It took an hour to arrive in Segovia, a small beautiful town outside of Madrid. Quaint narrow winding streets, with small electric busses shuttling the elderly around. Most of the shops were closed of course, being Sunday. It was a lot more tourist driven than Brunetta, but still very nice. We started by looking at a small Romanesque church, and then headed in to see the aquaducts.
Seeing the aquaducts makes an engineer proud of his or her profession, even an electrical engineer looking at a civil masterwork. We climbed up into the city after pausing for some photos, and headed to Plaza Juan Bravo, and then the Plaza Mayor. After pausing for photographs, the group continued to the Cathedral which was very very large. It was nice inside, but because of poor timing, we weren't able to get in to see anything beyond the main room, which was still huge, as services were starting.
Onwards to Alcazar, which was a beautiful castle situated on an isthmus of land jutting out into a sea of air overlooking valleys and quaint towns beneath. The place was very well preserved, with beautiful rooms, and vine covered courtyards.
Back towards the Plaza Mayor, where Alex and I split a small cake and I had an eclair thing. I was hoping for a more filling lunch, but so be it. I took the longer route to arrive there, walking in a few different littly barrios (neighborhoods) and seeing something off the beaten, well beaten that is, path between Alcazar and the Plaza.
We spent more time taking photographs back at the Aquaduct - I only wish we had a guide who could have made it come alive for us, describe what history considered were the working conditions, how many gave their lives, unwillingly, for this Roman structure.
Back at Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, we gave the students ice cream and time to pack or come down and hang out. After dinner, I instructed the kids on my hall to dress up. It was mostly to match Slash who had run out of clothes. Turns out, it was a good decision. I wore my linen shirt. We went down and had passionfruit, a ritual of drinking juice and toasting CTY and friends. Each toast ends, "I love CTY and I love passionfruit" (I may have the order mixed up). Nevermores (and maybe nomores, those old enough who will not be returning), students who have outgrown CTY, speak about their experiences, times that they broke the rules, and share their thoughts. I was ready to speak about my experience, but the option never arose.
Two students thanked me in their speech during the event, one for just being awesome, and a really amazing RA. The other for treating her as an adult. It was actually very funny as she phrased it, thanks for everything, especially at the pool... and well... you know. I was very touched by both.
Afterwards, we sang Ryan's RA rap, which was posted last night.
I put the kids to bed, and came down to sit with Jean and Rachael. Alexandra and her sister came upstairs, they were hyper from drinking to much soda while at the movies, I think they went to see Harry Potter. Jean, Rachael and I talked for a while, said our farewells, and headed to bed.
Afterwards, I made some skype calls and turned in around 2AM. I woke up at 6AM this morning to bid farewell, loaded some luggage on the bus, and comforted the students as much as I could as they left this safe nerd haven, in the suburbs of Madrid.
Ryan and I stayed out while the quarantined sat in their windows, and we all watched the sun rise over the 4 towers in the Madrid skyline. Eventually we came in, and I started to write this post.
When will then be now? not soon.
now.
Showing posts with label jean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jean. Show all posts
Monday, July 20, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
A day in Madrid, a last party, and some good conversation
It was cold this morning. After a late start, and one of the better breakfasts (chocolate croissant), I headed into Madrid along with the students. Our first stop was the Palace, where I became the personal banker for CTY. They weren´t equipped with currency, and so I lent them the necessary funds to cover the entry for most of the students - thus leaving me broke.
I already had seen the Palace last week with Ryan, and so I meandered through not paying as close attention, instead focusing more on not losing anyone. Success on that front, and we moved on to the park where the kids had lunch.
I feel like I learned such good manners in Morocco. When I sat on the bench, there was already someone there. I offered him the bag of chips that came in the lunch, similar to how you always shared food on the train in Morocco. It creates a nice community atmosphere. He declined, and I ate my sandwich.
I then asked Jenn if we could do the churros, and she seemed fine with it, but wanted to know if we could be accomodated. I grabbed Ryan, and we quickly walked to the place we had been last week, and set it up with them.
Classic CTY, no previous planning.
We brought the kids in, and frankly, the churros were not their best. Not quite hot enough, but still tasty. When the bill came I reasoned with him in my broken spanish, and he picked up the bill for two of us since we just brought them a bunch of business. I attempted to get them to cover the whole staff, but as I was covered (good since I had no money after lending it all to CTY), I wasn´t going to keep attempting since the others aren´t as confrontational or as willing to ask for things as I am.
