Grant en Granada
Hola a todos,
This weekend was a tough one. We went to this city called Granada and I was really excited about it, but I didn’t realize that this would be the weekend that I would also get sick. No, I didn’t have to go the hospital or take any medicine or anything like that, let’s just say that I spent a great deal of time in the bathroom. But back to Granada…
One of the coolest things that we got to see in Granada was the summer home of Federico Garcia Lorca and the Cathedral where we saw the coffins of Isabel and Fernando. First off, Lorca was a poet and wrote about Sevilla and the area of Sevilla and some other cities, which is called Andalucia. His home was really cool in that we saw where a very well known writer did his work, or really, masterpieces, and we saw his garden, his room, and other original items. We even saw original pictures of him and his family at the house, and original art work that he did on little pieces of paper. For me it was cool because I have learned a great deal about him in the past month. The cathedral was really incredible because it is home to Isabel and Fernando, literally. There is a place where you can literally see the coffins of Isabel, Fernando, and three people that I have sadly forgotten (I’m sorry, I don’t have my notes on me). It was a little strange to see their coffins, but at the same time it made us see how real they were, and it gave me chills to see it. I would explain more, but I will let Sarah explain it in the email that I send to most of you guys.
I found another place that I love or as I like to say “Me encanta”. It is called Baño Árabe or Arab Baths and it is sort of like a Spa, but a lot more. Let me first say that I haven’t gotten to go to the Spa part yet, I haven’t had the time, but trust me, I will. I usually go to this wonderful place for its incredible tea. What happens is some friends and I will go on the weekend and there is a bar where you pick your tea, and they brew it, and you relax in the Arabic style living room. It is just one big room with couches and tables and it is incredible. Another cool thing is that it is on one of the smallest streets I have ever seen, so you feel like you are completely lost and before you know it, there it is right in front of you. It has this great feel to it and it is all open air and it is just a great way for us to relax after a week full of school.
Lastly, I have to talk about learning Spanish. A friend and I are going to go out for dinner with two of the professors sometime next week. One of them is my Childrens Lit teacher, Curtis, and his wife teaches one class, and her name is I’doia. Curtis is actually from Iowa, but never speaks English, which of course I love and I’doia is from Pais Vasco, which is north of Spain and south of France. The reason I bring them both up is because one time I asked Curtis for the best way to learn Spanish and he told me that whenever he began to learn Spanish, he didn’t speak a word of English for 4 months, and he learned it. Of course, his wife also speaks Spanish so I am sure that doesn’t hurt, but he is right, and I have to admit, that it is really hard to not speak English here. The reason is because at night I want to talk to my roommate in English or during the weekend I want to talk to my Tech friends in English. But we have all made a deal, since we all know what it takes to learn the language, we have all decided that if we go out, even if it is just two or three of us, as long as we are here, it is in Spanish, and I have to say that it has been helping a lot. I feel like lately I am not translating from Spanish to English and back to Spanish, but rather hearing Spanish and thinking in Spanish. In fact, a guy came up to me the other day asked me for directions and he was speaking in Spanish, and I answered really quickly and told him where to go. After our short conversation, I realized what I had just done and got really excited and even shared it with a few of my friends. It has been nice to have a really small group where we are all really dedicated to learning this language.
Well, I am really excited because next week I am going to this city called Cádiz for Carnival. It is an hour or so train ride and it is right on the beach. I am going with about 8 or 9 friends and it should be a blast. I have to say that being sick for a few days made me miss being at home and just being able to feel a sense of security, but I know that things are happening here for a reason and that they are already making an impact in how I think.
This week I am really really busy and can’t put up any pictures, but if you want the Tech Spain Newsletter then my email is grantweldon7@yahoo.com and if you send me your address I will definitely get it to you. Also there are 6 pictures up at grantinspain.fotopages.com and there will be more up within a week or so. I hope everyone is well and healthy and until next time…
Hasta luego!
