iD News and Blog

Study Abroad Spain Blog from 7/20/07

From Kendra, Manager of iD Tech Camps’ Documentary Filmmaking and Cultural Immersion Study Abroad Program in Spain:

Reminder:  All photos of the Spain Program can be accessed by:

Students:  Via the Student Corner

Parents:  Logging in Via My Camp Account

¡Hola!

It is now Friday and our first full week in Spain is coming to a close.  We have had an extremely busy week learning Spanish, participating in cultural activities and tours, collecting lots of footage, and having fun in Cadiz with new friends from around the world.

Spanish classes have been going well, and the students are beginning to gain more confidence in their speaking abilities.  In video class the students have learned the basics of Final Cut Pro and have been busy logging and capturing all their footage.  By the end of today they will all have completed their story boards and scripts to help them focus on their documentaries.  Then they will begin to put it all together in the timeline, and see if there is any additional footage or interviews they need to collect over the weekend.  Next week they will delve more deeply into editing by adding in music and voiceovers, transitions, titles, and just putting their own personal touches to make each of the movies distinctly individual.

As I said before, we have had a very busy week this past week with our many cultural activities. On Tuesday afternoon we all participated in a dance class to learn the Sevillanas, a typical Flamenco dance that is performed at the Feria in Sevilla.

It is a beautiful dance, and although the steps are not difficult to learn it is very hard to incorporate the intricate arm movements that really make the dance beautiful.  There are 4 stages to the dance and we learned the first one.  The students did well, all in all – we have some pretty good dancers.

Later that night after film class the group went to a traditional Flamenco bar to watch a professional performance.  One element that is persistent in the Flamenco art form is the serious and passionate expressions on the dancers’ faces.  Everyone had fun watching the dancers perform and listening to the live Flamenco music.

Wednesday afternoon instead of going home for lunch we stayed at the Colegio to cook some typical Spanish food.  Everyone helped to prepare a huge pan of Paella, the most famous Spanish dish made with rice, saffron, meat, fish, and vegetables.

It takes some time and attention to prepare, but the finished dish was delicious.  Hopefully the students will remember the recipe so they can cook for their families when they get back home to the US.

On Wednesday night we had quite a party at the school!  It was a fiesta de disfraces, or a costume party.  Carnaval is huge here in Cadiz, so the students were able to put together some great costumes with some help from their host families and some cheap purchases at local shops.  Costumes included Flamenco dancers, Sevillanas dresses, gypsies, belly dancers, pirates, rock stars and more.  Kevin, our director, has been know as “Abuelo” this trip, so he appropriately came dressed like an old grandpa.

I dressed in a traditional Greek Toga.  Some of the other teachers here at Mundo Lengua had some hysterical costumes as well.   It was so much fun with everyone dancing the night away in costume.

At the end of the night they crowned the king and queen of the party and one of our students, Chad, who wore a scary mask and a silly hat was named the king!  You can laugh at our outfits by looking at the rest of the pictures online at My Camp Account.

Thursday afternoon we toured the Cathedral in Cadiz and learned a little bit more about the history of the city.

The Cathedral was constructed over the course of more than 100 years and therefore includes multiple styles of architecture, including baroque and neo-classical.  The highlight of the tour is visiting the crypt below the cathedral – it is a little creepy, but very cool.

That brings us to today.  This afternoon we have just video class, then the students get some much deserved free time this weekend.  Tomorrow we will be going out to tapas together for lunch, and then will have some free time to go to the beach and do some shopping.  On Sunday we will be taking a boat to the nearby city of El Puerto de Santa Maria and will attend a bullfight.  It should be a great weekend!

To wrap-up this edition of my blog, I have asked each of the students to give me a brief reflection about their first week here in Spain, whether it be what they like or difference they have noticed, or just random observations.  Here are their serious and comical thoughts!

