Marta, and a short list of things I'll miss.

I said goodbye to my intercambio, Marta, today. I haven't talked about her much because I usually just blog about my trips, but she and I have been meeting about twice a week this semester to practice my Spanish. Her patience and suggestions really helped my confidence in speaking and she introduced me to great cafes around Alcala. It's been a great learning experience because she's definitely where I get most of my speaking practice. My classes weren't discussion-based this semester, so I didn't talk in class that often. Going out to bars at night was okay practice, but the majority of the conversations ended with "No, I'm not drunk, Yes, I'm American, No, I don't want to ir a la calle." Not the deepest conversations I've ever had. Therefore, an intercambio was the best option for me to actually improve my skills.

But Marta is more than just a good teacher; she's become one of my great friends. We share really similar views of the world--I was able to talk about my love of environmentalism, refugee work, living on my own, traveling, etc. and she was happy to share her views too. It gave me the opportunity to not only communicate how I felt about things but actually think things through and realize things I hadn't in the past. She's also had a bit more life experience than I which was really great. I like talking to people who are smarter than me because I always learn something new!

Most importantly: She's helped me find balance. There's a balance between independence and relationships, fiestas and studying, seriousness and being laid back, strength and asking for help, travel and home. She has been a sister to me (I promised I would take care of myself and not get sick over Christmas) and has contributed immensely to my experience here in Spain. I love her very much for that.

Well, now that I've barely done her justice in trying to fit a semester's worth of relationship background into three paragraphs, here's a few more points about my last day here!

What I am going to miss about Spain:

• eating bread with every meal
• my two minute walk to school
• hearing spanish every single day
• cheap European travel
• being a part of the Alcala community (people recognize us when we go out--it's fun!)
• my spanish mama's cooking
• public transportation and walking everywhere
• the eco friendly habits of Spaniards (ask me later and I'll go on about it!)
• attractive professors
• free laundry (thanks, spanish Mama)
• siesta

What I'm not going to miss about Spain:

• computer printers that never work at universities
• every public bathroom I've entered around here
• packing and unpacking every weekend
• living with a parent (especially one that's not mine)
• managing a time difference to talk to my friends and family
• being unemployed
• all the cigarette smoke

Now, those clearly aren't ALL of the things I'll miss/not miss, but those are the ones that come to mind now. I am actually really, really sad to leave. I feel like a semester was just a taste of what I would want full time--living in Europe, speaking another language. I'm already trying to find ways to come back.

I'm sure I'll do one more post, maybe something with some favorite photos or something. Keep reading!

M

ps--even with all my traveling, I've got another 4.0GPA semester under my belt. I am very proud :)

A list of Roma how-tos

How to get to Roma: The best way to get to Roma is to leave early, if only for the simple fact that you'll arrive early. There is so much to see! We (per usual) had a 1.5 hour delay on our way out there, but entertained ourselves with cards and girl talk. When we got into Roma, it was late and all the drunken hobos swarmed the metro station. We booked it to the hostel to check in and enjoyed our first Italian meal of pasta and veggies at 11pm.

We searched everywhere for Apollo--here he is



How to sightsee in 2 cities over 3 days: Our first full day in Roma was based around a visit to the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica. We bought our tickets online ahead of time- 20,000 people pass through the Vatican's doors every day and we had to much to do to gamble the wait. We also splurged on audio guides because it was so overwhelmingly huge and we all know very little about Italian history.

Our second day was spent touring the rest of the city on a HoHo (Hop on, Hop off) bus. With audio guides and various stops to the Coloseum, ruins, Isola, the Pantheon, Piazza del Popolo, and much, much more, we were able to learn about the history and avoid the rain.

On our third day we took the fast train to Florence. Europe loves to strike (London, Madrid, Paris, Greece) and Roma's Accademia Gallery hopped on so we couldn't see the statue of David. Instead of being too disappointed, we put our map reading skills to good use and explored all day.

How to be a kid (when you're 20 and traveling through Europe like an adult): All you have to do is make up phrases and songs, eat lots of sugar, and ride a carousel. On our first day at the Vatican, we used every opportunity possible to say, "To the Vat-cave!" and proceed to laugh hysterically. Afterward, we had our first taste of gelato (chocolate for me) and when we were all sugared up we paid 1.50E for a carousel ride/photoshoot. We were the only ones there.

How to see the sunset: As night fell and our carousel ride was done, we stopped at Piazza del Popolo to people watch. We came across some stairs to climb, and at the top was a great view of the city with the sunset behind it. It was a great end to our first day, even if I was cursing stairs/all types of physical exertion on my way up there.

How to see all your friends (and make new ones): Claire, Maggy, Sarah and I weren't the only Instituto Franklin students touring Roma this weekend. Four other Butler guys and gals were there, along with 6 friends of ours from other American universities studying at the Instituto. When our flight was delayed, we all chatted a bit in the airport. Then each night in Roma we met the other Butler students for dinner and souvenier shopping. It was fun going out and trying everyone's delicious Italian dishes!

Claire and Maggy also had a sorority sister, Alison, studying in Roma this semester. She was a great navigator and gave us tips over gelato, dinner, and drinks. She and I have had a class together in the past so it was nice to get to know her better.

For some reason, Sarah ran into at least 4 different people from her High school. Also, one of our roommates in the hostel was good friends with several of the Americans at Instituto Franklin that we know and have class with. Who would've known Roma was that small!

