I swear, last night, I felt like I was 10 years old again, restlessly laying in bed, anxious to begin the 5th grade. Except, this morning, I was eagerly waiting to begin the 15th grade;-) Yes, I enjoyed a very long summer, but today was the day. For anyone who may not know, this program is (balls to the walls) full Spanish immersion. My professors speak very little to no English, but I have a really interesting course load. My classes include a Hotel Management and Tourism course, Spanish for Business and Tourism writing and negotiating, Globalization, Human Migration, and Tourism using the Balearic Islands as a case study, a history course on Palma in the Mediterranean, and finally, a course that explores Spanish Politics and Society. I'm enthusiastic about the material and all that I will learn.
Today, I had three classes, well not really. The Hotel Management class, my only course in the number one nationally ranked Escola d' Hoteleria, did not begin today. It will start on Wednesday, but someone forgot to tell the International kids. I was a little disappointed, especially because this class is scheduled for 9 am. Furthermore, I was all dressed up in my mandatory uniform, black pants with a white blouse. Don't worry, I had a change of clothes and a snack. I was ready for my 11:30.
Next was the Globalization and Human Migration course. This, like my other four classes, is a CIEE course, which means that only CIEE students have enrolled. This fall, we are a quaint group of eight students, and as a result, my classes are small too. Four of us are taking the Globalization course. For this class especially, I am grateful for the small class size because I have a final project due for the term. It is so intense that we will need to meet individually with the professor biweekly as well as email him for help, not a T.A. He seems like a really nice and fair guy. I just need to organize the course material and focus on a topic as soon as possible.
My last class of the day at 3:30 was Palma in the Mediterranean. It is a class of only three students. This professor has a very active syllabus with field trips and a midterm. I am going to enjoy this course in particular because I have never learned about the history of the Mediterranean empire and its geography. We got rolling right away today, and I have already picked up a few interesting facts. Did you know that there was an invisible line separating the occidental and oriental halves of Europe and Northern Africa, mandated by the Romans? Also, call me geography challenged, but I never realized the the very southern tip of Spain is so close to the most northernness part of Africa, Morocco! It's like traveling from Miami to Cuba. Yes, the Straight of Gibraltar! I've heard of it, just couldn't tell you where it was located.
In conclusion, the first day was insightful and a success. One down!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Mí Primera Clase de "Spinning" en ESPAÑOL
It is so fun to burn calories and learn new vocabulary words while exercising with others! Today, I went to the UIB gimnasio and had a sweat fest! (Sorry for the visual) It was so awesome. The facilities are top of the line, and the class schedule is INTENSE. I can't wait to join some more. If all the other instructors are half as demanding as this guy I met tonight, then I will be in good shape, literally. He yelled things like, "¡Sube Medio!" and "¡Arriba!" En inglés, "Up the resistance!" and "Get up (out the saddle)!" It was great, and the music was hot too! The only songs I recognized were Rehab and Apologize during the cool down. He was serious about stretching, which I appreciated so much. We cooled down for nearly 15 minutes, but I KNOW that I will still feel this tomorrow.
Cross Cultural Note of the Day: To my knowledge, all buses stop at a certain bus stop for a "break," or whatever it is they really do! I took the bus home from campus tonight. When the bus finally arrived, he drove for about 3 minutes to another stop and stood there for more than 10 minutes. He was reading or talking on the phone. YES, this happens almost everywhere, from Detroit to D.C. to Palma de Mallorca. I was flabbergasted!
Cross Cultural Note of the Day: To my knowledge, all buses stop at a certain bus stop for a "break," or whatever it is they really do! I took the bus home from campus tonight. When the bus finally arrived, he drove for about 3 minutes to another stop and stood there for more than 10 minutes. He was reading or talking on the phone. YES, this happens almost everywhere, from Detroit to D.C. to Palma de Mallorca. I was flabbergasted!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
"Cuando no hay hombres, no hay guerra"
The guys were unable to make it this morning, so it was just us chicas. We took a bus ride up north to Alcúdia to visit the Roman ruins called Pol-léntia or Pollença. This included la Portella, el Forum, and el Teatro. We were literally standing in the middle of ancient history! After, we toured the surrounding city and local market. It was crowded, but nice to see all the vendors, locals, and many tourists. This northern part of Mallorca is popular amongst tourist of all walks of life. Luckly, with great timing, we were able to experience a mass in the local Catholic church. I was right back in Ms. Bucci's Spanish class, "En el nombre de Padré, el Hijo, y el Espíritu Santo."
When we were done taking in all the history and crowds, we headed to the beach of course, La Playa de Alcúdia. I love how the weather is perfect on every beach here even when the sun isn't shinning. It came and went throughout our stay. I mostly walked along the beach and took photos of the view. I tried to capture all the colors and landscape but still did it no justice. It was that pretty!
