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Books

Brush up on your history

Mike Mian

30 Jul 2009

Spain

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While living and traveling through Spain, I was glad I'd done a little research before coming -- it really allowed me to gain a more comprehensive view of the country. I have two book recommendations: "The Story of Spain: The Dramatic History of Europe's Most Fascinating Country" (great for historical info, though a bit long) and the Lonely Planet travel guide for Spain (perfect for traveling around). Lonely Planet also has a book called "Europe on a Shoestring," and the section on Spain is great for travelers on tight budgets.

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Getting Around

Bringing your address and phone number with you

Dawnielle Castledine

23 Jun 2009

Spain

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When out traveling anywhere, it's a good idea to have the telephone number of where you are staying. But more importantly, make sure you have the address written down so you can show the taxi driver. Having this information would have come in handy when traveling in Madrid a few years ago. I ended up forgetting the street the hotel was on and there were two hotels that had the same name in that city. Instead we had to figure out how to get money to use a pay phone to call the hotel and get the address, all in not very good Spanish.

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Festivals & Events

Carnaval in Cadíz: Come Prepared

Mike Mian

19 Apr 2009

Spain

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Carnaval in Spain is no small event, and the celebration in Cadíz is considered to be one of the largest parties in Europe. Surely a must see, but I recommend arriving prepared. A few pointers: 1) Wear shoes -- sandals aren't desirable later in the night when faced with huge crowds and glass-covered plazas, not to mention the urine-drenched streets; 2) If you plan on sleeping under a roof, book far in advance; 3) Despite being common advice, be weary of sleeping on the beach -- around 4:00 a.m. I awkwardly ran across no less than 5 pairs of proud lovers within a 100 meter stretch of sand!; 4) Get a costume!

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Culture Shock

Relax!

ryan stoy

26 Aug 2009

Spain

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The siesta in Spain is a wonderful concept. It's too hot to work, too hot to really do anything. Do what the locals do: eat, drink, and play. You'll miss the entire opportunity if you don't relax and go with the flow. Trust me, you'll often find the current quite appeasing. More often than not, where people collect, greatness will be found.

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Must Do

Get lost

Nicole Karlis

10 Feb 2009

Spain

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One of my most rewarding experiences was finally finding my destination using my map and the help of locals when I got lost on the narrow cobblestone streets of Sevilla. It's tempting to just flag down a cab, but be strong and find your own way. It gets easier each day and soon you'll be a pro!

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Etiquette

Don't worry about "usted"

Mike Mian

28 Jul 2009

Spain

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For the Spanish speakers: don't fret over whether to address someone casually (tú) or formally (usted) in Spain. Pretty much everyone uses the "tú" form with everyone else. By all means, feel free to use the "usted" form if you'd like to show somebody extra respect, but the "tú" form is not at all considered rude. Also, with regard to vocab, "puta madre" actually means "cool" (despite the literal interpretation), and "joder", though also equivalent to a strong English curse word, is used extremely casually (including in daytime television). Overall, the Spanish culture is pretty laid back, so don't be nervous. You are free to make linguistic blunders without many repercussions.

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Food

How to eat vegetarian in Spain

Dawnielle Castledine

23 Jun 2009

Spain

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If you are traveling to Spain and are a vegetarian, know that it will be hard to find food without meat, and expect that there will be meat visible anywhere there is a food market. The best food I found without meat was spaghetti and pizza, though finding these items outside of actual Italian restaurants there can be difficult (and sometimes the Spanish version of Spaghetti is not anywhere near what Americans think of). If you want good vegetarian food, shop for yourself at the open air markets, but be prepared to run into meat drying in the air at these places. The most popular were Pigs heads, as pork is very popular in the country.

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Film

When going to the movies, bring your Spanish dictionary

Marcy Miranda

27 Apr 2009

Spain

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It is an old Spanish custom, much like wearing hoods and carrying religious icons during Semana Santa or hanging ham legs in your kitchen. It's watching all movies in Spanish. Unlike many other European countries, Spain continues to shun the use of subtitles in foreign movies, opting instead to dub them for movie-goers. Instead of hearing Penelope Cruz's voice in "Vicky Christina Barcelona," audiences at the cinema hear another Spanish accent reciting Cruz's lines in the film. Finding films in their original language is not impossible, however. For the few who prefer watching movies in their original language, several movie theaters in Madrid, Barcelona, and other big cities do offer films in their original language with subtitles.

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Packing

There is a winter!

Mike Mian

19 Jun 2009

Spain

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Don't let the heavenly descriptions of Hemingway and the Counting Crows deceive you -- Spain is not just one giant warm holiday. There is a winter. Though there may not be much snowfall in Southern Spain, it does get pretty darn cold! Be sure to bring warm clothes if heading to the region in the winter months. The elevation is quite high, which can add to the chill. I found gloves and a thick jacket to be helpful. Some of my classmates even wore long underwear to keep warm. Our academic director stood by with a smirk as the red-nosed students entered every morning, always repeating her favorite phrase of the time: "Even though I tell them to, the students never bring enough warm clothes! Don't say I didn't tell you!"

