World Cup Fever in Spain!
Nicole and I cheering on "La Roja" in one of their early world cup games.
How lucky was I to have lived in Spain the one year they make it all the way to the finals and win the world cup? I suppose some would consider it unlucky, with all the swarms of loud fans, honking car horns, and traffic caused by the games, however as a foreigner from Canada, where nothing exciting like the world cup ever happens, I was thrilled to be a part of the action!
Even though I had never sat down and watched a soccer game from start to end (shocking, no?), I found myself watching every single Spanish world cup game and even dressed up and supported "la roja" like a true Spaniard. Alicante was a truly exciting place to watch the game, where everyone rushed to the bars an hour before the game started to secure seats in front of the many new HD big-screen TVs bought just in time for the games, and sat outside cheering, drinking beer, and having a good time.
For the final game, I wound up in Toledo. After a disappointing first period watching the game in an almost-empty bar, my family and I rushed to the "plaza de toros" (the bull-fighting ring) where the action was at. The plaza was completely filled with people, all sporting the colours of Spain. It was as if everyone in that arena was linked emotionally; we all cheered, boo-ed, shouted, and screamed at the same time as Spain fought their way to become world champions for the first time in the history of the world cup.
Here are some pictures and videos to give you a taste of what it means to be Spanish and support the national football team!
[zenphotopress album=17 sort=random number=12]
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Guide to Living and Working in Alicante, Spain as an EU Citizen
After living and working in Alicante, Spain for almost a year, I decided to make it easy for anyone else who decides to follow in my path. While all citizens of the European Union are welcome to work in Spain, not knowing the local language and customs can be a barrier, especially in obtaining all necessary legal paperwork.
The attached flow chart describes how you can become a full, legal employed citizen in Alicante within just 7 business days! The information is current as of June 2, 2010.
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Aventuras en Barcelona
English translation to follow below.
El fin de semana del 12-15 de febrero, viajé a Barcelona para explorar la ciudad y celebrar el Carnaval. Había una oferta muy buena de Spanair para volar desde Alicante a Barcelona directo por solo 25€ ida y vuelta. Ya que estaba muy acostumbrado a Ryanair (donde haces la facturación en Internet y puedes llegar al aeropuerto media hora antes de la salida) mí compañera, Nicole, y yo llegamos al aeropuerto cuando el mostrador de facturación se acababa de cerrar. Ya que Nicole no había podido facturar en Internet, no pudo pasar por la puerta de seguridad ni embarcar en el avión. La mujer de la taquilla de Spanair dijo que no podíamos hacer nada. Ya que solo 25 minutos quedaban, corrí a la puerta de embarque y después hablé con otra mujer de Spanair, Nicole pudo embarcar porque antes, yo había llamado a Spanair para verificar la reserva, ellos habían realizado la facturación. Por fin, llegamos a nuestro hotel en Barcelona a medianoche. Encontramos un bar que cocinó una pizza preparado para nosotros (todos los restaurantes ya habían cerrado) y tomamos una cerveza para olvidar todo.
El sábado, fuimos primero a la famosa Casa Batlló de Gaudí. ¡Era impresionante! Nunca había visto un edificio tan creativo. Todas las habitaciones se habían diseñado de forma completamente única y con mucho detalle. La casa se había diseñado sin líneas rectas, porque en realidad, no hay líneas rectas en la naturaleza. Además, cada habitación tenía luz natural. Luego, fuimos a mirar escaparates por la avenida principal de compras (Passeig de Gracia). Descubrimos una tienda muy interesante que se llamaba Nespresso que vendía expreso de mucha calidad en cápsulas de colores diferentes. Había una mesa con cafés de degustación donde tomamos un café gratis (Ahora he descubierto que hay una tienda de Nespresso se acaba de abrir en Alicante cerca del Corte Inglés). Poco después bajamos a la Plaza Catalunya y encontramos un restaurante japonés de buffet libre. La comida estaba muy rica, y sólo valió 13€. Para digerir la comida, dimos una vuelta por las Ramblas donde había mucha gente y tiendas de mascotas, flores, y libros. También había un mercado con muchas frutas y zumos exóticos, frescos, y llenos de colorido. Por la noche, fuimos a un desfile de Carnaval. A pesar de que estaba lloviendo, había mucha gente y los participantes tenían mucha energía y ánimo.
