Heading off to Paradise :)

This week has been crazy. Absolutely crazy. So much stress in so little time. So much calling the states. I usually love being in Spain, absolutely love it. The time that I'm not loving it- the time when I need to call everyone and their brother back at Wake to try and figure out my internship situation.

Fun fact: I'm an outrageously indecisive person. Usually, this is fine, because I'm also a very accomodating person, and so it works out that I just end up going with the flow. When I have to make a personal decision- that's when the stress sets in...

I don't want to talk more about the internship dilemma right now- because I don't want to think about it right now during this period of waiting- I'll just update you once this decision has been made. Good things are gonna happen :) 

I also had 2 papers due this week- and then there's one more (of the 12-page variety eekkk) due next week. And then beginning next Friday come finals. How are we preparing for the weeks to come?... one last hurrah! MALLORCA! BOOM! (Which I'm basically assuming is going to be a weekend of paradise for rejuvinating before finals!)   :) 

So anyhow, I'll post again on Monday, and hopefully let you know about the internship then!

Hasta lunes!
Rachel

Yeah, I'm still alive in case you were getting concerned :)

Fun fact: I feel that I have officially reached the status of "coffee addict"...I'm debating whether that should concern me or not, and whether I should address it this summer or not...

So for the past week we were in Andalucia (Southern Spain) for our Spring break, and then I have been chilling in Salamanca since Thursday. Okay okay, I know there are a lot of places that I've said I could see myself living or vacationing...if I ever flee, and you're wondering where to find me, I've probably taken up residence in Andalucia. I am sooooo glad that we had a whole week there, rather than just a weekend! What makes Southern Spain so cool? Well- because of its proximity to Northern Africa there has historically been (and still is) a huge amount of Arab influence on the region, manifested in the forms of art, architecture, food, and probably other things...I just can't think of anything at this moment. Fun fact- Southern Spain (I think) is one of the only regions where the Bible was printed in Arabic (in vast quantities) because the majority of people didn't speak or read spanish.

We also saw a ton of Roman ruins, which was just so mind-blowing. Like Andalucia is just this amazing mix of paradise meets history meets art wonder meets artisan fair...aka: Rachel's dreamland. Before Andalucia my souvenier purchases consisted of one picture frame and 2 shot glasses. Oh boy am I glad that I didn't buy anything else earlier on- because Im not sure my suitcase could handle it...I know am the proud owner of an entire tea set- including pot, tray, and 6 glasses...a hand painted terra cotta plate, and a handmade wooden jewelry box. They have these handmade wooden end tables...I intend to own one of those in my life. They are UHHHH-MAZEEEE-INGGGG!!!

Oh I forgot to mention the fact that we were in Andalucia for Semana Santa (Holy Week). It is hard for me to try and explain the importance this week holds here. A whole week before Easter there are processions and main roads of cities literally shut down so that these processions can occur. They have giant floats of different saints, figures and Biblical scenes. These processions would last for hours!! One day, I forget the name of the city we were in, the processions began at 8:30 PM, and when we went to bed at about 2:00 AM they were still going strong.

Anyhow, we're gonna wrap this up with a little photgraphic display of the week:

Roman ruins

Mezquita de Cordoba

Flamenco dancing

Procession float

Bucket list check! (And crime...)

Nom nom nom :)

All right that's all for now! Happy Easter!!!

Love,
Rachel

Internship Update

fUN fact of the day: I give pretty good advice- but I am horrible at following advice

Let me tell you about my life these days...I got an internship offer with a company in advertising/sales down in Winston for the summer. Oh man, ecstatic is an understatement of how I felt in that moment. Can I just tell you, the feeling of applyin, getting through two rounds of interviews and then being chosen for a position you want feels really really great. That positive affirmation that someone has enough faith in you that they want you to represent their company...idk, that just, it feels good.

But um, there were a couple things about this internship that really weren't the best for me, and I was slightly blinded by optimism and happiness (not to mention living in Winston for the summer....oh heyyy), that I wasn't thinking necessarily about what would be best for my future career goals or for my internship experience. So today before lunch I rejected the position offer.

It never felt so bad to get something that I really really wanted. Oh yeah, something I left out...I had applied to 4 internships, and this was the only one I heard back from...so basically I turned down an offer, and have nothing to fall back on. The worst feeling is turning your back on a sure thing without having a fallback...from the hours of about 2 PM til about 10 mins ago I've been in a bit of a slump. (Did I consume upwards of 1000 calories in the form of tostitos and guacamole...I don't wanna talk about it!...)

The past 12 hours have been filled with a lot of second guessing and fear that I'm going to end up not getting an internship and not graduate on time and all kinds of crazy thoughts. Beautiful news though: my unsecure network internet is functioning tonight...So I checked my facebook and e-mail and everything, and I had an e-mail waiting for me that they will be conducting interviews this week for one of the other internships I applied for if I'm still interested. I turned that application in a few weeks ago, and thought it might be a lost cause, but in this moment, I feel so at peace. Who knows if I'll get this one...(I mean lets all keep our fingers crossed and maybe put in a few words with the big guy, if you do that) but, I just kind of had that overwhelmed conviction that everything happens for a reason.

Good things are in the making! We just have to wait patiently to find out what that means. (I'm really bad at heeding my own advice there...but I'm gonna try my best!)

Welp, I'm off to Andalucia tomorrow for our Spring Break (booyah) so I have no idea when I'll be posting again. So with all the love in my heart!!

