The Home Stay: McLean Hudson

Since I'm still having formatting troubles with the pictures, I'll just talk about the home stay here and include pictures in the next post.

Our group's home stay was in a small town of 20,000 about thirty minutes outside of Córdoba called Cabra (translates as goat; ironically they don't have goats). I stayed with the city coordinator for EIL along with his family in their summer house. The house was very nice, and they even had a small soccer field and a small pool on their property (see video in next post). My father, Julian, my mother, Maricarmen, and their children, an eight year old boy and a 13 year old girl, named for their parents, were very gracious and patient throughout my stay.

Though I had plenty of trouble understanding my family, it was exciting because my comprehension was passable and it will not get any harder than how it was there. The first two days in Cabra were spent mostly with our families, though the kids of our group and any host siblings of the same age often met at el Paseo (a sort of town center/park) at night.

My most distinguishable memories come from the camping trip in the mountains we embarked on after two days in Cabra. I could talk about that trip for an hour, so if anyone would like a more detailed account of what we saw and did, please ask me, but for the sake of brevity, I'll summarize...

It was hot. Very, very hot. We climbed a mile in the first two hours before hiking down through a valley for the rest of the first day. Sometime after lunch, we starting walking through a pass between two peaks. The going was very rough, and at one point, we had to crawl under thorn bushes for about twenty feet. At this point it was about four in the afternoon and we'd been on the move since around 7AM. We were all very sunburned due to the flaming fireball that is the Spanish sun, exhausted, and all those other adjectives that go with city-slickers hiking through mountains in the summer, when a beautiful white town came into view through a break in the mountains. When we finally made it to the town, it was the middle of the siesta and no stores were open. As we desperately searched for a shower and aloe vera, we finally came on a beautiful little cafe next to a random castle-ish thing and...a fountain(!), all of which overlooked miles of farmland. Of course there is much more to that story, but I felt the town, Zuheros, should be commemorated for its great service to our group.

One of my favorite parts of the home stay was when the mayor of Cabra asked us to do a graffiti paint out at an underpass on a biking trail just outside the city. We were asked to do American things, so we were all debating between a giant American flag or a map of the U.S. when someone noticed we only had black, white, and grey paint. Eventually we all split up into little groups to do our own paintings. In the next post there is a video of what my friends Chuck, Wyatt, and I decided to do. I wont' ruin it with a poor description...

One day, we bussed with the other group (staying in another town) to Granada to see the Alhambra. It was absolutely gorgeous of course but the heat soiled the experience a little.

Another day, we went to Cabra's bull-fighting arena for a tour, though we did not get to see a bullfight. We did however get a little demonstration from aspiring bullfighters going against what was essentially a bicycle with horns. We also got to do a little bit of that our selves (I lost the video though).

Looking back on the home stay, there weren't many other big events to mention, but I feel I should make it clear how much fun it was just hanging out with local teenagers at the public pool or at their houses or just at el Paseo. It really was an incredible town and it was so much fun to be able to settle into everyday life with my family. From helping my father in the garden to swimming with my little brother to finally convincing my mother to let me do my own dishes, I had an awesome time with my family, and I am so thankful for their love and hospitality.

Das Alles Ist Braunschweig- Week 2 (6/23/11-6/29/11): Chris Habermann

My second week in Germany was just as great. On Thursday, I went to school, learned a lot in German class, had great food , went to ballroom dancing class, watched The Simpsons in German, and played video games with Fabian. On Friday, we took the bus to Wolfenbuettel, a small town near Braunschweig where the aristocracy of Braunschweig went after they were kicked out by the people. Along with a beautiful palace (see picture on the left), many Fachwerkhaeuser which were left untouched by the destruction of WWII, and the headquarters and brewery for Jaegermeister. After returning to Braunschweig, we went to the Okerwelle (see the picture on the right), a radio station where we were going to play some of our favorite American music and answer some questions about our stay in Braunschweig. Although I was quite nervous, the live interview went well and we played our music. On Saturday, I went to Fabian's sister's, Jana's, Abitur or Graduation, which ended up lasting three hours. Later that day, we went to her AbiBall, a graduation dance. It was a lot of fun, even with all of the ballroom dancing. On Sunday, my grandparents visited me. I hadn't seen them recently, so I was glad that they came. After they went back home, my host-family and I went to an Italian restaurant. The food was great! When we got back, Remember the Titans was on TV in German. It was interesting to say the least. On Monday I had class like I usually do and then after school we went to the old Rathaus or City Hall and then climbed to the top of its tower for an incredible view of the city. Afterwords, we went to an "Amerikanische" BBQ at a host-brother's house. On Tuesday, I went to school like normal and afterwards explored the city some more with the Americans. On Wednesday, we went to Berlin, which was loads of fun.We saw thousands of interesting and amazing things; I wish we could have stayed there for more than one day. Along with seeing many beautiful buildings and monuments, I also was able to right my name on the Berlin Wall. Berlin was a great end to the second week!

