lunes, 6 de abril de 2026
Philips SHN9500 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
I just bought the Philips SHN 9500 off Amazon.com and they are great. I was worried about buying then online without trying them on first. The last pair of headphones I had hurt my ears, but everything turned out great, these completely cover my hear. There is a nice, tight seal around the year, which helps a lot with outside noise, even when the NC is off. The noise canceling works great. It only covers the low range sounds, which is perfect for the buses, planes, and metro. I think, but its hard to tell, when the NC is on, the bass is slightly reduced. I saw that on a lot of reviews of other headphones so I don't think that is something to worry about and plus, you can barely tell anyways. All and all, I think the headphones are an excellent buy, especially for under 100 dollars. They don't fit to tight, nor do they feel like they are going to fall off and they deliver a high quality sound. And the product comes with a convenient carrying case and two headphone adapters. What more could you ask for!
viernes, 18 de julio de 2008
It's been rough
So, if a few of you bloggers are wondering why I didn't finish the year out writing in my blog, it is because I was experiencing computer problems as well as internet problems. Now, things are back up and running smoothly (hopefully it will stay like that), and I am going to attempt to finish writing my blogs.
I am going to start with the major trips I went on since the last post and if anything else comes to mind while I am writing I will make sure to make a note of it. As for the pictures, I am still fiddling with my computer and so they might take a little while longer. I am sure most of you enjoy the pictures more than reading the blog so I will try and hurry up.
I hope all of you haven't lost interest. If you are curious or want a more detailed account or experience of my travels and studies in Spain, feel free to email me at:
I'll respond in a timely manner, promise!
Talk to you guys soon,
Patton
I am going to start with the major trips I went on since the last post and if anything else comes to mind while I am writing I will make sure to make a note of it. As for the pictures, I am still fiddling with my computer and so they might take a little while longer. I am sure most of you enjoy the pictures more than reading the blog so I will try and hurry up.
I hope all of you haven't lost interest. If you are curious or want a more detailed account or experience of my travels and studies in Spain, feel free to email me at:
I'll respond in a timely manner, promise!
Talk to you guys soon,
Patton
sábado, 29 de marzo de 2008
Semana Santa and little bit more
These past couple weeks have been very hectic for me. I have been traveling, and studying quite a bit. I have decided that I am going to work a little harder during the first half of the semester so that I am not stressed out at the end, what a concept. I guess, first I will start with my classes for this semester.
I am only taking four classes, just like last time, but I believe the course load will be easier this semester. Two of the classes will not have a final exams and the others, the exams will be in the first week of June. The classes are, translated into English, Comparative World Politics, Nationalist movements in Spain and the rest of Europe, Ethnology in Mexico and Central America, and Latin American Short Story class. All the classes are very interesting and I enjoy going to class and learning.
Last semester I was overwhelmed with two full-length novel literature classes. This semester I decided to do things differently. I have come to discover that I like Latin American Literature better than I like Spanish Literature. For those of you who can't believe that Spanish Literature and Latin American literature are different, I am sorry, I can't explain it either. The Ethnology class really intrigued me the first day I went. Since I was in Mexico this summer, I have wanted to learn as much as I can about the country. In a broad sense, we discuss the relationships between the colonizers and the indigenous people from many aspects; economy, tradition, religion, etc. Great Class.
The Comparative World Politics class is just that, and very interesting. At Santa Barbara I haven't had a chance to take classes like these and I have always wanted to. Same goes with the Nationalist movement class. I am learning things about Spain's history that puts our (The U.S.) problems into perspective.
That is pretty much it for the classes. I have readings and essays to write throughout the semester and I can assure you that I attend class everyday, haha. As for my travels, I have been doing a lot. Since the semester started in February, I have taken day trips to Segovia and Alcalá de Henares, spent some time with Seara's cousin MaryCate and Seara's dad, before spring break and during our spring break road trip through the eastern part of Andalucía, respectively. Let me walk you through the trips in a quick and orderly fashion
Segovia is really cool, fun, and had a lot to offer. Segovia is known for its old Roman aqueduct that towers above the rooftops and was constructed without morter. Only gravity holds together this standing testament to Spanish history. Alcalá on the other hand, was a sleepy little town whose only claim to fame is the birth place of the author of Don Quixote, Miguel Cervantes. Above all these trips, the road trip with Seara's dad was one of the best trips I have been on. We managed to cover a large part of Spain and see a lot of amazing things. We spent a day in Sevilla, a day in Cadiz, two days in Gibraltar, one day in Ronda, and afternoons in Jerez and Tarifa. In addition, we saw some really cool small villages tucked away in the mountains, the remains of an ancient Roman city, tiny little beach towns and the legendary Pueblos Blancos. All in all, it was an amazing trip.
