Student Articles

On Saturday 12^th September 2009 Salamanca welcomed Rosario Flores, Spanish singer and actress, to its annual ferias. Rosario performed on the stage that has been erected in the Plaza Mayor specifically for the week long festivals that are taking place in the city. Her fame and reputation for vibrant and exciting performances attracted a huge crowd that filled the plaza entirely. And she didn´t disappoint! Rosario´s enthusiasm and joie de vivre was highly contagious and soon the whole crowd were dancing and singing even if, like me, they didn´t know the words!

Think of the world’s greatest fashion cities…Paris, London, Milan, New York. But Madrid? Hmm, didn’t think so. The traditional Spanish dress is often associated with Flamenco, originating from the gypsy culture in Andalusia in the south of Spain. Yet as a style city, Madrid, and indeed Spain, is breaking away from its stereotype of ruffled dresses and setting its own fashion agenda which is becoming increasingly well known. Even before the rest of the world caught on to the “size 0” debate, in 2006 the organisers of Madrid Fashion Week, the Pasarela Cibeles, forbade the participation of any model whose BMI (Body Mass Index) was below 18, arguing that the purpose of the event was to showcase a healthy image. This meant that models who were 5ft9in (1.75m) had to weigh a minimum of at least 8st11oz (56kg), which led to almost a third of models being banned. The organizers of the show promised that a nutritional expert would be on hand to check every model, and those with a BMI below 16 would receive medical treatment. They also banned models aged under 18, causing uproar in an industry which relies on young teenagers to cruise down the catwalk wearing designers’ latest collections.

Figures from the European Union show that people living in Mediterranean countries like Spain can expect to live longer on average than people in other countries. The Mediterranean, particularly the Spanish, diet consists of lots of oil, salt and fat, so how can this possibly be more healthy? According to some experts it is not the type, but the quality of the ingredients Spaniards use that makes the difference. Almost everything in Spain is organic and fresh, and products such as meat and vegetables are almost always bought from a local market which for most Spaniards, is simply a way of life. These fresh ingredients are obviously incorporated into the Spanish recipes and the gastronomy of the country which does boast many different foods to please anybody´s pallet.

Anyone who loves good food and wine is guaranteed a happy life in Spain. One of the greatest pleasures of living in Spain is that there is an abundance of inexpensive eateries. Dining out in Spain is a social occasion and very popular amongst families often represented by a few generations. Spain in general boasts an array of different restaurants ranging from typical Spanish restaurants, specialising in a certain cuisine and regional alike, to luxury international restaurants to appease anyone´s pallet. Traditional eating and drinking places include mesones in urban areas, ventas in the countryside, and merenderos, chiringuitos and chamboas (specialising in sea-food) at the beach. Paradores and refugios specialise in regional cooking. A marisquería is an up-market fish restaurant, cocederos and freidurías de pescado are places to indulge in fresh fried fish, while an asador specialises in roast meats, poultry or fish. Generally each region has its own specialties (platos típicos) based on local produce, meats and fish, and every province and most large towns boast their own culinary delights, even if it’s just a local sausage or cheese. Spanish cooking largely consists of simple, wholesome fare and is noted for its high-quality fresh ingredients.

Few modern day spectator sports provoke quite as much controversy as bullfighting and yet it would be difficult to imagine Spanish identity without it. To its supporters it is a way of life, an art form involving ceremony and ritual. To its detractors it amounts to little more than barbaric torture and slaughter. Yet to many foreigners, for whom the killing of an animal for sport in a ring is a totally alien concept, Spanish bullfighting is a complex tradition to understand or accept – both in physical and moral terms. A bullfight is about many things – performance, bravery, skill and death. No doubt it is also bloody and shocking, but its supporters argue that a bull is better off dying on the point of a matador´s sword than in the abbatoir (matadero). To witness a bullfight might not necessarily mean to condone it, but it may provide an insight into this Spanish tradition and make parts of Spanish identity a little easier to understand

The desire to help people to learn is a key characteristic needed to become a teacher.  A teaching job in many ways is such a rewarding experience for the people who do it as they watch pupils grow and gain confidence in the subject and in some cases develop a passion for the subject. Teachers can make learning fun and have a real effect on the people they teach, opening them up to a new world and building relationships through teaching can be long-lasting and fulfilling; especially if you have made a difference.

Spain is a country rich with history and oldness and has many little hidden villages and towns waiting to be explored. Even though the Costas are a popular destination to enjoy your Spanish holidays with plenty of tourists being attracted by beaches, sea and constant hot weather, many people forget that Spain is much more than that. Mainland Spain is divided into 14 different regions or Comunidades Autónomas; as a country it is diverse and differs very much depending where you go.

Often seen as the national dish of Spain, the dish Paella finds its origins on Spain´s East coast in the region of Valencia. A dish with rice as its base, it is said to exist because of Arab influence as many Arab families during the Moorish rule would cook rice-based dishes with spices, meat and vegetables thus giving rise to the eating of rice in Spain.

At 3:30am on Sunday 30th March, a group of four AS Spanish Students along with our teacher, Mrs Hardy and her daughter, embarked on a week long excursion to the Spanish city of Salamanca.  The long journey and very early morning start proved to be entirely worth it.

I was incredibly fortunate to receive a two week scholarship which enabled me to study at any of the prestigious don Quijote schools in Spain, South America, or even the Canaries! After much debate and advice from various teachers, I set my heart on Salamanca. I found out that it was an ancient city in the heart of Spain with an abundance of culture, stunning sites, nightlife and friendly inhabitants, not to mention the pure Spanish spoken there - what more could I ask for?