Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
I love making ads
I really do. Here is one I did of my friend. Ice cream bars here have definitely been our downfall.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Feria
My favorite saying I heard about my outfit from all of Feria:
"Que arte tienes m'arma y no eres de Sevilla"
(What art you have, dear [my soul] and you aren't even from Seville!)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Lola weekend
Lola came to visit me last weekend and we had such a blast together. I am including below some pictures of what we did, but we squeezed in so many activities into our two days together that I can't include them all! We first went to the Reales Alcazares, which are the royal palaces of Sevilla. When the king and queen of Spain come to Sevilla, they are welcomed on the grounds of the Alcazar and stay in the rooms above, which are closed to the public. We next went to the Catedral, which is the 2nd largest cathedral in the world! We made it to the top of the Giralda tower and saw the most incredible views. We had lunch with my señora, Rocio, went shopping, and then sat down for a great conversation with my parents, who we both miss very much! The next day we went to the Plaza de España and then rushed to the Museo de Bellas Artes, but sadly the new Murillo exhibition was booked and we couldn't see his works that he completed when he was young and not yet famous. We still saw some of the museum's collection which has some El Greco. After the museum, we found out that not only was it raining, but the streets were basically composed of watery canals from the downright SHOWER that was soaking all of Sevilla. Lola jokes that we basically had to "swim" to lunch, which we ate at one of my favorite places "Los Coloniales". It was a great lunch, a great weekend, and I can't wait to see Lola so very soon- next month!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Italy: Venice and Rome
Italy was incredible! I had the best travel partner a girl could ask for, a girl on my program who loves art just as much as I do, (and put up with me for 7 days straight, what more can you ask for?), and we saw just as many museums and historic places as a seasoned traveler could possibly pack into a week trip. I enjoyed Venice more because it was much more relaxed than Rome, but Rome is definitely a must-see. I can't believe I was in the Coliseum just days ago! The food was incredible. I believe I feasted on purely tomato, cheese and bread products for the whole week, which was fine with me!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
my new soundtrack
I have listened to this so many times it's almost embarrassing, but man, I don't know a better way to get excited for a week vacation in Italy!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
best weekend yet
This weekend I went on a trip to Cadiz and spent a night with my host family from the summer of 2006 in Conil de la Frontera, which is one of the famous white villages south of Cadiz. I had such an amazing time seeing my family, and man, did I shed some tears! I feel like "cry" was the most popular 3 letter word of the weekend! I had a fabulous time catching up with them, and we ate dinner at a restaurant called "La Fontanilla" that is situated on the Atlantic coast. We had gone to this same restaurant in 2006 with my real family as my final dinner! My friend Rachel came with me, which was so fun because I love showing my friends things that are close to my heart. We walked around the city, went shopping at all the signature surf shops and at night we went out with my host brother Jesus and his girlfriend at a discoteca that he used to work at. In the morning, we ate my favorite breakfast of a good cup of strong coffee and bread with jam. It was just such a sweet touch that Tere, my host mom, remembered after four years my favorite things. We laid on the beach and then went to another great lunch at a restaurant in a close province called "Fuente del Gallo". It was equally delicious! While saying goodbye was not an easy task, I know that I am going to see them very soon, especially with the warm weather coming! It also lightened the load when Jesus started blasting "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" in his car when he drove Rachel and I back to Cadiz. Just a plain, good, weekend!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
my class project
Today I finalized our group's logo for our ad agency "zebra zebra wolf". Here is what I came up with. The crazy looking background was first created by one of my classmates, and what I did today was to touch it up, add the letters, and move the shapes so that the letters fit inside the entire figure in an aesthetic manner. I think it's going to be a good class and good practice for future internships!
Monday, March 1, 2010
pictures from morocco!
I will write a long deal tomorrow but tonight and tomorrow till 8:30 I need to create a logo for my publicity design class and send it to my group members- so come back at around that time and I will have a synopsis of my trip that hopefully you all will enjoy!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
first days at school
My first thoughts:
Wow, I feel awkward.