Leaving Alcúdia, we went to Formentor, also known as the top of the island. It was unreal, breath-taking. We were able to drive up so high and then walk higher to take in all the beauty. I loved every second of it. Check out the video:
In Formentor, we went to a second beach, una playa especial. We actually drove to a higher altitude to get to it! It was just as lovely.
When we were done taking in all the history and crowds, we headed to the beach of course, La Playa de Alcúdia. I love how the weather is perfect on every beach here even when the sun isn't shinning. It came and went throughout our stay. I mostly walked along the beach and took photos of the view. I tried to capture all the colors and landscape but still did it no justice. It was that pretty!
Leaving Alcúdia, we went to Formentor, also known as the top of the island. It was unreal, breath-taking. We were able to drive up so high and then walk higher to take in all the beauty. I loved every second of it. Check out the video:
In Formentor, we went to a second beach, una playa especial. We actually drove to a higher altitude to get to it! It was just as lovely.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Biking Palma!
We had a blast today riding along the Mediterranean coast. We biked for about an hour up the coast to another beach near the airport. There, we had some delicious refreshments and relaxed on the beach before returning to central Palma.
Get READY,
Get SET,
Get GELATO!
Get READY,
Get SET,
Get GELATO!
From campus to the beach
We took the Metro to campus to see it for the first time, La Universitat de Les Illes Balears (UIB). Here is the School of Hotel Management.
We had lunch then hit the beach, la playa!
We had lunch then hit the beach, la playa!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
¡Reunión con mi familia!
Once we finally began our day, a little behind scheduled, we walked, walked, and did a little shopping. Some people bought a minute phone for domestic calls. I did not purchase one because I'm waiting to find the best deal. Eventually, I will want to dial domestically. Pero no sé ahora.
We walked some more, had lunch, and then returned to the hotel. It was here we had about 3 hours of an orientation presentation by Antonia and Susan. It was very informative and interesting, but I had to fight to stay awake. I won, sort of. After speaking about safety in Palma, practical matters, independent travel, and our planned activities for the semester, we were given info about our homes and families. Listening to all the do(s) and don't(s), I was starting to get so nervous. They showed us a map of the area and where our homes were located in relation to each other. It seemed so far and impossible to find each other. The suspense was killing me. Where was I living? Are these people patient? Strict? I really didn't consider these things all summer.
Finally, after all the worrying, I was introduced to my Señora, Marisa. Susan introduced us in the lobby, then my mind went blank. I didn't know what to say to her at first due to my choppy spanish. She eased my nervousness and asked me questions about my trip and home. I was finally able to ask her what she did for a living. To my surprise and delight, she is a professional chef and teaches cooking out of her kitchen! She didn't need to say anything else. For me, it was love at first sight! As recommended, I brought a gift for my family. However, I waited until the last minute to buy it. I was so mad at myself for not getting something from the GW bookstore. I didn't know what I was going to buy in Detroit. I was desperate and just happened to find a Williams-Sonoma Kitchen store. So, I bought some basic utensils and a special American sauce. It was totally worth it of course. She was ecstatic and used the pot holder that night for dinner. She's really sweet like that. We were paired together by the Susan because she is an amazing cook, especially vegetarian cuisine.
From the hotel we took a taxi to her apartment. She stays on a higher floor, so we had to carry my luggage up the stairs one at a time. My bags weigh a ton, but we made it just fine and drank some water when we were done. It was kind-of embarrassing but funny, typical me. Her apartment is beautiful with three balconies, two bedrooms, and one bathroom. I love it, and I love my room too. Its the perfect size, and yes, all my crap does fit in the room. She has wireless, so I am all set. ¡Estoy contenta, Sí!
Pictures of my room:
This is the view from my bedroom window. Having no screen on the window is so liberating!
This moth blended in with my bed! No worries. It was one of very few insects.
We walked some more, had lunch, and then returned to the hotel. It was here we had about 3 hours of an orientation presentation by Antonia and Susan. It was very informative and interesting, but I had to fight to stay awake. I won, sort of. After speaking about safety in Palma, practical matters, independent travel, and our planned activities for the semester, we were given info about our homes and families. Listening to all the do(s) and don't(s), I was starting to get so nervous. They showed us a map of the area and where our homes were located in relation to each other. It seemed so far and impossible to find each other. The suspense was killing me. Where was I living? Are these people patient? Strict? I really didn't consider these things all summer.
