What do you know about the Spanish-speaking world?

Spanish is the official language 21 countries. Take a look at this map to see them.

A person is Hispanic if their roots extend from Spain in some form. Latinos are people that are from the Spanish-speaking world that are not DIRECTLY from Spain. So Latinos are Hispanic but not all Hispanics are Latino. Brazil in NOT a Spanish-speaking country. Though it is located in South America and borders a few Spanish-speaking nations it was settled and claimed by Portugal; therefore, the first language of Brazil is Portuguese.

There is only one rain forest in the US National Park System. It is called El Yunque and it is located in Puerto Rico. It is in the US Natl. Park System due to the fact that Puerto Rico is an Associated Civil State of the US. Puerto Ricans are citizens of the US and need no special documentation to travel the continental US.

Some Latin dances you’ll learn about this semester and others are: La Bomba, La Plena, Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, el Tango, Cumbia, Durangquese. Feel free to YouTube these dances if you are curious to see them.

The Arabic/Spanish relation dates back to the year 711. Muslim empires from Saudi Arabia and North Africa occupied Spain for over 700 years. During that time some words in the Arabic vocabulary became part of everyday Spanish vocab. Examples: alfombra, almohada, aceituna, jabón, algodón, almendra, ojalá. Notice anything? The ‘al’ in some of the words mentioned stems from the article ‘the’ in Arabic. All of southern Spain was known as Al-Andalus – meaning ‘to become green at the end of summer’ in Arabic - during the Muslim occupation of Spain and is now called Andalucía.


Hopefully, you will learn quite a bit about a few of these countries during the semester. Be very careful. Some grocery stores label a certain aisle in the store ‘Spanish foods’ that are not Spanish at all. If they were Spanish foods they would be from Spain. The Spanish food aisle is designed for people of Hispanic or Latino roots. The problem is that there are so many countries that are Spanish-speaking that it would take a VERY LARGE aisle to hold the food that is eaten in these countries. Most people think all ‘Latino/Hispanic’ food is hot – it isn’t. Outside of Mexico very few countries use the types of peppers the create heat. Most are sweet or smoky and provide very little punch. You will have to do a little research on a dish of your choice later in the semester.

Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexican Independence Day. Mexicans celebrate their independence day with el Grito in Mexico City, the nation’s capital, on September 16th. Cinco de Mayo celebrate the day the French army was fought away from the city of Puebla, but it is hardly celebrated at all in Mexico. No one in Mexico will tell you ‘Happy Cinco de mayo’: it’s just not celebrated. Mother’s day is actually a very important holiday in the Spanish speaking world. Other holidays celebrate different saints in Catholicism as well as Christmas (Feliz Navidad!) and the Day of the Dead.

Lo que recordamos del Español 1: Click the image to see our results

Immersion Update

The original 15 spots for the Immersion Course in Costa Rica have already been filled. It looks like this year's group will be the largest yet! Just can't say enough about the program and the entire group here at the college.

Inmersión en Costa Rica

Once again, preparations are under way for this years "Inmersión Cultural." This year's experience will take place in Costa Rica during the end of May and the first part of June. So far, we have an awesome, diverse group of students that are very excited about the course.

If you are interested in keeping up with the adventure, I would suggest following us here on the blog, or by joining us for the trip to Costa Rica!

Immigration: What do we do?

We have had a great discussion via "Moodle" regarding immigration. It is easy to think about building a wall to prevent people from coming to the US, but what can we do once people have arrived to an area and settled? How can we demand that a group of people assimilate into our culture and learn our language, yet not provide the resources and opportunities for this to take place?

Hopefully, you have visited some of the links I sent you all regarding taxation of immigrants. This is on of the most common argument used when stating the negatives of illegal immigration, but it is not always very accurate. It is always better to be well-informed so that your argument is much stronger and true.

