SCHOOLS OUT FOR-EVER!

I know that all of my faithful readers have been in mourning due to my absence from the blogging scene (so what if my mom is the only one...)! Things have been incredibly busy, in a wonderful way! Classes ended in Alcala on Thursday the 15th of June with presentations and final exams. Thankfully, Aaron (my roommate) is incredibly studious, thus I was as well! I ended up making A's in both classes (YES!!!) and left Madrid in the distance, shrinking away with a sense of pride. Not necessarily for the grades achieved (although anyone at OU will tell you that an A in a Bolino course is fiesta material), but the journey that is the undergraduate degree is now finished.

I am in the Swiss Alps now and upon reaching one of the higher summits in the area yesterday, I had a time of pondering my time at the University of Oklahoma. One of lots of personal change, growth, learning, and lessons. Although this phase of life is over, its life lessons will without a doubt live on throughout my life.

My overall impression of the program in Alcala is excellant. I made wonderful friendships and developed more fertile relationships. I am quite thankful that I was able to take the courses in Spain and get to learn not only business, but cultural diversity as well!!

Okie?

I met a girl in Alcalá named Katy. She is a British national and a foreign exchange student here at the university. Aaron and I see her walking to the university on a daily basis. She is quite animated and a constant source of humor. When I was going to school from a lunch with the professors and administrators I ran into her and we had a brief, albeit hilarious conversation...

Katy (cool British accent): Hello! I haven't seen you around, where´ve you been?

Robby: We have been really busy with school stuff, we are done on Thursday!

Katy: Already? You just got here only days ago!

Robby: We got here in early May, it is only a one month program!

Katy (perplexed, but understanding) Oh, kindly remind me what state you are from

Robby: Oklahoma (blank stare). It is right in the middle above Texas.

Katy (smiling): Texas! I know exactly where that is. Oh, can I ask you a question?

Robby (laughing): I don't know...we still live in tee pees and ride horses...

Katy (softly, leaning in): So is being in a city hard for you then?

Robby: NO RESPONSE, forcing a smile and thinking ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!

Katy: Do they call you Okies?

Robby (laughing): Um, yeah...

Katy: Oh, I'm so sorry... Is that derogatory?

I think there is a market in Britain for new U.S. History textbooks. Can we update them so I still don't sleep on dirt.

The ROAD Trip

Not a big deal, we got an upgrade into the European Ultimate Driving Machine. The EUDM was a SEAT Ibiza, a gem of a little four door hatch-back thing. It "comfortably" fit the three of us and our luggage and consumed vary little gas during our trip. We drove over a thousand KM and only had to fill up twice.

All of the things you take for granted EVERDAY when driving in America: one way signs with a big arrow, parking spots, streets wide enough for vehicles, they have now gained my total appreciation and respect.

This is your typical highway signage. The 80 with the red around it is the speed limit, and all the stuff in Spanish is the exit and what highway is associated with that exit, not too bad, right? I actually would agree with that statement. The highways (besides the fact that I was going 140) were actually BETTER than those in the USA. People actually know how to drive on the highways here, it was brilliant! Drivers actually drive in the right lane, and, when wanting to pass someone, they speed up and do it in the left lane. Is that really so hard? There weren't any ignorant, road-hogging truckers or anything! Oh, yeah, that was 140 KM/HR, not miles per hour...

The city´s and parking garages are where the real challenged lied. First of all, there are no street signs. The streets are labled by tiny signs on the buildings on those streets, if there are any, and they are illegible unless you are right up on the street. This made driving/navigating a quite difficult task. To Aaron's credit (the navigator), we only got turned around a couple times. Twice in Madrid, once leaving and once coming back, and when we were coming into Malaga at 12:30 on Thursday night (or Friday morning, either way).

There is a rumor going around that I may have backed into another vehicle, this is completely false. When we were trying to get out of the parking garage at the train station, the butt of a car completely jumped from out of nowhere while I was backing up to get out of the way of a truck that didn't fit in this so called garage. The car that appeared out of thin air may have hit me, I really don't know. That is all I have to say about that (AVIS is on my side, they didn't charge me anything extra after I passed the eyeball check from the car return guy with flying colors).

Web of lies. Me and the EUDM bonded and were practically one on the road. Although he was a little upset with me when I practically broke the front passenger side axle when going down a one-way road the WRONG way. If the guy that was going the right way would have just moved there wouldn't have been a problem. Don't worry, me and EUDM made up and had a moment whenever I dropped him off.

Crazy Spanish Drivers.

Spain Revisited (TOP 5)

My time in España is quickly drawing to a close. By the end of the week I will have moved on from here to explore the rest of the European Union. Although I am quite excited to be moving on to see so many places that the world was built on, I am quite sad to see my time in Alcalá end.

