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السلام عليكم These past three weeks have been insane. I endure heinous travel including unexpected layovers and broken planes. I finally make it to Amman. I get to my apartment, meet my roommate, make a friend on the shuttle, and hit the streets and market at 11:00 PM.

I had five days in Amman before the beginning of in person class. I was able to explore some markets, see the Roman amphitheater, visit the Amman Citadel, and go to numerous restaurants. Meanwhile, I am scraping together what Arabic vocabulary and sentence structure I previously knew. Luckily, my newfound friends and roommates are well-knowledged in the language and are able to provide me with some assistance. I had an orientation with the program and then began class. Four hours of in person class and then an estimated four hours of homework daily. It has been very difficult so far but being able to directly apply newfound concepts and words to your everyday life is a whole new experience that is bringing me immense gratitude and application outside of the classroom. I have met so many students of all countries, circumstances, religions, and languages within the Qasid program. In addition, I have made friends with some local Jordan University students who I now go out with multiple times a week. Last night we went to Friday market ( سوق الجمعة)  and tonight we are going to hear a local Amman dj. The culture here is beautiful and the unnecessary kindness that has been extended to me, especially when one finds out that I am studying Arabic, is truly amazing.

I am so thankful to be here and to be able to learn this language with such close proximity to utilization in everyday life. As I write this, me and my roommates are finalizing a last minute plan to take a bus to Jerusalem for the Eid al-Adha break. Below are an array of pictures, I will keep you guys updated. 

مع السلامة،

تاكر

In this post, I will share a little about my culinary adventures in Barcelona. I tried many different types of Spanish dishes. I enjoyed eating most things, tortilla patatas, gazpacho, salmorejo, boquorones, croquetas, pimientos padron, cecine, chorizo, jamon iberico, cecina and many more. I also enjoyed eating delicious paellas. But fideuà has been the most delicious food I tried during my stay in Barcelona.

I did not know or heard about fideuà before coming to Barcelona. I learned about fideuà when I accidentally found a traditional Catalan food festival while walking randomly on the streets of the city. What a great coincidence!

Fideuà is a dish similar to the most famous Spanish dish, Paella. The main difference is that Paella is made with rice; fideuà is with noodles. Unlike some paellas with chorizos and seafood, I was told that fideuà is only made with seafood. The cooking process is also almost identical to paella. Large shallow pans are used for cooking the noodles, and various spices, including saffron, are added in the cooking process. Some restaurants also add extra sauces (alioli) at the top of the noodles after cooking. Adding extra sauce is not necessary, but it makes the noodles creamy and tastier. 

According to some legends I was told and read, the dish was invented in the early 20^th century on the coast of Valencia. Some claims that the cook on a fishing boat did not have sufficient rice to cook paella for the crew, so he used noodles instead of rice. Others claim that the captain of the ship was overeating the rice and finished the stocks, so the cook started using noodles as an alternative. The cook’s trial was successful because the dish became popular in the entire Catalan region afterward. 

It is harder to find fideuà than Paella because most restaurants do not serve the dish. If you find fideuà on the menu, I recommend ordering Fideuà because it is tastier than paella, in my view. 

Getting to Chile, I was prepared to be completely hit by culture shock. On arrival, not only was I aware that there were many Spanish words I didn’t know, but there were additionally Chilean-specific words that I had never heard before. First, a common word for “cool” or “good” here is Bacán. This is said frequently as an affirmation. Because we hear it so often from our host families, our professors, and other people we encounter here in Chile, many people in my group have adapted the word. Rico is used all the time, for a variety of different things. I often hear it in relation to food being delicious, but it can also be used to describe something that is good or an attractive person. I have started saying it when I really like the food my host mom has prepared, “muy rico!”

Besides uniquely Chilean slang that I had previously never heard, the Chilean accent has also been an adjustment. The last couple letters of words or phrases are often dropped. For example, it is common to say “gracia” instead of “gracias” and “buen dia” in place of “buenos dias”. It is a bit confusing going from proper Spanish learned in the class room to the colloquiums of Chile, but I am doing my best to adjust. It has definitely been important for me to remember that if I don’t know something, all I need to do is ask. Making mistakes is a big part of the process, and while exhausting at times, I feel myself getting more comfortable little by little. All of this newness is a fun challenge.

