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Maxwell Okamura听
Bio:听Hello, my name is Max Okamura. I鈥檓 from Columbus, Ohio and will be studying International Studies and Economics. I鈥檓 a soccer enthusiast and enjoy spending time with my friends, family, and cat Sasha. I鈥檝e been studying听Spanish since 7th grade and I鈥檓 excited to practice and improve my skills. I chose the Madrid Cornerstone for three main reasons: to immerse myself in Spanish culture (go to Real Madrid games), be in a cohort with other ambitious students/travelers with an interest in international affairs, and allow myself another opportunity to study abroad without affecting my path to graduation. As a Cornerstone Ambassador, I look forward to documenting and sharing my experiences and hope to bring other students along for this life-changing program in the future.
You can see my Decemeber blog below. If you enjoy reading it, feel free to check out my blogs from September, October, and November at the bottom of the page!
December 1st听Blog:
Hello everyone! As my time abroad comes to an end, I鈥檇 like to share the last few things I鈥檝e done this semester. A fantastic Thanksgiving dinner and visits to the lovely cities of C贸rdoba, Seville, Toulouse, and Lisbon have been my highlights of the month. After the recap of events, I鈥檒l give my last pieces of input to those committed to the program and those on the fence.听
To start our journey in the Southern region of Spain, Andalusia, we visited C贸rdoba. This city is a perfect representation of both Spanish culture and history. C贸rdoba has traces of Roman, Visigothic, Islamic, Jewish, and Christian architecture and culture in its rich heritage. Each group has made its mark on this city, although some are more present than others. The first visit we made was to the Juderia, the Jewish Quarter. This neighborhood was where the Jews lived between the 13th and 15th centuries in Spain. In the Juderia, we visited Casa de Sefarad to understand the stories of Sephardic Jews who lived in Spain. Casa de Sefarad was built in the 14th century and is now a cultural center and permanent exhibition dedicated to maintaining the memory of Judaism in the Iberian Peninsula. The tour guide told the stories and perspectives of Jews in Spain through song. I can honestly say that our tour guide was the best acapella singer I have ever heard, moving some people to tears with his music. These songs were sung in Arabic, Turkish, Latin, and Judeo-Spanish and later explained in English. There鈥檚 no doubt this museum is an unbelievable cultural experience. However, the main tourist attraction of C贸rdoba (and Europe in 1984), is the Mosque-Cathedral of C贸rdoba.听
This mosque was started by Abdulrahman I, one of the last members of the Umayyad Dynasty of Damascus. He established the new independent Emirate in C贸rdoba in 756 AD, and constructed the first section of the mosque in 785-787, inspired by his experiences in Damascus and Jerusalem. The quick construction of the first section was made possible by using previous Visigoth and Roman pieces, specifically the columns. The mosque was then expanded in 836 because of a growing population. There were additional renovations from Abderraman III, Alhaken II, and Al-Mansur which created the fantastic mosque we see today. However, in 1236, the Christians Reconquested the city and turned the mosque into a cathedral, a common theme. The construction of the cathedral inside of the mosque took around 300 years. The finished product of combined Muslim and Christian design is one of the most beautiful architectural pieces on the planet. We were lucky enough to get the exclusive nighttime tour, which unfortunately prohibits photos. The night tour is completely personalized with a movie, special lighting, and music playing to enhance the tour. It was undoubtedly one of the coolest things I鈥檝e ever experienced. I don鈥檛 have pictures of the inside at night, but some of us went the next morning to experience it again and get the pictures we wanted.听
After we departed from Cordoba, we stopped by an olive oil factory on our way to Seville. The Almazara Basilippo gave us a great look at how the Spanish culinary staple is produced. After a tour of the property and a lesson on olive oil quality, we had our very own taste test. This taste test included classic olive oil, orange-infused olive oil, and ICE CREAM with olive oil, which was surprisingly good. The Basilippo was a great place to relax and gain an understanding of the lifestyle in the Spanish countryside. After that fun stop, we finished the drive to Seville. Seville is the capital of the Andalusian region of Spain and was one of the most important cities of global affairs until 1717. Because of Seville's strategic location on a river, it was one of the biggest trading hubs in the world. All of the goods found in North America during its 鈥渄iscovery鈥 had to be taken back to Seville and accepted before they could be distributed. Seville implemented a heavy tax on all of these imports, which generated the revenue to build the wonderful city we see today. In Seville, we took a rooftop tour of the city cathedral, visited the royal palace (a fantastic preview of La Alhambra), and my favorite, Plaza de Espana.听
