Steve's sandbox

Tag: year abroad

  • Kelly Huynh: Disfrutando del clima haciendo excursiones – April 2025

    Aproveché un fin de semana libre haciendo un viaje a Barcelona, lo que significaba que tenía dos días y una noche para aprovechar al máximo el tiempo y aprender todo lo posible sobre Cataluña. Tomé el tren desde la estación de Atocha en Madrid y el trayecto duró algo menos de tres horas debido a un pequeño retraso en las vías, pero aún así tuve suficiente luz del día para explorar la ciudad cuando llegué. Personalmente, prefiero mucho más Madrid, por la cantidad de turistas que había en Barcelona y por tener que estar siempre alerta por los carteristas. Además, sentí que le faltaba ese sentido de comunidad, aunque quizás esto se deba a que estuve allí solo como turista y no viviendo realmente en la ciudad.

    Recuerdo haber estudiado a Gaudí en mis clases de cultura en los módulos de español en mi universidad, y poder ver su obra, especialmente la Sagrada Familia, en persona fue realmente un privilegio. Las fotos que tomé no le hacen justicia para nada, y definitivamente recomiendo pagar la entrada y disfrutar de la experiencia completa por dentro.

    También pasé un buen ratito en Parc Güell, y la cantidad de escaleras y la caminata para llegar hasta allí valieron totalmente la pena. Ver todos los colores y las increíbles estructuras de lo que originalmente iba a ser una zona residencial, transformada en un parque para que lo disfruten los locales, fue impresionante. Mi parte favorita fue observar todos los mosaicos y contemplar la vista de toda la ciudad. Pude captar la visión de Gaudí de incorporar la naturaleza en sus obras, y lo logró muy bien con la escalinata del dragón, aunque lamentablemente la fuente no estaba en funcionamiento, como muchas otras en la ciudad debido a la sequía. Me quedaron muchas cosas por ver por falta de tiempo y por el clima algo impredecible ¡pero sin duda me encantaría volver!

    Muchos de mis amigos y compañeros de piso tenían exámenes parciales antes de las vacaciones de Semana Santa, así que tuve un poco de tiempo libre y decidí hacer una pequeña excursión de un día a Aranjuez en tren. Me siento mucho más cómodo manejándome por la extensa red de transporte en Madrid, y siento que es algo en lo que el Reino Unido podría mejorar, especialmente en cuanto a la accesibilidad para estudiantes, ya que viajar allí es carísimo. Aunque puede que simplemente me haya malacostumbrado a la tarifa mensual tan económica que hay aquí. El pueblo es conocido por su palacio, que es Patrimonio de la Humanidad. La entrada es gratuita los domingos por la tarde, pero solo para ciudadanos de la UE y de América Latina. Aun así, diría que la experiencia no se la puede perder, aunque tuve que pagar, porque la cola era larguísima y además hacía bastante calor ese día. Fue un plan de fin de semana perfecto, pasear por la orilla del río Tajo y por los distintos parques que rodean el palacio. Incluso vi pavos reales presumiendo sus plumas.

    En Madrid siempre hay muchos planes y eventos nuevos, y como era el comienzo de la primavera, el jardín botánico ofrecía entrada gratuita un día a la semana por la mañana. Fui a dar un paseo con algunos amigos que hice y a ver el jardín de tulipanes y las plantas que ya habían florecido. El clima era perfecto para caminar, y además había una galería dentro del jardín para escapar un poco de las multitudes. Agradezco que haya tantos espacios bonitos y tanta naturaleza, que son el descanso perfecto de estar encerrado o enterrado entre los estudios (¡que será mi realidad el mes que viene preparando los exámenes!). Momentos así siempre me ayudan a reflexionar sobre lo lejos que he llegado y también sobre lo cerca que está el final de este intercambio, aunque será una experiencia inolvidable. Estoy seguro de que seguiré aprendiendo y apreciando la cultura española incluso después de volver.

    ˖ . ݁.୨୧ ݁₊

    Hello! I love that it finally feels like spring here in Madrid, and the change in vibe was definitely needed after months of gloom. It felt like a switch was flipped because the weather in the UK was a lot better somehow.

    I took the opportunity of a free weekend to take a trip to Barcelona, which meant I had 2 days and one night to make the most of my time and learn all about Catalonia. I took the train from Atocha station in Madrid and the journey lasted just under 3 hours because of a slight delay on the tracks, but I still had plenty of daylight to explore the city. Personally, I prefer Madrid a lot more because the amount of tourists there were and having to remain vigilant because of pickpockets in Barcelona and the overall community feel is lacking, but this might be due to the fact that I was only there as a tourist and not actually living there. I remember learning about Gaudí in my cultural modules in my degree back home, and being able to see his work, especially the Sagrada Familia in person was truly a privilege, the photos I took did not do it justice whatsoever, and I definitely recommend paying to go inside and getting the full experience. 

    I also spent a while in Parc Güell and the amount of stairs and walking up to the site was worth it. Seeing all the colours and amazing structures of what was supposed to be a residential area be turned into a park for locals to enjoy. My favourite part was looking at all the mosaic tiles and taking in the view of the entire city, I got the vision that Gaudí wanted to incorporate nature into his works and he did it really well with the dragon stairway but unfortunately the fountain was not in service, like much of the fountains in the city due to a drought. There was so much I was unable to see due to time constraints and unpredictable weather but I would definitely love to come back!