I am lucky to have a class with one of my friends from my program, (we are both taking Psychology), but in my first class session, the teacher made me stand up, shook my hand, asked me my past experiences and more. It was as if I had a huge spot light on me! I did make two friends in my first class (Publicity Design), and I am working in their group which will be fun. I was so thankful when they asked me to be the art director of our ad campaign, so I feel like that class will be right up my alley. I am also taking Introduction to Photography, which while the professor first anounced that the class would be the hardest yet, we talked about jpegs, had a discussion on camera raw, and he told us a brief definition of the adobe photoshop program, so it kinda sounds like a joke so far, (mom and dad, I know that is not what you want to hear!). We will start doing photo projects soon, so I am sure it will get hard then.
The funniest class I have is Theory of Publicity and Public Relations. My new spanish friend told me that the teacher is just like Dr. House from the tv show and it is SO TRUE. I cannot get the image out of my head. He was also talking about this term /pagashinne/ a lot for the last class, which I wrote in my notes having no idea what it was because I had never heard of the word before, until I found out 5 minutes before class was out that it was /packaging/. Very nice!
I am going on another trip this weekend with my Cordoba traveling group to Gibraltar. I think this time instead of taking the gondola up we are going to hike to the top, which will be fun, especially if the monkeys come on our path!! I am sure we will all be really lively on our 9:30 bus ride, but I will need to remind them to bring cards again! The last time we stuck around in the Cordoba airport and played Presidents and it was a hoot, especially since I lost or got second to last each time.
What else... no margerine-mystery sausage bocadillo today! A slight improvement for an omlete one, but I have agreed with Calida Marie Danko on this fact that the spanish tortilla is not our food of choice! I think am going to color a sign on my señoras fridge with some crayolas telling her to let me make my own... lets see how that works out!
Wow, I feel awkward.
I am lucky to have a class with one of my friends from my program, (we are both taking Psychology), but in my first class session, the teacher made me stand up, shook my hand, asked me my past experiences and more. It was as if I had a huge spot light on me! I did make two friends in my first class (Publicity Design), and I am working in their group which will be fun. I was so thankful when they asked me to be the art director of our ad campaign, so I feel like that class will be right up my alley. I am also taking Introduction to Photography, which while the professor first anounced that the class would be the hardest yet, we talked about jpegs, had a discussion on camera raw, and he told us a brief definition of the adobe photoshop program, so it kinda sounds like a joke so far, (mom and dad, I know that is not what you want to hear!). We will start doing photo projects soon, so I am sure it will get hard then.
The funniest class I have is Theory of Publicity and Public Relations. My new spanish friend told me that the teacher is just like Dr. House from the tv show and it is SO TRUE. I cannot get the image out of my head. He was also talking about this term /pagashinne/ a lot for the last class, which I wrote in my notes having no idea what it was because I had never heard of the word before, until I found out 5 minutes before class was out that it was /packaging/. Very nice!
I am going on another trip this weekend with my Cordoba traveling group to Gibraltar. I think this time instead of taking the gondola up we are going to hike to the top, which will be fun, especially if the monkeys come on our path!! I am sure we will all be really lively on our 9:30 bus ride, but I will need to remind them to bring cards again! The last time we stuck around in the Cordoba airport and played Presidents and it was a hoot, especially since I lost or got second to last each time.
What else... no margerine-mystery sausage bocadillo today! A slight improvement for an omlete one, but I have agreed with Calida Marie Danko on this fact that the spanish tortilla is not our food of choice! I think am going to color a sign on my señoras fridge with some crayolas telling her to let me make my own... lets see how that works out!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
a few words... for once!
I am so sorry about the lack of words! So here are some explanations about what I have been up to for the past weeks.
From the pictures, I did get a job as the "new face" of Fernando Claro, who is a Sevillano designer. He is such a nice man and I really enjoy working with his daughter, Bea, as well as Cristina who is one of the main designers. On Saturday I went to a gala at a club called "Wam" in which three other models and I posed as a photographer took pictures of us in the corner. It went smoothly if you disregard the fact that I tripped as I entered the doorway! I am very excited to be in an advertisement that will most likely appear in Vogue España, (my mouth dropped farther than ever before when I heard that), and the wedding dress pictures will come out this week.
