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May 25, 2019 - Nikita Miller Today is our last full day here in Spain. This morning started pretty late for the most of us, because we had no class or activities for the morning. I think we all got some much-needed rest. Most of the students have been doing their own thing, such as finishing up shopping and doing some last-minute sightseeing. For Ty and me, we accomplished one of our goals of climbing up the Micalet Tower. It was a total of 207 steps to get to the top, but the beautiful view made it all worth it. It was amazing to see all the landmarks that we remember such as Serrano towers and the City of Art and Science. Being able to understand where we were in the city from the landmarks around us made me realize how well we have gotten to know the city of Valencia. We headed home afterwards for our very last meal in our homestay. We had the classic soup, salad and bread lunch and for dessert the best watermelon I have ever had. A part of me wishes I could bring back a whole ...
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May 24, 2019 - Tyniquia Taylor Wow! Time has flown by incredibly fast. I can’t believe that on Sunday we all go back to the states. I woke up this morning, excited to finish my last day of classroom lectures. However, this excitement slowly began to dwindle once I stepped outside and saw that it was pouring buckets of rain. Despite the gloomy weather, I headed to the University with positive vibes. We first watched a video that talked about the five biggest threats faced by the European Union. Afterwards, our guest lecturer discussed more about major influences that have shaped the economic, political, and social climate in the European Union. For me, this was very interesting because I made many connections between both United States history and Spain’s history. After lecture, I engaged in one last debrief with my peers and teachers. After class, my roommate and I headed back to our homestay for lunch. I ate gazpacho soup with bread, a hamburger with sweet onions, potato chips, an...
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May 23, 2019 - Rachel Boler Today, we were able to have class outside as we walked and learned about water in Mediterranean landscapes. The irrigation systems in Mediterranean areas are so special because they integrate tricks passed down from thousands of years ago. They are totally human made, meaning that no equipment or pipes are necessary. We saw a small portion of farm land where pumpkins were being grown and saw how the plants are watered using traditional systems. The plants grow in parallel lines, with a shallow ditch in between each row. When the small dams are released, which hold the water supply back, the ditches will fill with water without touching the plants. Farmers created this design because the fungi in water would kill the plants. We also learned that only two crops are native to Spain including olives, and carob, which is a type of legume. Walking along an irrigation ditch.   After a lot of walking and working up an appetite, we sat down for lunch. Th...
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May 22, 2019 - Jacob Bagadiong We’re in the endgame now. We have (including today) four more full days in Valencia, before we leave our home (stays) for our homes. While this trip can be taxing, it has been a worthwhile experience. That said, there was only one item on the docket today: La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (CAC) . Considering that it can take as long as forty minutes for me to get to the University or the ISA office, even by bus, it was nice to save those bus swipes and only be a ten-minute walk away for once. My roommate and I still managed to show up three minutes late.   Regardless, we started our visit with a showing of Backyard Wilderness , an IMAX film. It centered around a house. Literally. It focused on the hidden interactions of wildlife over the course of a year, that takes place right outside the home. I enjoyed the film thoroughly, as it managed to tell stories of different animals. As someone who will spend most of his career working behind a comp...
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May 21, 2019 - Lia Dees Today started out a little later than normal, but I am definitely not complaining about the extra cup of coffee that the late start allowed. Class started at 10 am at the University of Valencia and was led by a guest lecturer. This guest lecturer is a professor of literature and also directed one of our classes last week. Many students were excited to see him because we very much enjoyed his lecture last week - he has a way of making learning very fun. The lecture covered cross-cultural communication, focusing on how global leaders can improve their communication skills. The class discussed how global leaders should not judge other cultures as “weird” and should instead try to understand the reasoning behind the behavior. We learned that behavior is caused by a chain reaction, beginning with beliefs. People derive their values from their beliefs, and their values influence their attitudes. In turn, these attitudes affect behavior. The professor taught us ab...
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May 20, 2019 - Jessica Antaya Today (May 20th) we started our day like normal and had our 9AM class at the University of Valencia. Todays topic was about self-efficacy and how to tell out own narrative. We took the time to go over how to use our personal narratives and focused on career development. I think this is important because we are always learning so much and go through so many unique experiences and situations but a lot of the time, struggle with how to tell our stories and who we are because of them. This class gave me a better understanding of how to bring my personal narrative to my professional life. After class a few of us decided to go to the beach and relax for a bit with the little time we have left in Spain. Its times like these I appreciate the most because we are able to connect with each other a lot better in a fun and relaxed environment. We get to know each other’s personalities and surprise one another with our responses to silly games like truth or dare or w...
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May 18, 2019 - Mariah Hurley If you have seen Cheetah Girls 2 then you will understand the excitement of going through Barcelona with the scene of strut in your mind, although Barcelona has more to offer than just a Cheetah Girls throwback. This weekend we got to experience the true beauty of Barcelona that is not always displayed in movies or described in songs. We began with a walking tour of the gothic quarter which included the roman ruins, the Barcelona cathedral and the labyrinth of streets scarred with history of the city. Our tour guide expressed the influence of the gothic style on the city and especially the cathedral. The Barcelona cathedral was designed to not only offer a place for the King and Queen to pray but also for anyone on the streets. To achieve this, they did not elaborate on the designs as much as other churches to ensure those of any economic standing would feel comfortable to pray. This idea of community was really touching compared to Toledo where the k...
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