Then it was some shopping in the Plaza Mayor. One of our students almost had her stuff broken into, apparently the other students grabbed the woman´s arm - but the two women working the scam made off down a street. We ''shopped'' there, not much as it is a tourist trap for about 20 minutes, and then headed to La Reina Sophia. On the way, we stopped in Plaza Del Sol, and the kids were able to shop a bit more. It was a waste of time, to much time to just hang out, to little to actually look at more than a single store.
Moving on we went in a very circular route to La Reina Sophia. The temporary exhibition was not thrilling at all. Guernica was pretty huge, and pretty cool, and the dali collection wasn´t to shabby, but also not particularly thrilling. I finished what I wanted to see, found three students down in the courtyard who were thirsty, and agreed to take them to Starbucks. I thought it was by the book. They were accompanied, we were back in time, I made the executive decision that we could make this small move without casuing harm, putting anyone in danger, and make it a better experience for a few students. I thought it was all about the students...
I took the students across the plaza (we didn´t even cross any streets) and returned before the meeting time. I was told much later when we returned to campus that it was not ok. Apparently there were students roaming the plaza in front of La Reina Sophia. I am not sure how those roaming students were my responsibility, as I was only required to be at the meeting place not guarding the doors. It was a very stressful day for some of the staff, but I found that if I just rolled with things, it was fine.
Got back, and met the Nick replacement.
I was missing a student at dinner, and on the way got sidetracked for about ten minutes with origami. I made a quick crane, and saw a really cool ball that I want to learn how to do.
Dinner was undescribable. I really have no idea what I ate. I sat with Alexandra, and another CTY Espana student who was from the states. Alexandra I found out is Swedish and Peruvian and heading to Oxford. The conversation was really nice. One mentioned wanting to be a banker, and so I told them both about Mergers and Inquisitions and later showed her the Damn it Feels Good to be a Banker video on youtube. She seemed to enjoy them both, hopefully they are helpful. If I remember, I will have to recommend the book as well.
Afterwards we had a party, inviting the kids to donate their food they had purchased in anticipation of the coming week. Music was not great, mostly because of a poor quality sound system set up. Kristin, another RA, explained some of the traditions of CTY with regard to the final song, American Pie. It´s apparently an integral part of every CTY dance, and epitomizes the whole experience.
For a camp being shut down because of an H1N1 epidemic, things are reasonably calm here and the students are in surprisingly good spirits.
I already had seen the Palace last week with Ryan, and so I meandered through not paying as close attention, instead focusing more on not losing anyone. Success on that front, and we moved on to the park where the kids had lunch.
I feel like I learned such good manners in Morocco. When I sat on the bench, there was already someone there. I offered him the bag of chips that came in the lunch, similar to how you always shared food on the train in Morocco. It creates a nice community atmosphere. He declined, and I ate my sandwich.
I then asked Jenn if we could do the churros, and she seemed fine with it, but wanted to know if we could be accomodated. I grabbed Ryan, and we quickly walked to the place we had been last week, and set it up with them.
Classic CTY, no previous planning.
We brought the kids in, and frankly, the churros were not their best. Not quite hot enough, but still tasty. When the bill came I reasoned with him in my broken spanish, and he picked up the bill for two of us since we just brought them a bunch of business. I attempted to get them to cover the whole staff, but as I was covered (good since I had no money after lending it all to CTY), I wasn´t going to keep attempting since the others aren´t as confrontational or as willing to ask for things as I am.
Then it was some shopping in the Plaza Mayor. One of our students almost had her stuff broken into, apparently the other students grabbed the woman´s arm - but the two women working the scam made off down a street. We ''shopped'' there, not much as it is a tourist trap for about 20 minutes, and then headed to La Reina Sophia. On the way, we stopped in Plaza Del Sol, and the kids were able to shop a bit more. It was a waste of time, to much time to just hang out, to little to actually look at more than a single store.
Moving on we went in a very circular route to La Reina Sophia. The temporary exhibition was not thrilling at all. Guernica was pretty huge, and pretty cool, and the dali collection wasn´t to shabby, but also not particularly thrilling. I finished what I wanted to see, found three students down in the courtyard who were thirsty, and agreed to take them to Starbucks. I thought it was by the book. They were accompanied, we were back in time, I made the executive decision that we could make this small move without casuing harm, putting anyone in danger, and make it a better experience for a few students. I thought it was all about the students...
I took the students across the plaza (we didn´t even cross any streets) and returned before the meeting time. I was told much later when we returned to campus that it was not ok. Apparently there were students roaming the plaza in front of La Reina Sophia. I am not sure how those roaming students were my responsibility, as I was only required to be at the meeting place not guarding the doors. It was a very stressful day for some of the staff, but I found that if I just rolled with things, it was fine.
Got back, and met the Nick replacement.