This weekend was a tough one. We went to this city called Granada and I was really excited about it, but I didn’t realize that this would be the weekend that I would also get sick. No, I didn’t have to go the hospital or take any medicine or anything like that, let’s just say that I spent a great deal of time in the bathroom. But back to Granada…
One of the coolest things that we got to see in Granada was the summer home of Federico Garcia Lorca and the Cathedral where we saw the coffins of Isabel and Fernando. First off, Lorca was a poet and wrote about Sevilla and the area of Sevilla and some other cities, which is called Andalucia. His home was really cool in that we saw where a very well known writer did his work, or really, masterpieces, and we saw his garden, his room, and other original items. We even saw original pictures of him and his family at the house, and original art work that he did on little pieces of paper. For me it was cool because I have learned a great deal about him in the past month. The cathedral was really incredible because it is home to Isabel and Fernando, literally. There is a place where you can literally see the coffins of Isabel, Fernando, and three people that I have sadly forgotten (I’m sorry, I don’t have my notes on me). It was a little strange to see their coffins, but at the same time it made us see how real they were, and it gave me chills to see it. I would explain more, but I will let Sarah explain it in the email that I send to most of you guys.
I found another place that I love or as I like to say “Me encanta”. It is called Baño Árabe or Arab Baths and it is sort of like a Spa, but a lot more. Let me first say that I haven’t gotten to go to the Spa part yet, I haven’t had the time, but trust me, I will. I usually go to this wonderful place for its incredible tea. What happens is some friends and I will go on the weekend and there is a bar where you pick your tea, and they brew it, and you relax in the Arabic style living room. It is just one big room with couches and tables and it is incredible. Another cool thing is that it is on one of the smallest streets I have ever seen, so you feel like you are completely lost and before you know it, there it is right in front of you. It has this great feel to it and it is all open air and it is just a great way for us to relax after a week full of school.
Lastly, I have to talk about learning Spanish. A friend and I are going to go out for dinner with two of the professors sometime next week. One of them is my Childrens Lit teacher, Curtis, and his wife teaches one class, and her name is I’doia. Curtis is actually from Iowa, but never speaks English, which of course I love and I’doia is from Pais Vasco, which is north of Spain and south of France. The reason I bring them both up is because one time I asked Curtis for the best way to learn Spanish and he told me that whenever he began to learn Spanish, he didn’t speak a word of English for 4 months, and he learned it. Of course, his wife also speaks Spanish so I am sure that doesn’t hurt, but he is right, and I have to admit, that it is really hard to not speak English here. The reason is because at night I want to talk to my roommate in English or during the weekend I want to talk to my Tech friends in English. But we have all made a deal, since we all know what it takes to learn the language, we have all decided that if we go out, even if it is just two or three of us, as long as we are here, it is in Spanish, and I have to say that it has been helping a lot. I feel like lately I am not translating from Spanish to English and back to Spanish, but rather hearing Spanish and thinking in Spanish. In fact, a guy came up to me the other day asked me for directions and he was speaking in Spanish, and I answered really quickly and told him where to go. After our short conversation, I realized what I had just done and got really excited and even shared it with a few of my friends. It has been nice to have a really small group where we are all really dedicated to learning this language.
Well, I am really excited because next week I am going to this city called Cádiz for Carnival. It is an hour or so train ride and it is right on the beach. I am going with about 8 or 9 friends and it should be a blast. I have to say that being sick for a few days made me miss being at home and just being able to feel a sense of security, but I know that things are happening here for a reason and that they are already making an impact in how I think.
This week I am really really busy and can’t put up any pictures, but if you want the Tech Spain Newsletter then my email is grantweldon7@yahoo.com and if you send me your address I will definitely get it to you. Also there are 6 pictures up at grantinspain.fotopages.com and there will be more up within a week or so. I hope everyone is well and healthy and until next time…
Hasta luego!
posted by The Grant at 8:02 AM
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