A month ago, I was half way through a journey that definitely changed my life. Although I am very happy to be back home, as I sit here today in the comfort of my room, with my own bed, desk, English television set, working WiFi network and blasting air condition, I miss my hostel room, annoying internet connection and sketchy continental breakfast. I miss my new friends, my professors, my roommates… I miss the locals, the gypsies, and the horse and carriage drivers who loved yelling “guapa!” I miss trying to walk on cobblestone streets in heels, and tracking down cabs at 3 a.m. when my feet hurt too much to walk home.

I miss the cuisine: the croquetas de jamon, the manchego cheese, the papas con aioli, all served with a glass of vino blanco. I miss being the only non-Spanish speaker in the group and laughing with my friends at my attempts to mingle with the locals. I miss being on my own, responsible for myself and feeling like an adult. I miss the history, the culture, the cathedral and my beautiful walk to school every morning as opposed to my I-95 commute full of traffic to Biscayne Bay. But most importantly, I miss the fact that my amazing experience is now an unbelievable memory, one that I will surely never forget.

Words and pictures alone cannot describe the experience of my study abroad trip to Spain. I had imagined that it would be incredible, but I didn’t realize it would this incredible. In my past few weeks being home, I have shared stories and pictures with my friends and family back home. I even invited my closest friends over for a tapas night, where I attempted to make croquetas de jamon, papas con alioli, and manchego with pestos and fresh bread, all from scratch. Everything came out delicious if I do say so myself, but nothing like the local tapas bars from Sevilla.

I’ve been shopping at my local mall, and swimming at the Florida beaches, but nothing compares to the shops down narrow alleys and cobblestone roads, or the coastline of the Mediterranean with mountains on one side and the white homes that line the freezing cold water on the other. I am beyond happy that I decided to embark on this amazing journey. Thanks to my professors and my amazing fellow FIU Communication classmates, it is these memories that already have me planning my next study abroad trip to Europe. =]

The Spanish Monarchy After Franco

Two days after the death of dictator Francisco Franco, on November 22, 1975, Juan Carlos was designated King according to the law of succession promulgated by Franco. The king chose to skip a generation and name Prince Juan Carlos as his successor. Franco wanted the young Prince to be trained to take over the nation and maintain the current nature of his regime. Although Juan Carlos publicly supported Franco's rule, as time went on he began meeting with political opposition leaders and exiles, who were fighting to bring liberal reform to the country.

After Franco's death, King Juan Carlos I quickly instituted reforms changing the government from a once dictatorship to the current parliamentary democracy. The Spanish Constitution (Title II: the Crown, Article 56, Subsection 1) acknowledges the role of the Spanish monarch as the “personification and embodiment of the Spanish nation, a symbol of Spain's enduring unity and permanence; and as such, the monarch is the head-of-state and commander-in-chief of the Spanish Armed Forces in a system known in Spanish as ‘monarquía parlamentaria’ or constitutional monarchy.” Some of the King’s many reforms included appointing Adolfo Suárez, as Prime Minister of Spain, instituting the “Ruta Quetzal” in 1979 to promote cultural exchange between students from Spain and Latin America, and legalizing gay marriage on July 1, 2005.

Juan Carlos’s popularity grew among the years. In a poll from November, 2005 in the newspaper El Mundo, 77.5% of Spaniards thought Juan Carlos was "good or very good," 15.4% "not so good," and only 7.1% "bad or very bad." According to the Spanish Constitution, the monarch is “instrumental in promoting Ibero-American relations, the "nations of its historical community." The King of Spain serves as the president of the Ibero-American States Organization, representing over 700,000,000 people in twenty-four member nations worldwide.” In 2008 Carlos was even considered the most popular leader in Ibero-America.

Thanks to Juan Carlos’s reforms and the institution of a monarchy, today the King of Spain exercises minimal power over the country's politics, but is still regarded as a vital symbol of the country's unity. The constitution states that the King has immunity from prosecution in issues concerning his official duties. In addition, offences against the honor of the Royal Family are specifically protected by the Spanish Penal Code. It is current tradition for the King to give an annual speech to the nation on Christmas Eve. The King also serves as the commander-in-chief of the Spanish armed forces. He is Patron of the Royal Academies and maintains close links with cultural circles and especially with universities. He supports the creation and development of new technology in Spain, promotes initiatives in the areas of economics, business, research, and social advances, as well as encourages solidarity at all levels of society in Spain.

