The (Newest) Castles of Spain

During the Middle Ages, what we now call Spain was comprised of smaller kingdoms and lands constantly in conflict with one-another. The Christian people of the North spent the better part of seven centuries trying to recapture the lands of Southern Spain held by the Moors. As a result, many castles were built in order to protect the lands along with their people and wealth. During class on Monday, we introduced the students to a few examples of castles in Spain and the basic parts that make up these fortresses. After this brief history lesson, it was off to the beach where the students became architects and built their own fortresses...out of sand.

Each group designed its own unique castle following the models we presented them, paying close attention to make sure their fortifications would provide ample protection for the "inhabitants." The incoming tide posed a small obstacle to construction, but the students quickly acted to reinforce their front walls.

Our work inspired others on the beach to start their own sand castles. Also, we received many compliments from people passing by. We were all pleased with the work the students did, and it was very fun seeing them enjoy a beach day while learning about some of Spain's historical treasures.

BELOW: students Rachel, Erica, and Jordan detail their castle.

BELOW: students Lindsey Clark, Zach, Caroline, Maddy, and Kayla "multi-task" and work on different parts of their castle at the same time.

Death in the Afternoon

Ernest Hemingway once said "Bullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death and in which the degree of brilliance in the performance is left to the fighter's honor." The timeless American author had a lot to say about one of the most controversial and perhaps misunderstood aspects of Spanish culture. Opinions on the subject range from "It's nothing more than cruelty to animals" to "It is pure and artistic." On this trip, our students have approached bullfighting in a mature manner, and the Advanced class debated (in Spanish!) whether they were against the tradition or not. Later they asked Gaditanos (people from Cadiz) about their opinions in order to gain an idea of how this tradition is viewed by native Spaniards.


On Sunday, we offered the students the option to view a bullfight in person, and nine students chose to attend. I was very proud of their behavior during the exhibition: they asked questions, took photos, and tried to follow the action of the fight. The showed great respect to the tradition.


I am also very proud of the students who chose not to attend based on their feelings regarding bullfighting. As I mentioned earlier, this subject is very difficult--especially for foreigners--to grasp and understand why it takes place. However, I am pleased we have introduced the theme and I hope the students continue to explore their beliefs and develop their arguments regarding this tradition.


ON A LIGHTER NOTE, we enjoyed our second group dinner in Cadiz Saturday night. The students chose from many different traditional Spanish foods, including Paella, Ensalada Mixta, Adobo, Filtetitos de Ternera, Pescado Variado and Cazuelas de Merluza.








The students impressed us once again with their appetites!



The photo below is one of many photos taken by Ilana Bondell during an "art photography" activity.

Beach, Salsa, New Faces, More Flamenco

We continue to have fantastic weather here in Cadiz...not too hot, but very sunny. We've taken advantage by exploring new beaches. Yesterday we went to the Playa Cortadura, which is located in New Cadiz (about a 10 minute bus ride from our residence). The waves were a bit larger, so some of us tried body-surfing. At one point Ben went for a walk with some students and got a tattoo.

Korke, our Salsa instructor, returned this afternoon for our second round of lessons. He and his partner, Clara, raised the bar this time as the boys and girls paired off and danced to new choreographed moves. Since we boys were at a numerical disadvantage, we had to dance twice as much while the girls resting were able to have a laugh at our expense. Every guy, however, gave it his best to mimic the magic feet of our instructor. The ladies, as seen in the photo, really got into the Salsa spirit, too.

Switching dancing gears, we went to see our last Flamenco performance of the trip tonight as well. This group was somewhat more contemporary than what we had previously seen, mixing in a flute and saxophone with the traditional sounds. Were it not for the crowded conditions of the concert, I think the students would have enjoyed the performance more.

Also, tonight's activity joined our group with the Cadiz Homestay 2 group, who will be here in Cadiz as well during our final week. I think the students enjoyed meeting some new people and sharing their stories from the trip so far. It's hard to believe we'll be heading to Madrid in a week!

Ben's tattoo is fake, by the way, and should come off in a few days. Check out the video if you can!!

