I'm back in the states now, but I figured I should offically close down the blog- end it. So for 1, I'm doing the 1 most memorable thing about Salamanca:
I'll never forget the first night I was in Salamanca. My family said they were going to the plaza, and I could either come with or stay home. So I went with. We walked down crowded streets, filled with people doing January rebaja (sale) shopping, for a good mile and a half or so before getting to the plaza- and when we got there, I was absolutely in awe. I literally gasped and my madre got a huge smile across her face, and said, "it's pretty, isn't it?" pretty doesn't even describe it. It was breath-taking. And now, it's funny, because it's not just the plaza anymore. Now its where memories were made. All the times we met under the clock. The times we gathered at night. The times we needed to escape the centro so we went for gelato/yogurt in the plaza. Every day that we passed through on the way to and from class. The place where we waited for the lights to come on, and the place we sat on our last night as they turned the lights off. I spent my first and my last night in that plaza. (Oh God- this took me to a Mensaka place...story is a circle...ends how it began...I literally just cringed)
But it was really cool to end the same way it all began. (thanks Jeff for possibly your MOST genius idea!) It was the perfect ending to the perfect life experience. I don't have a single regret regarding my Salamanca experience (except for possibly considering Costa Rica for too long before finally deciding on Salamanca). There are things that were hard, and there were situations that were flat out uncomfortable- but I think that it all worked together to help me get the most out of the experience. I mean I have memories and new friendships that will last a lifetime- and thats pretty darn cool, and makes every little difficulty of the semester worth it :)
So that's that, for the Spain experience. Thanks for following me through this experience, I really hope you enjoyed it and got to learn a little bit about Spain and maybe about me!
As for my immediate future; I'll be sticking around NH until mid-June substitute teaching and spending time with family and friends. Then in the middle of June, I'll be heading down to Nicaragua where I'll be working with two different organizations to develop and implement business plans. Life moves pretty fast- and it's all one big adventure. I'm nervous for Nicaragua, but soooo excited. I think the one thing I learned from my whole study abroad experience is that we can't let fear stand in the way- we can't let it keep us from doing what we want to do. Living means forgetting that there's a tomorrow- it means we take each moment that we're given, knowing that there's no guarantee for another moment. There's a quote that I love which says, "yesterday's a cancelled check, tomorrow is a promissory note. Today's the only cash we have- let's spend it, but spend it wisely".
I'm planning on blogging from Niceragua, so I will post the address on fb when I start it, and e-mail it out to those of you who don't have facebook.
With all the love in my heart,
May God bless you,
Rachel
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
2!
How about 2 embarassing moments I've had in my Spain experience:
1. Sintra, Portugal. Scene: Rachel, David, and Jeff are basically climbing a mountain to go to the castle on top (it was like a hike in the woods). I had to go to the bathroom very badly. There aren't too many times that I can say that I felt like my bladder was going to burst...but this was an unfortunate time where I could say that...after a long inner battle, and then a long vocal battle as I debated with my friends whether or not to utilize nature, I decided my basic decision was between peeing in the woods or peeing in my pants. Conveniently there was this rock wall so I just de-trailed and took care of my bladder's needs. Anyhow- not fun- not classy. But it gets better. I turn to go return to the trail and there's an elderly couple on the other side of said rock wall. I don't know if they saw me or not. I booked it back to my friends and up the trail to evacuate the scene. embarassing.
2. In Madrid we decided to go to this Thai food place. (yum). We actually went there twice (on separate trips to Madrid). The restaurant is called Phuket. Now I don't know how you actually pronounce that- but I may or may not have accidentally said it at raised volume in the restauraunt in a way that sounds an awful lot (aka identical) to some pretty obscene english language. Embarassing.
1. Sintra, Portugal. Scene: Rachel, David, and Jeff are basically climbing a mountain to go to the castle on top (it was like a hike in the woods). I had to go to the bathroom very badly. There aren't too many times that I can say that I felt like my bladder was going to burst...but this was an unfortunate time where I could say that...after a long inner battle, and then a long vocal battle as I debated with my friends whether or not to utilize nature, I decided my basic decision was between peeing in the woods or peeing in my pants. Conveniently there was this rock wall so I just de-trailed and took care of my bladder's needs. Anyhow- not fun- not classy. But it gets better. I turn to go return to the trail and there's an elderly couple on the other side of said rock wall. I don't know if they saw me or not. I booked it back to my friends and up the trail to evacuate the scene. embarassing.