I have been in Spain now for almost four weeks and have had many experiences that were life changing, life sustaining, and life re-structuring. Learning the cultural norms is something that takes time and laughs (see the BALE incident as reported in late May). This leads to...

Top 5 Things that I admire about the Spanish, but am annoyed by:

5. Family life. Living at home until you are 30, really?!! I can understand (and revere) the fact that families are very important and meals and time together are taken seriously, but you need to get that J-O-B and get out. Maybe get a little place with the old lady and decorate, maybe some new furniture? Come on people...

4. Driving. This was a tough one for me. I really enjoyed driving on Spanish highways. The countryside was brilliant and the drivers were actually competent, GREAT drivers, but the city. It was like when Godzilla was destroying Beijing: complete chaos. What´s worse, the streets were built like 6000 years ago (ok, I know it wasn't that long) and they didn't have cars then. Problem is, no one updated them. Really.

3. Walking. It is great that the Spanish walk everywhere and everyone is fit. They are seriously impressive (picture your grandma that is 82, now remember her when she was 60, that is what the 82 year old grandmas look like in Spain, only in better shape and talks louder). BUT, me walking thirty minutes to school everyday, not a fan. I am missing my ride, the porsche of the 4-door sedans, the Honda Accord.

2. Public Transportation. Again, it is great for the way the cities in Spain are set-up, very dense population in a little area, but me and the Accord are experiencing seperation anxiety. I need to be able to have the freedom of driving (walking in Spain) and the speed of driving (public transportation in Spain), all while jamming to my tunes or picking up 'Cane's chicken. Oh, I shouldn't have thought of that. I need some 'Cane's ASAP.

1. La Siesta. I love the concept of the siesta. "Hey, let's all go home and take a 3 hour nap and eat and hang out with amigos!" The problem with said naptime, EVERYTHING shuts down. It is a very large annoyance to want to get something and the place be closed until 5 or 6. Oh the siesta, great idea, but only in Spain.

So, being in Spain has taught me mucho when it comes to appreciating things at home.

Viva España, but I'M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!!

Straight Beachin It, Custom is KING

Going to the beach and doing nothing was something that I needed at this point in the trip. After the stress of driving and not knowing what was going on (really, we made it, that is all that matters), it was nice to sleep in and head down to the BEAUTIFUL beach (check out pictures at my Picasa picture site, "SPAIN PICTURES" link on the left side at the top of the page).

The beach was outstanding, I cannot stress that enough. Although, we did learn a lesson in what my 11th grade history teacher called, "Custom is King!" Apparently, female beachgoers in Europe consider the top half of the bathing suit optional. This was an interesting site to run into on Friday morning when we walked down to the beach. It was met with us all looking at each other and exclaiming, "REALLY?!?!" Do not misinterpret the tone of this exlamation, this was not a quote from Jim Carrey in The Mask, this was a oh-my-word-is-this-really-happening-I-think-my-eyes-are-burning exclamation. I will put it to you in plain and simple english, the average age for this custom, 75. End of story.

We would usually get up around 11am and leave our hostal to head down to the beach. We would stop at a grocery store and pick up lunch (a couple big baguettes and some dip to enjoy it with, beverages, and some sort of dessert) and head down to get our chairs. We paid 4€ each for a chair and an umbrella, but this was no ordinary chair, this was a super padded chair that was incredibly comfortable to lounge on. Thank you Malaga.

Once there, we usually just relaxed and tried not to get too many weird looks while we were helping each other put on sun screen (yes mom, we did put it on our ears and nose). We then did one of the following: sleep, read, listen to music, play soccer by the Mediterranean, or...

So we had to be a little American...We have Customs too!

At least ours include clothing!

The Bloody Euro

I was VERY spoiled by my trip to China. The dollar was rocking the yuan at a 1:9.6 ratio. Meaning, of course, that I could spend almost 10 yuan and only $1 came out of my pocket. Awesome! This led to buying of lots of souvenirs and food and DVDs and, well, everything. So, when researching my trip to Europe, I was quite frustrated by the lacking of the USD, which is currently suffering from a 1:1.55 ratio against the EURO. This means, cursedly, that when I spend 1€, I am spending $1.55. Not a big deal? Consider this: when I buy a souvenir for my little brother that costs 40€, I am spending $62. Not good.

This phenomenon has been something that has taken the whole 3 1/2 weeks I have been here to get used to. I see something for a couple bucks and I think it is cheap and not a big deal, but, not so fast my friend, my internal calculator starts going and that train ticket for only 2.45€, is actually $3.80. Ouch. What´s worse is when I get to check my bank account. I withdrew 200€, but I check my balance and it reveals a little secret, you ACTUALLY withdrew $319.30!! $310 for the exchange rate and $9.30 for the 3% charge that Chase gets for having to painstakingly do the math for that exchange rate (I told the lady at the bank before I left that I would do all of my own conversions and she could pay me the 3%, she stared at me blankly. Nice.).

