Muchas Gracias and Hasta Luego

I wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to Sonja for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime.  I'm so glad I met you nearly two years ago as a chaperone for my daughter's 7th grade class; and that our discussions about my returning one day came to fruition.  Thank you also to Mouta for your gracious manner of inclusion and warmth.  Thank you Jose and my fellow classmates for making me laugh every time we had class together.  Thank you also for expanding my knowledge of Spanish and world culture.  Thank you Amelia for your patience and words of encouragement.

I feel I have grown in my potential to utilize Spanish in my communication with the Spanish speaking people of my home town of Woodstock Illinois as well as with the Spanish speaking people of the world by being a student at the Spanish School of La Herradura these past three weeks.  

Thank you also to the many good people of La Herradura and to my new friends that I met  along the way.  You made me feel so welcome and accepted.  I have experienced the people of La Herradura to  have a broad charity towards others, a boundless sense of good will and a cheerfulness of spirit that is unmatched anywhere else in the world.  In Spain it's never goodbye but rather - Hasta Luego.  

Hasta Luego La Herradura and the Spanish School of La Herradura!  

Love,
Carolina

You want me to translate?

Yesterday on my walk to the scuba shop for my morning dive, I was stopped by a car with a family asking me if I spoke Spanish.  I was proud to say yes.  I then proceeded to give them the information they were seeking as they asked what there was to do in La Herradura as they were passing through and were considering stopping.  I was able to tell them in Spanish that they could go kayaking, wind surfing, paddle boarding, horse back riding, etc.  They could visit the castle and swim. And of course I told them they could arrange to take Spanish lessons as a family at the Spanish school of La Herradura.  As yesterday also happened to be the "Festival of the Sea",  I also advised that they could go to the Civic Center and obtain a schedule of events as there were many activities for children planned along the beach for this weekend such as a turtle release, the creation of mandalas with rocks in the sand, etc.  I feel like I really got to know this town during my brief stay here.  It will be difficult to leave.

Then later in the evening,at a guitar concert that I was attending, I was asked to translate from English to Spanish as a woman wished to communicate her appreciation of the Flamenco guitar player's music.  I relayed her message in Spanish to the musician.  In summary she told him that she was reminded of the sea and footprints making marks in the sand whilst walking by listening to him play.  I was delighted to be utilized in the capacity of a translator.  This to me symbolizes that I am progressing in my goal to improve my Spanish speaking abilities for practical use through this immersion experience.  I hope to come back again - if not annually- to take lessons at the Spanish School of La Herradura as learning Spanish continues to be an ongoing goal for both my personal and professional development. 

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Recommendations from previous students at the Spanish school

"I came here 7 years ago having booked a 2 week intensive Spanish course with the Spanish School of La Herradura.  I stayed with a host family and liked it so much I extended my coursework by another 6 weeks.  Here it is 7 years later and I never left La Herradura.  Jose was one of the best teachers I've ever had."

Marjolein - adult learner - La Herradura

"I thought La Herradura was a tranquil and beautiful place.  Looking for sea glass on the beach where we had kayaked was my favorite part.  The teachers were very good and kind to us and arranged many things for us to do.  It was a lot like normal Spanish language class only the teachers were more active."

Caroline - 7th grade student District 200 Woodstock, Illinois

"I have to agree with Caroline on the fact that there was plenty to do.  The school provided us with a lot of fun activities and I really liked kayaking and the trip to the market.  It was a very relaxing environment.  All the people were very kind to us and the teachers made class really fun.  Although our school group also spent some time in Barcelona and Granada and lastly with host families in Navoral de La Mata, I think staying in La Herradura was my favorite part of our school trip to Spain.

Shannon (my daughter)- 7th grade student at District 200 Woodstock, IL.

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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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Listening practice with the seniors of La Herradura

Listening Practice with the Seniors of La Herradura

I am finding Spain to be a country whose people honor the dead with tremendous respect and tribute.  Twice I have encountered seniors who wish to show me pictures of their deceased love ones.  One was a mother of a son who was killed tragically in a motorcycle accident four years ago leaving behind 2 young children.  She tells me that she visits his grave every day of the week and brings flowers on Saturday.  Another is my neighbor here in La Herradura who is still grieving the death of his wife as recently as one year ago.  I am reminded of how life is fleeting and one must make the most of every day.

I am finding that I am able to have these conversations with the Spanish people of this town as the Spanish School of La Herradura is giving me the communication tools to connect with people in this way.  It is challenging, however and my teacher, Amelia tells me that even she has difficulty understanding the way that the seniors talk here.  They speak rapidly and seem to mumble their words together.  She encourages me to continue with my efforts, however as it good practice for listening.   

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Previous Life as a Flamenco Dancer

Previous Life as a Flamenco Dancer

I have had numerous experiences of people telling me that I look familiar to them here in La Herradura.  One gentleman in finding out that I am American tells me that he has a strong desire to return to the USA as he believes he might have lived there in another life.  He wants to go to a dude ranch so I suppose he thinks he used to be a dude.

I myself started to think that as I am so recognizable here to so many people perhaps I had lived a previous life here in La Herradura which would account also for why I feel so comfortable here.  In expanding on these thoughts I visualized myself as a Flamenco dancer in my previous life here.   This past week, however, I have been told 3 times that I look like Celine Dion.  Maybe that's why I look so familiar to so many people.  I guess I was never a Flamenco dancer after-all!

                                                                Previous Dude
(I don't mean any disrespect for this nice man.
He has a beautiful voice and sings like Del McCroury.) 

                                                                       Me




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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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Right or Left or Straight

Right or Left or Straight

As I mentioned in my previous post, I was invited to my classmate Maria's home after today's group Spanish lessons.  There I met her husband Carl, who had just come from his first private lesson with Amelia.  He had a penned letter D on his right hand to signify "derecha" (right) and a penned letter "I" on his left hand to signify (left).  We commiserated on the Spanish word for straight "derecho" being too close to the word for right "derecha" for my liking when seeking directions from people.  Derecha is right, derecho is straight.  How are we supposed to keep this derecho?

Following my lunch with Maria and Carl and their family I took a tennis lesson with Antonio at the nearby tennis club as recommended by Maria.  There I was able to practice the words "derecha" and "izquierda" as in tennis forehand in Spanish is "derecha" and the term used for backhand is "izquiera".   I guess that's one way to keep it "derecho" (straight).

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Houses and Cultural Differences

Houses and Hospitality

Today I was invited to my classmate, Maria's home for a Swedish lemonade and a lunch of Spanish ham and melon, following our group lesson with Jose.  As we had each prepared a written paper on the characteristics of people in our country for class that day, I learned that for the Swedes  presentation of the home is very important.  This is very different than the Spaniards as for them the house is less important.  In fact, for the Spaniards, most of their socializing occurs on the street in paseo in the evenings and when they are out and about in public.

Maria, however is Swedish and as I learned in Jose's class today, the home is essential.  Much care and attention is given to ensuring that the home environment is beautiful and organized.  Maria enjoys entertaining.  She has a lovely home to receive people and is very gracious in extending herself in this way.

In addition to learning the Spanish language I am also learning about different ways of life, world cultures and how the people of the world prioritize their time, work and family commitments.

Today is the 14th day in a row of low to mid 80 degree weather with pure sunshine.  That;s mad! (or so they would say in Ireland). 

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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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Come Wherever I Am

COME WHEREVER I AM

I met another Dutch artist today as she sat on a stool painting a short wall.  She told me that she was invited to paint murals on walls and schools in Almunecar and was staying in a special hotel just for artists.  She suggested that I might like to come to her exhibition that evening.  I asked where and she pointed that way saying on the beach.  I told her that there was more than one beach in Almunecar asking for more clarification.  She asked me where are you from and I told her La Herradura.  She said that sounds right - her exhibition is in La Herradura - then adding, "I am going where you are going."  I enjoy the sound and idea of that and want to broadcast here in this blog that everyone should go where I am going.  This experience that I am having here at the Spanish school of La Herradura has been magical.  Please come.

Luckily it was 80 degrees and sunny for my day in Almunecar.

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Learning Indefinate Preterite Verb conjugations (Past Tense) through visiting the history museum in Almunecar, Spain

As I studied past tense with Amelia in a private lesson session on Friday afternoon, I thought what better way to consolidate my learning than to go to a history museum.  I took the 8:45 AM bus to Almunecar and paid 235 euros for entry.  I had the place to myself and took my time reading the descriptions first in Spanish and then in English and vice versa trying to decide which was the better method of learning for me.  I discovered that there was one small advantage to reading the material first in Spanish in that if in doing this I was able to successfully get through a whole paragraph without any errors in translation I would give myself points in my head accompanied by a silent and imaginary round of applause for myself.  Other than that both methods of language acquisition are equally valid.

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Jose and his groupies

Twice a week I have group lessons with Jose and two other women.  The lessons are a thoroughly engaging and a dynamic exchange of information and ideas.  Jose has a vast knowledge of  many things and makes learning fun with his terrific sense of  humor and acting abilities.  When confronted with confused faces he utilizes miming and exaggerated forms of expression to communicate his meaning.  Sometimes we have to guess what he is doing using our increasingly expanding vocabulary.  He is very flexible in ensuring that our unique needs for language development are met.  As we are three women, the last lessons deviated into discussions about jewelry, clothing, weddings, nude beaches and then festivals.

We were all enthralled in listening to Jose tell us about the "Carnival of Cadiz."  It is one of the largest carnivals in Spain and is characterized by people in costume and groups of performers who sing and play with satire.  He pulled up videos of such performances and we roared with laughter to see the absurdity of seeing grown men dressed up as naked babies with their thumbs in their mouths, nursing bottles and rolling about helplessly.  He added that the carnival extends for two full weeks and recommended that we go the second week as it is less crowded than the first week.

As we are learning language at the same time that we are learning about the culture of this region he told us that the word, "carnival" comes from the word, "meat".  I look forward to my group lessons with Jose on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The Spanish School of La Herradura's school's teachers are qualified and experienced to teach Spanish as a second language.  The school is accredited by the prestigious institute of Cervantes. 

It was 83 degrees and sunny on Thursday.

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Spanish School Excursion to Nerja, Spain

In addition to learning Spanish through private or group language lessons at the Spanish School of La Herradura one can also participate in organized activities, excursions and outings that the school organizes for it's students.  On Tuesday evening I was able to see a little bit more of this area through a planned trip to Nerja, Spain that was arranged by the owner of the school, Sonja.  We went to the Balcon de Europa which offers a gorgeous view of the Mediterranean sea.  The town has many little shops and restaurants.  The Italian restaurant that we choose featured live music in the form of flamenco guitar as well a clarinet player at the beginning of our meal.  Our waiter treated our group to champagne on the house to top off our evening.  Salud!

It was 80 degrees and sunny that day.  I am not even making this up!

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Being Me on the Mediterranean Sea

"The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation. The voice of the sea speaks to the soul.  The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace."  Passage taken from "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin. 

Today I went kayaking with Irene from Holland.  She is a fellow student at the school, who like me has traveled here alone to study Spanish.  She is a life long learner and enjoys studying.  She scheduled 2 hours of private lessons for herself a day and is staying in an apartment that Sonja rents to her that is only a 12 minute walk to the school.  For only 15 euros each we rented a double kayak and paddled around the ""Cerro Gordo" to kayak into the cave.  This was a small cave where apparently as history goes, smugglers brought in contraband like cigarettes and alcohol as recently as thirty years ago and hid it there for it's recovery by boat. 

The school of La Herradura also sets up group  kayaking excursions for students of the school at Windsurf La Herradura that is located perhaps 300 yards down the beach from where the school is located.  You can't miss it as it is the only blue building on the beach.

Windsurf La Herradura also rents paddle boards by the hour.  I watched the sun set while paddleboarding one evening. 

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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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