How to get around: Like I said before, the HoHo bus was a great way to learn about Italy, especially when we were avoiding on and off showers all afternoon. We also took advantage of the fast trains to Florence and the airport. One thing that surprised me, though, was the public transport- in this huge city there are only two metro lines! (Paris had too many to count.) We did a lot of walking because the Metro stops were on the wrong half of the city. I guess that's how all these Italian women can eat pasta every day and stay thin.

The cook left the kitchen to ask for a pic

How to snag your next Italian boyfriend: The men of Italy generally have a staring problem. All you have to do is make eye contact for a second (and even if it's by accident) they automatically think you're in love with them. I sent vibes out to the universe so a young handsome businessman would sweep me off my feet-- I got close; a waiter offered to sweep me off on his moped. I probably shouldn't have looked at him while ordering. I also discovered I have a gift for attracting:

• Waiters
• Men who work at souvenier/market stands
• Men with really long ponytails
• Airport security guards
• A mixture of some/all of the above

I wonder what it is about me that screams, "I'm hot for shaggy, partially employed Vespa owners who may or may not have showered today."

How to eat: Indulge, Indulge, Indulge. For me, this meant carbs: pasta, pizza, bread, potatoes...we also ate a lot of veggies because we don't get a ton of that in Alcala, and it was amazing how much I missed spinach and eggplant. Every day we tried different dishes and split them. We ate rigatoni with cream sauce and sausage, noodles with mushrooms, spaghetti with meat sauce, tortelini in broth, meatballs, lasagna, noodles with lemon sauce (my favorite), gnocchi, pesto pasta, fat noodles, skinny noodles, cream sauces, light sauces, spicy, bland, everything... I was in heaven. This doesn't include the 3 pizzas, 4 desserts, and 6+ plates of veggies we all ate.

Don't forget gelato after every meal. It's amazing and you have a million flavors to combine and choose from. My favorite was probably pistacchio. Or dark chocolate. Or lemon. Or maybe papaya.

How to stay in Roma forever: All you have to do is fly with EasyJet and get stranded for two extra days. I tried to post a video explaining everything, but it didn't work, so here's the gist. Maggy, Claire, Sarah and I were waiting at the airport before our flight when we all got the same text message saying our flight was canceled. We then ran into three other Instituto Franklin girls with the same problem (one with food poisoning). We went up to the front counter and stood in this clusterfuck (sorry mom, there's no better word for it) of Italian, Spanish, English, and American travelers who were all trying to find out the same information. We were told in Ita-span-glish that we weren't going to be able to fly out for another two days. We waitied for a shuttle to take us to the hotel, waited to get rooms, waited for dinner. Then the next day, Karen and I took a shuttle to the airport, waited at the airport for information about another hotel, shuttled it all the way back to the first hotel to get everyone, took everyone back to the airport, then waited for another shuttle to take us to the second hotel. We hung out there for a day. Then on Wednesday, when our flights were amended, we shuttled it back to Roma's airport and waited the last time for our (delayed) EasyJet flight back to Madrid. Poor me, stuck in Roma! However, we were all cursing ourselves since it was the one trip no one brought homework for. Wish me luck on finals!

PS. Thanks, mama, because I was one of the few who knew to pack extra socks and underwear.

I'm really glad we saved Roma as our last trip. It was beautiful, the weater was great, and we had worked out all the kinks through trial and error on our previous vacations so we got by with almost no problems. I have eight more days here, so expect one or two more Spain posts!

m

Thanksgiving break in Andalucia

I've got to say, I'm starting to miss home a little bit now that the holidays are here. In the States you really get that "holiday spirit" feeling--turkey and cranberries, stores and restaurants that all smell like holiday candles, Christmas music on the radio, and everyone displays lights and lawn decorations. Out here, we don't have Thanksgiving (goodbye, yummy dinner), stores and restaurants look and smell the same (and there aren't a lot of decorations or treats to be bought), I don't have a radio, and most of the people in Alcala live in apartments and condos so there is no room for decorations. Any other year I'd be belting out "All I want for Christmas is you" in my best Mariah Carey diva voice while sitting in front of the fireplace or watching the beginning of Fox Family's 25 days of Christmas movie marathon, but this year I'm spending these next few weeks in a low-key, "kind of Christmas spirit but kind of just normal spirit" mode. It's making me realize how many steroids the USA takes to have all this energy an entire month before la Navidad, but I actually kind of like it like that!

But even though I'm thinking about Mariah Carey, Bing Crosby, and my family, I'm still enjoying all my time out here in Spain. This past weekend the Butler crew (seventeen students plus three professors and a photographer) went down south to Andalucia for a packed weekend of tours, nice meals, and even a Flamenco show.

We headed for Sevilla first. After two trains, a bus, and a bit of walking, we arrived at the hotel and started our first tour. The first main attraction was the Cathedral which was completed in the 16th century and is the third largest cathedral in the world. The inside was beautiful, but the most interesting part was the tower because you could climb to the top for a great overlook of the city. FYI, if you ever climb something that is entirely ramps, be prepared--it's not as easy as it looks.

The second place we toured was Reales Alcazares, a Moorish palace. Though it was pretty to look at, it was difficult for me to adjust to the accent change and I kept tuning out the guide.

My favorite part of Sevilla, however, was the Plaza de Espana. It is a beautiful area of little nooks and benches that are tiled to represent different provinces in Spain, a manmade pond for relaxed boat rides, and horse-drawn carriages passing through. I would post a picture but my computer (typical) is not working correctly right now. Google it!

