Thanksgiving dinner (which was like 2 weeks ago) went pretty good I have to say! Although the dessert didn't turn out to be as good as I had wanted...
But moving along......................
Few days after Thanksgiving I was waiting in my linguistics class and I overheard sounds that I recognized... English... AMERICAN ENGLISH!!! Two girls were sitting in front of me, and I asked them WHERE ARE YOU GUYS FROM???? Their names were Tara and Alex from Rutgers in New Jersey and thought I was another exchange student in Europe until I said I was from Canada; then they started to get excited! We talked so much and exchanged info! Apparently there are 4 other students from Rutgers too! Then during break there was a girl sitting next to me and she asked me in the perfect British accent, "Excuse me, did I hear you talking in English?" Uh, hell yes girl! Charlotte is from Leeds in UK and to be really honest the 4 of us were so ecstatic to know each other! Now my classes won't be boring anymore!
Tara later informed me about the workshop on Teaching English as Foreign Language. I signed up for it, and forwarded the info to Kristen and Chris. Kristen later told me she also signed up for it too! So the three of us went to the workshop the following week, and surprisingly we met close to 20 people from Florida State! Like, hello, WHERE DID THESE PEOPLE COME FROM??? I NEVER MET OR HEARD ABOUT THEM BEFORE!!! I talked to a lot of them, and apparently it's a program FSU has that sends students abroad to campuses that FSU has. All their courses are from FSU, but it's just taught here in Spain. So technically they're not exchange students. But there are like total of 40 people in this program? They enjoy it but wish they were able to interact with local students in Valencia. And guess what? They live like a block from my place!!! Absolutely unreal. I felt so much better after meeting these people and knowing that there were more people I can relate to in Spain!
Other than meeting people, school has been all right. I recently turned in a paper for theatre class (totaly don't know what I was writing), and other classes had been a bit slow and dry. Well, except one. My 19th Century Spanish novel class is interesting. We've been talking about Romanticism and the prof (and by the way, I just found out that he is FAMOSOOOOOO in the world of literary academic in Spain!!) mentioned Romantic works around the world. When he talked about North America, he gave examples like Edgar Allen Poe (the utter psychopath), and the entire time he was looking at me, since I was the only North American in the class of 50. Later he asked me in front of class if I had read Moby Dick, cause apparently he enjoyed it a lot. Um.. no. Not interested. He just said what a pity that I haven't read it considering I'm from North America =_____=
Anyway, that was last Friday.
This past weekend Kristen and I did the excursion organized by the university. Tara was supposed to come too but she overslept! I called to persuade her to come because she lived on rez, and plus we wouldn't really be leaving until 9:30 when it said we were leaving at 9:00. But she just didn't want to come :(
We went to Albufera, which is like a lake/swamp around Valencia, mountains, beaches, etc. The prof talked a lot about the geography and environment of the area. He was really really enthusiastic. Good for him. But it was a bit boring for me, LOL. The entire time, Kristen, Niina, Liisa (two Finnish girls I had met earlier during the university dinner) just talked in English and kind of ignored the presentation. We later met 4 really really friendly Italian girls and just chilled the entire time.
We got to the hostel pretty late, but it was in time for dinner! MMMMM. It was delicious! And after dinner there was "multicultural" party, but it was not where close to multicultural at all!! People really just drank and smoked and talked... there was music and dance, but it was... not... inspiring or entertaining...
I decided to go out for a walk in the woods with 4 other friends. We went to this open space where you could see the sky! O...M...G... I saw milky way for the first time in my LIFE!!! I was breathless. My friends just looked at me like I was some alien. And... I SAW 3 SHOOTING STARS!!!!!!!!!! It was so unreal. I just stared at the stars for like an hour! The Big Dipper was bright and I didn't have to lift my head up because it was horizontally right in front of my eyes glowing. Seeing the milky way, the stars, and the shooting stars really really made my excursion trip and my time in Spain more meaningful!
Sunday morning we did the 15 km hike!!!!!!!!!! At first I thought it won't be hard... until the last 6 km which it was UPHILL. But nevertheless the view was really nice! Nothing compared to Rockies or Alpes, but it indeed had its beauty. And there were GAZILLIONS of rosemary! I totally picked some for future cooking! And there was a donkey to accompany us too, LOL.
By the time I was about to die from hiking, it was time for lunch!!! We had 3 amazing paellas: veggie, chicken, chicken and rabbit! Well, since I was in Spain, I had to try rabbit meat! And it was goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood! I ate a lot that I could've died happy, LOL!