Finally, after all the worrying, I was introduced to my Señora, Marisa. Susan introduced us in the lobby, then my mind went blank. I didn't know what to say to her at first due to my choppy spanish. She eased my nervousness and asked me questions about my trip and home. I was finally able to ask her what she did for a living. To my surprise and delight, she is a professional chef and teaches cooking out of her kitchen! She didn't need to say anything else. For me, it was love at first sight! As recommended, I brought a gift for my family. However, I waited until the last minute to buy it. I was so mad at myself for not getting something from the GW bookstore. I didn't know what I was going to buy in Detroit. I was desperate and just happened to find a Williams-Sonoma Kitchen store. So, I bought some basic utensils and a special American sauce. It was totally worth it of course. She was ecstatic and used the pot holder that night for dinner. She's really sweet like that. We were paired together by the Susan because she is an amazing cook, especially vegetarian cuisine.
From the hotel we took a taxi to her apartment. She stays on a higher floor, so we had to carry my luggage up the stairs one at a time. My bags weigh a ton, but we made it just fine and drank some water when we were done. It was kind-of embarrassing but funny, typical me. Her apartment is beautiful with three balconies, two bedrooms, and one bathroom. I love it, and I love my room too. Its the perfect size, and yes, all my crap does fit in the room. She has wireless, so I am all set. ¡Estoy contenta, Sí!
Pictures of my room:
This is the view from my bedroom window. Having no screen on the window is so liberating!
This moth blended in with my bed! No worries. It was one of very few insects.
Becoming oriented in paradise
Its very easy to get distracted with so much beauty everywhere. I have to keep asking myself, "Is this real?" After having lunch and meeting each other, we received our own folders filled with information, maps, and schedules. Oddly, I smiled when I saw the Calendar of Activities for this semester. Finally, I'm back to an academic, intellectually stimulating, color coded schedule. How great it is to have a plan of action of how I will accomplish and see so much. Yes, its a nerd/ type A personality thing. No, I can't help it. Moving on.
Five minutes after we got our pertinent info, we walked, walked, and walked around the immediate central area. It is beautiful, but treacherous. First street knowledge I gained was to be aware of the cars. There are no sidewalks, some curbs here and there. The streets will trick you into believing that it is suppose to be a sidewalk for pedestrians because they are the same size or smaller than the sidewalks in the States. Falso! Cars can go anywhere that they can fit. If they can't fit, listen out for the mopeds and motorcycles as well. Here are some photos of the streets, and these are unusually large.
After all that walking, we enjoyed our first meal together. It was a form of tapas, but not exactly. Sorry, I didn't catch the name, but I will find out. We used bread and tomatoes as utensil and enjoyed several dishes. It was perfect. I was so tired from the tour that I just ate what was in front of me, sin carne por supuesto (without meat of course). Yup, I am going strong, and I really don't notice a difference between my meal and everyone else's meal. There are always so many options on the table at EVERY meal, and EVERYONE is so helpful and understanding. I feel fortunate and satisfied después de cada comida (after each meal)!
So we finished eating at about 10:30. Even though it was a Tuesday night, we HAD to go out and welcome ourselves to Palma. We toasted to the semester, and made it our own fiesta. Again, it was a Tuesday night. Palma does sleep, especially during the week. The bars and clubs were bare, but it was still a good time. We stayed at a place called Funky Buddha. It was a fun, long night, on top of the day of traveling and inevitable jet lag!
As a result of our evening/morning, we did not make our 10 o'clock meeting Wednesday morning. Sadly, the guys made us look bad, as both rooms of ladies overslept. I was shocked. Oversleeping on the first day?!? I set an alarm. I remember hearing it, but I just didn't respond. At 10:08, we awoke to the phone ringing, which was right next to my head. It was a our "Guardian Angel (GA)", like a peer mentor, Allegh. We scrambled and stumbled to get ready; nevertheless, my two roommates and I were actually able to make it down by 10:25. We were all impressed with our efficiency.
Lesson Learned: A full DAY of travel+An eventful NIGHT out=DEEP sleeping!
This is the front of our very eco-friendly, charming hotel and restaurant. It kind of reminds me of somewhere else.
Five minutes after we got our pertinent info, we walked, walked, and walked around the immediate central area. It is beautiful, but treacherous. First street knowledge I gained was to be aware of the cars. There are no sidewalks, some curbs here and there. The streets will trick you into believing that it is suppose to be a sidewalk for pedestrians because they are the same size or smaller than the sidewalks in the States. Falso! Cars can go anywhere that they can fit. If they can't fit, listen out for the mopeds and motorcycles as well. Here are some photos of the streets, and these are unusually large.
After all that walking, we enjoyed our first meal together. It was a form of tapas, but not exactly. Sorry, I didn't catch the name, but I will find out. We used bread and tomatoes as utensil and enjoyed several dishes. It was perfect. I was so tired from the tour that I just ate what was in front of me, sin carne por supuesto (without meat of course). Yup, I am going strong, and I really don't notice a difference between my meal and everyone else's meal. There are always so many options on the table at EVERY meal, and EVERYONE is so helpful and understanding. I feel fortunate and satisfied después de cada comida (after each meal)!