    A lot of my friends and flatmates had midterm exams before the Easter break so I had a bit of free time and decided to take a little day trip to Aranjuez by train, I feel a lot more comfortable navigating the extensive transport network in Madrid and it is something that I feel like the UK could improve on in terms of accessibility for students, because it is super expensive to travel, but it may just be because I am spoilt with the cheap monthly tariff over here. The town is known for its palace which is a World Heritage Site, and the entry is free on Sunday afternoons but only for EU and Latin American citizens, but I would say it was a good experience regardless even though I had to pay, because the queue was insanely long and the weather was really warm that day too. It was a perfect weekend plan strolling along the river Tagus and the various parks around the palace, and I even saw peacocks doing a courtship display out in the wild.

    In Madrid there are always a lot of plans and new events, and because it was the beginning of Spring the botanical garden had free entry one day of the week in the morning, so I went to walk around with some friends I made and see the tulip garden and the plants that have bloomed. The weather was perfect for a stroll around and there was even a gallery inside to escape the crowds. I am thankful that there are nice outlets and a lot of nature which is the perfect break from being stuck inside or being buried in studies (which will be my reality next month preparing for my exams!) Small moments like this always help me reflect on how far I have come and also the finality of this exchange abroad but it will be an unforgettable experience and I am sure that I will continue learning and appreciating the Spanish culture once I return.

  • Kelly Huynh: Aventuras de otoño en Madrid (Nov 2024)

    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

    ˖ . ݁.୨୧ ݁₊

    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.

  • Cosmo de Bono: October in Taipei – Oct 2023

    中文-繁體字
    時間真過得很快，我已經在台北學習了 6 個星期了！有時後我仍然覺得很難適應這爾的新日常生活，因為台灣的什麼東西都跟英國完全不一樣，但我知道這是留學經驗的重要一部分。日子一天天過去，我越來越習慣台北，也發現了這個城市的新地方。

    這個月的主要進步是天氣。因為現在是秋天，所以現在的天氣比以前的舒服多了。當然跟英國天氣比，台灣的溫暖多了，但在戶外也不會覺得不舒服了。雖然刮了一個小颱風，但其實下大雨讓我想起了英國！

    十月有兩個國定假日。第一個是中秋節。人們會吃很多月餅來慶祝這個節日，所以當我的中文老師把她自己做的月餅帶到課堂上的時候，我非常高興。第二個節日叫雙十節，因為是 10 月 10 日。這一天是台灣的《國慶日》，因此台北哪裡都掛著台灣國旗。

    假期讓我有時間出去台北玩兒玩兒和北海岸附近旅行。我去了北投，從台北坐地鐵只需 40 分鐘，還去了這裡的日式溫泉。這非常有趣。在我看來看到日本在這裡的影響也很有趣。最近，我還去了九份古老的金礦村，也參觀了十分的瀑布。這些台北外面的小旅行讓我可以跟本地人說中文，非常有趣。因為台灣人完全沒想到我會說中文，所以我說時候，他們都感到興奮。昨天，一個麵包店的老闆免費送給我一些糕點，因為我會說中文，他非常高興！

    雖然到 11 月底我才有假期，但在台北外面的短旅行讓我更珍惜台灣。

    English:
    Time is going by very quickly and I’ve been studying in Taipei for 6 weeks now! I still find it difficult sometimes to adapt to my new life here as almost everything in Taiwan is different from England, but I know that this is an important part of the study abroad experience. Day by day I get more used to Taipei and discover new parts of the city.

    The main improvement this month has been the weather. Now that it’s autumn, the weather is a lot cooler than before. It’s of course a lot warmer than the UK but it is no longer uncomfortable to be outside. There was a small typhoon but the rain actually reminded me of the UK!

    So far in October, there have been two national holidays. The first was the mid-autumn festival. People celebrate this festival by eating lots of mooncakes, so I was delighted when my Chinese teacher brought mooncakes to class that she had made herself. The second holiday is called double 10th day because it’s on the 10th of October. This is the National Day of Taiwan and because of this, there are lots of Taiwanese flags hanging across Taipei.

    The holidays have allowed me to spend some time travelling outside of Taipei and near the north coast. I visited Beitou, 40 minutes by train from Taipei, and went to the Japanese hot springs here. This was very fun, and it was interesting to see the Japanese influence here. I recently have also been to the old gold-mining village of Jiufen and saw the famous waterfall at Shifen. These small trips outside of Taipei are allowing me to speak Chinese with locals which is very fun. Taiwanese people are always so surprised and excited that I can speak Chinese. Yesterday the shopkeeper in a bakery gave me some pastries for free as he was so happy that I spoke Chinese!

    I don’t have any more holidays until the end of November, but my short trips outside of Taipei have made me appreciate Taiwan a lot more.

    Day trip to Jiufen

    中文-简体字
    时间过得很快，我已经在台北学习了 6 个星期了！有时后我仍然觉得很难适应这尔的新日常生活，因为台湾的什么东西都跟英国完全不一样，但我知道这是留学经历的重要一部分。日子一天天过去，我越来越习惯台北，也发现了这个城市的新地方。

    这个月的主要进步是天气。因为现在是秋天，所以现在的天气比以前的舒服多了。当然跟英国天气比，台湾的暖多了，但在室外也不会觉得不舒服了。虽然刮了一个小台风，但其实下大雨让我想起了英国！

    十月有两个国定假日。第一个是中秋节。人们会吃很多月饼来庆祝这个节日，所以当我的中文老师把她自己做的月饼带到课堂上的时候，我非常高兴。第二个节日叫双十节，因为是在 10 月 10 日。这一天是台湾的《国庆日》，因此台北哪儿都挂着台湾国旗。