There I am writing my name on the Berlin Wall.

Here Is the iconic sign from Checkpoint Charlie.

Saying Goodbye: Preston Palm

Debriefing, a period of about 2 days at the end of our 6 weeks was a time to recuperate, buy gifts (the hat I am wearing is a gift for my grandfather), and prepare to return to our homes in the United States. We spent those last few days in a place called Valla de Angeles, a small tourist town about 30 minutes from the airport. Then it was time to say goodbye. After taking pictures with our routes and partners, we parted ways and made for home.

Final Thoughts and Reflections: Kevin Wang

61 Things Different in Italy

1. Stronger and thicker railings on highways- many layers and levels
2. More level roofs
3. Barren landscape
4. Wild plants
5. Trees- skinny trunk and mushroom at top
6. Motorcycles everywhere
7. Vineyards and farms everywhere
8. Littering abundant
9. Flowering tall and skinny plants beside highway, not just grass
10. SOS stations on highway
11. People drive so closely, especially motorcycles weaving in and out
12. Can’t go to churches without shoulders covered and long pants
13. Less car crashes
14. Plastic guards above metal railings
15. Shutters on outside of window
16. Inflaters between railings between highways and exits
17. Cage walls blocking cars from getting off bridge
18. Very clear sky always
19. Cool breeze all the time
20. Taller skinnier electric towers with points at top
21. Hay in cubes
22. Hotel shutters like garage doors with holes
23. Small breakfast with no eggs, only sliced meat
24. Lunch at 2:00
25. Dinner at 9:00
26. Not much diversity of restaurants (only Italian)
27. Simplicity: small groups playing at restaurants
28. Simplicity: Dishes cooked with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil
29. Popular vegetarian dish: omelette
30. Not customary to wear shorts
31. Domestic products, not from China
32. Kissing only for very close friends
33. Agip is main gas station
34. Basil on everything
35. Road in cities not gravel; cobblestones or white concrete instead
36. Trees either really tall and skinny or short and fat
37. Very dry
38. Pizza not always with tomato sauce or cheese
39. Electric outlet is 3 holes, 220 V
40. Soda made with real sugar
41. Smaller car with manual transmission
42. Drinking age is 16
43. Water is expensive so not as much showering
44. Mineral and gas water
45. More stray animals
46. People open windows here and without air conditioning
47. Women are not overly skinny or overly fat- medium size
48. Men- old are fat, young are extremely skinny and fit
49. Nutella is our peanut butter (abundant)
50. Not many brochures and must be bought if there are
51. Open sword and ancient weapon shops (crossbows, bows, etc.)
52. No squirrels
53. Toilet tank is high above toilet
54. Fanta actually tastes like carbonated squeezed orange juice
55. Ice cream melts much quicker and is creamier
56. A lot of street vendors and shops, not many official gift shops
57. Meals (especially dinner) should take about 2 hours
58. Pistachio is predominant!
59. Bread is much harder
60. Italians much quieter than Americans

Essay on the purpose and design of the Latin language

On my recent trip to Rome, Italy, I encountered an enlightening realization of the purpose of the Latin language. Latin does not serve a practical purpose (e.g. To survive medical school or help one ace the SAT) but simply exists as a stockpile of knowledge for humanity to revel in. Just as learning is not used for getting a good grade or being accepted into the Ivies, Latin must not be used to serve any purpose other than for satisfying man’s search for knowledge. The night before I left Rome, Dr. David Sweet, the dean of the Classics graduate school at the University of Dallas, told students in the Latin in Rome summer course to “soak in everything that comes your way”. This advice essentially describes the thing we call education. The passion to learn for the sake of learning cannot be more applicable than to the study of Latin. In the following writings, I hope to expose the intricacy, intellect, and true glory of Latin, the allegedly “dead” language.

Latin was ornately mastered by the ancient Roman writers to such an extent that not only were ideas expressed through description and content, but also through form and design. The literary devices I have studied in Latin class (e.g. Juxtaposition, chiasmus, tmesis, etc.) were widely employed by authors like Vergil, Horace, and Cicero, but are almost nonexistent in the modern world of texting, IM, and email. Today, language has been devalued, reduced to a tool used to convey ideas as quickly and efficiently as possible. This unfortunate deficiency can be attributed to the inflexible nature of English, which has evolved from Latin in such a way to express thoughts more clearly and concisely. Because of Latin’s vague nature, words could be arranged to express the content through form, as long as a few rules were adhered to. Today, though, with more clarity, we are no longer writing for the sake of writing, but for getting homework assignments done as quickly as possible with as few words as possible. Additionally, many educators have increasingly become stronger proponents of brevity, and frequently mark complex sentences as run-ons, when in fact a student has merely attempted to glorify the English language. While in Rome, I studied a section of Tacitus’ Annals explaining the advent of the principate. In this passage, the numerous causes for Caesar Augustus’ rise to power were covered in one immense sentence spanning 8 lines in my Latin in Rome textbook. Would this sentence be considered “run-on” simply based on the assertion that it is too long? Furthermore, the form conveys meaning. The length of this sentence suggests the continuous flow of history and the smooth and explainable transition from the Republic to the Principate. I also studied Vergil’s Georgics, which we see today as a handbook for farmers. In fact, Vergil most likely did not intend for this work, written in verse, to serve any practical purpose. The extensive vocabulary and the fact that the work was written as a poem suggest that Vergil did not write Georgics for lowly plebs and farmers, but simply for himself and to satisfy his own hunger for literature. This passionate and unconditional love of academia was what drove writers of Latin.

