Studying Abroad in Granada

Guest blogger: Brandon Faske

As if going to school in New Orleans wasn’t good enough, the opportunity to study abroad during your junior year makes your Tulane experience even better. Many people say that New Orleans is the most European city in American and with its deep French and Spanish influences, they are right. From the food to the music and outlook on life, New Orleans is unique in the United States. Yet, there is no substitute for living another culture first hand. That is why, there is nothing I can recommend more than study abroad.

Our host family for a day in Morocco

I am a Spanish minor who believes in the importance of knowing more than one language. Accordingly, I decided to study abroad in Granada, Spain in the Andalucia region of the country. This program allowed me to fully immerse myself in the Spanish culture—taking classes in Spanish with Spanish students at the University of Granada and living with a host family all while living in a smaller city in which not all residents spoke English. The experience was a challenge and a learning experience that shapes the way I think about the world now that I am back home.

Myself with all of Granada
 in the background.

When you study abroad, you engage in conversations with people with completely different lived experiences and outlooks on life. They often challenge your commonly held beliefs and viewpoints which will broaden your outlook. You learn new cultural values—some you will like and some you will not—that you can try to implement back home and discuss with friends. In Spain, the culture is significantly less competitive than the United States and embraces the community and time with the family. The traditional siesta is embraced; stores close in the late afternoon as families gather for a long lunch (which always leaves you in a food coma) before restarting the day. This eliminates stress and shortens the day. After work families will rejoin each for a smaller dinner late in the evening or to get tapas at the local café (and maybe a beer or two). These are just a few of the lifestyle nuances that everyone should get to experience and no matter where in the world you choose to study, you will have the chance to live a new lifestyle.

My roommate Adam Hoskins and I
with our host parents in Granada

While abroad, you will also have the opportunity to travel outside of your host country. I personally got to see Oktoberfest in Munich, the sights of Paris, the hills and villages of Northern Morocco, and the historic mosques and landscape of Istanbul all in my four months. There is no substitute for experiencing the world’s history and most interesting people. Travel is easy and relatively affordable while in Europe, so keep that in mind when choosing a location to go abroad. You really cannot make a mistake when selecting a destination though.

As Tulane often advocates, the best education takes place outside the classroom. When you study abroad you have the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned throughout your school years and apply it to the world at large. What can be more valuable than that?

Talk Politics with a Living Legend

 One of the best parts of the high school to college transitions is the ability to take the classes you want and you are passionate about. Throughout your four years at Tulane, you’ll take classes you like and dislike and there will be a certain few you never forget.

Each spring semester famed political mind James Carville, the brains behind Bill Clinton’s 1992 Presidential Campaign, gives students a hands-on, in the trenches look into politics unlike anything else on campus. Professor Carville spent years as a political analyst on CNN before recently being hired by Fox News and now brings that candor, excitability, and unpredictability to the classroom.

When I took the course last spring, I had no clue what I was getting myself into. I knew I had a nerd-like passion for politics as an international relations major, but knew this would be a far cry from my Intro to American Government course. You can’t help but be a little star-struck by the “Ragin’ Cajun” sitting in front of you in class with his signature accent talking about the politics of the day. The central theme of our class was the Republican Party’s need for change after the 2012 Presidential election.

Professor Carville leads the class as ABC News’
George Stephanopoulos listens intently

In order to give us the full spectrum of perspectives about the Republican Party, Professor Carville invited some casual guests to our class: Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Former Governor of New York Eliot Spitzer, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of RedState.com Erick Erickson, and Mitt Romney’s lead pollster Neil Newhouse were just a few of the notable voices who lent the class a hand.

The best part is that all the speakers are off-the-record meaning they will pretty much say anything and add an element of honesty you don’t always get when you read about them in, say, The New York Times or Politico. Bobby Jindal gave us a test run of a speech he was planning to give to a national audience the next day. Eliot Spitzer got frank with us about political scandals. You can’t replicate what you get in this class.

Professor Carville has no qualms about giving his thoughts on an issue and riling up the class. He’ll divulge lessons learned from a career and politics and be upfront about the issues he sees in today’s political world.

Professor Carville speaking at Tulane Commencement

Lastly, you might be thinking to yourself “Wow, this sounds amazing, but intimidating!” Don’t worry about that. As long as you come to class prepared Professor Carville doesn’t care what you think, “as long as you think.” After all, isn’t that what college is all about?



Brandon Faske
Haworth, NJ
bfaske@tulane.edu

New Orleans is Always the Place to Be

New Orleans is a unique and vibrant city, there is so much to do and see. One weekend is not enough time to really immerse yourself into the New Orleans community. That’s why coming to school here is a must! You really need a lifetime to get to know the Crescent City, but coming to school at Tulane is a great start.

Going to college in a city like New Orleans means there is never a dull weekend. Any free time on the weekends is a great time to take a break from studying and take the street car downtown into the French Quarter. Taking a walk into the less touristy part of town gives you a slightly different perspective of the Quarter. Just walking through the streets you are able to see the beauty of the architecture and you can really get a vibe for what New Orleans is really all about. The quieter and peaceful streets of the French Quarter are not far from the famous Bourbon Street, yet you feel like you are miles away.

