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Posts: 233
Joined: Apr. 7 2005
From: Adelaide, Australia
RE: Hey all! Now the time has come f... (in reply to odinz)
Yes definitely go for it. My own experience in Sevilla, first trip I only stayed 3 months. I did some guitar but concentrated a lot on the language. I shared a flat with locals who didn't speak english, and if I heard English being spoken on the street I'd cross the road - a bit extreme I know. Did some accompaniment of Concha Vargas' classes even though I didn't really know what I was doing. Usually there were other guitarists there.
Second trip I stayed a year - I had money for three months then had to work. This was in 2000, now I think the work thing would be a lot harder. I accompanied at Javier Cruz' studio 4-5 hours every day, alongside my teacher Tudela. Eventually Tudela had work elsewhere a lot of the time so I eventually got paid work there since I'd seen all the choreographies a million times.
My advice on top of all the other advice on this thread would be find a teacher that is doing dance accompaniment work, and play alongside him for them in addition to your classes. That is what helped me the most, everything really got drilled in constantly. For cheap shared accommodation look for notices posted up around the university, and the magazine "Cambalanche" from newsagents (if it still exists). Many of the student notices will be looking for someone to share for a full year.
p.m. me if you want contacts of teachers in Sevilla such as Cano or Jesus Torres.
I have never been there, but its told to be the best place and you´ll get it all in one package. Go for it. I will again advice you to first take 1 or 2 month of an intensive spanish course. Spanish is not difficult, but what you´ll learn in Norway, will have little to do with what they speak here.
Posts: 3472
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA
RE: Hey all! Now the time has come f... (in reply to odinz)
quote:
ORIGINAL: odinz
I also need help deciding to take the jump or not, it is probably my only chance to do this.
Take the jump. You have the financial means, you are not encumbered by other obligations, and you have a goal in mind. Very few are fortunate enough to be in your position.
Whether you reach your goal is not entirely under your control, unless you don't try. That's the only circumstance where you are guaranteed not to reach it.
Even if you take the jump and don't reach your goal, you will have learned a lot from the experience. Do it.
From what I have seen of you on the forum, I think it's very likely you will succeed. Good luck!
Posts: 6444
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy
RE: Hey all! Now the time has come f... (in reply to Anders Eliasson)
If Anders thinks you can make it, then you should go. He was my buddy down there who helped me a lot and knows what he is talking about.
It's a wonderful place full of strange people (totally disconnected from our cold, dark world) with an intense interest in the simplest of things. To hear birds sing in late February, heralding the early Spring and to pick oranges in the street are worth the trip alone.
Everything, but then nothing, will really surprise you after a while. Totally frustrating, incomprehensible but kind of obvious. Drunk or sober, awake or asleep, in hate or in love, in life and equally in death, in the crushing light and heat and the bone cold. You will find it there.