Aaron: “Being in Cadiz, Spain is very exciting for me.  Not only is it a wonderful cultural experience, but I can also further my knowledge in Digital Film editing – a combination not often seen.”
Alex:  “Sweet!”
Andrea: “The people here are so nice and willing to help with whatever you need.”
Anders: “It’s AWESOME! The people here have nice mullets.”
Chad: “Um… I’m not in Ar-Kansas anymore!”
Chris: “This trip is all I expected and more; there’s nothing else like it!”
Erin: “The people here walk a ton and eat rarely.  Haha… but seriously.  The culture is so amazing, full of vibrancy and color.  It is as if things at home are in black & white and I’ve just entered the Technicolor Land of Oz for the first time.”
Hector:  “It’s super hot, and it’s funny that huge water bottles cost less than small water bottles.  But everything is so wonderful here.”
Jessica: “In Spain the people are lively, beautiful and tan….”
Natalie:  “Mom, I am moving to Spain!”
Noelle: “I’ve already learned so much in Cadiz.  Particularly how to explain being late in Spanish.”

Thanks for reading!  Please do look at the wonderful photos online, and feel free to email me anytime with comments or questions.

Ciao,

Kendra

 

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iD Summer Camp Heros

Our hero at iD Tech UCF

James:  a.k.a. Mac.

Our hero here at UCF does not go out of his way or try to impress us.   But he does impress us.  From the minute he walks into the lab in the morning and cheers, Mac motivates all of us with his energy and positive attitude. Mac inspires all the other campers, who high-five him every time we line up for activities and lunch. He makes us laugh and smile, and he puts up a good fight on Guitar Hero II and Armagetron. He is a core part of our iD Tech group.

Besides his interpersonal connections at camp, Mac is extremely focused: he is determined, curious, and sharp. He has a clear goal that we all know he will meet. His game is certainly on par with the rest of his class in terms of complexity and depth, and it’s a lot of fun to play. When he runs into problems, he does not get frustrated or mad, he keeps going.

If he asks for help, we know it’s for a really tough problem, which usually requires the help of more than one instructor.

Mac does not have to try to be the motivator he is or the video game creator that he is becoming. For Mac, iD Tech UCF is just another day, another challenge, and another group to inspire.

Thanks Mac.

-Your Staff  and Camp Mates at iD UCF!

This is Pete, iD Prez now…Congratulations to James and UCF for winning this weeks “iD Hero” guest blogger entry.  James (Mac) you appear to have clearly inspired those around you–and it’s not that you have done just one thing–it is what you do and how you carry yourself daily that makes everyone better around you.  You absolutely fit the definition of an iD Hero–and I personally thank, and, salute you.

-Pete, Prez & CEO, iD Tech

Other Hero Entries…

Stanford, iD Gaming Academy Heros:

Georgetown iD Heros:

I also want to acknowledge iD Wake Forest and iD Vanderbilt.  You sent me some formats that aren’t easily imported into this blog interface, so I’ll see what I can do to get you posted in the next few days.  Your content is worth posting!

I want to thank the above participants, and all others that participated, in this week’s guest blogger contest.  More importantly, I want to thank all of our staff and students who go above and beyond on a daily basis to make iD so special.  I thank you all for inspiring me, and each other, to get better everyday.

Have a great Friday!

-Pete

 

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Spain Group 2 Arrives!

From Kendra, Manager of iD Tech Camps’ Documentary Filmmaking and Cultural Immersion Study Abroad Program in Spain:

Reminder:  All photos of the Spain Program can be accessed by:

Students:  Via the Student Corner

Parents:  Logging in Via My Camp Account

Trust me!  The photos from the first week are incredible.  It is worth it to logon and see all of the photos.  Rene and Kevin (iD Staff) have been duking it out for “best photographer” honors this week.

Bienvenidos a Espana!

The second session of iD Tech Camps Documentary Filmmaking and Cultural Immersion Study Abroad Program is officially underway.

We have already seen many sights and experienced a lot of the magnificent Spanish culture.  Occasionally throughout the program we will be posting many photos.  I’ll also be making a handful of post to this blog, to keep you updated about our adventures in Europe.  I hope that you enjoy reading and learning a little bit about the history and culture that the students are experiencing and learning about everyday here in Cadiz.