The past few weeks in Rio have continued to be incredible. Opportunities to practice the Portuguese language have continued to arise outside of the classroom. As time goes on, I am better able to adapt to non-carioca accents, including accents from São Paulo, the nordeste, and Rio Grande do Sul. I continue to use Portuguese daily in the classroom, outside of class, and with my host mom. I was talking with some of the students and teachers the other day about how much I love small phrases that Brazilians use a lot that in my opinion demonstrate the warmth of the country’s culture. For instance, when you inconvenience/accidentally harm someone and say “Sorry!” or when you thank them for doing something for you, often the response is “Imagina!” (imagine!) or “O que é isso!” (what is that!) Essentially, both phrases are warm ways that Brazilians brush off any feeling of burden or guilt by the other party. I really appreciate it, or being told “Relaxa!” (relax) when I am late to something.

June has had many different important dates and holidays, including Corpus Christi, Pride Month, Boyfriend/Girlfriend Day (“Valentine’s Day”), and more. I have attended and seen several of these celebrations, but ones that stood out to me were the festas juninas (June parties). Since it is the winter, festas juninas are often a way for people to continue community celebrations. Combined with the legacy of different saint days this month (Saint John, Saint Paul, and Saint Peter), the festas also involve wearing “traditional” clothing from the Brazilian countryside. Some people wear plaid shirts and straw hats to the events, which sometimes have lots of food from the nordeste. According to my teachers, these celebrations continue through July.

We’ve been able to engage with the city of Rio a great deal. Chances to practice Portuguese have led me to the different neighborhoods of Leblon, Ipanema, Copacabana, and Botafogo, as well as places like Parque Lage or Palacio de Catete. All have had splendid views. I’ve bee able to climb mountains and go around the lagoon, and I have found myself getting into such a rhythm everyday that the people at the juice place I go to know my order before I walk in the door.

Everyone has been incredibly friendly and I am again so thankful for the opportunity to be in Brazil. I have developed good friendships with non-Brazilians from school as well as many Brazilians themselves who have been wonderfully hospitable and receptive. I have exciting events going on this week that I am excited to share about later.

Until next time,
Benjamín

I took a day trip to Tarragona to watch the Sant Joan (St. John) festival. During this festival, I had the opportunity to observe various interesting cultural activities. A Group of folkloric danced with firecrackers, locals made a big fire camp in the middle of the city, and music shows and many other interesting activities were integrated into this festival. But there was one cultural practice I watched that impressed me differently: the castells. 

The word “castells” is translated in English as castles. In the context of Catalonia however, castells refer to human towers. The practice of building human towers goes back to the 18^th century, and the city of Tarragona is the major center for this practice. The castells are built during festivals, in the main square of the cities. The height of these human towers is also quite impressive. Usually, the height of these towers varies between 6-10 floors. The castells might be considered as a cultural activity, but also a form of a team sport because requires a lot of training to build such structures. 

Watching how tens of people get together and organize themselves to build these structures made me think about multiple issues. I think I have never seen any collective physical activity that is more inclusive. People of all ages and sizes get together to build human towers. Children as young as 4-5 years old actively participate in this event. In fact, they climb all the way top of the tower. Older people often are at bottom of the tower and stabilizing the core of the tower. People in the middle of the tower are usually the strongest ones, physically speaking. 

It seems to me that building castells resemble an intergenerational trust-building exercise. Young people do not carry much weight, but they are expected to act courageously in climbing the tower’s upper levels. Older they get, they are expected to have more weight and responsibilities, especially in terms of providing a stable route for the young ones. Castells only works when people from different age groups trust each other. 

One day, I will need to return to Catalonia just for watching the castells!

In the morning I go to school.  I walk to the metropolitana station, make five stops on the train, get off and head towards the school, which is right in the city center. As suggested by my classmate Patrizia, I take a break of no more than ten minutes to have a “caffè e cornetto” in a bar and then, with renewed happiness, I make the last walk to the school.

