Blog 4: Opinion Piece: Why the European Public University School System Outweighs the Cal-State System

      After experiencing the excitement of studying abroad, I can't help but criticize the American School system, more specifically, the Cal State University System. Before diving in to the amazing benefits of enrolling in a European university, you must keep in mind cultural and systematic differences. Spain is a democratic monarchy that has been on the train of revolution since the fall of their dictator Franco in the 1970s. In every faculty building, with bright colored spray paint reads phrases of liberation, freedom and ultimately joy in the ability to finally study college content as an open egalitarian free society would have it. The rebellious atmosphere in itself, is worth studying abroad in Spain. After experiencing endless amounts of protests in the metro, on the streets and being locked out of my school building, I was able to gain an appreciation for the privilege, deemed right, to earn a degree and receive an education like I never had before. 

     In contrast, University attendance in the U.S. is mundane, dreadful and apathetic to say the least. While I could relate to some of their protests, I realized that my fellow American students and I lack fire, passion for our education. There is nothing like having your education monitored and dictated to you and then experiencing the lifted banner of democracy, allowing you to pursue the education that you want to, Viva la Revolución!

     I was enrolled in La Universidad Complutense de Madrid, one of the most prestigious public universities in Spain and the largest, with multiple faculty buildings, each dedicated to a separate school of study. You can tell that they truly dedicate themselves to their studies and have a great focus on each field. One may argue that the lack of integration may be detrimental to a student's integrated learning experience. Ultimately, the separation allows you as a student to delve into your courses fully, arriving at my main point; there are no G.E. requirements. 

     Not having the stress of mandated General Education requirements permits you as a student to focus on your major, to learn more, to become more submersed and less distracted. Not to mention, you are likely to get out of school nearly debt free if not completely debt free. The cost of tuition is minimal in Spain compared to the U.S. While I did miss fancier looking restrooms and activities on the quad, I realized that you can get by just fine when you have the basics: classrooms, cafeteria and a library. The Cal State systems fees are so high because we not only pay for our tuition but we also contribute to the private health care, opposed to Spain's public health care, the landscaping bill, the programming fee and so on and so forth. The amount of fees that we incur for the continuous decrease in the quality of the services and resources, not to mention registered classes that we get access to is bologna. 

     When I told my friends abroad that I struggled getting into my classes in the U.S. they were dumbfounded, as am I. Spain allows you to set-up your four year plan from the beginning, without having to compete for classes, guaranteeing that you have access to your major courses, as nature intended, or so I would like to believe. The benefits don't stop there, the Madrid community is made for college students, the city is large enough to share resources with all ages, all types of people and the bars, libraries and cafés on every corner make for ample and fun study space whereas Rohnert Park and Cotati is not College friendly. 

     Spanish schools will not write you up for noise complaints, the drinking age is 18, the ability to obtain your degree and study abroad is easy, the surroundings make for a wonderful setting to your college lifestyle and the tapas are to die for. Sonoma State University contra Madrid, I would choose Spain any day.

 

     

Blog 3: Mayor

In the midst of a financial crisis, Dixonville’s Mayor Frank Jones may soon lose his position to Bill Smith

            Last night, a forum was held at the Dixonville chamber of commerce where each candidate made their case as to why they should receive the chamber’s endorsement and should ultimately be elected mayor of Dixonville. With 20 minutes to address the crowd of approximately 200, mainly local business owners, each candidate concentrated on what they would bring to the table with challenger Bill Smith starting off the night.

            “My opponent’s policies have had disastrous results for this city. He took office with a budget surplus. We now have a $1 million deficit. If we elect him to another term, Dixonville will be bankrupt in a year.”

            The city is in the middle of a financial crisis, and according to its budget office is running roughly a $1 million deficit. Who would be better suited to lead the city out of debt is the question on the table. Currently, Mayor Frank Jones, a family man of 45 years old, owns a downtown hot dog and hamburger restaurant called “Frank’s Furters.”  While, Bill Smith, 38-years-old is challenging Jones for the seat. Also a father, he is a self-described “entrepreneur,” whose most recent business was selling glow-in-the-dark “I love Dixonville” ball caps. Both men are native to Dixonville but like most, have differing backgrounds. 

            Jones responded to Smith’s comment stating, “My challenger has a checkered background to say the least. To say the most, he has made reckless decisions in his life that can only lead one to question his fitness to hold public office.” Jones may be referring to Smith’s arrest at the age of 22 for possession of methamphetamine. However, Smith claims to be a different man and argued that people change and grow.