First, let me start by giving you a little bit of history about Cadiz, which happens to be the oldest city in Western Europe.  We are so incredibly fortunate to all be living in the middle of the “Barrio Antiguo” or old historical area of the city, with narrow winding cobblestone streets.  Legend has it that Cadiz was founded as a result of the mythical 12 labors of Hercules, which included separating Europe from Africa. The first settlers came here after their oracle advised them to construct a city overlooking the Atlantic between the Pillars of Hercules. This is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe. The Phoenicians established a trading post here in 1,100 BC and called the town Gadir (meaning enclosure), a name that later became Gades under the Romans, and now is known as Cadiz.  Hercules and the two pillars remain on the official seal of the city of Cadiz today.

On Friday the entire group made it safe and sound and everyone, although very tired from the long journey, was excited to be here in Cadiz.  The flights were on time and the group arrived in Cadiz around 2:30pm, where their host families met them.

After the traditional dos besos (two kisses on the cheek) to say hello, the students went home with their familias to eat a nice big lunch, unpack, shower, rest and take a siesta.  Later Friday evening we met again for a brief orientation, and to go over some important logistics like where to find the ATMs, where to buy phone cards, and how to call home.

Saturday morning we had an orientation at our Instituto where all our Spanish and video classes will be held.  After going over important rules, handing out the video cameras, and teaching the first lesson in documentary filmmaking and camera operation, we then had a walking tour of Cadiz, walking along the coast from the new part of town back to the old part of the city where we live.

From there we headed to the Torre Tavira, one of the tallest towers in Cadiz.  From the roof there are fantastic birds-eye-views of the entire city.

The rest of the afternoon on Saturday was free to rest up and recuperate from any lingering jet-lag, eat lunch and spend more quality time with the new host families, go to the beach, and just explore the city we will call home for the next 2 1/2 weeks.

Sunday we headed to the Sevilla – one of the most beautiful cities in all of Spain.  It also happens to be one of the hottest cities in July!  We were prepared for dreadful heat.  Although it was hot, it was not as bad as we anticipated, and all the students drank lots of water to stay hydrated.

We began our tour in Barrio de Santa Cruz in the heart of this historic old city in Sevilla.  We had some free time to eat lunch and shop at the many stores to buy authentic souvenirs.  After enjoying lunch and exploring the old part of the city, we began our tour at the Catedral de Sevilla.

The entire city of Sevilla has an ancient history and the architecture depicts wonderful examples of the combination of Moorish and Arabic structures along with Catholic and Christian styles.  The cathedral is huge – the third largest in the world!  It was originally an old Mosque but was converted to a Cathedral when the Christians conquered Spain.  Possibly the most iconic figure of Sevilla is the tower, la Giralda.

We climbed the 30+ floors to reach the top of the tower and get extraordinary views of the city.

After coming back down, we had time to walk around and admire the interior of the gothic cathedral with its tall arches, stained glass windows and beautiful altars and artwork. From there we went to Reales Alcazar, the royal palace.

The royal family will still stay in the palace when visiting Sevilla.  Once again, the palace was originally constructed by the moors and then was adapted by Rey Pedro Primero “El Cruel” when he conquered Spain.  He maintained much of the Arabic style of the palace with the mosaics and geometric designs, and then added on with a classical Christian style of architecture.  The many rooms and patios are stunning, and being inside was a nice escape from the heat!

All of our tours in Sevilla were led in Spanish by our tour guide from Mundo Lengua, then we quizzed the students in English to make sure they understood.  The more they hear and listen to the language the better their comprehension will be – it is the best was to learn!

We finished our tour in Sevilla at the stunning Plaza de Espana.

This big plaza contains plaques representing all of the provinces in Spain and was constructed in 1929 for the Iberian-American Exposition.   One of the highlights is learning that this site has been used in several Hollywood films including “Star Wars” and “Mission Impossible.”