En nuestro último día en Barcelona, fuimos primero a la Catedral de la Sagrada Familia (otra obra maestra de Gaudí) para ir a misa. Después, no pudimos entrar por la parte principal porque había una cola de horas. Entonces, desayunamos y fuimos al Tibidabo, un parque de atracciones encima de una montaña donde pudimos mirar toda la ciudad. Más tarde, bajamos a la Plaza Catalunya otra vez para comer en una tasca y después, dimos otra vuelta por las Ramblas. Por la tarde, fuimos al puerto de Barcelona y fuimos de tiendas a un centro comercial allí.
El lunes, tuvimos que despertarnos a las 4 de la madrugada, y a las 8, llegamos en Alicante y fuimos a trabajar.
Barcelona es una ciudad muy antigua y muy impresionante. Me gusta mucho más que Madrid, y tengo que irme otra vez para ver más. La arquitectura, la cultura, la comida… ¡toda está muy bueno! ¡Qué suerte tuve que Nicole pudo ir después de todo!
In English:
On the weekend of February 12-15, I travelled to Barcelona to explore the city and celebrate Carnaval. There was an amazing offer from Spanair to fly directly from Alicante to Barcelona for just 25 euros (round trip). Since I was quite used to flying Ryanair where you check-in online and can arrive at the airport a half hour before the departure, Nicole and I arrived at the airport just as the check-in desk closed. Since Nicole wasn't able to check-in online, she didn't have a boarding card and couldn't pass through security. The lady working at the Spanair ticket counter told us there was nothing we could do! Since only 25 minutes were left before departure I ran to the gate and after speaking with the staff there, Nicole was able to board since I had called a few hours before to confirm the reservation and Nicole was checked in over the phone. When we finally arrived at our hotel in Barcelona around midnight, we found a bar that cooked us a frozen pizza (since all the restaurants were already closed), and we drank a beer so as to forget what had happened earlier.
On Saturday, we first visited Gaudí's Casa Batlló. It was incredible! Never before have I visited a building so creative! Every single room was uniquely designed and with great attention to even the smallest of details. The entire house was built without the presence of straight lines, since there are no straight lines in nature. Moreover, every room was designed to allow natural light to enter. Afterwards, we went window-shopping along the principal shopping avenue (Passeig de Gracia). We discovered an interesting store called Nespresso that sells their coffee in small, colourful capsules. There was a tasting station were we enjoyed a free shot of espresso (a Nespresso store recently opened up in Alicante and I now have my own machine 
). Next, stopped by Plaza Catalunya and found an all-you-can-eat Japenese buffet. The food was very good, and only cost 13€. To digest the food, we took a stroll down the Ramblas of Barcelona were there where many people selling pets, flowers, and books. There is also a colourful market were you can find fresh, exotic fruits and juices. At night we went to the Carnaval parade. Despite the fact that it was pouring rain, there were lots of spectators, and the participants had a lot of energy and spirit.
On our final day in the city, we visited Gaudí unfinished masterpiece, the Sagarada Familia Cathedral and heard mass in the newly renovated crypt. Unfortunately, we couldn't enter the main part of the Cathedral since there was an hour-long line-up to get in! So instead, we had breakfast and went to Tibidabo, an amusment park located on top of one of Barcelona's mountains from where you have an excellent view of the whole city. Afterwards, we returned to Plaza Catalunya for lunch in a tasca (tapas bar) and went for another walk along the Ramblas and waterfront.
On Monday, we had to wake up at 4 in the morning, and by 8, we had already arrived in Alicante and went to work.
Barcelona is a very old and impressive European city. I, in fact, enjoyed it more than Madrid and will have to return to see more! The architecture, the culture, and the food... everything is amazing! How luck we were that we were able to board the plane in Alicante!