Plaza de Espana is one of the most spectacular places in Seville because of its pure majesty. It was designed by Sevillan architect, Anibal Gonalez, who drew inspiration from Spanish Renaissance Art. In between each of the columns, there鈥檚 a bench, these benches represent the 48 provinces of Spain (It hasn鈥檛 been updated鈥搉ow there are 50). This plaza has been seen in famous films like Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, where it played Naboo, and The Dictator. I came with a few friends but decided to stay longer and observe the place. I sat down at the end of one of the columns, under a tower. There was live music, laughter, sunset, beautiful architecture, and a couple getting engaged under the streetlights. I will remember that exact moment for a long time鈥搃t was perfect.听
Another important benefit of the Madrid Cornerstone Program is the access to the other European Union member states. Because of the Schengen Agreement in the European Union, you can travel into any member states with ZERO restrictions. Because of this agreement, it also makes traveling much more accessible (financially). Round Trip Flights, food (Groceries for 5 Meals), local transportation, and an AirBnB were very affordable, coming in at around 200 EUR. Kare has covered a large part of what to do in Lisbon already, so I won鈥檛 go too heavily into it. In short, I visited the Rossio Christmas Market, Aquarium, Telecabine, Chiado, Barrio Alto, and Alfama, took a few elevators (funiculars), ate plenty of Pastel de Nata, met up with an old friend, and visited Lidl 4 times. Lisbon was spectacular, the people were friendly, and the architecture was fabulous. Toulouse was the same way, despite the French stereotype. Everyone was very welcoming (except one guy) and was willing to work with us on the language barrier. After some help from a friend who speaks French and a lot of hand motions, we always got to where we needed to be. In Toulouse, we walked what seemed like the entire city and got 46,500 steps each day. After 75% of a marathon on both days, it seemed like we saw it all, so it鈥檚 hard to sum it all up. Despite that, I can confidently say that the best parts of Toulouse were the cathedral, bridges, food, and amazing company. The pink city did not fail us, the architecture was beautiful, the food was AMAZING, and the sunsets were fantastic.听听It鈥檚 important to know that If you鈥檙e looking to visit other countries during your semester in Madrid it鈥檚 very easy and much more affordable than similar trips in the 猫咪社区app.
Lastly, I have a few final things to say. Although I am an ambassador for the program, I鈥檒l do my best to give an unbiased view about the program (it won鈥檛 seem unbiased). I genuinely recommend this program as much as I possibly can. For me, the main worries of committing to the Cornerstone were being away from family, and 鈥渕issing out on life at AU鈥. I quickly realized that these were very solvable problems that were fixed in the first few days. It may seem corny, but the students and staff here really make a family out of each other. All of the students have each other's back because we鈥檙e all in this crazy experience for the first time, together. This group has given me some of the closest friends I鈥檒l ever have, and I know I鈥檒l cherish the memories I鈥檝e made here for the rest of my life. In terms of coming back to AU, there鈥檚 no need to worry. It may seem like people have their friend groups locked in, but this is not the case. We all move into AU together and take a class together, so if all else fails (which it won鈥檛) you鈥檒l still have your cohort. But, especially in the digital age, it鈥檚 very easy to follow along with what鈥檚 going on at AU and who鈥檚 coming to AU. If you鈥檙e an incoming student I鈥檇 highly recommend following the incoming student pages on Instagram and following people who seem like you鈥檇 mesh well with. Although it may seem like you鈥檙e in Spain for a long time, I can assure you it goes fast. Having an online relationship with a friend back in DC is a great way to contact anyone and find places to hang out once you get back into DC. Also (a sneaky added benefit), the classes here are very small, don鈥檛 give a lot of homework, and give you Fridays off. All of the professors are fantastic and are accessible. Genuinely, If I could turn back the clock and make the decision of doing the Madrid Cornerstone again, I would do it without a second thought. I will leave Madrid as a better student, better person, better friend, and better citizen of the world. It鈥檚 an extremely rewarding experience that I hope you get to have, and maybe even write about here too.听
Have a fantastic rest of your year and a great holiday season. It鈥檚 been a pleasure to write to you. If you have any questions about any steps of the process or program feel free to email me at maxwellokamura@gmail.com or dm me on Instagram.
