We went to a bull fight!

So I know it sounds rather morbid to say that I went to a bull fight and enjoyed it….but I really did. It was an interesting cultural experience that I may never get to experience again. Yesterday, Brittany and I went to Ventas, which is one of the plazas in Madrid for bull fighting. Although the professional season is over, we were able to see three young torreros: Fransicso Javier Corpas, Leandro, and Gabriel Picazo. Altho we only had 20 euro seats (which were still very good), we met this really nice old guy who has season tickets, who introduced us to some of the bull fight officials and take some pictures. He also got us seats extremely close to all the action, since it was an extremely hot day there were not too many people in attendance mostly tourists, friends of the torreros and some lingering bull fight regular attendees. Each of the torreros faught twice and apart from the blood and the gore (I did feel sorry for the poor bulls and the horses!!! the bull totally beat them up), it was very interesting to watch the technique of the torreros and how interesting the art of bull fighting is. It was also very helpful to have my old-man friend around to explain things. Bull fighting seems like it is such an integral part of Spanish culture (among other things of course), and it is definitely unique. When I was talking to my host mother about the fight, she was so ecstatic to find out that I liked it because she LOVES it. I brought up that a lot of people aren’t into it because of the cruelty involved, she replied that anyone who is against killing bulls should be a vegan since we kills chickens, cows, fish and a plethora of other animals to eat them. She told me that bulls serve no purpose other than to be killed in la plaza de toros and thus, she doesn’t feel any sympathy for them. Although I don’t agree with her point about God creating bulls solely to be killed by a torrero, her other point did make sense…I couldn’t really argue with it because its actually quite true. Sooooo for those of you have not seen a bull fight just yet…don’t knock it until you try it. It is truly an amazing cultural experience….not to mention the architecture of the building…it’s beautiful!

 

 

Arielle

 

Mas fotos del Campo del Moro

¡Hola, otra vez!

Lo prometido es deuda. Aqui están el resto de fotos de la clase en el Campo del Moro. ¡La verdad es que se estaba mejor alli en el cesped que aqui en la oficina!

Nuria

 

mi mamá posteza

Yesterday one of my housemates left back for the States and today I said goodbye to several friends I’ve made here in Madrid—the fact that my time is winding down is really starting to hit me. While here I’ve seen and experienced things I never really imagined I’d have the opportunity to. But of all the amazing things I’ve locked away in my heart and mind, the only one I wish I could physically hold on to longer is my host mom Sol. The first day I arrived to her home she could tell I was really nervous and with all the love in the world she told me I could consider her my “mamá posteza” and since that afternoon she hasn’t treated me as anything less than a daughter. She is perhaps one of the most loving women I’ve ever met in my life, her hugs were never empty and her eyes beam understanding. She listened to me, gave me advice, taught me, and took care of me above giving me a bed and plenty to eat. I’ve grown to love her very very much, more than I can adequately describe in this blog post. If Duke cares at all about helping students make a second home out of Spain, they will give her girls to look after for as long as she’ll take them. I don’t think I could ever say enough about Sol, she really made my experience here in Spain.

 

Jessie

El Museo de Sorolla

Para la clase de Nuria, visitábamos el museo de Sorolla. No sabía que me gustara este museo tanto porque, desafortunadamente, no me considero a mí mismo como muy cultural en relación al arte. Me encanta la música, y por supuesto el museo del Prado era muy interesante, pero generalmente, no me interesa caminar sobre un museo pensando en el intento del artista. No es decir que a mí no me gustaba las experiencias en los museos aquí, porque apreciaba la experiencia cultural de cada uno. Pero el museo de Sorolla es uno que puedo imaginar visitar otra vez. Puedo ser la única persona que no comprenda el arte mucho, pero si no, ¡hay esperanza! El museo de Sorolla me interesaba tanto porque sus obras eran simples, pero al mismo tiempo tenían sentido personal. No era demasiado análisis sobre cada cuadro de la obra, sino cada cuadro representaba una belleza completa. Encontré obras que me gustaría poner en mi casa, que es algo un poco raro para mí. Es que sus obras tenían mucha luz y mucho color, y no era necesariamente un historia de guerra o caos político para comprenderlas. Entonces, aun si el arte del museo del Prado o el museo de Reina Sofía no interese mucho o es difícil para comprender, permite que el museo de Sorolla demuestre que el arte puede ser profundo, bello pero también simple y comprensible.