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Buenos Días
Wow! Time flies. On Tuesday I will pass the three-week mark here in Spain. I just woke up not too long ago as last night was Fiesta Night! Wondering what a Fiesta is? It usually starts with a big dinner at around 10pm, followed by some drinks. At around 1 or 2 in the morning, you head to a few nightclubs and dance until around 6 or 7 in the morning. Afterwards, it is common for people to go for breakfast near the beach. Last night I only made it till 4 in the morning, but I still have plenty of time to build up my endurance.
A week ago, I had a dream that I left Spain still not speaking much Spanish. I made it my priority to find a way to take Spanish Lessons, and next week I'll start with my first Spanish Lesson at a language school in downtown Alicante. It should work well as my current schedule at work allows for a 2-hour lunch break, and from now on, one of those hours will be a Spanish class. I hope to learn quickly since I'm always immersed in Spanish. All my co-workers speak Spanish, I have to occasionally read and translate Spanish documents, and the documents I produce are in Spanish as well.
Work at CYPE is really enjoyable so far! The working environment is great: everyone dresses casual, other engineers are always more than happy to help out when you run into problems, and the work is very self-driven. I am really surprised at how much responsibility and freedom I have after just two weeks here. I spent two days getting trained on how to use the software, was shown my desk, and was told to go through the American Steel Code (used to determine if steel structures in the USA are safe to build). CYPE's software uses these codes to analyze CAD models of structures and report any problems to the user. In my first week, I found a few small errors in the code and began working with a programmer right away to fix them. In my second week, I was asked to train a new intern to use the same tools I was using to get his job done.
In other news, I've booked my first two trips!
From October 2-7, I'll be travelling to Bologna, Pisa, and Florence with some co-workers. The round-trip flight from Alicante cost me 40 euros (although my friends got the fare for 20 euros), and we'll be renting a car when we're there so we can drive around and explore. Look for a post upon my return!
From November 21-24, I'll be travelling to London and meeting up with some friends who are working in Switzerland. I managed to get this flight for only 20 euros with Ryanair 
While I haven't booked it yet, I'm also planning to travel to Malta to spend Christmas with my family and friends for the first time in 18 years.
That's all for now. Check back soon for more updates!
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About
Welcome to RaphSammut.ca!
I started this blog just over 2 years ago as a way to stay in touch with friends and family while I was abroad for a year in Spain. During that year I posted extensively about my experience living in Spain and documented my many adventures within Europe. Since that time, I have continued to update this blog with a variety of content whenever I felt inspired to write about something. In essence, this blog is a form of free expression of my thoughts, ideas, and adventures for you to enjoy.
Feel free to leave comments and ask questions! The more feedback I get, the better I will be able to post content that is of most interest to you!
Raphael Sammut
September 26, 2011
P.S. In case you're interested, I've included my updated CV below:
EDUCATION
University of Toronto – B.A.Sc. Graduate 2006-2011
Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Science (B.A.Sc.)
Major in Infrastructure Engineering (Structural and Transportation Engineering)
Final 2011 Sessional GPA: 3.75/4.00 (84%)
Relevant Coursework:
Transportation Engineering: Engineering Project Finance & Management, Airport Planning & Operations, Urban Operations Research, Transportation Planning, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Public Transit Operations & Planning, Public Policy
Structural Engineering: Steel Design, Reinforced Concrete Design, Prestressed Concrete Design, Geotechnical Engineering, Building Science, Highway Bridge Design, Finite Element Methods (FEM)
SKILLS
Language: Native in English, Fluent in Spanish, Conversational in Maltese and French
Programming/Software Experience: C/C++, Java, Python, Eclipse, Visual Basic, MATLAB, AutoCAD, Solidworks, SAP2000, Word 2010, Excel 2010, PowerPoint 2010
Full Ontario ‘G’ Driver’s License: Perfect driving record, can drive both standard and automatic vehicles.