    假期让我有时间出去台北玩儿玩儿和北海岸附近旅行。我去了北投，从台北坐地铁只需 40 分钟，还去了这里的日式温泉。这非常有趣。在我看来看到日本在这里的影响也很有意思。最近，我还去了九份古老的金矿村，也参观了十分的瀑布。这些台北外面的小旅行让我可以和本地人说中文，非常有趣。因为台湾人都完全没想到我会说中文，所以我说时候，他们都感到兴奋。昨天，一个面包店的老板免费送给我一些糕点，因为我会说中文，他非常高兴！

    虽然到 11 月底我才有假期，但在台北外面的短旅行让我更加珍惜台湾。

  • Cosmo de Bono: First Month in Taipei, September 2023

    2023/09 – 陳白宇
    我來台灣已經三個星期了。在這裡的時間過得很快，我現在已經適應了這裡的新生活。我住在台北，在國立台灣師範大學（NTNU）學習 10 個月。我每天上午有兩個小時的現代漢語課，週一、週二和週四下午還有專業語言課 – 古代漢語、文學和翻譯。我的所有課程都有一個語言誓約，就是老師和學生只能說中文。課程並不輕鬆，因為老師們教得很快，老師也給學生很多作業。每週還有筆試和口試，是為了檢查學生的進步。然而，這些都很有趣，而且我看得出我的中文已經有了明顯的進步。

    雖然我必須花很多時間學習，但我也發現課外時間對提高我的語言能力同樣有用。我現在是北師大合唱團的一員，每週一和週五晚上都要排練三小時。雖然這是一項很大的投入，但我每周可以花 6 個小時用中文跟台灣學生聊天兒，讓我練習口語。我發現聽別人說中文是提高發音和語調的最有效方法。

    在教室外面，我在台灣最難事情的是天氣。每天的氣溫都30 度以上。再加上潮濕的天氣，讓一切都變得有點累。但是到了十月份，天氣會變得涼爽很多，所以我打算到時候再開始去參觀台北有名的地方

    我和一對寄宿夫婦住在一起，他們是Greg和Risa（他們更喜歡用自己的英文名字）。他們非常友好，還養了一隻小狗。

    因為來台北的時間不長，所以我沒有更多的消息可以報告，但目前一切都很順利，我很高興能在這裡生活 10 個月！

    First Month in Taipei

    I’ve been in Taiwan for three weeks now. The time here has gone by very quickly and I’m now well settled into my new life here. I’m living in Taipei and studying at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) for 10 months. I have 2 hours of Mandarin classes every morning and on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, I have extra specialised language classes – Classical Chinese, literature and translation. All of my classes have a language pledge rule whereby teachers and students are only allowed to speak Chinese. The classes aren’t easy as they are fast-paced and the teachers assign a lot of homework. There are also weekly tests to monitor my progress. However, they are fun and I can tell that my Chinese has already improved a lot.

    Although I have to spend a lot of time studying, I’ve also found that my time outside the classroom is just as useful for improving my language skills. I’m now part of the NTNU choir and rehearse for 3 hours every Monday and Friday evening. Whilst this is a big commitment it allows me to spend 6 hours a week chatting in Chinese to Taiwanese students and become more familiar with the spoken language. I find that listening to people speaking Chinese is the best way to improve my pronounciation and tones.

    The hardest part of my time in Taiwan so far has been the weather. Every day has been at least 30 degrees Celsius. This combined with the humidity has made everything a bit more tiring. However, it’s due to become a lot cooler in October so I’m planning to start some proper sightseeing then.

    I’m living with a host couple – Greg and Risa (they prefer to go by their English names). They’re very friendly and have a small dog.

    I don’t have much more news to report as I haven’t been in Taipei for long, but so far everything is going well and I’m excited that I can spend 10 months living here!

  • Case Study – Marianne McCready, France 2023

    Admiring the view of Lyon

    I would first and foremost like to thank the John Speak Language Trust for supporting me during my experience in France.

    Thanks to your support not only have I been able to cover living costs, but I have also been able to explore more of the country and live new cultural experiences.

    Visiting a really cool Ancient Egyptian Exhibit!
    On a day trip to some islands off the coast of Cannes

    The opportunity to study abroad has opened my eyes to lots of new experiences such as education in France, French way of life and all the rich cultural experiences France has to offer. It has also been a fairly international experience as I have made friends with French people and with people from all over the world. Furthermore, with Paris being such an international city, I have got to try lots of new cuisines and inventive food such as an 100% vegetarian restaurant where they prepared your food for you on the table! I also visited many museums such as the Louvre, l’Orangerie and the Musée D’Orsay. I also had the chance to visit a once in a lifetime display of Ancient Egyptian artefacts, most of which had never left Egypt before, and learn about the connection Rameses II and how a Frenchman used his name to crack Hieroglyphs in the 1820s.

    When I embarked upon my study abroad adventure in Paris, I had no idea what challenges it would bring. Learning how the French university system works, making some mistakes (and getting lost!) and learning how to live in a big international city such as Paris. In recent months, there has also been many strikes in the French capital and, at times things have been very chaotic, but through speaking with locals I have come to see it as a quintessential cultural experience! Given all the French history that I have learned while here I really feel that I have a deep understanding of why strikes and workers’ rights are so important to the French People.

    While in France and with the support of the John Speak Language Trust, I was able to travel to lots of different places for the first time.

    Trying French Cuisine!
    In the beautiful village of Eze!

