My Second Week in Villanueva – Giulia

Hello everybody!  My second week in Villanueva has just begun, and things are going great!  Last weekend I participated in my first “ruta de tapas,” which is a Spanish tradition of going around the different bars and restaurants in town and ordering a “tapa” and a drink at each spot.
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A “tapa” is essentially a small dish, and each place has a different specialty.  I enjoyed all of them!  My favorite drink was a tasty mixture of carbonated juice and wine that’s called a “tinto de  verano.”  Absolutely delicious!
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It has been quite hot this past week in Villanueva, so unfortunately I haven’t been doing much during the day other than working and going to the gym.  The latter has been a great and productive way to pass time!  The gym is very close to my house, and I enjoy running on the treadmill and stretching.  It makes me feel better about the large amount of food that I consume every day!
A few of my friends and I went on a walk around Villanueva the other day and we saw the outskirts of the town, as well as a few horses and some goats.  Unfortunately, our walk wasn’t very long, since we made the mistake of going out at one of the hottest points in the day.  However, it was still lovely to explore more of Villanueva and gain a better sense of the town.
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Work has mainly consisted of preparation for the intensive classes that begin in July.  We each need to get assigned our specific classes before we can begin to write our actual lesson plans, but we have begun to make general vocab lists and quizzes that can be applied later.  We have also made presentations about our hometowns, which we have been presenting to the different classes all week.  My presentation is obviously about Berkeley, but I added a slide about Oakland and another about San Francisco in order to give students the bigger picture of the Bay Area as a whole.  Speaking about my city has made me realize how much I truly love it; I could talk about it for hours.  There are aspects of my home that I definitely miss while being here, but I am grateful for the opportunity to experience this new culture.
Maya, Kaelen and I are spending the day in Seville tomorrow, and I’m very excited!  I’ll provide all the details in my next post, as I’m sure I’ll have a lot to talk about.  Farewell!

Caracoles, Jamón and Tapas – Maya

Hello Villanueva de Cordoba! I am Maya, one of the students from the United States here in Spain for the Summer to teach English. I just studied abroad in Chile for the past 4 months. Chile speaks Spanish with a very different accent and uses a lot of different words, so it has been fun learning from my host family and the Academia Manhattan community. One thing that I have really enjoyed here in Spain is the different food. In the week, I have been here, I have tried gazpacho, jamón, tinto de verano, and caracoles…and I haven’t found anything I don’t like yet!

If you can’t already tell, I am a super big foodie. My favorite think about Villanueva de Cordoba thus far is the custom of tapas. Last week, the group of interns and I went out for la Ruta de Tapas. This is an annual event where each participating restaurant has a special tapa. A tapa is a small serving of food. If you went to ten restaurants and tried their special tapa, you could get entered into a raffle. I was only able to go to 5, but it was still so much fun and was a great introduction to Villanueva de Cordoba. I also had the opportunity to try tinto de verano, which I really enjoyed.

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I also had the opportunity to try jamón, ham, and gazpacho with my family. Someone came over to my host family’s house to cut ham in our kitchen. It took a long time, but the ham was so good, better than any ham I have tried in the United States or in Chile. My host mom also made gazpacho for me. Since it has been so hot in Villanueva for the past week, upwards of 35 degrees Celsius, gazpacho has been a great way to cool off.

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My host mom and I also went out for snails (caracoles) and beer (cerveza) my first night here in Villanueva. This was a fun welcome into the town. I had never tried snails before coming to Spain, but I am always ready to try new foods although I didn’t really know what to except. At first, I had a lot of trouble sucking the snails out of the shells, but once my host mom taught me how to use a toothpick, I found them very delicious.

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This past week has been full of new experiences and I am very excited to see what other new experiences I will have this summer!

2 Weeks In – Catherine

So far I’ve been in Villanueva for a little more than 2 weeks and feel as though I have already done more things here in Villanueva than 4 months studying in Cordoba. To be fair, I was strapped ball and chain to the library at UCO for months on end as I struggled to understand the works of Vallejo-Inclan, Buero Vallejo, Onetti, among others when I could barely understand the Cordobesan accent. But now it’s summer (almost) and I’m free (kind of)!

I’ve been super lucky to be placed with such an amazing host family: Jose Antonio and Mariana and inadvertently Engracia, Pepe, and Antonio Jose. Their ongoing goals are to make me feel part of the family and to never ever let me go hungry, and I can say for sure that they have already accomplished them. Since being here, I have accompanied my host family to bars and restaurants around Villanueva, as well as trips to Pozoblanco and Islantilla. And each night, I have gone to bed crushed by the weight of my own belly.

So far my experiences in Villanueva have included working at the academia, going to the Feria Chica, going to the Romeria, leaving Villanueva to shop in Pozoblanco with Mariana and Engracia, leaving Villanueva to dance zumba in Pozoblanco with Mariana, visiting the animal rescue shelter with Libby and her host sister, Luna, taking Spanish classes with Mariana and Huan Kon, seeing Antonio Jose perform in the town band before the Feria and during the Romeria, visiting Islantilla with Jose Antonio and Mariana and various family outings for lunch and drinks with the whole gang. I have really enjoyed my time here so far.

