in the Quarter Finals of the Champions League (for some this may have no significance whatsoever, but “futbol”(soccer) is in fact a huge aspect of Spanish life). Pride has become an underlying sensation for me in Spain; whether it’s in regards to Semana Santa, soccer or sympathy toward all of the jobless Spaniards, I am most definitely proud and honored for this experience.
Submitted by Daniel Wilson on the 2017 winter session study abroad program in Costa Rica and Panama sponsored by the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology…
Our next destination was Corcovado. We’re here because another location lost our reservation and judging by the scenery, we’re lucky those reservations were lost. Set just off the edge of the water, this eco-lodge is a heaven of tents and hammocks. One of the first things I noticed after settling into a hammock to read is a puppy trailing behind some other guests. I found it weird that someone would travel here with their pet, so I watched to see how they interact and quickly came to the realization that the puppy is a local. I called him over and petted him for a few seconds before he lost interest and wandered off down the beach towards Corcovado National Park. Curious, I ask a hotel worker about the dog and he confirms that the dog is a stray that hangs around the lodge. He goes on to tell me that the pumas in the area frequently eat dogs and that the lodge lost a dog they were looking after the previous year. This pup, he says, they’re going to try to look after better. Living in a country where people frequently view dogs as family members, it’s hard to wrap my mind around such an ambivalent attitude towards dogs. It’s even hard to imagine a dog being prey for another animal. As with all the dogs I’ve seen and interacted with, the ones from Corcovado and their fate will weigh on my mind.
Submitted by Kristen Dempsey on the 2012 spring semester program in London, England…
This past weekend I traveled back to Scotland with a group of friends. This time, however, instead of doing a full weekend tour, we decided to do two day tours. So we left Thursday night (by bus) and arrived in Edinburgh Friday morning. We decided that for the first day we would just walk around the city and get a feel for what Edinburgh was really like. We even got to take a free walking tour, eat some fried Mars bars, and drink some Irn Bru (which is the best selling drink in Scotland – way more intense than Red Bull).
The next day we took a day tour through the Highlands and up to Loch Ness! That was my favorite tour by far. We took a boat cruise across the loch, and found out that there had been spottings of creatures under the water just hours before our cruise (creepy). That night we arrived back in Edinburgh, ate some Haggis, and went to bed.
The next tour was called “Castles, Lochs, and Whiskey” which is exactly what it was. We saw Stirling Castle, a few lochs, and took a tour through a whiskey distillery where we had a tasting of a ten year old bottle. Not my favorite, but it was worth a try!
What a great weekend filled with memories and fun!
Submitted by Mia Ruggieroon the 2017 winter session program in Spain sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences…
Some students and I traveled from Zaragoza to Barcelona for a weekend excursion. It is a beautiful city, and I got to see a lot of history and Spanish architecture as well as a famous landmark, Park Guëll. It overlooks the entire city, so many stairs (or an escalator) were involved to get to the top. On the way down, we were reminiscing on the view we had just seen when an elderly woman opened her apartment window and asked us to be quiet because she needs to sleep. This was quite a culture shock for all of us because it was the middle of the day! But in Spain from around 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm the residents partake in siesta. Which literally translates to “nap.” I cannot imagine not being able to speak at all in America in the afternoon for fear of waking people up. It is very different than the loudness of our country. Overall, it was quite an experience!