From the Edge of Europe to the Tip of Africa

Departing from the southern most part of Europe, Tarifa, the group headed out by boat to the Straight of Gibraltar for a two-hour dolphin/whale watching experience that was quite exciting. We came within 5 kilometers of the Morrocan coast. The weather was much nicer than the day before, but the sea still managed to toss us around a bit. Nevertheless, we were able to see some real sea mammals in action!

After the conclusion of the boat ride and a brief rest on dry (stable) land, we headed to Bolonia, a Roman city with a beautiful beach. This beach was unlike any we have visited because of its location "off the beaten path."

We also had our first "group dinner" on Saturday night in the new part of Cadiz. Thanks to Edu for selecting an unbelievable restaurant, and Encarni for choosing the dishes. This was one of the best meals of my life! We had more food than we could eat, and we all shared in the various dishes. The restaurant, called Show de Tapas, specializes in contemporary Spanish cuisine, with chefs preparing customary dishes with an array of new culinary techniques. A nice change from the residence ;)

**I hope the video works!! First time trying to post one.

I couldn't wait until Monday to put up the photos from our salsa lesson Friday afternoon. It was great, and the students had so much fun. I don't think we've laughed so much the entire trip!

Our instructor was fantastic--very easy to understand but very funny, too. He taught us the first few steps of salsa dancing. We counted eight steps, but after that I was lost. The others, however, did much better...worthy of photos to say the least.

Tomorrow we head south to Tarifa, where the wind really blows. Weather permitting, we are planning to take a boat ride to see dolphins and other sea creatures. Also, we're going to take a short hike through one of the beautiful parks there. It should be another fun adventure for the group!

Great First Full Week

Taking advantage of the great weather we have been having here in Cadiz, yesterday the group traveled to a small village outside the city to go Sea Kayaking through a waterway in a national park. Unfortunately, we had to store our belongings before departing and were in a hurry to catch the bus after returning to shore, so we don't have any pictures of this event :(

It was very exciting, though, as the students paired off and listened to our guide, Eduardo (a different Edu from the one with us daily) explain how to paddle the boats. After that, we headed off in a big group. It didn't take the students long to realize that their paddles also doubled as splashing devises, and a water battle quickly broke out. Once we left the bay area and headed more into the Natural Park we rowed a bit more relaxed and took in our scenery.

Illana and Kayla accidentally ran their boat aground on a sand bar, but managed to push off it without any trouble. Also, there were tiny fish jumping all around us, and one managed to land in mine and Encarni's boat. Unfortunately, the fish found its way under Encarni's seat and flopped around until Ben could row over and help; I was laughing too hard to assist!

We've been enjoying other activities this week as well, such as visits to the beach, soccer games, shopping, visits to museums and cafes, etc. I'll post more photos this weekend after I have a chance to gather them from the students.

HASTA PRONTO!

Not Your Normal Market

What's in Paella? Or Gazpacho? You don't know? Well, then you better ask the cook. She'll tell you.



And where do you find these ingredients? Well, you'll have to check out the market. That's where all the locals go. And what about prices? One man has tomatoes for 1.50 a kilo, but they cost less at the stand next door. Only the stand next door has more expensive onions, and you want the best deal possible. Looks like you'll have to shop around.



Can't find the mejillones (mussels)? That's ok, we'll make another pass through the fish section.



Having the city as our backdrop for our classroom helps make class time go by and enriches instruction by making what's being learned more real. Today, we saw the market for the first time--what a site! Many people crowded into the building, getting their groceries for the day. Patrons shouting "Buy mine! They're cheaper!" It was truly a learning experience for all our students, and I hope they return on their own.














We had a treat last night as we saw the last act of the Cadiz Folklore Dance festival, an act from Dublin, Ireland. Stirring music along with powerful and graceful dancers entertained us at the Santa Catalina Castle. I think everyone's favorite dancer, though, was the young man seen here below with our students. He was spectacular, and definately stole the show!

