You Know I Don't Speak Spanish, Baxter

Cristina introduces me and my video resume for Spanish class.

Back with a (Hesitating) Vengeance

I have lofty goals for a change in direction of my blog. Fellow Fulbrighter researcher and brainiac, Laura Bennett, has a snazzy little blog where she posts video clips of interviews she conducts in Spanish complete with English subtitles and witty, accompanying narrative. I enjoy this. My pops used to make soccer highlight videos using crazy video editing equipment, a combination of narrative sound, slow-mo, inspiring soundtracks, and descriptive voice-overs when I was in elementary school. I bought a video camera in Madrid (another adventure with Miguel who set off the alarm and then innocently gestured at me when security came). I figured I could use my deceptively important-sounding grant name and secure some interviews with head honchos in bilingual education in the Communidad de Madrid, as well as teachers and administrators. I was thinking of analyzing the efficacy of the bilingual program in general with a specific focus on lower-income students and recent immigrants. I vowed to myself that I would cut down to 10 hours of sleep per day (including siesta) and attempt to curtail my time trampling the internet in search of potential jobs and pictures of really cute puppies.

I have faced some setbacks. I still want to do some research and I still want to reflect on the perspective I am gaining as an observer of the Spanish public education system here. I am currently organizing my thoughts. Until then, I will continue with my basic record of traveling adventures. Tame, and occasionally lame, my documentation will soon be splashed with cameo appearances by some of my favorite people who are coming to the Iberian Peninsula in the next two weeks.

Last weekend, I went to San Sebastian. It is in País Vasco on the northern coast of Spain a breath away from France.

The city is dominated by a massive statue of Jesus atop one of the cliffs. Intense and overwhelming during the day, it is illuminated at night and hauntingly large..

Jesus presides over the hill and boats.

Sagrada Familia

Pintxos

Impromtu circle line dance in plaza

I rented a bike and rode around the city. I ate a ton of tiny little sandwiches, pintxos, and walked on the beach. Embarrassingly unattractive mandatory self-portrait to prove I was really there.

Gray Day in Cuenca

Mid-January went on a day trip to Cuenca, a sleepy city with casas colgadas (hanging houses) and hills.