Freedom at last…

I know, I know. It’s been far too long since my last entry. I don’t like to make excuses, but (get ready for one) these past few weeks have been such a whirlwind of schoolwork and settling down in our apartments that I just haven’t had the time for anything! I’ll get to that later on in this post though.

From where I last left off, the WIPPERS were on their way to Segovia, Spain to visit the Roman aqueduct there that has remained since the end of their rule in the Iberian Peninsula oh so long ago. It truly was an amazing experience since, instead of just learning about the aqueduct in art class, we were actually able to see it! Here’s a picture for all of you:

If you just think about it for a moment, this entire structure was built in a time without heavy machinery to help the laborers in their work. Instead, they used two tiny holes in each piece of stone to lift them up to the desired height and were ultimately able to bring water to this dry city.

After Segovia, the students in the program had to start a careful balancing act between what our classes and social lives, especially since we have all officially moved into our apartments. If you have been a loyal follower of my blog, which I’m sure you have, then you know that I thought that I had found the perfect place last time in the neighborhood of Arguelles with two Spanish-speaking roommates. Well, I guess I published the work prematurely because I ended up not living there! Our handbook warned us not to dawdle if we found a place that we liked and to put down a security deposit, but I was not able to go to the bank as quickly as I needed back then, so I lost the place to another apartment hunter. Regardless, I don’t really mind too much because I found an even BETTER place in an even greater neighborhood, right off Metro Goya. My roommates are spectacular and it is the exact environment that I was looking for in a madrilène apartment. I would put up pictures, but now isn’t the right time for that—the roommate whose room I took is still on vacation and her things are all packed and still in my room until about the 5 October. It’s no big deal though—it’s still a great place.

Perhaps the most stressful (hmmm, that’s not the right word… perhaps inconvenient?) part of the past few weeks have been our classes. As I write this, I have just come off a string of three exams within 48 hours, one final paper for our grammar class, and one final paper for our history class. They sure got the name right when they decided to call the class the curso intensivo (“intense course”). Overall though, the exams weren’t too bad, and I’m glad to be done with the class. I enjoyed our grammar/conversation component of the course most because the professor taught us a little bit about how madrilènes speak instead of just regular “book Spanish.” It should be easier to blend in that way!

Just as I thought that I had finished my curso intensivo and finally earned some rest and relaxation, this past Monday and Tuesday were the first day of classes for everyone enrolled in the Facultad de Geografía e Historia (School of Geography and History). This obviously surprised me since I had thought all classes would start on the 5 October, but regardless, I went to my first class on Monday. I was very excited after my brain had processed that I would be starting “real” class, and so I was very disappointed when my professor DIDN’T SHOW UP on the first day! I can’t say that I was surprised though. Most people I talked to after the fact told me that that’s just the way it is here—sometimes the professors show and sometimes they don’t. Nevertheless, I went to talk to the History Department, and the secretary told me that they were still finalizing some contracts with new hires, so she wasn’t sure if or when there would be a professor for the course. I thus instantly switched classes to Seguridad y Defensa en Europa desde 1945 (Security and Defense in Europe since 1945) just to make sure that I could get into a class that I enjoyed that had a guaranteed professor. I went to that course’s lecture on Tuesday, and I really enjoyed it and the professor is very nice.

The rest of my classes start on 5 October. The program requirement is that we take 1 class from the Universdad Complutense de Madrid (alongside Spanish students) and 3 other Reunidas classes (alongside our fellow American students) for the first semester. I have decided instead to take 2 classes from the Complutense and 2 from the Reunidas since I have already completed many of the classes offered in the latter setting. In total then, my schedule looks as follows: 2 political science classes from the Reunidas (Comparative Politics and Economy in Spain; Spanish International Relations) and 2 classes from the Complutense (the one I mentioned earlier and my last Spanish class before I finish the major—La novela picaresca). I cannot wait to start my class on the picaresque novel—our graduate student assistant Virginia has told me only good things about the professor, so I expect great results!

