Segovia….definitely not the home of Cinderella’s castle

The Spanish have a strange sense of accomplishment, taking credit where credit is definitely not due. For example, the people are very xenophobic yet boast about brilliant structures like the Alhambra, a palace not built by Spaniards but the Moors during their occupation of the Andalucian providence from 711-1492. While build on what is now Spanish soil it is epitomizes Islamic architecture while the population of Spain are still outwardly racist towards the Arab people (not to mention that whole Inquisition thing that forced out or killed many Arabs over the centuries following the Moorish occupation).

In similar fashion, many Spaniards claim that the Alcazar of Segovia was the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella Castle. It is not. In actuality said inspiration can be found in Neuschwanstein, Germany.











Neuchwanstein, Alcazar de Segovia, Cinderella's Castle- Orlando

Regardless, Segovia was an amazing town. An easy day trip from Madrid, the city is home to two impressive monuments: the aforementioned Alcazar and the Roman Aqueducts. The aqueducts, which still function today, are roughly 2000 years old with some scholars placing their construction back as far as the middle of the first century AD. Astonishingly, the aqueducts were built without the use of a bonding agent meaning that there is nothing in-between the rocks keeping them connected. The structure is basic rock on top of rock, mind-blowing how it is not only still around but also still functioning two millennia later. Remarkable architecture, a pleasant small town feel, delicious cuisine (home of Spain’s best suckling pig made our Saturday excursion to Segovia a very enjoyable escape from the capital.

Midland Reunion Madrid

They say it is a small world, and I do not doubt it. Facebook and Gmail are our two main sources of communication on this side of the pond because of the rip-off that is pay-as-you-go phones. Consequently, I am checking both sites frequently. Last Wednesday I logged on to have my news-feed notify me that Elise Michaels’ status was ‘Madrid until Friday.’ Elise and I have known each other since nursery school though I have not seen much of her lately since she moved to North Carolina. I have never been confused for someone with much common sense, but I assumed she was referring to the same Madrid that is my home. After exchanging a few emails/phone calls we were able to meet up the next night for drinks. A brief walking tour of the city was parlayed into a pretty standard Madrileno night: pre-game in a plaza and then onto a bar (we skipped the nightclub because they had an early train to Valencia). It is always enjoyable to see old friends but this was definitely an amazing surprise, giving us the chance to catch-up on a lot over the past few years. Goes to show how small the world really is while, and say what you want about the use of social networks like Facebook, how said sites can be utilized to stay in touch with old friends.

Utah Jazz 109 – Real Madrid 87

A few weeks ago the Utah Jazz were in town to play Real Madrid as part of the NBA’s preseason European tour. But you may be asking isn’t Real Madrid a soccer team? Throughout Spain those team names you associate with soccer are actually those of athletic clubs, home to teams of many sports from handball to field hockey to basketball. Much like in soccer, though, Real Madrid and Barcelona control the money and therefore the best talent. The game, however, was a blowout with every member of the Jazz taking their turn to clown on Spain’s top club.

The most interesting part of the night was not actually the game but how we got into the stadium. For some incredibly logical reason the ushers were employees of the NBA league office….who didn’t speak a word of Spanish. Sure enough problems arose in the ticket lines (not enough windows open for ticket purchase, online ticket mix-ups, etc). Being the only ones able to serve as intermediaries, we helped convey a few messages, only to be rewarded with free courtside seats. I felt like a Spanish Spike Lee (courtside, shit home team) though had it not been for free tickets and the scrumptious stadium burritos the game would hardly have been worth the listed ticket price (30 euros for the upper deck).

American vs. Spanish Primary Schools

As the teaching continues and I begin to get a feel for leading a classroom full of eight year olds, I thought it would make my stories easier to understand by comparing our system of public, primary education to that of Spain.

Class Structure: In the U.S. the classes have lesson plans, teachers prepare ahead of time how they are going to relate the class material to their students; In Spain the teachers do not prepare…at all. The class is taught directly out of the book as well. If you do not answer word for word what the book says (even though they are being grammatically correct, answer the question correctly, etc.) you are wrong.

Class Etiquette: While Spain has the same rules as most United States schools (raise your hand to talk, share, respect others, no hitting, etc.); however, the enforcement of said rules is a lot more laid back here. Hitting is common practice, teachers are called on a first name basis, teachers look the other way with cursing amongst the children, and there are few consequences for behavior that deter a child from repeating his/her actions.