I could talk forever about these places, especially the road trip, but I think you guys would get a little tired after page 10. Here are the pictures of my trip and if you want some more stories or a detailed report, I would be glad to share them with you guys. I will write another post regarding the road trip so check back soon.
As for the next couple weeks, I plan to visit a friend I know from Mexico in Barcelona and then My parents and Frieda come to visit. The vacations just keep getting better and better. We went through a little cold spell, but it is sunny and bright again. Hopefully it stays that way.
I look forward to seeing you (Mom, Dad, Frieda), I am sure all of you will see the pictures when they return.
Patton
I am only taking four classes, just like last time, but I believe the course load will be easier this semester. Two of the classes will not have a final exams and the others, the exams will be in the first week of June. The classes are, translated into English, Comparative World Politics, Nationalist movements in Spain and the rest of Europe, Ethnology in Mexico and Central America, and Latin American Short Story class. All the classes are very interesting and I enjoy going to class and learning.
Last semester I was overwhelmed with two full-length novel literature classes. This semester I decided to do things differently. I have come to discover that I like Latin American Literature better than I like Spanish Literature. For those of you who can't believe that Spanish Literature and Latin American literature are different, I am sorry, I can't explain it either. The Ethnology class really intrigued me the first day I went. Since I was in Mexico this summer, I have wanted to learn as much as I can about the country. In a broad sense, we discuss the relationships between the colonizers and the indigenous people from many aspects; economy, tradition, religion, etc. Great Class.
The Comparative World Politics class is just that, and very interesting. At Santa Barbara I haven't had a chance to take classes like these and I have always wanted to. Same goes with the Nationalist movement class. I am learning things about Spain's history that puts our (The U.S.) problems into perspective.
That is pretty much it for the classes. I have readings and essays to write throughout the semester and I can assure you that I attend class everyday, haha. As for my travels, I have been doing a lot. Since the semester started in February, I have taken day trips to Segovia and Alcalá de Henares, spent some time with Seara's cousin MaryCate and Seara's dad, before spring break and during our spring break road trip through the eastern part of Andalucía, respectively. Let me walk you through the trips in a quick and orderly fashion
Segovia is really cool, fun, and had a lot to offer. Segovia is known for its old Roman aqueduct that towers above the rooftops and was constructed without morter. Only gravity holds together this standing testament to Spanish history. Alcalá on the other hand, was a sleepy little town whose only claim to fame is the birth place of the author of Don Quixote, Miguel Cervantes. Above all these trips, the road trip with Seara's dad was one of the best trips I have been on. We managed to cover a large part of Spain and see a lot of amazing things. We spent a day in Sevilla, a day in Cadiz, two days in Gibraltar, one day in Ronda, and afternoons in Jerez and Tarifa. In addition, we saw some really cool small villages tucked away in the mountains, the remains of an ancient Roman city, tiny little beach towns and the legendary Pueblos Blancos. All in all, it was an amazing trip.
I could talk forever about these places, especially the road trip, but I think you guys would get a little tired after page 10. Here are the pictures of my trip and if you want some more stories or a detailed report, I would be glad to share them with you guys. I will write another post regarding the road trip so check back soon.
As for the next couple weeks, I plan to visit a friend I know from Mexico in Barcelona and then My parents and Frieda come to visit. The vacations just keep getting better and better. We went through a little cold spell, but it is sunny and bright again. Hopefully it stays that way.
I look forward to seeing you (Mom, Dad, Frieda), I am sure all of you will see the pictures when they return.
Patton
lunes, 18 de febrero de 2008
Finals are finally over!
