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...

Last week a friend and I went on a bike ride. They say a day not learning something is a day wasted. That day I learnt a lot. I learnt not to bike for 50km because your bottom will hurt and if you are not used to it, you will fail to walk up the university steps the day after. I learnt that you shouldn't bike with your mouth open, not only does it dry it out but when you live next to a lake, there is humidity and bugs like humidity. I think I got my biggest portion of protein that day, about 10  to 15 flies and I'm not even exaggerating.  On a better note than fly eating, I must admit that my new little city (if you can call it that) is located in a pretty cool place. We biked to an area called Unteruhldingen , to a place called Pfahlbaumuseum Unterhldingen,  one of the largest and most attended open air museums in Europe. The museum is formed by 23 stilt houses from the Stone and Bronze age. The museum was affected massively by the second world war, not only ...

As some of you may already know, I recently relocated to Germany for four months to a partner university my one at home has.  My new independence has already taught me so much I thought it would be interesting to share a few pointers with you.  First of all, when studying abroad make a friend who knows how to cook and doesn't mind making you lunch when you are lazy (which is always). I have accepted that my new diet consists solemnly of sausages, beer, pasta and noodles. Seriously, I rarely eat anything else...oh and kebab!  Second of all, prepare your little liver for the first few weeks...it turns out that international students are apparently known as the party students. Wonder why? We have this great excuse and we say its necessary to socialise a lot at the beginning to get to know your new 'family' abroad...this of course is true for the first week, not necessarily the first month.  This one is specific to the south of Germany, or at least...

Have you ever noticed you are constantly thinking? Have you ever realised your brain, whilst awake, does not shut off? Probably only half of you have thought about this, probably the other half is now trying to think about it.  The reason our brains are constantly having thoughts is mainly due to our ancestors, we don't live in the world they lived in, they had to be prepared for anything. They didn't see the grass as just a bit of green flooring, they saw it as a possible hiding space for a predator or possible danger. They had to be alert, constantly.  Another explanation is that we are social animals, we have to be aware of our surroundings and the people we interact with, this is why our brain tends to create 'what if' scenarios, it has to be prepared for whatever case necessary.  You probably didn't even think about thinking but our minds are strange little machines, restless and constant. But of course, we can not think about everything,...

First impression? Nothing has to be perfect, what you see on films isn't the case here in Spain, or at least it wasn't the case this passed Saturday when I attended my first Spanish wedding, what a afternoon and night that was. It was hot, I mean everyone fanning themselves and sweaty hot... Thank god the the plastic mini fans stuck on the church walls!!!! It was a little church that had to hold a lot of people so it was understandable that not everyone got to sit down, many actually just hung around the back near the door, popping in and out.  The first thing that surprised me, although not so much when you think what country we are in, was the noise...Everyone was talking, the priest was doing his religious bit and bride and groom were obviously paying lots of attention and sitting quietly, yes they were sitting.  The line of people sitting behind me did not shut up, neither did the lady next to me who was talking to her granddaughter whilst checking her...

All I keep seeing on social media these last few days is how we can make a better world together? what makes anyone think that it is even possible? It's us who are ruining, more and more each year, the world itself. Some say why do we think we can fix it? I say there is no loss in trying.  Unfortunately we live in a world where money is power and power is key to success, so they say. Where is this way of thinking getting us? In debt and compliant to others. It takes movements like terrorism in Europe or random shootings in the States for anyone to acknowledge the state the world is in.  The younger generation, or what is know to some as generation Y or millennium generation, those born in the mid 80's and 90's, worry about what can be done to help the world as a whole.  This is a worry that most generations before us didn't have, maybe because they weren't generally as privileged as we are, most of us grew up with all out fundamental needs met...