Hola! For my housing while abroad, I had decided to try out the residence lifestyle here in Spain, and boy, was I in for quite the shock. Not in a bad way, though, of course. I am going to just jump on a ledge and assume that most of you are familiar with the typical American residence setup/lifestyle. You know, buildings on campus set up specifically as dorms with co-ed halls, neighbors on each side, laundry room for all to share, as well as a possible kitchen and recreational area, am I right? Well, it might be like that back in the states, but here in Spain it’s a different ballgame, so to speak.

To start, the residence hall, or “la resi” as most of us college kids call it, it set up like most apartment complexes are. And not only are college students housed here, but so are actual families! At least the families and the students are placed on separate floors throughout the building, but we still have to keep our noise level down to respectable and reasonable levels

For my CEA housing, I chose to have a single room instead of opting for a roommate, so I have a small room to myself at the end of one of the hallways, while another girl takes up the room next to mine. Overall, the rooms are all scattered and there are usually bathrooms placed between the rooms. That may sound like a great thing- less neighbors, I mean- but there is a downside: the walls here seem to be paper thin, so whether or not someone’s room is near mine, I can hear a conversation from down the hall, and that may not be so fantastic at 1 o’clock in the morning, which is the usual time that most Spaniards come back from their late night dinners and tapas excursions.

On the bright side- or somewhat bright side, since I have yet to become accustomed to it- there are people here who take care of keeping the residence tidy and clean. And by that I mean that a few times a week a lovely lady named Carmen comes in to clean my room for me. Yes, you read that correctly. It is something that I haven’t experienced since my younger years when my mother would do that for me, and I was shocked when I came back from class one day to find my sheets changed, my trash taken out, and everything tidied up! Not only that, but once a week, we are to leave our laundry out and they wash, dry, and fold it for us seeing as we aren’t allowed usage of the laundry room. Crazy, I know. Running off along that tangent, we aren’t allowed usage of the kitchen either. Sure, there is a small fridge and a microwave on our hall, but all meals are provided for us (except on Sundays).

All in all, I am pretty pleased with my housing. I like having my cozy room to myself, and there are plenty of Spaniards, as well as fellow Americans, on my floor to keep company with. Though, even after two months, I don’t think I will ever get used to having someone clean my room and do my laundry for me, but hey, I can’t really complain about that, now can I?

The city of Rome has no shortage of tourist attractions. Any good guide book will recommend at least half a week for the museums and ruins let alone the dozens of very afforable day trips. But what your trusty guide won't always tell you is where to find the less frequented spots that give you a true taste of Roman culture. So I've taken the liberty of jotting down a few of my favorite spots in the city just in case you ever have the opportunity to spend some time here.

Il Gelato di San Crispino: Like most gelaterie in the city center, this place is little more than a hole in the wall. You'd probably never find it if you didn't know where to look which would be a truly unfortunate mishap. Of all the gelato I've had since I've been here, the artisan flavors from San Crispino have been the best by far, especially the honey gelato for which this little shop is famous. From their creamy chocolate to their flavorful whiskey, this shop really does offer some of the most varied and delicious flavors in the city and all at a highly affordable price. I would go every day if I thought my metabolism and waist line could handle it. Make sure to check it out if you ever get the chance.

Via del Corso: This street runs straight between two of the most popular piazze in the city - Venezia and Popolo - and has some of the best shopping in all of Rome. It is, admittedly, filled up mostly by chain stores like H&M, Yamamay, and Sephora which you could find in any regular mall but the real gems, the smaller stores fortuante enough to be interspersed with these big name brands, are easy enough to find. The Anglo-American Bookstore, one of my personal favorites, is just off the main road. On top of that, Via del Corso is one of the best places to find indepedent artists including dancers, musicians, and painters. Just make sure to watch out for the street vendors selling knockoff purses; wouldn't want to get in trouble with customs on the way home.

