AIP --> Aprender la Idioma de esPaña

      As a requirement of my program, I needed to enroll in some Spanish classes at a local institute before I start working.  When I agreed to this condition I was a bit hesitant, since I have been taking spanish classes for many years, my home University will not be giving me credits for it, and I thought I would be able to assimilate by conversing with my host family.  Nevertheless, the language intensive program that AIP Language Institute offers has immensely deepened and refined my Spanish speaking skills as well as helped introduce me to other students.

      Most importantly, through the few days of classes at AIP, I am already building confidence and fluency with Spanish.  This confidence carries over into my interaction with locals as I am not as hesitant to attempt a conversation with them, usually a vendor or a waiter.  Being in class everyday has forced my to use Spanish.  Depending on the day I am in class from 9a.m. until 1p.m. or until 2:45 p.m.  It is composed of various classes with short breaks in between. I was placed in a small class of 8 students divided by our level of skill.  In my class there are students from the U.S. to Switzerland to Germany to China, with ages ranging 18 to 65.  Nevertheless, we are all bound my our struggles with proficiency, yet our desire to learn more.

     Everyday we start with a lesson of culture.  This may comprise of reading, brief writings, and talking with our work partner or the teacher.  

     Then we move onto to focusing on grammar. 

     Followed by an hour of class that focuses on conversation.  We may read aloud and then discuss, or watch a brief spanish video, either way there is much discussion and correction of our sentence structure/verb conjunction when needed.  

     On some days I have private lessons with four others.  We continue to build our vocabulary with comprehension of reading and speaking.  

     In all of my classes, when a word or phrase pops up that someone doesn't understand it is written on the board.  This has helped remind me of vocabulary I have previously learned, as well as expose me to new ones that are frequently used in Spain.  Same goes for when someone uses the wrong word or uses it incorrectly.  

     In all, since I have been going to class, I have noticed a better proficiency in my skills and that I am able to use the language better.  I would have encountered the language as well, however I would not have received the proper correction in a welcoming environment.

    From discussion with the other students, they have also been satisfied with the style and results of the institute.   In fact, there are two other students from America that came to Valencia to receive special training in the language as well. They started at another school on the outskirts of the city but after being dissatisfaction they found AIP online and quickly switched over.  They are very content with AIP's style. This was nice to hear as my only reference to AIP classes was training from back home.  It is comforting to know that I am getting a bang for my buck.  I also realize I was lucky that World Endeavors was able to organize a connection with the institute as well, which pushed me to take a class and saved me the hassle of fining a suitable class.

   Another aspect of the school that I have come to appreciate is the ability to meet new friends to explore the city with and continue to practice Spanish.  Coming to Spain alone, I wasn't sure if I would be hard to meet students like myself looking to explore the city.  From the very first day I was able to make new friends and have them teach my the tricks to the city that they have learned so far; such as the best cafes around the school to grab a snack, how to work the metro system and what to do in our free time.  

    Additionally, since the institute hosts students from many different countries, I have been able to meet students I would not have otherwise.  Before I came to Spain I was messaging a girl from Missouri that was also enrolled in the same program through World Endeavors.  But AIP's friendly environment has helped me to broaden my horizons.  Even if we don't spend time together after school, AIP includes breaks between classes and provides tables and chairs in the lobby that encourages the students to converse.  Everyone is very friendly and willing to share their experiences/opinions.  It has been very educational as on our breaks I have been able to learn about different areas and hear fascinating stories of others lives.  It has opened me to different lifestyles.  For example, Elizabet and Andréas, from Switzerland, are both somewhere in their 60s or 70s, yet they are still learning new languages.  Even though they have no need for these new skills, their curious minds want to learn as much as they can.  Their are other students like Franzs or Annica, who are in their 20s, that come to learn Spanish for their job.

   The language also works to organize events, open to all students, that will help us assimilate to the area and its culture.  This past week they had a free salsa class (which I sadly missed because I took the wrong train on the subway).  For this weekend they have a game of soccer and an outing to a vine tasting.

     In all, I am glad that I started my Spain with Spanish classes.  It has helped me to refine my skills as well as smoothly transition into constantly using the language.  Also, it has provided a sound platform to interact with others from many different parts of the world and to assimilate myself into the culture of Valencia.

Germans, Britons, Russians, Spaniards, Swedes, Swiss, and Americans all gather as we go on a class excursion to Requena to try their well known platter of Embutidos and local wine.

Samantha and I with our teacher on the last day of classes

The lobby of AIP - where students gather during break to continue practicing spanish and learning about eachothers' various homes and back stories.

