Apauker's Blog

Living the Life

aep516 — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:02:42 +0000

My semester abroad has finally come to an end. As I sit back and reflect upon all of the adventures I have had and the friendships I have made, it is a bittersweet feeling. I look back and realize that coming to Spain was challenging. I came in knowing no Spanish, a few people, and was scared to death about getting lost or pickpocketed. However, now I can reminisce on all of the silly things I was worried about and congratulate myself for making it through. I have made so many memories in my four months in Europe and it would not have been possible without meeting so many amazing people. I am getting really emotional because a lot of friends I made are from all over the United States and I wonder when I will get to see them again. There are so many things I am going to miss about Barcelona. I am going to miss eating Tapas. I am going to miss going out at 2 am and not getting back till 7 am. I am going to miss the beautiful beaches and the glistening Mediterranean Sea. I truly cannot believe how fast this semester has gone by. It has been one of the greatest time periods of my life and I will forever be fortunate that I had such an opportunity to see the world. I would not change going to Barcelona for a second because this place has become a part of me. I feel so comfortable walking around now and it is just amazing how much I have changed throughout my time here. It will be very strange to go home and and re adapt back to my original culture using dollar bills, eating early, and most of all being without the other people that I have become to close with. Hopefully we can all meet again someday and re live the experiences we had in this unforgettable semester abroad.

Ibiza

aep516 — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:18:01 +0000

This past weekend was my last trip abroad and I went to Ibiza Island in Spain. It was the most incredible weekend abroad because the weather was perfect, the beach was beautiful and the nightlife was out of control. Thursday night we took a cruise ship to the island where we got to party all night long on the ship. There was a dance club, a movie theater, and many lounges to walk around on the boat. Friday morning we woke up to the sunset as we docked on the island. Then, we made our way to the Jet Apartments where we stayed for the rest of the weekend. The apartments were really nice with kitchens and slept four to six people. We slept for a few hours and then we were off to the beach for the rest of the day. The beach was gorgeous and it was so relaxing to lay out on the sand. At night we got to go to a white party where everyone dressed in all white and we went to a bar on the beach. This was a cool experience because I had never been to a white party before and it was really fun to see everyone dressed up. The next day we took a 45 minutes boat ride to the island of Formentara which had the most magnificent water I had ever seen. The water had three different shades of blue and faded from dark to light. It was truly amazing being at one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Saturday night we went to a club called Pacha which is supposed to be one of the biggest clubs in the world. The lights were out of control and everyone was dancing and having a great time. I ended up staying up all night and the next day I flew back to Barcelona early in the morning. I would recommend to go to Ibiza Island for anyone who comes to Spain and likes to party because it was definitely one my favorite places with the best beaches and nightlife…What more could you ask for on a vacation? An amazing weekend to top off my abroad experience. Now if only I didn’t have to study for finals.

Podcast…What’s the deal with the hiccups?

aep516 — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:02:34 +0000

In this podcast two guys talk about their experiences with hiccups. Chuck drinks a rootbeer to try and give himself hiccups because drinking a carbonated beverage is said to induce hiccups. Then they proceed to give hiccup facts including each person has a lifelong specific pattern of hiccups and the average hiccup spell can last for a few minutes to a few hours. In addition, most people know that sometimes a long deep breath can cure the hiccups. I didn’t know that marajuana can also cure the hiccups but the podcast explains certain ways to cure the hiccups. I also didn’t realize that hormones can play a role in hiccuping and that we are more likely to hiccup in evening then in the morning and the older you get the less likely you are to get the hiccups. They explain the physiology of a hiccup but are still not quite sure as to why we hiccup. I think this podcast is a fun and informative way to listen to information regarding this topic that is not so often talked about but actually really interesting since every so often we experience the infamous hiccups!

Munich..It Was Worth It!

aep516 — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 21:35:21 +0000

This past weekend I went to Munich, Germany to embark on many weekend adventures. I was really excited about this trip because I had never been to Germany before. The first day we arrived and went to the Dachau Concentration Camp. This was really important to me because I am Jewish and have Jewish ancestry and going to the Concentration Camp meant taking a look at the Holocaust and what it was like for the Jewish people back then. I didn’t really know what to expect from the camp, but it all seemed to real. It was a pretty big complex and the bunkers where they slept were on one side with a huge open area in the middle. There was also a museum which explained step-by-step what the circumstances were like at Dachau. There were many things I didn’t realize like they used the Jewish people for various medical experiments at the camp and they were the “testers” and it didn’t matter if it killed them. I also didn’t know that there was an disease epidemic that broke out that killed many Jews because of famine and lack of nourishment. It was truly heartbreaking to see the bunkers and where they had to sleep, shower, and go to the bathroom. I still don’t understand how people could get pleasure out of being so cruel? It is mind boggling to me, and going to the camp really made me appreciate how lucky I am to be here today and in a free country. The other part of the camp that really got to me was seeing the “showers” or what really was gas chambers. I couldn’t believe standing in there how they could push them all into a room and tell them they were showering, but really they were going to kill them. I really take my religion for granted and the freedom that we have as a community.