You have also been provided a resource that gives the process to become "legal." As you can see, it is very complex and could take up to 20 years to achieve. Again, this is a case that could be simplified bia immigration reform.

I hope that you are more knowledgeable when it comes to issues regarding immigration. It is a very difficult issue, and it is marred with gray areas that don't allow for clear application of laws, nor the protection of individuals being faced with deportation.

Summer-summer-summertime!

The summer is off to a traveling start. I have just returned from two weeks with my students in Mexico. The trip was awesome. The cultural and historical importance of the places and artifacts we were able to see is incredible. Here is just a bit of the highlights from the trek.

We spent Friday (5/28) visiting La Peña de Bernal and the city of Tequisquipan, and Saturday we spent two days and one night in the historically important town of Guanajuato. On our way home, we made short stops in Dolores Hidalgo, the heart of the Mexican Independence movement, and San Miguel de Allende, the heart of the Gringos moving to Mexico movement.

La Peña de Bernal is the world's third largest monolith. Part of the crew was able to reach a height of around 500 meters (that's right, meters...it is easier that way) while the actual peak (not reachable sans equipment) is much, much higher. In total we were around 2,000 meters above sea level and for us, being from Stanly County, the air got pretty thin. The views from the top of La Peña are spectacular. Although it was unusually hazy, we could see for kilometers. According to local lore, the town and rock themselves are supposed to be magical. Many people (well in their 90's) climb the stone to receive energy and experience its incredible powers. We actually felt it on our climb. On the way up, the trail that is covered by a lot of dirt, dust, and plant life completely wore us out. However, when we arrived to the heights where there was no debris, only exposed stone, we suddenly received a burst of energy which carried us to the top.

After Bernal, we visited the town of Tequisquiapan. Tequis, as it is called, is just a small, colonial town that features a lot of shopping and a great little restaurant called ''La Tajano''. Most just enjoyed the savory soup, while other had some exquisite enchilidas. Even the complementary bread and requeso were out of the world. Though we didn't have time to visit, the annual Wine and Cheese Fair was taking place while we were in Tequis. I heard from many people that this years expo was one of the best.

Guanajuato offered us the chance to see naturally occurring mummies, some of the original silver mines of central Mexico, and the museum of Spanish Inquisition torture devices. Due to the climate, soil content, and diet (very fresh and very natural) of the people of Guanajuato, it is very common that people are mummified through a natural dehydration process. After visiting the mummies, we made our way to the old silver mines. We were able to go down only 24 meters, but that was far enough. When the guide tells you how many people have lost their life in Mexico's mining history, you don't want to go too far. Going deep wasn't always necessary during the 17th and 18th century in this particular region. During this time period, it was not uncommon to find silver literally just below the surface of the soil. This is what brought so many Spanish conquistadors to the area, lending to its strong colonial history and attractions today. The torture museum was probably our favorite stop. There's nothing like learning just how people were stretched beyond their anatomical limits, fried like pork rinds, and had their heads compressed until their brains exited through their nasal passages simply for being homosexual or a single mom...good times!








Dolores Hidalgo is a very special place in the history of Mexico. It was here where the original ''grito'', or shout, for Mexican independence took place. This tradition is relived all over the country, but most importantly in the Zócalo of Mexico City. Nearly two million people gather every September 15th (not 5 de mayo) to join the president in celebrating the independence by shouting ''!!Viva México¡¡'' and ringing the ceremonial bell.

It was a whirlwind trip and it totally wore us out, but we rallied each other and made it to class. Our classes were great all week. The history class is absolutely amazing. We have learned about the time period of the pre-Colombian groups all the way up to the conquest. Our classes during the week carry us to the following weekend's adventures. Here is how weekend #2 went...

¿Cómo llego?

Nos vemos

Tomorrow I leave for Salamanca, Spain. I will spend one month at La Universidad de Salamanca studying Spanish Language and Culture. I am really excited about another opportunity to be abroad for a little while and to do some more networking (haha). It seems that this summer has been a non-stop greetathon. From Egypt to Lebanon to Rotary and work, I have met some of the most amazing people the world has to offer.