Recess: Certain schools are outlawing dodgeball and other games that single kids out in the United States, if things continue we will usurp France on the biggest pussy power rankings. There is one courtyard in my school. The kids have a two-hour minimally supervised break. All hell breaks loose. Where are the teachers? Enjoying a three-course meal of course. And the kids? Locked, literally locked in the courtyard with very nominal supervision. And if you think rules didn’t apply in the classroom, you have never tried to cross said courtyard to get to the staff cafeteria.

Punctuality/Schedule: As you might have ascertained by now, the rules at school are very arbitrary. For one, there is no time allocated in between classes for the students to move in between classrooms. By the time the students are settled in their next classroom, ten minutes of the forty-five minute period have passed. They are also recipients of a very Spanish schedule. The teachers, of course, need a forty-five minute coffee break and two hours for lunch. Almost three hours of their seven hour day are dedicated to running around a courtyard.

You may be thinking, there are definitely unruly public schools in the United States; however, my school caters to an upper middle class neighborhood. The students are great, the problem is, because English is a difficult language to learn, they have no drive to comprehending it. I am learning a lot about myself throughout the process as well, lessons that I am sure will stick with me for a long time after this experience is done (as well as some great stories to retell later).

OH...IA

I am shocked and kind of disappointed with myself that this story was not relayed earlier. A quick preface, for those that did not attend Denison, is a little background on the obsessions that can be Ohio State football. Denison being right outside of Columbus was essentially located at the epicenter of Buckeye country. Guyana: Jim Jones :: Columbus Suburbs: OSU Football. The sport was more than a religion; riots were always a threat to the downtown area. Wearing a Michigan jersey could be perceived as a worse idea than wearing a blue jumpsuit into the Blood’s neighborhood in Compton. I think the point has been made. Suffice it to say that on any given fall Ohio Saturday, people were dressed head to toe in Buckeye gear. So how does this have to do with my life in Madrid? Well, I had only been in the Spanish capital for two days when (and not even a Saturday) I saw my first Buckeye fans. A married couple, I presume, wearing matching Buckeye hats and sweatshirts. I couldn’t make this up if I tried. Anyway, the moral is the story is this: you cannot escape the Ohio State Buckeyes, no matter how far you get from the ‘shoe.’ Thus, in honor of the scarlet and grey, I leave you with this inspirational quote:

“Not everybody’s the perfect person in the world. I mean everyone kills people, murders people, steals from you, steals from me, whatever.” –Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State Quarterback, on Michael Vick’s reinstatement to the NFL

Go Bucks

Profe Mikey?

Last Thursday was my first day as an elementary school teacher. Suffice it to say that almost everything they told us/taught us was useless and incorrect; however, the job itself is a lot of fun. While we are only working four hours a day, we are actually at the school for seven (thank you Spanish work schedule). The idea of working more than an hour and a half without a break is complete absurdity to these people. At 10:30 we have our coffee break and at 12:30 we have a two-hour lunch break (and no details are sparred including a full three course move with waiters….I am at a public school in a poor part of Madrid). They are going to be long days; however, I was fortunate enough to get a schedule with no classes on Fridays so I cannot really complain.

As for my classes, I teach English and Science (in English) to 3rd and 4th graders. I work with all the teachers from the aforementioned grades, taking control of the classes when it is time for those subjects. In English they are studying very basic vocabulary, but in the process of me explaining what the objects are, they are forced to learn English. Science was never my strong suit and even 3rd grade science seems foreign to me. Luckily the book is very simplistic and I can just read ahead to stay ahead of the 10 year olds (and they gave me a college degree).

Apparently there is not a strong emphasis on classroom etiquette here as there is in the states so discipline can be a problem in some of these schools. The rules are just different here. One thing that transcends cultures, however, is the threat of losing free time. One of the teachers let me in on his classroom control strategies. Soccer, as you probably can imagine, is kind of popular in Spain so this professor parlays the love of the game into keeping order. If a child speaks Spanish during English lessons, misbehaves, etc. then he gets a yellow card. A second offense (or a serious action like fighting draws a straight red) produces a second yellow card. Like in the game, two yellows or a red equal suspension, but instead of missing their next match, the students just miss recess. Once the first yellow is pulled on a student, the problems all stop.

It is the first full week of work this week, which will be nice to finally settle into a routine, but it has been nice having so much free time to get to know the city. I am sure hours spent at an elementary school will provide more than enough stories this year as long as I can keep my sanity.