I’ve loved getting to know the students at the Academia. It’s an amazing experience getting to work with so many different age groups. I enjoyed getting to know about some of the students through the topics they had prepared for their speaking exam. I also love just simply talking to students and learning about their day. The students at the academia have a really great sense of humor, and watching them progress in their English always inspires me to progress in my Spanish.

I look forward to seeing what more Villanueva has to offer in the weeks to come as we at the academia prepare for the intensive courses. It’s sure to be an unforgettable summer.

Until next time!

My Arrival in Villanueva – Giulia

I have been living in Villanueva for almost a week now!  Unfortunately, I had a very long journey getting here; I missed two of my flights, as well as my train to Villanueva.  I had to spend a night in Madrid, which I found out the next day was the same night that Madrid won the Euro Cup!  Funny coincidence!  But at the time it wasn’t so funny – just exhausting and rather stressful.  I was relieved to finally arrive in Villanueva 2 days after I’d left San Francisco.  My luggage arrived a few days later.
Villanueva is quite a beautiful town, and everyone I have met so far has been very kind.  My host family have made sure that I’m completely at home, and I’m very grateful to be staying with them!  They took me to the Romería on Monday, which is a Catholic festival celebrated throughout Spain, and it was amazing.  I’ve never experienced anything like it; in Berkeley, where I’m from, there are few local celebrations of the same caliber.  The fireworks were my favorite part.  My host family also took me to Pozoblanco a few days ago, so I’ve had a chance to explore outside of Villanueva, and I’m hoping to take a quick trip to Córdoba in the coming weeks.  This is my first time in Spain and I hope to make the most of it!
In terms of work, things at the Academia haven’t been very busy this week due to exams.  I sat down with a few of the students directly prior to their oral exams and helped them prepare for their conversations and topics.  Every student I interacted with was more than prepared and quite pleasant to work with.  I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone at the Academia and helping them achieve their goals!  Everything has been great so far and the future looks bright and full of paella!
-GMC 🙂

First Weeks in Villanueva – Libby

I now have been in Villanueva de Córdoba for almost two weeks. I have met most of the students. We practiced the students’ topics and interactive speaking tasks. I really enjoyed meeting the students and getting to know them. Their topics helped me learn about their interests and their lives, which was very interesting and fun to learn. Last weekend, was the Féria chica. I had lechón for the first time, which was delicious. I also had flamenquín and pizza at mycafe, which were also delicious. The caseta was fun and there were a lot of people there. I knew some of the Spanish music, but not all of it. I had dinner with my host family one night and helped my host sister, Luna take her niece and nephew on the bumper car and carousel rides. I also went to Calerito 2.0 that has a different kind of flamenquín, that was very good with lemon.

I am starting to feel more comfortable with my host family. I went with my host sister, Luna to the animal shelter that she volunteers at. I really liked it! The dogs were so cute and happy to see us. There were dogs of many sizes. I have now met four out of five of my host parents’ children.

Monday was the romería and I walked with Luna and her friends from Villanueva to the Virgen de Luna sanctuary. It was a fun walk, but a bit tiring because it was hot outside. We saw the Virgen de Luna in the church and ate some food at the stalls by the sanctuary. It reminded me of processions during Semana Santa, but it was different because there were tractors pulling carts of people yelling and having fun and there were lots of people on horses.

Kaelan – First Weeks in Villanueva

Hey everyone!

So far, my first two weeks in Villanueva have been filled with fun and adventure. When I arrived, I have to admit that I was shocked at the scorching heat. Given, I had heard it was hot but I definitely wasn’t expecting 40C! The last few weeks have been a transition in regards to the heat, but at the very least it’s not humid.

Getting used to Spain hasn’t been nearly as difficult as I was expecting. The accent in Andalusia is not as different as the Spanish I speak in the United States with my friends, so the transition hasn’t been difficult. However, I was incredibly shocked when I saw horses casually strolling through town!

Last weekend was also la Féria chica. It was incredible amounts of fun, and I was surprised at how late the party went on for! The music was amazing, and I definitely ate my fair share of buñuelos. It was also very nice because it seemed like the entire town was there, so I was able to see both students and parents alike enjoying themselves.

Well, that’s all for now! Stay tuned for more updates!

-Kaelan

Learning through teaching – Lucy C-H

A lot has changed since my first week in Villanueva. I have moved out of the transition phase and grown more and more accustomed to life here with my family and at the Academia, creating a routine and familiarizing myself with the people of the town.

Even though the transition phase is over and we are beginning our third week of intensive classes, I find that teaching the courses here is constantly engaging. Each week I teach several classes, at least one of each level, whether it be B1, B2, C1, or our adorable young learners. This provides me with the opportunity to design and execute lesson plans for a variety of students with different levels and strengths. It is fascinating to see how individuals interact in class with the material. I am learning how to facilitate learning, something that is very specific for each person and also very particular for Spanish speakers learning English! It forces me to think quickly in both languages and consider the contrasting communication styles of each.

