Culture – Page 2 – GW Blogs from Abroad

Can’t Get Enough of Flamenco

AdminMarch 18, 2014December 14, 2018

There are a few cultural art forms that are exclusively unique to Spanish culture. The first that could come to mind are the bullfights, in which a torero and a bull literally fight to the death. If hair-raising death matches aren’t your thing, seeing a Zarzuela at a local theatre can easily soothe your nerves. However, if you want to really indulge in the culture and be transported into performance heaven, it is imperative to see a flamenco show.

After dancing every style imaginable for sixteen years, it is impossible to not feel nostalgic about my favorite past time. My blood naturally pulses to the beat of a good tune, whether it is a hip-hop, classical, or modern song. So when I heard that the GW Madrid program offered a Flamenco class, I had to sign up.

For over a month I have been taking classes at Casa Patas, one of Spain’s most prized dancing schools. Every Monday and Wednesday I strap on my black Mary Jane heels and stomp away to the rhythm of different flamenco palos, or styles.

The beauty of flamenco is that it incorporates my three favorite dancing styles: ballet, tap, and salsa. I know it sounds impossible for these completely different styles to blend, but they fuse together perfectly. The ballet is seen in the core and arms of the flamenco’s body. Her upper body barely moves, while her feet are stomping away in similar tap steps. A little bit of salsa is present in the dancer’s hip sways, but even those moves are all in control.

Flamenco is not just the dancer performing, it also includes a guitarist, cantor, and several others who hold the beat by clapping their palmas, palms, together. A performance does not even have to include a dancer at all. What defines flamenco are the range of styles within the genre. Depending on the rhythm, the cantor can sing songs of sorrow or happiness and the dancer exudes that emotion.

For that reason, flamenco takes your breath away when you watch it. It’s a fusion of different artistic elements coming together to present an amazing cultural experience. If you ever find yourself in Spain, find the nearest tablon (flamenco stage), order some wine, and sit back and indulge in a unique visual and auditory experience.

Confessions of an American In Jordan: My Cultural Faux Pas

AdminMarch 12, 2014December 14, 2018

By Dominique Bonessi

I have a confession to make…or maybe a few confessions.

So apparently getting out of a cab from the driver’s side is not allowed. After trying for a solid 2 minutes to open the door on the driver’s side, my roommate and the driver both looked at me and corrected my error.
Going out with wet hair here, is a big no-no. People in Amman, especially young adults attending the University of Jordan take pride in their appearance and going out with wet hair no matter how tired you are to dry it is not allowed. So I will not start changing my habits of drying my hair in the morning, but I will be reminded not to leave it down.
The culture here tends to keep women and men--even if they are the same family—in separate rooms. I was sitting in the kitchen talking to my roommate and my host mother as my host dad was on the enclosed porch with a friend. I said goodnight to my host mom and my roommate and they looked at me with slanted faces and told me I have to wait till my host dad was finished with his friend before I could walk past them to go to bed.

I am sure that there will be plenty of other incidents. I’ll keep you posted!

A New Home

AdminFebruary 11, 2014December 14, 2018

By anishag22

After two weeks abroad, I'm finally starting to settle in to my new home. A few posts ago, I told you all about how culture shocked I was upon arrival, but now things are beginning to feel much more normal. One thing I never thought about before coming abroad was the fact that I was coming to a new school halfway through the academic year. It never crossed my mind that British students here at Bristol would have already made friendships and connections from the previous semester.

Once I came to Bristol, my "newbie" status was very apparent. Lucky for me, my new flatmates could not have been more welcoming and inclusive. I truly feel so appreciative of the fact that my flatmates have gone out of their way to get to know me and spend time together. In a short time, they have taught me so much about British culture, and I love telling them about the way of life back home. Some of their American stereotypes are funny, some are true, but regardless it has been such a treat to be able to share American customs with my new English friends as I assimilate into their culture and way of life. As compared to London, people in Bristol have not met as many Americans, so it's always interesting to see their reactions when I tell them where I'm from. Choosing to study abroad in a smaller city in England was definitely the right choice for me because I have been able to see what this country is really like - I'm no longer asserting my "Americanness" abroad, but really finding ways to appreciate and understand this new country and culture. I'm looking forward to continuing this immersion process and getting to know Bristol even better in the coming weeks and months.

Until next time -

Xx, Anisha