Farewell...

So...my time in Casa de la Ciencia comes to an end, sadly, I must say. I guess I have started to appreciate only now, when I have to leave, how amazing is the building I am working in. And how many new and interesting things I have learned from the exhibitions, my work and my colleagues. Did you know that “the tongue of the blue whale, the largest mammal on Earth, weighs as much as an elephant?”

I have had a chance to be a part of the museum team for 3 months and I must say I have enjoyed it a lot. To name few things I have done: I managed our English blog, developed and maintained TripAdvisor account, prepared collaboration agreements with hotels, participated in Feria de Ciencia (Science Fair) where apart from talking to children and their teachers I had a chance to hold a live owl (impressive!) and had an honour to contribute to several business meetings.

I could not wish for better colleagues who helped me to feel like a part of the team. Even outside working hours :) Also I could not ask for better integration moment than that when Erika let me borrow her Flamenco dress for Feria de Sevilla!

You know what is the advantage to have Spanish colleagues? They are always positive!  And this energy transfers through the building into your heart :)

And for any problem in your life the answer is only one: 

“No pasa nada!” 

(Don´t worry).

  I will learn from you guys and take this positive attitude to the next place I go!

Thank you!

Meet the people of La Casa de la Ciencia (VI) Iván

Ivan is a face of communication with the public. His phone rings almost every second. He is responsible for coordinating and managing all the visits that are carried out in the Museum. In fact, if some of the Primary school teachers read this profile, he or she may already know the voice of Ivan. "Often teachers ask for me when they come with their class for a visit; having so much talks ends up building a friendship."

The thing he likes the most about his job is to feel that he is contributing something to the society, to the public. “Here come kids, they learn, they have a good time… I like to think that a little part of this anonymous responsibility is mine. ”

His voice and adorable accent makes him perfect for this position. Ivan was born in Venezuela where his Asturian parents emigrated, even though his diction can be confused with the one of Canarians. He is therefore an intellectual (in the best sense of the word) result of the meeting of two cultures, two very different and very brotherly countries.

He studied Journalism in Caracas and came to Salamanca to do the Masters in American literature. "I like journalism, but I'm a frustrated scholar. I think I lack that element of curiosity and boldness characteristic of reporters."

At the moment he is combining his job in the Casa de la Ciencia, he is a PhD candidate in Literature. His thesis is about the work of Argentinian writer and journalist Roberto Arlt. This writer, born into an immigrant, poor and unbalanced family, became the best known columnist in Buenos Aires thanks to his language and manners and traveled to Spain to write his "Spanish Etchings".

 

When I accomplish my dream of having a PhD, I would like to continue learning Portuguese and live for a while in Buenos Aires. You can call me argentinofilo because I love their culture. What I like the most? To cook. Above all, rice in any form. The corn cakes as well are my specialty. I have been tempted to finally make my own bread. To have a bike rides – as a medium between means of transport and pleasure. The Venezualian and Spanish folklore.

Ivan has shared with us a group of very curious music. It is called Serenata Guyanese and its cultural ingredients are many and varied. From the south of Venezuela, Bolivar state and sing in four voices the most picturesque and traditional melodies.

Would you like to discover them with us?

"Like a fish in water!"

On Monday, 7th of July…We have started our week with many objectives in our mind, but not just any … rather very valuable ones and we are going to obtain them with the help of our little ones starting with the Owl Project. The parents have gone on holiday so that children would learn to do the house chores and the great value of helping other family members on a daily basis.

From today until Friday we will learn how to collect the plates from the table, to wash our hands before sitting at the table, to make the bed, to leave the things that we take and use in place. But the most important what we are going to learn will be how to have a good manners: to greet or to say goodbye to people that we see on a day to day basis, to ask for a permission to speak (because sometimes you learn more by listening than by speaking, do you agree?), to ask help when we need it and grant it to those who need it. And the latter is of a great importance to know how to live in society, to achieve the goals that we set in order to enjoy a full and peaceful life. 

With the help of coordinator Rosa and her colleagues, through games and workshops with the respect for people and the environment, tolerance, responsibility, commitment, patience, friendship, happiness.. all of this will reign in the second week of July in Casa de la Ciencia. With the rules of courtesy we will issue the passport without which you cannot travel through life. Will we all feel "Like a fish in water"? Let's do it!

Here we leave you a small musical album on Monday shared with Owl Project and its camp theme this week "Like a fish in water."