Here you are welcome to read and comment about new-found experiences, captivating travels, colorful meals, refreshing beverages and daily adventures I encounter while in Spain and throughout Europe. Enjoy!
Lately I have been onnn the move..I spent a week in Madrid, the following week in Valencia, then after that in the south of Spain visiting cities over 4 days in Jerez, Malaga, and Cadiz.
I went there to recruit! Met with students at international high schools, met with teachers, administrators, in private schools, public schools, big, small, everything. It totally reminded me of grammar school and high school, the smells, sites, sounds just brought me back. It is really is an enjoyable experience. I get to meet with many students, talk about their futures, offer them guidance and knowledge about UNAV and gave them my advice on what they could do. And very often, they want to go to the states!
One interesting realization I have with my experiences is that generally, spanish students speak english quite well, (althought the students will disagree out of shyness). You have to realize that all of their lives they are exposed to American pop culture, it is everywhereee so words and grammar have infiltrated their culture, I think, in general, Spanish youth have a much better grasp on english, than American youth do with spanish, only because of the exposure that infiltrates their culture constantly.
It was nice getting out of Pamplona for a little bit. It is especially nice having hotel services and a super clean bathroom that I dont have to share with other dudes for a few days. So I soaked it up. I did a lot of exploring, and I have learned that being a good map reader actually takes practice. Now, I am a pro. In Madrid, I went to the famous Prado Museum. I spent 2.5 hours peruzing through works of art, I put my ipod on classical music, a very relaxed state of mind, I took it all in, or at least tried to with the time I had.
Madrid has starbucks..and it was deelishhh
After Madrid, I spent time in Valencia, Spain, known as "The City of Arts and Sciences" and manufactures tiles all around this world, there is a lot of very cool architecture like this...kinda like this..
This is the opera house, and it's "outer shell" is completely made of tiles.
I spent some days in Lisbon, Portugal and one of the schools I visited was a former palace. In Portugal there are mannnny castles and palaces, and the two are not to be confused; castles are built to be fortified and offer protection, palaces are built for comfort and design is primary, so if you get in a taxi and need directions to one, make sure you know the difference, or you might wind up in the wrong place. I spent time in Andalucia. Andalucia is the southern region of Spain. I was in the city of Jerez for a few days, which is world renowned for its Sherry and is also where Spanish Horses are bred and originated. While I was in Jerez I took one evening to go down to Sevilla and visit my sister. It was an hour trip via car so I grabbed a rental and took a little road trip for the evening. I spent a semester in Sevilla so I was able to navigate through the city, recollect on good ol' days and spend time with my sister for tapas and cervezas.
The last 2 weeks have kept me on my toes. Working on projects and being on call as a substitute teacher forces me to stay disciplined and be ready for anything here at work. On Wednesday I had the chance to travel with my boss to San Sebastian. This city is located on the northern coast, right on the beach, and about an hour from Pamplona. We took his mazda miata, top down, screamin out, but only becasuse my knees were stuck up against the dash. We went to represent the University overall, not just the economics department. We arrived, had a good lunch together on the University credit card, then headed to the school. We were greeted by 2 others, representatives of universities for northern Spain. They are a team very similar to myself and my boss, in age and professions, their names are Fatima and Miguel and instead of representing UNAV itself, they represent all universities in the northern region of Spain and want to recruit from the north as well as bring students from other regions/countries. This particular high school has a strong relationship with UNAV already, and we went to continue that relationship, and allow the final year students to know more about the school. When I speak, I talk about the University experience here, the international aspects, programs, exchanges, internships, activities, and other options available for incoming students. Fortunately, its in english, this is so the students realize we are serious about our bilingual program and international focus. At this seminar, it was the most people I had ever spoken to in public, and it was without power point or any crutches, in an auditoreum full of spanish high schoolers. I reeally had to put any anxiousness that may have come up aside. I was very successful in my delivery and my colleagues said I did a good job, spoke clearly, and had all of their attention! I enjoy public speaking, but this was a bit daunting because of the whole school watching, and it was the first time of anything like this. Mike 1, Spanish high schoolers 0
Living in a new place, an entirely different culture is an awaking experience.