~Alisha W.

Clase en el Campo del Moro

Hola chic@s,

Este es mi primer post en un blog asi que no se si lo hare bien… Queria enviaros la foto que nos hicimos juntos en el Campo del Moro. Creo que pasamos una mañana muy agradable todos juntos, discutiendo sobre Dali, Lorca, y Bernarda Alba, mientras los coches de caballos pasaban una y otra vez.  Supongo que los patos del parque tambien queria participar en la discusion sobre Bernarda y Adela pero no hubo tiempo.

Aprovecho para deciros que ha sido un placer conoceros y enseñaros este curso. Espero que hayais disfrutado vosotros tambien.

Como no se muy bien como hacerlo, voy a poner las fotos restantes despues.
Hasta pronto y ¡buen fin de semana!

Nuria

 

El museo del baile flamenco

Me encantaba nuestra visita al museo del baile flamenco. No era un museo típico porque era mucho más interactivo. Al principio era una introducción breva para que nosotros pudiéramos comprender la historia de lo que veríamos en el museo. Las salas diferentes con los videos y la ropa del tiempo eran MUY interesante. Lo que vi era más similar a lo que imaginaba con flamenco que el teatro con lo mismo. Apreciaba que estaba videos con ejemplos de siete tipos del baile, cada uno con emociones y personas diferentes. Además me interesaba la sala con el vestido típico de este baile. El modernismo de este museo hace que el baile llega al presente y mostraba que el baile es una parte importante de la cultura hoy en día. Al final, había fotos de un pintor sobre su interpretación de esta forma de expresión cultural. Yo sugeriría definitivamente que esta visita quede como parte del programa, y si hay tiempo libre, también sugeriría que le pregunte sobre las lecciones de baile que también están ofrecidas en el museo.

~Alisha W.

El museo de traje

Today in between classes a bunch of us visited el museo de traje.  I had heard about the museum for a friend, who absolutely loved it, so I was really excited to go.  The museum, situated rather close to our university, houses clothes from all eras as well as from several different countries.  Also for the month of June it is also displaying a serious of photographs that deal with the every day Spanish lifestyle.

We got to the museum around 2 pm and as soon as I walked in the door and saw a display of couture dresses I knew I was going to love this museum.  The main exhibit was housed in essentially one giant hallway that wrapped around the inner wall of the building.  The first section displayed the few exampled of medieval dress that still exist.  This was then followed by 18th, 19th and 20th century dress.  In addition to these sections there was also one that displayed traditional regional dress from Spain.  The last part of the exhibit featured specific designers from the 20th and 21st centuries, including Fortuny and Balenciaga.  My favorite part, however, was the surprise waiting for us as we walked back in to the main building area.  As soon as we entered this space loud techno-esque music started playing and we were faces with our own runway! Surrounding this runway were clothes from modern runway shows, my favorite being a black Versace dress and a classic Chanel suit!  While my runway skills were somewhat lacking, I do have to say Alisha and Brittany really knew what they were doing! All in all it was a very enjoyable afternoon and I’m sure they boys were quite thrilled we went without them!