Tomorrow I start classes, and I am going to test six publicity classes, (basically advertising in the US), and then choose my four favorites. Even though a class on publicity design sounds like the one that would be most up my alley, I am hesitating to take it, (lets say VERY MUCH hesitating to take it), since it starts at 8:30!
I will definitely inform you all on what I end up taking and my schedule, so stay tuned!
From the pictures, I did get a job as the "new face" of Fernando Claro, who is a Sevillano designer. He is such a nice man and I really enjoy working with his daughter, Bea, as well as Cristina who is one of the main designers. On Saturday I went to a gala at a club called "Wam" in which three other models and I posed as a photographer took pictures of us in the corner. It went smoothly if you disregard the fact that I tripped as I entered the doorway! I am very excited to be in an advertisement that will most likely appear in Vogue España, (my mouth dropped farther than ever before when I heard that), and the wedding dress pictures will come out this week.
Tomorrow I start classes, and I am going to test six publicity classes, (basically advertising in the US), and then choose my four favorites. Even though a class on publicity design sounds like the one that would be most up my alley, I am hesitating to take it, (lets say VERY MUCH hesitating to take it), since it starts at 8:30!
I will definitely inform you all on what I end up taking and my schedule, so stay tuned!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
More Pictures of Granada
Calida, and our two new friends Bryant and Lindsay from our program after visiting El Generalife. I bet they have that extra spring in their step because they know they are one step closer to the all-you-can-eat buffet at our hotel.
My friend Julia and myself after visiting the Alhambra.
Calida and myself prancing around per usual after visiting the Alhambra.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
too good to be true
http://www.fernandoclaro.com/
Look how cool this company is? I met Sr. Claro today and he was very nice and complementary, even when I got stuck in the first wedding dress! Lighting test on Sunday and first shoot on Monday complete with hair and make up. As well as getting copies of the photographs after they are processed, I get to choose one wedding dress or evening gown as the method of payment which I think is a pretty good deal! It will definitely be the nicest article of clothing in my closet and a nice memory from Spain.
At döner kebabs for dinner which was also amazing! Spain, you have been very very good to me...
Look how cool this company is? I met Sr. Claro today and he was very nice and complementary, even when I got stuck in the first wedding dress! Lighting test on Sunday and first shoot on Monday complete with hair and make up. As well as getting copies of the photographs after they are processed, I get to choose one wedding dress or evening gown as the method of payment which I think is a pretty good deal! It will definitely be the nicest article of clothing in my closet and a nice memory from Spain.
At döner kebabs for dinner which was also amazing! Spain, you have been very very good to me...
My new occupation:
Wedding Dress model?!
This is too funny and good to be true. I had a go-see on tuesday and got a call from the dress designer this morning and I get to try on dresses for the upcoming show that will take place next week today at 5:30! I am so excited! I wonder if I get to keep the dresses. The designer is super nice and more than anything its fun to have a job here in Sevilla! Pictures to come!
This is too funny and good to be true. I had a go-see on tuesday and got a call from the dress designer this morning and I get to try on dresses for the upcoming show that will take place next week today at 5:30! I am so excited! I wonder if I get to keep the dresses. The designer is super nice and more than anything its fun to have a job here in Sevilla! Pictures to come!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Esto no es un supermercado!!!
Hello everyone!
So today I just got back from Granada and I had such a great time. I have to admit that I am a little bit on the side of exhausted right now due to the fact that our group came back from going to a discoteca in the city center at around 3:30 in the morning, but I am happy all the same. I have been trying to post pictures of the trip, but since my internet connection here is next to nothing, I am going to have to wait till my señora gets it installed, so I apologize for the delay in pictures!
Our first day we went to El Generalife and to the Alhambra which were amazing and just as awe-inspiring as my first time there in June 2005. We had an excellent tour-guide who was very knowledgeable about both buildings, but man, there is only so much information I can retain. I also have to admit that during our lecture around the buildings, half the time my friends and I were taking pictures of ourselves pretending to fall into the fountains or dancing in the sultan's mistress's room.