It is interested how working in a university setting is like a tornado...the beginning of the semester is somewhat slow, quiet, and very quickly builds up speed, projects, turbulence, presentations, objects flying at me without warning, and when it passes, the sky opens up, my room and desk; a complete mess, and it takes me the vacation time or weekend to get myself organized and back on my feet before the next semester/tornado rears its head again.
That isn't entirely accurate, but I like the analogy. In reality, my job details have been a bit spotty, here and there, a task one day, one the next, no exact procedure like I may have found in past jobs. But, before I came here, I was directed by my boss to do one thing; be patient, so I am going with it. Since I am working at a college, everything revolves around the schedule, the students, the exams, and vacations. I really enjoy working in a place where everyone is continuing their education, young and very headstrong and goal oriented. I like the idea of working in a college setting and not until this past month have I considered it as a permanent installation. For example, never before did I even consider going back to college once I got my bachelors, I wanted to fly out of the gate and make big moves in the business world. Here, I am already considering my masters for next year, and the professor that I T.A. for has already spoken to me about something called a doctorate, but I will have to check google for help on that one.
My international promotions job has gone underway. It is pretty cool. Basically students from Spain are coming to look at the university and maybe come here. Many of these high schools are Spain's top shelf brands, some are not, but in general they have some of Spain's top high school students. They take a tour of the school and see all of the different buildings and activities. When they arrive to my building I pick them up and show them around and bring them in for a presentation on the school, with the most important aspect being the international focus of this university and why it will be the best international experience for them. Some of the things that seperates UNAV from other schools is its campus, it was set up intentionally to be anglo american style; spread out, open fields, distinct facilities, and they have a high regard here for a strong university community. There are about 15 thousand students, 15% are internationals, and come from over 80 different countries. They offer a bilingual program here which is half english and the other in spanish. One of the coolest aspects and selling points when talking about the university is that it is mandatory for students of the bilingual degree to take 2 semesters abroad. They have options abroad of over 70 universities, within 24 countries, so this place is a great place for a Spaniard or anyone to gain some global perspective. I would go here.
It has come to my understanding that one of the best ways to experience a foreign country in an authentic way is to find friends, people you can relate to, or simply travel buddies, who are open to foreigners, and are knowledgeable of the traditions, festivals, and culture. The friends I have made here from Spain are exceptional in all of their qualities; outgoing, friendly, open, speak english, and above all, good guys. I really have been blessed with the personalities around me. This past weekend I left Pamplona to visit the home town of my friend Sam. The city is called Logroño, it is the capital of the Communidad La Rioja. It is well known for its wines, and on September 21st, the 9 day celebration for its Patron Saint San Mateo had begun, and I was there for to experience the first weekend. For a quick reference check out this page...
http://www.travelinginspain.com/spain_festivals/san_mateo.htm
The strategy was something like this...around 9 go out for dinner. Dinner = pincho tour. So Pablo, Sam and I pooled 10 euro each and went to 3 or 4 different bars. Since the crowds were so thick Sam had the cash and would infiltrate the defenses of people surrounding the bar to order the small, flavorful, rations. They ranged from skewered pieces of chicken with a glaze of honey, deep fried green and red peppers, grilled mushroom caps served upside down with melted butter sitting inside the caps bowl w shrimp on top, small sandwiches with ham, peppers and an olive oil cream sauce, and the latest edition to my list of weird foods, grilled pig's face. Now, this would not have been a problem but the previous day I saw the pigs face in the meat section of grocery store, intact, ready to be cooked and cut, and I had some trouble enjoying it, but I endured and the taste and texture was great, even though you could clearly make out the snout shapes in each bite. mmm. Each pincho was accompanied by a caña. A caña is a small glass of beer of about 5-10 ounces depending on the bar. The whole point is to enjoy the flavor and the simplicity of the food and drink. 3 guys, 3 pinchos, 3 cañas...6 euros, what a deal.