-Laura

Learning to cook

Today I had the great joy of learning, along with Laura, how to make “tortilla de patatas” with our Senora. We stood in the kitchen and watched intently every step she took, and I know at the same time I was thinking happy potato-and-egg-filled thoughts of dinner. “Tortilla” has to be one of my favorite foods here other than paella, and I am so excited that I now know how to make it. For those of you who don’t know, the extent of my cooking experience usually extends to Break n’ Bakes, pasta, and Stouffer’s (although I have been branching out as of late). For me to actually carry out something vaguely resembling this dish, I fear there will be a lot of failures, but I am willing to spend as much time as needed in the kitchen for this amazingly delicious treat. One of the things that I have really enjoyed about my homestay has been the variety of food I have gotten to try (one of my other new favorites is “arroz a la cubana”, which consists of rice, tomato sauce, fried bananas, and fried eggs…a combo that my parents would never think that their formerly picky eater would go anywhere near), and I am very appreciative that Lina offered to teach us how to make something that she has made so much for us. Now I can take a little bit of Spanish cuisine home with me! Maybe one day I’ll master paella…one day… ; D

~ Carlon Matthews

Ideas Equivocadas (Andrew W)

Me interesa la diferencia entre la politica espanola y la americana.  Estamos tan acostombrados a temas americans que no nos da cuenta de la realidad aqui en espana.  Por ejemplo, en los EEUU, eres republicano o eres democrata.  Puede ser independiende, pero no tendria influencia en la politica, no parecido a aqui.  Me parece interesante que los partidos pequenos possean votos que cuentan 100 veces los votos de partidos grandes.  Ademas, las palabras tienen su propia significada.  Ahora se porque me miraban fijadamente mi familia anfitriona al decir que soy “liberal,” lo que no signficia la misma cosa aqui.  Tenia que elaborar, diciendo que liberal significa que uno es partidario de valores particulares.  Evidentemente, aqui no tiene la misma significada politica.

Sin embargo, esta ruptura tiene sentido.  En la historia de los EEUU, siempre hemos tenido 2 partidos politicos, aunque no siempre eran republicanos e democrats.  Es verdad desde el nacimiento del pais.  Espana claramente tiene mucho mas historia, con gente muy variada y interes independiende; mirad a Pais Vasco y Cataluna.  Tambien, los EEUU siempre ha tenido democracia, pero aqui habia monarquas absolutas, republicas, dictaduras, y democracias otra vez.  Dado esa historia tan compleja, me siento ingenuo creer que seria el mismo sistema aqui.

Gracias a nuestros clases, y porsupuesto las lecturas de mi anfitriona, ahora estoy mas bien informado.

Andrew W

Looking back at Franco

I know that this issue has been talked about a lot over the last week or so, but I feel like I have to comment on it (this is also not my last blog, because Barcelona is this weekend and I’m sure I’ll come back with lots of stories/pictures). Just yesterday, I had lunch with a family friend, along with her brother and sister-in-law, and we got to the topic of Franco. And by “got to the topic of Franco”, I mean “I brought it up”. I asked our family friend what her experience was like when she was growing up, and before she could answer, her brother jumped in saying “Fue una maravillosa, una maravillosa”. By now, it’s not a new concept that people were content during these years, but the way he described these years was fascinating. He described how he could essentially do whatever he wanted and how it is a pity that Spain got such a bad reputation during these years.

From the various people in our class that told us how their families reacted to the dictatorship, I’ve noticed a few things. First, a majority of the families had military connections. Second, many of the families were well-off during these years, and because of the socialist reforms, their comfort level has changed a bit. Before I came to Spain, I did not know anything about the Spanish Civil War and Franco. When I got here and learned a bit about them, it became clear to me that there are the people that went through this experience that we have been taught to sympathize with, and the side that we have been taught to despise. In this case, the people who were severely repressed, and the people who were on the side of Franco. When we talk about dictatorships in the US, there is the impression that everyone in the country is negatively affected, but obviously this isn’t true here in Madrid. There are LOTS of people who remember Franco’s years with a bit of nostalgia, and it sparked a bit of shock at first with the class. But this is not the exception to the rule anymore – even people who did not have connections to Franco lived comfortably during these years.

This does not make me look any more kindly on Franco’s reign, but at the same time there is a big discrepancy between what we have been taught and what actually happened. I think this is one of the most interesting things I’ve experienced since I’ve been here – and it makes me realize that I do not know jack about much of European history.

-Ryan