Classes

I’ve been promising information about my classes, etc., so here it goes! First off, I’m studying at la Universidad Pontífica Comillas in the Business school-also know as ICADE. All of my classes are in Spanish and the majority of my classmates are Spaniards. There are a few classes, such as, International Studies and the Economy of the European Union, where most of my classmates are other exchange students from Europe. In addition to those two classes, I am taking Spanish (I don’t think I’ll ever understand the preterite and imperfect!), Competitive Business Analysis, Mergers and Acquisitions and Social Psychology.

There is a lot a more in-class group work, etc. here, so I’m having to work with the Spaniards a lot more than I anticipated. So far, it’s working out well, as I’m forced to converse in Spanish and (hopefully) make friends. A couple of my friends and I went for tapas with a few of the guys, and that was really fun and it’s always great to bump into people when you’re out at the clubs, etc. Even though it’s a city of 4 million people, I usually see somebody I know every weekend.

Other differences between here and Marquette: when students’ cell phones ring, they actually get up and leave the classroom to take the call…and then they come back! Definitely not going to try that move when I get back to MKE! Also, nobody is on time (including the teachers), the students chat a lot during class and the professors seem indifferent to the noise…whereas I want to shush everyone so I have a chance to understand the lecture. The single largest annoyance: the fact that there are only 3 printers for the entire university. Students print from three different labs and then have to go and load their own paper into the printers…it’s quite ridiculous, actually.

Many days, I am completely lost and I have lots of blanks and question marks all over my notes, but it's not too bad. On these days, I head to a cafe with a friend and we try to hash out what just went on for the past hour or we just have a glass of wine and move on!

Valencia

While a large group of the Kennedys were dancing the night away in Asheville, I headed to Valencia. I was really excited for this trip because Valencia is the home of paella and trying the dish was top on my priority list! A group of us went to a small restaurant near the beach and experienced homemade paella. The minimum order size is for two people and you have to wait 40 minutes (standard) while they perfect the masterpiece!

My first paella experience...it did not disappoint!

We saw the cathedral and climbed to the top of the tower to see some views of the city. We also saw the City of Arts and Sciences, which is a group of buildings including, the opera house and the "Eye." Most of the buildings were designed by Santiago Calatrava-the same guy that designed the Milwaukee Art Museum...Valencia is his hometown.

On the left is the opera house and in front is the Eye.

We saw the indoor market-which is huge-as well as the museum of Fallas. Fallas are giant floats that are made every year in the spring. There is a giant festival, and all but the 1st place float are burned at midnight on the last day of the festival.

Ham legs hanging in the market.

After touring the city, we headed out towards the beach and saw the giant Aquarium. It was a combination of outside exhibits and indoor tanks, etc. The best part was walking through the tunnels and having the fish swim right at you...I've got some nice pictures of shark mouths! Then, we had a little R & R time at the beach, so I got to stick my feet in the Mediterranean Ocean! Not too shabby...

Congratulations!

Just wanted to say "congratulations" to Erin and Jason, who got married over the weekend!

More Salamanca Photos

The House of Shells...the little protrusions are in the shape of conch shells.

The frog is the object on the left of the column...you mean you can't see it?!

Trip to Salamanca

Last weekend, the international student group on campus organized a trip to Salamanca. Over 100 students loaded up the buses to make the two and half hour drive to the city of 160,000. One of the most famous sights of the city (besides the Cathedral) is the University of Salamanca. It’s about 600 years old…so, at 125 years old, Marquette is just a young pup! The whole group had to stop and stare at the outside of the university because there is a legend related to getting good grades. There is a frog on the façade of one of the buildings and if a student can spot it without any help, he or she won’t have to study and will get good grades. No one could find it but that’s not surprising since it looks like a bird! Our guide said we didn’t have to worry since we’re all exchange students we won’t be studying anyways!

We also saw the House of Shells-which is adorned with conch shells and was supposedly built by a man as an expression of love for his wife (or something of that nature…all the facts and dates start to run together after hours of touring).

By the second day, some of us decided we wanted to do a tapas tours instead, so we broke off from the group and spent the afternoon/evening/night hopping from bar to bar. I even tried morcilla, which is blood sausage. It is made of blood, rice and something else…can’t remember, but I thought it was actually tasty. So far, Salamanca has had some of the best tapas in Spain.

More Pictures

La Capea-Pictures

Alejandro, Kaleeta, Hugo & Me

Waiting for the charge...

La Capea

Saturday, a group of us headed to Avila for a "capea." A capea is technically an amateur bullfight using young bulls (vaquillas). Included in our ticket was all-you-can-eat and then all-you-can-drink beer and sangria. The food was a mix of traditional Spanish snacks, such as tortilla and a meat pastry, and some cheese puffs and crackers. We also had chorizo and a meat patty (which was good, but definitely not like a "traditional" hamburger). Near the end of the night, they brought out bread with nutella-so that was yummy!

Throughout the day, different vaquillas would be let into the ring and people could run around, etc. Some of the guys had little injuries-bloodied legs or bruises from getting knocked over, but most people (myself included) didn’t get close enough to be in danger. Kaleeta and I were essentially the only girls to go in the ring (until later when the liquor made some of the other girls brave enough to try.)

It was a very interesting day and we all kept saying how we wouldn't be able to do anything like this where we're from in the States or England. Our friends from Mexico, Hugo and Alejandro, were used to it and were telling us some facts about bullfights, etc. By the end of the night, we had spent nine hours at the farm and the temperature had dropped about 30 degrees--Alejandro's lips were basically blue (he prefers the weather in Mexico!) We met lots of people and have lots of random stories!

There was a kid who was wearing a classic Packers hat, so Willie & I had to ask. He got really excited when I said we were from Wisconsin. Once again, it's a small world.

Right now, I can't upload photos (there's a problem with the website) but, hopefully, I can add some soon!