    I was able to visit a friend who was studying abroad in Lyon twice and she showed me round the beautiful city and let me practice my French with her Host Family which was very interesting as they spoke with a different accent to those from the Parisian region. I also visited Dijon and Versailles. At the end of my time in France I organised a trip to the south of France which was amazing! It was lovely to escape the city for a while and see where French people go on holiday. As I felt quite comfortable navigating the French rail system at this point, my friend and I travelled by train almost everywhere and took some buses in order to get to more hard-to-reach places, such as the medieval village of Èze which I absolutely loved.

    All of these experiences which have shaped me, and my knowledge of French and French culture would not have been possible if not for the John Speak Language Trust.

    France, particularly Paris, has a higher cost of living than that in the UK and with the help of the Trust I felt a weight off my shoulders which allowed me to make the absolute most of my time abroad.

  • Marianne McCready: Ici à Paris ! – January 2023

    Je suis très heureuse de vous informer que je suis arrivée à Paris ! J’ai passé mes premières deux semaines en je me repérais dans cette grande ville. C’est incroyable de sentir plus en plus a l’aise en parler français, en lire des pancartes et comprendre des directions quand je les demande ! Je suis arrivée une semaine en avance de la rentrée et j’ai passé ce temps en apprendre à connaitre mon nouveau quartier et en acheter des essentiels pour mon nouvel appartement ! Cependant, je dois admettre que le système universitaire en France a été très difficile à comprendre. Je suis allée au parcours d’intégration et le système n’été pas plus clair à comprendre et je n’ai pas compris ce que j’ai dû faire ! Ensuite, j’ai été informée qu’il y aurait un rendez-vous le jeudi pour tout expliquer mais hélas… il y avait une grève le jeudi et le rendez-vous a été annulé ! Ils nous ont envoyé un courriel avec un lien pour nous nous inscrire au cours mais comme une étudiante étrangère je ne suis pas dans leur système en ligne et je n’ai pu pas m’inscrire. Alors, le vendredi je suis allée à la Sorbonne en personne pour trouver ma coordinatrice pour expliquer ma situation. C’était une expérience intimidante qui fallait frapper au plusieurs portes différentes et expliquer ma situation unique et demander pour l’aide (en français). Heureusement, chaque personne était très gentille et faisait tout qu’elle pouvait à m’aider trouver la personne correcte. Quand j’ai trouvé la coordinatrice, elle a dissipé mes soucis et m’a donné des instructions claires en comment m’inscrire au mes cours.
    Assister aux cours cette semaine a été une expérience nouvelle et intéressante pour moi. Je ne suis pas encore sûre de ce que je vais étudier définitivement, mais je me suis intéressée par la littérature du XVIIème et XVIIIème siècles, le journalisme et du cinéma français. Je fais des efforts à parler avec mes camarades de classe français et de devenir ami avec eux. Avec un peu de chance, avant que je soumette mon prochain rapport j’aurais fait des amis avec des Français !

    I am very happy to report that I have arrived in Paris! I have spent these first two weeks finding my feet in this big city. It is amazing to feel myself becoming more at ease in speaking French, in reading signs and understanding directions when I ask for them! I arrived a week before classes started and I spent that time getting to know my new neighbourhood and stocking up on essentials for my new flat! However, I must admit that it has been very difficult trying to understand the French university system. I went to the orientation meeting and was still not any clearer on what I had to do! I was then told that there was to be a meeting on Thursday to explain it all but alas… there was a strike on Thursday and the meeting was cancelled! We were sent an email with a link so we could register online but as an external student I do not exist on their online system and was unable to register. So, on Friday I went in person to the Sorbonne to find the coordinator so I could explain my situation. This was a daunting experience as it required knocking on many different doors and explaining my unique situation and asking for help (in French). Thankfully, everyone was so kind and did everything they could to help me find the right person to speak to. When I found the coordinator, she assuaged my worries and gave me clear instructions on how to register for my classes.
    Attending classes this week has been a new and interesting experience for me. I am still not quite sure what I will end up studying in the end, but I have been interested in 17th and 18th century literature, journalism and French cinema. I am making an effort to speak to my French classmates and befriend them. Hopefully, by the time I submit my next report I will have made some new French friends!

  • Olivia Pettitt – Salva el Rastro – Save el Rastro, September 2020

    Las manifestaciones del Rastro

    El Rastro es el mercadillo al aire libre más popular (y caótico) de España, que acoge a miles de personas cada semana y reúne a gente de todas las culturas, barrios y niveles de ingresos.
    Se celebra todos los domingos y días festivos y está situado entre la calle Embajadores y la Ronda de Toledo en el centro de Madrid. Toda la calle se llena de vendedores ambulantes que venden casi todo lo que puedas imaginar. Cuando España entró en su primer confinamiento en marzo, el más duro de Europa, el Rastro fue cancelado por primera vez.

    Hasta la pandemia, el Rastro había estado abierto todos los domingos por más de 400 años, sin importar el clima, ni siquiera la guerra civil lo interrumpió como lo hizo la pandemia. Aunque después de 5 largos meses, cuando regresó en agosto, no fue exactamente lo mismo. Usualmente vivo con músicos, turistas y vendedores callejeros, sólo 135 puestos fueron permitidos para volver cada semana en rotación de los cerca de 1.000 puestos que normalmente se instalaban cada domingo. Esto causó indignación entre los locales, ya que se permitía que las tiendas tuvieran hasta el 60% de su capacidad habitual en el interior, las restricciones alrededor del Rastro eran mucho más duras, a pesar de que el Rastro era al aire libre.


