La Belleza Natural y Innatural

Una foto de un perezoso en la Selva Amazónica

En mi viaje a Perú, quiero experimentar la belleza natural del país y la belleza innatural, así. Naturalmente, querio ver Machu Picchu, pero el Perú tiene mucho más que ofrecer. Voy a ver el Valle Sagrado donde quiero hacer un recorrido a caballo. También, voy a ir de la Selva Amazónica y voy a las imágenes ocupan de los animales exóticos. Finalmente, quiero volar sobre las líneas de Nazca en las llanuras del Desierto de Nazca.

 

El Mono - las líneas de Nazca

My trip to Peru

Yo van a ir a Perú. Quiero visitar Machu Picchu. Hay muchas cosas que hacer aventureros. Me gusta navega por lo que sería genial hacer surf en Máncora. El ala delta es algo que nunca hemos hecho, pero me gustaría intentarlo. En el Perú me gustaría visitar el Callao. La bebida leche de tigre suena interesante. Voy a ir a muchas restaurants porque me gusta comida, Ahora es de 72 grados que suena perfecto. Me gustaría quedar en el hotel de Chavín.

Peru

This week we are studying Peru. After watching the videos in Myspanishlab, consulting the web links, and reading the material in the textbook about Peru, write where you are going and what you are going to do during an imaginary trip to the country. Include cultural information and use the verb 'ir' and the expression 'ir a + infinitive.' Include a picture.

Tapas & Antonti Gaudí -- Jim Ford

Although I knew tapas was a part of the Spanish culture, I didn’t know that it was such a significant part of the life of students. Any of us who have been to Isabella’s in Frederick will know that tapas refers to dishes of food served in small portions – fish, olives, meats, cheese, etc. According to what I learned this week, students in Spain often gather at a tapas bar to eat, drink and socialize. From what I understand, Isabella’s offers DJ music on Saturdays, so a visit there would give patrons a chance to experience both the tapas and the dancing that are such significant aspects of Spanish culture. The picture is of some tapas dishes from a restaurant in New Orleans.)


I was also lucky enough to travel to Spain about 12 years ago. Although I didn't speak the language at the time, I learned from our tour guide that the citizens of Spain take great pride in the artwork of fellow Spaniards. While in Barcelona, our group was able to see some of the artwork and architecture of Antoni Gaudí. His style was unusual, but extremely creative. Of all the things we saw, I thought none was more impressive than the unfinished "La Sagrada Família" cathedral. The construction of the cathedral is funded solely by public donations, so it has been an ongoing project since 1883. Although it is still unfinished, it is a functional space (and quite beautiful) on the inside. To see this example of Spanish pride and creativity, visit the cathedral's site: http://www.sagradafamilia.cat/

Food in Spain

The thing that I have found most interesting about Spain (besides the language of course!) is the food.

Paella seems to be the most talked about dish when it comes to traditional food from Spain. It is saffron rice with pretty much any meat that you choose to put in it, tomatoes, and some vegetables. I read a few different sources about it and it seems that seafood, such as shrimp and clams, is the most popular addition to the rice.

Another interesting food... well.. drink.. that I read about is Spanish hot chocolate, or "chocolate caliente." It is commonly made for breakfast to dip churros in to and is EXTREMELY thick, so it is very different than what we consider hot chocolate to be in the United States. The recipe that I found is as follows:

2 8-ounce (250 ml) cups whole milk

3 ounces=3 squares (93 gr) baking chocolate

1/3-1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. cornstarch

I'm assuming that it's pretty thick because of the cornstarch that is used! One source that I read said that it's so thick that you can stand a spoon up in it.

-Jamie Smith

Deportes en la Universidad de España

Sports are a huge part of the universities in the United States. Some students only choose to attend college for the opportunity to continue to play a sport they played in high school or to try a new sport. Just as the NFL is a primary source of entertainment, the college-level games also generate a lot of popularity from the entire nation. In Spain, things are done a little differently... First of all, the biggest difference is in the sport. American college students playing "football" would not fare so well playing against a Spanish "futbol" team. They instead play what we call soccer. Students also play basketball and other sports that we play in America, but rugby is probably the closest they get to our version of football. While students enjoy playing sports in the universities, competitions between schools isn't as much a part of their culture as it is in the US. Intramural sports teams, or teams within the community, are not uncommon, however. This year, between July 13th and the 23rs, the 1st European Universities Games will be held in Cordoba, Spain. National university sports teams and students with a team from their university had the opportunity to register to participate in the event. This is more than just about soccer though. Teams can compete in any of the ten sports: badminton, basketball, beach-volleyball, football, futsal, handball, rugby 7s, table tennis, tennis and volleyball.