Monday, 22.02.2010
Today was the highlight, the Austrian-Spanish Day - where we celebrated the outcome and achievements of the exchange program. For more follow this link http://studentexchangeoutcome.blogspot.com/
Sunday, 21.02.2010
This Sunday we spent a lot of time with our host students and their families. Also, there were some sports activities at Educrea, including basketball, tennis and paddel.
Saturday, 20.02.2010
On Saturday we were very lucky with the weather. Our trip to Toledo was not only sunny but also very exiting. Thanks to Teresa (THANK YOU!!!) we got a good impression of the importance of that beautiful city and we could visit the nicest places. Especially the cathedral was breathtaking.
Friday, 19.02.2010
On Friday the Spanish students taught the Austrian guests "Sevillanas", a typical dance from the south of Spain. It was great fun.
Tuesday, 16.02.2010
The Comenius-Project includes a special focus on topics that should be dealt with, by the students of both sides, of course. On Tuesday we started...
Saturday, 13.02.2010
Knowing Alcalá de Henares means knowing the history of Spain. Alcalá starts out as a Celtic settlement, became a Roman village, was taken over by the Arabes and then returned to Christian rulership with Alfonse VI. "El siglo de oro" the Golden age, was another name for the 12th century where Spain politically triumphed with its colonies, but also its art flourished. All in all three rulers of different countries were born in the city: Manuel Azaña, a Spanish politician and writer, Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII of England and Ferdinand I who was the Holy Roman Emperor.
Then we visited the magistral cathedral where only former profesors of the university were allowed to work as priests and we ended our tour at the Plaza Cervantes. The beautiful former marketplace is encircled by universtity buildings. On their roof tops we could spot many pairs of storks that reminded us of our hometown.
is the 2nd oldest (after Salamanca). It was built at the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century. It was founded by Cardinal Cisneros who wished to be buried there in a modest grave. Today his body remains in the Cathedral, while his expensive Italian marble grave is situated in the university. Back then getting a PhD meant having studied everything that was known to humankind at that time. During the exams the students stood between two teachers : one who could help slightly and the other, who was a strict devil's advocate. The rich and the poor students had separated yards. Since there were no scholarships, the poorer ones had to finance their studies by doing peculiar jobs (like warming up chairs for rich students). A few women dressed up as males in order to be able to study.
One yard of the buildings remains locked, because it is reserved for the King Juan Carlos and the awards of Cervantes (taking place every year on 23th of April)
After the exkursion to Alcalá we had time to party!
One yard of the buildings remains locked, because it is reserved for the King Juan Carlos and the awards of Cervantes (taking place every year on 23th of April)
After the exkursion to Alcalá we had time to party!
Friday, 12.02.2010
Before the students actually got to see Guernica on Friday morning, they met with an Austrian journalist in the botanical garden of Atocha - one of the biggest trains stations of Spain. He joined them and was as kind as to share his personal experience (he has lived in Madrid for about 20 years). What is striking in the political situation of the country in his opinion, is the fact that although the unemployment rate is as high as 20% (30% with the young people), there haven't been any revolutionary tendencies in society yet. He thinks people are still feeling comfortable because there is a very strong family bonding in the Spanish society.
Imagine!
On Friday on our trip to Madrid, when we were visiting the Reina Sofia, Prof. Hofer´s money was stolen by two girls. Their trick was to open a big map of the city above Prof. Hofer´s bag and then one of them grabbed the money. (Desiree)
Imagine!
On Friday on our trip to Madrid, when we were visiting the Reina Sofia, Prof. Hofer´s money was stolen by two girls. Their trick was to open a big map of the city above Prof. Hofer´s bag and then one of them grabbed the money. (Desiree)
Thursday, 11.02.2010
Famous Spanish personalities like Penelope Cruz, Rafael Nadal and Iker Castilla were introduced this morning by one of the Spanish teachers and the students had to cope with a mixture of English, Spanish and German. Later that day they analysed Pable Picasso's Guernica - each student focussing on a different feature and thus becoming an expert for his part. While some found the artwork tremendously touching, others just considered it simple and a bit boring monotonous. But these bad first impressions only lasted until Friday when the class visited the Reina Sofia Museum to scrutinise the astonishing 3.49 m × 7.77 m original.
Wednesday, 10.02.2010, started...
with an art class on the gallery of the bustling gym. The students used parts of Austrian drawings (e.g. Klimt) and extended them in order to create their own little works of art. Later Hemingway was the centre of attention, as students dealt with one of his short stories that mixes English with Spanish. The artist himself by the way lived in Spain during the civil war. He admired the Spanish way of life and especially the open-minded and out-going people of Madrid. 
Visit to Villalbilla, 09.02.1010
We think that the city is very cute, particularly the main square looks like out of a picture book. The landscape is brown and dry, not as green as in Austria. We ran up and down a hill and our shoes got muddy =)
We met the major and the priest of Villalbilla.
On the coldest day in this winter it had -4 degrees and they had no school because of the snow.
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