I plan on learning a lot on this trip. Not just about the Spanish language, but once again I really hope to learn about the Spanish people and their very rich culture. This is one more step in my peace-making campaign and my walk to the halls of power...

I'll try to blog often and keep everyone entertained. I hope to have some really amazing stories.
Maybe some bull running, tomato throwing, Lance Armstrong supporting kind of fun.

Peace

Back From the Past and Looking to the Future

To all of my adoring fans, I sincerely apologize for the lack of posts. I know you were unsure what to do with yourselves when you were not able to read the riveting anecdotes my wonderful life yields.



I am back in wonderful North Carolina readjusting to the real world. I have left the the dangerous, extremist lands of Egypt and Lebanon to return to America, the country every terrorist plots against, anyone who is not American hates, and is to blame for all of the wrongs in the world.... If you believe that, leave your TV on the current channel and navigate away from this page now.



Not every terrorist is plotting against us. We forget to realize "terrorists" are far, far away. They have caused much more "terror" and are FAR more active in their own countries. The citizens of Middle Eastern countries are the ones who must live with the constant worry of violence. The violent groups are much more concerned about having a stake in their own country and winning a little political influence through their acts. To say that these groups are constantly plotting an attack on US soil is not really practical. Let's not forget these guys have a balance sheet as well and one must keep that bottom line very lean! (Oh, and as a sidenote, I was in the Middle East when some "homegrown" terrorists attempted to attack a synagogue in NY and failed, so I am commenting late. I would like to give a shout out to the media who has completely ruined one fixture of my summer...homegrown tomatoes. I can never eat one again without totally ruining a summer staple) We have no idea of what living with the threat of violence everyday is like.

I am so glad our President made the trip to Cairo to show that both the US and Middle East have everything to win by eliminating the influence of extremists groups in the region. It REALLY bothered me when the trip was deemed as "the US bowing to Muslim extremists". Obama didn't bow or let up on those that plan on attacking innocent people (whether in the US or the Middle East). We have become so accustomed to showing up at everyone's door with our guns drawn that we have forgotten what diplomacy is like. The goal of the trip was to let the responsible citizens that truly make up the culture of that region know that our interest is in peace, and that interest must be shared. It is time we bring about that peace by way of diplomacy; not by meddling and explosive devices. When you bring in the military for combat missions you totally alter the lives of the citizens and you will lose their support. That is what has happend in the entire region. Our goals have remained the same, but we have lost the support behind the mission.

Believe me, every citizen in the Middle East, whether Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu or Scientologist HATES the "terrorists". I put it in quotes because that is what "we" have deemed them. Really they are just violent gangs. Do we call the Crips terrorists? The KKK? No, but they do invoke terror and have their own agenda. That is exactly what these groups do. They want power in their own land and every honest citizen who lives among them wants them out. To say that extremism and violence is a popular belief in the Middle East is like saying the views of the KKK are shared by the majority of the poplulation in the US.

So when you think about the terror threat here in the US, think about how from New York to Cairo there are 5618 miles that separate you. Then, think about those people in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan that have threats on their lives everyday.

Great news

So did anyone see that a bomb was detonated in a busy, heavily touristed Cairo market? Did anyone also see my previous post about heading to Cairo in May with a Rotary group? It hasn't discouraged me nor has it impacted the morale of the team. We knew going in to this trip the issues regarding safety. I have to say that I think everyone on this team is very level headed and will do nothing that would put anyone in danger. Not to mention we will be with Cairo natives who will be aware of where to go and what to do and where not to go and what not to do.

It serves to mention that the underlying goal of this trip is to create cultural understanding. We can't alter our plans or dash the trip altogether simply for acts of a few people. Egypt deserves more than that. Even though we will be hobnobbing with educated folks and not the ones who committed the acts, I am sure our group will have the opportunity to falsify some stereotypes. I look forward to that opportunity more than anything on the trip

What's Next...

