Spain Through Film (Part 3)

Saturday, October 12

Monday, September 30

Sunday, September 29

Saturday, September 28

Friday, September 27

Thursday, September 26

Part 1:

Part 2:

Monday, September 23

Yes... I realize this is a little late:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Thursday, September 19

Wednesday, September 18

Tuesday, September 17

Monday, September 16

A Sunday Rant

Like anything in life where there are positive energies, negative ones must exist as well. The following videos contain a rant about a problem I've been facing for some time that is manifesting itself more prominently now that I am in Madrid. This is due to a combination of the very nature of this trip (you'll see what I mean by this if you watch my videos), current lack of success with OCR (On-Campus Recruiting), a part of my soul being permanently destroyed by my Theoretical Economics and Mathematics joint major (yay!), and not having my usual support system around me (family and friends.)

I assure you I'm still fine, but I needed to get this out there as it's preventing me from enjoying this experience as much as I should. The reason it's difficult for me to deal with this issue is because the solution requires me to tamper with the mentality that has helped garner me success in the past (i.e. a self-critical attitude and the desire to constantly improve.) Thus, I will have to carefully tinker and experiment to craft the solution that brings me the best possible outcome.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Parque del Retiro

Some of the photos that I took while walking in Parque del Retiro yesterday. It's actually a very nice and relaxing park, though I wasn't able to explore even a third of it yet.

Sunday, September 15

Saturday, September 14

Friday, September 13

Spain through Film (Part 2)

Part 2 of my film series. Don't forget to follow me @ThatAsianAndy to see more:

Thursday, September 12

Second Day of Classes

Here's another update on how my first week of classes is going. As with my other videos, I'm really just doing a quick overview of my day with some of the major events that come to my head at the moment. I will likely starting doing a more comprehensive overview at the end of each week.

First Day of Class

Here's a recap of my first day of class. (Sorry for the camera angles, still trying to work on that.)

Spain through Film (Part 1)

As a mini-subset of my Spain trip, I will be posting some of my Instagram photos on this blog. Follow me @ThatAsianAndy to see more: 

Madrid Update

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've been lazy about making posts. This post will actually have a short vlog that I've shot today (try not to judge my terrible lighting and camera angle work.)

Some things I forgot to mention:
- Yes I have found in gym as was one of my goals for this trip. (Gym-Narvaez near the Ibiza station)
- The weather is hot and dry (I drink a lot of water on a daily basis.)
- Still a little sick (probably at roughly 90% now), but getting better everyday.
- Food is awesome.
- Night life is fun, but there aren't many girls in the clubs/bars (which is a pretty significant problem.)

Anyway in the future I will try to be much more disciplined about posting more often.

Hitting Ground Zero

Lo siento, I haven't updated this blog in a few days. I've been in Spain since Thursday and much has happened. Here are my thoughts on what has occurred in my trip and my observations:

- La Comida: as expected, the food in Spain is quite excellent. From tapas to paella, there are many delicious dishes to try out. If you are willing to splurge a little, get the Iberico ham (or as I like to call it "the kobe beef of ham".)

-The lifestyle: most of what you've heard about Spaniards is true. There is a much more relaxed and laid back culture present in the country. From siestas to people's general demeanor, the high stress environment of NYC is hard to find here. It is also true that Spaniards have dinner quite late (many restaurants only open at 8:00 p.m. or later.) It was fairly awkward being the only ones having dinner at 9:00 p.m.

- My homestay: during my time in Madrid, I have opted to live in a homestay with a designated "Señora." Although my Spanish is not as fluid as it once was, it is fairly easy to communicate with her. With her warm demeanor and excellent cooking, I look forward to staying in her home (her schnauzer also contributes to this.)

- My salud: unfortunately I have been in good health a good portion of my stay so far. The hot and dry Madrid air easily saps the energy and moisture from your body. That being said, I've had to adjust how much water I drink on a daily basis (I already drink far more than the average person.) The fact that I have developed a minor cold does not help either. However, I have been trying to get as much sleep as possible to shorten the duration of my symptoms.

Despite some this problems I've encountered, I am enjoying this experience so far. I look forward to trying new things and meeting new people.

Pre-departure Thoughts

Although my flight for Madrid is still a few days away, I have already experienced difficulties sleeping for most of this past week. It seems fitting that at the start of my final year in college I am experiencing the same feelings of nervousness and excitement as I did when I started as a freshman. From anxieties about recruiting while abroad (not exactly ideal timing, but it can't be helped) to maintaining my fitness level (the "iron bug" has hit me pretty hard in college and I have a fairly difficult timing putting on muscle and an easy time losing it) and worries about getting my Spanish to an intermediate level 2 class (I haven't really spoken in Spanish since the AP exam) to general travel anxieties (costs, logistics, gypsy pickpockets, getting caught in a major protest, being kidnapped a la Taken... the usual stuff), getting a decent night's sleep hasn't been easy.

That's not to say I'm dreading this trip, far from it (I'm just a really anxious person that tends to over analyze details.)  I got a little sample of Europe earlier this year when I visited Italy and Spain and eager to experience more. I am very much looking forward to seeing more European architecture, trying new foods, meeting new people and living in a different environment. Being a huge believer in the virtues of a global perspective, the idea of living abroad is something I hold with great importance.

As the realization of this dream is only a few days away, naturally my mind is in a very weird place (hence the rambling structure of this post.) It should eventually dissipate once I'm there and settling in. But until that happy day that I leave, sleeplessness and insomnia will be my constant companions.

Introductions

Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Andrew and I am a rising senior in NYU. This blog will outline my experiences as I study abroad this fall in Madrid. My posts can range from general thoughts about my travels as well as my attempts to juggle my academic responsibilities, stay in shape and recruit for a full-time position in the Financial Services Industries. Throughout this period I will also look to post pictures and videos when time permits.

A fair warning, I'm fairly eclectic in my interests and can have a nerdy sense of humor (I'm an Econ/Math major that loves weightlifting and A Song of Ice and Fire among many other things.) If this sounds like your cup of tea, I will try my best to not disappoint you and keep you entertained. That being said, I'm hoping to update this blog on a daily basis (no promises.)

Now that we have settled those matters, let's go on an adventure and see where the winds take us.