Day 97: Blog-xperiment

Wow. Wowzers. Wow. I can not believe it is day 97! How fast the time has flown. So much has happened since I last wrote: Semana Santa, Cordoba/Granada (final excursion with my program) my first (2 week!) solo trip, I have accepted a position as Youth Advocate for when I return to the States, etc. I am currently looking for apartments in the Quad Cities, since I will only have three days to readjust before beginning my job. I have culture shock just writing about it. 

Since I don't want to type all of my journal entries, I have decided to try a writing experiment. I am going to type every fifth sentence from my journal entries over the last month (jeez, next time I live abroad I will do a better job at blogging!) I have no idea how this will turn out, but enjoy! I usually filter what I share on here but with this experiment I promise utmost honesty :)

Inside the Mosque of Cordoba. Cordoba Excursion.

Flamenco show in a cave in Granada. Granada Excursion.

View of the Alhambra at night. Granada Excursion.

...Well, I have been back to Sevilla for two days now. I feel lost with the little details (what I'm going to do when I get home, where I'm going to live, etc.) to the big issues (how can I find meaning in life? what will make me happy?) It's such a surreal feeling. It's Semana Santa this week and I am confronted with a rigorous, symbolic, and traditional practice.

Semana Santa in Sevilla. 

 I don't know why I felt compelled to do this trip, but I think that desire and motivation came from God. She showed me the way to the old town, and an AMAZING vegetarian restaurant. I met four other girls staying in our room, Ana and Isabella from Brazil were my favorite. Then I went on a walking tour with Joshua Samuel-- I ended up being the only person on the tour so it was really fun. After the tour, Joshua and I went to a typical Czech. restaurant for goulash. 

Looking out over Prague. 

Enjoying some good Czech. goulash! 

The video showing communism over the years was really hard to watch-- what a resilient people. After the John Lennon wall, I made my way back to the hostel. I was pretty hungry and I went. It sounds like Canada is doing some things right. My heart started beating a little faster, I was nervous about getting to the train station, the cable car was supposed to be the easy part! I turned around, went back, and was greeted with her face which looked a little frightened. Does #14 even exist?? So I was left, waiting for #24 or #3. Only after the man turned to make sure I had found it. It's amazing how nice, friendly, and helpful people are! Impressions of Germany: sky lights! I was very proud of myself though, it's an amazing feeling to begin the day in Prague, and end the night in Munich. I loved driving through the German countryside, it was so quaint and beautiful. I really like both of them. I think it really threw me for a loop. I hope we are able to stay friends. Got rained on for the second time! It was very strange going to the Concentration Camp.

Entering Dachau Concentration Camp.

 It is so sad how some Americans act. I am very happy, but I don't feel passionate. I do know that I'm so thankful to be here, and feel very empowered. I am on my way to Wien-- Vienna, Austria-- home of Sigmund Freud!! 

It's funny how I'm meeting so many people that the relationships are becoming less meaningful now. Salzburg is a place that my parents and Carlos would love! I'm really happy with this decision. Thank you, God, thanks for taking care of me. 

Touring the Castle in Salzburg, Austria.

Tonight, at 5:30. It was a standing ticket, in basically the last row, but still! I'm really glad I left Salzburg when I did or I would have missed the Opera! They were such beautiful singers, there is music everywhere here! Austria is a gorgeous country.

I got the golden ticket!! -Vienna Opera house

She's a nurse, 22 years old. I really enjoy meeting locals, getting a real picture of life here is my favorite part. It's nice to live a practical life, rather than a luxurious one. She told me of how hard of a life she had in Italy, people must make priorities. Thank you God for McDonald's bathrooms! Then, I had an all-natural smoothie from a health foods store-- I am turning into my mother. Piran, Slovenia-- She invited me to stay with her! Her father escaped Hungary when he was 24 years old-- now he's almost 80. Many people here view Facebook as a communist idea-- they do not support it. The way that goodness and evil are present-- and the way the good can't erase the bad, but it makes it worth the struggle. It was around 2:30 at this time so I freshened up and headed out to explore. I felt so incredibly happy walking around. I also bought fresh vegetables at the market and was able to make my own dinner-- what a treat! 