Day two was spent in Granada touring the Cathedral and the old historic neighborhood, and our tour guide was fantastic--he was engaging and friendly, and very easy to understand. He told us all about Granada's Arabic population and the King and Queen's attempt to convert the city to Catholicism. Though much of the architecture has rich Moorish influences, many places of worship were knocked down and rebuilt as churches. You can still see the lines from where the Mosques stop and where the churches begin! The Reyes Catolicos were even buried in Granada as an attraction to draw more Catholics to visit the area.

As a volunteer/intern for Exodus Refugee and Immigration (click here) I am very interested in the causes and effects of mass migrations of people for political/social/religious unrest and I was able to learn a bit about Granada's population and how it related to that. As Spain was reclaiming its territory, Muslim refugees were fleeing to Granada, which was still controlled by Muslim leaders. Compared to other great cities at the time, Granada's population was gigantic because of this! And even though Granada is now run by Spain, the richness of Muslim/Arabic culture is prominent throughout the area (think hookah bars, Muslim clothing, and great jewelry).

Day three was spent partly in Granada seeing La Alhambra (even though it was rainy, it was amazing to look at! I highly recommend this stop). We then hopped the bus to go to Cordoba, where we saw an authentic Flamenco show after dinner. The music was fun, the dancers were enthusiastic and entertaining, and they even got some Butler kids up to learn to dance like them. It was a great time. Afterward, a few of us went out to check out night clubs and bars in the area, and we ran into the Flamenco group--they were out and about as well! My Flamenco dinner definitely trumped any turkey and cranberries I would've been eating this weekend.

The last day was spent in Cordoba touring la Mezquita and the old neighborhood, led by a very slow tour guide on a very cold day.

Overall, it was a great trip. I'm glad I got to visit the south of Spain with a little history and spanish language under my belt, because the first time I went with my mama (when I was 14) I didn't understand nearly as much!

This post is a bit late, and I am sorry there are no photos, but I hope you learned a bit this time around!
m

Belated greetings from Amsterdam (Poetry style)

Hope everyone liked my Spanish Traveler's Alphabet posts--I wasn't traveling anywhere for a few weekends but I didn't want you to forget about me! It occurred to me how many of those posts were food related...I guess we all know where my mind is.

However, I did visit Amsterdam two weeks ago, and I've been writing papers and doing projects so I haven't had the chance to update. Even though it's a little late, I now present...

The Amsterdam Poem

We all know that Amsterdam

Is known for its weed

And for many a tourist

That may be all you need

However, there’s more

Surprised, you may be?
Well, read these (intellectual, thought-out) verses

And listen to me!

The hostel was small

And for 20E, no doubt

We were handed lots of maps

To use when we went out

Day one we were off

Cam, Billy and I

My first observation

Was all the bikes that went by!

There were red ones and blue ones

Ones for two people or more

Ones with cartons and shelves

For groceries galore

If you give a city a bicycle

You need to add bike lanes

And parking spaces and bike shops

For all the guys and dames

City bikes are like cars

They’re everywhere—it’s true

And if you’re not careful

They will run over you.

I recovered from the shock

Of the Dr. Seuss-style scene

Of the eco-friendly transportation

That should be every city’s dream

Right after that, we turned

Down a Las Vegas-style course

Alas, no Red Light District

But a different spot for remorse

Food…food?...FOOD!

Mexican, Italian, American, Chinese

An overwhelming nostalgia for home swept over

I can eat ANYTHING I please!

So that was step two

Eat all that we’ve missed

After no time I was stuffed

From a 12 inch pizza in my fist

The weight I’d lost was now back

My pants didn’t really fit

Part of me was cheering, “Love it!”

While the other part was thinking, “well…shit.”

(That’s probably why they have bikes, to keep off all that weight)...

And all was swell
This place was a dream
It was a nice break
From my test-homework-study routine

The weekend was as follows:

Bicycles, more food, and walking

I let the sights, scenes, and locals

Do all of the talking

The city was beautiful

But by Monday I said adieu

To catch a late flight home to Spain

So I could write to you...

The Spanish Traveler's Alphabet Book: P-Z

Pa Pamericano- This song plays at every discoteca/bar in Spain. It was popular a while ago, but we’ve all discovered it this semester. Listen once and you’ll love it, trust me. Click here.

Quiet- Don’t expect any. Night life is actually at night—people of all ages get dressed up every evening around 8 and meet up in the streets (it’s uncommon to have friends over to your house), and then people my age go back out after dinner until about 6am. I’m always listening to gossip or songs from my window!

Ryanair- Not as, well, easy as Easyjet. Still very cheap, and the carry-on luggage sizes are a little bigger, but this is choice #2 for me.

Socorro- This means “help” if you’re being attacked by someone out here. Everyone was a little freaked out when this was the first bit of advice we received here, but since I don’t hang out in alleys at 7am with drug dealers I haven’t had any problems…however, you may want to practice just in case.

Tortilla española- Whenever I cheat on aceite con vinagre, it’s with tortilla española. If heaven were in tapas form, it’d look like this:

Undergraduate degree- This is the reason you’re going to class. Don’t forget!

Vale la pena- Anything that is worth visiting/eating/seeing/learning is “vale la pena.” It’s a useful phrase, but we hear it so much out here that it’s become a joke. (Ask me in person for more details).

Walking- Get used to it! I despise physical activity of all kinds (well, in a gym at least) but if you want to get anywhere you need to walk it. It’s actually doing me a lot of good- even though I eat a loaf of bread a day (I kid you not) I haven’t really gained any weight because I’m constantly walking. So put on your newbalance, grab a map, and go exploring because you won’t regret it. You may even forget that your feet hurt.