Finals are finally over. For the past month, I have been locked in my room studying frantically so that I can pass my classes. So far I have already received one grade back, which I am very happy with. The others I feel very confident about and I will hear from the teachers on Wednesday. Due to the long extended final exam period, I was able to take a short trip to visit some friends in Granada. One of my close friends, Chris, is returning home early from a year program in Granada to finish up a few classes for his major. In order to graduate on time, he must take those classes at his University in Santa Cruz. The trip was a lot of fun and of course it was good to see my good friends. The guys I hung out with I had met in Mexico this summer. We don't get to see each other often because we are all studying in different cities in Spain. Also, I think I was going crazy from all the studying, I needed a break.
Granada is a beautiful city. We didn't do many touristy things but we got the city tour and explored the city streets. We walked through the old and new parts of town, saw some amazing graffiti art, and took a hike up to a Gypsy's cave tea house. Everything was amazing. When I returned I had two tests 3 days later, and I believe they went just perfect.
As for upcoming news, my plan this semester is to take advantage of the little work I have early in the semester and do some traveling. I really want to make sure I see everything I want to see in Spain before I set my sights on cities outside the country. I will be visiting Granada with My parents and Frieda, and when Seara's Dad comes, we might go to Cádiz. That just leaves a few more weekends for the other major cities.
As for the end of the year, I was planning on returning early for summer school but the classes I was hoping for are not offered this summer. Instead, I am going to take advantage of my time here in Europe and possibly do some backpacking. In the northern states of Spain, there is a 500 mile trail stretching from the Pyrenees and ends in a city on the Atlantic Ocean. The trail is called the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage and it takes about 40 days to hike the whole thing. Maybe I can just hike a part of it, but we will see. Mom, I will let you know if I need my backpacking stuff (haha). Well, This one is short and sweet, but to be honest, I haven't done much this past month but study. Get ready for a fun and exciting second semester. Here are all the pictures that I have taken since the last upload of pictures.
Granada is a beautiful city. We didn't do many touristy things but we got the city tour and explored the city streets. We walked through the old and new parts of town, saw some amazing graffiti art, and took a hike up to a Gypsy's cave tea house. Everything was amazing. When I returned I had two tests 3 days later, and I believe they went just perfect.
As for upcoming news, my plan this semester is to take advantage of the little work I have early in the semester and do some traveling. I really want to make sure I see everything I want to see in Spain before I set my sights on cities outside the country. I will be visiting Granada with My parents and Frieda, and when Seara's Dad comes, we might go to Cádiz. That just leaves a few more weekends for the other major cities.
As for the end of the year, I was planning on returning early for summer school but the classes I was hoping for are not offered this summer. Instead, I am going to take advantage of my time here in Europe and possibly do some backpacking. In the northern states of Spain, there is a 500 mile trail stretching from the Pyrenees and ends in a city on the Atlantic Ocean. The trail is called the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage and it takes about 40 days to hike the whole thing. Maybe I can just hike a part of it, but we will see. Mom, I will let you know if I need my backpacking stuff (haha). Well, This one is short and sweet, but to be honest, I haven't done much this past month but study. Get ready for a fun and exciting second semester. Here are all the pictures that I have taken since the last upload of pictures.
miércoles, 23 de enero de 2008
¡La Loca Nochevieja! - a.k.a. Crazy New Years
I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I decided to stay in Madrid for New Years. I had heard that Madrid has notoriously crazy parties that night but I was not prepared for what was about to unfold that night. First let me start with the day before, December 30.
At this time Molly and Brian had made it from Switzerland to Madrid to spend the next three days with me. That night we went out to dinner downtown, not to late, around 9 typical for Spainiards. By the time we finished around 11:30, the entire downtown plaza was filled with people drinking, singing, yelling and just hanging around. We knew that this was the place for the New Years celebration but we were all terribly confused. The first thing we did was check our watches to make sure we had the right date. After trying to make our way through the crowd with little luck, we decided to stop and just enjoy the craziness. For those of you that don't know, (which may be most of you,) the tradition in Spain is too eat one grape at every stroke of the clock tower at midnight. After asking a few locals we find out there is a "practice run" with the grapes at 12 midnight. As we panned through the crowd, everyone around us had grapes, party hats and beer cans in their hands. Once again we all checked out watches because we could not believe what we were seeing. After the stroke of midnight we were finally able to make it through the crowd and back home. At least now we knew what to expect tomorrow night.
