La Vida Española

Lindsey Spanner is a  sophomore studying Communication Studies and Spanish while also  pursuing the Writing Certificate. Follow her travels as she visits Toledo, Spain for 10 weeks during Spring Quarter.  She can also be found on Twitter, @ListenToLindsey.

I am here in Spain not only to study the language but also to study the culture.  I have learned a lot in the past five weeks about the Spanish way of life by living with a Spanish host family.  While I had learned about some of the differences between the Spanish lifestyle and the American one before departing, some of what I have encountered here has surprised me.  Nonetheless, I am adapting well to the Spanish way of life, and even like some of the Spanish customs better than their American counterparts!

Here are a few examples of differences between the Spanish lifestyle and the American lifestyle:

• Spaniards are very energy conscious.  The price of electricity in Spain is very high, and according to the news it is only going to continue to rise.  Thus, Spaniards are sure to turn off all lights before they leave a room, and they try to utilize all of the natural light they can.  Windows and doors are often open during the day to let as much natural light in as possible so as not to use electricity unnecessarily.

The windows surrounding this courtyard are a great source of natural light into the hallways of my house, and thus are almost always open during the day.

• Spaniards never go barefoot.  I have yet to see a member of my host family walking around the house without something on their feet.  However, they never wear just socks and seldom walk around in their shoes.  Instead, it is customary in Spain for each person to have a pair of slippers that they wear around the house each day.  This is a great way to sort of leave the outside world behind and feel comfortable and at ease in your own home.

• Spanish time is different from Bobcat time.  In Athens we always joke that students and staff run on “Bobcat time,” meaning that we show up at 10 minutes after the hour for events since that is when our classes start.  However, Spaniards run much later than this!  The normal lunch time is between 2 -4 p.m., while dinner time is anywhere from 8:30-11:30 p.m.  When going out for the night Spaniards don’t visit the bars until 10 or 11 p.m., and it is normal to stay out until 5 or 6 in the morning.

Representing OHIO U on the beaches of Barcelona!

• There is no such thing as an appetizer.  While you will often be served bread before your meal, if you want to order something small off of the menu then you need to look under “tapas.”  Tapas are small portions of food that are usually served free with the purchase of an alcoholic beverage.  There are certain dishes that are almost always available as tapas.  Rumored to have started because the government wanted something to deter citizens from getting drunk quickly, tapas are a social event and a great way to catch up with friends.  Spaniards either go out for tapas before dinner or after dinner, but never for dinner itself.

While this sign from a restaurant in Madrid obviously caters to English-speaking tourists, it shows that tapas are almost always free with the purchase of a drink!

While I’m not sure if always wearing slippers around the house would catch on, I think tapas could be a big hit in Athens!

Communication is Key

Lindsey Spanner is a  sophomore studying Communication Studies and Spanish while also  pursuing the Writing Certificate. Follow her travels as she visits Toledo, Spain for 10 weeks during Spring Quarter.  She can also be found on Twitter, @ListenToLindsey.

I have only been in Spain for about two weeks, but I am amazed at how well I am communicating already!  While I am by no means fluent, I can understand the majority of what is being said to me and can carry on a simple conversation fairly easily.  The main problem that I have run into since arriving here is my lack of extensive vocabulary.  There are many words that I simply do not know.

While this has been hard, I have found several ways to broaden my vocabulary and improve upon my speaking skills.

• Act it out.
  Hand gestures and other body movements can go a long way in signifying what you mean.  My madre (host mom) and I often use hand motions to explain what we mean when either she uses a word that I am unfamiliar with or I do not know the word for what I want to say.  This tactic helps in convesations with Spaniards outside of my house as well.  Just the other day I learned that gofre means waffle when my waiter used hand motions to signify what type of dessert a gofre is.
• Write, write, write.
  At the end of every day, I try to write down each new word that I remember hearing throughout that day, especially if it is useful in everyday conversation or if it was used more than once.  This way I am more likely to remember the word so that I can use it again.
  I also try to write in my journal at least once a day.  While I like to record what I did during the day in English, I write about 1-2 pages in Spanish on a topic of my choice so that I can utilize my new vocabulary and get into the habit of thinking in and expressing myself in Spanish.  I have found that I communicate much better with my family and can think of what I want to say much more quickly after I have just written a Spanish journal entry!
• Watch t.v. whenever you can.
  While this may seem like a lazy activity when there is so much else to do in a foreign country, it really does help, especially when watching a program in the native language.  It not only improves your listening skills because the speech is so fast, but it is also a great way to encounter new words.  I especially like to watch las noticias (the news) because it provides me with useful vocabulary and gives me something to talk about with my host mom.  Of course, watching the news is also a great way to learn what is going on in your host country!
• Catch enough zzz’s.
  Sleeping for hours may not be on your top list of things to do while abroad.  However, getting enough sleep works wonders.  I definitely communicate better when I am well rested.  When I am tired I tend to not be able to express myself effectively, and I also have great difficulty in understanding what is being said to me.

Following these methods is a guaranteed way to become a better speaker with a more extensive vocabulary!

Introducing Lindsey Spanner, Foreign Correpondent

Lindsey Spanner is a  sophomore studying Communication Studies and Spanish while also  pursuing the Writing Certificate. Follow her travels as she visits Toledo, Spain for 10 weeks during Spring Quarter.  She can also be found on Twitter, @ListenToLindsey.

