Study Abroad Spain

Excursion to El Campello

noreply@blogger.com (Joe Weber) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:06:00 +0000

Last week CEA study abroad students from Alicante went to the coastal town of El Campello. This place has a very strong fishing tradition, but this day, we went for the Moros y Cristianos festivity which commemerates the battles between Moors and Christians back in Medieval times, when the region was conquered by the Arabs.

The promenades were amazing. Different rows of people with very cool dressings where marching in the middle of the streets, performing some medieval shows and dances. How interesting! You won't see anything like this back in the states!

Alicante Students' Day Trip to Calpe, Spain

noreply@blogger.com (Joe Weber) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:35:00 +0000

One of the study abroad day trips for Alicante Summer program students was visiting the coastal town of Calpe. For this trip we took the TRAM, a train that runs along the Costa Blanca, so during our ride we had the opportunity to sight see some great places like San Juan Beach, La Vila, Benidorm and Altea.

We all knew that part of this trip would also be a hike up Ifach Rock. It is the emblem of the Costa Blanca, called the "North Rock" by the ancient Phoencians (Gibraltar is the South one), but we couldn’t imagine how beautiful it was until we started the ascension. I’m not the best in the world at hiking, but it was lot of fun and, what’s more, it was not tiring. I was really concerned at the beginning, as I didn’t want to be behind the group. But it only took us around 35 minutes to get to a natural tunnel carved out of the rock that takes you to the top and we were really impressed with the nature, the views and also the birds.

After our hike, very tasty paella was waiting for us at the port in Calpe. We had a reservation in one of the typical restaurants where you see and pick the seafood you want to have! Although our students had the option of picking out their own live seafood, if that was too challenging we (Alicante Resident Staff) also reserved some really good paella and appetizers such as salads, mussels and different calamari to give everyone a true taste of the Costa Blanca.

Everything turned out perfectly. A good workout, great food and, of course, sunshine for those of us that wanted to rest on the beach after lunch.

- Lidiana Valles Alcaraz
CEA Student Services Coordinator

Barcelona Volunteering Experience at FPT

noreply@blogger.com (Ariadna Sanahuja) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:08:00 +0000

My volunteer work experience with Fundació Pere Tarres

My name is Kenny Frankel and I participated in CEA Study Abroad to Barcelona in the Spring 2009 semester. In this time I had a rewarding experience doing volunteer work for the Fundació Pere Tarres (Pere Tarres Foundation). This is a non-profit organization that provides education and social opportunities for children from the ages of around 5-12. During my three-month-long participation with this foundation I went a center on the outskirts of the city of Barcelona two days a week for 2-3 hours each time. It only took me about 30 minutes to travel there.

I had to be interviewed at first to prove that my Spanish was at least at an intermediate level, but once I did I was hired to take care of “los medianos”, or the middle-aged (8-10 years old) kids. My initial and primary goal was to greatly improve the fluency of my Spanish skills over the course of my stay, although I got a lot more from the experience than just that. Each day I helped the staff (people around my age) pick the kids up from school and play with them in the playground, bring them to computer lessons, and lead them through art sessions. Although it was true challenge at first to form sentences quickly and communicate with the staff and kids, I quickly developed my ability to speak efficiently and effectively. In the process I got to participate in celebrations including “El Carnaval” (a costume party similar to Mardi Gras), “El Día de Sant Jordi” (similar to Valentine’s Day), talk with Spanish peers (the staff) about anything and everything, and play with kids which is something I enjoy doing. These opportunities really gave me more insight into Cataluña’s culture.

After returning to the US I realized that this immersion activity made my experience in Spain. Through volunteering in the local community I got to participate in cultural events and greatly improve my Spanish-communicating abilities. I highly recommend working at Fundació Pere Tarres or doing any another immersion activity because it is an authentic and valuable use of time when abroad. Thanks CEA for coordinating this volunteering opportunity. I would encourage all students to take part in this type of opportunity whilst studing in Barcelona.