2. In Madrid we decided to go to this Thai food place. (yum). We actually went there twice (on separate trips to Madrid). The restaurant is called Phuket. Now I don't know how you actually pronounce that- but I may or may not have accidentally said it at raised volume in the restauraunt in a way that sounds an awful lot (aka identical) to some pretty obscene english language. Embarassing.
3!
3 things I've learned while in Spain (about myself or in general):
1. How to navigate Public transportation systems. I mean, I can still grow in this area- but it's pretty cool for me to be able to walk into a subway and understand what the heck is going on- or to know how to take train to metro to AVE. And under time constraints. (granted we never left me in charge...just in case...but I really am capable now and do not always feel directionally challeneged anymore)--along the same lines, just setting up travel. Figuring out how to budget your time to make sure to leave enough time to get to the bus from your airplane terminal. Sometimes a doozy- but a good skill to have acquired.
2. That having a positive outlook is NOT synonymous with being naive. I came to Spain as a naive individual. I assume the best in all people and situations- and that's wrong. You can't always give people the benefit of the doubt and trust blindly. But that also doesn't mean you have to walk around waiting for bad things to happen. I read a sign here that said "a pessimist is simply an informed optimist". I mean- I don't like the word pessimist, and I think this quote is wrong. Rather it should be "optimist is an informed naivist"- because being optimistic and hoping for the best doesn't mean you have to be clueless. This lesson was a hard one to learn- but worth it.
3. You should never waste time being anything other than yourself. The fact of the matter is, that if people aren't going to like you for who you are, then why would you want them to like you in the first place? I'm someone who cares much too much about how others perceive me, and it took me a long time to realize that I can't be all things to all people. You're not gonna be best friends with all people- so just be yourself and be friends with who you naturally are friends with.
Paz y Amor!
1. How to navigate Public transportation systems. I mean, I can still grow in this area- but it's pretty cool for me to be able to walk into a subway and understand what the heck is going on- or to know how to take train to metro to AVE. And under time constraints. (granted we never left me in charge...just in case...but I really am capable now and do not always feel directionally challeneged anymore)--along the same lines, just setting up travel. Figuring out how to budget your time to make sure to leave enough time to get to the bus from your airplane terminal. Sometimes a doozy- but a good skill to have acquired.
2. That having a positive outlook is NOT synonymous with being naive. I came to Spain as a naive individual. I assume the best in all people and situations- and that's wrong. You can't always give people the benefit of the doubt and trust blindly. But that also doesn't mean you have to walk around waiting for bad things to happen. I read a sign here that said "a pessimist is simply an informed optimist". I mean- I don't like the word pessimist, and I think this quote is wrong. Rather it should be "optimist is an informed naivist"- because being optimistic and hoping for the best doesn't mean you have to be clueless. This lesson was a hard one to learn- but worth it.
3. You should never waste time being anything other than yourself. The fact of the matter is, that if people aren't going to like you for who you are, then why would you want them to like you in the first place? I'm someone who cares much too much about how others perceive me, and it took me a long time to realize that I can't be all things to all people. You're not gonna be best friends with all people- so just be yourself and be friends with who you naturally are friends with.
Paz y Amor!
4 (oops-studying made me fall behind)
4 things that I'm looking forward to about going home:
1. Not having people stop talking to me or literally walking away when I can't understand them...one of the most stressful things is when you are trying for all you are worth to understand what is happening around you. A stranger asks a favor and then walks away when they realize you aren't fluent. I'm going to love being able to fully participate in conversation again
2. Living on the american schedule (for however long or short a time that is)- I'm sorry- I love Spain to death, but you can only eat dinner at 11 PM so many times before you never want to do that again...The days are just so long- you wake up at 8ish eat breakfast then you do class and stuff til 3, eat lunch between 3 and 345 ish, go back to do work and whatever eat dinner between 10 and 11, and then get ready for bed. I like the schedule back home better
3. Being able to cook. I've missed that. But Maite is captain of that kitchen and I just wouldn't dare even ask to cook for them (I offered to make pancakes- boom shut down. repeatedly)
4. Seeing mi familia! It's been a lonnnnnnngggggg time. So I'm just excited and ready to go back
Amor!
Rachel
3.
