Wrapping It All Up

Hey guys,

So I've been back in the States for over a month now, which for me is hard to believe. I've been meaning to write one final blog post about traveling in Spain with my family and what it's like being back in the States. But I haven't really gotten around to it. I've been fairly busy this first month back, but I also think part of me didn't want to write this last post because it means my study abroad experience is really and truly over. But here I am, writing. So if you're in for one last cliché blog post, read on!

My parents and my two sisters flew over for my last 10 days abroad. We met up with my aunt in Barcelona, and then continued on to Sevilla and Granada. It was wonderful to spend time with my aunt in Barcelona, and our two day trip to Granada was fantastic, but I really enjoyed being with my family in Sevilla. Not only did I show them all the tourist attractions and sights, but I got to show them my Sevilla: my favorite place for churros con chocolate, my favorite riverside view, the small windy paths I took to school. I got to show them a bit of what my life was like for the past 10 months, and we just had a really nice time.

My family also went to go see my host family during our last few days in Seville. My family doesn't speak any Spanish, and my host mom and brother don't speak any English, but that didn't stop them from getting along famously. We bonded over a mutual love for Bruce Springsteen and gazpacho, and laughed and told lots of stories. For me it was a fun translating experience, and I got to put in to use all that I have learned here in Spain.

It was so incredibly hard to get up the morning of our return back to the U.S. As much as I was excited to go home and catch up with old friends, I was so sad to be leaving Seville. In some ways it was much harder to leave Seville than the U.S.  In 10 months that city came to feel like home, but unlike Northbrook Illinois or Madison Wisconsin, I don't really know when I will get the chance to go back to Sevilla.

We made it out the door and onto the plane, and before I knew it I was back in the States, back at home, back in a routine summer of work and friends. Holy culture shock. It was weird to hear English all the time, weird to have to drive everywhere, weird to have lunch at noon, etc. etc. I think the reverse culture shock was more intense than the culture shock of arriving in Spain. When you leave, you expect that it will be different where you're going and you will have to adjust. You don't really think about that as much going back home. But things have changed, and you have changed, and your outlook has changed, which is a lot to wrap your head around.

Now that I've been back for a month I feel pretty well adjusted. I miss Spain a crazy amount, and often end up being all nostalgic and day-dreamy. I remember being so worried and hesitant about leaving, but I am so glad I did it. I feel so much more confident in myself, not only in regards to my language abilities, but myself as a person. This year taught me I am capable of solving any problem or of doing anything as long as I just go for it. So if you ever ask me if you should study abroad, I will give you a very emphatic yes. You get to see the world through a different lens, travel, meet new people, study new things, and learn so much about yourself. Honestly, what could be better.

Finally, I would like to give a few shout outs to people who helped make this year the best:

SO to my parents, who from the very beginning supported me and made it possible for me to do this.

SO to my extended family in Belgium, for always being around.

SO to my host family. My time in Sevilla would not have been the same without you guys, who made me feel at home.

SO to anyone and everyone I met abroad: Maybe we hung out a lot, or had a passing conversation in a hostel, but it was all of you who made this the experience of a lifetime.

SO to friends at home, for all the Skype sessions at odd hours and the reassurance and support.

SO to my boyfriend, for patiently waiting for 10 months while I was off galavanting halfway across the world.

SO to Sevilla, for giving me a the most enjoyable year. Nunca me va a dejar.

Flemish Cities

So technically I am back in the US, but let's back up three weeks to when I was in Brussels.

After my housing ended in early June, I headed north to spend some time with my aunt, uncle and cousins who live just outside of Belgium's capital. It was so incredibly nice to get to spend time with this branch of my family. We had a lot of great days talking and laughing and catching up.

During my week in Brussels I took two really great day trips to the cities of Antwerp and Ghent. Antwerp was a really cool, more modern city while Ghent felt more old school European, especially in the city center with the small canals and winding streets. Here are some highlights:

Ruben's House: Peter Paul Rubens was a Flemish Baroque painter. Today you can tour his house and gardens in Antwerp.

Antwerp Train Station: Lots of train stations are architectural masterpieces, but I found the one in Antwerp to be particularly stunning. 

Gravensteen Castle: Located in Ghent, this castle was used by counts in the middle ages, and then was later converted into a courthouse and prison. 

Canal Touring: Simply walking along the canals in Ghent was one of the best parts of the day. It was blustery and threatening to rain, but that is your typical day in Belgium, so all was as it should be. 

A Little Bit of Nostalgia

Well, this is it. I have one full day left with my host family tomorrow. 24 hours left of really living in Sevilla. I don't know how that happened. Technically it's not goodbye yet. I have a week in Belgium, and then I will be back in Sevilla, this time with my parents and siblings. I can't wait to show them Sevilla, but at the same time that means things are coming to an end. Bitter and sweet.

Anyways, I thought I would make one of those nostalgic posts with all the things I will miss in Sevilla. They aren't the exciting touristy things but really just average everyday stuff:

sunny days that look like this

metal roofs and window boxes

small windy streets

getting to cross this bridge every day

                                                                               days by the Guadalquivir

and nights

ceramic walls

Sundays in Parque María Luisa

the scent of orange trees

peacocks in public parks

cats everywhere

the awesome graffiti

the beauty of flamenco

chocolate con churros
(Don Quijote...not so much)

my beautiful street and my apartment

my host mom's kitchen

and the delicious food that comes out of it

watching Sabe o No lo Sabe on weekday nights

And of course, most of all I will miss all of my new friends and family:

Thanks to everyone who made this year a blast. It truly wouldn't have been the same without you all. 

