Ver las hojas se vuelven marrones en otoño es una de mis cosas favoritas y aproveché la tarjeta de transporte ‘abono joven’ para viajar dentro de la provincia de Madrid por solo 8 euros al mes. Hice amigos con estudiantes locales que nos recomendaron un lugar llamado El Castañar de El Tiemblo, e hicimos el viaje de 1 hora y 30 minutos desde Príncipe Pío y solo tuvimos que pagar €1,25 extra ya que viajábamos a Castilla y León. El ambiente en el pueblo se sentía como una pequeña comunidad donde todos conocían cada uno de ellos y fue muy agradable pasar un rato en la naturaleza.
Los árboles en el bosque (El Castañar)Disfrutando del paseo por la naturaleza.
Era difícil de navegar al principio porque el único punto de información estaba cerrado por la tarde, pero los habitantes nos ayudaron mucho. Cuando pedimos direcciones de un puesto de comida, el comerciante e incluso los clientes vinieron a nuestro rescate y nos dieron consejos sobre el autobús para subir al bosque. La ubicación es popular, ya que muchos padres llevan a sus hijos para ver los castaños y mi amiga solía ir allí muy a menudo antes de mudarse a la ciudad para la universidad. Por desgracia, estaba muy concurrida en ese día y el último autobús estaba completamente lleno, pero una pareja amable que también estaba haciendo su camino en coche se ofreció a llevarnos allí y de regreso. También eran de Madrid y a menudo disfrutaban conduciendo aquí durante los meses de otoño y tuve una conversación con ellos sobre el Reino Unido y cómo era uno de sus destinos favoritos para viajar. El paseo por el bosque era muy tranquilo y relajante, que era justo lo que necesitaba desde que vine aquí.
Durante el mes de noviembre, hubo una Fiesta del Cine durante 3 días donde las entradas para las películas estaban al precio reducido de €3,50. Fui a ver “La habitación de al lado” de Pedro Almodóvar que fue lanzada el mes pasado. Me gustó mucho su otra película “Volver”, y vi muchas similitudes en la producción y cinematografía de su obra más reciente. También visité el Mercadillo de Motores que tiene lugar el segundo fin de semana de cada mes durante la mayor parte del año, y personalmente lo preferí mucho más que El Rastro, fue mucho más organizado y no demasiado concurrido. El mercado estaba situado dentro del Museo del Ferrocarril de Madrid donde tenían en exhibición trenes y máquinas de vapor de diferentes periodos de tiempo, y también se podía entrar en algunos de ellos, que era muy chulo.
El Mercadillo de Motores
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Watching the leaves turn brown in autumn is one of my favourite things and I took advantage of the ‘abono joven’ transport card to travel within the community of Madrid for only 8 euros a month. I made some friends with local students who recommended a spot called El Castañar which is in the town of El Tiemblo, and we made the 1 hour and 30 minute journey from Principe Pio and only had to pay 1.25 extra since we were travelling to Castilla y Leon. The atmosphere in the town felt like a small community where everyone knew each other and it was very pleasant spending some time in nature.
El cine donde vi ‘La habitación de al lado’
The town was hard to navigate at first because the only information booth was closed for the afternoon but the locals helped us out a lot. When we asked for directions from a food stall selling snacks, the owner and even the customers gave us tips about the shuttle bus. The location is popular as many parents take their children into the forest to see the chestnut trees and my friend used to go there very often before she moved into the city for university. Unfortunately, it was very busy on this day and the last bus was completely full but a kind couple who was also making their way up by car offered to take us there and back. They were also from Madrid and often enjoy driving here during the autumn months and I had a conversation with them about the United Kingdom and how it was one of their favourite destinations to travel to. The walk in the forest itself was very peaceful and relaxing which was just what I needed since coming here.
During November, there was a Fiesta del Cine for 3 days where the tickets for movies were at the reduced price of 3.50 euros. I went to see Pedro Almodóvar’s “La habitación de al lado” which came out last month. I really liked his other film “Volver”, and I saw a lot of similarities in the production and cinematography of his newer work. I also visited the Mercadillo de Motores which takes place on the second weekend of every month for most of the year, and personally I preferred it a lot more to El Rastro, it was a lot more organised and not too busy. The market was located inside the Museo del Ferrocarril de Madrid where they had trains and steam engines from different periods of time on display, and it was possible to enter some of them too which was very cool.
Etudier en France – au delà de mes attentes
Après avoir passé un mois à l’École Normale Supérieure (ENS) de Lyon, je me sens qualifié à partager mes remarques et mes expériences du système académique français. C’était un mois de découverte. Je n’ai jamais pensé que dans une seule journée je pourrais entendre une prof chanter dans l’ancien français, apprendre une danse folklorique pendant une séance de zumba, et avoir une conversation sur les messages totalitaristes d’un dessin animé projeté en plein air.