Kenny Frankel, Barcelona, April 24th 2009

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Barcelona Overnight Trip to San Sebastian

noreply@blogger.com (Ariadna Sanahuja) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:50:00 +0000

In March, CEA Barcelona had its two overnight trips to the captivating city, San Sebastian. San Sebastian is located in the Basque Country, which has borders with France and the Bay of Biscay. After taking a charter bus from Barcelona we headed off to the green and fertile Basque Country. It was a long ride, but once we stepped out of the bus in San Sebastian, it was well worth it. We were graced with a beautiful sunny day. After dropping our stuff off in our rooms, most of us headed out to Ondarreta Beach, which was only a 5 minute walk from the hotel. Ondarreta Beach had quite a few people playing in the sand or taking in the sun.
The next day CEA provided an insightful and intriguing tour of San Sebastian. We were able to choose whether we wanted the tour in Spanish or English. Half of the group went to have it in Spanish and the other half had it in English.

We went in a funicular that brought us up to Mont Igueldo, which had a beautiful view of San Sebastian. After that we went down to see the famous work of art, “Peine del Viento”, which in English is “Wind Comb”. It was an interesting piece of artwork which was right next to an archeological phenomenon. The tour left us off in the old part of the city and our guides gave us great suggestions of where to eat “pintxos”. Pintxos are very similar to tapas and are a Basque delight. The traditional way of eating pintxos is in a bar, with friends while standing up. All in all, San Sebastian is a very magical city and we all wished we were able to stay longer, but alas one must go back to class.

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Barcelona Day Trip to the Dalí Musuem and Girona

noreply@blogger.com (Ariadna Sanahuja) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 12:35:00 +0000

In February, we had another CEA day trip and this time it was to the surrealist artist, Salvador Dalí’s town of Figueres. Figueres is north of Barcelona and has a large collection of Dalí’s work. We headed off bright and early at 9:00am to have an early start. We got to Figueres at about 11am. The guides gave us an overview of the museum and the town right before getting off the bus. We entered the museum and had a detailed tour of Dalí’s art and also had some paintings explained to us! After our tour, we were given free time to check out the rest of the museum on our own, walk around the town and to have lunch. After lunch, we were off to Girona. We had our tour split in two, so we can have a personalized tour of the city and ask the guides any questions that might come up. We saw on a bridge the same tiles that are in the Ramblas in Barcelona, how neat! After crossing the bridge, we strolled along to the gardens of the Cathedral and saw an marvelous view of the city. Girona is an enchanting medieval city.

Barcelona Day Trip to Torres Vineyards, Sitges and Calçotada

noreply@blogger.com (Ariadna Sanahuja) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:30:00 +0000

This past January CEA Barcelona took the students for the first Day Trip. We had an excursion to a vineyard and to a beach town south of Barcelona, called Sitges. We headed off to the Torres Vineyard at 10am. We arrived there at about 11:30am and had an interesting tour of the vineyard. The Torres family has many generations of wine-making behind them. They also have vineyards in Chile and in Napa Valley (California). We went on a trolley around the vineyard and saw their wine and the vines. To end this delightful tour we had a taste of their white wine, it was exquisite!
After the tour, we made our way to a country house to have a traditional Catalan treat “Calçotada”. Calçot is the name given to a local variety of spring onion, which is cultivated in a very particular way. We each had 10 “calçots”, 1 butifarra (sausage), lima beans, French fries, escalivada (roasted veggies) with ali-oli (mayonnaise with garlic) and a roasted artichoke. We were stuffed!! Eating calçots is a bit tricky, but after the guides gave us a demonstration, we picked it up quickly.

After finishing our ice-cream for dessert, we headed out directly for Sitges. We had a nice “siesta” on the bus ride there. Walking along the beach promenade was a sight to die for! Even though it was the middle of January, there were sunny skies and breath-taking views. This small town has a special charm to it.

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Barcelona Overnight Trip to Sevilla

noreply@blogger.com (Ariadna Sanahuja) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:01:00 +0000

Last month the Barcelona CEA students went on an overnight trip to Sevilla as part of the CEA excursions during Fall 08. We departed on Thursday 13th Nov from Barcelona Sants station on an overnight train. The students slept in cabins of 4 beds, (2 bunkbeds). The train ride was smoothly and some slept better than others. We arrived nice an early to Sevilla at 9.30am, checked in at the Hotel Giralda and then had some free time for breakfast and freshen up.