X- hmmm. There’s not a lot of X words in Spanish. I guess xenophobia counts, but I don’t have anything to say about that.

Yo no lo sabía- This means “I didn’t know that.” You’ll probably use it a lot.

Zzzs- Sleep? What’s that? I rarely sleep in here and I stay up very late, but it’s because I don’t want to miss anything! I feel like every day is Christmas Eve because I am excited for the next day (minus all of midterms week) which is really juvenile of me but it’s a great feeling to be excited about something all the time.

m

I through O

Intercambio- This is by far the best way to learn a language. They are consistent one on one meetings with someone who wants to practice the language with you. My intercambio friend is Marta; she practices English and I practice Spanish and we correct each other over coffee.

Jamón- Ham. If you don’t like it, you will after coming to Spain. It’s in practically every meal you’ll eat. It’s fresh and amazing, and this is from a hater of pigs.

Kaki- If you EVER have the opportunity to try this, do it. It’s a fruit without a pit or any seeds, but it’s disguised as a tomato. It’s so sneaky that I even notice what it was, and I’m so glad Claire discovered them in Paris.

Locutorio- If you need to make a cheap international call, go to the nearest locutorio. Very helpful when Chase cancels my credit card or when I want to talk to my mama.

Map- This will take on a whole new meaning when you’re in Europe. The first thing any of us do when we step off the plane is say, “where’s a map?” Without one you are useless, lost, and wasting time. Most of the airports and bus stations will have ones with tourist attractions already labeled, which is very convenient. It also allows us to quickly construct a Dora the Explorer-style plan (“under the Bridge of Sighs, around the Arc de Triomphe, through Park Guell until we reach the magical land of rainbows…”) when we haven’t done any research prior to landing.

No pasa nada- This means “it’s nothing,” or “don’t worry about it.” Example: “I’m so sorry I tripped over your purse dog that’s tied to a tree while you’re shopping in the market.” “No pasa nada, chica.”

Ordenador- This means computer. This word, combined with the phrase “no funciona” is something you’ll unfortunately have to use. Everyone has had a problem with their computer/internet since we got here, including me.

m

The Spanish Traveler's Alphabet Book: A-H

Aceite (y vinagre)- Combined, vinegar and oil is the dressing on anything you eat—it’s on salads, dipped in bread, on fries—and it’s amazing. Almost all restaurants have it, and if you’re lucky they have the flavored balsamic vinegar kind. I ask for this whenever I go to a café.

Batido- Even though the translation is “milkshake,” don’t be fooled. It’s essentially chocolate milk with some cream in it. And it’s usually cold, but not always. I still order them because I am determined to find a real one, but I’m beginning to miss Steak n Shake.

Cigüeña- Until I came to Alcala, I didn’t know that storks were real. I thought they were made-up creatures that brought babies to your doorstep. However, they are very loud, white birds who make gigantic nests and protect their own babies almost all year round.

Discoteca- If you have your dancing shoes on, go to these. They’re a lot of fun when you’re with friends, but if you are looking for a crowd don’t show up before 2am.

Easyjet- This is our go-to airline online. They’re very cheap and they go almost everywhere! Also, be ready to listen to advertisements, songs, and the same directions in at least 3 languages. Bring headphones.

Familia española- Use this phrase. We always start talking about our mothers/sisters/cousins and halfway through someone asks, “Is this your Spanish family or your real one?” And you have to repeat everything you just said because now it has a whole new meaning.

Gamela- This means twin. I have seen the Spanish gamelas of just about everyone I know in the States. Alcala is like the Doppleganger of Butler University.

Hostel- Europe’s young, hip, better version of the States' motels. You pay very little a night (20-30E) for a bed and sometimes breakfast. Check the amenities online though—there may be extra charges for sheets, locks, towels, internet, etc. Also, I recommend no more than 8 people to a room. There are some that sleep 30 or more, which is not happening for me. It’s definitely college living, but you really don’t spend time there unless you’re sleeping and it’s a fantastic way to meet travelers.

More later!

From "Si" to "Oui" -- A weekend in Paris!

Paris, I must say, was a nice little treat after a week long study session for midterms. After class on Thursday, we planned to hop on a plane (for about 90E round trip--yay Easyjet!) and land in one of the most famous places on earth. However, there had been an air strike that day so our flights were canceled. This didn't get us down, though--whenever Katie and I travel anywhere, something ridiculous or crazy happens. We should probably stop spending time together, but she's fun to travel with! We just rebooked our flights to leave Friday and come back Monday since it was a puente, which means bridge but also means a 3day weekend out here.

Katie and Maggy couch surfed all weekend, which is where you stay with strangers for free but they show you around the city. Claire and I were a bit skeptical of all the 30 year old males who play poker for a living and own 1 bedroom apartments, so we chose a hostel instead. Here's a quick overview of the adventure to the actual hostel. (Mom, you may not want to watch this next part.)

For anyone who's never stayed in a hostel, just picture college life! This split, however, proved difficult and at times frustrating. Neither Katie or Maggy had working phones and we were on opposite sides of the city, so meeting up every day was very hard.

Our first day in Paris was amazing-- it was supposed to rain all weekend, but for our third lucky trip in a row we had amazing weather. We met the girls at Notre Dame which was really gorgeous on the outside but a lot smaller on the inside than I would have thought. Since the girls were late and we couldn't call them, Claire and I toured it ourselves. We got lucky: when we left Notre Dame, they were waiting outside for us! I was glad we weren't going to be split up all day because Maggy was the only one who knew anything about Paris.

