The “medewerker van de maand” of February 2024 is David Pérez-Moro, from Spain. David has been part of the Greek Department at UGent since May 2023 and works as a postdoctoral researcher within the ERC project MELA (The Meaning of Language). Michele Didoli has caught up with him to ask him for a review of his (almost) first year in Belgium.
Hi David! After hearing you speak in the kitchen, we are curious to know which Italian region you come from…
Hahaha, I appreciate the compliment, but I am not Italian. I come from Valladolid, a Spanish city in the northwest, in the region of Castile and León. My adventure with the Italian language is a bit long, but I will make a brief summary for you. I studied Italian during my first year of university; later, I lived in Italy for about a year and half; and, last but not least, my family-in-law comes from Veneto, Italy.
Well, then, congratulations on such an excellent Italian! Now we are even more curious to get to know you! Describe yourself with five adjectives – in Italian, Spanish, Dutch or English… whatever you prefer, as you speak many languages!
Well, I could describe myself better with adjectives in Spanish, but I will try to find their English equivalents to make them more understandable to everybody.
I consider myself a (1) precise person. I like doing my work well or accomplishing what has been proposed, even if it requires spending more time on it or helping others to do it. Moreover, in my opinion, it is important to be a (2) tidy person to bring out the best in ourselves and to avoid losing our goals in our personal chaos. On the other hand, I have learned to be an (3) adaptable person, as this helps me to navigate diverse situations with different people without any problem. It is true that, at the beginning, I can be (4) shy, especially because speaking in a language other than your native one requires an extra degree of effort. As for the 5th adjective, I prefer to leave it in blank, so that readers can fill this void according to how deep they know me!
I strongly believe that experiences in other countries contribute to our personal and professional growth; for this reason, I have chosen to spend time in Bologna, Rome, and now Ghent.
Tell us about your studies and experiences abroad that you had before coming here to UGent as a postdoctoral researcher.
I completed my Bachelor in Classical Studies (Latin and Ancient Greek) at the University of Valladolid. This program focuses primarily on the study of Latin and Greek language and literature, and on the methodology for translating Latin and Greek texts into Spanish. Although the main focus was on the Classical period, some professors took the opportunity to introduce us to the postclassical authors, leading me to discover Byzantine Studies, which became the topic of my Bachelor’s thesis.
After these four years – in Spain, Bachelors generally last four years –, I obtained two Masters from the same university, in Pedagogy of classical languages and in Post-Classical languages and literatures. In the latter, I specialised in Medieval and Byzantine literature and linguistics.
Both my Bachelor and my Masters have influenced my decision to do a PhD at the University of Valladolid with prof. Juan Signes-Codoñer. I chose to explore the rewriting process of Homer’s Iliad during the Byzantine period, specifically from a linguistic perspective.
As for my experiences abroad, I spent the third year of my Bachelor at the University of Bologna (Italy) to enhance my knowledge of Ancient Greek – and of Italian, too –. Some years later, during my PhD, my supervisor and I opted for a six-months stay at Sapienza University of Rome. There, I had direct access to manuscripts and bibliographical resources I needed for my project. I strongly believe that experiences in other countries contribute to our personal and professional growth; for this reason, I have chosen to spend time in Bologna, Rome, and now Ghent.
From Spain to Gent on the trail of medieval Greek, then! Tell us more about your research here at UGent within the ERC project MELA (The MEaning of the LAnguage) supervised by Prof. Andrea M. Cuomo.
¡Claro! I am part of the ERC project MELA, led by Prof. Andrea M. Cuomo, with you and with six other colleagues: Katharina Preindl (Project Coordinator), Dr. Valentina Barrile, Dr. Maria Rosa de Luca, Dr. Theofanis Tsiampokalos and Dr. Grigory Vorobyev.