Early in the morning, I have grammar class. Then there is a break in which we all go downstairs to socialize by a “nasone”, one of the 2,500 drinking water fountains distributed throughout the city, which are a relief in the midst of temperatures close to 40° Celsius. They are called “nasoni” because the shape of the metal tube emulates that of a nose, and although they were installed in the 19th century, the water is brought to us thanks to the aqueducts built by the ancient Romans. It is clear that Rome has a particular connection with water, which can also be seen in the monumental fountains and in the ancient thermal baths.

During the break, the conversation is joyful, gentle and a bit laborious because we always chat in Italian. I usually talk with the German girls, Andrea and Patrizia, and with “i fratelli”, Gibbi and Don. I discovered that there are those who go to school for the sole pleasure of studying languages and spending their vacations abroad while others, like my religious classmates, have to finish the B1 level to be able to begin their superior studies in Rome. It is significant how many religious persons from all over the world come to the Roman universities to pursue their higher studies in religion, not without first passing through the Italian language schools. I have learned a lot during this time and thanks to them, I was able to appreciate some visits to Roman churches and basilicas.

Then, I have the conversation class with professor Augusto, a very talented instructor. In his class, we make plans with the other classmates, organize lunches in the area and learn a lot about Roman and Italian culture. After this class, the individual lessons begin, although not all classmates take them. After these three classes, there is not so much time left to visit museums and attractions, but there is plenty of time to have an ice cream or take a walk downtown. The more substantial activities are left for the weekend. With Andrea, for example, we went to the beach in Santa Marinella by train. We decided to buy a very nice light orange umbrella because the beach was full of people, and we stayed there until late. On the way back, we went to eat in Trastevere, a neighborhood where everyone is at night because of the number of restaurants, bars, and live music. I have been to this area several times, it is one of my favorite spots in the city.

One of the objectives of this trip was to visit all the places where there were remains of ancient thermal baths to learn all about these wonderful sites linked to health, because in ancient times the contact between water and skin was a health issue. First of all, I visited the thermal baths of Caracalla, where you can rent virtual reality glasses that superimpose a more or less reliable recreation of how this space looked in the past. Truthfully, it wasn’t that interesting a visit although I would like to go back to attend the Teatro dell’Opera there at these baths. On the other hand, I was impressed by the baths of Emperor Diocleziano. The place is absolutely fantastic and very well preserved. The enclosure was truly immense, it could hold up to 3000 people. In fact, around the 4th century d.C., when they were built, they were the largest baths in all of Rome. As there are still enclosures called “Aula” it is possible to imagine that the water was accumulated there and then passed into the pool. All the time I had a strange feeling of being submerged under water, I could not explain why.

One last note about the thermal baths. After my visit to the Pantheon, as I was going around the outside of the building, I came across the sight of the remains of an ancient building, almost like a rock, protruding from the facade of some houses. I asked the waiter on the corner who told me that these were the remains of Agrippa’s baths built around the first century BC, the first in Rome. I had to confirm this information later because I thought the man was joking with me. But he wasn’t.

¡Hola!

I cannot express in words how excited I am to write this blog post. To begin, you should know that I am a big foodie—I love learning about and trying new foods. Before coming to Chile, I researched foods that were commonly eaten in the country, and drafted an extensive list of restaurants and cafes that had received stellar reviews from customers, to visit.

If there is one thing in Chile that I have accomplished more than getting lost on the public transportation system, it is eating delicious food. During my first day in the country, I asked the program coordinators, Felipe and Claudia, about foods that Chile is well-known for. However, I was told that the country did not really have a “signature dish”, and that the array of food found throughout Chile was influenced by many other cultures and cuisines.

I found it interesting that many recipes make use of pumpkin: sopaipillas, soups, and many rice dishes. I have never really eaten pumpkin in anything other than pumpkin pie, but I have fallen in love with the sweet, almost nutty flavor that it adds to certain dishes. Another interesting observation I have made is that pop (soda) is usually found in its calorie-free, sugar-free, “light” version—at least in the area of Santiago where I am living. The only places I have seen the standard flavors offered are at “fancier” restaurants. Again, this observation could likely be attributed to my location of residence, but I will certainly ask my host family about it.