Une belle photo de notre campus quand il faisait beau – la seule photo que j’en ai sur ma vie d’études
ENS est une institution unique, pour laquelle les étudiants doivent faire deux ans rigoureux de la classe préparatoire des grandes écoles (plutôt appelé ‘la prépa’) et passer un concours difficile et compétitif. En résultat, elle accueille les individus les plus intelligents et curieux de la France. Ceci dit, le processus d’application est beaucoup moins difficile pour les étudiants internationaux, donc je me sens un peu en décalage en comparaison. J’ai entendu dire que pendant la prépa, des étudiants se noient dans le travail, en remontant parfois à la surface pour respirer ou manger. Il y a donc un sentiment collectif de soulagement et de la joie d’avoir enfin atteint leur objectif. Par exemple, les gens sont désireux d’apporter leurs idées pendant les cours, ainsi que de profiter de tous les événements sociaux et extrascolaires. J’adore cet enthousiasme, et j’en ai essayé de faire la même chose d’autant que possible.
Pour ce semestre, je m’appartient au département de lettres. Je prends donc cinq/six cours qui vont de la littérature comparée à des pensées lumières à la didactique de la langue française. De plus, pendant les deux premières semaines, on pouvait ‘tester’ des cours de tous les départements, voire de tous les niveaux. La variété de choix était énorme. Chaque cours offrait une perspective unique sur une matière spécifique, me donnant l’impression que les possibilités étaient infinies. Ce qui diffère également de mon université d’origine, c’est que les cours durent deux heures et ont lieu dans des salles de classe assez petites. Il y a aussi une véritable volonté d’apprendre et de contribuer, ce que je vois malheureusement moins souvent ailleurs.
Mes nouvelles amies à une « festive »
En ce qui concerne les soirées, le bureau des étudiants à L’ ENS organise régulièrement des événements créatifs, divers et surtout amusants. Par exemple, presque chaque semaine il y a un ‘Festive’, qui est un néologisme de ‘festival’ et ‘evening’. Avec des thèmes d’Oktoberfest, de Pastis, et de Fluo, des festives sont une grande fête dans le foyer de campus avec un petit bar et une petite piste de danse. C’est une occasion parfaite de mieux connaître et de s’amuser avec les gens de mes cours. De plus, je suis allée à un événement/dîner où on paye 5€ pour un repas à trois plats (vin inclus!). Le thème était des spécialités Breton, donc notre repas était accompagné par des chants typiques Breton et du chauvinisme. C’était une expérience unique, c’est sûr.
Enfin, avec des projections de films en plein air, des apéros d’intégration, sans même parler des différents sports proposés, je vous assure que les premières semaines a ENS ont été chargées et pleines de découvertes.
Des gens agitent le drapeau Breton après le repas
Studying in France – beyond my expectations
After having spent one month at the École Normale Supérieure (ENS) de Lyon, I feel qualified to share my thoughts and experiences of the French academic system. It has been a month of discovery. I never thought that in a single day I could hear a teacher sing in old french, learn a folk dance in a zumba class, and have a conversation at an open air cinema about the totalitarian messages within a cartoon.
ENS is a unique institution, for which students have to undergo two rigorous years of preparatory class for ‘grandes écoles’ (also called ‘la prépa’) and sit a difficult and competitive exam. As a result, it welcomes the most intelligent and curious individuals in France. Having said that, the application process is way less difficult for the international students, so I feel a bit behind in comparison. I have heard that during the prépa, the students are drowned in work, and come up sometimes for air only to breathe and eat. Therefore there’s a general feeling of relief and the happiness of finally reaching their goal. For example, the students are eager to contribute their ideas in class, as well as to make the most of all the social and extracurricular events. I love this enthusiasm, and I have tried to do the same thing as much as possible.
Une projection en plein air du dessin animé « Le roi et le oiseau »
For this semester, I belong to the literature department. Therefore I am taking five or six courses that range from comparative literature, to the enlightened thought, to the art of teaching french. Also, during the first few weeks, we could try out courses from different departments, even from different levels. The variety of choice was enormous. Every course offered a unique perspective on a specific subject, giving me the impression that the possibilities were infinite. Unlike my origin university, the classes last two hours and take place in quite small classrooms. There is also a real willingness to learn and to contribute, something that I have unfortunately rarely seen before.
In terms of the evenings, the student board at ENS regularly organises events that are creative, diverse and above all fun. For example, almost every week there is a ‘*festive’,* which is a word made up of ‘festival’ and ‘evening’. With themes like Oktoberfest, pastis, and neon, *festives* are big parties in the campus foyer with a small bar and even smaller dancefloor. Its a great chance to get to know my classmates better and have fun. Also, I went to an event/dinner where you pay 5€ for a three course meal (wine included!). The theme was Breton specialities, so our meal was accompanied by typical Breton chants and flag-waving. It was definitely a unique experience.
Finally, with open air film showings, integration apéros, without even talking about the different sports offered, I assure you that my first weeks at ENS have been busy and full of discovery.
La Oveja Negra, Barcelona, con unos españoles y un noruego
Buen día! Al aterrizar en Barcelona, me acogió con un agradable calor acompañado con el ánimo y bullicio de una de las ciudades más populares en el mundo. Comparado con la rápida caída de temperatura en septiembre que experimentamos en el Reino Unido, he tenido el placer de llevar una camiseta a cualquier hora del día durante todo el mes, y aún ahora hace 22 grados en el medio de octubre.