Since I don’t start the rest of my classes until next week, I have a five-day weekend. I’ll be staying in Madrid doing some of the big touristy things that I have yet to do—visiting the Plaza Mayor, the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum, and the like. Some people are traveling to other countries this weekend—I want to hit up Spain first before I go elsewhere! There are so many independent communities here with their own ways of life that I would like to explore before heading out to some other European countries.

Well, that’s about it for now. I hope everything is going equally as well for all of you!

¡Welcome to Madrid!

If anyone has ever seen the movie ¨Last Holiday¨with Queen Latifah, then you know what the flight was like on the way here. Iberia Airlines did take care of us, but it was a little cramped. In the grand scheme of things, this obviously won´t matter too much, but everyone always needs their little caveat against the airline they used to fly to an international destination.

But, I digress. After arriving at the airport on the group flight, the WIPPERs (Wisconsin-Indiana-Purdue) that were on said flight were escorted by the student coordinator for the program, Amy Olson, as well as both the director, Juan Egea, and the associate director, Mamen, to the Colegio Mayor Fundación de SEPI (our dorm). Despite the fact that we had landed in a country strange to most of us, or at least, strange to me, we were well taken care of from the start.

Once our rooms were distributed, I walked up to my room to find that the WIPPERs had scored a terrific dormitory. Every room is a single, has air conditioning, and a private bathroom. It´s terrific. Meals are also provided to us from Monday-Saturday, which are delicious. I can only speak to dinner, though, since it is the month of Ramadan and I can´t eat or drink anything from breakfast or lunch since the sun usually beats me to the table. Once the month is over, I cannot wait to try all the local favorites, especially churros y chocolate. I´ve heard only great things about the cuisine.

Despite being in a country that a lot of us might not be used to, the program staff has been really helpful with helping us find our way around the city and especially navigating the apartment search with us. Amy Olson, the student coordinator I mentioned earlier, is truly amazing. She works non-stop to make sure that we are taken care of and not taken advantage of by those who believe us to be silly students without any knowledge of the Spanish language. She can sure show those nasty landlords who is boss (which I only mean in the best way possible)! Amy is just one of the many resources here to assist us during our time in Madrid, and for those students wanting to come in the future, you do not have to be afraid of not knowing how to find an apartment--the program does not leave you to fend for yourself. You do have to visit the apartments, which isn`t unreasonable--it´s just learning how to become a little more independent.

In terms of my apartment search, I have found the perfect place. The roommates are all Spaniards, speak very little English, and live in a busy neighborhood, but on a quiet street. Everything that I could ever need or want is within a 5 minute walking distance: food, shopping, metro, etc. It´s really spectacular. I only had to look at three places before knowing that this was the one for me, and after looking at the picture below, you´ll see a taste of what I mean!

It´s beautiful, right? I hope to learn a lot while I´m here, and this apartment will most definitely help me.

Speaking of learning Spanish, our first day of class was this past Friday. Everyone from the program, as well as those from Georgetown, Boston College, and Marquette that are here, all had to take a placement exam to determine our respective levels of Spanish for grammar section purposes. After getting placed on Thursday, class started Friday, and I am in love with the instructor for the advanced section. She is funny, kind, and really wants us to learn Spanish. For those students with accents already, she has already said that she doesn´t want to make them speak Spanish in the castellano way, but just to be able to recognize it. She´s really welcoming and accepting of all levels and types of Spanish. There seems to be a great deal of work, but I think it will be worth it in the end, as it will really introduce us to Castillian Spanish in a lower-pressue situation.

Well, as this post gets longer and longer, I feel the need to wrap up. Tomorrow, there is a group excursion to Segovia, about 1.5 hours north of Madrid, and I´m very excited. It should be an interesting mixture of Spanish-Moorish culture, an impressive intersection of worlds for me as a Palestinian. More later!

Two Days Left...

Welcome to my blog, everyone! As I sit here in my kitchen preparing for this evening's iftoor (dinner during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan), I can't help but to recall that I will soon leave my Milwaukee-kitchen and venture into a new one in Madrid, Spain. Where that kitchen is I still have no idea, but I think that is a part of the great adventure of studying abroad.

