Sustenance at El Copo

I have found that volumes can be communicated here with just a smile.  It's not so good for my language acquisition but wonderful for the soul.


I just want to say Muchas Gracias to all my Spanish friends at El Copo as well as to the friends I met along the way in passing through there.  Thank you Begonia for making sure I was fed and for being so patient with me in helping me practice my Spanish with you.  Thank you for directing me to unique places in your very special town, as well so that I could really immerse myself in La Herradura not just as a tourist but as a student of life and a traveler.  You made me feel very welcome here from the very first day.

Thank you Teresa for telling me about your daughter's flamenco class.  I did enjoy watching them learn this fascinating Spanish dance.  Thanks also Sebastian and Luis and little Begonia for your generosity of spirit and smiles of encouragement.

If you ever get to La Herradura you must go to El Copo.  You have to pass it to get to the Spanish School of La Herradura.  The food is fantastic and the good people you meet even better.

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Ameilia, my teacher

Amelia

During my time here I have been taking  2 hour private lessons three times a week with Amelia.  In 2006 she obtained a 5 year degree from the University of Granada Licenciatura en Semitic Studies,  which is the study of languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, Israelean, Jordan.  This included one year of study abroad in Paris at INALCO - Institut Nacional des Langues et civilisations Orientales, which is a university for the study of languages of the Middle East.  In 20012 she obtained a Masters Universitario en espanol como lengua extranjero from the University of Pablo de Olavide in Sevilla.  Presently, she is working on obtaining a Master Universitario en formacion del profesurado de educacion secundaria obligatoriia y bachiller professional y ensenanza de idiomas from the University of Granada.  Essentially, what this means is that she specializes in teaching Spanish as a foreign language.

Her education, professionalism and experience is evident in her teaching style.  Her presence is exceedingly warm and nurturing which allows the learner to take the risks and gain the confidence needed to speak a foreign language.  She makes good eye contact and her brown eyes literally sparkle.  There is a light in her eyes that I don't think I've ever seen before.  She rides her bike to work at the school and as I sometimes sit and work here at the school on my laptop as I am now, one can overhear her singing in her classroom when she is not teaching.

She speaks very slowly and clearly.  She tells me that this is not an affect for teaching but in fact her normal mode of speaking.  She sounds natural in speaking therefore and one does not then feel like an imbecile being spoken to in this way.  She also has a rich and sonorous laugh and is easily amused it seems as she smiles and laughs freely throughout my lessons.  I have also noted that sometimes she touches her heart to communicate sincerity in delivering a compliment.  She may also add a bow to a compliment to deepen it's meaning.

Additionally, Amelia has taken special care and attention to ensuring that my lessons are culturally enriching in it's content, specific to my unique interests.  As I inquired one day about the famous Spanish poet, Frederico Garcia Lopez of Granada, she responded with his history and told me that her favorite poet is Miquel Hernandez, also from the same era, "Generation 1927."  When I came in for my lesson the following day she had prepared by bringing in poems from both authors which we translated.

An excerpt from Miquel Hernandez' poem Elegy to Ramon Sije Unceasing Lightening is deeply moving:  "I want to mine into the earth until I find you and kiss your noble skull and take your shroud from you and bring you back.   You will come back to my garden and my fig tree.   Among the high flowery trellises your soul will flit like a bee in it's  hive sewn with the wax of angels .  You will come back to the murmuring of farm workers at their  beloveds' windows.  You will cheer up the shadow over my eyebrows and from either side your beloved and the bees will argue over your blood.

 I'm going to miss these private lessons with Amelia. I have learned so much from her as my teacher here at the Spanish School of La Herradura.

Home of Frederico Garcia Lopez - Granada

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Transported to Spain by Classical Guitar - Already There!

Classical Guitar Concert at the Civic Center

 "Lean your body forward slightly to support the guitar against your chest for the poetry of the music should resound in your heart." Quote from Andres Segovia

On Saturday evening I attended a concert for Classical Guitar at the Civic Center here in La Herradura.  The evening featured two classical guitarists from England, Gary Ryan and Manus Noble.  It was thrilling to watch these exceptionally talented musicians playing on the same stage where Andre Segovia had played.  I learned that Andre Segovia was a resident of La Herradura in the summer and had a house in the mountains here.  My teacher, Jose at the Spanish School of La Herradura told us in class that the first guitar was made in Spain.