I chose the Toledo, Spain program to study abroad  because I have always been interested in the Spanish culture and thought that historic Toledo would be the perfect place to experience it first-hand. While I am nervous about possible language barriers, I ultimately hope to overcome any communication issues in order to be more fluent in Spanish once I return to the States!

How it feels to be a foreigner

Kaitlyn Richert is a sophomore double majoring in magazine journalism and informational graphics/publication design, with a minor in Spanish. She is studying abroad in Toledo, Spain for winter quarter 2012.

People always use the expression “walk a mile in their shoes” and that is what I’ve been doing for the past 2.5 months. I am on the other side of that wall – I am the American, here in Spain, going to McDonalds when I crave some Chicken McNuggets and a McFlurry, because I miss home. I am the American shopping in European clothing stores, speaking English and using “like” in my sentences without even realizing it. I am a foreigner now. So, what’s that like, you might ask? Here’s a bit of insight into what I experience:

People stare at me everywhere I go, no matter what I’m doing. Even if I’m not talking, they persist. Maybe it’s because I have the “Snow White” combo – dark hair, light blue eyes and pale skin (well hey, in my defense, it is winter), but it’s pretty obvious that I’m American. I’m not a blond, but I might as well be here – I stand out just as much.

People assume I don’t understand Spanish. People see that I’m American, and then if they can speak English a little, they do so. But I’m living here for a period of time and I love to practice my Spanish.

They enjoy a good American accent. When we worked with a classroom full of Spaniards who were learning English, we listened to them speak our language. I spoke with three Spanish girls. As soon as the English words rolled off my tongue and my accent was clear as ever, they turned to each other and smiled, nudging one-another as if to say, “This is so cool. I want to speak like this some day.” I remember feeling this way in high school when I heard a Spaniard speak Spanish. I could hear that fluency and I thought, wow. This is the real deal. This is incredible. It was interesting, for me, to be on the other side of that experience.

“Hablas muy bien español.” When I go shopping, workers frequently say this, which means I speak good Spanish. Although it may be a self-esteem boost at times, I think it might be a sales tactic. Spaniards know I’m a foreigner and they believe the flattery will increase my chances of buying something. Maybe it will, maybe it won’t.

These are the observations I have made during my time in Toledo, which will be coming to a close this week. But even as I pack my bags stuffed with newly purchased European clothing and remnants of ticket stubs for traveling, I know that part of me will never leave this city. They say that Spaniards don’t say goodbye. Well, neither do I. Toledo, ¡hasta luego!

What TO & NOT TO pack

Jasmine Garcia is a sophomore studying public relations at Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. She is currently in Spain for winter quarter. Follow her on Twitter: @JasmineRGarcia

Packing for a quarter abroad can seem like an impossible task. A million possible scenarios run through your head and in order to combat them you bring literally  one of everything. Here is some advice on things you really do and don’t need to bring in order to save space for items that are necessary to pack.

Do Bring

Shoes, but in small quantities.

You seriously only need 3 pairs. Coming from a girl who loves shoes, it can be done. Shoes not only add a tremendous amount of weight, but they can be bought in other countries if push comes to shove. The key is to pack a cute boot for everyday wear, a comfortable shoe  for walking and for possible exercising, and another type of shoe that can be dressed up or down. 

Plain Colored Clothing

I love stripes as much as the next girl, but after wearing the same thing a few 100 times, I’m ready to throw my shirts out the window. You are going to get tired of your wardrobe really quick, so make sure you have pieces you can mix match.

Toiletries

Make sure to bring enough toiletries for your entire stay. Not only are certain brands expensive, but the country you are traveling to may not sell particular brands found in the U.S.

Travel Size Products

These will be quite convenient in the event your suitcase happens to get “lost” in translation. Also during weekends, if you plan on flying to different countries, the quart size bag rule for liquids still applies abroad so keep that in mind.

A Water Bottle

Water is not free abroad and there is a unfortunate lack of water fountains. Having a water bottle is not only Eco-friendly but is handy for those moments when thirst is at it’s peak and you can’t find a euro to purchase that chilled overpriced plastic water bottle in the supermarket.

 

An iPod touch

Although I did not bring one, I have found that an iPod touch is very convenient for travel. Calling the US is not cheap so many of my friends have a texting app and Skype on their iPod touch in order to keep in touch with family and friends. Other apps such a maps and conversion rates come in handy when traveling. Another great thing is it’s ability to connect to wifi. Since it is super lightweight you can have access to the internet anywhere you are able to connect to wifi.

An Attractive Coat

If traveling during the winter or any season for that matter, make sure you have a cute coat since you will be wearing it a lot. So far the majority of my pictures have been me wearing a jacket, scarf and boots. I have yet to be photographed in an outfit.

Don’t Bring

Your straightener, blow dryer, curling iron, etc.

Discover your natural hair. I have a semi fro, yet I’m still rocking it out. The key is air drying and letting it go wild. Styling tools not only add weight, but in the majority of cases the voltage is also different. If you need to tame your mane, you can purchase styling tools for cheap and in some cases you may be able to borrow from your host family.

Obvious Clothing

You will seriously get tired of it. As stated above, I’m ready to burn my striped shirts I absolutely adored at the beginning of my trip. Opt for bold accessories. Accessories weigh less than clothing and you can even throw them in your   carry on if weight become an issue.

Heels

The streets of Spain are very similar to Athens. They are composed of bricks and are difficult to maneuver. Save the embarrassment of a possible tumble and opt for flats. Wedges are a great alternative as well.

Happy Traveling!