After the pinchos we ventured back to the flat at about 12 to start, yes start drinking. Remember, that's totally normal here. After enjoying some rum and cokes, 007's, and San Miguel cerveza, it was time to go out to the pubs. Outside in the small streets the people packed in like cattle. There was a concert starting in the town's central plaza that started at midnight, the music could be heard clearly all throughout the city. I brought a jacket but didn't even need it since so much body heat was radiating in the catacomb of cobble stone spanish streets. We went to 2 or 3 different pubs but they were awfully hot and crowded. The tactic was hit and move on, never staying at a pub for more than a drink, there was just too much to see. Next, is the disco. Yes the next chapter is where the dancing begins. We ended up at one of the 2 local discos and we never even made it onto the main dance floor for more than 10 minutes. We posted up in a not too crowded area and avoided the sweat and chaos of the dance floor area. We were free to move around, dance, drink, maintain some dialogues with those around us allowing us to make some more Spanish friend. At this point in the morning, you see first hand how how the endurance of the Spanish bladder begins to outshine the rest of the world, they just keep going! Unlike the others, I had to eat consistently through the night, probably 3 times up to this point aside from pinchos. We left the disco and made a pit stop at doner kebab, a popular turkish chain that serves gyro type sandwiches. The gyro offered some fuel that would prepare us for the for the bull ring. Reminder, this is not just me and my friends having a wild night...it is tradition and everyone old and young is still up and adam.
At 9am, the plaza de toros or bull ring opens up to the public. We got there around 830am and somehow managed to walk in through the door that bullfighters walk in through. Not intentionally or sneaking in, we just moseyed in! We found a spot on the ground level where the only thing separating you from the bull is a wooden fence! This is where police, ambulance and VIP stand and we were there! As the seats of the stadium filled up almost to capacity the main doors opened up to introduce soccer players dressed up in drag. They start playing, whats the big deal right? Well, probably the bull that comes charging out of the doors into the ring where they are playing! These guys continued to play as a angry bull ran feverishly after the players with horns bearing down on their heels. Just as the bull would get a snag of cloth the players would leap up onto the fence and out of the bulls way! This event is the epitome of entertainment. Once the game concluded, the floor was open to any takers, including; yours truly. That's right! I stepped out on the yellow sand to get a taste of what this is all about and I felt like a kid on Christmas, completely unaware of the fact that I had been up for 24 hours. My adrenaline was flowing, my heart was pumping, and I was grinning ear to ear. That adrenaline was certainly needed too, when that bull lined me up in his sights, he dragged his hoof back digging a small trench in the sand, lowered his head, and took off with the intention of turning me into a rag doll! When he was within 10 yards I managed to pull myself up on top of the 8 foot fence effortlessly as his horns grazed along the barrier right below my feet. For the Spaniard, this is San Mateo. For me, it was an experience I will never forget. Not everyone was so lucky, there were two or 3 guys that really messed with the bull...and you know what they got!
After they let out about 6 bulls out, one at a time, this particular event was about to come to a close. The three of us walked towards the nearest door which we thought was a general exit. Sam asked the man if we could be let out. We didn't realize the door is the entrance and exit for the bull fighters and their teams. It is almost identical in style where football teams enter and exit a stadium. He opened the door specifically for us, why we still don't know, and we realized it was definitely not a door used for general admission. We walked through the area where the Spanish horses are corralled and the bull fighters prepare all of their equipment and their teams. On the walls to our left and right, 20 feet or more off the ground were mounted heads of bulls from the past, most likely because they put up such a great fight/show. Finally, we left through a huge, tall, alluminum rear door that leads from the stadium to the outside, only us 3. The same door that only permits the trucks carrying prized bulls and horses to load and unload, where famous bullfighters enter and exit; we were left amazed, ecstatic and in complete "udder shock".
