paris: a european gem

When things go right, it makes me feel oddly suspicious. You’d think if events go as planned, or even better, go well without a plan at all, that would be excellent, and while it definitely is, it’s something to which I am completely unaccustomed. The three blissful days spent meandering through Paris were surreal to say the least, and to this day I still feel like it really didn’t happen. Paris is not a city I ever pictured myself visiting in my lifetime. To me it was always a fairytale, equivalent to some far-off land of Disney splendor where magic and color and song are the main principles of society. It’s not that I never wanted to go there, I just never imagined it probable, or even possible. That being said, at the suggestion to go to Paris after London I merely agreed with a shrug, saying well of course I’d love to go to Paris, I mean, it’s Paris (much later I would wonder what was wrong with my earlier self for not thinking of it sooner).

The adventure began at the airport, where after some “international” cellphone confusion, we had to buy tickets to get on the last metro for the night, but before we could finish panicking about the machines not taking bills, someone started whistling with a sport whistle and yelling interchangeably between French and English to the entire wing that the last metro into the city was arriving and that moment, and that it was free, so we were more or less ushered to go through the open gates ticket-less with the hope that we wouldn’t get stopped for something so bizarre.

Of course what did we see when emerging from our unrealistic metro ride but Arc de Triomphe, glowing boldly in the center of the circle where cabs, cars and bicycles swirled in and out and around it in a seemingly synchronized fashion.

At that moment, I lost my sense of fatigue, and my permanent state of Parisian awe had settled right then and there for the rest of the weekend. When we arrived at my friend’s friend’s apartment, as he has been studying in Paris also through Loyola this semester, I couldn’t believe the view, as of course he had a balcony facing the Eiffel Tower. We walked around the neighborhood with him and one of his friends, sat at a café for a while and ended up returning thinking we should rest before the long day that would follow, only to stay up until 5am talking and laughing, practically drunk from glee and the exhaustion that we seemed to have ignored.

After a rewarding night’s sleep and a fantastic breakfast, we started off our day with a view from the top of Arc de Triomphe and continued our day with a pace similar to which we took in London, but by some magic it felt like a much more leisurely tour. We could not have asked for better weather, for as it was a surprise to see so much sun in London, it seemed to have followed us to Paris. Along our way our first day, we walked down Avenue des Champ Élysées, stopped at Opera Garnier, Galerie Lafayette, L'église de la Madeliene and Basilique du Sacré-Coeur.

Based on the number of cathedrals I’ve visited since August, I could probably write a book just explaining the histories and significance from one to the next. However, of all the cathedrals I’ve entered in Europe, I have to say that Sacre Couer is my favorite thus far. While certain aspects of cathedrals are similar, each has elements that contribute to create a distinct atmosphere, although sometimes those elements are the most difficult to distinguish. After a hike up the hill and through the crowd and street performers in front of the cathedral steps, we reached Sacre Couer, mounted overlooking the city. The first minute upon entering, my sense of present tense evaporated. The high rounded ceilings allowed for the voices of the choir of nuns to echo graciously throughout the cathedral, creating a profound tranquility that put the rest of the city and my travels completely and involuntarily out of my mind. The entire interior was soft and bright and welcoming, in comparison to the darker, more Gothic demeanor of other cathedrals we had seen. I was stunned by a very real sense of reverence, and couldn’t believe how close I was to tears; for what reason, I couldn’t say, but I definitely felt a peaceful presence that urged me to sit for a while at the very least. Only hunger and our agenda moved me forward, but it was surely a moment I am not soon to forget.

Earlier in the day we had decided to save the Eiffel Tower for last, incredible as we imagined it would be. And effectively, to walk under the tower and onto Parc du Champ de Mars at night right before it began to sparkle on the hour was breathtaking as anticipated. Followed by crepes and a subway ride back, we were ready to rest before our morning at the Louvre, where we spent a good half of our day meandering through the extensive exhibits, in no way able to soak up everything. After a visit at Notre Dame and a stroll through the Latin Quarter and the gardens at Palais et Jardin Du Luexenbourg, we made sure to see the Eiffel Tower one more time at sunset, to end our trip right.