I was missing a student at dinner, and on the way got sidetracked for about ten minutes with origami. I made a quick crane, and saw a really cool ball that I want to learn how to do.
Dinner was undescribable. I really have no idea what I ate. I sat with Alexandra, and another CTY Espana student who was from the states. Alexandra I found out is Swedish and Peruvian and heading to Oxford. The conversation was really nice. One mentioned wanting to be a banker, and so I told them both about Mergers and Inquisitions and later showed her the Damn it Feels Good to be a Banker video on youtube. She seemed to enjoy them both, hopefully they are helpful. If I remember, I will have to recommend the book as well.
Afterwards we had a party, inviting the kids to donate their food they had purchased in anticipation of the coming week. Music was not great, mostly because of a poor quality sound system set up. Kristin, another RA, explained some of the traditions of CTY with regard to the final song, American Pie. It´s apparently an integral part of every CTY dance, and epitomizes the whole experience.
For a camp being shut down because of an H1N1 epidemic, things are reasonably calm here and the students are in surprisingly good spirits.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Children arrival
Day 1 with the kids. Most of the disaster averted. It seems that we got the more subdued kids, I watched the CTY Espana students get into fist fights, try to turn over a soda machine and run chaotically around campus. Ours seem to have done CTY in the past, and know the rules, and how things work.
The food was terrible. It was cold, frozen, empanadas. The vegetarian option was a pancake like egg thing, folded with cheese in it. and ham. Vegetarian? When they explained to the kitchen, for the nth time, that vegetarians don't eat meat, they were given 4 thin slices of eggplant each. really small pieces. The kids were furious, the administrators were furious. Not enough food was cooked either, some kids never received any food.
I didn't eat - I was a little scared about the frozen and refrozen products. I satiated my appetite with two bananas and some awful soup.
Otherwise, things are ok. I put my foot down, and dealt with some issues - especially the racism of the kids towards the students in CTY espana.
We also put together a skit that I had a lot of fun with and really took a lot of control. We had to introduce ourselves while giving some rules. Jean, a swattie class of 2010, and fellow RA, started by interviewing me after we called her up on stage. She asked me questions and I established the separation of halls by gender.
Then I called up Ryan as if he were a boxer, "65 pounds soaking wet" (he's actually my height, and similar weight), and he acted dehydrated. So, I tossed the contents of a glass of water on his face much to the amusement of the kids.
During the administrator's welcome speeches, I set up some response words for the RA's and TA's.
Spain received an "Ole!"
Madrid, an applause
and Staff got the wave.
The kids loved it.
That and the RA meeting was probably the most fun, and best opportunity to interact with the kids and have their attention. I also had a winning 7-UP streak until I purposefully had Ryan replace me to get some variety. I wasn't able to return to the selection group before the game ends.
There are some spacey kids, some sassy kids, some annoying kids, and some down to earth ones who are alright. I can't say what to expect - but I can assure you that food is my priority at the moment outside of the typical (safety and fun), and clarifying many of the hanging questions regarding lunches, time off, etc.
The food was terrible. It was cold, frozen, empanadas. The vegetarian option was a pancake like egg thing, folded with cheese in it. and ham. Vegetarian? When they explained to the kitchen, for the nth time, that vegetarians don't eat meat, they were given 4 thin slices of eggplant each. really small pieces. The kids were furious, the administrators were furious. Not enough food was cooked either, some kids never received any food.
I didn't eat - I was a little scared about the frozen and refrozen products. I satiated my appetite with two bananas and some awful soup.
Otherwise, things are ok. I put my foot down, and dealt with some issues - especially the racism of the kids towards the students in CTY espana.
We also put together a skit that I had a lot of fun with and really took a lot of control. We had to introduce ourselves while giving some rules. Jean, a swattie class of 2010, and fellow RA, started by interviewing me after we called her up on stage. She asked me questions and I established the separation of halls by gender.
Then I called up Ryan as if he were a boxer, "65 pounds soaking wet" (he's actually my height, and similar weight), and he acted dehydrated. So, I tossed the contents of a glass of water on his face much to the amusement of the kids.
During the administrator's welcome speeches, I set up some response words for the RA's and TA's.
Spain received an "Ole!"
Madrid, an applause
and Staff got the wave.
The kids loved it.
That and the RA meeting was probably the most fun, and best opportunity to interact with the kids and have their attention. I also had a winning 7-UP streak until I purposefully had Ryan replace me to get some variety. I wasn't able to return to the selection group before the game ends.
There are some spacey kids, some sassy kids, some annoying kids, and some down to earth ones who are alright. I can't say what to expect - but I can assure you that food is my priority at the moment outside of the typical (safety and fun), and clarifying many of the hanging questions regarding lunches, time off, etc.
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