We met back at the lobby of the hotel at 2pm with 2 tour guides to have the walking tour of Sevilla. From the hotel we went to visit los Reales Alcázares, a Moorish Royal Palace, mainly in Mudéjar style, but also in Renaissance. Its gardens are a blend of Moorish, Andalusian and Christian traditions. One of the main attraction of the Reales Alcázares is the Patio de las Doncellas, which means "The Courtyard of the Maidens." The name refers to the legend that the Moors demanded 100 virgins every year as tribute from Christian kingdoms in Iberia. The story of the tribute may have been used as a myth to bolster the Reconquista, but it may have had some truth to it in the abuse of Christian women by powerful Moors.

Another important section of the Reales Alcazares are Los Baños de Doña María de Padilla "The Baths of Lady María de Padilla" are rainwater tanks beneath the Patio del Crucero. The tanks are named after María de Padilla, the mistress of Pedro the Cruel. Supposedly, Pedro fell for María and had her husband killed. María resisted his advances and poured boiling oil over her face to disfigure herself to stop Pedro's pursuit. She became a nun and moved to a convent afterwards. She is regarded as a symbol of purity in the culture of Seville. After the visit of the Reales Alcazares we had a stroll in el Barrio de Santa Cruz, Sevilla’s medieval Jewish quarter, east of the Cathedral and the Alcázares, is today a tangle of winding streets and lovely plazas, with numerous souvenir shops and popular places to stay, eat and drink. Once the walking tour had finished, the students had free time to explore around Sevilla. We met back at the hotel in the evening to have dinner all together. The following day the students had free time all day. Some of the students visited the Cathedral, rented some bikes.

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Granada's Volunteers

noreply@blogger.com (CEA Sevilla blog) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:35:00 +0000

The students from this past fall semester had one thing clear at the beginning of the semester. They didn't just want to come to Granada and study Spanish; but they were determined to live and breathe the language and immerse themselves fully into the culture. These students proactively showed an interest in volunteering. Some wanted to see another side of Granada, to experience what it's really like to be Granadian. Others wanted to give something back to Granada, to show appreciation for everything that the city has given them. Yet, all of these students had one common goal, which was to overcome any cross-cultural or linguistic barriers and to maximize the positive outcomes of their experience. All of them agreed that volunteering was by far the best way to truly integrate themselves into the Spanish culture and experience another side of Granada.
These students volunteered at a variety of different organizations. One student, for example, went to Calor y Café, an organization that gives food and shelter to the homeless. There he served coffee and cookies, played dominoes with the regulars, practiced his Spanish and made a lot of new friends for all walks of life.

A few of our students had an amazing experience volunteering at ASPACE, an organization that works with young people with cerebral palsy. They got to do lots of fun activities with the kids such as bringing them therapeutic swimming lessons and horseback riding. They also brought them to some professional soccer games and to the movies. Volunteers helped out the teachers in the classroom and also at lunch time.
Teaching was also a popular volunteer activity this semester. A few of our students went to an elementary school called Virgen del Pilar. There they helped out the teachers and planned special activities for the kids in English including songs, stories and games.

Other students volunteered at an organization called Juventud Idente, where they worked with the after-school program. Here they gave English lessons and helped the children one on one with their homework.
After all the amazing and unique experiences that these students have had while living in Granada, it's going to be hard to say goodbye. They truly left a lasting mark on this city and will be missed by everyone who got the chance to work with them. Thank you to all of you for making this such a memorable semester!

Adiós Sevilla

noreply@blogger.com (CEA team) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:55:00 +0000

The Student Committee in Seville worked on a project this year to gather videos and photos of students and activities during the semester. One very talented student, Ryan Salvador, put together an awesome video keepsake for everyone to celebrate and remember their study abroad experience. As "they" say, pictures are worth 1,000 words - and videos are even better. Ok, just I said that last part ;). In any case, getting a glimpse into students' experiences and feelings about their time studying abroad with CEA is something that you'll never be able to capture on paper. So without further ado...

Music by Michelle Branch, Dispatch, Rafael del Estad, and Ben Lee.

Excursion to Valencia

noreply@blogger.com (Alc PD) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:21:00 +0000

This time CEA took us to one of the cities that I really wanted to visit before studying abroad, Valencia. I heard that it was a very beautiful city, so I was really excited to explore it by myself and take a lot of pictures at the Oceanografic, the biggest aquarium in Europe.
This was a very relaxing excursion. Our hotel was in the core of the city center, where we had everything around us. During our first tour in the city, we ventured ourselves into the main Central Market. This was a typical Valencian building with its colorful ceramics used as decoration. We got to see all the fresh food that Spaniards like to buy, and we realized that how important it is for them to Go to the Markets.
Our next stop was the Lonja de Seda, a 16th century building. This was a very beautiful Silk Market and I was personally impressed by its architecture: its twisted columns and medieval lamps. We took a lot of pictures there and found that Orange Trees are used for decoration in most of the gardens. We were told that these oranges are not eatable, so were not expected to take any from the trees. For this reason, Courtney attempted to grab one as if she were going to eat it.
During our visit to the old quarter we also visited the cathedral, the Generalitat Palace and the Serranos Gate, that used to be one of the entrances to the city during the Medieval Ages, when Valencia was surrounded by a fortress. While we were walking downtown, we discovered one of the places that we all missed from home: STARBUCKS! I was so happy to taste a BIG MOCCA FRAPPUCCINO that I couldn’t wait!
After lunch we had the opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful mansions in the city: the Marques de Dos Aguas Palace. Nowadays, this Palace holds The Ceramics Museum, and we were very much impressed by all its luxury and decoration. We enjoyed visiting the different rooms in the house and it was unbelievable to see the Dancing Launch of the house. Some of us tried to imagine how they parties would be, trying to dance a Vals.
And the most exciting day of the excursion arrived. On Sunday morning we went to the Ciudad de las Artes y Las Ciencias. Thanks CEA for taking us to the most innovative and modern areas of the city! We spent all morning in the Oceanografic, the biggest Aquarium in Europe. It was as touring all the different kinds of seas and oceans, as we could see from Mediterranean fish to the Sharks in the Ocean and the Seals and Penguins in the Artic and Antartic. How amazing! We all loved the Aquarium and specially the Dolphin Show, too. I wish I were one of those instructors that were training the dolphins and jumping with them inside the big pool. Once we finished with the Aquarium, we also had the opportunity to spend some time in the Science Museum, known as Museo Príncipe Felipe.
In the overall, we had a very nice overnight excursion to Valencia, a city that was in my plans while in Spain, and that took us only two hours from Alicante. Again, thanks for taking us to another excursion with so many things to sightsee and visit.

Paella at the Santa Barbara Castle

noreply@blogger.com (Alc PD) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:14:00 +0000

The other day the University of Alicante shared with us some of the pictures they took at the International Welcome Reception held on top of Santa Barbara Castle for all International Students. It was a big event this past September, where more than 1000 students were invited to have the typical Spanish PAELLA in a unique scenery!!! Professional cooks prepared that amazing Mediterranean dish for all students in ONLY ONE BIG PAELLA PAN. This was a good opportunity for all our study abroad students to meet lot of International students that were also starting the Fall Semester in Alicante, too. It was lot of fun and we were very lucky to enjoy a reception in this unique scenery from Alicante, where we could admire the bay and the city with all its lights at night.

The US Presidential Election Hits Home for a CEA Barcelona Student

noreply@blogger.com (CEA team) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:41:00 +0000

It is common knowledge that over the last few months Barack Obama’s Facebook has been going through the roof but how many can beat CEA Barcelona student, Precious Scott’s, credentials?

Not only is Precious African-American but she is also a Democrat from Chicago who until recently attended the same church (Trinity United Church of Christ) as the future President of the United States. A Mass Media Arts major from Clark Atlanta University, Precious was unsurprisingly delighted with the recent election results:

I remember crying when I heard the results. I was so nervous over the last few days of the campaign that it was overwhelming to realize that my country had elected its first black President. I never thought I would see it happen.

Asked what change she thinks will come to America, Precious is convinced that Obama will revamp the economy as well as introducing big changes in education especially regarding benefits for students in community colleges.

Barcelona is Precious’ first experience outside the US and she has enthusiastically embraced her new culture. “When I first arrived, I experienced extreme culture shock. It seemed like no one spoke English, but I’ve soon learned to love almost everything about Spanish culture, the food, the dancing, the beaches, the architecture, the historical sites and especially Gaudí.” However, Precious does admit that she was surprised to discover that studying abroad is by no means an extended spring break vacation: “I thought studying abroad would be an easier workload than back home, but I’m putting in some long hours. I particularly enjoy the Media and Politics course, because back home we don’t compare both media and political systems, and my Spanish Civilization and Culture has taught me a lot about the history and different religions of Spain.”

A new President, new culture and new language all in one semester: not bad for your first experience of study abroad! Discover everything that Precious has fallen in love with by studying abroad in Barcelona yourself!

Barcelona CEA Soccer League Final

noreply@blogger.com (Ariadna Sanahuja) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:28:00 +0000

The result of last night’s CEA Barcelona’s Soccer League Final was considered, by many, to be a foregone conclusion. ‘The Champs’ had been undefeated in the league and were the clear favorites to hold aloft the Winner’s Trophy.

However, the members of FC.BarCEAlona, after their spectacular (4-3) win in the semifinals, had a different idea and came out strong from the start. A goal from Microeconomics professor David Coves in the first two minutes of the first half, swiftly followed by another from Enric ‘Figuerinyo’ Figueras clearly demonstrated that the underdogs were not here to lose.

The champs came back with a stunning goal followed by another, bringing the score to 2-2

FC.BarCEALona were quick to react, and scored 2 more before the end of the first half. The second half, was not only a battle between both teams but also a battle against the elements; the light drizzle of the first half turned into a full-scale assault of rain and sleet that conspired to hinder both teams’ control of the ball. FC.BarCEAlona changed their tactics and played a more defensive game, hoping to maintain their 4-2 lead. The Champs broke through the defense and brought the score within one goal. Their sole focus was now all on attacking their opponent’s goal. FC.BarcCEAlona maintained their tight defensive play intermixed with sporadic incursions into the Champs’ half which resulted in yet another goal. The Champs were not dissuaded and continued their assault on defense, once again bringing the score to a one goal difference. With less than five minutes to go, Enric ‘Figuerinyo’ Figueras made another incursion into the Champs’ half and was rewarded with the goal that sealed the fate of the match.

An exceptional win for the FC.BarCEAlona Team. Final Score: 6-4.

Barcelona CEA Conference: OBAMA vs McCAIN

noreply@blogger.com (Ariadna Sanahuja) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:20:00 +0000

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN SPAIN KICK OFF CEA CONFERENCE SERIES IN BARCELONA 2008-2009

Before a packed audience at the Journalists College in Barcelona in October, Democrats and Republican study abroad students battled it out for the absentee vote in Barcelona in the curtain raiser event to CEA’s Conference Series for the Academic Year 2008-2009. Students, local media and US Consulate staff were captivated by the intense debate as James Levy (SpainforMcCain) and Sean Carroll (Democrats Abroad) fought over domestic issues, foreign policy, the Vice Presidential candidates and looked ahead to the November elections. Moderated by the Barcelona CEA Head of Studies Dr. Christopher Tulloch, Levy and Carroll used contrasting styles to persuade the floating voters present.

Levy, a regular on Spanish television, was more comfortable with the head-to-head format and attacked the Democrat presidential candidate for his “overwhelming ego”. He was particularly aggressive on Barack Obama’s foreign policy stand accusing the Democrats of backing a candidate who was more interested in being a “citizen of the world instead of a President of the United States which the world needs”. Carroll went on the counterattack by ridiculing Sarah Pallin and describing McCain as the mere prolongation of George Bush who, he said, had taken the American people “well away from where we want to be”. After the face-off, students and journalists quizzed both speakers on issues such as the future of the relationship between the US and Europe, the health care system, the energy crisis and education. All in all, a lively start to the Conference Series at the CEA Barcelona GlobalCampus.

Barcelona CEA Soccer League Semifinal

noreply@blogger.com (Ariadna Sanahuja) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:03:00 +0000

Last week the Barcelona CEA Soccer League Semi-final took place. This game had produced big expectations during this season. FC. BarCEAlona had previously lost to ‘Los Martillos’ (3-2) in the first game of the season, however, both teams have notched up a series of impressive wins since then. Needless to say, expectations were high! FC. BarCEAlona scored early on in the match and gained the psychological advantage, this was followed soon after with another goal by the Head of Spanish Language Studies, Enric ‘Figuerinyo’ Figueras.