So we finished eating at about 10:30. Even though it was a Tuesday night, we HAD to go out and welcome ourselves to Palma. We toasted to the semester, and made it our own fiesta. Again, it was a Tuesday night. Palma does sleep, especially during the week. The bars and clubs were bare, but it was still a good time. We stayed at a place called Funky Buddha. It was a fun, long night, on top of the day of traveling and inevitable jet lag!
As a result of our evening/morning, we did not make our 10 o'clock meeting Wednesday morning. Sadly, the guys made us look bad, as both rooms of ladies overslept. I was shocked. Oversleeping on the first day?!? I set an alarm. I remember hearing it, but I just didn't respond. At 10:08, we awoke to the phone ringing, which was right next to my head. It was a our "Guardian Angel (GA)", like a peer mentor, Allegh. We scrambled and stumbled to get ready; nevertheless, my two roommates and I were actually able to make it down by 10:25. We were all impressed with our efficiency.
Lesson Learned: A full DAY of travel+An eventful NIGHT out=DEEP sleeping!
This is the front of our very eco-friendly, charming hotel and restaurant. It kind of reminds me of somewhere else.
Just getting here!
The flight to Mallorca was long of course, but very pleasant. Before purchasing my plane ticket, I had never heard of Lufthansa Airlines (pronounced Luftanza). Being that this was my first international flight, I am so happy to have enjoyed such great service and amenities. I felt like I was being pampered, but I was definitely in the economy section. My biggest concern about the flight was keeping myself entertained for more than 7 hours. Not to fear, with Lufthansa everyone gets their own screen in the head-rest for private viewing! Needless to say, I didn't sleep much on that flight. I watched three movies and an episode of Monk. Monk was decent, but Kung Fu Panda, Made of Honor, and What Happens in Vegas were all two thumbs up. In between my movies, I was fed very well too. It was great. When I arrived in Germany, blurred-eyed and hungry as always, I found refuge at the Perfect Day Café in the airport. This was my simple introduction to the European style of eating. I ordered a Foccacia Mediterrano and a Macchiato. I saw the sandwich in the glass case, so I thought they would just wrap it up and hand me my drink in a paper cup. To my surprise, I was shocked to see the actual color and foam of a Macchiato made with care in a attractive glass. My sandwich was made to order with fresh ingredients. I could taste it. This was all happening at about 6:30a in a airport. So, I took my lovely meal to a booth to sit and enjoy it slowly. I felt compelled to take my time. When I was done, there was a gentlemen there to promptly take my dishes and clean the table. Appreciatively, my first impression of Germany is great service!
Onward, along with my introduction to the European style of eating, I was also introduced to their popular pastime, smoking. Yes, I know you warned me, but its still a sight to see. At at 6:00 am, there were 15-20 people crammed in a "Smoke-n-Go" glass room, more like a fish bowl! It was too much. I had a plane to catch.
My flight to Barcelona left on time, and was much shorter. I think it was about 1 hour and 35 minutes. I fell asleep for 10 minutes at a time, very annoying. I was too excited.
The Barcelona airport is big with lots of clothing stores. I had time to peruse because this was my longest layover, about 2 hours. But I didn't even bother to tempt myself with the vast retail options. I connected to the internet as soon as I could. For the first time, I paid for wireless because I was desperate. That's how they get you! It was worth it, and not too pricey. Surfing the internet, with 60 minutes paid for, the time passed quickly, and soon, I was off to my final flight.
I knew that I was going to some place special when I had to take a shuttle outside on the (tar-mat) to my plain, which was flown by Spanair. It was a plane for at least 100 people, but it was only about 40 of us. Surprisingly, I had the whole back to myself. I just listened to music. That's all I remember before passing out. Finally, I slept. Luckily, I awoke just before we landed to see the entire island as we approached. I just smiled in amazement.
I landed and got my bags through customs easily because I didn't bring any animal products. Good call. I did have to search and search for my program coordinator. This incident is the first of probably several on my list of, "I wish I would have thought of this before." Before leaving, I never asked about meeting each other in the airport. This is all I could wonder about as I trekked around in circles with my oversized, HEAVY luggage. I finally gave up and just stood in front of the door, like the last kid at latchkey, looking pathetic. Susan, the assistant director, finally found me. She just knew my face and reason for so much luggage.
She had to wait for two other students, so she put me in a cab with Euros. I was on my way to the hotel for lunch and a meet and greet with Antonia the Resident Director (RD) and the other students in my program. I have never been more relieved during a cab ride. One, I was not still standing in the airport confused and panicky, and two, I was riding in a cab around Palma de Mallorca. I had actually made it here safe and sound!
I'm traveling as light as always.
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