After reading so many Classical works during my Latin studies inside and outside of school, I now see that these works are truly the greatest writings, composed by the greatest minds in history. The ability to scrutinize deep into the psychological foundations of the world while using the form of the Latin language itself to convey powerful messages illustrates the power of the ancient minds of Plato, Cicero, and others. Thus, the purpose of studying Latin: to read and absorb the knowledge of ancient supernaturals. Although there only seem to be endless homework assignments and tests at the current stage of my education, these are the bare essentials to preparing me for the day when I can pick up Cicero’s De Republica and read it in full glory of the language of the greats. Thus, the ability to read Latin is not as much a skill as it is a privilege; a privilege to read the thoughts of the Classical minds and to experience the beauty of the mother of Western languages.

* I would like to thank the Wilson family and MBA for making this trip a reality. Without the Language grant opportunity, I would not have known about the wonderful Latin in Rome program, and without years of study, I would never have been exposed to the prowess of the Latin language.

*You can view some more of my pictures at http://latininromepictures.shutterfly.com/pictures

Snap Shots of a City: McLean Hudson

Life and Related Matters in Córdoba: McLean Hudson

On July 2, we had our first day of language training at Academia Hispanica in Córdoba. Upon arriving at the school, the 27 of us (there was another EIL group of 13 on the trip with us) were divided into three groups based on our levels of Spanish. I'm happy to report that I was in the highest level, which was even better because it was the best group of kids of the three classes. We also had a really good teacher named Rafa (right).

On Sunday (July 3) the two groups went to the great Mosque of Córdoba. The architecture and detail work were truly amazing, and I must say pictures do not do them justice. Unfortunately, I'm having some format problems right now with the pictures in this post so all accompanying photos, for this post at least, will be in the next post.

My first Independence Day abroad met with one major disappointment: minors are not allowed to buy fireworks in Spain. Over the next couple of days, we went to a public pool several times to fill down-time, which was a welcome way to fight the heat.

One thing that amused me about the heat in Spain was how much all the Northerners on the trip complained. Even though it was routinely forty degrees (102 degrees Fahrenheit), their was absolutely no humidity and several days felt balmy compared to the muggy heat of Tennessee.

As a part of school, we went to a gypsy market to learn to barter for goods, and I ended up getting two shirts for about eleven dollars. One night after I had recovered from some stomach pains, Chuck and I decided to skip the hotel dinner and go out to find a good local restaurant. Up to that point, we had been eating three meals a day at the hotel, which to us seemed like a huge waste of cultural opportunity. We settled on a quaint back alley place called La Abacería which turned out to be excellent. We even returned for tapas occasionally when we were in the area. Afterwards, we met three girls who spoke just enough English to make communication easy when we couldn't conjure the Spanish.

My favorite activity we did in language training was where we went out into the streets of the city to ask Spaniards about random issues. Being out of our comfort zones and having to rely on our Spanish was just really a fun experience for all of us (except for Chuck, because he doesn't even like to talk in English).

After dinner on the 11, about twelve of us went to the Arab baths, where we got to sit in the hot, warm, and cold baths. We also got some pretty awesome massages. The highlight of that whole excursion for me was neither the baths nor the massage, but the tea. They had kettle after kettle of the best liquid ever to enter my mouth. I swear I pestered every employee there for what it was but they refused to tell me.

Our last night in Córdoba was the 12, and we went out to a flamenco show. The dances were way more entertaining than I had anticipated, but the experience was slightly maligned by a stomach ache and the most uncomfortable chair in all of Spain. One of the best dancers seemed borderline crazy with how intense he got.

So these were the highlights of Córdoba. For all pictures related to this post, please see "Snap Shots of a City."

July 24-28 - Shanghai and Thanks: Rett Hooper

On July 24 we traveled through Jinan to get to Shanghai. We went by bullet train (approx. 150 mph) to get to the large city. There we shopped, went to the zoo, saw an acrobatic show, and walked around. Shanghai was probably the coolest city I have ever been to. It was very American-friendly with a lot of English scattered around, and the city was pretty, clean, and huge! About 23 million people live in Shanghai.

I would like to thank the Wilson Family for allowing me to go on this wonderful trip. Without your kindness, none of this would have been possible. I learned more and had more fun than I ever imagined I would, and I would do it all again in a heartbeat. This experience has changed my life for the better, and I want to thank you for helping me grow. Xie xie, nin men!