The title for losers that can't understand Spanish - The summer has started, The life in Valencia & a bit of everything!
So It's been about two weeks of solid sun, between 20-25 degrees, and at the end of March! - Hope it's not raining too much in the UK..!! It feels like summer and this brings the same daily routine: Wake up at around midday, head to the beach - relax and play some beach soccer/volleyball, go out to a couple of clubs in the evening, get back home at around 6am, 6 hours sleep, and repeat! (Okay this isn't everyday - but most!) I like the fact there is no set schedule - can do anything when you want, no hay problemas.
So It's been about two weeks of solid sun, between 20-25 degrees, and at the end of March! - Hope it's not raining too much in the UK..!! It feels like summer and this brings the same daily routine: Wake up at around midday, head to the beach - relax and play some beach soccer/volleyball, go out to a couple of clubs in the evening, get back home at around 6am, 6 hours sleep, and repeat! (Okay this isn't everyday - but most!) I like the fact there is no set schedule - can do anything when you want, no hay problemas.
Living in Valencia?
So far the whole experience has been great, there is so much to say I don't know where to start...Valencia is the perfect location to be an Erasmus student - a chilled out Spanish lifestyle by the sea, but I'm sure working in the city would be very different...(I'd be the only one actually working...).
I'm living near Blasco Ibanez (a famous long road in Valencia), and it seems the whole area is quite poor - I have the impression that there isn't much business - like the city isn't developing much. Places are messy and un-looked after, blocks of flats are scrappy and there are several wasted un-used plots of land.
Small crime is also bad - If you lock up a bike outside during the night, it's guaranteed to have disappeared by the morning...Ev ery 5 seconds you see a man dangling his legs out of a dustbin upside down looking for rubbish to sell - amusing seeing as it's always 50 year olds...This is the mercado negro (black market!) - a very useful service for exchange students to buy cheap bikes! - It involves going to the Mestalla stadium at 6am on Saturday nights (yes, I'm not saying Sunday morning - the idea is that you stay up partying through the night, then go!), where the gipsys bring vans full of stolen stuff.
I don't like the idea of paying for something someone has stolen, so I'm considering doing what others have done by asking to 'try one out', then riding off with it without paying! This would be great fun if there was a group of us doing it together...! It's all pretty dodgy, but it's a popular alternative to buying a bike through the Erasmus office, which has a long waiting list - probably too long to actually get a bike before the end of the semester. It's not ideal walking to the beach everyday and back, as it means waking up 20 minutes earlier, which is hard enough even if you do use two alarms that you purposely place out of reaching distance to force you to get up!
So there is that side of the city, which I'm guessing is the same as most city suburbs, (even though it isn't really far out from the centre), then you see the City of Arts and Sciences, the modern side which is south of the centre - great modern architecture, a nice park running all the way through, more up-market restaurants and brands/shops, nicer cars, modern new apartments, and decent design! (Wow I really made it sound nice!). This is definitely the part of the city I'd be motivated to work in, but of course it still can't be compared to the wealth of South of France! I'm sure I'll like Vlc even more during peak season, summer.
Being surrounded by Erasmus students makes it difficult to integrate with Spanish people - we often meet groups at clubs or playing football for example, but rarely comes the occasion where we are forced to speak Spanish - it's a shame...
It's interesting how most of the exchange students here are between 22-25, but it doesn't feel like there is any difference between us, we are all here for the same reason and doing the same things - I like the whole 'age not mattering' thing, and I think it could be quite strange going back to Uni where everyone is the same age.
I don't like the idea of paying for something someone has stolen, so I'm considering doing what others have done by asking to 'try one out', then riding off with it without paying! This would be great fun if there was a group of us doing it together...! It's all pretty dodgy, but it's a popular alternative to buying a bike through the Erasmus office, which has a long waiting list - probably too long to actually get a bike before the end of the semester. It's not ideal walking to the beach everyday and back, as it means waking up 20 minutes earlier, which is hard enough even if you do use two alarms that you purposely place out of reaching distance to force you to get up!
So there is that side of the city, which I'm guessing is the same as most city suburbs, (even though it isn't really far out from the centre), then you see the City of Arts and Sciences, the modern side which is south of the centre - great modern architecture, a nice park running all the way through, more up-market restaurants and brands/shops, nicer cars, modern new apartments, and decent design! (Wow I really made it sound nice!). This is definitely the part of the city I'd be motivated to work in, but of course it still can't be compared to the wealth of South of France! I'm sure I'll like Vlc even more during peak season, summer.
Being surrounded by Erasmus students makes it difficult to integrate with Spanish people - we often meet groups at clubs or playing football for example, but rarely comes the occasion where we are forced to speak Spanish - it's a shame...