September 22, 2024
Hello! My name is Max Okamura, and I鈥檓 from Columbus, Ohio. I鈥檓 majoring in International Studies and Economics.听
As a soccer player with a Spanish language background, I knew AU Madrid was perfect for me. Now, after being here for a couple of weeks, I can confidently say that I made a great decision to come here for my first semester. I look forward to sharing my adventures, advice, and experiences these next few months.听
I arrived at the residence (RESA) on September 1st. After some unpacking, I met the other students in the lobby for our building orientation. We had the infamous first day of college bonding experience and quickly realized how lucky we were. A short walk around the city, delicious Spanish gelato, views of the sunset reflecting on our rooftop pool, and meeting the lovely program staff highlighted the first day, which concluded with a group dinner in the dining hall. After the first day, the program picked up pretty quickly. September 2nd was our academic orientation at the International Institute, and, the following day, we began our journey around Spain.听
The first cultural excursion this semester was a trip to the ancient city of Toledo. With Romans, Barbarians, Muslims, and Christians attempting to leave their mark on the city for over 2,000 years, we were left with some incredible stories to see. Our first stop was Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz. In English, it's the Mosque of the Christ of Light. The Mosque was built in 999 and was in practice until Toledo was taken by Christians around 1085. The Christians then transformed it into a church, but the Islamic origin is still highly visible.听
Some additional stops included the Cathedral of Toledo, Monastery of San Juan de Los Reyes, and Synagogue of Santa Maria La Blanca, a synagogue turned church built by Muslim architects. Enthralled with what Toledo had to offer, six of us ambitiously trekked a small mountain with hopes of seeing the sunrise over the city. Although we should have known that the sun wouldn't rise from that direction, we were still given this beautiful view of Toledo.听
Another benefit of the program is the weekly local adventures within the community of Madrid. Instead of classes on Friday, we take trips around the city to learn about different regional dynamics and lifestyles. This week, we went to Cercedilla, a mountainous village to the northwest, for a hike with our College Writing professor. This small city of 7,000 gave birth to a brother-sister duo of Olympic medalists, houses a ski resort and a Roman road from the second century. Cercedilla was a great place to reconnect with nature and unplug from the city. Although I may not be used to mountains and bulls on the hikes back in Ohio, it gave me a familiar sense of hiking with my family. 听
There鈥檚 no doubt that we鈥檙e expecting lots of fun this semester. But do remember, this is a STUDY abroad. I take 15 credits (the normal amount) and have classes in International Migration, Writing, Microeconomics, Spanish Culture & Politics, and Spanish Language. All of the professors are from 猫咪社区app University and the only people in our classes are 猫咪社区app University students. If you have college credit, the program works closely with you to find other classes that fit your schedule and interests. Mediterranean Art History is a very popular option that includes multiple museum visits into the curriculum to study the art in person. I鈥檝e only heard amazing things about that class, so if you have the opportunity, I鈥檇 take it.听
Now that classes have started, it may seem like the fun is slowing down. However, the social benefit of living in such a vibrant city is unimaginable until you experience it. The Vuelta a Espa帽a, the Spanish Tour de France was last week. This week, friends and I may watch the Madrid Fashion Show, and Real Madrid plays UCL football in the Santiago Bernabeu the following week. In Madrid, the festivities truly never end.听
Some things to look for in the next blog are Catalonia, Retiro Park, El Derbi, Barrio de Las Letras, and so much more. I can鈥檛 wait to see what else I have in store and hope to hear from you and see you soon at AU!听
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me:
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October 13, 2024
It鈥檚 hard to believe that more than a month has passed since we arrived in Madrid. I鈥檓 unbelievably grateful for the opportunity to live and study in this amazing city with such inspiring people. I couldn't imagine my college experience without this chapter.听
These last few weeks we've done cross-country journeys and local trips around Spain. To summarize, we went to Retiro Park, walked the neighborhoods of literary legends Cervantes and Lope de Vega, visited an Egyptian temple, and interviewed Spanish university students. Most importantly, we spent a few days in Catalonia. Unfortunately, I can鈥檛 cover all those in one blog, so these are my top three.听