            “Yes, I was arrested for possession of narcotics at the age of 22, but it was a youthful indiscretion I should not be held accountable for at the age of 38. People change and grow. I would argue that my mistakes as a young man have given me a wisdom I might not have otherwise achieved.”

            In response to the policy that either would like to ensue, Bill Smith’s plan for closing the deficit includes closing two city parks, one on Elm Street the other on Kennedy Avenue, as well as the city’s senior center at 415 Main Street. He also proposes raising parking fees in the downtown area to raise more revenue.

            “By increasing parking fees in the downtown area, we will increase our revenue in a way that spreads the burden in an equitable manner, and it will help refill our badly depleted city coffers.”

            Despite Jones not having quite as specific a call to action, Dixonville Daily’s recent poll shows each candidate currently receiving 46 percent of the vote, a close call.

Frank Jones has not given any specifics yet on how to close the budget gap other than to call for a series of public forums to get input on where cuts should be made and then putting together a plan of spending priorities.

            Jones responded promptly, “He says two of our parks and our senior center have to be closed. Yes, painful cuts must be considered in the coming year. But to take out the bad economy on our vulnerable seniors and precious children is nothing short of cruel.” He continued on stating, “Increasing parking fees in the downtown is a business killer. We want to attract business to the downtown. More fees will only drive them to the mall, and end up costing the city more money in lost business tax revenues.”

            As the constituents listened on, likely imagining how these policies would affect their local businesses, Smith’s rebuttal noted the reason behind closing these local venues. “My economic plan does close down two city parks and our senior center, but the city is losing money. We have to be sensible about our budget. We simply can’t afford all of the services we are paying for during this crisis.”

            As voters head to the election polls on April 8^th, their decision could potentially make a sizeable change for both themselves and fellow community members. Who is to blame and whose presence may be the solution, who’s to say? Mayor Jones ended the forum on this note, "To blame the city's economic crisis on me loses sight of the bigger picture. We are in a down economy and have been faced with unanticipated cutbacks in state and federal funding. No one could have seen this coming."

Assignment 2: Most Embarrassing Moment

            What began as a normal day at the mall would soon turn in to a powerful life lesson. Erick was living in Healdsburg, CA at the time, only 15 years old. He was a football player, a tough guy. It was the year 2005 and the living was easy. On a day like any other, Erick and his friends decided to take a stroll around the Santa Rosa Mall, as they often did. As he recalls, " The weather was hot and we wanted to feel some relief." There's nothing better than hanging out with your friends on the weekend, no school or obligations to worry about. 

            According to Simon Malls, the Santa Rosa Plaza has over 120 stores, ranging from food, to top fashion. The North Bay Business Journal informs us that the mall is 700,000 square feet in length. Before what we know as the newly renovated mall, with parking that you now have to pay for, the mall was a simple, fun place to hang out at. After all, you could buy yourself a smoothie, a new outfit for your first day back at school and as Erick pointed out, even go home with a hermit crab. 

            With his dad, siblings and a few of his closest friends by his side, Erick walked through the mall that day well accompanied. He admittedly said that his dad, “didn’t really understand the concept of space,” after he asked him if they could venture off on their own. He was very active and always enjoyed physical activity and “you’ve got to look good doing it,” he said as I asked him about his favorite store, so he spent a lot of time in Footlocker, looking for the perfect kicks to sport around school and sport around the football field when it came down to practice and game time.

            “Nowadays the mall is mainly fashion and food but there used to be a pet store there,” Erick informed me. Initially he always gravitated toward the dogs, “I’m a dog person,” Erick chuckles. While they had pets as younger kids, his dad hadn’t allowed them to have a dog yet. With saddened eyes, Erick walked pass the dogs this time and toward the more, unusual animals.

            Admittedly, Erick says that he was a stubborn kid, set in his ways. Often rebelling against society and what his parents told him to do, he didn’t take his father’s warning seriously as he told Erick that day not to taunt the hermit crabs. He recalls, “I couldn’t help but laugh that of all things my dad was worried about the puny hermit crab!” When I asked what he did to taunt them he stated, “ We blew on them, we moved their cages around, we poked their backs, all in good fun though.” Meanwhile, after seeing this, his dad began to get angry with Erick, telling him in Spanish to knock it off.