Gunther, Richard. "Spain after Franco: the Making of a ..." Google Books. Web. 29 June 2010. <http://books.google.com/books>.

"The Royal Household of His Majesty the King_ Welcome." Casa De Su Majestad El Rey De España. Web. 29 June 2010. .

Andalucía: The Birth Place of Flamenco

The history of Andalucía is a time line composed of different religious and cultural inhabitants which all had an impact on the region today. It all started around 1000 or 900 BC, when Andalucía’s agricultural and mining wealth attracted Phoenician trading colonies to the coastal sites like Cádiz, Huelva, and Málaga. Then, at approximately the 3rd century BC, the Romans took over and governed Cordoba. During their reign, they turned it into one of the most civilized and wealthiest areas of the Roman Empire.

In 711, Andalucía was the base for Muslim invaders who inhabited the Iberian Peninsula from Africa under the Arab rule. From this point on the power shifted between Cordoba, Seville, and Granada as the leading cities of Islamic Spain. In the 10th century, Cordoba was even recognized as the largest and most stunning cultured city in Western Europe known by its “three culture coexistence” between Muslims, Jews, and Christians. As the Emirate of Granada fell to the Catholic Monarchs, Fernando and Isabel in 1492, Columbus’s landing in the Americas brought extreme wealth to Seville, Cadiz, and the Andalucian ports that enabled trade with the Americas.

However unfortunately by the 19th century and the period of the civil war, Andalucía went through what was referred to as “the hungry years.” During this time period approximately 1.5 million natives left to find jobs in the industrialized cities of northern Spain as well as other European countries. Luckily, tourism along with industrial growth and the boom of agriculture had a positive impact on the economy of Andalucía since the 1960s. Today, the ethnic influence can be seen all across Andalucía with the arrival of not only northern Europeans but also economic migrants from places such as Latin America, Morocco, Africa and Eastern Europe.

The history of Andalusia and its diverse mix of cultures have had a great impact on its native Flamenco dance form. Flamenco is said to be the music of Andalucian Gypsies that started within their social community. It all began with the Islamic invasion in 711 which contributed to the main musical influences when the conquerors brought their music and mixed it with the native Spanish style. The essence of the dance comes from the Moors, the Jews, the Catholics and the Gypsies equally. It is said that when Spain occupied the New World, they brought the influence of Latin American music and dance. Gypsy’s started to pick up these dance steps that were seen as inappropriate to European tastes, yet they became a permanent part of Flamenco and were recorded in literary and musical works from the 1500s on. From 1780 to 1850, the dance was done secretly in Gypsy homes in the Seville and Cadiz region. This became known as “The Hermetic Period.”

But the real Golden Age of Flamenco was between 1869 and 1910 when Flamenco became popular in “cafes cantanes,” a venue that offered ticketed public performances. This made the dance a public attraction in which guitar players gained a reputation for having a true artistic talent. The romantic aspect of Flamenco was born in the 19th century when the Gypsies became popular throughout Europe. It was at this time that a Flamenco show became a necessary activity for any trip to Spain, especially Andalusia. Today people from all over visit the region to experience Flamenco in its native country. Today, Flamenco can be found in three settings: the traditional “juerga,” an informal gypsy gathering; a professional concert; or a theatrical presentation. It is also very common for artists to be professionally trained unlike many years ago. On our trip we got the privilege to visit one of these schools in Seville and receive dancing and percussion lessons from two very talented Flamenco artists. It was an experience I will never forget, and I am so happy I got to learn Flamenco in the place of its birth.

"History of Andalucía - Lonely Planet Travel Information." Lonely Planet Travel Guides and Travel Information. Web. 28 June 2010. .


"Flamenco Dance History." Central Home Learn to Dance Videos, Exercise Videos, Fitness Videos and Sports Videos DVD Books. Web. 28 June 2010. .

Advocacy Journalism in Spain and Western Europe

Advocacy journalism is a genre of journalism that is fact-based, but supports a specific point of view on an issue. Advocacy journalists are likely to report on stories dealing with corporate business practices, government policies, political corruption, and social issues. These journalists are said to serve the public interest in a similar way to “muckrakers or whistle-blowers.”