After that we packed things up and went back to Valencia. Now it's back to school, but only for 3 days, 'cause I'm heading off to Oxford on Thursday!!!! :D
Monday, October 26, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Some MAJOR Updates!!!!!
I'm soooo sorry for this very very late post/update! I have been busy and bombarded with school work, social activities, and miscellaneous things that I keep on forgetting to write new posts... for almost 3 weeks? Okay, I'm actually pretty busy (well, really, lazy..) so rather than writing about every minute that happened in the past weeks since the last post, I'm going to summarize things in different categories...
Academics
Well, as you know, school had started. My courses has been great. All my 4 professors are great, and it can also mean really hard. I think the hardest I have to face is Spanish Baroque Theatre. I have to write reviews and comment on different quotations, and it has to be at most 4 pages long! Well, not that I've never done it, but to do it like 5 times throughout the year? Um... please give me a break... In addition, I have trouble keeping up with taking notes because, one, my Spanish isn't that great, and two, the professor has a slightly different accent than what I've heard and she just says things. A LOT of things. So much that just when I'm writing she'll be spitting out a lot more that I'll just get confused. =____= Anyway, don't get me wrong; the prof is very very nice and very informative. She's also passionate about the subject and is willing to share and teach! And she is ridiculously young for a prof. Probably late 20s or early 30s? I've talked to her couple of times after class and she was really understanding.
My favourite course would probably be 15th Century Spanish Literature. I have no prior knowledge of this topic at all, but the prof is just amazing. She is very informative, knowledgeable, passionate about the subject and approachable. She jokes sarcastically with students. I feel that she is one of those people whom you don't want to mess with because she can be a major bitch, but if you don't give her trouble she'll be a great person. She is probably in her 40s or early 50s but her sense of fashion is darin for her age. Tight jeans and sleeveless tops. And during breaks she would go outside for a smoke and talk to students too. She honestly makes me feel that 15th Century Spanish Literature is the best literature to be ever created in the literary world, LOL.
The other class is 19th Century Spanish Novel. It covers all the literary movements in the 19th Century, such as Romanticism, Naturalism, and Realism, etc. The prof is as well very good, but one problem I have is that sometimes he talkes too soft that I can't hear him.... And plus there seems to be a lot of things to do for this class but even now I'm still confused.... =____=
The last class is Spanish Language and Languages in the Hispanic World. For me, this is like waaaaaaay too easy. It talks about Spanish and other languages in Spain, and frankly I've known some information about minority languages in Spain before coming to Spain, so everything in the course so far is like a review or repetition. The prof is ridiculously nice, but to the point that she kind of is like a push-over...
Social Life
Well, this is going to be long, if I can remember what the hell happened! Waaaay to many events!
First thing I remembered was that the university organized a free event, like introducing Valencian and a guided tour. I got to know a lot of people from different countries! And the university is recruiting volunteers to become English conversation group leaders, which sounds really really interesting! Time for some revenge >:)
The next day the university organized a free dinner!!! MMMMMMMM... It was delicious! But there were unsurprisingly TONS of people, so in the end... I didn't get desserts, but it didn't matter cause I was fullllll from all the food and drinks! And I randomly bumped into Chris, and he was ridiculously desperate to find local Spanish people to practice his Spanish. And he even told me that he would only respond if I talk to him in Spanish. Bitch. But it didn't last long, haha. He later found his friends and roommates, and were absolutely undecisive about what to do or party. Well, frankly it didn't bother me that much cause I was going home so I just walked with them in downtown since I live downtown too, LOL!