Después de conocer a mis compañeros de piso, prácticamente de inmediato comencé de trabajar en Hospital Duran i Reynals, que forma parte del instituto catalán de oncología e investigación biomédica (IDIBELL). El viaje me pareció un lío con varios modos de transporte público que no se conectan bien con el hospital específico donde trabajo. Con filas eternas de tráfico por la mañana y por la tarde, compré una bici para desplazarme por los bien diseñados carriles de bici que tenemos aquí en Barcelona. Mi equipo investiga la neuroinflamación para las enfermedades Parkinsons y THD (Deficiencia de la Tirosina Hidroxilasa – un defecto de los neurotransmisores caracterizado por producir parkinsonismo, distonía y retraso mental en los pacientes) con trabajo de vanguardia de cultivo célular con iPSC, un tipo de células madre. Las primeras semanas consistieron de mi paulatina integración y una mirada de los procesos en cultivos y técnicas de laboratorio. Aprendí cómo cultivar astrocitos, preparar medios, fijar organoides y llevar a cabo la inmunoflorescencia y western blot. Cada semana tenemos reuniones laboratorios en las que presenta un cientifico sus nuevos resultados, viniendo de otros departamentos, que me da una perspicacia en otros proyectos. En las semanas siguientes, a medida que desarrollaba más confianza y experiencia, esta semana he podido realizar tareas solo como fijar organoides, cortarlos en criostato (una maquina que mantiene una temperatura de -20 para facilitar cortes de 20μm de un bloque de OCT, lo que tiene los organoides fijados) y también he empezado un pequeño proyecto de quantificación molecular con unos organoides de la enfermedad THD con análisis estadístico. Mi proyecto analiza la eficacia de un nuevo tratamiento propuesto por un estudiante de másters quién terminó su puesto. La hazaña de aprender todos los procedimientos en español no me ha venido mal pero tampoco resultaba fácil. Con un nuevo entorno cíentifico que no cumple con mi fondo de oncología e inmunología, la información me parece totalmente nueva, de ahí que con la presión añadida de realizar formación en una lengua secundaria ¡mi cabeza vaya explotando todos los días!
Como un inglés quien no está bien acostumbrado a celebrar nada más que el cumpleaños y la navidad, la miríada de fiestas españolas era una bien acogida sorpresa. En septiembre, Barcelona tiene la Mercè, la que celebra el honor de la patrona de Barcelona, la Mare de Deu de la Mercè (Madre de Dios de la Merced), cuyo día grande es el 24 de septiembre. No solo el 24, sino los días alrededores de esta fecha ofrecen un compendio de actividades y celebraciones catalanas como conciertos, pirotécnicos y desfiles públicos. Durante los desfiles, la gente se viste en disfraces enormes y caseros de animales como dragones, burros, entre más, con bengalas conectados a su cabeza y la boca. Me puse muy cerca y aún tengo una marca de quemadora en la camiseta, algo que me enseñó por qué todos los locales llevan impermeables. En otro fin de semana, he tenido el placer de salir con unas amigas españolas a quienes enseñé el buceo en Indonesia durante el verano. Me enseñaron un bar popular entre locales (la Oveja Negra), cómo está la bien sangría española, y también me invitaron a Valencia para el buceo en noviembre, algo que me da la gana.
Las bengalas de la Mercè
El lado legal de estar en España me ha costado mucho más que pensé, dado que el visado no es el punto final de este camino, sino el comienzo, y ya había experimentado muchos problemas con este asunto. Tras problemas con la agencia de alquiler, el visado que faltó el número NIE que debe haber tenido, mal consejo por parte de la Universidad de Barcelona, y una lucha para conseguir citas con la policía, el lado burocrático se convirtió rápidamente en un lío total que me amenazaba la estancia en España. Por suerte, logré solucionar todo al tomar unos días sin trabajar, y por fin, después de un mes en España, puedo respirar hondo sabiendo que mi estancia está toda legalizada. Refleja bien el lado negativo de Brexit, lo cual repercute a los estudiantes Erasmus de mala forma con respecto a la finanza y la burocracia, cultivando estrés que mancha la hazaña hermosa de tomar un salto para vivir en otro país y experimentar una cultura nueva. No obstante, me esforzcé en aprender mucha independencia dada la falta de buen ayuda y consejo concreto, y por cierto llevaré lo que aprendí a los nuevos estudiantes ingleses para el año que viene.
En resumen, sigo adaptándome a la cultura de España, pero a pesar de los inevitables problemas iniciales asociados con mudarse de país, espero con emoción lo que me traigan los meses siguientes en España.
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Desfiles de la Mercè
Good day! Upon landing in Barcelona, I was greeted by pleasant warmth, accompanied by the energy and bustle of one of the most popular cities in the world. Compared to the rapid temperature drop we experience in the UK in September, I’ve had the pleasure of wearing a t-shirt at any time of the day throughout the month, and even now, it’s 22 degrees in mid-October.