Today classes began at Mundo Lengua (Monday).  We check in with everyone everyday to make sure they feel comfortable in their classes, as we can make changes in the levels if necessary.  This week we have a very busy schedule everyday.  From 10-1:30pm are Spanish classes.  1:30-4pm is time for lunch and a siesta at home.  At 4pm each afternoon we have a cultural activity or tour to participate in.  Today we toured the Campo del Sur and the old Castillos (forts/castles) that guard the old city and protected Cadiz from invaders and pirates.  After the activity we go to video class that lasts until 8pm – 9pm each day.  Today we gave a basic lecture on documentary filmmaking, discussed initial impressions of Spain, and began to log and capture the footage collected so far using Final Cut Pro.  After video class each night this week we also have many fiestas and outings planned.  It will be a busy but fun two weeks!
We always encourage the students to come to us directly if they have any questions or issues – Kevin, Rene and I are here to help in anyway possible.  You can always feel free to email me directly as well with any questions, as I check frequently.  This group has already bonded together and become great friends, and we know we will all love every minute we have together here in Spain.

Gracias por su tiempo!  (Thank you for your time).

-Kendra, and the rest of Team iD Spain

Reminder:  All photos of the Spain Program can be accessed by:

Students:  Via the Student Corner

Parents:  Logging in Via My Camp Account

 

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University of Virginia, iD Tech Guest Blogger

Congratulations UVA! You have one the guest blogger entry for this week’s theme “iD Greening.”

Also, look at the other AWESOME iD Greening Guest Blogger entries from UC Santa Cruz, MIT, Fordham, Wake Forest and University of Central Florida. These additional posts appear below Thank you all so much for being guests on the blog–but, more importantly, thanks for doing your part to reduce the footprint iD leaves each summer. I love the creativity and follow through!

-Pete

 

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MIT Guest Blogger: Keeping iD Green

MIT Guest Blog! Week 3, July 9^th!

Hello Pete and all the hundreds of staff that are working at various camps around the country this summer! We here at MIT (the best camp in the country) want to share our “iD Green” stories with you to show you how we’re saving the world, one day at a time.

Because we’re a day camp here at MIT, we have 14 staff members who must commute, day in and day out, to ensure that they can deliver the best possible experience to our wonderful campers. How do they get there? Glad you asked, because we here at MIT only have three parking passes to work with! One has to go to me, and one has to go to the Assistant Director Suzanne, so we can run to the doctor or the store when the situation arises.

So what do we do with the third parking pass? We gave it to Gerry, Keith (stolen by Ben at Merrimack for this week), Dwight, Evan, and even Alfred (missing this week). Five guys crammed into a car! Nice!

Pictured left, these staff members must get from Worcester MA (home of the great R. Little at UCLA, formerly of MIT – we hear he misses us a lot) to Cambridge MA, everyday. That’s about 45 miles a day, one way! Don’t believe me? Google maps it: maps.google.com

That means our buddies here get at up at 5:30 am to get here on time! How dedicated are they??!!

That’s great, but what about the other great staffers? Everyone else relies on the good old Boston MBTA, in one form or another, or they travel by bicycle! Yes, we have staff AND campers that bike to and from camp every day!

Staff that travel via the T arrive at Kendall Square from south, west, and north of Boston. We’d show you some pictures of them on the T, but we’re pretty sure that taking pictures on the T is illegal or something, and we need everyone to be here for the rest of the summer.

Not only do we employ the greenest of green strategies for getting to camp, but we also insist that computers are powered down at the end of the day in all of our five rooms – that’s about a 100 computers and monitors saving electricity! Not bad!

We have, to date, three cell phones and two ink cartridges for donation to recycling – we’re getting there!

Lastly, I’d like to say on the behalf of everyone MIT, we wish you a great summer and hope you’ll join us in doing a small part to fix a big problem. Remember; ditching your car can not only help the environment, but also your wallet, as the Dwight and Gerry found out during Week One! Stay green!

-Mike S., Director MIT

iD Tech Camps at MIT, we salute you!  Way to go!  Keep it up!  Thanks for making iD Tech Camps greener.  We thank you and so does the planet.  Every little bit helps, and you are doing your part!

-Pete

 

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