    Este mercado es el medio de vida de la gente y lo ha sido durante generaciones, y sin él algunos no tienen otra fuente de ingresos. Por eso cientos de personas salieron a las calles a manifestar, insistiendo en que el 50% de los puestos se devolvieran a las calles de forma rotativa, para permitir una medida de seguridad adecuada y para que los titulares de los puestos mantuvieran los lugares que algunos de sus familiares han tenido durante generaciones. En un comunicado, un representante de los manifestantes dijo que el plan del consejo “será un desastre para los puestos históricos del Rastro, una pérdida de la identidad de uno de los lugares más emblemáticos de la capital, el lugar de miles de historias, poemas, retratos”. Dicen que, si desaparece, también lo hará “gran parte de la identidad de la ciudad y parte de su patrimonio histórico”.
    Habiendo estado yo mismo en el Rastro muchas veces, sé lo único y especial que es. Es más que un mercado, es parte de la cultura e historia de Madrid.
    Sin embargo, con muy poco acuerdo alcanzado, y Madrid siendo puesta en otro serio confinamiento, con la circulación dentro y fuera de la ciudad ya restringida y algunos bares y tiendas cerrando una vez más, el futuro de El Rastro es incierto.

    El Rastro is the most popular (and chaotic) open air flea market in Spain, welcoming tens of thousands of people every week, and bringing together people from every culture, barrio and income bracket.

    It is held every Sunday and public holiday and is located between Calle Embajadores and the Ronda de Toledo in the centre of Madrid. The whole street overflows with street vendors selling almost anything you can imagine. When Spain entered its first lockdown back in march, the toughest in Europe, el Rastro was cancelled for the first time.
    Until the pandemic, el Rastro had been running every Sunday for over 400 years, whatever the weather – not even the civil war disrupted it like the pandemic did. Although after 5 long months, when it made its return in august, it wasn’t quite the same. Usually bustling with musicians, tourists and street sellers, only 135 stalls were allowed to return each week on rotation out of around 1,000 stalls which would normally set up every Sunday. This caused outrage with locals, as shops were allowed up to 60% of their usual capacity inside, the restrictions around el Rastro were a lot harsher, despite el Rastro being open air.

    This market is people’s livelihood and has been for generations, and without it some have no other source of income. That is why hundreds of people took to the streets to protest, insisting 50% of the stalls were returned to the streets on a rotating basis, to allow for adequate safety measure and for the stall holders to keep the spots some of their family have had for generations. In a statement, a representative of the demonstrators said the council’s plan “will be a disaster for the historic Rastro stands, a loss of the identity of one of the most emblematic places in the capital, the place of thousands of stories, poems, portraits.” They say that if it disappears, so too will “much of the identity of the city and part of its historical heritage.”

     

    Having been to el Rastro myself many times, I know how unique and special it is. It is more than a market it is a part of Madrid culture and history.
    However, with very little agreement reached, and Madrid being placed into yet another serious lockdown, with movement in and out the city already restricted and some bars and shops closing once again, the future of el Rastro is uncertain.

  • Olivia Pettitt: La pena de ser una madre en espana / The Child Penalty in Spain – July 2020

    Parque de Tio Pio – Tio Pio Park

    Como casi todos los países del mundo, las mujeres en España no están libres de la desigualdad de género, especialmente en el mundo laboral. Esta semana, el Banco de España ha publicado un informe sobre la pena infantil en España, que revela los efectos económicos que tiene tener hijos en las mujeres y el papel que tiene la maternidad dentro de la brecha salarial de género. Este estudio analiza la diferencia entre hombres y mujeres en el perfil de ingresos tras el nacimiento de su primer hijo. Los resultados mostraron que los ingresos de la madre disminuyen en un 11% en el primer año después del nacimiento, cuando los ingresos del padre aumentan en un 0,15%. Aunque estas cifras son impactantes, desafortunadamente no son sorprendentes, este es un problema que las mujeres enfrentan en todo el mundo.


    Durante el siguiente año después del nacimiento, los ingresos de la madre caerán hasta un 19,5% y según la institución, incluso después de 10 años el salario de la madre nunca volverá al nivel anterior a la maternidad.
    De hecho, incluso después de 10 años, la pérdida de ingresos se estabiliza en torno al 33%, en comparación con sus homólogos masculinos que sólo tienen una pérdida del 5%. Así, el Banco de España cifra en un 28% la diferencia salarial entre los ingresos de las mujeres y los de los hombres después de una década de paternidad. Esta cifra es similar en magnitud a la de Dinamarca y Suecia, y menor que en el Reino Unido, EE.UU., Alemania y Austria.
    Según el Banco de España “La maternidad explica una proporción significativa de la brecha de género en los ingresos”, que utilizó para este estudio los datos de la Muestra Continua de Vida Laboral de la Seguridad Social de casi 550.000 trabajadores (264.391 madres y 279.437 padres) desde 1990 hasta 2018.
    Son muchos los factores que contribuyen a la brecha salarial entre los géneros, por ejemplo, la reducción de los días de trabajo de las mujeres que son madres y los cambios en los contratos a tiempo parcial o temporales.