Next stop, the Musée du Louvre via a long walk down the River Seine. It was gorgeous. The river was lined on both sides with ornate architecture and market stalls. When we got to the Louvre, I barely recognized it--shows how much I know about French culture and history. We could have spent all day in the art museum. It is gigantic (and free for students, which was probably the best surprise of the morning) and it's split up into sections. We chose the part of the museum that houses the *Mona Lisa. I've heard seeing it is a bit anticlimactic, but I was in love. We have seen prints of this painting since we were old enough to understand what a painting is and there's no one who hasn't heard of "Mona Lisa." Standing there in front of bulletproof glass and 100 other art lovers made it real.

*Claire kept referring to the painting as "she." "Where is she? Let's go see Mona. She's so far away!" Katie and I were dying laughing, even though Claire was serious. Walking through there was a lot of fun.

We countinued walking through the Jardin des Tuileries, through the Madeline district and down Champs Elysées where women were walking around in Burberry and huge diamond rings buying Chanel and other designer names I didn't recognize. Worth seeing I guess, but I felt like I was swimming upstream among all the crazy shoppers! At the top of the street was the Arc de Triomphe, which was gorgeous and surreal looking, just sitting there among stores and cars. I swear, every time I see historical structures in present-day settings, I feel like something's off because we don't see anything like that in the States.

After waiting all day to see the Eiffel Tower, we were finally on our way. We "metro'd" it over there, bought some crepes (highly recommended) and stood there in awe under a deep blue sky looking at the most fantastic view of steel, lights, and fall trees. I never imagined I'd actually be in Paris looking at one of the most breathtaking things I've ever seen.

It doesn't end there- we climbed to the top! Well, waited/trolleyed/climbed to the top. In line, we were harassed by a million salesguys holding the Tiny Baby versions of Eiffel Towers ("name your price, name your price"... "I DON'T WANT THEM, THANK YOU.") but after all that we had a fantastic view of the entire city. They should put a warning label on the tower though, I felt like I was going to have a siezure every half hour when we were blinded by its blinking lights! If you ever want a 9,441 ton steel strobe light, go here.

The second day went by fast. We saw a French market (bread, cheese, *kakis, oh my!) on our way to the Pantheon, where we didn't meet the girls because the power went out in their apartment and they couldn't charge phones, but Claire and I explored on our own. We met up with them later to revisit the Arc and Eiffel in the daytime, eat some lunch, etc. Maggy recommended we visit Sacre Coeur, and I'm so glad we did--at night, with a ton of people silently walking through the church and the smell of candle wax and smoke in the air, this was a really eerie atmosphere to be in. I loved it. Churches aren't always my favorite European tourist site (they all run together after a while) but I don't think I'll forget this one. I've never seen anything like it.

*Kakis are the most amazing fruit I've ever had in my life. It looks like a tomato, but doesn't have seeds or a pit. It's sweet. Please look for them in the states, otherwise I'm going to be one of those people at customs who has a suitcase full of fruit.

On Monday, right before the airport, Claire and I stopped off at Moulin Rouge (like the movie) and walked along strips of sex stores with very flashy costumes. Last stop was Cimetère du Père Lachaise where we saw Jim Morrison's grave. It houses many other famous names, but we didn't have time to explore. This was one of my favorite parts of the trip--the weather was beautiful, the tombstones were old and mossy, and there were no paved sidewalks. I can't explain the feeling; it wasn't depressing or scary, just beautiful.

Not only was Paris an amazing adventure, but it gave me a chance to get closer to some of the girls that are studying abroad with me. It's nice being able to tease and be teased without worrying about clashing personalities, and we all had some really great laughs over really stupid stuff. I miss my girlfriends back home because I have missed being on the floor dying from laughter, and I'm getting a little bit of that here now!

m

Faro? Lisboa? Faro? Lisboa.

I'm going to start off this post with all six of us girls saying, "Why didn't we study here all semester??" Because that's how great Lisboa, Portugal was. Here's a quick photo to prove it:

But now I've got to do a little backtracking to tell you how we got here. Our zero hour flight (thanks to a one hour flight and a one hour time difference) turned into a four hour flight when our plane landed in Faro, which upon further investigation we realized wasn't Lisboa. There had been a problem with fog, so we had to land on the other side of the country, wait a while, and take back off into the air. We were a bit nervous at first because we only have a few precious days in each country, but it was an adventure. We had to change what transportation to use once we landed, and wait for my luggage (sorry guys) so it took a lot longer than anticipated.

However, we got to navigating right away (sort of):

First stop, Castelo de São Jorge. We had to wind ourselves up the side of a mountain but the walk there was great...I think Lisboa is more how I thought Spain would be: very small, privately owned shops that you have to duck to get in to, a ton of artist street vendors, peeling paint and vines on buildings, and streets so small we didn't want to walk 4 across.

When we got to the Castle, it was definitely worth the hike. The view was gorgeous and the remains were so old.



After the hike up to the castle, we decided to split up. Maggy, Danielle, and I figured out public transportation so we could go see the aquarium. The coast was beautiful.



You could actually TOUCH the animals!

That night, we cooked a great meal in our hostel...four of us had two giant bowls of pasta, bread, and cheese for 7E total. It was a college kid's dream!   

Day two was a trip to Sintra, a town about 40 minutes away by train. It's known for its views and castles--it was definitely worth the trip! I felt like I was in a fairytale.

 

This was the Parque y Palacio de la Pena



The second site was a castle with Moorish influences. The view was great, and the hiking was fun--but there wasn't one iron rail to save me if I fell... It was kind of scary!