So, why did the EURO decide to dominate, we can argue politics and oil (wait, same thing) when I get back. Here is a brief history on the EURO (USD:EURO ratios)...

May 2002 (5 months after being introduced to the world): May 1: 1.11 May 31 1.06

May 2005: May 1: 0.77 May 31: 0.80

May 2008: May 1: 0.64 May 31: 0.64

So, as you can imagine, my spending habits here in Spain are much different then they were in China (or in America for that matter). I am having to budget this trip completely differently than I have anyother trip I have ever been on. It is not fun. It is really cramping my style. I hate OPEC.

The staple of America, The Big Mac. The Big Mac hates the EURO. You all know how I feel about Mickey-D's here in Spain, but I can assure you that The Big Mac hates the EURO. He doesn't like to charge his loyal patrons 6.10€ to indulge in his special sauce yummy-ness. That is $9.45 for a Big Mac. Sick.

Basically, what I am trying to say is I am ready to go on vacation to the European Union and not have to take out more student loans.

Don't get me started on the bloody pound...

The Excursion Begins

There are only 3 days of class left here in Spain: next Tues, Wed, & Thurs. This weekend (by that I mean NOW) we are doing something different from everyone in our class: Going on a ROAD TRIP.

We have free travel this weekend and people in our group are going everywhere from Dublin, IRE to Barcelona, with the largest number of them going to Ibiza (known as the party capital of the world). Aaron and I, along with another guy from Oklahoma that is doing a different study abroad program in Madrid, are renting a car and driving through Spain to the southern coast to a wonderful little beach town called Málaga. The weather forecast is high 80's and sunny. Perfect.

I am sure that there will be many a story from our little adventure (since none of us have ever driven in Europe) and am looking forward to reliving every moment (or at least the HILARIOUS ones) with you over the course of the weekend and early next week!

Good luck in StL Cassie, lsmp!!

Spanish Culture, According to Smart, Old People

It is a cool feeling to see something that you have been talking about in school. Whether it is as simple nature or as complex as human behavior, it is always awesome to be able to see something happen and know why, how, etc. In the international business class that I am taking, we are studying some of the great management theorists who categorize cultures, which includes Geert Hofstede, the most well-known and researched in the field (I know you all knew that, I was just saying it to sound smart and try to add some credibility to my writing). Of course, since we are in Spain, it has been (along with the US) a huge part of our discussions and subsequent lectures.Hofstede defines culture as "collective mental programming." Are we all really just products of generational norms after generational norms after generational norms (you get the point) that have created this mental code that we all inherently follow? Come on...but his results are actually dead on! That's what is scary.

He groups the Spanish as having "Large Power Distance and Strong Uncertainty avoidance," among other things, but I have experienced these first hand and have had that, "I know why you do that, I am smart, I can't believe I remembered that" awesome feeling and I want to share my stories...

When describing large power distance, Hofstede says that in these countries, "few people should be independent, most should be dependent." My good friend Jorge (I had classes with him at OU, he and I were partners for a group project, he picked me up from the airport when I landed in Spain) is a resident of Alcala, he was studying at OU last year. He is in college and still lives at home, along with ALL of his other friends. I asked him about it and he said that college students don't have apartments when they go to school. They go in the town they grew up in (or in a neighboring town) and live at home. He said that most don't move out until they are 30, or get married! WHAT!?! Yeah, my mom and dad are thanking the Lord that they are Americans!!

When talking about strong uncertainty avoidance he writes that, "more showing of emotion is preferred." So, I live with a Spanish family and if I had a nickel everytime MaMa or PaPa yelled at Sergio or each other (but it isn't yelling, it is that emotion showing thing), this whole trip would be paid for (even with the dollar being as HORRIBLE as it is). Here is a video that Aaron took on his phone of Sergio, the 3 year old that MaMa calls "El Diablo!"



If that isn´t showing emotion. What is? Sure he is a 3 year old, I get that, but this personifies all of the Spanish culture. They are loud talkers who talk with their hands and get in your face, it is hilarious. Just having a conversation here (or people watching, during a heated conversation) is a serious spectacle!

Spain is not for the faint of heart, but you definitely learn to love it!

