Simple Exposures

When you study abroad you meet people from all over the world. You exchange cultural traditions, you maybe try to learn some words in their language but you also discuss the differences about academics, about work prospects and each others plans for the future.  This is actually really depressing for someone who lives or studies in Spain. The chances of you getting a job after graduation in Spain in your field is around 60-65% depending on your university (public schools only). This of course is only applicable if you have gained some previous experience, which the majority of us haven’t or won’t. ‘You can’t get a job without experience’. How do you gain experience then if no company will give you the chance?  When you compare this to other universities around the world or not necessarily by university but by country it becomes quite scary. In Spain we do a four year course and then are facing a one year master course. Master courses are made for you to speciali...

So if you read my last post you knew this would be my next one. If you ask me to describe Oktoberfest in one word, that would obviously be BEER. Yesterday I encountered litres and litres of beer, probably more beers than people actually.  The weather tried to put a downer on the occasion but these Germans have no problem drinking in the rain, neither did us internationals I must admit. I witnessed a mass of umbrellas hanging from the  wooden bars on the outside of the tents, keeping most of us dry but obviously no one cared whether they were getting wet, they were concentrating more on singing the must-know  Oktoberfest song Ein Prosit , when the bands in the tent play it every 20 minutes or so, you are meant to grab your partner next to you, sway, cheers! and chug.  But of course Oktoberfest has a meaning, or at least it has a history. It traditionally starts the third week of September and ends the first Sunday of October, except this year it is a...