The beginning

      Beginnings are the best part: the first bite of a chocolate, the first time you see a movie, the first few months of having your license.  Everything is so new and exciting — that may be why baby's first christmas gets a bulb for the tree. Most people experience amplified bliss when experiencing something for the first time, since it triggers a response you may not have experienced previously.
Same went for the first day of my trip.

     With the end date, that marks the return to my previous reality, far off in the distance, I am able to simply relax and take it all in.  Since everything is so new, I have been eager to explore.

     So far, during the past few days of being my new home for the next three months, Valencia, I have been roaming the streets and the parks with my fresh legs.  Everything is relatively close, which also makes exploration by foot much easier. However I haven't even noticed how far I have walked or how tired my feet became because I have been consumed by the sights that the city has to offer.  Around every corner that I turn, I am filled with even more amazement from the exquisite architecture of the building, the beautiful plazas with flowers and café, and the many churches and historic building well maintained. From the main streets that are bustling with cars, mopeds, bikers, and walkers, to the narrow streets that wind throughout and drown out the loud city noises, comes a new urge to take a picture with every corner I turn.

     I am loving every walk and day that I spend in the city of the Sciences and the Art.
It is not grand in size, yet it has everything I need: modern, yet relaxed, lifestyle, delicious food, historical building with beautiful architecture, museums, and a beach.

 I am sure that the beginning of this trip will be the only happy ending because I already know that I am not going to want to leave. This also makes me cherish every day I have here.


~ Greetings from Valencia ~

                  Brigitte

An overview of the city from the top of the Cathedral de Valencia - 2 Euros - Worth it

Landing in Valencia

La Catedral de Valencia - La Plaza de Reina

 Historical buildings from across the park 

The calm inner city street

Another view of the Cathedral

Un calle 

La Plaza de la Virgen - Filled with people waiting to kiss the statue

Simply adorable

El Gran Calle de Ferdinando

Inside the towers leading into the city

Enjoying every second!

    

Table for One

     And so my adventure abroad begins — 12 weeks, four countries (hopefully), two suitcases and a backpack — traveling as a party of one.

     The last bit is the most intimidating. There is the fact that I will be gone for such a large chunk of time, which was most terrifying when packing, but its frightfulness was soon diminished by the guarantee for worthwhile new and exciting experiences — as I will be working for a nonprofit and improving my spanish skills.  However with this opportunity there is no guarantee that I will encounter friendly companions, like my jobs, or be able to smoothly communicate transnationally.  This is left to nature and my willingness  to put myself out there. Interaction with others, locals and other visiting students, is what is most important because they are the ones that will leave a lasting impression on myself with the most vivid emotional memories.

     In the past, I have traveled and visited many different communities and countries with my family.  I have traveled without my parents before, but it was either with relatives or teacher chaperone and other students.  Regardless of how well I knew them, there was always someone else along side myself.  This time I was going “solomio”.

     I was so apprehensive about being for so long on my own, I like being surrounded by friends, I like group work and collaboration. I knew going into this trip that it would be an adjustment.

     Nevertheless, this trip isn’t so much as a vacation as it is a venture. Before my parents took care of all the technicalities and logistics, making the trip more luxurious. Whereas now I have to be conscious of the spending for all essential, vitalities, desires, and gifts. I also have to take care of all sleeping arrangement, flight errors(which have been many so far), and passport.  Now I need to be more aware of my surrounding and remember that when a thought or question pops into my head I will not always be next to a person that I can share it with. At first this was of no concern to myself. It was exhilarating that I had finally reached an age where I could go off on my own with money I had saved. When I was younger, this was always a fantasy of mine; except in those dreams there had been someone by my side.

     I have yet to meet my host family (actually currently waiting to board my last flight to Valencia). My journey alone has thus far been a success. Yesterday I spent the day in Rome; two years ago I visited the city with my family so I was familiar with the hotel and the layout of the city, but I was still unsure if I would be able to maximize the experience by myself. But I was fine. I wandered many of the intertwining, beautiful streets (getting lost by accidentally looping many of the streets) but enjoying all the narrow streets and ‘ristorantes’ and taking lots of pictures. I also kept myself busy by guessing what language the people around me were speaking to see, trying to decrypt where they were visiting from, and observing all the universal body language that humans share. In all, everyone was pretty friendly and I never felt unsafe (praying that this persists throughout the trips).

     While I am enjoying self, I still support my previous motto: “It’s not so much where you are, as it is who you are with”.  Therefore, I am eagerly awaiting to meet my host family, coworkers, and roommates; for the connection I form with them will not be able to be preserved in a photo.