So my Summer continues to improve.

I was extremely fortunate to be selected for a Group Study Exchange set up by Rotary International this May. If you have read the previous posts, you know that I am headed to Egypt more 1 month to take a look at classroom and campus culture , Muslim culture, and just Egyptian culture in general. Well, my stars are still aligned; I will also spend a month in Salamanca, Spain. I'm heading across the pond to begin a Master's of Spanish.

Salamanca is known for its language institutes and its bustling Summer tourist rush. I can't say I am too thrilled about the tourist thing, but hey, I'll be one of them. The one good thing about plenty of tourist...plenty of bars!! I read that Salamanca has the second highest bar to inhabitant ratio in all of Europe. You can take a look at this picture just to have an idea.

I am really exited about attending this particular school. It was founded in 1218. Looking at the pictures of this place does not do it justice, I am sure . The oldest buildings that I have seen are churches in Mexico, constructed by the Spaniards, hundreds of years after buildings like the those at the University. The area of Salamanca and the University has played a huge role in the development of the Spanish language and the history of the country. Not that I am a big fan of his, being that he raped Latin America and destroyed what was a flourishing indigenous culture, but it is worth noting that Hernán Cortés studied there as a youth. It is going to be an awesome experience.

I really have to take a moment to thank Stanly Community College. Without the institution and the wonderful opportunities they allow me to pursue, all that is going so well for me this summer would not be possible. I will visit two continents (maybe three) this Summer alone, and I am sure that there will be plenty more opportunities. For those of you that check this blog out and are excited about the content, or culture and travel in general, take a look at the college's Multicultural Awareness Club blog. I am the coordinator of the club and we really do have some interesting things planned for the month of March.

Walk like an Egyptian

Don't mind if I do!!!

I am bound for Egypt. Even though I leave on the 26th of April, I am still as excited as if it were tomorrow. I was selected from 14 other applicants from the Charlotte Metro area and beyond to be 1 of 4 that will participate in Rotary Distrct 7680's Group Study Exchange Tour. The district wanted to visit a Muslim country due to the pressing need for understanding and knowledge of the Muslim culture. We will visit all types of professional settings and meet fellow Rotarians in Cairo.

I really want to see the campus life of a university during my trip. When I studied in Mexico I noticed a big difference in classroom behavior. It was far more formal and students showed a lot more respect to their teachers than they do here. I'm not saying that my students are deliquents, but there is a noticable effort to say "usted" (the polite, formal way to address someone in Spanish) on behalf of the Mexican students. I am very curious to see what it is like in everday Egyptian campus life. I also want to see exactly what is said about America. I know what is said here in our media and among the population about the Arab world- I want to see if the same is being said about us.

My goals are to see my job being done abroad and to learn something from their methods. As always, a goal of mine is to break stereotypes. I'm not quite sure what types of people I will meet, but I hope to meet folks from many different lifestyles. Hopefully, this is the beginning of something new for me. I have always been mesmerized by Latin American culture; maybe now I will start a new cultural endeavor in North Africa and the Middle East.

Don't be surprised when you see my pictures. Be prepared for anything.

