How this travel abroad experience has changed me

The most obvious way this experience has changed me personally is I now have a much greater appreciation for my home the great state of Texas. Within the first week of being gone I was already missing soaking up the burning Texas sun and barbequing poolside at my friend Ken's house. I never want to leave Texas for more than 2 and a half weeks again. Another way I can see that this has changed me is I kind of have an envy for the way Spanish people live. I hate having to be on a schedule and I felt like nobody there was on a schedul. Stores were open when they wanted to be open and closed when they wanted to be closed. Denise told me having to be on schedule was part of growing up but I still dont like it and am going to avoid it. I would see a guys with two or three beautiful girls sitting at cafes sipping coffe and bottled water. Hours later I would pass by again and they were still there relaxing. How Nice! Those people know how to relax maybe a little bit to much,but still I think they have a much better quality of life than we do. I have noticed that after coming home from school I eat lunch and take a 3 or 4 hour siesta like the Spanish do. It's to hot to do anything else anyway.

One thing that I did enjoy even though it meant being on a schedule was all the hands on learning experience. It was much more interesting and rewarding to go see an actual painting displayed in a museum than to just read about it in a book and see a picture that does the painting no justice. Instead of just reading about the spanish and thir culture I got to see what they looked like and I got to talk to some of them. Instead of reading a recepie in a cook book and giving a risky attempt to make it, I could walk across the street and have a professional prepare it for me.

The main way this trip has changed my views on the world is I thought everyone was going to be very cold toward us because we were Americans. Some were but it was only when we deserved it. People would only tease me about being an American in a jokingly way. I loved it when the spanish females would call me Yankee because their accent made the word yankee sound so funny. Within a couple of days I relaized everyone didnt hate us and I felt very comfortable in Spain. I didnt think that there would be so much American Influence in Spain I knew I would see Mc Donalds but I was surprised to see a lot of other fast food chains there as well. I was shocked to hear more songs that they play in America and that Im very familiar with than songs that I wasn't while I was drinking beer in bars or writing and checking email in the cyber cafes.

Im very glad Palo Alto gave me the opportunity to travel to Spain. I am almost certain that if it wasn't for Palo Alto I may have never gotten the chance to visit Spain.This experience has made me want to travel outside of the United States more, just not for three weeks at a time. I hope A.C.C.D. continues to offer their students these great opportunities to enhance there education and lives.

Goya's Third of May 7/8/07

While visiting the Prado in Madrid, we got the chance to view many of Goya's paintings. I had never really heard of Goya before visiting the Prado. I now have a new appreciation for the artist.I even went to go pay my respect and visited his tomb on the last day of my trip. One of Goyas most famous pieces of work titled the"Third of May 1808"painted during the year of 1814. The painting is a piece of art displaying Goya's theme against war. In the painting, innocent civilians are being murdered by Napoleon's troops. Lots of interesting things went into Goya's painting for example one thing that brings your focus to the painting is a man in a white shirt with a look of horror on his face as he is about to be killed. His hands are spread out. Some say Goya did this on purpose to resemble the image of Jesus Christ being Crucified. Also, the image of the white shirt displays the innocence of the civilian. It was interesting that Goya never really showed the face of the soldiers. Perhaps this was done on purpose to illustrate that these soldiers were not human but instead killing machines. Although this painting is very popular, it is not my favorite. During Goya's later years in life, he went deaf.During this period Goya painted a different style and it was labled Goyas dark paintings. I favor these dark paintings because they are more imaginative and gruesome than Goya's early worksof painting royalty and bright colorful pictures. My favorite dark painting is labled "Saturn Devouring His Son",painted in 1819.I liked it because there was such detail in the crazed look on Saturns face and there was lots of gore in the painting. I found it interesting that Goya did not name this painting. It was named after his death by others. Im glad I visited the Prado because it introduced me to new painters that I had not heard of before and probably never would have heard of if I hadnt taken the time to visit the beautiful museum.