When I closed my eyes and listened to the compositions I was transported to other places as the musician had intended.  Each piece was preceded by a description of the title and intent of the song.  For example, the last composition was about a alien that comes to life and then dies thereby ending the concert, another was set in a "magical forest", there were other compositions that communicated Irish folk songs and some used African rythyms similar to the ones Paul Simon used in "Graceland".  One had a Morrocan sound and of course many of the songs were Spanish.  Thus, I was transported in my imagination to Ireland, Morroco and Spain.  When I opened my eyes I remembered that I didn't need to be transported to Spain because I am already here.  Really and truly I am here and I am so enriched as a result.

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Internship Opportunities for College Students

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The Spanish School of La Herradura offers internship opportunities for college students to learn Spanish while studying abroad.  I learned more about this exciting program by talking with Laura and Koen, both 3rd year college students from Holland who are currently interns here at the school.  They explained that the program is of a 20 week duration.  The first four weeks they book intensive language lessons 4 hours a day 5 days a week.  Both are able to earn college credit by meeting the objectives as outlined by the Spanish School of La Herradura in coordination with their home colleges.

Laura is currently working for the school by conducting a market analysis of the competitive market in Holland.  Koen is researching the possibility of beginning an online Spanish language teaching program in Holland for his internship credit.  Both have expectations from their colleges to complete papers outlining their research and experience here.  The Spanish School of La Herradura requires that the interns manage the reception at the school, update the Facebook page and ensure that the kiosks for the marketing fliers remain stocked, in addition to conducting their own research to benefit the school.

In exchange for providing such work, the interns receive 1-2 hours daily of language lessons without cost for the remainder of the program.  Depending on the level of the learner and the availability of other students the lessons may be in either a group or private format.  Currently, Koen and Laura take lessons together with Amelia.  Laura indicates that while she took lessons in Holland for one year she didn't learn very much in comparison to the extent of her learning here.  She states that it is her belief that you have to be in a Spanish speaking place in order to effectively learn the language.  Here one is forced to utilize Spanish in order to function.

Koen adds that the element of studying abroad also helps one learn to survive on one's own.  He states that this has been an added and valuable life lesson for him at this stage of his life.  Both Koen and Laura compliment both Jose and Amelia's teaching abilities.  Laura reports a belief that in learning a language one should, "let go of worries and it will come".  Both Laura and Koen like the location of the school here on the beach and close to other bigger cities like Granada and Malaga.  If you are interested in learning more about internships at the school contact Sonja at:

http://www.spanish-school-herradura.com/programmes-spain/working-holidays/

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Cast Sunlight and You'll be Alright

Kerry gifted me with this print on my last day

"Cast Sunlight and you'll be Alright" Lyrics from Jose Gonzalez song "Transmite sol y estaras bien"

I had a spontaneous encounter today with a woman Kerry Brown, who identified herself as a painter and writer.  She was crossing my path and asked if I spoke English.  She then showed me a crude drawing of a map with coarsely drawn lines and an X to mark the location of the residence of her artist friend here in La Herradura.  There were no identifying streets or markers to find the location of her pursuit.  Our only clue was to look for the stairs next to the church.  We set out together to find it.  In this way, I found myself thoroughly engaged in a fascinating conversation with this dynamic and articulate woman.  She spoke of being attracted to La Herradura due to the ability to find like minded people with a spiritual and creative side.  She talked about people mistakenly labeling self discovery as a "journey" when in fact one is already there.  I referenced Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz clicking her ruby shoes and finding she had it within herself all along to find courage and wisdom and a heart.