After meeting my flatmates, I practically started working immediately at the Hospital Duran i Reynals, which is part of the Catalan Institute of Oncology and Biomedical Research (IDIBELL). The commute seemed like a mess to me with several modes of public transport that don’t connect well to the specific hospital where I work. With endless lines of traffic in the morning and evening, I bought a bike to get around using the well-designed bike lanes we have here in Barcelona. My team investigates neuroinflammation in diseases like Parkinson’s and THD (Tyrosine Hydroxylase Deficiency – a neurotransmitter defect characterized by parkinsonism, dystonia, and mental difficulties in patients) with cutting-edge cell culture work using iPSCs, a type of stem cell. The first few weeks consisted of my gradual integration and an overview of culture processes and lab techniques. I learned how to culture astrocytes, prepare media, fix organoids, and perform immunofluorescence and western blot. Each week we also have lab meetings in which scientists from other departments present on their research, which gives me an insight into different projects. In the following weeks, as I gained more confidence and experience, this week I was able to perform tasks alone, such as fixing organoids, cutting them in a cryostat (a machine that maintains a temperature of -20°C to facilitate 20μm cuts from an OCT block, which holds the fixed organoids), and I also started a small project on molecular quantification using THD organoids with statistical analysis. My project analyzes the efficacy of a new treatment proposed by a master’s student who finished their placement. The challenge of learning all these procedures in Spanish hasn’t been too bad, but it wasn’t easy either. In a new scientific environment that doesn’t align with my background in oncology and immunology, the information feels completely new, and with the added pressure of training in a second language, my head feels like it’s exploding every day!
As an Englishman who’s not used to celebrating anything more than birthdays and Christmas, the myriad of Spanish festivals was a welcome surprise. In September, Barcelona has La Mercè, which celebrates the patron saint of Barcelona, the Mare de Deu de la Mercè (Mother of God of Mercy), with the main day being September 24th. Not only on the 24th, but the days surrounding this date offer a wide range of Catalan activities and celebrations like concerts, fireworks, and public parades. During the parades, people dress up in huge, homemade animal costumes like dragons, donkeys, and others, with sparklers attached to their heads and mouths. I got too close and still have a burn mark on my t-shirt, which taught me why all the locals wear raincoats! Another weekend, I had the pleasure of going out with some Spanish friends I taught to dive in Indonesia during the summer. They showed me a popular bar among locals (La Oveja Negra), how good Spanish sangria is, and they also invited me to Valencia for diving in November, which I’m really looking forward to.
Sangría (agotada por culpa de nosotros…)
The legal side of being in Spain has been much more difficult than I thought, as the visa isn’t the endpoint of this process, but the beginning, and I had already experienced many problems with this. Following problems with the rental agency, the visa that lacked the NIE number it should have had, bad advice from the University of Barcelona, and a struggle to get appointments with the police, the bureaucratic side quickly became a total mess that threatened my stay in Spain. Fortunately, I managed to resolve everything by taking a few days off work, and finally, after a month in Spain, I can breathe easy knowing my stay is fully legalized. This reflects on the negative side of Brexit, which negatively affects Erasmus students, both financially and bureaucratically, creating stress that taints the amazing opportunity of taking the leap to live in another country and experience a new culture. Nevertheless, I worked hard to learn a lot of independence due to the lack of solid help and concrete advice, and I will certainly pass on what I’ve learned to new English students next year.
In summary, I’m still adapting to the culture of Spain, but despite the inevitable initial problems associated with moving to a new country, I’m excited to see what the coming months will bring in Spain.
October in Spain is always full of events and celebrations especially leading up towards the National Day of Spain on October 12th. Madrid is no stranger to hosting amazing shows and cultural exhibitions that are always lively and attract lots of people from around the world. This year, there was a huge parade that took place starting at Plaza de España and ending by Puerta de Alcala with 22 participating countries – all of which share the Spanish language and Hispanic culture in common. I arrived half an hour before it started and it was completely packed, but I managed to find a spot along Gran Via where I watched the performers and amazing floats go by – I believe it was worth it because I was in awe of how happy and proud people were to be there and to represent their own countries by donning flags and traditional clothing.
I also attended the free concert of Manuel Turizo (a popular Colombian singer who had been nominated for a Latin Grammy) that took place at Puerta de Alcala. I was very fortunate to have been able to get in because there were people in the queue for the concert since 6am and there were about 100,000 people in attendance. It felt very surreal to witness everyone come together as a community, which embodies the ‘All accents fit in Madrid’ motto of the event.
On the National Day of Spain, all of the museums and cultural heritage sites had free entry, and I went to visit a couple of museums, the National Museum of Decorative Arts and Museum of Romanticism. I particularly enjoyed the aesthetics and the collection of artistic pieces in the Museum of romanticism because the artists really captured the cultural diversity between the many natural landscapes of communities in Madrid.
To finish off the Hispanidad celebrations, there were fireworks in the Plaza de Cibeles in the evening, which I attended with my flatmates, some of whom are from Latin America and it was interesting getting to know them over the last couple of months and how proud they are to be from such culturally rich countries.