1. Not having people stop talking to me or literally walking away when I can't understand them...one of the most stressful things is when you are trying for all you are worth to understand what is happening around you. A stranger asks a favor and then walks away when they realize you aren't fluent. I'm going to love being able to fully participate in conversation again
2. Living on the american schedule (for however long or short a time that is)- I'm sorry- I love Spain to death, but you can only eat dinner at 11 PM so many times before you never want to do that again...The days are just so long- you wake up at 8ish eat breakfast then you do class and stuff til 3, eat lunch between 3 and 345 ish, go back to do work and whatever eat dinner between 10 and 11, and then get ready for bed. I like the schedule back home better
3. Being able to cook. I've missed that. But Maite is captain of that kitchen and I just wouldn't dare even ask to cook for them (I offered to make pancakes- boom shut down. repeatedly)
4. Seeing mi familia! It's been a lonnnnnnngggggg time. So I'm just excited and ready to go back
Amor!
Rachel
3.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
5
So in 5 days I will be back home...which made me think I would reflect a little, so here I go with 5 things I'll miss about Spain/my Spain experience:
1. Being able to walk everywhere- do you know how amazing it is to be able to walk to anywhere you want- whether it be shopping, movies, restaurants, libraries (yeah I never used one of those), parks, class, monuments...ANYTHING! It's amazing!!
2. Bakeries EVERYWHERE--this is probably actually a blessing in disguise...but CROSSAINTERIA PARIS (spelt that wrong...), HORNO, Delicasstae(?), Mandala, Strudel...gonna miss those little guys. which brings me to my next point:
3. SPANISH COFFEE- I'm pretty sure that spanish coffee is composed of: espresso, milk, magic, and love. That might sound corny- but I think you can literally taste the love (the magic is hard to pick up on...but the proof that its there comes in the inability to replicate the cafe con leche from some of the aforementioned locations)- Delicasstae(?still dont know if thats what its called), Mandala, Javi Copa (yeah its a bar-and they know me as the girl who drinks coffee...you wanna talk about doing a number on your social reputation with strangers...try being the kid who goes into a bar 3 times a week and gets coffee...), Pancake, Cafe Toro...its been good times. sighhh.
4. Travelling- obviously, I don't have to stop travelling when I go back home, but I am going to miss being able to pick anywhere within decent proximity and being able to get there fairly easy. Im going to miss the ridiculous adventures of pulling all nighters in airports (I mean they were rough-but fun). I'm going to miss the process of choosing a location with friends to go to and then just doing it.I'm gonna miss Javier's crazy itineraries, that always seemed to piss everyone off except for me (call me crazy- but I like organized...especially when I had nothing to do with it), and I'm gonna miss the times that we go on our own trips and talk as if we're spiting Javier by not going to a Cathedral or by stopping and taking pictures. And I guess what I'm going to miss most about the trips, and spain experience in whole is my next point, which is:
5. Hanging out (almost every waking moment) with the friends I've made here- the good thing is they all go to Wake, so in the fall obviously all the friendships resume. But there's something about being abroad that makes it different. I came to Spain with a group of people who I considered aquaintences and strangers for the most part. But somehow, strangers and aquaintences became friends with whom I forsee life long friendships. This sounds super corny- but I feel like Spain kind of helped me to become myself, and for the first time I didn't have to put walls up, and people got to see me being me, with no inhibitions. I am so grateful for all the people who I have really gotton to know this semester and share this experience with. The people who stood and waited as I started hyperventilating and crying on the middle of the sidewalk outside the train station when everything felt like it was spiraling out of control, and helped me to realize that everything works out. The person who helped me to see that a 60 on an art test wasnt the end of the world (same person who helped talk some sense into me with my internship struggle- and helped me to reason logically). The person who would sit and talk on the corner for 2-3 hours after our strudel nights, and then talk to me for 15 mins more on the phone to make sure I got home all right. The person who would stay for lunch at the centro as we tried to motivate eachother to do our papers. The people who I walked to class with every day (except tuesdays). The people who were the "fearless leaders" on trips. The people who would be absolutely ridiculous with me. The people who could always be convinced (or really simultaneously decided) that it was a good time for a pastry, a coffee, a gelato, or a Carrefour trip. The people who I travelled with. The people who I could make snort laugh (whether they were laughing cuz something was funny or just laughing at me is of little importance).The person who maybe had some merit in suggesting that maybe we don't have to define everything, but rather, just live. The people who went along with my dumb matching outfits (intentionally or unintentionally). The person who had no problem embarrassing me in business class (pop lock and drop it) The people who woke up at ungodly hours for breakfast parties while travelling. the people who would dance Waka waka with me regardless of where we were (oh hey boat deck...). The person who made sure I didn't forget I had a jewish name (and who inadvertanly caused a tour guide to question me on Hebrew writing in Cordoba). The people who listened to me babble on and on, sometimes making a fool of myself, in general and in front of javier (I still dont know how you ask what the temperature will be). The people who listened to me sing, who listened to me make bad jokes, references, puns. The people who "educated" me on all kinds of topics. And just, the people who made me realize that when things seem bad and even unbearable, that we can rely on eachother- that friendship is enough to overcome and even heal each other of whatever's going on around us. I'm gonna miss these people- and yet I'm going to carry what I've learned from everyone in this group with me forever. And that's what I'm most grateful for :)
1. Being able to walk everywhere- do you know how amazing it is to be able to walk to anywhere you want- whether it be shopping, movies, restaurants, libraries (yeah I never used one of those), parks, class, monuments...ANYTHING! It's amazing!!