Change at last, Change at last, Thank God Almighty Change at last

I have to say, even though I was a proponent of change and voted for Obama, I had my doubts as to what those changes would be. Then, not 30 minutes after the announcement that he would win the election, I saw something we sure as hell haven't seen under our current administration.
The footage came in from around the world. People were excited and curious about the results of our election. For the first time since 2000, I saw people jumping up and down holding our flag, instead of people holding our flag down and jumping on it. I think people realize we will have a president who will do more to unite a world than divide it. I will honestly admit that I cried when I saw those scenes. I have not been proud of our policies as of late and have lost some faith in our ability to set an example in the world. The influential folks surrounding our current president are from the cold-war era who think occupation and intimidation are the ways to security. I think we will see a change to diplomacy and I also think we now have the opportunity to regain our spot as stewards of peace. I think that was Bush's goal all along, but you can't bring peace through war. I don't care what the rationale behind it is, I don't believe peace comes through military action.
I am not saying military action is never necessary. It should be used in defense to a nation's immediate and imminent threats. I think a nation should look very carefully at their target and seriously consider whether or not the target is a true threat. A military should be used to free people from tyrants and opressors only if the people ask for that action. Why are we not fighting in Darfur if we are out to only liberate and protect innocent people.
Be proud to be an American once again. It's not a bad thing. But realize your role in the world. We are not better than any other country or nationality, yet we do carry great influence and we should be very observant of how we use that influence.

New Job---Nuevo Puesto

I have been hired as the first Global Education Liaison at Stanly Community College. I will be responsible for recruiting schools and students from abroad to study at SCC, as well as preparing our students to study at schools all over the world. The exchange could be as long as one academic year or as short a simply participating in a conference or short program of study. Whatever the case, we are interested. We want to expand the opportunities of our students and our community to its limits. If anyone is looking for an affordable way to study in the US and live in a beautiful part of the country, send me a link to your school's website, I'll check it out and get back to you.

Fui contratado como el primer Liaison de Educación Global de Stanly Community College. Me encargo de recultar escuelas y estudiantes del mundo para estudiar en SCC, tambíen es mi trabajo a preparar los alumnos de mi escuela para una estancia como estudiante internacional. El intercambio puede ser por un año académico completo, o nada más la participación en una conferencia y un programa de estudio de corto plazo. Para lo que sea, estamos interesado. Queremos crecer las oportunidades de los alumnos y de nuestra comunidad a los limites. Si alguien busca una forma para estudiar en los EEUU, que no cuesta tanto, mándame un vinculo a la página de su escuela, la chequeo yo, y te digo si hay posibilidades.

Avoiding Culture Shock

As an exchange student going through the pre-departure orientation, the biggest topic seemed to be how to manage culture shock. I took all of the info provided very seriously and even measured my own emotions against the bell curve/roller coaster ride (see the curve) we were expected to experience while living in our host countries.


I'm not saying that culture shock doesn't exist, I'm just saying I don't think it affects everyone. I never experienced culture shock during my year abroad in Monterrey, Mexico. Wait, wait. I already know what you are going to say. "Monterrey is only 3 hours from the US border", "Monterrey is a very Americanized city". Both statements are very true and I will add that I was very disappointed when I realized it. I chose to study there because it was the first place I looked at and because of its prestige in the Latin American business world. However, I wouldn't change any of my experiences and I would study or relocate for a job there again if I had the chance (Want to give me the chance?).


My opinion about culture shock is that it is simply an effect of one's rejection of the customs and culture. Although Monterrey (Mty) is very Americanized, there are still obvious strongholds of Mexican culture; food, holidays, punctuality and traffic just to name a few. I did a little bit of observational research while in Mexico and I found that the visiting students that experienced "culture shock" were the ones that couldn't wait to go back home, didn't want to taste this, couldn't believe those people just did that. It was a true shock to them. Myself on the other hand, I never wanted the experience to end, tried every food I could get my hands on and simply accepted the actions of the people as "just the way it was."

Studying abroad was the greatest experience of my college career. If you are considering student exchange, here are my five tips to avoid culture shock:

Do some research before you go

Even if it is a Google, Wikipedia or Youtube search, check out the country and city you are going to live in. Any knowledge of the area will lessen the shock especially if local customs are drastically different from your own

Treat everyday as a lesson

For me, my goal was fluency in Spanish. In other words, the troubles I had with the language in the beginning were not setbacks, just lessons. I got frustrated at times, but because I was there to learn the language, I didn't allow myself to reject it. This made the problems with translation easier to bear since I knew they were obstacles I had to overcome in order to reach my goal. I recommend hopping a bus, train or taxi to some part of your host city, then try and find your way back. This is a great way to find new places and people, and definitely an awesome way to practice the language.