‘Los Martillos’ implemented a more offensive game, with some extraordinary attacks at goal bringing the score to 2-1 at half-time. In the second half, ‘Los Martillos’, once again, upped their game and attacked more decisively bringing the score to 2-2. FC. BarCEALona were quick to react and, from a corner, Professor Jordi Gorríz executed an impressive goal that appeared to mark the difference bringing the score to 3-2. This, however, was by no means the end of this battle, two minutes later Enric ‘Figuerinyo’ Figueras scored his hatrick, which once again forced the Martillos to raise their game and which resulted in an onslaught of goal opportunities that were only evaded with FC. BarCEALona’s intensive defense. While there could only be one winner, without a doubt both teams showed the true grit of champions. Final score 4-3. Congratulations FC. BarCEAlona!

Elche: Town of Palmtrees

noreply@blogger.com (Alc PD) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:58:00 +0000

by Tammy Hudson and Courtney Wood

Friday, Oct 31st, we attended the Alicante Step by Step Activity to the town of Elche. We first went to the Parque Municipal, one of the largest palm tree parks in the city, considered the biggest in Europe with more than 300.000 palm trees all over the city of Elche.

After the park, we toured a 17th century church that was formerly a Mosque. While in Elche, the city hosted its annual Medieval Market that occurs in November. The food looked and smelled so amazing that a few of us decided to return the next day to sample... everything! A few of our favorites were the hot bread fresh out of the oven, goat cheese, kebabs, crepes and chorizos.

We also had the opportunity to watch a play called “Misterio de Elche” at the main Church of Santa Maria. This is a traditional mystery play that dates back to Medieval Times. We were very fortunate to see be able to see it, as it only occurs in summer and every other November.

Overall, this was the last Alicante Step by Step Tour we had for our study abroad semester with CEA, but thanks to CEA, we were exposed to different towns not far from Alicante that we wouldn't have discovered on our own. We were taken to all these places that had their particular and interesting Mediterranean characteristics; and also opened our eyes for other Alicante Step by Step Activities that we could start doing on his own.

Barcelona CEA Students Volunteer at Hospital SJD

noreply@blogger.com (Ariadna Sanahuja) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:35:00 +0000

As part of CEA Immersion Activities, CEA study abroad students in Barcelona are given the opportunity to participate in a volunteer experience with different Non-governmental organizations. CEA Barcelona is proud to announce a new partnership with Hospital Sant Joan de Déu.

Bailey Wentworth and Julia Aube were our first students to participate in this initiative this Fall 08.

Here is what Bailey has to say about her experience:

"Choosing to volunteer at Hospital Sant Joan de Deu was probably one of the best things I could have chosen to do while studying abroad. Not only does it help tremendously in practicing Spanish and give an insight to the culture, but having the opportunity to sit bedside with very sick kids and talk to them and entertain them is fun and fulfilling. I work a three hour shift in the morning. My job is to act as relief for parents - I visit the rooms of sick children and tell their parents that they can go eat breakfast, get some air, do whatever they need to do, as often they spend almost their whole day and night in the hospital rooms. These kids range in age from around 8 months to 12 years old. The parents are always very friendly and grateful to have someone be with their child while they get some time to their selves. When all the breakfast rounds have been taken care of, we then go to the waiting rooms of the different departments and entertain the kids there by giving them drawings and talking to them a bit. All in all, the purpose of us volunteers is simply to be there and be comforting to these kids.

As far as the interview was concerned in the selection process, Alberta Parayre (the Volunteer Director at the Hospital) basically just sat me down and asked 1) if I can speak Spanish, 2) how long i will be here for, and 3) what is my availability. There were no other questions, and she said, ok do orientation now and we'll see you next week! So for future students they need not to get too scared about the interview. That being said, the nurses speak fast and often they're giving you instructions like "if this baby stops breathing, press this button" or something like that so being able to understand is extremely important. Other than that it's really fun, and I make a ton of mistakes in speaking but the nurses and other volunteers don't care as long as you can get your point across quickly"

Check out these and other Immersion Activities available to CEA study abroad students!

Barcelona Language Exchange

noreply@blogger.com (Ariadna Sanahuja) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:22:00 +0000

On November 4th CEA Barcelona study abroad students had the opportunity to participate in a language exchange session at a local language school. For over an hour participants met and chatted with several group of locals who were eager to practice their language skills and to exchange cultural impressions with a group of American studying in Barcelona.

Our students were very enthusiastic and they rapidly immersed themselves into animated conversations in both English and Spanish. The experience was a success as both groups expressed their desire to repeat the encounter in the future.