Hasta Luego
<3 Rachel

The Porto Experience :)

Fun fact: I like having options...I hate making decisions.

So we spent this past weekend in Porto. Note: 2 AM buses are about as fun as they sound...so proceed with caution if you are intending to book one. Porto is so awesome!! In case the name doesn't make it obvious...it's a port town on the Atlantic (in Portugal) and can you guess what they are famous for manufacturing?...Port wines!

We spent Friday walking around the beach and the town...so quaint!!!

and then on Saturday took a ride down the river and went to a couple distilleries (is that what they're called?...I think so).  I haven't really liked the wine too much since we've been here...so strong, but this was fun and good wine :) 

That's honestly about all we did in Porto- it's one of those places that's more for relaxing and chilling out. And it was awfully nice to have a weekend to just veg. out and relax. :)

Some highlights: -minigolf: I didn't come in last place! HUZZAH!!
                           -natalie getting pooped on: I'm sorry Mrs. Hartmann, I know that's insensitive and all...but it was funny stuff:

Okay, I should probably get a move on with my essay...hasta manana!!

Abrazos,

Rachel

I almost forgot this was real life...

This has been one of those weeks where I kind of remembered that I'm not on vacation. Why? Internship search... I have been applying like no one's business, trying to secure something. I get really anxious though, so not hearing back sometimes makes me feel very nervous...I did hear back from one, though. Actually a couple hours ago I had the phone interview. I think it went fine, but I hear back from the internship next week, so I'll keep you posted!

I know the internship thing will work out (mostly because it has to) so I'm not overly worried. I'd just like to hear back and assemble all my options and then make a decision. (And soon, considering the whole needing to organize housing thing...)

This weekend I'm off to Porto, Portugal! And it's going to be high70s-low 80s! (Better buy sunscreen!) So that is looking like it will be a wonderful and relaxing weekend! (If only we didn't have to get to the bus station for a 2 AM bus...darnit!) Okay I better be productive with the remaining hour of internet!!

I hope you have a great weekend!!
Hasta Lunes!!
<3 Rachel

“I can’t use Francs! I’m not in France!!!”

Fun fact of the post: There are 27 countries in the European Union. I think three of them use their own unique currency: One of those is Switzerland. They use the franc. France on the other hand uses Euros. The quote which entitles this post is from the one and only Natalie, who made this intelligent comment after spending about 2 days in Switzerland and France and being fairly familiar with the way everything was working. This is why we’re friends J

Thursday night we landed in Switzerland. (And then crossed the border to our hotel in France…what what?) Random tidbit: crossing that border is basically like crossing towns in the states…I mean, they had a little booth thing, but half the time no one was there, so anyone really could’ve come or go to Switzerland and France as they pleased…I guess border control isn’t an issue here?

Friday morning we arose bright and early and had croissants in France (okay okay technically we bought them in France and ate them in Switzerland…but hey, French croissants: que guay!!) [side note: other highlights of food origins: we ate French fries in France, and Swiss chocolate in Switzerland…so that was cool] and then we headed into downtown Geneva and walked around to see all the best that Geneva had to offer. We ended up going to a botanical garden (love gardens) and also passed by the UN Headquarters. (that doesn’t look nearly as cool as you would imagine…its basically some big cement buildings, gated off and guarded).

And then in the afternoon we went to Montreaux (which is on the other side of Lake Geneva). That was absolutely amazing! Everything was just soooo beautiful. We took like an hour long walk along the lake over to a castle. During this walk we had the most gorgeous views of the lake with the snow-covered mountains and all kinds of flowers; it was just one of those scenes that looks like it came right from a movie, or a magazine or something. Sigh.

For those who regularly follow the blog...yeah, these are the pants...

Saturday quite possibly was one of the most memorable days of my life. We took a bus to Chamonix (France) where we took a cable lift thing (I don’t know what those guys are called…) up to the top of Mont Blanc (the tallest peak of the Alps, and I think the tallest mountain in all of Europe). The view from up there-sighhhhh- just indescribable. In every direction there were just mountain ranges of snow covered peaks. As far as you could see. It was just awe-inspiring.

Those people that you see are the skiers preparing to descend

All for one...one for all!!

Afterwards, we went to a glacier, and walked around an ice cave! That was so crazy- like, I stood inside a glacier…

Preparing to enter the glacial cave

This is glaciar...I know, it looks like mountain...do not be fooled!

It’s so funny, like I’m here doing these things that are just unbelievable. These are things that I would probably say, “that’d be cool to do someday”, but I’m actually doing them. That’s actually the same reason I started a bucket list…because why let fear or excuses stop us doing from the things we want to do? Speaking of bucket list though: the low of the trip:

All I had to do was touch the little bugger and I could've checked something off my list!! DANGIT!

Anyhow, on Sunday we didn’t have too much time, so we stuck around Geneva. We went and got starbucks (yummm…although I’m not telling you how much we paid for that lovely experience) and went and sat in a gazebo in the park area overlooking the lake and just spent a couple hours chatting and enjoying the scene.

But yeah, so that about sums up the trip to Switzerland. Oh no it doesn’t- I forgot to mention the unfortunate situation, entitled, “my debit card wouldn’t work, and neither would my ATM card”…should have probably checked on card functionability before heading to a new country…Stressful situation- I hate money…But I love my friends who make sure it all works out J (thanks!!)

Welp, time to head off to business class! Hasta pronto!

I love you guys!

Rachel