The next day we went to the BMW museum where we got a first hand look at all the newest cars. I loved the BMW black convertible, but I think my favorite was the white one. Hopefully when I am an adult I will able to get my dream car. It was also interesting to see all of the old cars at the museum from back when BMW was first making cars. After looking at cars for a while, we headed over to the Olympic Stadium. This was really cool to see where the Olympics were help in Munich back in 1972. Finally, we went to Springfest! Springfest was like a carnival for big kids because there were rides, games, and tons of food, but also lots of BEER. The beer mugs were huge and they said there were about three beers in a glass and the beer was even stronger than the normal kind we are used to. We went into a huge tent with lots of tables and I conversed with my friends as we all drank and sang to the band playing on stage. After a few beers we went outside to play with all of the fun activities Springfest had to offer. I forgot how much fun carnivals were since I hadn’t been to one since I was a little kid. However, then the news broke out and everyone ran frantically as we found out that our flights were all cancelled on Sunday. We quickly took action and found out that there was a bus going back to Barcelona leaving at 10 am the next day. However, the bus ride would be 12 hours. Then we heard the bus ride would be 13-15 hours. Okay, we have no choice we said and booked the bus home. The next day as we anxiously awaited the dreaded ride, we stocked up at the train station on snacks and headed for the bus. The ride ended up being a full 18 hours. We drove from Germany through Austria, Switzerland, and France, and finally make it to Spain at 5 am. It was a long weekend but well worth it!

Spanish vs. American Newspapers

aep516 — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 23:17:15 +0000

Newspapers are part of people’s daily routines. They convey so much information and people rely on it as they sip their morning coffee and read about the latest updates in their town and around the world. However, are newspapers really that different coming from different countries? In looking at a Spanish newspaper in Barcelona El Periodico and comparing it to my home paper, The Philadelphia Inquirer, I was able to note similarities and differences among both papers. It is interesting to note that El Periodico comes in color. The Philadelphia Inquirer, along with all papers from the U.S., are all in black and white. I wonder if more people would read the paper if it came in color like El Periodico, or if it really wouldn’t make much of a difference. It definitely makes the paper more engaging with all of the colors and not as bland. However, I have grown up with my newspaper and its layout for a long time, and I think all readers would say they are satisfied with their daily paper. Both papers possess various pictures, big word captions and smaller words to convey stories, events, and daily updates. I noticed that my newspaper has comics, and El Periodico doesn’t really have anything like that. Along with, the focus of El Periodico centers around FC Barcelona, whereas the Philadelphia Inquirer, posts information about all sports teams. Overall, both papers are informative and are an important part of our daily lives.