It's interesting how most of the exchange students here are between 22-25, but it doesn't feel like there is any difference between us, we are all here for the same reason and doing the same things - I like the whole 'age not mattering' thing, and I think it could be quite strange going back to Uni where everyone is the same age.
There are numerous groups on Facebook for Erasmus students...so here are a couple that I found interesting: (I should probably mention these towards the end of my semester...but already I can relate to many of them).
You know you've lived in Spain when...
- you've been part of a botellon (basically a big piss-up where people buy cheap alcohol from the supermarkets - there is a botellon at the campus del tarongers every Thursday (2 minute walk from my flat)).
- you know if something's great, it's 'de puta madre'. (it means: The shit (best))
- you know what a 'resaca' is. (hangover)
- not giving every new acquaintance dos besos seems rude. (two kisses to greet)
- you forget to say please when asking for things, and instead imply it with the tone of your voice
- every sentence you speak contains at least one of these words: 'bueno,' 'vale,' 'venga,' 'pues nada'... (good, okay, come on, well nothing...)
- you make arrangements to meet friends at 3, when you know it actually means 3:15.
- eating before 10pm seems abnormal.
- you can't get over how early bars & clubs shut back home, just at the time you should be going out.
- going out shopping at 2pm is stupid, and you should wait until the end of seista at 5pm.
- you are accustomed to hearing Real Madrid or Barcelona news every 10 minutes on the TV.
- the day is irrelevant - it's still partynight.
- you blame all your bad behaviour on the fact you're an Erasmus.
- you recieve numerous event invitations on Facebook and always select "might attend" no matter what.
- you know nothing is better than a night out at an Erasmus club, although your friends always complain about going to the same places...
- you're not worried if your flat gets destroyed...you're going home anyway!
- you become profficient in swearing in foreign languages, and know how to say 'cheers' in several languages too.
- you speak the foreign language better when you are drunk.
It's nice to take a timeout of my studies in England, but I do feel I'm wasting time sometimes. So far in Spain I've done two small projects, both taking no more than a few hours. In a way I feel sorry for the Spanish students who don't really understand what the education is like elsewhere - I'm talking about design, but it's the same general opinion from exchange students studying other subjects too. Everyone is lowering their studies to Spain's level (or at least the UPV), and not really expecting to learn much. Other countries have different education systems, and it seems people are able to study abroad whenever they like during their studies.
At UCA (my home university), my class are currently doing a cultural branding and packaging project - would have been a great one! - I may ask to do it in July or August so I don't feel behind going into my final year at Uni. Also, still waiting to hear as to whether I need to write an essay for contextual studies for the second semester...lecturers never email back! Not sure what's happening about whether I'll look for Work Experience in August - the idea of working as soon as I return from Spain isn't nice...it's been far too stressing here as it is...
Most of us sms in Spanish now, but to save time when speaking English, Spanglish becomes really useful - "Wanna go to the beach, o algo (or something)?" - Just mix up the languages to make the shortest text...quite funny...Also, if you don't know a verb in Spanish, just add an 'ar/er/ir' to it and make it Spanglish! Voy a countar mi dinero (I'm going to count my money), Okay, actually it's contar. - This was a conversation between an Italian and myself)
There are a few students from Latin America - One from Brazil and Peru at the top of my mind. Their accent is much easier to understand and they don't pronunce the 'th' sound like the spanish do, for example in the verb 'hacer'. Instead they pronunce the 'c', which is translated in my mind a lot quicker beause that's how I see the word. I pronunce it like Spanish, but still when I hear it it trips me. Talking about pronuncing words...I still struggle to roll my tongue for the 'double R' sound, like in the word 'perro' (dog) - I can't really say the difference between perro and 'pero' (but). I'm not learning vocabulary as quickly as I'd hoped - really need to study this. At the moment I'm just going into shops and saying 'Quiero esto/eso' (I want this/that), or saying 'Have you something that does....? to avoid using words.
We found another bar called Aguagata - Everyone loves it because you can get chupitos for 1 euro, and one litre of rum/whisky+coke for 8 euros. This is a killer. It's funny how people's Spanish improves when drunk - the mind is so relaxed and it feels like the sentences come to you much quicker.
We went to one of the best clubs in Valencia - Las Animas. It's right by the beach, and in a few weeks they will open a large terrace for the summer - it'll be nice. I was looking forward to hearing some decent trance music, but it turned out to be more mainstream RnB/Hip-hop with really bad club mixes...Still looking for MY club! (though I tihnk I missed it in Barcelona, Razzmatazz!)...Ibiza?!
Tickets a la puerta (at the door) cost about 15 euros - We were hoping to enter for free, as I was told me someone that works there, but the guy arrived at the club too late and we didn't want to hang around. I'm pleased I've seen the club, but I wouldn't pay again.