            The sign on the glass cage said to ask before handling but Erick didn’t heed the warning and grabbed one of the hermit crabs quickly, without giving it a second thought. He remembers thinking, “this little guy couldn’t hurt me.” As Erick is holding the crab in his hand, he decided it would be funny to put him close to his nose. His friends break out in laughter and his dad rolls his eyes. Saying dumb things directly to the crab as he pinched its body and looked it straight in the eyes, next to his, he said that it was all fun and games for about a minute until the crab started to fuss and move its legs. “Ouch!” Erick screamed, loud enough for the entire mall to hear him. The hermit crab had pinched his nose, and hard. His dad laughed, “He pointed at me and said I told you so, as he often did.”

            It turns out parent’s warnings, usually come from a sound place. If he had only listened, he could have escaped the pinch but then we wouldn’t be able to laugh about it either. “Not only did I get a small lecture in the car ride home about how I shouldn’t taunt animals but I had a huge bruise on my nose for what seemed like a month!”

Where I stand, across the sands of time...

      It all comes down to this. Four years and 6 months thus far, dedicating myself to Communications, Spanish and minoring in Photography because I didn't feel that it was a sensible major. More graduation talk, you say? Boring. What will I be pursuing in my adamant search for my career after college? It's like a loop that plays over and over again, in my head, circling the circumference of my cranium, in one ear, around my head and into the universe-searching for an answer and back through my other ear. There it sits, on my brain, as the long awaited, weighted question. 

I don't know what I look like anymore. 

I don't know who I am. 

And sometimes, when it comes to others, I don't give a damn. 

I'm so tired of feeling, every word and everything. 

Sometimes I just want to be left alone, excuse me please,

I need to leave. 

I would like to keep self-pitying myself, and all that I do 

But I'm starting to feel guilty and realizing that it all isn't true. 

I no longer want to suffer in this box I have placed myself in, 

But I have been in here so long; I may die from sun exposure. 

When it comes to life decisions I repeat that I do not have a clue

But the truth is that I am very thoughtful and confident in most everything that I do. 

I may play dumb because it is easy but with myself I cannot lie, 

I pretend not to acknowledge that I'm living my life in disguise. 

Excuses for where my head's at, justifications for why I am late, 

I am beginning to think it is self-sabotage and that truly I may turn out great. 

I sigh in relief at the thought of it all, hoping to carry on with my head held high but just as I do, for a minute or two,

I begin again to ask myself why. 

I often get lost in the details and forget to listen to my heart, 

The only place that I find my sanity is writing here alone in the dark. 

No one truly knows where I come from,

I know that most don't give a damn.

Why should they? I don't.

I am constantly convincing myself to. 

I would like to reach out and touch you, 

To not cower from where I stand,

But the thought of it makes me queasy and I find it hard to stand. 

I often get lost in this vortex between my bed, the ground and my sheets, dreaming of what once was or what could be,

Analyzing it all for meaning. 

Comparing my cries for help to the bible,

The story of the man in the boat.  

Who denied all that came to save him,

When he could barely stay afloat. 

God will be my salvation he said,

Do not worry,

He surely won't let me down.

But when he died and he reached the gates of heaven he asked,

Why did you betray me? 

He ignored all the signs of salvation, 

All the people that reached out their hands,

And I fear that I too will end up drowning, a saddened fool.

I have come to few realizations

And in the midst I feel the wind at my feet. 

It keeps pushing me in different directions and although I was stuck before, I allow it to move me,

To sway me, and again, I start to see. 

When I ignore the inevitability that there soon will be change, 

A rush of alleviation fills my brain and the temporary endorphins convince me that I am happy, 

Content in my ways. 

I could be simple,

I say toward the end of the day,

When I think about what is to come. 

I will change my career goal to make more money,

There is nothing worth exploring out there. 

But my heart, it aches, knowing that these words are stuffing to fill the tears in my lining. 

Recently every situation has presented itself with life lessons. 

The people that I come into contact with, 

Serve as pieces of truths, 

Slowly but surely revealing themselves to me. 

I cling to their words, absorbing their advice like a dried out sponge coming into contact with water. 

I am thirsty for knowledge, 

I am open like the pores of the sponge. 

Spending my time searching for a release. 

No one thing satisfies me. 

Art. 

Music. 

Poetry.

All components of who I am.

I do not come to you for answers,

I have not one question to ask.

Flooded with thoughts of uncertainty.

Fear, I fear in itself.

I admire the brave face that they often use,

Others like me that quiver at these thoughts too.  

Just as well, I may walk away from this confession,

Pleased and feeling success.

For this pain that is ever enduring has slightly, momentarily,

Been lifted from my chest.