Italia

aep516 — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:40:07 +0000

For spring break I went all around Italy. I had been to Italy once before, but it was a few years back, so I was really excited to see the sights all over again. First, we went to Rome, and the colosseum was even bigger than I had remembered. We walked around and it was amazing to see how many people were flooding around and inside this ancient piece of history. Next, we went to the Trevi Fountain and threw coins in as we made wishes. Then, I had my first real gilato! There were so many flavors and I didn´t know which to choose, but my favorite kinds ended up being chocolate and mint in a cone. The rest of the day we walked around and shopped and by nighttime we were starving for our first Italian meal. We went to this restaurant recommended by all our friends called Hosteria del Tony´s and it definitely exceeded our expectations. I had the chicken parm and it was the most amazing chicken parm I had ever tasted. The waiter even gave us extra dessert for free along with free shots. It was an excellent meal, and so good in fact that we went back the next night! However, then I got penne a la vodka and it was just as amazing as the chicken parm. This was probably the best Italian food I have ever had, and I would recommend this restaurant to everyone going to Rome. That night, we walked around a square with our friends and went bar hopping. Italian men were a little bit creepy, and moreso even than Spaniards. We realized that we were a bit too dressed up and knew to be completely covered for our next night out. Day two, we went to the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter´s Basilica all in St. Peter´s Square. The wait was two hours minimum so we ended up paying a little extra for quick entrance and a guided tour. As we walked through the Vatican, I thought about how amazing it is that all of the ceilings have such gorgeous artwork in each room. The Sistine Chapel was really cool to see because it is such a unique place, however I liked St. Peter´s Basilica more because there was a service going on so it was exciting to watch. After a few great days in Roma, we were off to Firenze. We took the excellor train to Florence and the ride was great. After we got to our hotel in Florence, we went to the leather market and got pretty caught up there for the rest of the day. I bought a leather jacket from Massimo and he gave me a great deal so ask around to find him whenever you go to Florence. At night, we went to a great restaurant called Acqua Al 2 and I would definitely recommend that restaurant for people visiting Florence. We got the pasta and salad samplers for appetizers and I got the blueberry steak for my meal. Everything was absolutely delicious. After dinner, we went to a bar where we got these dragon beers, and after one dragon you are pretty much done for the night. Then, we met up with some friends and went to a club called Yab. It was a little different than the clubs in Barcelona, but I had a ton of fun because I got to see a lot of my friends from school. The next day we went to the Duomo and to see Michelangelo´s David. Everytime we went for lunch, I got a tomato mozzerella salad and a pizza. The food was just amazing everywhere we went and I couldn´t stop thinking that I wish Spain´s food was that good. The next day we took a two hour trip to Cinque Terre which is also known as the Italian Riviera. It was the most beautiful aqua water I had ever seen, and it was surrounded by all of the grotos and cliffs. We hiked from town to town and it was an amazing day to see such a beautiful place. The following day, we took a wine tour in Chianti, Tuscany. It was raining at first so we were a little disappointed but the wine tour came with three different wines as well as cheese, and garlic bread. I loved seeing the wine cellar and hearing about how wines age. It was great and I would also recommend doing that because it was only a 40 minute ride from Florence. Finally, our last stop was Venice. Venice was even prettier than I had imagined and it is just such a unique place. Watching all of the boats floats in the middle of the river is just amazing and the stain glass all over the city is great as well. I was surprised to see all of these elaborate masks in every store we went into. We didn´t end up taking a Gondola Ride, because I had done it in the past but we watched as the boats went by and took in all of the beautiful scenery that Venice has to offer. I really left my heart in Italy because I fell in love with each and every place that I went to. It was a spring break to remember and I´ll wonder when the next time will be that I will be going back to eat the greatest food in the world in Italia.

To Blog or Not to Blog?

aep516 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:52:09 +0000

In thinking about blogging, clearly I am an advicate since I have a blog myself. However, there is a controversial debate on whether business corporations should use blogs. I think there are pros and cons to business´s using blogs because it really depends on the company and what their motives are in using the blog. If it is going to be used in a professional manner, and updated frequently to relay messages and updates about the company, then yes it would definitely be useful. However, what if people comments are negative? Would it give off a bag connotation for the company? It is something to think about and wonder why some companies use blogs and others don´t. Maybe it is something that is growing since social networks have been on the rise in the past few years. It is interesting to think that maybe in a few years time, all major companies will be using blogs to give readers an easy way to access information and updates. Another thing to think about is, yes press releases may be a more professional way to releasing information, however they sometimes take a while to get approves and released. With blogs, it is an immediate and efficient way to display information. I will be interested to see what companies decide to use blogs and how they are portrayed by the media. Will people actually react and respond or simply just ignore them…only time will tell.

Multimedia Project

aep516 — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:33:31 +0000

This weekend I went to Paris for the second time during my study abroad expenditure. I decided to do my multimedia project on La Tour Eiffel because it is one of the most extraordinary monuments in the world. After seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time, I knew this had to be something I had to take a closer look at. Here is a panoramic view from a nearby street of La Tour Eiffel. Surrounding the Eiffel Tower is a street called Avenue Montaigne where there are a lot of fancy stores like Gucci, Prada, Fendi, etc. The Eiffel Tower is at the heart of Paris so it is surrounded by other stores and also Napoleon’s Tomb is close by. Here is the location of the Eiffel Tower on google maps.

I was a bit more curious about the history of the Eiffel Tower, so I did a little research and found out some interesting facts about this famous landmark. The project began in 1887 and wasn’t completed till 1889. The tower was designed by a French engineer Gustave Eiffel as a universal exhibition. One worker was even killed during the construction of the masterpiece. Something I found particularly interesting was that some 5.5 million people visit the site each year. In addition, there are 1,665 steps to get the the top! When I visited the tower for the first time four years ago I had climbed to the top and that was an experience of a lifetime. The view overlooking the city of Paris is just breathtaking and there is nothing like it in the world. The Eiffel Tower is just such a remarkable piece of architecture and if possible, I think everyone should try and go to Paris to see it. Now there are three different ways to see the tower. Day, night, and sparkling at night. Neither one is better or prettier than the other but during the day when the sun is glistening over the tower, it is beautiful. However, at night, when the tower is lit up, it makes the whole surrounding area just that much brighter because of the shine that the tower ignites. Then, at every hour on the hour till about 2 am, the tower sparkles with bright, shiny lights and it is the most romantic, picturesque view to ever be seen. It looks like a gigantic birthday candle that no one can blow out. Overall, it is what makes Paris, well…Paris! Without the tower, would Paris be so remarkable? What is so special about the Eiffel Tower is how many people come to visit it, to appreciate it’s existence, and to share with the world one of the greatest monuments to ever exist. Here is an insider’s look from a French native of La Tour Eiffel.