John Legend

I am a HUGE John Legend fan. There is a John Legend song that really is INCREDIBLY appropriate for life here in Spain. Here is the first verse and the chorus to P.D.A (We Just Don´t Care):

U know I love it when u loving me
Sometimes it's better when it's publicly
I'm not ashamed I don't care who sees
Just hugging & kissing our love exhibition

Let's go to the park
I wanna kiss u underneath the stars
Maybe we'll go too far
We just don't care
We just don't care

Here in España, this is a national anthem, seriously. Except they edit the chorus to say:

Let's go to the park, plaza, street, store, bus, train, subway, school, anywhere but in private
I wanna kiss u underneath the stars or not if it is cloudy
WE WILL DEFINITELY go too far
We just don't care, neither does anyone else

We just don't care, neither does anyone else

I know you are all sitting there saying, "their mommy and daddy´s need to set a better example...", but it IS the mommy and daddy´s that are doing it! It isn´t just the hoodlem teenagers and pre-teens doing the grossly inappropriate THINGS! Understand that they are not grossly inappropriate by Spanish standards, just those conservative American standards AND liberal American standards. You Americans (American Liberals) don´t care what kids wear or how they do to their hair or even if they disrespect their parents because they are just "expressing themselves". But the minute they start kissing in front of you in a movie theater, you know every single one of you are kickin´the back of the chair in front of you!!

I know... It's me that you're kicking! I LOVE SPAIN!

(Don´t act like you're surprised, Mom. You and I both know that I come by this trait honestly...)

The Spanish Google (Sort of)

For one of our "business outings" whilst in Spain, we got to visit Santander, a global banking giant. To give you all an idea, here is a brief summary from the Wall Street Journal talking about banking in other countries...

The Santander Bank is Spain's most important private bank and its network of branches, stakes in other banks and take-overs extends well beyond the Spanish borders, to Portugal, Britain (see article about Banco Santander take-over of British bank Abbey National) and further afield to Latin America and the USA.

As you can tell, it is pretty incredible, but not for the financial reasons. The Banco Santander´s corporate culture is absolutely fascinating. In a very different, Google-esque style, the corporate culture at the bank has broken pretty much every Spanish norm when it comes to culture! The bank headquarters sits on a massive expanse of something like 150 acres where there is a bus stop, a metro stop, AND a train stop for those commuting not via their personal vehicle. It comes with the standard things you would think of in a corporate headquarters: full-service child care, gym (complete with pool, tennis courts, racquetball, etc), golf course and country club, art museum, shopping, andHUGE dining complex...

Although Spain is a very laid back and siesta-y culture, they are huge on tradition and their past. That being said, it was incredibly interesting to me that they were so liberal on these benefits that they give their employees! The campus itself is modeled after the technology firm out of Carolina, SAS, and they have taken that management approach that happy workers are good workers and good workers make customers happy! The corporate culture at Santander was completely different than anything I would have expected, especially after spending a few weeks in Spain. Things here seem to be quite hierarchial. Meaning, I think that there are definite differences between lower, middle, and upper class. Whereas at Santander, they take everyone from the secretaries to the upper-level executives and give them these incredible benefits! In the same light, looking at it from a national perspective, since it is based on an American business model, it seems like they would have to be very careful not to Americanize their employees. Not that Spain is a slum or anything, but their are definite differences in our national cultures! Going even further, I wonder if the employees at Banco Santander are your typical everyday Spaniards (thanks Dr. Bolino, I kinda stole your question...)? My humble opinion is that they still siesta like everyone else! Spain is all about time with family and belonging to the collective whole. I don´t think that working at a more "Americanized" corporation would change that. I think that Santander probably does more to instill those values of traditional Spain than most employers...

Welcome back to College, this is what we do, everday.

Management vs. Accounting

Whenever you spend a lot of time with someone, there are bound to be some pretty funny moments! Aaron and I have enjoyed many a walk and talk over the course of the last 2 1/2 weeks, and there have been MANY hilarious stories, serious times, and, frankly, some serious male bonding (don´t be gross, that is understood only by men who have experienced male bonding, if you are a woman and are laughing, stop it).

This is a conversation that we had when talking about what to do on our free travel weekend. It really made me laugh! (I am stealing this storytelling style from my incredibly talented sister...)
Look at the difference between my personality [management major] and his [accounting major].

Robby: SO, what are we going to do...

Aaron: I don´t know. It is going to be cold in Valencia and that would not be fun...

Robby: Yeah, I went to California one year over spring break and it was in the mid 70´s and it was WAY too cold to be on the beach. Everyone was in sweatshirts and jeans and we were in bathing suits. No bueno.

Aaron: Yeah, but it is REALLY cheap to get to Valencia and if we go to Malaga we are going to have to pay more for a hostel as well.

Robby: [being the decision maker that I am] Either way. I am thinking that cold beach is no good, but I hear you about the money thing! Let´s just do Malaga, it will be worth it!!

Aaron: [completely serious] Well... Let´s do a Cost/Benefit Analysis