     El estudio también muestra que las respuestas en términos de ingresos varían según el nivel de educación. Así, las mujeres con educación universitaria reaccionan a la maternidad más en el margen intensivo (trabajando a tiempo parcial), mientras que las mujeres sin educación universitaria tienen relativamente más probabilidades de hacerlo en el margen extensivo (trabajando menos días).
    A pesar de ello, las mujeres en España están dando grandes pasos hacia la igualdad de género, y en 2019 España entró en el top 10 de los países del mundo en cuanto a igualdad de género, el mismo año en el que 350.000 manifestantes en Madrid y 200.000 en Barcelona salieron a las calles para denunciar las disparidades de género presentes en la sociedad.
    El principal factor de este repunte puede estar relacionado con el empoderamiento político de las mujeres. En 2018 España se convirtió en el gobierno más centrado en las mujeres del mundo, con un 65% de ministras en el gabinete de Pedro Sánchez. El presidente socialista en funciones nombró 11 ministras de las 17 que tenía cuando llegó al poder en junio de 2018.
    Sin embargo, este nuevo informe del Banco de España es un recordatorio más de que la lucha aún no está ganada.

    Memorial para los fallecidos de Covid-19-Memorial for the victims of Covid-19

    Like almost every country in the world, women in spain are not free from gender inequality, especially in the working world. This week, the bank of Spain released a report about the child penalty in Spain, revealing the economic effects having children has on women and the role motherhood has within the gender wage gap. This study analysed the difference between men and women in the income profile after the birth of their first child. The results showed that mother’s income falls by 11% in the first year after birth, when the father’s income increases by 0.15%. Whilst these figures are shocking, unfortunately they are not surprising, this is a problem women face worldwide.

     During the next year after birth, the mother’s income will fall by up to 19.5% and according to the institution even after 10 years the mother’s salary will never return to a pre-maternity level.
    In fact, even after 10 years, the loss of income stabilizes at around 33%, in comparison with their male counterparts who only have a loss of 5%. Thus, the Bank of Spain’s figures a 28% gender wage gap in women’s income compared to men’s after a decade of parenthood. This figure is similar in magnitude to Denmark and Sweden, and smaller than in the UK, USA, Germany and Austria.
    According to the bank of spain “Maternity explains a significant proportion of the gender gap in earnings,” which used data from the Social Security Continuous Work Life Sample of nearly 550,000 workers (264,391 mothers and 279,437 fathers) from 1990 to 2018 for this study.
    There are many factors which contribute to the gender wage gap, for example the reduction in days women who are mothers work, and changes to part time or temporary contracts.
    The study also shows that the responses in terms of income vary with the level of education. Thus, women with a university education react to maternity more on the intensive margin (working part-time), while women without a university education are relatively more likely to do so on the extensive margin (working fewer days).


    Despite this, women in Spain are making big steps towards gender equality, and in 2019 Spain entered the top 10 countries in the world for gender equality the same year in which 350,000 protestors in Madrid and 200,000 in Barcelona took to the streets to denounce the gender disparities present in society.
    The main factor in this upturn may be linked to women’s political empowerment. In 2018 Spain became the world’s most female-centric government with a share of 65% female ministers in Pedro Sánchez’s cabinet. The socialist acting prime minister appointed 11 female ministers out of 17 when he came to power in June 2018.

    Malasana Madrid

    However, this new report from the bank of Spain is just another reminder that the fight is not yet won.