Before our visit to the Alhambra we ate a buffet lunch in our hotel. It was incredible! In fact, it was so good that Calida and I pulled a "scripps-move" on the buffet and decided to bring some fruit and bread back to our room in case we got shaky with hunger later. Though we were successful the first time around, Calida wanted to get one apple for the road down to the Alhambra, yet while she was about to leave the eating area, a man appeared from behind a wall and demanded that "THIS IS NOT A SUPERMARKET!!!" This definitely turned into the joke of our trip.
At night time we ate at a tapas bar that was called "La Bella y El Bestia", (Beauty and the Beast), and despite the kind of awkward name it was so good and cheap! I ordered a "tinto de verano", for 2 euro and it immediately came with sandwich tapas- FREE! So I ended up having another one with a second sandwich, (which our waiter was very surprised by, but come on, I was hungry!), and spend only 4 euro on dinner!
We went dancing afterwards at a club called Granada 10 which appeared to be a converted theatre and played great music! I have to say that my favorite song here thus far is "Show me love" by DJ Antoine, the remix. It came on last night right when Calida and I and our friend from the program were all dancing on top of the speakers in the front of the club and we went absolutely BESERK!! Talk about a great night!
Today we went to the Albacín which is the Granada equivalent for our Barrio de Santa Cruz in Sevilla, (the typical, white-washed houses on tiny winding streets with window boxes full of flowers, according to my teacher "just what the tourists expect"). At the highest point of the Albacín there was this curved monument that was a building of some sort that all these children were climbing up. Of course, I see these little kids taking a running start and climbing up with ease that I think I can do the same, yet alas, leather boots with a flat sole are not the climbing shoes of choice! This one kid taught me his tactic of how to move up it with a foot-hole, but I just couldn't do it! Then after about five people from my own program were successful in climbing up, one of my friends grabbed me from the top and another pushed me up, and man, you should see my smile as I am sitting on top of that building after the struggle that I had experienced! I'll post these pictures soon, they are gems, (yet humiliating ones!).
We went shopping and I bought a Moroccan painting of the word "peace" in Arabic and French, and the best purchase of the trip: HENNA!! Three of my friends already have they hands covered with designs and I did my own on the shaking bus which magically didn't turn out to be a complete disaster!
More to come later!
Take care everyone!
So today I just got back from Granada and I had such a great time. I have to admit that I am a little bit on the side of exhausted right now due to the fact that our group came back from going to a discoteca in the city center at around 3:30 in the morning, but I am happy all the same. I have been trying to post pictures of the trip, but since my internet connection here is next to nothing, I am going to have to wait till my señora gets it installed, so I apologize for the delay in pictures!
Our first day we went to El Generalife and to the Alhambra which were amazing and just as awe-inspiring as my first time there in June 2005. We had an excellent tour-guide who was very knowledgeable about both buildings, but man, there is only so much information I can retain. I also have to admit that during our lecture around the buildings, half the time my friends and I were taking pictures of ourselves pretending to fall into the fountains or dancing in the sultan's mistress's room.
Before our visit to the Alhambra we ate a buffet lunch in our hotel. It was incredible! In fact, it was so good that Calida and I pulled a "scripps-move" on the buffet and decided to bring some fruit and bread back to our room in case we got shaky with hunger later. Though we were successful the first time around, Calida wanted to get one apple for the road down to the Alhambra, yet while she was about to leave the eating area, a man appeared from behind a wall and demanded that "THIS IS NOT A SUPERMARKET!!!" This definitely turned into the joke of our trip.
At night time we ate at a tapas bar that was called "La Bella y El Bestia", (Beauty and the Beast), and despite the kind of awkward name it was so good and cheap! I ordered a "tinto de verano", for 2 euro and it immediately came with sandwich tapas- FREE! So I ended up having another one with a second sandwich, (which our waiter was very surprised by, but come on, I was hungry!), and spend only 4 euro on dinner!
We went dancing afterwards at a club called Granada 10 which appeared to be a converted theatre and played great music! I have to say that my favorite song here thus far is "Show me love" by DJ Antoine, the remix. It came on last night right when Calida and I and our friend from the program were all dancing on top of the speakers in the front of the club and we went absolutely BESERK!! Talk about a great night!