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El mes de octubre en España siempre tiene un montón de eventos y celebraciones, especialmente en los días previos al Día de Hispanidad, el 12 de octubre. La ciudad no es ajena a organizar increíbles espectáculos y exposiciones culturales que siempre están animadas y que atraen a muchas personas de todo el mundo. Este año, hubo un gran desfile que tuvo lugar en la Plaza de España y terminó en la Puerta de Alcalá con 22 países participantes – todos los cuales comparten la lengua española y la cultura hispana en común. Llegué media hora antes de que empezara y estaba completamente lleno pero encontré un lugar a lo largo de la Gran Vía donde observaba pasar a los artistas y seis espectaculares carrozas – creo que valió la pena porque estaba asombrado de lo feliz y orgullosa que estaba la gente de estar allí y de representar a sus propios países llevando sus banderas para animar a todos.
También, asistí al concierto gratis de Manuel Turizo (un popular cantante colombiano que había sido nominado a un Grammy Latino) que tuvo lugar en la Puerta de Alcalá. Fui muy afortunado de haber podido entrar porque había gente en la cola desde las 6 de la mañana para el concierto y había alrededor de unas 100.000 personas. Fue muy surrealista ver cómo todos se unen como una comunidad, que encarna el lema “todos los acentos caben en Madrid”.
En el Día Nacional de España, todos los museos y sitios del patrimonio cultural eran libres de entrar, y fui a visitar un par de museos, incluido el Museo del Romanticismo. Me gustó especialmente la estética y la colección de piezas artísticas porque los artistas realmente capturaron la diversidad cultural entre los muchos paisajes naturales de las comunidades de Madrid.
Para terminar las celebraciones de la Hispanidad, había fuegos artificiales en la Plaza de Cibeles por la noche, a los que asistí con mis compañeros de piso, algunos de los cuales son latinoamericanos y fue interesante conocerlos en los últimos meses y lo orgullosos que están de ser de países con una cultura más rica.
Vor zwei Wochen bin ich nach Hamburg umgezogen, obwohl es sich nur wie wenige Tage fühlt. Sich wohl in einer neuem Stadt zu fühlen dauert zweifellos eine ganze Menge Zeit, trotzdem fange ich langsam an, eine Zuhause aufzubauern. Meine erste Eindrücke von Hamburg sind zwar im Grossen und Ganzen positiv, jedoch hatte ich vor meiner Reise fast keine Erwartungen von der Stadt, weil ich noch nie in Hamburg gewesen war.
Zuerst ist es mir eingefallen, dass Fahrrädern, Füssgängern und Autos von der Infrastruktur gleichmässig geschätzt werden. Es wirkt, als ob alle Verkehrsmitteln genauso wichtig wie einander gewertet werden und das gefällt mir, weil die Strasse sicherer und passierbarer sind. Am Anfang hatte ich ein paar Schwierigkeiten, auf die rechten Seite zu fahren. Allerdings bin ich jetzt daran gewohnt und bin auf jeden Fall der Meinung, dass Hamburg sich am besten mit dem Fahrrad erkundet lässt.
Weil ich mein Rennrad nach Hamburg mitgebracht habe, kann ich zahlreiche Orte schnell und leicht erreichen. Zwar bedienen die öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln die Stadt erfolgreich und pünktlich, trotzdem gibt es eine erhöherte Flexibilität, wenn man mit seinem eigenen Fahrrad oder einem der Fahrrädern der StadtRAD Initiative fährt. Aus diesem Grund würde ich sagen, dass Hamburg ihren Ruf als einer der grünsten Städte Deutschlands verdient hat.
Die ersten drei Tage wurde natürlich mit dem Umzug in meiner 2-er Wohngemeinschaft
beschäftigt, doch war es auch mir klar, dass ich die Gelegenheiten der PIASTA Welcome
Week nicht versäumen soll. Deswegen reservierte ich einen Platz auf einem Campus Tour, währenddessen wir die Chance erfordert wurden, die Gebäude und Umgebung der Uni Hamburg kennenzulernen. Ausserdem befreundete ich drei internationale Studentinnen. Von dieser Erfahrung begreife ich schrittweise deutsche kulturelle Erwartungen. Am wichtigsten beim Kennenlernen von neuen Freunden soll man an Aktivitäten oder Veranstaltungen teilnehmen, um dafür eine ähnliche Interesse zu zeigen.