Exploring in Ljubljana, Slovenia

 Carlos' birthday is tomorrow! I've become so much more independent the last few months, I've grown self-sufficient in a way I didn't even know was possible. Am I ready to think about these things? Yesterday when I was writing, a young man came up and asked me if he could take my picture. 

From my journaling spot at Lake Bled, Slovenia.

There were no ugly ducklings at Lake Bled, only beautiful swans! 

I began walking toward the train station and I ran into mis amigos de espana que estais en me dormitorio en vila veselova. We talked in Spanish and English y ayudais yo con mi espanol. En todos lugares, personas piensan que soy de France, Denmark, Australia, or Sweden. First, we drove up to the castle and climbed to a beautiful look out place. How bizarre and amazing, I love life! It's cool how much fun I had with them. I hurried downstairs and got signed into Skype. After talking with her, I called Carlos who had just found out he passed his boards, it was so amazing-- even though we were apart, we could be happy together. I am exactly where I want to be in life, doing exactly what I want to be doing. I feel empowered. Wow, it's almost unbelievable. I love my family so much and can't wait to see them again! You realize the people you have always had, and the ways that they have shaped and supported you. That means I only have 19 days left.

Zagreb was not what I expected. Then, the train was the slowest one I've ridden, what was supposed to be a two hour ride took four hours. 

There's nothing more peaceful that a train ride on a rainy day. 

The woman at the info. desk at the train station was very nice, but many people were not. I'm freaking out because there is no bathroom, and no one speaks English-- mainly because there is no bathroom! I am really excited to return to Sevilla, I miss my mom there. It was nice, once again, that I was alone because I was able to go at my own pace and do what I felt like. I officially accepted the position of Youth Advocate and I feel that this new responsibility has shifted my priorities. I am excited for the weddings this summer, and to return to my normal life. In this moment, I can't wait to go back to Spain and have clean clothes! I am so thankful for all of the experiences I have had, all of the people I have met, and all of the things I have learned. 

Croatian beauty. 

Looking over at Dubrovnik from the island Lokrum, Croatia. 

 Whew. I'm not sure if you made it through that rainbow maze but if so, welcome to my head. With my time wrapping up, it's great to look back at the places I've gone and the people I've met. I look forward to the future but know that I will always treasure these months in Spain.

Day 69: Culture SHOCK!!

Well, I guess it took 69 days for it to really hit me. Or maybe it was just my trip to Morocco that put me over the edge. Traveling to Morocco was like traveling back in time. There were things which disturbed and disgusted me, and then others which simply broke my heart. It was like a tidal wave overcame me-- filled with emotion and sadness, and also happiness and beauty.

I will try to explain. We spent the first day wandering around Fes-- more specifically we got to experience the most famous Medina in the world. I felt overwhelmed walking around the tiny, dirty, and sometimes dark alleyways. There was a ceiling covering the majority of the allies-- making an air that was nauseating to breath in. There was fresh fruit, right next to camel meat; and a fish market, right next to spices. There were stray animals (mostly cats) wandering around, searching for their next meal, and many mules-- a primary work animal in Fes (and probably in a lot of the world.)

There were hardly any women to be seen. The streets were disturbingly filled with an overwhelming amount of men. Many of whom would compliment a girl in our group by suggesting the number of camels he would give for her. We learned about how many men have multiple wives. Although I know, in large part, it is because of the way I was socialized, I was extremely turned off by the way that I felt women were referred to as objects. The women that we did see were covered head-to-toe in clothing. Well, all of the women except for the belly-dancers. Yes, that's right: belly dancers. We went to a traditional Moroccan show at night. I wonder why women must cover their entire bodies with garments, or else completely exploit them in what some would call a form of art. Maybe I'm too much of a feminist to be able to appreciate these differences in culture. Maybe I'm close-minded. I don't know, all I know is that I had an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach the entire time I was in Fes. 