Some people say there are also more festivals in New Orleans than there are days. Every weekend there is something going on either at a music club, in City Park, or somewhere around the city. As a student at Tulane there is an endless lists of things to do on the weekends. Festivals can range from Po Boy fest to Jazz Fest or to something a little smaller like the Barbeque and Blues festival. New Orleans has something for everyone to enjoy, no matter what your interests are or where you come from New Orleans has it.

Becoming a New Orleans food expert is also a very good way to get involved in the local community. There are Cajun cooking classes available that teach the ins and outs of everything you need to know about cooking the New Orleans way. One of the great places to go is the New Orleans Cooking School. Also, if you are interested in music there are hundreds of more intimate gigs that are perfect for music lovers. Places like Tipitina’s, the Spotted Cat, or the famous Preservation Hall are just some of the great places to really get submerged in the New Orleans culture.

If you are planning to visit Tulane soon to take a look at the campus, try to check out some of the music clubs, or just take a walk around the French Quarter. I am sure you will stumble on something that you won’t see anywhere else. I am sure visiting Tulane and New Orleans will be a very memorable experience. Just think, you could spend the best four years of your life in one of the most unique and vibrant cities in America. Just think about that for a second.

If you have any questions about visiting Tulane or coming to school here, please don’t hesitate to reply or contact me!



Gemma Dryburgh, from Aberdeen, Scotland, gdryburg@tulane.edu

Happy 296th Birthday, New Orleans

Today is New Orleans' 296th birthday. Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the governor of French Louisiana, founded New Orleans, (or Nouvelle-Orléans) on May 7, 1718. Since then, New Orleans has grown to be one of the most historic and culturally rich cities in the United States. New Orleans is home to one of the best football teams (who dat!), over 365 festivals, Mardi Gras, and jazz music. New Orleans is also home to the famous street car, to-go cups, dirty dive bars, the filthy Mississippi River, and red beans and rice. Over time, New Orleans has grown to have many nicknames, probably more than any other city in the United States. This post will help to explain where these nicknames have come from!




The Crescent City





This name refers to how New Orleans grew geographically. The way the Mississippi River weaves through the city, and the creation of surrounding inhabitants and neighborhoods, creates a crescent shape. Now, there's a Crescent City Farmers Market, a Crescent City BBQ and Blues Festival, a Crescent City Classic 10K Run, and much more!

Crescent City shape of the Mississippi River (1891)

The Big Easy

One of the most common nicknames - this refers to the laid-back attitude and relaxed pace of life of those in New Orleans. Many have also suggested that the nickname resulted from the ability of jazz and blues musicians to find work playing music. Some say that no other city was as accepting to musicians playing on the streets and in bars into the late hours of the night. This strong music culture still exists today.

Other historians suggest it relates more to the laid-back attitude towards alcohol consumption and partying in New Orleans. It seems obvious - but New Orleans has a strong party culture and an open-container policy that allows individuals to roam the streets freely with a drink in hand. This drinking culture persisted even during the Prohibition, when speakeasies were common, which also contributes to the name 'Big Easy'.

A film was also made in 1987 titled The Big Easy, and the nickname surely was used more after its creation.

"The Big Easy" by Bryan Spear.
http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/the-big-easy-new-orleans-louisiana-bryan-spear

Nawlins
This is how many natives say New Orleans in their accent - it's just a combination of New Orleans into one word. Sounds kind of like New-Awlins. Same idea as the word 'y'all'!


The City that Care Forgot 
Kind of like the Big Easy, this refers to the carefree attitude of New Orleans residents. The idea is that everyone is relaxed, carefree, and goes about their lives as they please -- and tourists and visitors can do the same! New Orleans is an informal, tolerant, and happy-go-lucky city, especially when compared to the bustling of fast pace of cities like New York, DC, or Boston.

America's Most Interesting City
Do we really need to explain this one? The food... the music... the architecture... the people... the weather...

A Mardi Gras Indian Parade 

NOLA
An obvious one - abbreviation for New Orleans, Louisiana.

Hollywood of the South

22 Jump Street 

This is a very recent nickname for New Orleans. Lately, many films have been produced here in New Orleans - the weather is good, it's cheaper than LA, there's lots of different terrain types nearby, and it's a fun place for everyone on set to live for a few months. Many movies have been filmed on Tulane's campus - most recently, 22 Jump Street was filmed here, and many Tulane students got to participate as extras! Yes, that means Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill were walking around campus...

12 Years A Slave, also filmed in Louisiana.

The high number of nicknames for New Orleans is not random or a coincidence - it perfectly displays the strength of the city's culture. New Orleans has a rich history that is unique from that of any other city, and it is amazing that Tulane students are able to explore the infinite opportunities that exist here in New Orleans during their four years of college. As I prepare for my graduation in just 10 days, I am especially realizing how fortunate I am to have gone to school in such a wonderful and special city.