How Gaudi breaks from traditional spanish artistic traditions

Gaudi breaks traditional spanish architecture in many ways. First, Gaudi´s work isn´t as pretentious as most of the spanish architecture Ive seen so far. Most of the homes he designed don't take up a couple city blocks such as the Palacio Real I saw in Madrid. Although not as much detail went into the stone work, there is always lots of color and twists and turns in such things as the chimneys. I liked all the different colored tile that make up the homes. It gives Gaudi's work a psychadelic look. I was also very impressed by the Sagrada Familia church, even though I only saw it from the outside. To me, the huge church looks like a royal crown. I have a feeling Gaudi knew he wouldn't live to see it fully completed. The cranes are still there adding to the construction. I wonder when the church is scheduled for completion. I ever make the trip again I would want to see the church lit up at night. I've seen pictures of it in postcards,and the light adds more appeal to the already beautiful church.

Today I´m Indiana Jones

We have arrived in Valencia.What a gorgeous city! A lot of the cities here remind me of Miami. The only difference is that a lot more time,effort and thought went into the architecture. The time qualifications for the Americas Cup sail boat racing is going on along the coast here as I speak. I overheard that the Holy Grail is somewhere in town and one of my favorite movies is "Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade".I feel like I have to find where it´s location is to experience what Indiana Jones was going through looking for such a treasure. It´s not going to be easy, I now know why Indiana Jones never traveled on his excursions with females every store we see they have to go in. Sarah seems excited about the Holy Grail so maybe today I might actually see something besides what the local La Cantera looks like.

I also am having a great deal of anxiety trying to get anyone to want to give me a decent rate to exchange dollars to euros. Yesterday in Barcelona,a middle easterner who spoke perfect English was in line in front of me and he was telling me that the value of the dollar is really falling here. I think I´m ready to just break down and see what I can get.

Almost everyone in Barcelona was very disapointed yesterday. Thier soccer team lost the world championship to Madrid the night before. Fireworks were going off all throught the game because Barcelona was up most of the game and at the end the Madrid fans decided to put on a show too. Gary, our tour guide, is from Madrid and I could tell that he wanted to run the streets of Barcelona with his teams flag but he didnt for fear of not making it back safely to meet us for dinner.

My time is running out at the cafe and my stomach is starting to rumble. I saw a cuban restaraunt and wanted to try it but didn´t because I didn´t want to seperate from the group. Soon you will hear how my expedition for the holy grail turned out.

Why Should you care that Im here

Why sould you care that im here? Ok this is an interesting question that I´m required to answer for class. The main reason I think you should care is I´m a representative of the United States of America. The actions and behavior I display is going to make a lasting impression on the locals.Im affraid it´s too late. I feel that some locals have had very bad experiences with American tourists and despise us when they see us here. I literally am starting to experience how the Mexican Nationals feel when they're in the United States, and I feel like sometimes they are treated badly when visiting their neighbors to the north.I know I have personal grudges against some of them. When I was working at the Gap and groups of up to ten people would storm the store 5 minutes before closing time while the employees were trying to clean up and fold everything .By the time they left it was sometimes 15 to 20 minutes after closing time the store looked like a natural disaster went through it, and they didnt buy anything because we were giving them dirty looks ten minutes past closing time. Im sure the locals here have had simlar experiences of what I have experienced working at the GAP.

Another reason you should care that I´m here is I´m starting to learn a couple things throught this journey. If anybody has the guts to come out here, I can give advice. Ive had some good meals and bad ones. Im starting to learn the subway system in Madrid. I am proud of myself that I havent gotten lost.... ok. i'll admit ive only used one line, but hey, give me some credit its a little intimidating. I know what paintings are in the Prado and which ones arn´t....I was expecting to see some Picassos and didn´if you're looking for them I can tell you which museum is displaying them: The Reina Sofia.

I feel like we just got here and were already leaving Madrid

Yesterday the 12th and13th were our first two days in Madrid. El Palacio Real is probably the most pretentious place I´ve ever seen. Words can´t explain how decadent and detailed the outsides walls are. All the staircases are polished marble and I didnt think that they would put so much effort into a celing so I didn´t bother to look up until somebody did and just said ohmigod Ish look up. There´s paintings on the celings. I have it on my camera as soon as I learn how to post photographs everyone can see it. By the way your not supposed to take pictures inside and dont ask me how I know this so consider yoursleves lucky I got one.