Face To Face With History and Architecture

One of my favorite things about Spain is being able to see its history with my own eyes. We all know its one thing to see a photo in a book, or perhaps see a program on the History Channel, but to see something once studied in person brings the object to life. We had the fortune yesterday to visit two such cities, both rich in history and culture during the Middle Ages.

After an early wake-up and quick breakfast, we departed Cadiz for Sevilla (Seville) to see the cathedral, climb the Giralda (it's tower), and pass through the Alcazar (fortress) and its beautiful gardens. In 711 Arabs from Africa passed through Southern Spain, bringing their culture with them. Sevilla was a very important city during this time, and therefore we are able to see a great deal of Muslim architectural influence in these spaces. One of our students, Zack Fry, mentioned to me that he preferred learning about history in person (rather than in a text book). He particularly enjoyed the Alcazar and its extensive network of gardens.

Luckily, Sevilla was not as hot as it has been this month, so we were able to have a picnic lunch next to the Torre del Oro (golden tower). Because of its location next to the River Guadalquivir, this building was of great importance to Spain during the conquests of the New World, as it stored gold and other treasures brought back by the Spanish fleet.

We left Seville by bus once again and made our way east to Cordoba, where we visited the Mezquita (Mosque). Kayla Bostwick told us she had actually done a presentation in her Spanish class this year on the Mosque, so we were all very pleased that she was able to see it in person! This excursion hopefully gave the students the chance to see some very old but important buildings in Spanish history.

Today, Sunday, the students are enjoying the nice weather at the beach or here back in the Residence/Plaza, because tomorrow we begin our first full week of classes and daily activities.

Cadiz Res. Is Rolling

The Cadiz Res. program is off and running...fast! The students have had a couple of days to acclimate themselves, and are beginning to get over their jet-lag. It has been a pleasure to see many students already gaining confidence with their spoken Spanish.

After breakfast, we divided the students into three groups of five, gave each group a specific (but different) route to follow; each distinct route took the groups through the city and allowed them to explore a bit. They were given lists of monuments, churches, and plazas to find and photograph. The students negotiated these routes without any assistance from the staff, and I'm happy to report that all three groups took great photos as well. The groups selected their best two photos, and these will be judged to determine a winning group for a prize to be named later.

After lunch and some rest from the previously mentioned activity, the students were introduced to some of the history of Cadiz, including ruins from its first inhabitants. The students climbed the highest tower in the Catedral as well, a site that provided them with a spectacular view of the city and Atlantic Ocean. Our Resident Assistant, Eduardo, provided us with many facts about the city while orchestrating this activity.

Upon returning to the residence, I happened to see a woman dressed in traditional flamenco dancing attire. Being curious, I asked her where she was going, and low and behold just around the corner from us a parade was forming with dancers from several different countries including Spain, Ireland, Argentina, Poland, and Angola. A few of us chose to see the parade before dinner, and hopefully as a group we will have the chance to see these performers once again before their festival concludes.

We begin classes tomorrow (Friday) and take our first excursion to Sevilla and Cordoba the following day. I know Encarni and I are looking forward to teaching these students, who so far have fulfilled all of our expectations!

We have arrived!!

The Cadiz Res program is officially underway in Spain! We arrived to Jerez with fifteen exhausted students, one exhausted chaperone, and two staff members waiting with refreshments.

Upon arriving at the residence, the students had "bocadillos", or sandwiches, and then some down time to rest and unpack. We began orientation around 5:30PM, which concluded with a long walking tour of the city, after which the students and chaperones were quite tired. After our "cena", or dinner, the students had more down time to check email, walk around the plaza (which happens to be right outside of our residence), or head to bed. Most chose the latter to conclude a long day of travel.

We are looking forward to getting more immersed in Cadiz beginning tomorrow with more orientation items, an oral "interview" to gauge the students current speaking levels, another tour of the city and possible trip to the beach. So far everyone has had a great attitude, which I'm very pleased to report.

A couple of items of importance:

1. Calling/cell phones--we are working out the details to make communication between us here and those in the United States more smooth. I will post cell phone numbers when we have them.

2. MORE TO COME!