  • Paris sous confinement : Phoebe Gittins, Paris, France, April 2020

    Nul ne peut nier que mon expérience d’une année à l’étranger a eu des défis. On pensait que la crise des Gilets jaunes et le mouvement de grève contre la réforme des retraites en décembre 2019 marqueraient l’histoire et notre année à Paris… personne n’aurait pu imaginer qu’on vivrait quelques mois plus tard en confinement, avec le contrôle étroit des déplacements et de la vie quotidienne. Personne n’aurait prévu cette situation. Mais, en fin du compte, c’est une partie de l’expérience de vivre et étudier à l’étranger – un autre défi intéressant.
    Pendant les mois de janvier et février, on était bien conscient du coronavirus en France ; comme le reste de l’Europe on s’adaptait aux contraintes sanitaires, cependant rien d’autre. A mon avis, les premières mesures pour lutter contre l’épidémie ont été mises en place rapidement mais pas nécessairement clairement, et évidemment il était difficile de comprendre exactement les règles et les nouvelles mesures avec la barrière linguistique. En plus, au début il y avait beaucoup de confusion concernant l’utilisation des masques, les quartiers les plus touchés à Paris et le flot de rumeurs sur le coronavirus, ce qui amplifiait le sentiment de panique partout.
    A mon avis, Sciences Po a bien géré cette situation sans précédent. Les professeurs étaient transparents sur ce qu’ils savaient sur la continuation de l’enseignement ; dès que Macron a fait son allocution télévisée le 12 mars, j’ai reçu beaucoup d’e-mails rassurants, mais il était évident que les professeurs n’en savaient pas plus que nous. Après avoir pris une semaine des cours annulés afin d’organiser la côté administrative, Sciences Po a lancé l’enseignement en ligne, largement grâce à Zoom. Bien sûr, étant donné que Sciences Po est une institution globale, j’imagine que les cours sur Zoom étaient très difficiles d’organiser à cause de décalages horaires ; de plus, il faut que l’évaluation du semestre soit juste et raisonnable, malgré le fait que les cours sont adaptés aux nos nouvelles conditions. Et enfin, comment devraient-ils maintenir la motivation et l’enthousiasme des étudiants derrière leurs écrans, sans étant insensible à l’effet réelle de l’épidémie sur leurs vies ?
    Par conséquent, la Directrice de la Formation nous a donné 48 heures pour rendre les travaux qui remplaceront les examens finals, c’est-à-dire les travaux qui auraient été demandés en temps limité en tout cas. En plus, les séances sur Zoom ne sont plus obligatoires, sauf que nous allons encore recevoir une note de participation (même si le coefficient attribué est réduit), afin d’encourager la participation orale de ceux qui peuvent.
    Pour ma part, le cas est un peu différent puisque je suis étudiante d’échange, alors mon université anglaise m’a confirmé que je validerais le semestre de toute façon. Mais, je me sentais quand même un sens du devoir de finir mes travaux au mieux de mes capacités, particulièrement les exposés binômes encore à faire avec mes copains de Sciences Po. Même si quelquefois j’ai du mal à trouver la motivation chez moi, les cours sur Zoom et mes lectures toujours trompent l’ennui du confinement.
    Les choses ont bien changé à Paris, sans aucun doute comme toutes les autres capitales dans le monde. Je connais la Paris vibrante de jour comme de nuit, mais actuellement les rues, les cafés et les bars sont tous déserts. Naturellement, le métro et les bus fonctionnent toujours avec des restrictions d’horaires et de fréquence, afin que les travailleurs essentiaux puissent aller au travail sans problème. L’attestation de déplacement a été introduite comme une mesure stricte de contrôler les déplacements du grand public, mais dans l’ensemble je crois que les français respectent le confinement. Je comprends les frustrations de ne pas pouvoir passer du temps dehors par beau temps ; il y avait plein d’endroits que je n’avais pas encore l’opportunité de visiter et j’aurais aimée profiter de la ville sans les contraintes du travail universitaire.
    Cependant, par une tournure inattendue des événements, c’est « grâce » au coronavirus et au confinement que j’ai bavardé plus avec ma colocataire sur les sujets différents et plus personnels étant donné qu’on passait chaque jour ensemble. Alors, sur le plan personnel, le confinement nous rapproche, ce qui est important en tout cas, mais particulièrement parce que le confinement peut peser sur l’état psychologique. On peut noter un rapprochement entre les gens partout, notamment pendant l’hommage quotidien aux personnels soignants, qui montre une solidarité forte des communautés.
    Lié à ce dernier point, afin de continuer mon année en France, j’essayais de trouver une famille parisienne que j’aurais pu aider en gardant leurs enfants, en harmonie avec l’esprit de solidarité. Je me sentais un peu inutile comme une jeune fille en plein santé, mais évidemment la situation globale s’est détériorée rapidement alors au dernier moment possible, j’ai pris la décision de rentrer au Royaume-Uni. On avait peur de fermetures des frontières, et je préfère être avec ma famille pendant cette période très inquiétante.
    Je suis si reconnaissante pour le temps que j’ai eu à Paris. Mon français a amélioré considérablement, mais les gens formidables que j’avais la chance de connaitre, ils étaient plus significatifs à mon épanouissement personnel. L’épidémie de Covid-19 a lancé le plus grand défi de mon année à l’étranger, mais elle ne m’a pas dissuadé de prendre des opportunités futures à l’étranger – en fait, dorénavant je me sens beaucoup plus capable grâce à cette expérience.

    No one can deny that my year abroad experience had its challenges. We thought that the Yellow Vests crisis and the wave of strikes against the pension’s reform in December 2019 would make history and forever mark our year in Paris… no one could have imagined that in a few months we would be living under lockdown, with strict control on our travel and daily lives. No one could have anticipated this situation. But, at the end of the day, it is a part of the experience of living and studying abroad – another interesting challenge.
    During the months of January and February, we were well aware of the coronavirus in France; like the rest of Europe we adapted to the health constraints, but nothing else. In my opinion, the first measures to fight against the epidemic were put in place quickly but not necessarily clearly, and evidently it was difficult to completely understand the rules and new measures with the language barrier. Furthermore, at the start there was a lot of confusion surrounding the use of masks, the most affected areas in Paris and the flow of rumours about the coronavirus, which amplified the feeling of panic everywhere.
    In my opinion, Sciences Po handled this unprecedented situation well. The teachers were transparent about what they knew about teaching continuing; as soon as Macron did his televised address on the 12th March, I received lots of reassuring emails, but it was clear that the teachers did not know any more than us. After having taken a week of cancelled lessons to organise the administrative side, Sciences Po launched the online teaching, largely thanks to Zoom. Of course, given that Sciences Po is an international institution, I imagine that the Zoom lesson were very difficult to organiser because of the time differences; moreover, it is necessary to have a fair and reasonable assessment of the semester, despite the fact that the lessons are adapted to our new conditions. And finally, how should they maintain motivation and enthusiasm of students behind their screens, without being insensitive to the real effect of the epidemic on their lives?
    Consequently, the Director of Education gave us 48 hours to hand in the work which will replace the final exams, in other words the work which would have been done in limited time anyway. Furthermore, the Zoom sessions are no longer obligatory, except that we are still going to receive a participation mark (even if its value is reduced), to therefore encourage oral participation among those who can.
    For me, the case is a little different since I am an exchange student; therefore my English university has confirmed that I would validate the semester anyway. But even so, I felt a sense of duty to finish my work to the best of my ability, particularly the partner work still to do with my Sciences Po friends. Even if sometimes I find it difficult to find the motivation working from home, Zoom lessons and readings always trump the lockdown boredom.
    Things have really changed in Paris, undoubtedly like all the other capital cities in the world. I know the Paris that is lively day and night, but right now the streets, cafés and bars are all deserted. Obviously, the metros and buses are still working with timetable and frequency restrictions, so that essential workers are able to go to work without any problem. The certificate of proof of travel was introduced as a strict measure to control the general public’s travel, but in general I think the French are respecting the lockdown. I totally understand the frustrations of not being able to spend time outside during this beautiful weather; there were loads of places that I did not have the opportunity to visit and I would have liked to make the most of the city without the stress of university work.
    However, in an unexpected turn of events, it is ‘thanks’ to the coronavirus and to the lockdown that I chatted more to my flatmate about things different to usual, more personal topics, given that we spent every day together. Therefore, on a personal note, the lockdown brought us closer, which is important in any case, but especially since the confinement can be mentally tough. One can note a feeling of coming together between people everywhere, most notably during the daily homages to health workers, which shows the strong feeling of solidarity in communities.
    Linked to this last point, to continue my year in France, I tried to find a Parisian family that I could have helped by babysitting their children, in keeping with the spirit of solidarity. I felt a little bit useless as a young girl in full health, but evidently the global situation deteriorated rapidly, so at the very last possible moment I made the decision to return to the United Kingdom. We were scared of the borders closing, and I prefer to be with my family during this very worrying time.
    I am so grateful for the time I had in Paris. My French has improved considerably, but the amazing people I was lucky enough to meet were the most important part of my personal development. The Covid-19 epidemic threw me the greatest challenge of my year abroad, but it has not discouraged me from taking up future opportunities abroad- in fact, from now on I feel a lot more capable to do so, thanks to this experience.