Today we went to the Albacín which is the Granada equivalent for our Barrio de Santa Cruz in Sevilla, (the typical, white-washed houses on tiny winding streets with window boxes full of flowers, according to my teacher "just what the tourists expect"). At the highest point of the Albacín there was this curved monument that was a building of some sort that all these children were climbing up. Of course, I see these little kids taking a running start and climbing up with ease that I think I can do the same, yet alas, leather boots with a flat sole are not the climbing shoes of choice! This one kid taught me his tactic of how to move up it with a foot-hole, but I just couldn't do it! Then after about five people from my own program were successful in climbing up, one of my friends grabbed me from the top and another pushed me up, and man, you should see my smile as I am sitting on top of that building after the struggle that I had experienced! I'll post these pictures soon, they are gems, (yet humiliating ones!).
We went shopping and I bought a Moroccan painting of the word "peace" in Arabic and French, and the best purchase of the trip: HENNA!! Three of my friends already have they hands covered with designs and I did my own on the shaking bus which magically didn't turn out to be a complete disaster!
More to come later!
Take care everyone!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Yikes...
Dolores, my host mom picked me up today. Nice woman, but smelled like a tobacco factory and already has made fun of me for not eating red meat. I get to my room and there is a huge porcelain doll on my bed. If I stay here longer than a week I am going to have to hide it in the closet!!!
I am being optimistic, but I am going to stick around for a week and then hit the road... probably... I am not the biggest fan of that doll nor all the disney figurines and paintings around!!!
I am being optimistic, but I am going to stick around for a week and then hit the road... probably... I am not the biggest fan of that doll nor all the disney figurines and paintings around!!!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
El Corte Ingles has nice hospital facilities...
I have been staying with my friend Lola for 3 days now and I am reminded how much I love Madrid. There is so much action everywhere, but let me tell you all, I maybe experienced too much exitement in one day yesterday afternoon.
I almost should not be sharing this in public due to my slight humiliation, but it does make a good story...
After eating a lengthy lunch, I decided to knock off a few chores and headed down to the Corte Ingles to purchase a new spanish movil. What I didn´t know is that now because of new laws you have to present your passport, which I had left at home, so alas, I headed back home, then came all the way out again to the Corte on Castellana.
El Corte Ingles is a huge shopping center that has everything from groceries, clothes, and as I found out yesterday, even a health clinic! Who woulda known!
So since I was still feeling a little off from jet-lag, I found myself standing by the cash register as a man was trying to type in my passport number into his computer, with which to my dismay he couldnt find EEUU under countries, and as I am getting a little impatient, I find myself losing my vision, and BAM before I know it I am on the ground at the Movistar counter in the middle of the mall. I had about 15 workers helping me, gave me sugar and water, and then 10 minutes flew by and I had about 3 of those same workers lead me to the health clinic on the 4th floor. And man, was it complete! The doctor checked me for everything, and I was fine, except for a scrap across my right eye lid. It could not be placed better, and looks faintly Indiana Jones-ish! I basically ran out of the store hoping that nobody would recognize me from my fainting act. I came home by bus, which was probably not the best idea, and with luck found Lola driving down the street and caught her just in time to hop in the car with her. While she was worried, we both agreed that it made a pretty good story!
In fact, this might beat my experience during my stay in Conil de la Frontera in ´06 when I burned my leg on my host brother´s vespa, which I turned into my Scripps College application essay! Man, I have tons of topics to write about now!
But enough with the fainting. Last night I had the fortune of meeting up with some friends, including a girl who I had met 2 years ago in Madrid while taking a Spanish course. We went out to a bar near Tirso de Molina that had a Japanese theme. I had no idea that suspenders were such a trend here! And nothing could make me laugh more than how much the club clients loved singing to Black Eyed Peas.
I leave for Sevilla on Tuesday with my friend Calida who also goes to Scripps, and I shall write more when I get there!
I almost should not be sharing this in public due to my slight humiliation, but it does make a good story...