ASPANION Volunteer Program - Alicante

noreply@blogger.com (Alc PD) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:51:00 +0000

CEA study abroad programs offer a wide range of immersion opportunities. Two students in Alicante, Tammy Hudson and Courtney Wood share their experience working with sick children through ASPANION, an association for parents who have children with cancer. It was founded in 1985 in order to increase awareness about the needs of these children and their families.

"We had the opportunity through CEA to volunteer with a program called ASPANION... Once a week we go for two hours and make mobiles, draw pictures, and play board games. It was great to see that despite the fact that the kids were sitting sick in a hospital, they could be positive and enjoy their time with the other kids and the volunteers, as well.”

- by Tammy Hudson and Courtney Wood

Barcelona Tapas Cooking Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (CEA team) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:09:00 +0000

As part of our immersion activities in Barcelona, the CEA's study abroad students had the opportunity to take part in a practical Tapas Cooking Workshop during the months of October and November. The idea behind this initiative is to get the students to learn a bit about the delicious traditional Spanish dishes, called Tapas, and to give the students the chance to try it at home. These sessions have been organized with small groups of no more than 12 participants, enabling the workshop session to be more productive give students a better grasp on the concepts.

The participants got fully involved chopping potatoes to make ‘tortilla de patatas’, cutting and adding ingredients to make a selection of hot and cold tapas. CEA students were also able to learn the basics of Spanish vocabulary related to cooking such as the words for ingredients, and cooking utensils, etc. The workshop was held fully in Spanish, with some translating from the CEA staff that came handy in order to avoid the students from cutting their fingers when pealing a potato (most of them had never pealed one!) At the end of the session we all sat down around a table and ate them all. The students had a fantastic experience at the same time than having fun in this culinary hands-on immersion experience.

Granada's October Excursions

noreply@blogger.com (CEA team) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:16:00 +0000

This past October, our Granada students had two phenomenal study abroad excursions.

The first CEA excursion took us to Ronda, where we met up with the Seville students. It was the first time that two CEA cities have done an excursion together. We had a delicious lunch together and the students enjoyed exchanging stories about thier experiences in Spain. During our tour, we explored the historic old town and learned a great deal about the city and it's people. We visited Casa de Don Bosco with it's glass roofed patio and stunning views (picture 2 below). Ronda is famous worldwide for its dramatic cliffs and outstanding vistas over the deep El Tajo gorge. One student favorite was the 18th century Puente Nuevo 'new' bridge that straddles the gorge, because of its unparalleled views out over the Serranía de Ronda mountains.

The following week, our Granada group traveled to Gibraltar and Nerja. We got pretty lucky with the weather. Since it was late October we had our doubts, but we had sunny skies and warm beach weather to enjoy. Students got a kick out of visitng the Barbary Macaque monkeys and checking out the caves in Gibraltar. Legend has it that the monkeys arrived through a fabled subterranean cave under the Straight of Gibraltar connecting North Africa to 'the Rock'. If it's there we couldn't find it! Afterwards, we returned to Nerja, located on the Costa del Sol, to relax in our amazing hotel with its incredible views of the sea.

Our First Intercambio in Alicante

noreply@blogger.com (Alc PD) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:15:00 +0000

Last week we organized our first encounter with “Alicantinos and Alicantinas” friends that study at ESATUR, a school in Alicante that prepares young people to become flight attendants. For our first intercambio, we picked The Postiguet Beach, unique scenery in Alicante downtown.

We were lucky and enjoyed a beautiful sunny afternoon and after introductions, we divided the participants in two small groups, sat under the Palm trees by the beach and started practicing our conversation skills.

During the activity, we had a chance to speak a little about ourselves, our families and friends, the cities we come from and some of our hobbies. We also had a chance to learn from our local friends some of the secrets that Alicante still has to offer us. After an hour switching from Spanish to English both groups got together and made a big circle, so everyone could meet.

It was a great chance to get to know host nationals, exchange our cell phone numbers and arrange future encounters with them in the city. Everybody liked the activity and we are looking forward to having our next meeting with them.

Pumpkin Carving in Seville

noreply@blogger.com (CEA team) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:40:00 +0000

We got together in Seville for a little Halloween celebration, American style. Students gathered to carve pumpkins and to watch a "scary" movie (Sleepy Hollow). Our student committee came up with the idea, and it was a big hit. We were really impressed with the quality and creativity of the designs that our students came up with! Check out the pictures below!

