Firoz Jameel -
After spending four days here, it’s a relief to finally use an American keyboard. Because the punctuation on Spanish keyboards is in many different places, finding the apostrophe becomes a twenty minute ordeal. Aside from the different keyboards, most of us have adapted to life hereinPlease note - these videos are at normal speed, not fast motion!
Cadiz. We’ve overcome jet lag, adapted to slightly smaller quarters, and figured out the transit system (given that there are only five parallel bus lines, its not that difficult).
Yesterday, we had a slightly more relaxed day. At our school, we abandoned the grammar lessons for real human interaction. We got to talk to Spanish students. Much to our surprise, their lives are remarkably similar to ours. Many of us have similar taste in music, cinema, and television (hint, most of these songs, movies, and shows are American). During this time, we both took the time to clear up some popular misconceptions about both cultures. For example, America is NOT a nation of gun-toting cowboys (that’s only Texas) and Spain is NOT in a perpetual “siesta,” or nap (it only lasts from 2:00 until 5:30 in the afternoon). However, the most shocking revelation of all was the lack of homework. When we revealed that we spent an average of four or five hours working, our Spanish peers chuckled. The average Spanish high-school student spends an hour and a half doing homework a night. After writing thirty-five lab reports in chemistry, authoring six papers in English, and doing countless worksheets in math, all I could do was stare at them in awe and envy.
Normally, at the end of our school day, we begin our afternoon activities. However, today was different. There would be no salsa classes or paella cooking; instead, we could roam the city free until dinner time. While many of us planned on spending a relaxing day at the beach, those plans had to be shelved because of the cold, damp weather. So instead of sunbathing, we turned to the only other things we knew how to do: eat and shop. We roamed the streets of Cadiz searching for “authentic Spanish food.” Many of us stumbled upon these tiny hole-in-the-wall tapas bars. They provided us with uniquely Spanish foods (fried octopus anybody?). Better yet, these restaurants were relatively inexpensive. With this left over cash burning a hole in our wallets, we ventured to cobblestoned streets of Old Cadiz, home to many of the shops in Cadiz. There, we bought Spanish clothing from Zara (a Spanish chain that is akin to either a Gap or Express), flamenco CDs from street vendors, and of course, gifts for those back in the States. Ironically, the men of Cary Academy outspent and outpurchased many of the women.
Tomorrow, we will be visiting Seville, a city that is steeped in Spanish culture and history. We will visit the Plaza de Torres, the Catedral de Sevilla, and many other historic sites. Until then, adios!