It is also important to mention that the students at the Academia are wonderful. Truthfully, I greatly admire their dedication to their English studies, especially during the summer. For some it is obligatory for a job or for school, but for some it is purely for their own satisfaction. However, no matter the reason, every student arrives to class with a positive attitude and a real desire to improve. Because of this, teaching at the Academia is a pleasure.

I am already starting to feel sad at the thought of saying goodbye to my students in a few weeks. I could not have realized how special it would be to be able to discuss all sorts of themes with them and get to know their personalities in such a unique way. Through each week’s topics, such as travel or media, politics or fashion, I have been able to see the world through their eyes a little which is truly enriching as we come from such different backgrounds. I will certainly remember the things I have learned from my students long past my short stay in Villanueva because they have allowed me a greater understanding of Spain and its culture.

Travels in Spain – Meike

A whole month has now past since I arrived in Villanueva. By now we have started teaching our classes, met many more students at the academia and explored more parts of the town. Over the past couple of weekends I also traveled to Toledo, Córdoba and Madrid.

I really enjoy traveling around Spain because every part of the country is vastly different. I saw a lot of Spain while studying abroad in Córdoba and I love returning to cities I’ve already visited because there is always more to see. Two weeks ago the Academia crew traveled to Toledo (it was my second time there) for a Guinness world record competition for the largest plate of ham. I was particularly excited to see what a competition like this would be like.

We arrived early in the morning and watched some of the ham cutters clean and prepare their hams. Ham cutting is definitely an art and does not look easy to do. There was a stage set up in the square right in front of the famous cathedral that would soon become the worlds largest plate of ham and once the competition started every single plate of ham that was cut was weighed and then placed on the stage. The competition lasted for about two hours. During that time we explored some of Toledo; we visited a metal sword and jewelry workshop (very common in Toledo), an underground pottery store and enjoyed the beautiful medieval views, which reminded me a lot of Granada in Andalusia. At the competition the record for largest plate was broken! We even got to try some of the ham, even though it was not of the best quality since it had been baking in the sun for two hours. It was still a really fun experience!

My first week in Villanueva – Shana

When I arrived in Villanueva two and a half weeks ago, I didn’t speak any Spanish. I could barely understand anyone, let alone carry on a conversation. Although I was so excited to be in Spain and in this amazing and quaint town, it was incredibly frustrating to not be able to communicate with most people. Having never been outside of the United States before nor in a situation where I couldn’t communicate freely, I was initially conflicted between feeling so lucky to be here yet immensely isolated as a non-Spanish speaker.

This past week, things got easier. I started my classes and met Spanish students who are striving to learn a new language, too. I am constantly meeting new people from the town who are incredibly understanding and kind with me, despite the language barrier. And of course, thanks to my host family especially, I have felt so welcome here. I am so grateful to Rafi, Tere, and Juanra for being so wonderful to me; they have gone out of their way to make me comfortable here, have put up with my endless “más despacio, por favor” and “no entiendo” annoyances, and have done so much to familiarize me with Andalucía’s unique culture. I could not have asked for a better place to live.

Despite the ups and downs, I am having the best time here. From teaching cool and enthusiastic English students at the academia, to attending a ham-cutting spectacle in Toledo, to going to my first Botellón last weekend, this has been an incredibly rewarding experience thus far. I can’t believe I have been here for almost three weeks; I have already improved so much in my Spanish (I can actually have a conversation now!). Looking forward, I am so excited for what’s to come this month with the academia and also to continue to improve in Spanish. Although these past weeks have been very trying for me, I can appreciate the hard work, struggle, and yet unequivocal growth that got me to where I am right now!

Week one in Villanueva – Meike

It has now been over a week since Lucy and I moved to Villanueva. Having studied in Córdoba this past year, I thought living in Villanueva would be a similar experience, however I’ve already noticed that living in a small town is very different! The white washed houses make all of the streets look similar, making it possible to still get lost in this small town. When I arrived I immediately noticed that people were greeting each other everywhere we went; the whole town seems to know one another, which is so different from my suburban town in the states where I don’t even know some of my neighbors.

In the short amount of time that we have been here, we’ve already learned a lot about the town, mostly from the students at the academia. We arrived in Villanueva in time to partake in “La Ruta de la Tapa,” an annual food festival for which many restaurants in town prepare a special tapa and anyone who tries ten tapas gets to enter a raffle. Unfortunately I only tried 8 tapas, but they were all delicious and made me excited to explore more restaurants in the town. Besides eating, Lucy and I have also visited the library, the gym and the church de San Miguel.

Villanueva also celebrates many unique traditions. Despite its size there are so many! Some examples are Las Romerías, La Feria chica, la Feria grande and La Feria de la Matanza. During my time in Spain I have found that most cities and pueblos celebrate their own versions of these traditions. It is something that I really admire and appreciate about Spanish culture because it creates strong community and reflects the pride that people feel for the hometowns. I am very excited to be living in Villanueva this summer and experiencing a new Spanish lifestyle!