The most recent was Kristen's birthday!!!!! We all met up at Michelle's apartment, and she seriously prepared a lot, despite being so last minute! There wasn't a ginormous crowd, but there was enough to make it a fun night (like 12 people)! We later illegally went to Michelle's friend's family restaurant, which was pretty much like Chucky Cheese, LOL, with children's play zone. All of us ate, drank, and talked with one another about anything that came to our mind. And then someone suggested to play tag, so we started playing tag in the dark in children's play zone. Honestly, it was FUNNNN. Crazily fun. And dangerous too. It was definitely different from birthday parties at clubs, but I really felt it was one of the best birthday parties I've ever attended :P
This weekend is a 4 day weekend for me because Friday was regional holiday in Valencia (Dia de la Comunidad Valenciana) and Monday is the Spanish National Day (Dia de la Hispanidad). And moreover, Monday is also Thanksgiving Day in Canada!!! So Chris and I are planning a dinner for our roommates and friends. Kristen couldn't make it because of some important plans... but she'll be there in spirit for sure ;) But it's not exactly like Canada because there are some supplies we can't get it in Spain :P
Academics
Well, as you know, school had started. My courses has been great. All my 4 professors are great, and it can also mean really hard. I think the hardest I have to face is Spanish Baroque Theatre. I have to write reviews and comment on different quotations, and it has to be at most 4 pages long! Well, not that I've never done it, but to do it like 5 times throughout the year? Um... please give me a break... In addition, I have trouble keeping up with taking notes because, one, my Spanish isn't that great, and two, the professor has a slightly different accent than what I've heard and she just says things. A LOT of things. So much that just when I'm writing she'll be spitting out a lot more that I'll just get confused. =____= Anyway, don't get me wrong; the prof is very very nice and very informative. She's also passionate about the subject and is willing to share and teach! And she is ridiculously young for a prof. Probably late 20s or early 30s? I've talked to her couple of times after class and she was really understanding.
My favourite course would probably be 15th Century Spanish Literature. I have no prior knowledge of this topic at all, but the prof is just amazing. She is very informative, knowledgeable, passionate about the subject and approachable. She jokes sarcastically with students. I feel that she is one of those people whom you don't want to mess with because she can be a major bitch, but if you don't give her trouble she'll be a great person. She is probably in her 40s or early 50s but her sense of fashion is darin for her age. Tight jeans and sleeveless tops. And during breaks she would go outside for a smoke and talk to students too. She honestly makes me feel that 15th Century Spanish Literature is the best literature to be ever created in the literary world, LOL.
The other class is 19th Century Spanish Novel. It covers all the literary movements in the 19th Century, such as Romanticism, Naturalism, and Realism, etc. The prof is as well very good, but one problem I have is that sometimes he talkes too soft that I can't hear him.... And plus there seems to be a lot of things to do for this class but even now I'm still confused.... =____=
The last class is Spanish Language and Languages in the Hispanic World. For me, this is like waaaaaaay too easy. It talks about Spanish and other languages in Spain, and frankly I've known some information about minority languages in Spain before coming to Spain, so everything in the course so far is like a review or repetition. The prof is ridiculously nice, but to the point that she kind of is like a push-over...
Social Life
Well, this is going to be long, if I can remember what the hell happened! Waaaay to many events!
First thing I remembered was that the university organized a free event, like introducing Valencian and a guided tour. I got to know a lot of people from different countries! And the university is recruiting volunteers to become English conversation group leaders, which sounds really really interesting! Time for some revenge >:)
The next day the university organized a free dinner!!! MMMMMMMM... It was delicious! But there were unsurprisingly TONS of people, so in the end... I didn't get desserts, but it didn't matter cause I was fullllll from all the food and drinks! And I randomly bumped into Chris, and he was ridiculously desperate to find local Spanish people to practice his Spanish. And he even told me that he would only respond if I talk to him in Spanish. Bitch. But it didn't last long, haha. He later found his friends and roommates, and were absolutely undecisive about what to do or party. Well, frankly it didn't bother me that much cause I was going home so I just walked with them in downtown since I live downtown too, LOL!
The most recent was Kristen's birthday!!!!! We all met up at Michelle's apartment, and she seriously prepared a lot, despite being so last minute! There wasn't a ginormous crowd, but there was enough to make it a fun night (like 12 people)! We later illegally went to Michelle's friend's family restaurant, which was pretty much like Chucky Cheese, LOL, with children's play zone. All of us ate, drank, and talked with one another about anything that came to our mind. And then someone suggested to play tag, so we started playing tag in the dark in children's play zone. Honestly, it was FUNNNN. Crazily fun. And dangerous too. It was definitely different from birthday parties at clubs, but I really felt it was one of the best birthday parties I've ever attended :P
This weekend is a 4 day weekend for me because Friday was regional holiday in Valencia (Dia de la Comunidad Valenciana) and Monday is the Spanish National Day (Dia de la Hispanidad). And moreover, Monday is also Thanksgiving Day in Canada!!! So Chris and I are planning a dinner for our roommates and friends. Kristen couldn't make it because of some important plans... but she'll be there in spirit for sure ;) But it's not exactly like Canada because there are some supplies we can't get it in Spain :P
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