Thankfully, our excursion in Morocco didn't end there. We proceeded from Fes to the Sahara Desert! After surviving a sandstorm, many hours on a bus, and an intense four-by-four ride to our campsite, we were finally there! Due to the sandstorm, our tents had been saturated in sand! It was a little messy but we quickly learned to embrace the beautiful creature that somehow was EVERYWHERE! We had to wait for awhile to eat that night, but the Moroccan food did not disappoint. It was my favorite cuisine I have had since being abroad. It reminded me the fantastic cooking of my Vegan sister: Leah!

The next day, we woke up early to see the sunrise! It was amazing how fast it rose-- the dunes began as shadows and in what seemed like only seconds later, they were immersed in a radiating light! It was pretty cool.  I also had my first experience with a Berber this morning. "Berbers" are a group of people who live in Northern Africa. I have studied them in my history class in Spain so it was really cool to get to meet them. Interesting fact: they're known to be some of the toughest people in the world. They're able to survive and thrive in the Sahara desert, after all! Throughout Spain's history Berbers have been called upon to assist in fighting.

Anyway, when people are camping in the desert, Berbers will basically surround your tent. They're perfectly harmless but will offer to bring you somewhere/show you something, they'll take your picture, etc. After they offer this service (whatever they decided to do) they'll ask you to look at what they have to sell. Often it's jewelry, fossils, sculptures, etc. I asked many questions to ours: does he like life in Morocco, how many children does he have, if he could go anywhere in the world where would he go, etc. I feel like his honest answers were enough to warrant a purchase! I bought a cool gift for someone who is probably going to read this blog!

In the desert, I also got to ride a camel, climb the biggest dune, go visit a small village, go for a walk in the dunes (barefood, mind you) do yoga in the dunes, do cartwheels in the dunes, etc. I think you get the picture! I got a henna tattoo by one of the few Berber women that we saw at the desert. All of the Berbers around our tents were men and young boys. Where are all the women? That could be the mantra of my time in Morocco! In the afternoon we had a drum circle, and in the evening a concert. It was really a cool experience. Life in the desert is very laid back and easy-going-- kind of like life on a beach, except for the water, of course!

Camel ride.

You can't really tell, but I am on the top of the tallest, steepest dune.  I am also out of breath!

Thanks for reading my blog! I love and miss you all!

Thank you, Muhammad. He was my Berber friend who helped make this photo happen!

All-in-all, visiting Morocco was an amazing opportunity. My eyes were opened to more than I could have imagined, and I feel so lucky to have experienced it. I will never forget the awareness it brought to me of my privileges in the United States. I saw poverty unlike anything I have ever seen before, and I was re-grounded in my desire to live a simplistic life. The excess of the United States, and even Spain, is unnecessary and unjust. I will never forget the images I witnessed or the feelings I felt. I hope to return to Africa at some point and do service. It was hard for me to be there as a witness, rather than an activist. 

New-found appreciations for my life:

1. Appreciate living in sound structures.

2. Appreciate wearing what ever I want.

3. Appreciate being able to make choices.

4. Appreciate warm and clean water.

5. Appreciate education.

6. Appreciate color and diversity.

7. Appreciate sunscreen.

8. Appreciate opportunities.

9. Appreciate cleanliness.

10. Appreciate respect as a woman.

11. Appreciate sanitation services.

12. Appreciate government.

13. APPRECIATE WATER. 

You can view my albums from Morocco here:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150795027269052.475915.655734051&type=3&l=0f64f7c8ed

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150796513049052.476096.655734051&type=3&l=9d6ae833ef

 

Day 58: Gracias! I mean…Merci!

I’ve heard Paris be called the greatest city in the world, the most romantic city in the world, the most fashionable city in the world, the rudest city in the world, etc. I guess Paris is a pretty talked about city! Personally, I was expecting to be unimpressed. I was very excited to go the Louvre and to experience the city, but I did not think I would leave ever wanting to return. In fact, I was happy to only spend one weekend there; because I didn't think I would enjoy it very much!

I was wrong. I was impressed. In fact, I even LOVED some parts! I was blown away by how right certain things were that I had heard: “the Eiffel Tower really is a lot bigger in person”, “the food is delicious”, “the Paris stroll is contagious" (Rick Steves told me that one through his book), etc.