CURRENT AFFILIATIONS
Professional Engineers of Ontario, Engineer-in-Training 2011-Present
Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance, Member 2003-Present
RECENT TECHNICAL WORK & PROJECT EXPERIENCE
Field Supervisor 2011-Present
Mortenson Construction
- Currently supervise the construction of renewable energy projects in Canada.
- Perform quality control audits on work performed by subcontractors and ensure worker safety on the job site.
Undergraduate B.A.Sc. Thesis 2010
University of Toronto – Toronto, ON, Canada
- Worked with Professor Evan Bentz on the FEM modeling and verification of a real structure in distress.
- Received a 95% overall grade on the thesis, which included a proposal, presentation, and final report.
Teaching Experience 2008 – 2010
University of Toronto – Toronto, ON, Canada
- Teaching assistant for ESC101 and ESC102 (Engineering Design) and CIV102 (Structures and Materials).
- Enriched the learning experience for first year undergraduate engineering students through thoughtfully planned tutorials, detailed feedback on course work, and continuous mentorship and guidance.
‘Professional Experience Year’ Internship (12 months) 2009-2010
CYPE Ingenieros – Alicante, Spain
- Worked as a structural engineer responsible for the company’s North American market expansion.
- Supervised the implementation of structural codes from Canada, The United States, Mexico, and India into the company’s design and analysis software. The prepared modules are now available for purchase online.
RECENT LEADERSHIP WORK & VOLUNTARY EXPERIENCE
Chair, Engineering Science Club 2010-2011
University of Toronto – Toronto, ON, Canada
- Co-ordinated a team of executives to enhance the experience of 1200 students across all years of study.
- Assisted with the organization of annual club events, including an annual dinner dance and ski trip.
- Managed an annual budget of $100,000.
- Served on a number of university councils and committees to represent Engineering Science students.
Level II CSIA Certified Ski Instructor, Level I CFSA Freestyle Coach 2003-Present
Beaver Valley Ski Club – Kimberley, ON, Canada
- Seven years of experience coaching clients of all ages and abilities.
- Teach ski clinics, private lessons, lead sessions for new instructors, and train with higher level instructors.
Site Director Spring/Summer 2008
YMCA of Oakville – Oakville, ON, Canada
- Co-ordinated every aspect of a children’s wilderness camp, including planning, programing, budgeting, conflict resolution, staff training, customer service, and integration of children with special needs.
- Introduced new programming and activities, upgraded camp supplies and equipment, and improved communication channels with the parents. Increased camper attendance and positive feedback rates.
AWARDS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
√ Gordon Cressy Student Leadership & Spirit of EngSci Awards: 2011
University of Toronto, Graduation Awards – Toronto, ON, Canada
√ 1st Place in Engineering Communications: 2009 (3rd in 2011)
Canadian Engineering Competitions (CEC) – Fredericton, NB, Canada
√ 1st Place in Engineering Communications: 2011 (2nd in 2009)
Ontario Engineering Competitions (OEC) – London, ON, Canada
√ 1st Place in Engineering Communications: 2009, 2011
University of Toronto Engineering Kompetitions (UTEK) – Toronto, ON, Canada
√ Top Presenter: 2009
University of Toronto Undergraduate Engineering Research Day – Toronto, ON, Canada
√ NSERC Undergraduate Summer Research Award (USRA): 2009
University of Toronto, Department of Civil Engineering – Toronto, ON, Canada
√ 1st Place in Consulting Case Competition: 2009
National Business and Technology Conference (NBTC) – Toronto, ON, Canada
√ Duke of Edinburgh’s Youth Award Program: 2007
Bronze, Silver, and Gold award achiever
CONFERENCES
National Engineering Summit – Montréal, QC, Canada May 2009
National Business and Technology Conference – Toronto, ON, Canada March 2009
INTERESTS
Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, Biking, Long-Distance Running, Mountain Climbing, Business, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Computers & Technology, Improv Comedy, Multimedia Production, Public Speaking, Leadership, Travelling, Working with Children and Youth, Classical and Contemporary Piano & Flute
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