There is a Spanish expression Pablo told me right after we left. It goes: "Salir por la puerta grande". Its exact translation is, "To leave through the big door". This is a common Spanish idiom that refers to a bull fighter leaving the bull ring once he has done his job, and everyone understands it as; to leave with great success.
Last Thursday I had the opportunity to do something I will never forget. I was asked to substitute teach for a college level business communications course. Talk about jumping in headfirst! I do not start teaching until January, so this was quite a jump start. The 3 hour long class was split between myself and an American colleague. I took the first hour and 15. I was offered to take any topic from the list on the syllabus, I chose to speak about argument, negotiations, theory, and influence. With a communications background and the training and classes I took at RBI professional sales school I felt more than prepared to take on this task. The most difficult part was not getting up and presenting in front of the students, it was just to be convincing with what I taught, solely because there were 40 18-22 year olds, probably thinking."What the hell does this guy know?" It didn't help when 8 different people out of the class said apprehensively, "Are..you.. the professor?" For my first class of teaching, ever, in my life, I thought it went quite well. It took about a days worth of prepping, and I did the best I could with what I had, engaged the students with open dialogue and didn't trip on my words, or shoe laces. I almost feel bad for being such a wise ass in elementary and high school for those teachers who seriously take the time to put together lesson plans for a year long or semester course. Almost.
After I left class I headed to meet up with Pablo across town. One really cool thing I had the chance to experience was the musical Mama Mia here in Pamplona. The theater group, who puts on the show has been travelling throughout Spain for about 5 years, is making a two week stop here and I was able to take advantage. I really want to use my money wisely to experience Spain in an authentic, non touristy way. One way will be through my work which sends me throughout the country, and the other is through nights out doing something like this, seeing a Spanish musical or doing something only accessible to a Spaniard. I went to the show with Pablo and his girlfriend and we had really good time. Some of the music or dialogue required Pablo to lean over and offer a quick synopsis of the conversation, but in general the language was clear and pronounced well in Spanish which made it much more understandable. What didn't need explaining was the all the Abba songs accompanied by flashy outfits.
My cooking has continued to improve. As much as I enjoyed cooking in the states, it was not often enough. The kitchen; is now my laboratory. I have put together something of the best meals I have ever cooked in these past 4 weeks on the simple basis of, "OK eggs, you taste delicious when I cook you by yourselves, now, lets see how you taste with your international friends chorizo and morcilla!!" Maybe I can mix you mrs. pasta with mr. rice and throw in some pechuga de pavo, and boom! Simple, succulent, and sooo savory. Mind you almost everything can be cooked with home grown extra virgin olive oil, which can go on everything from toast to a stapler, depending on how hungry I am. I think that its my concept of "meal" that makes them so good, its simplicity. Prior to cooking I just ask myself, what will be my protein, carb, and veggies? Thats it! All I buy from the store is fresh meats, veggies, fruits, and some other essentials. Mainly because its economical but its all so natural. Whatever is in my food pantry is what I have to work with so it forces me do the best I can with what I have. Seasonings are always involved to liven things up.
I really think whenever your approaching the kitchen around meal time, it should be full of enticing smells that transform your nose into a general who directs your body exactly to the source. I also like to mix everything after cooking each item individually. Just looking at a steaming plate with colorful greens, reds, fresh meats, seasoning makes me shed a tear.