I was able to see most of the main sights, while also experiencing parts of the Parisian life: going shopping for picnic ingredients at an outdoor market, having a picnic in a quiet park under the Eiffel Tower, walking along the river, riding the entertainment-filled Metro, and more. It was a wonderful balance of all I look for in a place: nice people, good and fresh food, beautiful surroundings, and simple pleasures. I loved it.

With all of the traveling I've been able to do recently, I have felt very grateful and so very blessed. Paris was the peak of those emotions. I felt in awe of Notre Dame and I didn't want to leave. I was enchanted with the river and the invaluable works of art in the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay. I felt so SATISFIED with the food! haha Everything was so fresh and pure, I am proud to not have had one drop of olive oil the entire weekend! (This references my internal struggle with Spanish cuisine!)

It was a surreal feeling-- and I loved it. I keep my experience in Honduras with me always and I think that every place I get to go now, is amplified and appreciated in an even richer way. I am grounded with the knowledge of how special this opportunity to travel and learn is, and I hope that when I return to the U.S. I may somehow pay all of these blessings forward.

That is really what I am focused on right now. I am excited for the time I have remaining, and the other places I will get to experience-- but I am really starting to focus on what I will do when I return. I have sent my resume to a few places, with no response as of yet! Please send thoughts and prayers my way for a successful and smooth transition back to the U.S.!

If you'd like to view my photos from Paris, just click the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150772734104052.472652.655734051&type=3&l=5cc16b3dc5

Day 50: Is this Heaven? No, it's Lisbon.

Well, as you can tell by my title, I loved Lisbon, Portugal. It wasn't heaven and it wasn't Iowa, but it came pretty darn close. We drove to Lisbon from Sevilla and it took only about 5 hours. There was no immigration control of any sort-- our passports were never seen and our bus didn't even have to stop. The welcoming nature of Lisbon only continued from there!

When entering the city, we were told that Lisbon is a sister-city of San Francisco. In fact, they even have a Golden Gate bridge-- the one in San Francisco was supposedly modeled after the one in Lisbon. The city is built upon hilly terrain and so cable cars are also used in Lisbon as a convenient mode of transportation. The city just had a fantasy-type of energy to it-- the streets were lined with houses painted in all different colors and with white trim. There was a devastating earthquake in Lisbon in 1755 so only a couple of the old neighborhoods remain. The rest of the city was reconstructed, making the city a perfect mix of historical and contemporary architecture. Due to this more contemporary design, the majority of the city is laid out in a grid fashion-- with two main plazas at its heart. The city is easy to navigate and if you do get lost, there are plenty of English-speaking people to point you in the right direction!

This brings me to my next point: the people! The people were so welcoming and kind. The nature of the people reminded me of my experiences in Latin America-- they possessed a temperament and generosity which is very different from the Spanish culture. (The Spanish culture is much more European in this way. People are nice, but in a much less forthright way.) The waiters all spoke English and every place we ate had vegetarian options! People were so happy and friendly.

The city's location: on the Tajos river, next to the ocean, and in the midst of forests and natural parks-- made the nature just as beautiful as the city and as the people. I felt at home walking along the streets and just taking in the sights and sounds.

The entire weekend I had a great group to travel with and we enjoyed long meals: talking and laughing. One night, after our meal we even landed upon a free Portuguese dance lesson! It was a blast! I really hope I'll be able to return to Portugal--it left a lasting first impression!

If you'd like to see my photos, click the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150757665124052.470322.655734051&type=3&l=33f64ff01f

Day 37: I can't believe I've been here for 37 days!

Holy Moly. Counting the number of days I've been here really surprised me-- I can't believe how fast the time is flying! The last couple weeks, I've gotten to see a lot of different places in Southern Spain.

I had a planned excursion to Ronda with my program. Though it was kind of a dreary day, I had some great company exploring the town and enjoying warm tea in a tapas bar. To the left is a photo of the famous Ronda bridge. The views were breath-taking from every angle.

Last week, I had my one and only visitor: Carlos! We had an incredible time! For 4 days of his visit we rented a car and explored Southern Spain.