Campo dei Fiori: This little piazza near Largo Argentina is one of the most popular sites in the city, though it serves different purposes for different people. It is, by day, one of the best fresh produce markets available, selling anything from fresh fruit to artisan pasta secca to home-grown herbs. It is a great place to have a long lunch, stock up for dinner, or grab some souveniers. But after dark, it becomes a hub for those seeking the Roman nightlife. The great thing for study abroad students and tourists is that many of the bars in Campo dei Fiori, notably the Drunken Ship, cater to foreigners which means you will always be able to find the drinks and music you're looking for. Just remember that you'll probably have to take a cab back to your hotel/apartment if you stay after midnight. And please drink responsibly.

Caffarella: The Appian Way is one of the main attractions in Rome. Where in ancient times, it was one of the most important and strategically placed Roman roads, today, it is the main walking path for those wanting to visit any (or all) of the numerous ruins left behind as a result of its historical significance. One of my favorite places to stop along this road is the Caffarella Valley, one of the few places within walking distance of the city where you can still find natural forest and wide, grassy meadows. It is a great places to sit and read, have a picnic, or just lounge in the sun and all in the midst of ancient ruins - truly a prime spot.

Mirko Bar: This little cafe is probably going to be the hardest for any regular tourist to find but for students at the CEA Global Campus is Rome, it's just around the corner. I'm not going to tell you that the Mirko Bar makes the best cappuccini or cornetti the city; that would be ridiculous (although the cappuccini are always quite delicious). But what I can say for certain is that the staff are some of the most friendly and, considering the amount of broken Italian they tolerate from CEA students everyday, patient people I have met since I've been here. They were quick to recognize my face and preferences, which made me feel much more at ease here, and equally as quick to try to befriend me despite the language barrier. If there is any (public) place in which I feel truly welcome in Rome, it's the Mirko Bar.

By Caitlin Smith
University of Maryland, Baltimore County

 

Spring semester 2012 is an interesting time to be studying abroad in France! With the French presidential campaign in full force, candidates are taking every opportunity to present their ideas on televised broadcasts and to rally supporters throughout the country.

CEA is following along and keeping Paris students in the presidential loop.  But with ten candidates in the running, things can get a bit confusing n'est pas?  Thankfully, the Student Services team has created a presidential cheat sheet, complete with the party names, the candidates running, the current polls, and bien sur, the caricatured puppets that have been created to represent them on one of the popular French satirical news shows (they never misses a chance for a good laugh - at the expense of all parties!).




Students who would like a more in-depth view of the French political scene (things are bound to get even more interesting mes amis!), are invited to a lecture given by Dr. Scott G. Blair on Tuesday, 03 April at the CEA Paris Global Campus!

I've got a snazzy little video of the CEA campus in Florence for you today. Enjoy!




Loren Benton
CEA MOJO in Florence

Anna Walsh, Carnegie Mellon '13

La Alhambra, one of Spain's most visited tourist attractions, as seen from  afar from the Mirador de San Nicolás in the Albaycin.

One of the most beautiful aspects of La Alhambra, in my opinion, would be the flowing fountains.

From within, including a garden with a lovely fountain, detailed artwork, and a stained glass ceiling.

La Alhambra reflected in the water.

The view of Granada from here is magnificent.

A bit of the grounds and the city.

Another view of the city.

From the inside, looking out.

The details of the architecture within La Alhambra is stunning.

And extremely intricate, too!

You can even find a little bit of America, here.

Kenneth Wallach University of Delaware CEA Mojo - Barcelona

Pére Lachaise after a soft dusting of snow the night before

Jim Morrison's grave

A gloomy view through the trees at Père Lachaise

Balzac's grave at Père Lachaise

A grave at Père Lachaisse

The first Spring flowers at Montparnasse

The view of storm clouds approaching Montrouge

The French Flag in honor of soldiers who died for France in WWII

Entry to the Ossuary in the Catacombs, the engraving reads: "Stop, this is the empire of the dead."

Rows of skulls and femurs

A dark fountain in the chamber of skulls

Tune in next week for a video of my apartment, which is near the Bastille and next to a farmer's market!