Webcam update: Madrid student dealt a blow

Published November 20, 2014

The last time we met him, Rafael Gonzalez del Castillo had high hopes of graduating as an architect in October. Now he's on vacation in the Pyrenees Mountains, nursing his wounds: In his latest review, professors found major flaws in his final project — meaning he will literally have to go back to the drawing board.

"I have lost like two or three months on my project," Rafa says of his design for a riverside greenhouse and terraced farmland.

Rafa was devastated at first. But after talking to friends, he decided to push on and with luck he'll still be able to graduate by the end of the year. "I've done a lot of work, and cannot just throw it into the rubbish."

With the economy stagnating, Rafa figures he may as well stay in school for a little while longer.

"It doesn't matter because with the crisis and the economic news with the government, we don't have any good job to find when we are done with university."

As Rafa gets his thoughts in order, Spain's economy is in a tailspin and investors are losing confidence in the nation's finances. The government announced this week that Spain remains mired in its second recession in three years, with no end in sight.

"Every day is bad," Rafa says. "Every day is worse. I cannot imagine how it can get any worse."

But Rafa holds out hope, saying tough times provide an opportunity to innovate: "It's time to create new things."

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Next week ... Athina

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URL

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