I was exposed to a Spain very different from the one I know in Sevilla. It was very eye-opening to see the poverty in much of the countryside-- such a contrast from the apparent wealth in the city. I am very interested to learn more about the "Gypsies" here. I am not sure if that is a politically correct term but it is what everyone calls them. It is so fascinating to learn about another country's strengths and struggles. It is humbling to realize how little I really know and understand about our world. I feel like the time I have spent in Spain has given me a new-found thirst for knowledge and understanding of life in other places. At the same time, it as brought to my attention my luxuries in the United States.

Carlos and I were equally blown away by the beauty of the Spanish countryside. The "pueblos blancos" (white towns) were littered across the mountains and we had the most spectacular ride I've ever experienced! The different landscapes and formations made for an incredible ride. I loved driving our little manual car through the mountains and navigating the roundabouts! With no GPS we had the freedom to make mistakes and find new routes. It was quite exciting. You can view our road trip above.

I cannot express how comforting it was to have a loved one here with me! I wish all of my family and friends could come and experience Spain!

Observations, Lessons, Reflections, etc.

1. Empujar means to push, not pull.

2. Drivers in Spain are kind of crazy, but very good. -- credit to Carlos

3. Having a happy birthday is more about who you're with than where you are.

4. Sometimes waiters will offer you a second entree. Don't let the language barrier fool you, it's not complimentary.

5. Arab baths are really cool-- literally. You begin in a warm bath and rotate to a freezing cold bath every other turn. It was a super fun and relaxing experience!

6. Labor day in Spain calls for festivals in every small town-- and festivals call for gigantic celebration dresses.

7. There are a lot of stray cats here-- today I thought one was going to attack me.

8. Living in a city allows for new discoveries every day. I love it.

9. While talking about culture in the U.S., China, and Spain, the Spaniard in my group asked these three questions about the US: Do frat houses really have huge parties? Do all people in Texas really listen to country music and line dance? and Do all people really own guns? Pretty interesting!

10. American music is everywhere-- along with American TV shows, movies, etc. Why are we so dominating?

Thanks for reading and have a great week! Love to you all!

Day 16: Settling In

Well, my promise of more frequent blogs has not come true...but I will continue to work on it! Since the last time I wrote I have begun classes and now I am almost through my second week. I am taking 12 hours of Spanish a week along with a four hour elective course taught in English. My elective covers the (overwhelming) history of the religions in this area-- it is quite intense but absolutely fascinating. We quickly went through the pre-history and have now worked our way into the 6th century A.C. I have realized my love for history and hope to learn as much as possible! My Spanish classes are also wonderful. I have two great teachers and each of my classes have only around 10 students. The students are a mix from the United States, as well as China. It is a really cool cultural experience to learn about China from these students (who are all incredibly kind) while learning (and speaking) a different language with them. It's fun to all be at approximately the same level and I feel more comfortable speaking every day.

I have gotten completely settled in my new home and have really started to enjoy life here. There is an indescribable energy about this city and when mixed with my excitement it's really awesome. I love how laid back the lifestyle is and last weekend I enjoyed wandering about in different parts of the city. I have felt safe 100% of the time. People are very welcoming and seem to enjoy having visitors from other countries (tourism is one of the largest revenues for Spain so they don't have much of a choice!)

This week it was my goal to schedule all of my trips outside of Spain. My itinerary is as follows: February: Spain March: Paris, Portugal April: Morocco, Germany, Czech. Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia (we get a lot of time off in April!) May: Italy. I have purchased all of my transportation and so now I will be busy with securing my plans-- I am very excited! Carlos is visiting one week from today and we are also busy planning what we are going to do with our time in Southern Spain! It is hard to choose with the abundance of beauty and history but I know we will enjoy our time together and I can't wait!

I have been jotting down observations to share-- some more entertaining than others. All are being shared with an utmost respect and love for this culture!

1. Couples hold hands always, even if one of the couple is riding a bike.

2. (Another one about a bike) With enough love and sacrifice it is possible to have two grown adults ride the same one-person bike.

3. People hum and sing to themselves while walking. I LOVE IT!!

4. People typically do not move to make room for you on the 10 in. sidewalk. Rather, one of you must step down to the street (it is a game of chicken to determine which of you will.)