We both marveled at how lucky it was to have met as we both deviated briefly from our direct paths home each stopping at a store prior to bumping into each other on the street.  We were in agreement also in our beliefs that one can manifest such encounters by being genuinely open in our heart space to such beginnings and the intimacy that may follow.  She talked of the need to sift through societal and parental influences to discover the core, pure and unique sense of self.  She recommended the use of stillness to accomplish this objective as well as the restriction of media influences, speaking of television as people's prostration to the compulsion towards pleasure and pain.  She had things to say about self discipline as well as the psychology of language.  She talked about writing a book and the themes present in her painting and how she chooses the direction for her art.  She invited me to meet her friends who meet daily in the plaza for coffee.  I have an open invitation to join them as they have a consistent schedule for joining together.  Of course I accepted her invitation and met the owner of a school here in La Herradura for the making of Flamenco and Classical guitars as well as the  students of this fine craft.   Kerry analyzed my handwriting and told me that she can tell from my sample that  I am very generous, open and engaging and that this aspect of my personality is a very large part of my being.  She talked of other people she has known along the way and declared that "she is not afraid of losing people through truth."  I expect that I will see her again on Friday as she recommended I attend the classical guitar concert at the Civic Center of La Herradura.

Most likely I will see her sooner as I intend to join in with her group for coffee when my school schedule allows as much as possible.  She gave me permission to share the link to her art gallery as she is a painter of fine repute.  Her name is Kerry Brown www.Kerry-bb.nl and if you google search her name her website "Kerry Broomhead Brown" comes up easily.  If you take the time to look her up you will see that her paintings are very warm and reflect people in communion with themselves and others.  I have only been here for one week to date and feel fairly integrated into this community already.  Just consider how many more people I am opening up my world to meeting by learning Spanish!

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Meeting my Companeros en la escuela at the Paella BBQ

The BBQ hosted by the very hospitable Sonja and Mouta of the Spanish school of La Herradura was attended by other students who are active students the the school. What a marvelous collection of people!  There were people from all over the world there - Norway, Sweden, Morocco, Holland, Scotland, England and Spain of course.  Jacques is retired in La Herradura.  Fiona is a student at the school and brought her husband Paul to the BBQ to add to the feeling of camaraderie.  Olaf as you may recall grows avocados and olives and goes back and forth between his home in Norway and La Herradura.  He regularly books classes at the school for the duration of his stays while he is in La Herradura.  Although he tells me that he is "not a diligent student', I thought his Spanish was very good.

Then there was the incredibly good looking family from Holland.  Their daughter, Yara is an exceptionally mature 11 year old who already passed her exams for secondary school and therefore has time to travel abroad for three weeks prior to the start of the next school session.  She reminds me of my talented daughter Shannon - now 14 years old.  Yara's parents arranged for her to take classes  at the school for the length of their stay.  Yara's father is able to work remotely here  and the mother is vacationing.  Of course they are all enjoying vacation time together during their stay here as well. They are staying in a 3 bedroom apartment right behind the school and are therefore neighbors to me.

 I also met Chris and his wife and daughter who discovered the school when a group of interns disembarked from a plane in Granada and he overheard them discussing arranging a bus to La Herradura.  As he had a car and was going to Almuncar he gave them a "lift " to the school.  He's been a student and friend of the school ever since - booking classes for himself on the four weeks he has off .  He told me that he's in the oil industry and it's common for people in his industry to work with this type of schedule.

Clearly, the Spanish school of La Herradura is able to accommodate people of all ages with varying degrees of time and commitment to the learning process  

And then there was Jose - one of the teachers at the school- telling jokes all night and pretending to be Clint Eastwood who is very popular in these parts as nearby Alberia was the location of many of Clint Eastwood's' spaghetti Western films.  Alberia is considered to be a "mini Hollywood".  It is located in the Desert of Tabernas, the only desert in Europe.  Alberia has the unique desert landforms that one sees in "The Good the Bad and the Ugly", "A Fisful of Dollars","For a Few Dollars More", "Indiana Jones, the Last Crusader."  I could practice my Spanish in talking with Jose and some of the other guests.  There were many languages being spoken that night and while I was the only American everyone knew English.  It was mad! 


That night, our hosts made Paella on the grill.  There was an endless stream of food being served all night beginning with olives and soup and ending with cheese and more cheese.  The wine glass was never empty.  It was necessary to end the night to keep the glass from being refilled one more time.  Una Buena Noche indeed!

We never worried that the BBQ might be spoiled by foul weather as once again it was 83 degrees and sunny when set out to the mountains.