2. Bakeries EVERYWHERE--this is probably actually a blessing in disguise...but CROSSAINTERIA PARIS (spelt that wrong...), HORNO, Delicasstae(?), Mandala, Strudel...gonna miss those little guys. which brings me to my next point:
3. SPANISH COFFEE- I'm pretty sure that spanish coffee is composed of: espresso, milk, magic, and love. That might sound corny- but I think you can literally taste the love (the magic is hard to pick up on...but the proof that its there comes in the inability to replicate the cafe con leche from some of the aforementioned locations)- Delicasstae(?still dont know if thats what its called), Mandala, Javi Copa (yeah its a bar-and they know me as the girl who drinks coffee...you wanna talk about doing a number on your social reputation with strangers...try being the kid who goes into a bar 3 times a week and gets coffee...), Pancake, Cafe Toro...its been good times. sighhh.
4. Travelling- obviously, I don't have to stop travelling when I go back home, but I am going to miss being able to pick anywhere within decent proximity and being able to get there fairly easy. Im going to miss the ridiculous adventures of pulling all nighters in airports (I mean they were rough-but fun). I'm going to miss the process of choosing a location with friends to go to and then just doing it.I'm gonna miss Javier's crazy itineraries, that always seemed to piss everyone off except for me (call me crazy- but I like organized...especially when I had nothing to do with it), and I'm gonna miss the times that we go on our own trips and talk as if we're spiting Javier by not going to a Cathedral or by stopping and taking pictures. And I guess what I'm going to miss most about the trips, and spain experience in whole is my next point, which is:
5. Hanging out (almost every waking moment) with the friends I've made here- the good thing is they all go to Wake, so in the fall obviously all the friendships resume. But there's something about being abroad that makes it different. I came to Spain with a group of people who I considered aquaintences and strangers for the most part. But somehow, strangers and aquaintences became friends with whom I forsee life long friendships. This sounds super corny- but I feel like Spain kind of helped me to become myself, and for the first time I didn't have to put walls up, and people got to see me being me, with no inhibitions. I am so grateful for all the people who I have really gotton to know this semester and share this experience with. The people who stood and waited as I started hyperventilating and crying on the middle of the sidewalk outside the train station when everything felt like it was spiraling out of control, and helped me to realize that everything works out. The person who helped me to see that a 60 on an art test wasnt the end of the world (same person who helped talk some sense into me with my internship struggle- and helped me to reason logically). The person who would sit and talk on the corner for 2-3 hours after our strudel nights, and then talk to me for 15 mins more on the phone to make sure I got home all right. The person who would stay for lunch at the centro as we tried to motivate eachother to do our papers. The people who I walked to class with every day (except tuesdays). The people who were the "fearless leaders" on trips. The people who would be absolutely ridiculous with me. The people who could always be convinced (or really simultaneously decided) that it was a good time for a pastry, a coffee, a gelato, or a Carrefour trip. The people who I travelled with. The people who I could make snort laugh (whether they were laughing cuz something was funny or just laughing at me is of little importance).The person who maybe had some merit in suggesting that maybe we don't have to define everything, but rather, just live. The people who went along with my dumb matching outfits (intentionally or unintentionally). The person who had no problem embarrassing me in business class (pop lock and drop it) The people who woke up at ungodly hours for breakfast parties while travelling. the people who would dance Waka waka with me regardless of where we were (oh hey boat deck...). The person who made sure I didn't forget I had a jewish name (and who inadvertanly caused a tour guide to question me on Hebrew writing in Cordoba). The people who listened to me babble on and on, sometimes making a fool of myself, in general and in front of javier (I still dont know how you ask what the temperature will be). The people who listened to me sing, who listened to me make bad jokes, references, puns. The people who "educated" me on all kinds of topics. And just, the people who made me realize that when things seem bad and even unbearable, that we can rely on eachother- that friendship is enough to overcome and even heal each other of whatever's going on around us. I'm gonna miss these people- and yet I'm going to carry what I've learned from everyone in this group with me forever. And that's what I'm most grateful for :)
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Life is goooooood
Fun fact: I am a craft-a-holic. But if I try and do a project that is too ambitious, I end up doing half of it and then leaving it. The amount of unfinished afghans, unfinished cross-stitching patterns, latch hook rug thingies, hats, pillows, etch arts etc etc is just mind blowing. For this reason, I do much better with smaller craft items.