It was great just exploring the city and walking around for two days. If I had know how amazing it was going to be, I would've stayed an extra day. Maybe next time...

Our 7am flight left on time and got in on time, without any pit stops in Barcelona or Bilbao. It was a fun weekend with a small group of girls and it's making me even more excited for Paris! It's noon now and I leave in three hours...what a nice celebration at the end of midterms week :)

M

Some of that bittersweet stuff

Well, my mom left me the other day, but I think she had to—My dad and brother are at home and I think you can live on chocolate and Gatorade for about 9 days before you need actual nutrition. I was sad to see her go, and so happy she came. Professor Willem warned us about “hitting the wall,” or the point you get to when you just want to go home, and I was lucky to have my mom here when I was starting to feel a little homesick. But now I’m recharged and ready to face the second half of the semester!

Otoño is here, but Madrid isn’t like Chicago or Indianapolis—there’s no orange or red or yellow. It’s just green outside and one day you look out and the world is brown and leaf-less. But no worries, the last thing I need is another distraction from school! I have three midterms next week (thank you Prof Willem for not assigning one) and I’m not sure what to expect…classes are a lot harder here than I anticipated. But I’m being a good student and taking this whole week to review, review, review and I’m treating myself to *batidos to justify the 6 hour study dates with Claire.

Quiz question: Who knows what Carlos’ final is on? Because I don’t…

I really have to share part of my life here that I know my roommate from Butler, Hayleigh, will appreciate. But I want everyone else to understand too, so here’s a quick pre-story to my story:

This past year at Butler, Hayleigh and I lived in a dorm room and had a Jack-and-Jill style bathroom with our suitemate. Over time things would get broken and out of laziness/resourcefulness we just never got anything fixed. Here’s a summary of what our room was like by April:

• 1 main light doesn’t work (we were using baby lamps then finally sucked it up and put in ALL our maintenance requests at once)
• 1 closet door doesn’t shut
• 1 bathroom outlet doesn’t function (unless you plug something in and slowly pull it out until it hits one nerve toward the very end of the plug and DOES work)
• 1 bed missing several screws and didn’t sit straight
• 1 TV channel (Disney) didn’t have sound
• 4+ clocks on different times/settings/alarms
• 1 fridge that didn’t work (so it just became a cabinet)

So, Hayleigh, I’m about halfway through the semester and this is what I’ve got:

• Heat that’s finally turned on, but it sounds like someone’s peeing in here for some reason
• 1 desk chair that’s about to break (it’s probably all the carbs I’m eating)
• 1 plastic bottom-of-the-bed thing that slipped off and I can’t get back on without messing up the other three
• 1 shower drain that is very clogged (but I don’t have hair so I don’t know WHAT’S in it)
• 1 closet door that doesn’t shut (but how cute, it’s twins with my old closet door!)
• 3 lightbulbs that don’t work (but there’s 5 so I’m okay)

Whew.

I know when I get home everyone’s going to ask me “So how was it?” And I know all they want to hear is “good” or “so fun” or something quick and easy like that. But for those who are studying abroad/wanting to study abroad/living vicariously through me, here’s a bit of what I’ve learned from this trip.

1. Communicate. Talk to your professors, your host family, your friends. People at home miss you (thanks guys for keeping in touch, I really need it!) and the people here will get to know you if you want. Don’t be afraid to sound stupid, because even if you do, at least you’re learning. I have been going to the same café for two months and the regulars know me and are interested in me which is a great feeling. It took TWO MONTHS for us to finally connect (it’s hard when you don’t know enough of the language to really express your personality) but keep at it because it’s very worth it.
2. Guess! Some of my funniest/grossest/most exciting experiences have come from this. We all went to a restaurant one of our first days here and someone ordered gulas just to see (see previous entries for photo) and it was DISGUSTING. But we have great photos and we’ll never order it again! Recently Claire and I hopped a random bus that we thought went to the Alcala mall, and we were right, but we were laughing trying to communicate with a 12 year old who was riding the bus alone and clearly thought we were morons for not knowing something so obvious. The other day I went to the department store to get face cream, and I stood in front of about 40 boxes. I was reading every one to find what I needed and after about 10 minutes I said “F it” and just grabbed one. It’s not night cream, it’s actually perfumed anti-aging day cream, but I smile every morning when I put it on.
3. Relax. Honestly. And you may laugh and say, “that’s why you study abroad!” but it’s hard out here. You’re adjusting to culture and sometimes different languages and you do have to study. It can be really overwhelming when you are receiving new information every day and you have to study the language before you can even attempt the class materials or a café menu. Just take a deep breath and suck it up and you’ll realize you don’t have time to sweat the small stuff.
4. Be brave. It kind of embodies all of the above, but I want to elaborate: I didn’t come here with close friends or sorority sisters, and it’s different not having your girlfriends or family to confide in when you need it. I do love the people I’m with, but it’s not like being at home. And my host mother and I just kind of coexist—it’s getting better, but it’s hard getting used to sleeping under someone else’s roof. If I’ve learned anything here that I’m going to take home with me, it’s feeling comfortable in your own skin and within your four walls. I am here for me and whatever I put in is exactly what I’ll get out, and I’m glad I figured that out earlier instead of later!

That was a ton of writing, so I hope you’re not too bored! I have Lisbon this weekend, so expect a post after that ;)

****Batidos are translated as "milkshakes," but don't be fooled. They are chocolate milk mixed with yogurt and not cold. But I order them wherever I go anyway because I'm determined to find a good one.

