Daniel Grandziel is Conversational
English Instructor at IES Santa Clara. He was born
in Chicago and he studied Spanish at Southern Illinois
University. He says that he’s happy with the
students… thanks Daniel!
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Con Daniel Grandziel. |
Pregunta.- Hello Daniel. In the
first place, why did you decide to come to Spain?
Respuesta.- I decided to come to
Spain for new experiences. My friend was working
in Madrid and she helped me throughout the paperwork.
I wasn’t doing much in the United States so
I decided to come to Spain.
P.- What is your favourite food?
R.- I would have to be pizza. I
eat pizza here two or three times a week. Chicago
pizza is the best. Spanish food I like a beet, I
would have to day cochinillo, cocido montañés,
I like tortilla española, I like lechazo,
cordero, paella. But I don’t like seafood
so…
P.- What type of music is your
favourite?
R.- I would have to say my favourite
music probably be 90’s alternative like Nirvana
and Blind Melon, I listen to Jack Johnson…
I listen to everything. I’m not very keen
on classical music or R&B. I like rap too.
P.- Which is your favourite sport?
R.- I like American football. Go,
Chicago Bears!
P.-What do you like doing when
you don’t have to work?
R.- I like to go hiking, I have
done quite a few hikes here in Spain and in Cantabria,
I did the Camino de Santiago last summer and I want
to do it twice this summer. I also watch movies
and play video games.
P.- Why are you teaching English
in Spain?
R.- I’m pretty good at speaking
English so I decided it would be better than me
teaching Spanish in Spain. I like education, I studied
Spanish so here I am, and I like it more than I
thought I would.
P.- Would you like to stay here
for a long time?
R.- I’m trying to decide
that now. It’s difficult. Sometimes I am very
homesick. I miss being in my native culture. I miss
being able to talk to anybody I want, people are
more friendly in the United States, it is my language.
But I could see myself staying here for a long time.
. I like Spain. It is very tranquil.
P.- Are you happy with the students
in this school?
R.- I’m happy with the students.
They behave themselves quite well. Not that Spanish
students behave themselves very well. School is
very different. In the United States, you cannot
talk as much, there is more discipline.
P.- How is Spain similar to USA
and how is it different?
R.- Different is fairly easy. We
don’t take as many naps, we drive a lost more,
gas is much less expensive, there is more fast food,
we eat more turkey, people are generally more talkative
and the pace of life is quicker, especially in the
cities. Things that are similar are that people
like to eat, people like to go out and have a good
time, people like talking to other people, people
like hanging out with friends, we like sports a
lot too. I think the United States is much more
spread out. Another big difference is the history.
P.- When did you come to Spain
for the first time?
R.- It was to work. It was October
2012. That was my first time in Spain, my first
time in Europe, and I have lived here since.
P.- Before coming to Spain, how
did you think it would be?
R.- I did not have much an idea
of what Spain would be like. I think I had more
of an idea of what the people would like. I thought
the people would be darker. I didn’t think
there would be as much diversity. It was a completely
different Spanish from what I expected. I didn’t
expect much, though. I thought there would be more
bullfighting.
P.- what do you do on weekends?
R.- I like to go hiking or be with
my friends. I try to go out. I have been to a lot
of places in Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y León.
My dad is coming for easter so we are going down
south…. I try to travel or hike.
P.- Are there any similarities
between Chicago and Santander?
R.- There are not many similarities.
There are buses and both cities are on water. But
other than that, there are not many similarities.
We haver the tallest building in the United States.
There are many people, there is much more traffic.
There is much more traffic. There is much more danger.
The closest thing to Chicago in Spain might be Madrid
and it would still be different.
Thank you for everything, Daniel
Jaime Aparicio, Andrea Bezanilla, Julia Carral,
Manuel Cobo, Sandra Malfaz, Blanca Fernández,
Gilson Gimias, Fátima Khan, Jonatan López,
Rubén Lyons, Pablo Ramírez y Lucía
Trufa.