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Religion

Granada: The "praying pot" of Spain

Mike Mian

21 Jun 2009

Spain

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As the last Moorish kingdom in Spain and with a long history of Jewish presence, coupled with the modern day presence of Catholicism, Granada is a veritable melting pot of religion. Though the conquest of the Moors by the Catholic monarchy tried to stamp out other religions, they are very much present in the community today. In many places, Catholic churches and mosques stand side-by-side, a relic of the regions intermittent religious history.

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Politics

The students still take to the streets in Europe

Mike Mian

27 Jul 2009

Spain

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During my stay, a somewhat controversial piece of EU legislation called Plan Bolonia (a plan to universalize university education across EU member nations) sparked hot debate among students and academics. The young people took to the streets in massive waves, chanting and holding banners in opposition to the plan. In some cities, such as Barcelona, the protests even became violent. In Europe, political activism via street protests is still alive and well.

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Music

The return of the boombox

Mike Mian

19 Jun 2009

Spain

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The streets of Granada are filled with a cacophony of everything from Daddy Yankee to Celine Dion singing "My Heart Will Go On." In a recent phenomenon, many adolescents in Spain have decided to forgo headphones and iPods to instead use their cell phones as personal speakers. However, I must admit my surprise when my twelve year-old host sister insisted on listening to her Spanish version of Beyonce's "Si fuera un chico" ("If I Were a Boy") at the dinner table. I think this will be the first generation with a life soundtrack!

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Sports

Real Madrid or FC Barcelona?

Mike Mian

27 Jul 2009

Spain

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The first night I arrived in Granada my host family put me in the car, dropped my stuff off at the house, and rushed me to a bar to watch a soccer game. When we sat down, my host father ordered some beers and tapas, pointed at the screen and said, "Real Madrid is wearing the white jerseys. They're your team." And that was that. Over the next few months I would come to see the strong divide between the Barcelona and Madrid supporters. Though the rivalry is somewhat friendly, it is also based on deeply rooted nationality issues, namely Barcelona's separatist sentiments. My host mother wouldn't even drink wine from Barcelona!

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TV

The TV is always on

Mike Mian

21 Apr 2009

Spain

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My study abroad classmates and I have all made the same observation: in Spanish households, the TV is always on! And I mean always. Cooking, eating, talking, studying, working, cleaning, sleeping, and so on. My advice: pull up a seat. Sitting by the tube is actually a great way to interact with your family--a lot of talking goes on, and you can learn a lot about Spanish culture. Also, make sure you check out a show called Fama. It's a reality dance show, and I still can't tell if it's meant to be comical or not.

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Fashion

The essential accesory: stockings

Marcy Miranda

18 Apr 2009

Spain

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As the winter snow melts and those all-too-common April showers bring a few May flowers, fashionable women in Madrid trade in their calf-length boots for colorful and comfortable flats. But be cautious -- slipping your naked foot into a pair of flats may lead you to commit a Spanish fashion faux pas. For women in Spain, there is nothing more troubling than wearing shoes without socks or stockings. So when boots turn to flats, socks turn to nude pantyhose. Everywhere you look, women of all ages are sporting shimmering pantyhose under their skinny jeans, dresses and skirts. Not only does it cover up minor imperfections on their feet, it prevents rubbing and blisters from fashionable foot ware.

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Health

Choosing between public and private care

Mike Mian

21 Jun 2009

Spain

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While on study abroad, a friend of mine had an unfortunate skiing accident. He called in sick to school to go skiing with his host brother, but on his first run down the mountain he hit a patch of ice and made a hard landing on his left shoulder. He was taken to the hospital (the school's director met him there). The first diagnosis was that he broke his collar bone and the second that he tore a ligament in his shoulder. The second proved true, and he had to decide to pursue his surgeries and treatment through either the public or private medical systems. While the public system is nearly free, the waits for treatment can be long. If insured, one can go through the private system with greater speed. The caliber of treatment is equivalent.

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Slang

Cool, dude.

Ellen Burkhardt

19 Mar 2009

Spain

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In Spain, there are many popular slang sayings; however, most are a bit too inappropriate to post here. One that is used frequently is, "Que guay!" meaning, "Sweet!" or "Awesome!" Most popular among young adults, this phrase crosses all the regional boundaries in Spain and is quite addictive once you start using it. Give it a shot!

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Nightlife

Shots are cheap!

Katherine Sasser

27 Jan 2010

Spain

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It didn't take long to discover how pricey living on the Euro could be, especially in regards to the nightlife. Thankfully, there are these lovely places called "chupiterias" or shot bars. Most bars or clubs will charge anywhere from €3-10 for a beer or a mixed beverage, but at the chupiterias, shots usually go for around €1, depending on their potency.

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Being an American

Spanish girls apparently like American men who sing

Mike Mian

23 Jun 2009

Spain

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I had met up with a friend in Seville, and we went out to a small bar in the city known for its sangria. After we got our pitcher, we noticed a group of college-age people standing in a circle. We decided to investigate and found that some Spanish university students had a guitar out and were getting everyone to sing along with them. A beautiful Spanish girl stared at me for a second, grabbed my arm, and threw me into the circle with a playful smirk and said, "Sing! Sing!" The circle fell quiet. I belted out a few nervous notes, and was unofficially welcomed in to the group of Spaniards. After talking to the males in the group, they told me,"We like having American guys around. Especially if they look good. The girls just flock over!"

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