Retiro Park was completed in 1640 and took up HALF of Madrid then. Designed for royal leisure, entertainment, and relaxation, it took one hundred years of improvements to be considered fit for the monarchy. The current main attraction of the park, The Great Lake, was designed for theater and the arts and is located by a monument dedicated to Alfonso XII. Parque de Retiro, as the locals call it, opened to the public in 1868 and is a place to relax and enjoy nature while staying in the city. We were lucky enough to rent boats and paddle around the lake to watch the sunset and see the movie production process live. The 350 acres of beautiful walkways, monuments, architecture, lakes, and history earns an instant recommendation for anyone visiting Madrid.听
We only had three and a half days in Catalonia, so we did everything possible to fit the essentials into our schedule. Similar to Toledo, we dedicated each day in Catalonia to learning about different artists/architects and their styles. This approach took us to Figueres, Cadaques and PortIligat. (For specifics on Barcelona, I recommend checking out Hannah or Kare鈥檚 blog.) We dedicated day one and two to the infamous Salvador Dali. To commemorate and understand Dali and his artwork, we visited Figueres for the Dali Theatre-Museum. It was constructed as a theater in the 19th century and rebuilt under the direction of Dali in 1966. In this intriguing building, we learned about the surrealist movement and the importance of symbolism in Spanish art. The museum itself is the largest surrealist object in the world. It also houses some of Dali鈥檚 most famous and intricate expositions from his early career.听
After our afternoon in Figueres, we drove about an hour north to Cadaques, one of the most beautiful places I鈥檝e ever seen. I speak for everyone in the group when I say we fell in love instantly. Cadaques is a Mediterranean fishing town just 30 miles south of the French border and was the ideal vacation spot for Salvador Dali. Dozens of his paintings are inspired by Cadaques due to its natural and architectural beauty. It鈥檚 a town with a population of around 3,200 that expands to 32,000 during summer. Fortunately, we came in late October, so it was less crowded. Upon arrival, we checked into our hotel on the water and swam in the Mediterranean in perfect weather. After three hours of free time, we met back up to walk to the center and destroy a massive pizza and pasta dinner. Watching the sunrise over the water the next morning while eating breakfast on the beach with friends is an experience I鈥檒l carry with me for the rest of my life. Everything about Cadaques was mesmerizing. I鈥檓 sure I will pay another visit someday.听
Because of Dali鈥檚 love for Cadaques, he built his astonishing home just eight minutes from the town. Located in PortIligat, he lived in this house until his wife passed away in 1982. Dali surrounded himself with artwork wherever he went. His house was no exception. This beach house held stuffed polar bears, sunrise-reflecting mirrors, a yellow room, a secret chamber, and a pool, and so much more. Dali lived and breathed his artwork every day. If there鈥檚 a way to motivate a student, showing them a dream beach house is one of the very best.听
Although the exotic trips are wonderful, it鈥檚 important to understand the deeper dynamics of Madrid as well. To do this, we interviewed other first-year Spanish university students at Universidad Complutense. Splitting into small groups of five, we talked in English and Spanish on every topic of life for college kids. 猫咪社区app social life, Spanish social life, what to do in Madrid, our college experiences, admissions processes, cost of education, degrees, length of study, living situation, and football (not the NFL) were all big topics in our conversation. During this interview, I met Hector. He is also a Real Madrid fan and we made a plan to go see El Classico together in three weeks. If you鈥檙e not familiar, El Classico is Real Madrid vs F.C. Barcelona, undoubtedly the biggest rivalry in European football. Be sure to tune in to the next blog to see how it goes. In my opinion, interacting with locals and getting insight into their lives is one of the best things anyone can do to learn about culture.听
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Thank you for visiting my blog! I hope my experiences and insights can provide a lens into life as a student in the Madrid Cornerstone. Be sure to come back in November to see what else we鈥檙e up to!
November 10, 2024
Hello! Welcome back to my Madrid Cornerstone Ambassador blog. This last month of October and early November has been the most action-packed of my life. To sum it up, I celebrated my birthday, went to the El Classico and AC Milan games, visited Alcala de Henares, Bilbao, San Sebastian, Segovia, El Escorial, and Museo Municipal, took a cooking class, finished midterms, took over the AU Cornerstone Instagram, planned two international trips with friends, and am writing this on our first night in Andalucia where we will see Cordoba, Seville, and Granada. Although each of these experiences left an impression on me in their own way, I obviously cannot cover them all in one blog. So, this blog will cover Alcala de Henares and Segovia.