Not only does the Eiffel Tower serve as an important purpose for the people of France, but what about important events like engagements? Tom cruise and Rod Stewart both proposed to their wives at the Eiffel Tower. If someone wanted to propose they could do it at one of the restaurants located at each of the decks of the tower, or from early December to the beginning of February there is a temporary ice rink located on the first platform. Or would it be the most romantic to just propose on one of the platforms overlooking all of Paris? Or how about underneath the Eiffel Tower? I think the Eiffel Tower definitely contributes to making Paris such a romantic city. When I was there this past weekend, I was surrounded by couples all performing public display of affection. Kissing everywhere and being affectionate in public is just the norm to them. Being in Paris gives off a feeling where anything goes and being with a significant other when looking at the Eiffel Tower shoots out sparks for romance. Although this weekend I was in Paris with my parents, I will wait till I am able to go back with my husband and get to experience the amazing feeling of love and passion that everyone craves and experiences in Paris.

Here is another video of the Eiffel Tower lit up at night and sparkling like a gigantic birthday candle. It gave me the chills watching as it glistened in the night and then before I knew it, the sparkling had stopped. I had gotten to the Eiffel Tower at 10:15 at night and therefore had to wait 45 minutes until 11:00 pm till the sparkling began. Then I watched as it lit up all of Paris and it gave me a feeling of warmth and comfort that I will never forget. Seeing the sparkling of the Eiffel Tower is definitely worth seeing, no matter how long you have to wait. I think all three views of the Eiffel Tower are amazing, but by far the sparkling is my favorite because it is like fireworks shooting all throughout the tower and just amazing to see.

I was sad to leave Paris and all of the culture, beautiful surroundings, and especially chocolate croissants. However, until the next time I can return I have to say Au Revoir!

Politics 2.0

aep516 — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:56:01 +0000

I think using social networking to promote a politics is definitely a positive thing. Obama was able to use different networks to get his campaign out in the public and share his ideas. By doing this, especially for the younger generation who use facebook and twitter often, it gives people another way to research his views and decide which candidate they want to support. It is a great way to communicate, and allows people to connect and share what they think about his campaign ideas. In addition, it also allows people globally to view his campaign strategies and stay up to date with the political campaign even if they are not voting or currently in the U.S.. Another important tool that I think is useful is youtube. People posted some of Obama´s speeches and it lets people revisit his ideas. Informing the public is the main key concept to winning a campaign. This was crucial for President Obama because since he was the first African American president, it was critical for him to reach out to the public and inform them that change is good, and to give him a chance to make the world a better place. I also think whitehouse.gov, which is a new website for the whitehouse to use 2.0 is a great way for citizens to stay up to date with the poticial world. Overall, without social networking who knows if Obama would have won or had all of the support that he did. I think it was definitely beneficial for his campaign and people will continue to use different social networks to inform the public about elections and candidates.

On Top of the World

aep516 — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:43:52 +0000

For the past two weekends I refrained from traveling and decided to stay in the wonderful city of Barcelona. I had visitors coming in from Florence so I had to show them a good time. I took them to a restaurant called Foc right by the beach. I found out foc means fire in Catalan which I thought was interesting. We all loved the food, especially the nachos and after got a look at the W hotel by Port Vell on the beach. Then I took them to Las Ramblas and Sagrada Familia. At night we went to Rosa Negra for dinner which is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Barcelona. They only came for one night because they were leaving to go to the Canary Islands the next day but I had a great time showing them around. Round two…visitors from London! My best friends came in from London and I was so excited to be their tour guide of Barca. It had been a really tough week with midterms and finally after they were over I was ready to rage for the weekend. I took them to the beach, Parc Guell, Sagrada Familia, and we did La Pedrera which was one of Antoni Gaudi’s houses. It was absolutely magnificent and unlike anything I have ever seen in my life. The architecture on the rooftop gave me the chills like I was literally on top of the world in a dream. I realized have fortunate I am to be able to see all of the amazing sites in Barcelona and watching the sunset on the roof, I finally got to take it all in. My parents finally arrived in Barcelona shortly after and I’m so happy to be with them. I am taking them to all of the sites and I just can’t get enough of touring. I can look at Gaudi’s work all day because I know once I am back in America, I won’t be able to just take the metro and go see it. So, as the visitors keep coming, I am happy to show them around! This weekend I am headed back to Paris, but with my parents. I am very excited!!