Participate

If you are invited to go somewhere, GO!! This is a cool way to immerse yourself. There is also less stress on you if you get out there and take part in a traditional festival or dance. If you mess up there are nor worries; you are a guest and it is already understood that you don't know what you are doing.

Observe, don't judge

If you see something happening that you know is a little different than how your cultral would do, just appreciate it. You are going to see things that make you say "WOW!". Just take it all in. This will help avoid the shock and will also make you very aware of your own culture.

Be a sponge, not a brick

A little elementary but helpful. As you are seeing all these new things, people and places, soak it all up. Take advantage of every second. As for the language, read every sign, ad, book, magazine and speak to every person you can. You will be amazed at how much you will learn by reading and practicing outside the classroom.

Being a brick will cause you to reject a lot of info and will lead to culture shock.

Cultural Immersion in Oaxaca

Estudia en Oaxaca!!!

Don't miss an opportunity to earn SCC credit while studying in Mexico. At the Instituto Cultural de Oaxaca, you will have a chance to use the Spanish you are learning in class, as well as learn more conversational Spanish.
http://www.icomexico.com/


Oaxaca is a beautiful city and a great place experience true Mexican culture. You will get the chance to see and visit hundreds of iglesias (churches) that boast both classic architecture and painstaking detail. No two are alike and each one is absoutely amazing.


The people of Oaxaca are most inviting and will provide you with great opportunities to practice Spanish. As you explore the city, business and restaurant owners will invite you to shop or dine. Use this opportunity to put your Spanish to work. In the stores, bargain with the sellers. Bargaining is simply part of the culture and a sticker price is just the base for negotiation. In the restaurants, ask questions about the food. It is great practice and it will impress the restaurant staff that you are interested in learning about the dishes. When you accept the invitation at the restaurants, prepare yourself, Oaxaca is reknowned as having some of the best dishes that Mexico has to offer. Whether it is a torta, cesina or the infamous chapurrines (I'll let you explore that one), you will not be dissapointed. To top it all off, relax after your meal with a shot of the area's finest Mezcal, a local liquor similar to Tequila.


You can find plenty of things to explore and see in the city, but if your interests are traditional tourist attractions, then Monte Alban (right) is one place that you must visit. Located on a plateau overlooking the city, these Zapotecan ruins are extrememly well preserved. The views from this ancient city are amazing and the condition of the structures is immaculate. After wandering the ruins, step inside the museum and take a closer look at the Zapotecan culture by examining artifacts such as tools, jewelry, and even tombs of those who once lived in the ancient city.




Another attraction sure to impress is located a little ways out of the city. Los arboles de Tule (The trees of Tule) are simply mindblowing. With the diameter of its trunk measuring an estimated 38 ft. , and a circumference of over 118 ft., the largest of the three legendary trees will leave you speechless. Many experts estimate its age to be anywhere between 1,400 to 1,600 years. Local legend tells of the tree being planted by a Zapotecan priest around 1,400 years ago. Though not the oldest nor tallest tree , it does boast the most impressive trunk of any tree on the planet. This beautiful giant is located less than ten miles outside of the city of Oaxaca, and for less than one dollar, you can hop on un camion (bus), that makes the trek down Mitla Avenue to the little town of Santa Maria del Tule.

The amount you will learn and the experiences you will have while in Oaxaca are worth the time and money. Think of it as a vacation and summer school rolled together.

Trip Details:

1. When: June 12-28, 2008
2. Your Cost: $1,300

• Reservation fee
• Airfare
• Accomodations (Breakfast included)
• Two weeks instruction at the institute

If you choose to eat at local resaurants, plan on spending $5-$8.

Contact: