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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