Anyhowwwww....I spent this past weekend in Mallorca! Three musketeers with some irish persuasion! BOOM! (that sounds better with asian...cuz of the rhyme factor...but go with it) Let me tell you about an experience called: I spent the weekend in PARADISE!!! 2 days at the beach and one day on an excursion to the porto cristo and to the pearl factory and to the Caves of Drach... I'm pretty sure that every magazine picture of paradise is probably taken in Mallorca. Never have I seen water so clear and beautiful (with a wonderful bluish green coloring...sighhhhhh)
Everyone is so nice in Mallorca too! They all told us how fantastic our spanish was (I think they get used to the tourism, and so any spanish is nice for them to hear). They also would then continue to converse with you because they were happy with hearing spanish. I loved it. LOVED IT!!! Unfortunately, in the German part of town, spanish really did no good. But german home baked pretzels certainly did us lots of good :)
Did I happen to buy some Mallorcan pearls?...No comment.
Oh, and on another note, EXCITING NEWS!!!! My internship search is all over. I have accepted my internship for the summer. Drum roll, drum roll: I am going to be spending 6-8 weeks this summer down in Nicaragua working to develop marketing plans for elderly homes :) I am SOOOOO pumped. It was a stressful process trying to figure out internship plans while abroad, but let me tell you, all the stress was well worth it. It was so hard to turn down the internship I was offered in Winston a month or so back, but now, it kind of all makes sense. It all now helps me to remember that I truly do think everything happens for a reason. I wish I was better at remembering these sorts of things in times of stress, and not just realizing them after-the-fact. Oh well. Better late than never! I am so excited to start finding out all the specifics of my internship, and will certainly keep you all posted! (And hey, maybe even start a new blog...who knows.)
Anyhow, that's all for now. Off to my 12-pager (eek)
With muchooooo love,
Rachel :)
Anyhowwwww....I spent this past weekend in Mallorca! Three musketeers with some irish persuasion! BOOM! (that sounds better with asian...cuz of the rhyme factor...but go with it) Let me tell you about an experience called: I spent the weekend in PARADISE!!! 2 days at the beach and one day on an excursion to the porto cristo and to the pearl factory and to the Caves of Drach... I'm pretty sure that every magazine picture of paradise is probably taken in Mallorca. Never have I seen water so clear and beautiful (with a wonderful bluish green coloring...sighhhhhh)
Everyone is so nice in Mallorca too! They all told us how fantastic our spanish was (I think they get used to the tourism, and so any spanish is nice for them to hear). They also would then continue to converse with you because they were happy with hearing spanish. I loved it. LOVED IT!!! Unfortunately, in the German part of town, spanish really did no good. But german home baked pretzels certainly did us lots of good :)
Oh, and on another note, EXCITING NEWS!!!! My internship search is all over. I have accepted my internship for the summer. Drum roll, drum roll: I am going to be spending 6-8 weeks this summer down in Nicaragua working to develop marketing plans for elderly homes :) I am SOOOOO pumped. It was a stressful process trying to figure out internship plans while abroad, but let me tell you, all the stress was well worth it. It was so hard to turn down the internship I was offered in Winston a month or so back, but now, it kind of all makes sense. It all now helps me to remember that I truly do think everything happens for a reason. I wish I was better at remembering these sorts of things in times of stress, and not just realizing them after-the-fact. Oh well. Better late than never! I am so excited to start finding out all the specifics of my internship, and will certainly keep you all posted! (And hey, maybe even start a new blog...who knows.)
Anyhow, that's all for now. Off to my 12-pager (eek)
With muchooooo love,
Rachel :)
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