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As surreal as it felt to be in London, Paris was magical in a whole other realm. It’s a place I never wanted to dream of, because dreaming would seemingly gray in comparison. It was the perfect splash of color for which I yearned but never sought when initially planning my semester abroad, but in a way that made it so much more of an escapade. Had I had the time to explore everything and experience everything thoroughly, I would, but it was nice to at least have a snapshot adventure in London and Paris and to visit places I never really though I would get to see in person ever in my life. Half of the places we visited I couldn’t actually believe, most if it felt like such a surreal and intangible experience that I didn’t even feel like I was really a part of it, as if I was merely viewing someone else’s memory or account of having been there. Never had I imagined myself standing in at the foot of Big Ben or the Eiffel Tower, strolling through the Louvre, outside of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre or on top of Arc de Triomphe and Tower Bridge. Europe?! I’m in Europe!

winning london

A few friends and I decided to take advantage of our mini break between our first month intensive course and the start of our full semester to travel to London and Paris within a four-day period– crazy as it seems, one destination wouldn't be enough. But we came back happy to say that while we knew we wouldn't get to see everything to its entirety, we soaked in enough of each city to return with a taste of each, and a sense accomplishment for having navigated our way to so many places on our own. When we landed in London late at night, we exited the plane via air stairs instead of a jet bridge to the terminal, which is one thing I've always wanted to do and have never experienced before. And after our first ride into the city, we of course our next bus was a double-decker, a second experience I've always wanted to have. Mind you, I didn't imagine doing either in chilly London fog in the middle of the night, but it was cool to check them off the bucket list :]

Since our trip was less of a cultural experience and more of a race to sight-see, we had quite the itinerary. Although the hostel we stayed at in London was a bit gnarly, the environment and the few hours of sleep we got there didn't impede our adventures the following day, as we managed to reach all of our intended destinations without any trouble. We were greeted the following morning by abundant sunshine and warm temperatures, obviously a rarity for London at the start of fall. Along our run around the city, we went from Trafalgar Square to Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St. James' Park, Buckingham Palace, Harrod's and walked through Piccadilly Circus at night. On our second day we crossed Tower Bridge to see London Tower, St Paul's Cathedral, and then crossed the river once more by way of Millennium Bridge to see Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Much of the 36 hours spent in London didn't feel real, it took a while to really believe that we were really there, just because of how little time we allowed ourselves to see so many things. If we had the time I would have liked to explore some museums and take the time to walk through the Palace and the Theatre and churches, but I'm grateful for how much we were able to see regardless.

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Being among the English language again was refreshing, but it was comical because we actually couldn't understand the accent at times.. especially in moments when we needed to, say on the bus trying to figure out which route goes to which street before it stops running. It was kind of bizarre. But it was a nice change in culture, in Spain everything is very relaxed, which I love, but being in London felt a lot more proper and regal. I couldn't even tell you how. In the air I guess.

Another big plus about visiting London was being able to meet up with two friends from home who are studying there this semester, and being able to tour the city a bit with them. Seeing familiar faces in a European city just makes the experience that much more surreal, and it only added to my desire to stay longer! In between sight-seeing our first day we enjoyed a nice break following lunch by lying in the cool grass of Hyde Park, something we apparently missed greatly, having been in the arid center of Spain for a month.

After a day and a half of maneuvering through the city, I still wasn't used to looking the opposite way first before crossing the street, and it slipped my mind to take a telephone booth picture, but hey, couldn't do everything! We didn't even eat real meals, not only because we didn't know of any "specialty" aside from fish and chips, we definitely didn't want to spend a lot, especially since we were in British pounds territory. We also didn't really factor eating into our schedule (oops). But soon I was in Paris, which was another adventure to itself, making London really feel like a figment of my imagination. Good thing I had my camera.. oh wait, my second battery died shortly after our last destination in England, my memory card was full, and I left my charger on my desk in Spain. Photographer fail. So began my month of TGFI (Thank God For iPhone), because it not only saved my camera dilemma for Paris (to an extent), but it made my weeks without a laptop a whole lot easier.

Coming up next: Pahree! (because it felt wrong to squeeze two cities into one blog post, I mean really, how could I).

since I've been gone:

First and foremost, an apology for the dry spell, as it probably appears that I have frolicked into Spain and abandoned my blog completely. Well, this is half-true. I've been frolicking, but I had no intention of keeping my experiences to myself! Three-ish weeks ago, my hard drive failed, causing me mild panic and a lot of stress, seeing as my laptop is my main source of communication and doing work for school while abroad, and the only way I could really find out what could be done or relay my issue to anyone who could help me was in Spanish. Luckily, after a week of researching and worrying and communicating with my program director and the help of my father, I was able to go with her student assistant, Maria, who speaks a fair amount of English to an Apple store in Madrid, and she helped me explain the problem to them, but more importantly she helped me understand what the policies were and what they were going to do with it. Special thanks to my still applicable AppleCare, Maria, my dad and some generous people at Apple, I now have my computer back with a functioning hard drive, a new keypad and my old hard drive so that I can try to have my old info extracted elsewhere. Good deal considering all the effort it took to get here!