Can't remember if I've mentioned this before: we call them 'flower guys' - everywhere you go these men walk around through pubs and clubs trying to sell you 1 euro roses. I was determined to take a good photo of one, so for the first attempt I went for the more stealthy approach by going behind him and waiting for him to turn around...to which I got a 'What the hell are you doing' response in the form of 'Que pasa??'. So the second time (with a different flower guy) I just asked for a photo and didn't give him a chance! Sometimes they also sell other fantastic items such as flashing sunglasses and sparkling watches!! We always joke with each other and direct them to friends to hassle them instead. It's strange - they are always out and about till 3-4am in the morning - could definitely give us students a run for our money.....!
Morocco manana!
We sorted out a rough itinery the other day based on the LonelyPlanet Morocco travel book. So firstly, we fly out to Fez, travel to Meknes and Volubilis, see Casablanca, Marrakech, the desert and valleys, Ouarzazate and then back to Fez (It's quite amusing the fact that one of the guys I'm travelling with is called Fez...). I'll be glad to travel somewhere for a week and get out of an empty house! - almost all of our Erasmus 'group' that we hang out with are travelling, including Matt and Carlos who have both gone seperately with friends.
Last week I went to el cine (cinema) in the centre with Carlos and some friends. Looking at the featured films being advertised hit me at how out of touch I've been with the media (I had only heard of one of the ten films or so). I can't decide whether I like not being updated with music, film, sport and news - In a way it's nice to not be bothered about it - it's like I'm in an Erasmus bubble!
Anyway, we watched Shutter Island - a psychological thriller. One of the strangest films I've seen (it being in Spanish made it even more so!) - there weren't any subtitles either, so this was challenging. I understood some of the dialogue, but didn't really get the whole twist at the end...
A couple of pics over the city:
Guerra de Almohadas (Pillowfight) day!
27 degrees outside our house...Aaaahhhh
Piscina (pool) at the UPV
Cool water feature - And palm trees, Mmm summer!
Semana santa (Easter) brings the crowds...- the beach is pretty busy already.
African guys selling stuff....or trying to - it's a shame they are always friendly....
One passed me a pair of glasses saying "Armani" - Erm, is it really Armani?? Haha.
A bit of volleyball in the evening sun...Note the Steinburg beer can being the focal point in the foreground - one of the many disgusting cheap beer brands in Spain (Cruzchampo, Amstel and Estrella being the others!)
Palau de les Arts
Hmm, the effing weather made this photo look nice....AGAIN.
(el tiempo de espana no es bueno!)
The modern side of Vlc...
Aqua Multiespacio (shopping centre)
El Saler centro comercial (shopping centre 2).
Yep..they are both dead on Easter Monday.
View of the Arts and Sciences from the centre
This week's randoms:
The German's also use the expression 'got a head screw loose': Bei ihr ist eine Schraube los. It's surprising how many phrases translate into different languages.
When introducing myself to people in clubs. It's bad enough being heard normally, let alone in loud clubs...
-"Hi, I'm Ed"
+"Amed?"
-"Nono, just Ed"
I'm not from the middle-east...
The fail of Spanish parking..".aaah that'll do!"
"I'll just get out of my car and leave it on
main road, at traffic lights....it won't annoy anyone..."
main road, at traffic lights....it won't annoy anyone..."
The Spanish language has a word for 'The day before yesterday' (anteayer), and 'The night before last' (antenoche) They'd be quite useful in English!
- - - - - - - -
The German's also use the expression 'got a head screw loose': Bei ihr ist eine Schraube los. It's surprising how many phrases translate into different languages.
- - - - - - - -
A random irritation - In my 3D class, the teacher always says the word 'machan' (I think that's the spelling, it means 'screen') - the word stands out as a word that should be in the German language, not the Spanish! - For english viewers...it's pronunced something like....macughhhhan (throat noise).
- - - - - - - -
When introducing myself to people in clubs. It's bad enough being heard normally, let alone in loud clubs...
-"Hi, I'm Ed"
+"Amed?"
-"Nono, just Ed"
I'm not from the middle-east...
- - - - - - - -
'Spanish' in French = Espangol (sounds like spag bol - small lol).
- - - - - - - -
Everyone seems to be commenting about the amount of people that can't walk properly in Spain. I'd say about 50% of all people on our street have some sort of limp or problem with their legs! Amazing.
- - - - - - - -
I still sometimes look the wrong way crossing one-way road...stupid people drive on the wrong side of the road!!
- - - - - - - -
In Spanish, 'tomorrow morning' means 'Manana por la manana'. (And no I didn't only just learn this..., just thought it worth noting!)
- - - - - - - -
I'm going black.
- - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - -
Moroccoooo!, If I don't update the blog again, assume I've either been attacked by a camel, been stranded in the desert, or RyanAir cocked something up!
No comments:
Post a Comment