The next night we started early. We met up at Seara's house for dinner and then barely made it to the downtown plaza in time for the grapes. This time there were police and barricades, a foretelling sign that tonight was the right night. Braced with our Champaign and grapes we waited for the stroke of midnight. At each stroke we shoved a grape into our mouth, and if anyone has ever played Chubby Bunny or the like, you know it is not an easy task eating that much food so quickly. Everything went smoothly but the night was not over. The second half was just about to begin.
Another tradition on New Years is to go to a discoteca and spend all night there until they close at 6 or 7 in the morning. For 40 euros, you can dance all night, open-bar all night, and free party favors and tapas, a good deal if you ask me. Around 1 a.m. we made it to the club and did not leave until 6:30. We were absolutely exhausted but all agreed that this was one of the most exciting and tiring New Years celebrations any of us had endured.
Brian and Molly left early on the morning of the 2nd. I had a lot of fun and enjoyed seeing them once again. I am glad that I was able to save them a couple bucks by letting them crash on my floor. Hostals in Madrid can be a little pricey especially that time of the year. Just when I thought things were settling down after the Holidays, school picked up again and Now I am studying for finals. A finals update will come when I am done studying, as for now I must get back to the books.
Patton
At this time Molly and Brian had made it from Switzerland to Madrid to spend the next three days with me. That night we went out to dinner downtown, not to late, around 9 typical for Spainiards. By the time we finished around 11:30, the entire downtown plaza was filled with people drinking, singing, yelling and just hanging around. We knew that this was the place for the New Years celebration but we were all terribly confused. The first thing we did was check our watches to make sure we had the right date. After trying to make our way through the crowd with little luck, we decided to stop and just enjoy the craziness. For those of you that don't know, (which may be most of you,) the tradition in Spain is too eat one grape at every stroke of the clock tower at midnight. After asking a few locals we find out there is a "practice run" with the grapes at 12 midnight. As we panned through the crowd, everyone around us had grapes, party hats and beer cans in their hands. Once again we all checked out watches because we could not believe what we were seeing. After the stroke of midnight we were finally able to make it through the crowd and back home. At least now we knew what to expect tomorrow night.
The next night we started early. We met up at Seara's house for dinner and then barely made it to the downtown plaza in time for the grapes. This time there were police and barricades, a foretelling sign that tonight was the right night. Braced with our Champaign and grapes we waited for the stroke of midnight. At each stroke we shoved a grape into our mouth, and if anyone has ever played Chubby Bunny or the like, you know it is not an easy task eating that much food so quickly. Everything went smoothly but the night was not over. The second half was just about to begin.
Another tradition on New Years is to go to a discoteca and spend all night there until they close at 6 or 7 in the morning. For 40 euros, you can dance all night, open-bar all night, and free party favors and tapas, a good deal if you ask me. Around 1 a.m. we made it to the club and did not leave until 6:30. We were absolutely exhausted but all agreed that this was one of the most exciting and tiring New Years celebrations any of us had endured.
Brian and Molly left early on the morning of the 2nd. I had a lot of fun and enjoyed seeing them once again. I am glad that I was able to save them a couple bucks by letting them crash on my floor. Hostals in Madrid can be a little pricey especially that time of the year. Just when I thought things were settling down after the Holidays, school picked up again and Now I am studying for finals. A finals update will come when I am done studying, as for now I must get back to the books.
Patton
jueves, 17 de enero de 2008
Philips SHN9500 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
I just bought the Philips SHN 9500 off Amazon.com and they are great. I was worried about buying them online without trying them on first. The last pair of headphones I had hurt my ears, but everything turned out great, these completely cover my ear. There is a nice, tight seal around the ear, which helps a lot with outside noise, even when the NC is off. The noise canceling works great. It only covers the low range sounds, which is perfect for the buses, planes, and metro. I think, but its hard to tell, when the NC is on, the bass is slightly reduced. I saw that mentioned on a lot of reviews of other headphones so I don't think that is something to worry about and plus, you can barely tell anyways. All and all, I think the headphones are an excellent buy, especially for under 100 dollars. They don't fit too tight, nor do they feel like they are going to fall off and they deliver a high quality sound. And the product comes with a convenient carrying case and two headphone adapters. What more could you ask for!
jueves, 10 de enero de 2008
I have returned from Germany safely.