My first impressions of Spain

It´s about ten in the morning. My eyes open quickly as I´m unexpectedly awakened from a half conscience sleep by a beautiful flight attendant putting a government form for entry on my lap.It's the same one who continuously brought me water when I asked for it in the middle of the night. I notice we're quickly descending I can see the ground out the window on the other side of the plane. It´s the first time I see a different continent with my own eyes. It looks dry and the color is brown. It looks like a desert, not what I pictured the outskirts of Madrid to look like. Before I know it, I start seeing lots of apartment buildings and a few high rise buildings I can see lots of mini cars traveling a long the highways. In no time at all a sudden jolt indicates we've touched ground I´m in Madrid my Journey has officially begun.

Everyone has gotten off the plane and were standing in line for them to stamp our passports and turn in that form we were handed. I take a look around as were in line the airport is under major construction work crews are painting the walls I don't know what to think of the airport to me it seems like every major airport i´ve come across in travel is going through some sort of renovation. I´m told to approach the customs agent at the window it will be my first encounter with a local. To my surprise shes gorgeous she has a warm smile and a calming Spanish speaking voice thank God I understand her and shes makes me feel welcome. Within the hour all of us have our baggage and are heading towards our tour bus to check in to our hotel.

As I look out the window I think to myself Madrid seems to be pretty much what I expected of it. Lots of pedestrians are going about there day and the traffic looks very intimidating. One thing that has shocked me is that I haven't heard one driver blare their horn and yell profanities like they do in New York City I'm kind of impressed. We have arrived at our hotel by the outside looks of it I'm kind of pleased I was kind of worried what we were going to end up in. Its very metropolitan and classy looking the floor is marble and they have modern furniture. As I get to my room I'm a little disappointed at the size of the bed...I think the one I had as a toddler was bigger but it´s ok I'm already exhausted so I'm sure it will do its purpose. Theirs only enough time to wash my face, brush my teeth and change my shirt we need to meet at the bus we have reservations to view the Palacio Real De Madrid.

I´m thanking God I can speak a little bit of Spanish. I´ve noticed that I'm getting a lot further with the locals than most people in the group are just because I attempt to speak it. Some locals plain out are disgusting me the way they treat the tourists if they don't attempt to speak it. Here's an example... it literally pissed me off when I understood a reply to a question a girl in the group asked. She simply asked in English how much an item cost and the waiter replied´´ a little more than bottled water and a little less than a gin and tonic´´ in Spanish what kind of an Answer is that no respect once so ever. I asked how much an item cost in Spanish and he gave me the exact price.

Another observance I´ve made is how visually stimulating everything is. I was shocked at how much detail and imagination go into the architecture in almost every bulding especially government ones. Everyone wasant lying to me when they said its hard to find an unattractive woman here. We Will see if and how any of my thoughts change about this magnificent country.One thing for sure is it is very very different from Los Estados Unidos.

Conversations I heard In Spain
While we were in Barcelona, Barcelona's soccer team was playing Madrid's soccer team in Madrid for the championship. You could tell most of the city was watching the game. The streets had few pedestrians and there was hardly any traffic at all. I could feel the excitement in the air as I stepped outside to see if I could see any of the fireworks I was hearing. Gary our tour guide was glued to the TV watching the game in the hotel lobby. This game was very important to Gary because he lives in Madrid. A couple minutes after being outside Gary joined me and was jumping up and down with excitement. When he was done jumping up and down he told me "Madrid won were champions". As soon as he finished that sentence he was on the phone with friends in Madrid singing what I think were victory chants that the team sings afer wining games.

The next day you could tell most of Barcelona was very disapointed. While walking the crowded streets Gary whispered to me, "look how disapointed everyone looks , I wish I had my Real Madrid team falg so I could go running through the streets with it but I wouldn't dare because id probably get my butt kicked". When I was standing still for a moment I could hear people talking about the game. The people very frustrated that Barcelona lost because they had a lead during the game. Also people were talking about which players will be playing next year and how they thought the team needed to adapt to have another chance at the championship next year.

Another conversation I had in Spanish was with Garys friend who had dinner with us the first evening in Madrid. I sat next to him and Gary during our dinner at El Museo De Vino. It came up that Gary was part Cuban like I was and he and told me that his friend had recently visited Cuba. He didn't speak any english but I understood his responses to the questions I had about his trip. I asked him if he thought it was safe to go to Havana and he said it was. The only real complaint he had was that there are lots of people trying to solicite you to visit certain restaraunts,clubs and tourist sites. He said it got very annoying. Im glad I had this conversation with him because im interested in visiting my distant family in Havana very soon.