And that's a wrap on the nostalgia for now! More to come in my final few blog posts for sure. Hasta luego chicos. 

Madrileño Life

Hola todos!!

While most of my classes finished 3 weeks ago, my linguistics class through the University of Sevilla continued for another two weeks, and last Thursday was our final exam. 3 hours of essay writing was pretty darn gross, but I survived, and can now officially say that I have finished my junior year and my Spanish major!!!!! HOLY COW.

To celebrate the end of exams, I went to Madrid for the weekend. It was my first solo trip during my time abroad, and I was definitely a bit nervous to hit up such a big city by myself, but it was a blast! I made it to all the touristy sights I wanted to see, and met a lot of fun people along the way. Here are some of the highlights:


El Escorial:

The Escorial is a 16th century palace, built during the reign of King Felipe II of Spain. El Escorial is about an hour train ride outside of Madrid, but it is definitely worth the trek, especially in the spring when the gardens are in full bloom.

Palacio Real:

The Royal Palace of Madrid was built during the 18th century, and is still used by the royal family today for state ceremonies. El Palacio Real is Madrid's equivalent of Versailles. Every single room in that palace is ridiculously luxurious, decorated with things like porcelain paneled walls, jewel encrusted furniture, and pillows made with hummingbird feathers. The gardens behind the palace are also quite pretty.

Parque de Retiro:
The weather was absolutely gorgeous when I was in Madrid, so I spent a lot of my time just walking around and enjoying the sights. Parque de Retiro was probably my favorite place I visited in Madrid. The gardens were in bloom, and everyone was out sunbathing and walking around.

Museo del Prado and the Reina Sofia:

These two museums are filled with the works of AMAZING artists such as Velázquez, Goya, Murillo, Dalí, and Picasso. Both are definitely worth the trip, even if you have to wait in line. For students both are free any day of the week, so there is no excuse to miss them!

And there you have my Madrid highlights. I'm now back in Sevilla, and I am currently freaking out because I only have ONE WEEK left with my host family. Seriously guys, where has the time gone? I plan to spend this week taking lots of walks around my favorite haunts, eating lots of my host mom's amazing cooking, and taking an obscene amount of photos. If I have time before the end of the week, hopefully I will make a post of the things and places I will miss the most.

Next week, I will be off to Belgium to spend a week with my aunt and uncle. Then a week later, I will go to Barcelona where I will reunite with my parents and sisters! It will be so great to see them and get a chance to travel around Spain with them. It's kind of odd because while I look forward to their arrival, it also means that it is the end of my time abroad, which is something my mind can still not quite grasp.

Paris, je t'aime

So two weeks ago my friends Rachel, Jenny, and I went to Paris, and like every cliché study abroad student, we fell completely in love with the city. Paris has a little something for everyone: interesting history, beautiful art, wonderful food. You name it, Paris has it. Here are the highlights of the trip:


1) The Eiffel Tower by night

Rachel, Jenny and I have not been all together since May of 2012, so it was so amazing to be able to reunite in one of the most beautiful cities in the world! Our first night back together we grabbed some sandwiches and wine from a local grocery store and went and sat in front of the Eiffel Tower. After dark, the Eiffel Tower sparkles every hour on the hour, and the spectacle is simply stunning. While we were watching it, a man next to us PROPOSED to his girlfriend, and they asked us to take their very first picture as an engaged couple. It was so wonderful and romantic and adorable. The perfect Paris moment.

2) Crepes and Cidre

This is probably one of the best culinary combinations ever. The best meal I had in Paris was a ham, cheese and egg crepe with a glass of cidre, followed by a nutella crepe for dessert. Simply heavenly. 

3) Art

Walking around Paris for even just 5 minutes will give you a clear idea as to why it became such a huge art center. There are so many beautiful corners and areas of the city; it's not that hard to become inspired. During our time in Paris, our trio made it to the Rodin Museum and the Musée D'Orsay, both of which are definitely worth the trip. We failed to make it to the Louvre, which is a shame, but at least I have an excuse to get back to Paris! 

Tip for traveling students: DONT go to the Louvre on a Sunday. On Sundays the Louvre is free to everyone, and the line to get in is hours long, hence why we did not end up going. As a student, the Louvre is free to you any day of the week, and  you will be guaranteed to have less of a wait if you don't go on Sunday. 

Rodin Museum

Rodin Museum

Musée d'Orsay

4) Churches

Visiting churches is a staple tourist activity when visiting any city, but both the Notre Dame and the Sacre Coeur are wildly impressive. I especially enjoyed the Sacre Coeur because they filmed a scene from the movie Amelie in front of it, and I had a mini freak out moment. If you haven't seen that movie you should watch it. Right now. 

Notre Dame

lovely trio!

Sacre Coeur

view from the Sacre Coeur

5) Pont des Arts

So this is probably the most cliché thing I love about Paris. Haters can hate. The Pont des Arts is a bridge covered in love locks. Thousands of locks with thousands of names of couples declaring their love. Talk about a feel good moment. I mean, I got POOPED ON by a bird while on this bridge, and I still thought it was the best thing ever. (Shout out to the lady who gave me a tissue, and shout out to Jenny for wiping poop off my back) 

Pont des Arts

And there you have my Paris top 5. I spent more time in Paris than in most other cities I have been in, and it still was not nearly enough time. I will be back!