  • Case Study: Aarun Ilyas – Granada, Spain 2019-20

    English:

    Moving to Spain to start my first job has been the most challenging experience of my life so far however it has also been the most rewarding. Since starting university almost three years ago now, my degree has been building up to this point. Being awarded a scholarship by the John Speak Language Trust has helped to alleviate some of the stress and financial burden that comes with being at such a pinnacle point of my degree. The scholarship has allowed me to make the most of my time in Granada and seize every opportunity with both hands.

    Anya and I hiking in the Sierra Nevada.

    With regards to my internship, it was very enlightening to be out of education and I have learnt a lot from it. I gained an insight into sectors such as Sales, Business Development and Software Engineering. Moreover I also enhanced my professional development by learning more about myself and how I operate in a professional setting. Working in such a rapidly growing startup forced me to adapt to and tackle new challenges with greater confidence and professionalism, both inside and out of the office. Whether it was combating the language barrier or dealing with new scenarios with customers. The combination of working and living abroad has trained me to be able to deal with almost any obstacle that I face.

    Avenida de la Constitución 12: my home for 6 months.

    Languages have opened up so many opportunities for me. This is just the start. 

    I am extremely proud to say that I lived in Granada. It is a remarkable city with a rich cultural and historical background that I would not have been able to appreciate if I had not lived there myself. These six months have been an unforgettable journey which I have been able to share with friends from all over the world.

    If you ever have the chance to do a year or even a semester abroad, I highly recommend it. The skills, experiences and memories on offer are priceless and will stay with you for life.

    The river spot where my colleagues and good friends Will, Nora and Mart used to take to our lunch breaks.
    I would like to thank the John Speak Language Trust for their financial support during my time in Spain. My year abroad would not have been the same without it. It has been a catalyst for my immersion into Spanish language and culture and for that I will always be grateful.

     

    Trip to the thermal springs in Santa Fe.

    Español:

    Mudarme a España para empezar mi primer trabajo ha sido la experiencia más desafiante de mi vida hasta ahora, pero también la más gratificante. Desde que empecé la universidad hace casi tres años, mi título ha ido creciendo hasta este punto. Recibir una beca del John Speak Language Trust me ha ayudado a aliviar parte del estrés y la carga financiera que conlleva el estar en un punto tan alto de mi carrera. La beca me ha permitido aprovechar al máximo mí tiempo en Granada y aprovechar cada oportunidad con ambas manos.

    At the top of the tower at the Alcazaba Fortress during my visit to the Alhambra.

    Con respecto a mi pasantía, fue muy esclarecedor estar fuera de la educación y le he aprendido mucho. He adquirido una visión de sectores como las ventas, el desarrollo de negocios y la ingeniería de software. Además, también mejoré mi desarrollo profesional aprendiendo más sobre mí mismo y sobre cómo actúo en un entorno profesional. Trabajar en una empresa de tan rápido crecimiento me obligó a adaptarme y a afrontar nuevos retos con mayor confianza y profesionalidad, tanto dentro como fuera de la oficina. Ya fuera combatiendo la barrera del idioma o tratando nuevos escenarios con los clientes. La combinación de trabajar y vivir en el extranjero me ha entrenado para ser capaz de lidiar con casi cualquier obstáculo que enfrente.

    “Granada is the perfect dream and fantasy, forever ineffable… Granada will always be more malleable than philosophical, more lyric than dramatic.” Federico García Lorca

    Adam and I in our element at Chupiteria 69, our second home.

    Estoy muy orgulloso de decir que viví en Granada. Es una ciudad extraordinaria, con un rico bagaje cultural e histórico que no hubiera podido apreciar si no hubiera vivido allí yo mismo. Estos seis meses han sido un viaje inolvidable que he podido compartir con amigos de todo el mundo. Si alguna vez tienes la oportunidad de hacer un año o incluso un semestre en el extranjero, te lo recomiendo encarecidamente. Las habilidades, experiencias y recuerdos que se ofrecen no tienen precio y se quedarán contigo de por vida.

    Me gustaría agradecer al John Speak Language Trust por su apoyo financiero durante mi estancia en España. Mi año en el extranjero no habría sido el mismo sin él. Ha sido un catalizador para mi inmersión en la lengua y la cultura españolas y por eso siempre estaré agradecido.

    Dale limosna, mujer. Que no hay en la vida nada como la pena de ser ciego en Granada.

    View of the Alhmabra from the Mirador de San Nicolás.