We visited Alcala de Henares on October 11th during the world-famous Mercado Cervantino. To give some context, Alcal谩 de Henares is the hometown of Miguel Cervantes, author of Don Quixote. Spanish culture is influenced by Don Quixote, a fiction novel released in 1605. Many cite the world-famous book as the first Western novel ever produced. Additionally, Don Quixote is the third most popular book in history, only behind the Bible and Harry Potter. Because of this popularity, the small town just 45 minutes away from Madrid hosts a festival commemorating their star, Miguel Cervantes.听
First, we visited Cervantes鈥 childhood home. In this house, we saw a glimpse of life (for the Spanish elite) in the late 16th century. Casa Natal de Cervantes (the museum) holds many valuable stories, objects, and lessons for us to learn. In this house we saw our coursework on Don Quixote tie back into the real world and where Cervantes was born. The hat that Don Quixote wears in Cervantes鈥 novel is a spittoon which we found on a chair in his living room. After the house, we spent some time in the other-worldly Cervantino Market. Thousands walked the medieval-decorated streets filled with live performers of early modern Spanish music, over 450 vendors dressed in fitting costumes, a real-life Don Quixote and his horse, and unbelievable dining options. I can honestly say that it felt like we were in the 1600s as we walked through this market 鈥 it was an indescribable experience. As we walked through the Cervantino Market, we approached our next destination, the Monastery of San Bernardo.听
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The Monastery of San Bernardo began construction in 1618 and has been an active place of worship for nearly 400 years. The monastery was called for by the archbishop of Toledo, the senior religious leader at the time. After 18 years of construction, the project was completed. To the shock of many, Juan G贸mez de Mora, the lead architect, left a surprise for them. Until 2011, the monastery was not intended for the public. The general population could only enter the monastery once a year, on the day of Saint Bernard. So, the public was very excited for the day to come when they could see the church they had been building for nearly twenty years. From the outside, the church has a pointed/flat roof and follows the general rules for the construction of a Catholic church. Most churches are built in the shape of a cross, with the top facing Jerusalem, but San Bernardo is unique. When city members went inside for the first time and saw the largest dome in the country and a very unorthodox architectural style, they were stunned. Luckily for us, no nuns have lived in the monastery since 2011, so we were fortunate enough to experience that same feeling of awe that other members of the city did.
Alcala de Henares is a place I will remember for a long time, especially during the Mercado Cervantino. I would highly recommend spending a day or two there if you are in town during that event. I am very grateful for my time there and hope to return one day.听
One week after Alcala de Henares we went north to Castilla y Leon for the city of Segovia. We began with our entry into Segovia through the metaphorical gate of the city: the aqueduct. The aqueduct is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. At the foot of the aqueduct, Paco, our Program Director, taught us about the history of rulers in the Iberian Peninsula, how aqueducts work, and the history of Segovia. The aqueduct was made in the first century AD by the Roman Empire and is extremely well preserved. It was still in use until 1973. It鈥檚 constructed with granite and solid architectural plans, and there are no nails, mortar, or other help besides gravity. These genius plans allowed the aqueducts to successfully relocate water from the mountains over 11 miles away back into the city for public use.听
In order for the aqueduct to work, the slope had to be a 5-degree tilt. Otherwise, it would dry up in the summer and overflow during the rainy season. The undeniable architectural brilliance of Segovian attractions inspires travelers to visit this unique city.听
The Cathedral of Segovia was made around 1525 in a Gothic style, and is the last Cathedral in Europe with this style. It鈥檚 evident that it was built during a transitional period of art because the main facade is in a Neoclassical style, the next popular method. The inside holds a beautiful altarpiece, organs, art, a choir, stunning stained glass windows, and a beautiful patterned ceiling. The Cathedral was a fan favorite for many (because of the cats outside), but mine was the stunning El Alcazar. As we walked towards El Alcazar (鈥淭he Castle,鈥 in English), we followed a path decorated with trees and storks flying around us. When we got to the gate we had to walk over a suspended bridge and a 40-foot moat before getting into the castle. The moment you enter, it鈥檚 easy to see why 22 Spanish kings have lived there. The intricate mix between Islamic and Gothic Styles was very intriguing; you could understand untold stories of Spain just by looking at the ceiling and walls of El Alcazar. The interior is stunning and transitions very well into the second function of the castle, a military fortress. My favorite part of El Alcazar was the views because of its strategic location on the side of a mountain. The combination of the changing seasons and the beautiful architecture in Segovia allowed me to take some of the best pictures I鈥檝e ever taken.听
I would highly recommend Segovia if you have an extra day in Spain. You can see it all fairly quickly, and it is difficult to find three unique things in such a small area. Additionally, Segovia is a sister city to Rome, so if you are looking for a cheaper alternative to Rome, I'd recommend Segovia. Also, shoutout to Preston and Megan for some photos.
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As I鈥檓 sure many of you are aware, it鈥檚 college admissions season. If you or your parents have any questions about the Madrid Cornerstone Program, please reach out to me. My contact information is below and I鈥檒l get back to you as quickly as I can.
Email: maxwellokamura@gmail.com
Instagram @okamura.max + @aumadridcornerstone + @au_cornerstone