Below, I have reproduced my first entry from the University of Wisconsin-sponsored "Badgers Abroad" blog. From here-on-in, I will make posts to both this (more personal, revealing, and uncensored) blog and the (censored, more idealized) blog for the UW.

See you all in Madrid!

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Three Weeks until Madrid

It’s so hard to believe that three weeks from now I will be in Madrid, Spain. I still have no idea what that means, which is a little unnerving since I am someone who plans everything in his life with great attention to detail.

Before I get too into my thoughts about the trip, I think it would be a good idea to introduce myself to my (many) followers who are (hopefully) following this blog. As you have certainly figured out by clicking your way here, my name is Asad and I am a Political Science and Spanish major at the University of Wisconsin. During my time in Spain, I have many academic goals, but my two main ones are to finish up my Spanish major (2 courses) and to advance in Political Science coursework.

My main academic and personal interests have always been in Latin American culture, but I am someone who enjoys keeping an open-mind when it comes to experiencing global cultures, so Spain was basically my main option when it came to studying abroad for my junior year. Some of you may ask, “Why Madrid?” After all, it’s loud, it’s full of people, and it is by no means as glamorous as some of the other cities to which I could have gone. My answer to that question is vivaciousness. I like to keep moving, and in a bustling city like Madrid, I feel as if I will always have something to occupy my time. If not, since the city is located in the heart of Spain, I’m a quick train ride from many other cities in the country. Nevertheless, I expect to have a good time in Madrid.

Anyway, as I said earlier, three weeks from now, I’ll be in Madrid, and I have no idea what to expect. I have never been to Europe before although I have always wanted to go, but I have only heard good things about the area, especially about Spain. Despite these positive remarks, I still have a couple of unanswered questions as of now:

1. Where will I live when I’m there? The way the program works is that students live in the university dorms for the first month while looking for other housing arrangements, either in apartments or home-stays. My apprehension is about where exactly I will stay. If I live in an apartment, will it be with U.S. students, Spaniards, or other Europeans? Will I forego an apartment and live with a señora in her home? If I do live with a señora, does that mean that I won’t be able to interact with the other students in the program? I would really appreciate any insight into this matter!
2. What classes will I take? The program has been really good about providing us with a list of classes that are available to students, but I’m still not certain about what classes I should take. This is more of a personal problem of intellectual curiosity than anything else, but it still poses a problem for me in terms of the structured lifestyle that I am used to in the U.S. I’m sure this is a lifestyle that I’ll be forced to leave behind while in Madrid, but as of now, I can’t imagine living any other way.
3. Will I have time to work? Can I work? One of the best ways to master a foreign language is to throw yourself into an environment where you are forced to use it at all times. From what I have read online, this usually means getting an “under the table” job as a waiter, bartender, or any other sort of positions that runs on tips. Other students have recommended teaching English as a viable job. Either way, finding work while there won’t be a bad idea since the euro is stronger than the dollar. I need to stop my pockets from bleeding as best I can!

On the surface, these problems look minuscule, but as I dive into a new country and a new culture, they seem gargantuan. To help me cope with my pre-departure anxiety, I have decided to accentuate the positive:

1. My visa is ready to go! All it took was two trips to Chicago to the Spanish Consulate and $100, and I was all set. On each trip there with my sister, we treated ourselves to some fine Chicago cuisine (we both highly recommend The Signature Room at 95th and Morton’s Steakhouse, by the way).
2. I’m not too worried about using my language skills abroad. Obviously, every Spanish-speaking country has its own pitch, intonation, and vocabulary, but with a little bit of time, I should be able to catch up.
3. I’ve always wanted to go to Europe, and now I’ll be living there for a year! Well, nine months. Either way, that’s both a long time and not enough time, so I hope to make the most of my experience.

As I wrap up my initial entry, I encourage all of my readers (are there any?) to comment as often as you would like with questions, concerns, complaints, ideas, thoughts, or whatever else you had in mind about what you would like to see written here. If you have any suggestions about sites to see while I’m in Spain, let me know as well! I want to make this as interactive as possible, and I encourage your full participation.

¡Hasta pronto!