A Weekend in Barcelona
Although the Spanish capital had a lot to offer, I was of course looking forward to the trip that our program had planned to Barcelona for the second weekend. During my time in Barcelona, I was able to learn about a whole different region of Spain, including transportation, cultural differences, and the history of the conflict between the northeastern region and the rest of Spain.
Cultural Differences: Things I Learned in Spain
By living abroad in Madrid, Spain for a month, I was able to experience and learn first-hand a number of cultural differences when compared to life in the United States. As a Spanish minor in college, I have had the opportunity to learn about many different cultures in Spanish-speaking countries. However, getting the chance to immerse myself in the culture outside of a classroom setting was a special experience. During my time abroad, I learned about various cultural differences in Spain such as daily life/meal times, social norms, language, and much more!
Pow Wow Etiquette
A pow wow (term often used in North America) refers to a social gathering/social celebration for Native American tribes. Many times these pow wows contain competitions for dancing and singing, can sometimes be intertribal, and are often open to the general public. But there are some important rules/etiquette to follow should you choose to participate!
Fascinating Facts About the Icelandic Language
In 2018, I visited Iceland after taking an 8-week course focused on the history, biology, and culture of Iceland and its people. According to our tour guide, Hrefna, even though most Icelanders speak English, adults don’t generally speak English with each other, only Icelandic. They are very proud of their native tongue, and many are involved in efforts focused on maintaining the language, which is what Icelandic Language Day is all about!
Is Retraining our Brains our Generational Burden or Privilege?
Do you remember the first time you became aware that you were different from someone else? Maybe it was your gender, or confusion about what gender was even all about?? Maybe it was based on the color of your skin, or the language that was spoken at home, or what your parents packed for you to take to lunch – or what they couldn’t afford to.
Somewhere along the way, you felt “different.” Somewhere along the way you learned that there is an “us” and a “them.”