Aufgrund meinem Rudern lässt sich zusammenfassend, dass ich diesen kulturellen Ratschlag im Ernst genommen habe. Da ich fast jeden Tag seit meiner Ankunft an dem Hamburger und Germania Ruder Club beim Training verbracht habe, fühle ich mich viel mehr wohl in dieser kleinen Gemeinschaft und in der weiteren Stadt, im Vergleich zu einer Ankunft ohne diese Chance. Geplanten Training Einheiten hilfen mir nicht nur bei der Organisierung meiner Woche, sondern auch bei der Gründung einer allgemeiner Routine. Im Besonders geniesse ich auf das Wasser im Einer zu fahren, obwohl die Schwelle und Wellen von anderen Wasserfahrzeugen mir viele Sorgen machen. Es gibt dringend zu lernende Vokabeln zum Thema Rudern, weil ich zum Produktion und Rezeption von spontanen Gesprächen gezwungen werde, in dem sonst kann ich nicht meine Bedürfnisse rechtzeitig ausdrücken oder meine Technik im Boot verbessern. Alles in allem finde ich mich in der idealste Lage, meine deutsche Sprachkenntnisse weiter zu entwickeln und ich freue mich auf die nächsten Tage und den Vorlesungsbeginn an der Uni.
Ehemaliger Flakbunker aus dem Zweiten Weltkrieg
I moved to Hamburg two weeks ago, although it feels like just a few days. It undoubtedly takes a while to feel comfortable in a new city but despite this I am slowly starting to build up a place to call home. Whilst my first impressions of Hamburg are positive, I had, however, almost no expectations of the city because I have never been to Hamburg.
First of all it has occurred to me that bikes, pedestrians and cars are equally valued by the infrastructure. It appears as though all transportation methods are equally important as each other and I like that because the streets are safer and more traverseable.
Bringing my road bike to Hamburg means I can reach numerous places quickly and easily. Although public transport serves the city successfully and on time, there is an increased flexibility when you bring can travel with your own bike or one of the bikes from the StadtRAD initiative. For this reason, I would say that Hamburg has earned its reputation as one of the greenest cities in Germany.
The first three days were naturally busy with the move into my two-person flatshare, but it was clear to me that I should not miss out on the opportunities of the PIASTA Welcome Week. Because of this I reserved a place on a campus tour during which we were given the chance to get to know the buildings and surrounding environment of the Universität Hamburg. In addition I made friends with three international students. From this experience I am gradually understanding German cultural expectations, the most important of which is that getting to know new friends takes place when you take part in activities or events, in order to show a shared interest for something.
Due to my rowing it can be concluded that I have taken this cultural advice seriously. Since I have spent nearly every day since my arrival training at the Hamburg and Germania Rowing Club, I feel more at home in this small community and in the wider city, which would not be the case if I did not have this chance. Planned training sessions help me not just to organise my week, but also to set up a more general routine. In particular I am enjoying rowing on the water in a single scull, although the swells and waves from the other crafts on the water cause me some concerns. There is rowing vocabulary that urgently needs to be learned because I am being forced into understanding and producing spontaneous conversations, in which I would otherwise not be able to expresse my needs in a timely manner or improve my technique in the boat. All things considered, I find myself in the ideal position to further develop my German language skills and I am looking forward to the next few days and the start of the lecture period at the university.
Now, it’s been three weeks of normal classes. I have started to get used to living in Japan. At Nanzan I’m going to a special language course called the CJS. That course has 200 minutes of Japanese every day, so it is rather tiring. Even though Nanzan is known in Japan for having lots of exchange students. On campus you don’t really see them around. However, I feel that is a good thing for me as I came to Japan to learn Japanese. I have started to be able to use Japanese daily. Every day from 9:10 to 3:15, I have class, so I only have 45 minutes for lunch. This seems to be the case with the other department students. So, the canteens are really crowded. Japan is famous for food, and there are a lot of dishes with meat. but I don’t eat meat, so even though there are 3 canteens I can only eat at 1. Its rather sad but I can only eat curry rice for lunch everyday there. Nanzan’s campus is full of greenery and have a quiet vibe. But because the campus is on a hill, getting around the campus can be pretty tough. I’m glad I’m living in Jansen because of this. Although the Japanese lessons are long the more I study the easier Japanese is becoming.
Recently I’ve been busy, so I haven’t been able to travel to many places. But the other day I went to Kyoto with some friends from my dorm. If you take the shinkansen from Nagoya to Kyoto it would take 30 minutes but because it’s very expensive we took the slow train which you must change twice and takes 2 hours. When I arrived at Kyoto, because it had been bothering me, I decided to change my phone contract to Rakuten Mobile at one of the shops. After that I went with my friends to a famous temple called kinkauji (gold temple) and looked round the rest of Kyoto. Kyoto, I feel is inconvenient because there is not much of a subway line you can only really use the bus. So, the bus is always crowded and is slow, so riding it is tiring. My Kyoto trip was fun but next time for planning is think is needed.
Finally, I went to Nagoya castle the other day and was able to take some nice photos. (seen above.)
C’est la meilleure saison- l’automne est arrivé! La joie de Halloween, la foliage donne la vie au Canada.
Vu que c’est haute saison, j’ai eu la chance de visiter l’isle d’Orléans avec mes pôtes qui vivent à la ville de Québec. C’était l’un des expériences les plus mémorables des derniers mois. Cette île est connue pour ses vergers, et j’ai eu la chance de faire du cueillette de pommes. C’était la première fois que j’ai fait la cueillette des pommes. J’ai goûté à plusieurs variétés délicieuses, et après je les ai fait en tarte pomme. Sur l’isle, j’ai aussi mangé la poutine au homard, un plat typique de la région. La mélange de frites croustillantes, la fromage et de homard savoureux était tout simplement incroyable. En outre, j’ai eu l’occasion de pratiquer le français avec les habitants. Les gens ici sont si amicaux et patients!