As member of a project, each of us has a specific role, but we collaborate towards a common goal: the study of Byzantine textbooks and the teaching of high-register Medieval Greek. My research, in particular, focuses on Manuel Moschopoulos’ works: his Schedography, his Ἐπιτομὴ Νέα Γραμματικῆς, his Metaphrasis and his scholia on Homer’s Iliad and other minor works. I had previously worked with this author during my PhD, specifically with the aforementioned metaphrasis and his scholia. Now, I am ready to delve deeper into his works.
The primary objective of my research is twofold: firstly, comprehending how Moschopoulos taught Ancient Greek and determining the rules of the high–register Greek learned at medieval schools; secondly, creating a database in which Moschopoulos’ works, manuscripts, language, or metalinguistic terminology are accessible to scholars.
We heard that you gave some lectures in the ‘Ancient Greek Linguistics I’ course. How did they go? Have you had any teaching experience in Spain during your PhD? Did you find any differences between the two teaching methods?
I took part in “Ancient Greek Linguistics I” during the first semester of this academic year 2023/24, and it was an enriching experience! My lessons were devoted to the evolution of the Homeric poems beyond the Classical period. In particular, I focused on the Byzantine instruments, as metaphrases and lexicographical sources, that constituted the way students approached and learnt Homer’s literary production for centuries. I highly appreciated the students’ active participation in the lessons!
Teaching was not an entirely new experience for me, though. In Spain, I have taught at various levels. For two years, I worked in a high school, teaching courses such as Latin, Ancient Greek or Classical Culture. Moreover, I assumed the role equivalent to a lecturer in Spain for “Ancient Greek Linguistics”, a course in the last year of the Bachelor in Classical Studies. Fun fact, even if they share the same name, the program I taught in Spain was significantly different that here at UGent. I had teaching experiences also during my four-year PhD, as in Spain, PhD students with funding can teach up to 60 hours per year. At the same time, I collaborated as a teacher of Ancient Greek with the Faculty of Theology of Northern Spain.
The teaching methodology I employed in Spain and at UGent is quite similar and it focuses on a theoretical-practical approach. However, if I were to highlight some differences in teaching methodologies, I would mention the “mid-term exams”, which I find very beneficial for students and professors. I look forward to learning from the various approaches used at this university.
The primary objective of my research is twofold: firstly, comprehending how Moschopoulos taught Ancient Greek and determining the rules of the high–register Greek learned at medieval schools; secondly, creating a database in which Moschopoulos’ works, manuscripts, language, or metalinguistic terminology are accessible to scholars.
Let’s close by breaking some stereotypes. Spain: hot, sun, playa, sangría. Belgium: chill, rain, Blaarmeersen, beer. Did you feel such a big leap coming here to Gent, or is it just stereotypes? What makes you feel ‘at home’ here in Gent, despite the distance from Spain?
Haha, I love stereotypes because every time I hear them, I realise they are not true. Well, as mentioned, I come from Valladolid, a Spanish city in the northwest. The weather in summer is really hot (30º-35º), but during the rest of the year is cold – and it can even go down to -6º, in winter! – and there can also be foggy days. The nearest beach is along a river… so hot, sun and playa do not represent my city at all. About the last one, I can confess that I do not like sangría: I undoubtedly prefer a cold blond beer. In my personal experience, there are for sure some differences between Spain and Belgium, but the leap is not as big as the stereotypes make us believe, and it is very easy for me to adapt quickly to a new environment.
Since I have arrived here, I have perceived several things in Gent that make me feel at home. Let’s consider human and professional interactions, within MELA project, in my office and in the whole department. My colleagues are very approachable, and I feel at ease. The nostalgia for Spanish language is sometimes mitigated by the presence of other Spanish speakers in our department, such as Dr. Julián Bértola, and by the Spanish tourists in the city center.
Moreover, I have already established new habits here: I live near the remains of Charles the Fifth’s castle, and, on sunny days, I love visiting the park close to them to read a book. And my weekend cannot start without a pizza on Friday evening at Neapolis!