After eating a lengthy lunch, I decided to knock off a few chores and headed down to the Corte Ingles to purchase a new spanish movil. What I didn´t know is that now because of new laws you have to present your passport, which I had left at home, so alas, I headed back home, then came all the way out again to the Corte on Castellana.
El Corte Ingles is a huge shopping center that has everything from groceries, clothes, and as I found out yesterday, even a health clinic! Who woulda known!
So since I was still feeling a little off from jet-lag, I found myself standing by the cash register as a man was trying to type in my passport number into his computer, with which to my dismay he couldnt find EEUU under countries, and as I am getting a little impatient, I find myself losing my vision, and BAM before I know it I am on the ground at the Movistar counter in the middle of the mall. I had about 15 workers helping me, gave me sugar and water, and then 10 minutes flew by and I had about 3 of those same workers lead me to the health clinic on the 4th floor. And man, was it complete! The doctor checked me for everything, and I was fine, except for a scrap across my right eye lid. It could not be placed better, and looks faintly Indiana Jones-ish! I basically ran out of the store hoping that nobody would recognize me from my fainting act. I came home by bus, which was probably not the best idea, and with luck found Lola driving down the street and caught her just in time to hop in the car with her. While she was worried, we both agreed that it made a pretty good story!
In fact, this might beat my experience during my stay in Conil de la Frontera in ´06 when I burned my leg on my host brother´s vespa, which I turned into my Scripps College application essay! Man, I have tons of topics to write about now!
But enough with the fainting. Last night I had the fortune of meeting up with some friends, including a girl who I had met 2 years ago in Madrid while taking a Spanish course. We went out to a bar near Tirso de Molina that had a Japanese theme. I had no idea that suspenders were such a trend here! And nothing could make me laugh more than how much the club clients loved singing to Black Eyed Peas.
I leave for Sevilla on Tuesday with my friend Calida who also goes to Scripps, and I shall write more when I get there!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
why "ciruela"?
Hello everyone!
You might be wondering, "Andy, what in the world is "ciruela"?
Ever since the beginning of Lola, (my "spanish sister" from Madrid), and my friendship, we have been constantly dubbing each other nicknames. While "Andreilla" and "Lolailo" were basically our titles for one another during her stay with my family in 2005-2006, we quickly changed to other names when she discovered my incapability to pronounce her cousins name "Eugenio" and plum "ciruela" with the proper accent during our vacation in Egypt.
I just can't do it. I don't know if it is the strong "g" sound in "Eugenio" or the mix of "zeta" with the slew of vowels in "ciruela" but I sound plain ridiculous. Since "Eugenio" would be one interesting nickname for a girl, "ciruela", or "plum" stuck, as did "jewelry" for Lola due to the difficulty in pronouncing the "j".
Of course I want to adopt a crazy sevillano accent. Of course I want to form new relationships. Of course I want to stuff myself to the brim with pan con tomate y pulpo, but man, it would be the cherry on top of the cake to come back being able to pronounce my own nickname.
First stop........ Madrid!
You might be wondering, "Andy, what in the world is "ciruela"?
Ever since the beginning of Lola, (my "spanish sister" from Madrid), and my friendship, we have been constantly dubbing each other nicknames. While "Andreilla" and "Lolailo" were basically our titles for one another during her stay with my family in 2005-2006, we quickly changed to other names when she discovered my incapability to pronounce her cousins name "Eugenio" and plum "ciruela" with the proper accent during our vacation in Egypt.
I just can't do it. I don't know if it is the strong "g" sound in "Eugenio" or the mix of "zeta" with the slew of vowels in "ciruela" but I sound plain ridiculous. Since "Eugenio" would be one interesting nickname for a girl, "ciruela", or "plum" stuck, as did "jewelry" for Lola due to the difficulty in pronouncing the "j".
Of course I want to adopt a crazy sevillano accent. Of course I want to form new relationships. Of course I want to stuff myself to the brim with pan con tomate y pulpo, but man, it would be the cherry on top of the cake to come back being able to pronounce my own nickname.
First stop........ Madrid!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