Next up, our excursion to Granada... Stay tuned.

Weekend Excursion to Madrid

noreply@blogger.com (Alc PD) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:38:00 +0000

October 25th arrived, and it was time for the Alicante group to prepare for our first overnight excursion. We had to get up early in the morning in order to get to see all the things we have planned to visit during our stay in Madrid, the capital city of Spain.

We left Alicante on the train, for about a 3 hours and 45 minute ride. As we were leaving the city behind, some of the people in our group took a little nap while others stayed awake looking out the window observing how the landscape slowly changed, transforming from the Mediterranean to the Castilian flat landscape. It was then when Don Quixote came to mind...

I tried to imagine for minute this Spanish Medieval knight fighting windmills, thinking they were giants he had to slay. After a nice ride, we got to Atocha train station, an amazing Modernist building surrounded by beautiful architecture. We were already starting to feel the flavour of a big city: movement and noise everywhere.

We headed off to our hotel and checked in. The hotel was just 5 minute walking from The Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol, two of the most well-known places in the city. The first thing we visited on Saturday afternoon was the Prado Museum, one of the most famous Arts Galleries in all of Europe. We spent a few hours admiring some of the major works by Goya, artists from the Italian School such as Tizziano, and many other major works of art that are exhibited there.

After our visit to the museum, we toured the city centre. This was my favourite part of the day. We walk through the streets until we spotted the Cibeles Fountain, where we learned that when the Real Madrid Soccer Team wins big games, all supporters and players celebrate by jumping in the fountain.

We continued our tour, stopping at the glamorous Hotel Ritz, the House of America that now holds a Post Office, the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol.

On Sunday morning we got to experience the traditional Spanish flea market, known as El Rastro. It was unbelievable! It was great experience to feel like a real Madrileño while shopping and walking around the Rastro. I loved the “calle Rivera de Curtidores”. There is such a variety of stands, selling everything from clothing to antiques, plus all kinds of souvenirs for the students to get for friends back home.

After our time at El Rastro, we went back to the hotel and we met Noel and Kate, wearing belly dancing dresses. It was so much fun!

Our last stop on the trip was a visit to El Retiro, the most important park in the
city. While some of us were exploring the park, others were just chilling out on the grass and enjoying the company of other CEA students.

After an awesome experience, we headed back to the train station to get an early evening train back to Alicante. We had a really good time talking about the places we had just visit. Before dinner we were playing riddles and “I pogo of…” By the way, if you want to learn how to pogo of…” you will need to come and study abroad with CEA in Alicante to be taught… :)

This was an intense and fun weekend. I will never forget having the opportunity to visit Madrid, one of the cities that I had always wanted to see in Spain. I am so looking forward to going on the next excursion!

Travelling along the Costa Blanca to La Vila - Alicante

noreply@blogger.com (Alc PD) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:18:00 +0000

We all know how difficult is to settle down in a city you don’t know, but the truth is that our Fall 2008 study abroad students did it very well right from the very beginning of the semester. After the first week adjusting to a new life style, people, schedules and the Spanish pace, our group felt ready to explore the surrounding area in Alicante and learn about the different traditions and resources that the city and the surrounding province has to offer.

Last Friday evening, we had our second Alicante Step by Step Activity to La Vila (Villajoyosa). First, we had a ride on the TRAM, a very modern train along the Costa Blanca, from where we could see different spots such as Playa de San Juan and the small coves hidden in the landscape on the way to our destination.

Once in La Vila, we walked down the Port and Beach area, where everybody could take pictures of the colorful Sailors' houses. From that part of the tour we learned that sailors painted their houses in very bright colors, so it was easy for them to see their homes while out at sea.

We enjoyed the very warm evening by strolling around the beach. Our students discovered how easy and inexpensive it is to make their own trips from Alicante, just by getting on the TRAM! The beach was a big hit, as were the palm trees, quietness and safety of the area, which made it a very relaxing trip.

Of course, this activity wouldn’t be complete without the visit to the Chocolate Museum. We were introduced to the Valor chocolates in Alicante and toured the factory facilities, laboratories and machines. We were all amazed to see how clean it was! And the best part of the tour came at the end: A CHOCOLATE TASTE in the Museum. We were offered different chocolates that we vate up before returning home. Yummy!