The bread here is something else. It is incredibly good. Why they haven't opened a bagel place is beyond me because it might just be the next best thing, ...since sliced bread! ahh terrible joke sorry. No matter what day it is a panaderia will be open pumping out fresh bread. The bread used for meals is purchased on a daily basis and spaniards use it for all their meals. The bread goes beyond just a delicious carb that you munch on before your meal or toasted with some budda, here its used a a second fork. One hand is for prodding, the other is for scooping with your pan, the bite ratio is probably 3:1 food:bread. Since most of the traditional meals here are cooked in some broth/type/olive oil sauce, every flavor is collected, and your left to enjoy those enhanced flavors soaked up in the bread. ¡qué rico!
In almost every kitchen in Spain there is a pigs leg. Yea, just sitting there, hoof too. It is not cooked, it has been cured for about a year in nothing but salt. No cooking, no frying, no nothing. If you like prosciutto, then you should know this is very similar, just a whole lot better. The pig farms that produce the meat are regulated by an organization to recognize their level of ranking in the meat industry. The best is "Jamón ibérico, Iberian ham, also called pata negra, is a type of cured ham produced only in Spain. It is at least 75% black Iberian pig, also called the cerdo negro (black pig)....The finest jamón ibérico is called jamón ibérico de bellota (acorn). This ham is from free-range pigs that roam oak forests (called la dehesa) along the border between Spain and Portugal, and eat only acorns during this last period." -From the web
It's so good, I had a leg vacuum sealed, and I brought it back to the states.
I went to get my first haircut in Spain ever and it was pretty scary. I mean you're hair is who you are, unless you do not have any. I had researched and looked up and read all the different ways of asking and describing ways to get a haircut, memorized a few lines and words, and said let's do it!!....all up until I walked in to the barber shop, pointed at a huge photo of a good haircut and said. Duhh Me wunt dat wun, in espanol of course. I am happy with my results.
The barber told me the weather we're having is very rare for Pamplona. Usually in the summer they only experience about 2 weeks of really nice warm summer air. It was been in the 80's and 90's every day since I arrived and I love it. Whats also interesting is how the warm air does not hold into the night, it changes soo fast because the town is surrounded by mountains. So if its 85 during the day it can be 45 at night, if its sunny at noon it can be raining and sunny again by 3, its funky, but the least of my worries.
Work has officially gone underway, I got a desk! I am the mann. Ha! I have 3 different jobs. First I am an assistant professor in the department of economics and business administration. I am working as a ayudante, which is like a TA, for a prof who teaches strategic management. I'm paying close attention because I am teaching this class next semester. My second job is in international and national promotions. I will be going to high schools all over spain to prospect students and sell the school. Internationally I will be going to Brussels to a few high schools to give presentations on the programs available and invite the students back to UNAV. Once they arrive here instead of presentations they go to actual classes, see if they like the school, then apply for an admissions test. One of the special projects I will be working on is for the International Forum. This is a contest where students from all over Europe submit an essay on a particular subject. The subjects in the past few years have been Peace in Jerusalem, Africa, and last year was Russia. Once they submit the essay about 100 are invited to come to UNAV and compete in a tribunal, one aspect of this is to come to the university with a presentation/power point high lighting their essay and present it to judges from around the world, the judges are public officials, business people, educators etc. The winner receives a grant and that grant goes to the organization or charity of their choosing. The competition will brings in a lot of publicity for the university and top notch hs students. The competition is in February and preparation is starting now, I'll talk about it more when it comes up. By the way...the work schedule...in general...9-2(with a coffee and snack break in the cafeteria around 11, which is the spanish almuerzo/lunch) then go home and have your big meal of the day(called comida), recharge with a small power nap or just lounge and then head back to the office from 4-7 or 330 -630 or whatever works. It is such a different and balanced day. It is designed around the fact that the middle of the day is when it is hottest and it is time to be inside, eat, cool off, and chill with the family. It also lets your brain get some R&R for the rest of the day. Between 2 and 5 everything is shut down. This leaves you feeling fresh once you get out of work to enjoy your evening by sitting outside at a local bar to enjoy some pinchos. It also lets you stay up a little later. Most people are in bed around 12/1am to get their daily dose of decent sleep.