First off, I would like to say that German is a very angry language. Everyone always sounds pissed off when they are talking to you. Thank God I didn't run into any problems.
Christmas was beautiful. Although it wasn't the same without my family, I was able to enjoy it with Seara's family in a beautiful place. We stayed at a resort in Souther Germany in the Alps. The resort was an old army base and now caters only to the army. We were able to go snowboarding one day and the other two days were spent relaxing and enjoying the Christmas atmosphere. I am very grateful that I was asked to come on this trip, Seara's Aunt and Uncle were both really happy to see us together. I am the first boy friend of Seara's that they have met (not that she has had a lot). Aunt Cappy and Uncle Mike live in Georgia along with the rest of Seara's mom's side of the family. The whole experience was absolutely stunning.
As for the first part of the trip, Amsterdam round two was amazing as well. It felt really good to be amongst my good friends again. It had been a while since I had seen most of those guys, some as far back as last spring. It was really cold in Amsterdam though, something I was unprepared for. It was so cold I was forced to buy a scarf, which I swore I wouldn't do. It gets cold here in Madrid but I was getting by fine without one. I told myself that I wouldn't buy a scarf because I would have no use for it when I return to Santa Barbara. I guess desperate times call for desperate measures and I caved in and bought one. Now I use it everyday.
On the flight home, Seara and I got really lucky. Our flight was canceled leaving Munich to Barcelona which could have left us stranded in the Munich airport. Originally we had planned to fly to Barcelona and take a bus to Madrid, that was the cheapest route we could find. But once the airline fixed the problem, they stuck us on a plane that went directly to Madrid. Everyone else going to Barcelona had to catch a flight the next morning while we just went home. Although we were out 25 euro from the bus tickets, the problem was solved in our favor.
The whole trip was crazy but I enjoyed every minute of it. I am not sure I like traveling so much but every minute was worth it. The train rides through Germany were absolutely beautiful with all the snow on the ground. Also not speaking the language can be very stressful but thankfully I had Seara to complain to. I enjoyed Christmas very much and I hope everyone else did as well. I want to wish everyone a very Merry belated Christmas and Happy New year.
Enjoy some new Madrid Pictures. Expect some Amsterdam pictures soon!
Patton
Christmas was beautiful. Although it wasn't the same without my family, I was able to enjoy it with Seara's family in a beautiful place. We stayed at a resort in Souther Germany in the Alps. The resort was an old army base and now caters only to the army. We were able to go snowboarding one day and the other two days were spent relaxing and enjoying the Christmas atmosphere. I am very grateful that I was asked to come on this trip, Seara's Aunt and Uncle were both really happy to see us together. I am the first boy friend of Seara's that they have met (not that she has had a lot). Aunt Cappy and Uncle Mike live in Georgia along with the rest of Seara's mom's side of the family. The whole experience was absolutely stunning.
As for the first part of the trip, Amsterdam round two was amazing as well. It felt really good to be amongst my good friends again. It had been a while since I had seen most of those guys, some as far back as last spring. It was really cold in Amsterdam though, something I was unprepared for. It was so cold I was forced to buy a scarf, which I swore I wouldn't do. It gets cold here in Madrid but I was getting by fine without one. I told myself that I wouldn't buy a scarf because I would have no use for it when I return to Santa Barbara. I guess desperate times call for desperate measures and I caved in and bought one. Now I use it everyday.
On the flight home, Seara and I got really lucky. Our flight was canceled leaving Munich to Barcelona which could have left us stranded in the Munich airport. Originally we had planned to fly to Barcelona and take a bus to Madrid, that was the cheapest route we could find. But once the airline fixed the problem, they stuck us on a plane that went directly to Madrid. Everyone else going to Barcelona had to catch a flight the next morning while we just went home. Although we were out 25 euro from the bus tickets, the problem was solved in our favor.
The whole trip was crazy but I enjoyed every minute of it. I am not sure I like traveling so much but every minute was worth it. The train rides through Germany were absolutely beautiful with all the snow on the ground. Also not speaking the language can be very stressful but thankfully I had Seara to complain to. I enjoyed Christmas very much and I hope everyone else did as well. I want to wish everyone a very Merry belated Christmas and Happy New year.
Enjoy some new Madrid Pictures. Expect some Amsterdam pictures soon!
Patton
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