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Ripe for the picking

On Friday night I attended a BBQ of paella hosted by Sonja and Mouta (owners of the school) and some of the other students who are taking classes at the Spanish School of La Herradura,  Spain. 

It was located on a lovely farm in the mountains overlooking La Herradura.  There, Olaf (of Norway) grows avocados and olives.  He told me that avocados ripen after they are picked so he is able to harvest them whenever he chooses.  He said in the US and most places the grower will pick them as soon as they ripen on the tree but if you leave them longer they develop a deeper and richer taste.  I found it interesting to learn that they don't spoil on the tree and can be plucked at will without worry of spoilage from leaving them too long.  I think language acquisition is the same way.  If you have patience with the process you will develop a deeper, richer competence with the language.  If you leave it go for awhile as I did by taking 28 years off between first learning the language and the present day when I am actively using it - I found that it has not spoiled.  It is always there for the picking.

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Espana Play Day

On display at the art exhibit at the Civic Center in La Herradura

FIESTA NACIONAL DE ESPANA

October 12th was a national holiday here -  "Fiesta Nacional de Espana."  It is the day that recognizes Christopher Columbus' arrival to the New World on October 12, 1492.  It was first celebrated in Madrid in 1935.  While most of Spain does not "celebrate" per se but rather enjoys a quiet day of not working, there is a military parade in Madrid every year to mark the holiday.  The parade is presided over by the king of Spain and also the prime minister.  Foreign diplomats are invited to attend and the Spanish air force aerobatics team performs for the crowd.

Here in La Herradura the beach was filled with families enjoying LA PLAYA.  I was caught off guard to walk into town and find that all the shops, supermarkets and stores were closed.  I was told that on Sunday everything would return to normal.  Not knowing that normal on Sundays meant that most business are closed as well, I found myself without shampoo for a day.  I don't think anyone noticed.

How nice it was to be 80 degrees and sunny for the Spanish holiday.

First day of school

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

First day of school

I had my first day of school yesterday.  It was a group lesson during which we learned vocabulary to describe characteristics of people.  I was pleased with the subject because it is my goal to expand my vocabulary for use in my professional setting as a mental health therapist.  In the process of learning people traits the conversation expanded to include some discussion of the unique traits of the people of Spain.  Apparently the people who live in the south of Spain in particular are muy supersticioso.  Seeing an open umbrella in a house was provided as an example.  I confirmed the existence of this trait later in talking with my new Spanish friend Begonia who indicated that she feels an overwhelming sense of doom when she sees a black cat.  ! Que Extrano!

I am looking at a 10 day forecast of 80 degrees or higher every day with full sun and no rain.  I feel so lucky!

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Estoy aqui!

Estoy aqui! (I am here!)

I am here!  For me the Spanish school of La Herradura is a destination.  The name of the school includes the location for a reason.  There is no better place to study Spanish than here in this coastal town in Spain.  The setting is stunning and absolutely glorious.  As I write this under the protection of a canopy on the patio of El Bambu restaurant on the beach I am overcome with a sense of gratitude for all that I am experiencing.

My view outward is of sunny, blue skies, sparkling waters, people relaxing on the beach, a fisherman with four poles with lines cast hoping for a catch with the coastal mountains framing the beach giving the town the reason for it's name - La Herradura (horseshoe).

My view inward gives me the a sensation of anticipation in contemplating all there is to learn here.  I came here to learn and practice my Spanish.  I intend to create my own immersion experience by being here alone in this little Spanish town set on the Mediterranean Sea.  My schedule is such that I will have group lessons twice a week and private lessons on the remaining days primarily en la manana leaving me with the afternoons for independent study and to practicing the language by talking to the people that I encounter during my day.  I am thrilled when I am successful in communicating an idea and in understanding what I am being told.  I genuinely hope to leave here more fluent than when I came - having taken my language acquisition to the next level.  We shall see.  I have three weeks to make this work for me.  Follow me on this blog and I'll keep you informed as to how things transpire.  Hasta luego!

For those of you at home who are reading this you may know that my nickname in Los Estados Unidos is "buena" as given to me by my dear friend Jane.  As I am in Spain now and the first person that I encountered here told me my name is "Carolina" in Spanish rather than simply Carol, you will note that I am now referencing myself as "Carolina". 


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