M

PS, sorry for no photos in this one: "Image uploads will be disabled for two hours due to maintenance..." figures.

Ten reasons why I love my mom

She wants you to practice your Spanish. From the first moment my mama arrived in Spain, she and my host mother have been using me as a google translator, but she's seeing that $40,000 a year tuition hard at work! My host mother loves my ma and has talked to her more in one day than I have in 6 weeks, and it's great practice for me! I don't get any slack--even if the comment is something small, they are curious as to what the other has said.



She wants to go to Barcelona with you. This weekend Kyle, Claire, my mama, and I went to Barcelona for a long weekend. Another fun fact about Spain--weather reporters are wrong here too! We had one slightly rainy day, but the rest of the weekend was mild and beautiful. I was so excited to see the city I've heard so many great things about.



She doesn't mind college life. Not only did we stay in Barcelona, but we had our first hostel experience together! It was clean, but no 5star hotel: first, there was no shower curtain in the bathroom, so even though you stood in the corner of this huge tile room (that also had the sink with no mirror and the toilet) you managed to spray down the entire bathroom so it felt like a cave and you had no idea how it even happened; second, one of our four other rando roommates introduced himself as "the Asian Chocolate."



Park Guell



She appreciates great tours in great cities. Our first day in Barcelona began with an amazing tour by a woman named Sonia who was fluent in English but didn't mind challenging us with her native Spanish slang which was really fun! She was brilliant; she knew everything about the city from what stones were used in the Sagrada Familia to which women were common pick-pocketers on certain streets. Through a mixture of driving and walking, we saw Park Guell (one of the most amazing locations I've ever visited in my life), the outside of the Sagrada Familia, Castell de Montjuïc (great views of the city), and some of Gaudi's famous works, to name a few.

She wants you to try new things. One of the great things about having your mom travel with you is that you can eat more than what's off the Euro menu at a cheap restaurant--And did I take advantage of the good food! This passage is directed especially toward Cory, who has asked me repeatedly to blog about the new foods I've tried in Europe...I'm finally caving: I ate tapas like it was my job this weekend, including a Spanish tortilla, salad with tuna and cod, weird breaded meatballs with white/red sauce, fried mushrooms, and goat cheese and tomato salad. Seems like typical stuff, but add Spanish seasonings and some olive oil and you've got a great meal!

She'll walk to the ends of the earth to get you what you need. Unfortunately, on our second day in Barcelona I started to feel really feverish. By the time we got out of the Picasso Museum (which was a hidden gem in the middle of the Gothic part of town that housed his works throughout his entire life; you could see his transition from works when he was 15 to cubism) I was ready to go home. So that's what my mama did--she put me in a cab so I could go back to the hostel to die for the rest of the day. However, she wasn't done there: she went to the pharmacy to get me medicine, to the store to get me ice cream AND something sour that I was craving, and to get a bottle of water so I could take my pills. Reminder, she doesn't speak any spanish. There is no doubt in my mind that she loves me!

And when you realize you have the flu, she'll lay with you on a twin bed and keep you warm while you sweat out your fever. Gross. Glad I didn't have to ask Asian Chocolate to do it for me.

On top of all that, she'll buy you a book on the Sagrada Familia when can't walk up to the top by yourself. The next morning, Claire and Kyle got up early to do the Sagrada Familia. I had seen the outside on the first day, but even though I was sick there was nothing that was going to keep me from seeing the inside! Our tour guide suggested we go on that day (Monday) because the construction was going on, which is all part of the Sagrada Familia experience (well, it has been for about the last 130 years). At about noon I crawled out of bed and my mama and I cabbed it to the church. So very worth it. It was beautiful on the inside. The ceilings were taller than I would have imagined and the stained glass windows were so bright I felt like I was inside a Christmas ornament from certain angles. After touring the inside, we met up with Kyle and Claire when they were done waiting in line and hiking to the top of the building. My mama bought me a book instead.

She enjoys just being by you. Barcelona was beautiful, and I felt horrible about being sick, but I think everything went well. I'm so glad I was able to travel somewhere so gorgeous with her. Today was our first day back in Alcala, and my mama spent it with me doing crosswords while I counted rhythm/rhyme patterns for my poetry homework.

She tucks you in when you're 20 years old. It's nice having her around.

More later!

Moo

I'm back!

Dear Everyone,

My sincerest apologies for being MIA the past few weeks-- I've been really distracted with homework and travel and I keep forgetting I even have a blog to post in!

Instead of going into a ton of detail about everything I've done (because you'd be reading a novel), here are some highlights:

Extremadura: The weekend of September 24, Linda (my professor), her psycho husband, two Universidad de Alcala professors and all 17 Butler guys and gals hopped on a bus to visit four cities in Spain: Caceres, Trujillo, Merida, and Guadalupe. I admit that when I go on all these school related field trips and excursions I'm usually the first one standing next to the tour guide, but there's so much history everywhere it's neat to hear everything.

Caceres was our first stop. We had beautiful weather and spent the first few hours eating the lunches our "mamas" pack for us (which usually consist of about 3 bocadillos (sandwiches), 2 pieces of fruit, a liter of water, and something chocolate...I don't know why they think we need so much!) and then we walked through a Medieval market in one of the plazas. It was great--I bought really neat handmade jewelry and tried some amazing desserts. The tour for that day was through Casco Antiguo, whose architecture was from the 15th century and had strong Roman influences. It was beautiful, especially at night!

The next day we got up bright and early to go to Trujillo. I think this stop was my favorite. Even though we didn't spend a lot of time there (it's a small city), it was absolutely gorgeous. We had great weather and we hiked up narrow roads to get to the top of some ruins that overlooked the whole city.