I could go on and on about the delicious food I have eaten here, but I will let some pictures speak for me:

Writing this post has made me hungry, and coincidentally, it is time for me to go eat lunch with my host family!

Sending un abrazo (a hug) from Chile.

Chao!

Aidan

Bonjour!

As of my writing this post, I arrived in Tours about three weeks ago, and the time has flown by! I can’t believe I’m already over halfway done with my stay here. For this post, I’d like to reflect a bit on my experiences here so far, and talk about some words I’ve picked up as well.

My first week here was fun, but was also certainly a struggle. My speaking skills were a little rustier than I’d hoped at first, and I very quickly learned the ways to say “Can you repeat that?” or “How do you say this?” in French. I definitely feel like I’ve improved, though, in the time that I’ve been here, and I’m pretty comfortable talking with my host family in French at the dinner table now. Speaking of my host family, I feel so lucky to have been placed with the family I’m with. They’ve been incredibly kind to me and have really helped me to speak French more rapidly and accurately. They’ve even taken me to some cultural events here in Tours, so I feel like I’ve had some great opportunities to experience French life with them.

The Institut de Touraine has also provided some great experiences as well. My class so far has been enjoyable and helpful. Not only have we learned about the traditional grammar and vocabulary of French, but our teacher also made sure to teach us some practical French phrases and words as well–we even spent an entire day just on slang! The people at the Institut are incredibly kind and welcoming, and it’s a great opportunity to meet a lot of people. The Institut itself is somewhat fluid in the students attending it: the students choose the weeks they want to start and when they want to leave, so it’s common to befriend people leaving in a week, or meet someone new halfway through your stay there. It certainly opens the door to get to know a great number of people! The Institut also offers excursions on Wednesdays and Saturdays to historical sites in France, which have been a nice break from the classes for me. So far, I’ve been able to go to Amboise (a castle on a hill near Tours) and Clos Lucé, the former house of Leonardo da Vinci.

I’ll wrap up this blog post by providing some of the “practical” or “slang” terms I’ve learned so far from my classes, my host family, and my experiences here.

En fait (in fact): This phrase confused me for the longest time, because I kept mishearing it as “on fait,” which roughly translates to “we do” or “we make.” My teacher and my host family kept using this as a kind of interjection within many of their sentences, almost similarly to how people in the United States use “like” very often when they speak. I’ve heard this phrase from most people I’ve spoken to, so it was quite helpful to get that misconception cleared up! I’ve started trying to use this phrase in more sentences while I’m speaking French.

Dégoûtant vs. Dégueulasse (disgusting): These two words both mean “disgusting,” but what makes them different is when you’re supposed to use them. Dégoûtant is a more formal version, while dégueulasse is more familial. There are many words that have familial variants, but this one was the most interesting to me because “disgusting” isn’t really a word that I’d think would need a familial variant. Our teacher taught us the difference between these two words. I haven’t really heard dégoûtant used, but I’ve heard my family use dégueulasse pretty often, especially in regards to food (par exemple, “l’escargot est dégueulasse”).

Merde! (Good luck!): The primary meaning of “merde” when used as a noun is the English equivalent of “the ‘s’ word” (it’s a “gros mot,” or curse word), but that’s not the meaning I’d like to discuss. That context is important because I was really surprised when the daughters of my host family were saying “Merde!” to each other (most of whom are elementary schoolers) before their school play, and the parents were nodding along and saying it with them. This word, when used as an interjection, is used commonly in theater as a way of saying “Good luck!”. According to my host family, it’s bad luck to wish someone good luck in theater by actually saying good luck (“Bonne chance!”), so they say “Merde!” instead before they act in a play. It’s similar to the English equivalent of “Break a leg!”. I don’t think I’ll be saying this too much, though, because of its other meaning and because I’m not exactly a trained theater actor!

Finally, I’ll add some pictures of my first few weeks here. Thanks for reading!