5. People really appreciate the attempt of foreigners to speak Spanish-- sometimes there is a small smile but never laughing like I've experienced in Central America. I assume it's due to the greater exposure Spaniards have had to foreign-language speakers. This tolerance is greatly appreciated though, and is very encouraging.

6. Last week I got asked for directions while wearing tennis shoes, apparently tennis shoes don't automatically make you look like a tourist.

7. (Another one about tennis shoes) Americans are really onto something with tennis shoes. Being here has made me appreciate a good sole.

8. People WALK, ride bikes, or take public transportation everywhere. It seems everyone is in such healthy shape-- I wonder if they are experiencing a problem with obesity at all? ...I'll find out.

Well, that's about all I have for today. I am looking forward to my planned trip to Ronda, Spain this weekend. Until next time, Adios!

Day 6: What a Whirlwind it has been!

It is surreal to think of all that has happened in the last few days!

After landing in Madrid, we spent two days there-- we went to the Royal Palace and El Museo de Prado. I fell in love with history, specifically through the artwork. It was absolutely fascinating to learn about. It's incredible how the worlds of Religion, Art, and Politics were so intertwined in years past. I continue to learn more everyday and it is wonderful.

After our days in Madrid, we boarded a bus heading South for Toledo. It was only one hour South of Madrid and I had heard it was beautiful but otherwise had no expectations. Driving up to the ancient walls around the city was like pulling up to a fairy tale. The lay out of the city, the bridges, and the buildings were all literally out of this world. Toledo was always thought to be a very safe city, the wall protected one city and the river the other.

Toledo has been constantly inhabited by all three religions typical of this area: Muslims, Jews, and Christians. Supposedly this city was a place where they could all live in harmony (until eventually the Muslims and Jews were expelled.) We spent the day in Toledo with a private tour guide. From him we learned about how the three religions all had their own styles of architecture and together they combined them to create buildings as a beautiful blend of their unique traits. Ruins in Toledo are thought to date back to 1800 BC.

The next day, we boarded our buses again and headed south 6 hours to Sevilla. Once in Sevilla, I met my host mom Maria Luisa. She was so excited to have us and is very nice! We took a driving tour of our new home and then went to El Corte Ingles for the groceries for dinner. Sevilla is absolutely gorgeous. The streets are lined with orange trees and palm trees. The skyline is heavily speckled with steeples, the greatest being that of the Cathedral which is the third largest in the world.

The streets are said to be like cooked spaghetti noodles, picked up and dropped. Small and windy, it's near impossible to get where you want to go on the first try! We spent yesterday taking our Spanish placement exam, seeing our school, touring the Cathedral, and exploring the streets of Sevilla. Every where I look is more beautiful than the place before. I don't want to even try to capture it in photos because I know that they will not do it justice! --I will eventually but right now I'm just going to take it all in!

Last night we had our welcome dinner of tapas at a four star hotel. Then we recieved our Spanish placement and got our class schedule. I placed as an Intermediate 2 in Spanish. I was shocked! I cannot believe that I performed that well without Spanish in four years! I know it will be challenging but I am excited to learn as much as possible!

So, now that this blog post is everything that I didn't want it to be: long, detailed, and narrative-like, I'm going to retreat to my lessons learned thus far:

1. Don't use an ATM at 3:00 pm in Madrid. It's likely that it will not work.

2. Specify you want tap water, otherwise a bottle is $4.

3. Don't ask what the white sauce is on your tapas, it might be mayonnaise.

4. Don't pet dogs on the street, even if the owner encourages you. This may result in an enormous dog being held an inch away from your face.

5. Don't ask people for directions on a deserted street.

6. Don't carry a big bag with you for 6 hours, it gets heavy.

7. Switch shoes everyday to avoid blisters.

8. Don't come to Spain during one of their two times of sales each year. Although window shopping is fun.

9. Don't take a shower in the morning, it is too FREEZING.

10. Don't get hot chocolate, it's more like melted frosting without sugar. Weird.

Well, that's all for today! I'm going to try to keep up with this so my posts can be shorter! Thanks for reading and love to you all!