Stop no.3 was Merida. The city wasn't as old, but you'd be walking down the streets where people live/work/eat, and all of a sudden you're standing in front of an ancient Roman theater or something. It was kind of surreal because it definitely didn't look like it belonged there! After our tour Maggy, Claire, and I sat at an outdoor cafe and had a great lunch. I love that atmosphere-- no one seems to really be in a rush, and lots of meals are meant to be shared. I think it's a nice way of eating because you feel like everyone is comfortable and connected and it's not rude to just reach for what you want. And, finally, city number four...

Guadalupe houses a famous monastery that we stopped off to see. It was very pretty, and the tour of the monestary was interesting, but it was probably my least favorite just because I don't know a lot about Gothic architecture or the Catholic religion. After Guadalupe, we headed back home.

La Huelga: On Wednesday, Sept 29 there was a general strike in Madrid and the surrounding cities. The last general strike of this size was held about 20 years ago. I didn't go into the city that day (they estimated about 20% of public transportation was operational) but some of my friend's host families said that those who were going to work that day were being harassed, there were picket lines everywhere, and strikers were throwing stones at buses and public transportation. The only huelga experience I had was the night before (or, I guess, early that morning) because I was out at a bar with my friend Lauren. Around 2:30a they started to shut the bar down and people were singing huelga songs. When we stepped outside, picketers clapped and the bar closed for the day. I went home right after though--there was a huge crowd of people and police were on their way over.

El Monasterio de Piedra: Another one of our excursions with the Butler group was to a monestary and a national park. There were waterfalls, caves, and hiking--it was great to see nature beyond the big city. We were only there for a few hours, but definitely worth the 2 hour bus ride!

I'm almost done--hope you're still reading!

Uncle Mike: My uncle flies out to Madrid on business sometimes, and it just so happened that he was available for a few days while I'm studying here! For two days, I had a Madrid vacation in a great hotel, with fabulous food, and good company. I don't see my uncle that much while I'm in the states, so it was great catching up in the Plaza Mayor with tinto de verano and fried anchovies (which I highly recommend, believe it or not. AMAZING.)

And, finally... Mom is here! Today my mama en verdad (my 'real mom') arrived from Chicago to visit me for 10 days. She's taking a siesta right now, but when she wakes up we're going to eat a great meal cooked by my host mother (best cook in the world, by the way) and then spend some time walking through the streets of Alcala. This week is the Semana Cervantina, which is a week-long Medieval festival that celebrates the birth of Cervantes, author of Don Quijote. It's going to be a ton of fun, and tomorrow morning Claire, Kyle, my mama and I are flying to Barcelona for a few days. I'm soooooooo excited-- I've heard great things about Barca!

Thanks for bearing with me for that huge long catch-up. I promise to write more often! Now, time for homework...

M

Hola, Bilbao!

This past weekend was my first travel weekend outside of Alcala. We went to Bilbao, Spain, which is a city in the north that's part of the Pais Vasco. Here people speak Spanish and Basque, which can be really confusing when you're standing at a kiosk looking for the Basque-translated to Spanish-translated to English version of some pamphlet. However, it was beautiful. We took a 5 hour train up right into the city, and (thanks to me) turned in the opposite direction of our hotel. After cursing my internal compass, we turned back around, crossed the river, and found our hotel.

One of our first stops was the famous Guggenheim with a special exhibit by Anish Kapoor (think "The Bean" in Chicago). I had never even seen pictures of the building and that was incredible, and I was even more amazed to see some of the installations inside. I'm glad they gave out audio tours, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to appreciate those artworks contain one dot on a blank canvas! Here's a photo I took of the building:

Thanks to my very organized friend Claire, we then proceeded to do a self-guided walking tour of the whole city. We went to the Fine Arts museum, which I loved-- once I trekked through the 1500s to the 1900s, I was pleased to see an amazing collection of contemporary art. I was overwhelmed by the huge canvases, bright colors, political/social/artistic statements literally written on pieces, and mixed media. We also walked through small streets with pastelerias, stores, parks, plazas, statues--you name it, we saw it!

That night we tried Basque. Though it didn't seem worth the 20E a person, I was glad to try something different. Here is my duck with apples, peppers, and mushrooms.

Another great thing about Bilbao was it's proximity to Guernica, a city that was completely bombed druing the Guerra Civil de Espana by the Germans. The deaths were especially tragic because it was the first time that the tactic of bombing civilian locations versus military ones was used. Needless to day, almost every building was ruined, except for a few and the exception of one tree. This tree is guarded by large columns, and one of its seeds was planted and its hijo now grows beside it. After a great day in Guernica, we headed back for ice cream, siesta, more walking, dinner (I had a crab/pickle/tomato sandwich thing) and a hookah bar where we met some locals who were teaching us slang and how to say things in Basque.

That evening, we traveled up one of the higest points along the city's edge on the funacular. The trolley took us high above all the buildings and onto the side of a mountain (I forgot to mention that--the city sits between gorgeous mountains and is a short ride away from the coast!) where we could get off and take pictures.

Finally, the next morning before we took the train back to Alcala, we stopped by the coast to see the Bay of Biscay. It was surrounded by cliffs and green hills which we hiked up a bit to get some photos in. It was an amazing day so people were out and about with surfboards and picnics, and it was definitely worth the half hour train ride!

Well, that about sums it up. I have a meeting in about four minutes to practice my spanish with a local. Another great thing about Espana--being late is okay ;)

More later. Bye!