Le vergerVue panoramique des couleurs
It is the best season- fall has arrived! The joy of Halloween, the fall colours giving life to Canada.
As seen as it is peak season, I had the chance to visit Orléans island with my friends who live in Québec city. It was one of the most memorable experiences of the past few months. This island is famous for its orchards, and I had the opportunity to go apple picking. It was the first time that I did apple picking. I got to try several delicious varieties, and after I made them into an apple pie. On the island, I also ate lobster poutine, a typical local dish. The mix of crispy fries, cheese, and savory lobster was simply incredible. Additionally, I had the chance to practice French with the locals. The people here are so friendly and patient!
Poutine au homard
J’ai également exploré le parc Jacques-Cartier et admiré les foliages. J’ai fait une longue randonnée (4.5 heures aller retour) mais j’ai pris la mauvaise direction (oops)…Bien que les randonnées soient un peu épuisantes, les vues sont incroyables. Les paysages étaient à couper le souffle, avec des couleurs flamboyantes. C’était une expérience inoubliable! J’ai rencontré beaucoup des francophones en randonnée, je faisais des pauses souvent pour leur parler afin de comparer les routes. En parlant avec les locaux, j’ai appris la phrase « attacher sa tuque ». Ce que je n’avais pas réalisé, c’était les locaux m’avertissaient de la montée que était à venir. Ils ne plaisantaient pas….
Jacques Cartier
I also explored Jacques-Cartier Park and admired the fall colours. I went on a long hike (4.5 hours round trip), but I went the wrong way (oops). Although hiking is a bit exhausting, the views are incredible. The landscapes were breathtaking, with vibrant colors. It was an unforgettable experience! I met lots of francophones on the hike, I oftentook breaks to speak to the locals to compare routes. By speaking with the locals, I learnt the phrase « attacher sa tuque » (the equivalent of « hold onto your hat » in English). What I hadn’t realised, it was the locals warning me of the climb that was to come. They were not joking….
A la fin du mois, j’ai aussi visité la chute Montmorency, une chute d’eau gigantesque et tellement puissante. J’ai pu marcher au-dessus des chutes et les observer au bas. J’étais complètement mouillée, mais je me sentais tellement vivante! C’est l’un de mes endroits préférés à visiter, ce qui près de ma ville et j’ai hâte de visiter en toute saison.
To finish off the month, I also visited Montmorency Falls, a gigantic waterfall which is so powerful. I got to walk over the falls and witness it from the bottom. I got absolutely soaked, but I felt so alive! This is one of my favourite places near my town to visit and I look forward to visiting in all of the seasons.
¡Hola a todos! Septiembre en España es un vibrante centro de actividad y cultura. El verano todavía está en pleno apogeo y recuerdo que solo llovió una vez. Fue un reto adaptarse a un nuevo país, sobre todo porque es la primera vez que vivo lejos de mis padres. Mis clases en la universidad son todas en español y están llenas de nativos, por lo que ha sido un gran salto desde mis clases en el Reino Unido, pero descubro que estoy entendiendo cada vez más a medida que pasan las semanas.
Mi clase de Marketing en la universidad.
Enfrentarme a los problemas cotidianos en España fue un poco difícil para mí, dado que todo llevaba mucho tiempo y era muy confuso ordenar el papeleo. Definitivamente diría que sentí un choque cultural porque al venir aquí, sabía que a los españoles les encantaban sus siestas por la tarde, y tuve que adaptar mi estilo de vida para encajar en esta forma de vida relajada porque muchas tiendas y supermercados cerraron por unas horas cada tarde para dar a los trabajadores un descanso.
Cine al aire libre.
Lo que me encanta de Madrid es que siempre hay cosas que hacer, como popups, exposiciones por tiempo limitado en museos o actividades para reunir a todos los miembros de la comunidad. Fui a La Estival, un cine al aire libre donde vi La La Land con uno de mis amigos que también se había mudado a España para estudiar. Se nos dio la opción de escuchar el audio en inglés o español, y porque es una de mis películas favoritas, ya conocía la trama así que la escuché en español porque quería mejorar mi comprensión.
Además visité el mercadillo El Rastro un domingo muy caluroso con mi compañero de piso y sus amigos que son nativos de Madrid; fue muy agradable tener gente local con quien hablar porque sabían todas las verdaderas joyas y tenían recomendaciones muy nicho y tuve la oportunidad de practicar mi español.
Mis nuevos amigos y yo disfrutando de un brunch en un restaurante después de una mañana de compras de segunda mano.La multitud de personas en El Rastro.
En general, mi primer mes ha pasado en un borroso de adaptación a las clases y la vida diaria en un nuevo país. ¡Además, tratando de disfrutar el último del verano a medida que el clima se vuelve más frío y se oscurece más temprano!