Advocacy journalists may reject objectivity in their work for several different reasons. First, many believe that there is no such thing as objective reporting, that there will always be some form of “implicit bias, whether political, personal, or metaphysical, whether intentional or subconscious.” This statement serves to acknowledge their belief of inability to report on a matter in a value-free way. Second, they argue that media sources claiming to be free of bias often secretly advance certain disguised political ideas presented in a so-called "objective" viewpoint. Advocacy journalists also frequently assume that their audiences will share their biases or be conscious of them while evaluating what are supposed to be “well-researched and persuasive arguments.” The journalists claim that they can discard objectivity while holding on to the values of fairness and accuracy, and state that corporate journalists often lack both.

In Western Europe, some newspapers have been associated with a political position, even though journalists from these papers are considered professionals that are somewhat engaged in advocacy. However, newspapers in Spain in particular have their share of issues. Like much of the European press, Spanish newspapers tend to be partisan and showcase a tradition of advocacy journalism. In fact, in news and commentary in Spain, it is common for Spanish journalists to frame events through the lens of their personal bias. Some favor the ruling Socialists, the conservative People’s Party, or the regional Separatist movements and these belief’s come out in their pieces making them fall under the category of advocacy journalism.

There are many concerns related to this type of journalism. Many people apprehend that the activity of advocacy journalists will be harmful to the standing of the mainstream press as an “objective, reliable source of information.” Another fear is that uneducated readers will accept the facts and opinions presented in advocacy papers as if they were reliable. This in turn will create many misinformed readers, and contribute to a society full of bias beliefs and opinions.

"Advocacy Journalism : The International Encyclopedia of Communication : International Encyclopedia of Communication Online." International Encyclopedia of Communication Online: Home. Web. 29 June 2010. http://www.communicationencyclopedia.com/public/tocnode?id=g9781405131995_chunk_g97814051319956_ss29-1.
 
Peter, Roy. "Refrain in Spain." Poynter Online. Web. 29 June 2010. .

Marbella in Transit !

11 am, 1 cab, 2 girls, 2 duffles and 2 bus tickets to Marbella for the weekend. The past 2 weeks have been full of amazing experiences and valuable lessons but I am beyond excited to escape from all the hustle bustle to a relaxing gettaway for the weekend. This is the first time I am traveling alone with a friend for the weekend, let alone out of the country. Part of me feels so grown up and mature, yet the other half of me is crossing my fingers that everything goes according to plan. As a matter of fact, within the first 15 minutes of sitting at the bus station, the attendent informed us that we were waiting for the wrong bus. But its all good. Thank god for Natalie, my fluent friend, if it weren't for her I definitely would not be attempting this adventure. 1bench, 2 girls, 2 duffles, bus slot 15, and 30 more minutes till boarding... Here we go!

Week 2 Update =]

2 weeks down, 1 more to go. I am having such an amazing time that words can not even describe it. I will admit that back in January I was a little apprehensive to participate in this program but now I can honestly say that I made the right choice. I feel that I have learned so much, and that each day I grow as a person becoming more mature, responsible and worldly. The time seems to be flying by but I'm sure after next week I will be ready to reunite with my friends and family that I miss so dearly.

Toe, Heel, Toe... Toe, Heel, Toe

When I was a little girl I was always curious about Flamenco dancing. I took tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, and step but never got around to taking flamenco lessons. 19 years later and in its city of origin, I can now say that I have flamencoed! At first I was a little nervous about being the only Italian in a room of Hispanics shaking my hips and flowing to the rhythm, but within no time I was able to pick it up and fit in just fine. Even though the directions were in Spanish, I had a blast with my friends experiencing a new culture and taking a unique dance class in a foreign country. I was actually quite the natural if I do say so myself. :) After the dance lesson we went up stairs for a rhythm class. In Flamenco, the music is composed of guitars, drums, hands and feet to clap and stomp. I had so much fun learning the beats and creating a tune with my fellow classmates. I even got a chance to play the drum which was a first for me so I was pretty excited. The evening ended with a traditional Flamenco show featuring my teachers for the afternoon. Overall it was quite the cultural experience with a hands on approach that I am so lucky to have participated in.