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Hello everyone! September in Spain is like a buzzing hub of activity and culture. Summer is still in full swing and I remember it only rained once. It was quite a challenge settling into a new country especially because this is the first time that I am living away from my parents. My classes at university are all taught in Spanish and full of natives so it has been quite a jump from my classes back in the UK but I find that I am understanding more and more as the weeks go by.
Being faced with daily issues in Spain came as a bit of a difficulty to me as everything took very long and it was very confusing sorting out the paperwork. I would definitely say that I felt a culture shock because coming here, I knew that the Spanish loved their siestas in the afternoon, and I had to adapt my lifestyle to fit into this relaxed way of living because a lot of shops and grocery stores would close for a few hours every afternoon to give the workers a break.
What I particularly love about Madrid is that there is always something going on, such as pop-ups, limited museum exhibitions or activities to bring everyone in the community together. I went to La Estival, an open air cinema where I watched La La Land with one of my friends who had also moved to Spain to study abroad. We were given the choice to listen to the audio in English or Spanish, and because it is one of my favourite films, I already knew the plot so I listened in Spanish because I wanted to improve my understanding.
I also visited the El Rastro flea market on a very hot Sunday with my flatmate and their friends who are natives to Madrid; it was very nice having a local to talk to because they knew all the good spots and had very good recommendations and I had the opportunity to practise my Spanish.
Overall, my first month has gone by in a blur of adapting to classes, daily life in a new country and also trying to enjoy the end of summer as the weather becomes colder and it gets dark earlier!
이번 달은 기억에 남고 교육적인 경험으로 가득 찼습니다. 하이라이트 중 하나는 한국 국립 박물관을 방문한 것이었고, 이곳에서 한국의 풍부한 역사와 문화에 대한 깊은 통찰을 얻었습니다. 고대 왕조부터 현대 역사까지, 박물관은 한국의 과거를 포괄적으로 탐험할 수 있는 기회를 제공했습니다. 저는 각기 독특한 이야기를 담고 있는 수많은 아름답고 고대의 유물들을 보았습니다.
또한, 한국의 중요한 문화 명절인 추석에 대해 더 배울 기회도 있었습니다. 추석은 가족들이 모여 수확에 감사하고 조상을 기리는 시기입니다. 연구와 축제 동안, 저는 송편과 같은 특별한 음식을 준비하는 전통 관습과 성묘(조상 묘를 방문하는 것)에 대해 알게 되었습니다. 친구들과 함께 한복을 입고 국악 공연에 참여하는 등 지역 축제에도 참가하여 이 행사에 대한 문화적 의미를 더욱 깊이 이해할 수 있었습니다. 서울에서 가장 마음에 들었던 장소는 경복궁이었습니다. 경복궁은 매우 넓어서 폐궁 시간 전에 모든 것을 보지 못한 것이 조금 아쉬웠습니다.
언어 학습 또한 이번 달의 중요한 부분이었습니다. 한국어 실력 향상을 위해 열심히 노력하고 있으며, 눈에 띄는 성과를 거두었습니다. 최근에는 언어 교환 모임에 참석해 원어민과 한국어로 대화할 기회를 가졌습니다. 이 경험은 제 자신감을 높여주었고, 수업에서 배운 내용을 실제로 활용할 수 있는 기회를 제공했습니다.
결론적으로, 이번 달은 문화 체험과 개인 발전이 보람 있는 시간이었습니다. 앞으로도 한국의 삶의 다양한 측면을 탐구하며 학업을 이어가기를 기대합니다.
한국인들은 “행 즐거운 추석 되세요! “라고 말합니다!
Celebrating Chuseok
This month has been filled with memorable and educational experiences. One of the highlights was visiting the National Museum of Korea, where I gained deeper insights into Korea’s rich history and culture. From ancient dynasties to modern history, the museum offered an opportunity to comprehensively explore Korea’s past. I saw numerous beautiful and ancient artifacts, each telling its own unique story.
Additionally, I had the chance to learn more about Chuseok, one of Korea’s most important cultural holidays. Chuseok is a time when families gather to give thanks for the harvest and honour their ancestors. During my research and celebrations, I learned about traditional customs such as preparing special foods like songpyeon and the practice of visiting ancestral graves ( seongmyo). I also participated in local festivities by attending a gugak performance and wearing a *hanbok* with my friends, which helped me better understand the cultural significance of the event. One of my favourite places in Seoul was Gyeongbokgung Palace. The palace was so vast that I couldn’t see everything before closing time, which was a bit disappointing. I hope to return soon and explore its beautiful gardens. When I wore the *hanbok*, I felt like a princess from the Joseon Dynasty!
Language learning has also been an important part of my month. I’ve been working hard to improve my Korean skills and have made noticeable progress. Recently, I attended a language exchange meeting where I had the chance to practice speaking Korean with native speakers. This experience boosted my confidence and gave me an opportunity to apply what I’ve learned in class.
In conclusion, this month has been a rewarding time of both cultural immersion and personal growth. I look forward to continuing my studies and exploring more aspects of Korean life in the future.