While I am dumping my life from the past month back onto my computer, in words and images, it'll take a few days before I get another post up, but if you have interest, a piece of work I had submitted to Pictory, an online captioned photo magazine that I love, was published in their latest showcase.

To view it simply go to http://www.pictorymag.com/ and view the showcase titled Love Without Language, and my pictory (picture-story) is number 17 if you scroll through! I highly recommend viewing the other showcases, too; they're magnificent and I find the whole concept of the site to be so innovative and packed with creativity.

  

 

Since I've been gone, I've traveled to London, Paris, Barcelona and Toledo and begun my full semester.

Things are picking up pace, and as of three days ago, we've been here an entire two months already. Hard to believe, and I think the next two will only fly by faster. Since I've been gone, I've re-learned that patience is a virtue, and that although at times I may feel lost, I'm never alone. I've also learned to believe my own words, in finding the benefit in living simply.

More pictures and adventure details to follow! I promise :]

aventuras de septiembre

One month in, and we're starting to get into the swing of our schedules and our environment, but we've also embarked on many outings as well. Things are starting to feel familiar, and navigating around the city is significantly less intimidating than before. Yay! Aaand I've come to realize I may spend half of my euros on chocolate-filled croissants, empanadillas, and chocolate and churros, because they happen to be, perhaps unfortunately, much too convenient to find, and much too delicious to pass up (big uh-oh). I've also started to notice a slight (and I mean really slight) difference in my comprehension, and I’ve been told a few times that my accent, if anything has improved. One of my Spanish sisters commented the other day that I didn’t sound the least bit foreign after one of our brief conversations, but I know that that comes and goes, cause I still have to think a lot before I speak. But I feel like I’ve been able to adjust to listening to the general “Spain” Spanish accent, making it a bit easier to hear certain words, but after learning from mostly South/Central American Spanish accents throughout my education, it’s made a much more significant impact on how I hear things than I thought it would. But things are seemingly fine, if not better, and I feel like I really am learning something new every day.

On a more trivial note, it’s also still only rained here once, we’ve maybe had two overcast days, so the sky is typically a cloudless, blissful blue. This may change as fall approaches, but so far I can’t complain! The fickle temperatures of September are still persistent here as at home, but with much greater extremes. I’ll leave the house in the morning in 50-degree weather and return as it’s approaching 90. I don’t intend to brag, especially to those who have dealt with torrential rain the last month of summer, I actually feel really bad! But.. yep, it’s been four weeks and my screen-less window is still wide open. :] I'm sure that statement will bite me in the butt in a matter of two weeks, because apparently when the cold comes here there's not much warning!

We are loving life in Alcalá, but we've also spent a significant amount of time on the road already! Here's some brief detail of our traveling adventures as a group thus far, and observe, our destination points thus far marked in purple:

Our third day in Spain we left on our first adventure with Maria Jose, our program director here in Alcalá, to Asturias in the northwest. Her husband and two sons also accompanied us, and made the ride much more amusing. Each time we boarded the bus, Manuel would walk the aisle counting us and would constantly stick his head up in front to say hi to the rest of the bus. A five-hour drive through the Spanish countryside allowed us to see terrain outside of the city, much of which resembled what I would describe as the Tuscany of Spain, partially for its endless fields of sunflowers. As we passed through the mountains where we could see the climate drastically change; no longer was the land dry and dusty, but rather, quite lush and green due to the rain shadow caused by the mountains keeping the coastal air contained in the valleys.

We stopped first in Oviedo to wander and enjoy lunch, where many of us were able to try traditional Asturian foods and drink (fabada, a bean stew, and cidra, a bitter alcoholic cider). We then continued to Gijon, a small coastal city in Asturias where we would be staying for the weekend. There we were able to enjoy the beach for a bit (however brisk and overcast!), walk along the boardwalk and eat together.

Oviedo

Gijon

Our second day out in Asturias, we drove further into the mountains to see the Basilica of Santa María la Real of Covadonga that marks the territory of the battle against the Moors led by Christian king Don Pelayo at the start of the Spanish Reconquista, and also the site where the Virgin Mary appeared to the soldiers in a cave along one of the mountains. We visited the chapel that was built into the cave, and the fountain below the cave that promised marriage to those who drank from it, and I’m pretty sure we all took a sip soo we shall see!

While there, we took a ride up the mountain to see the view of the coast and the glacial lakes that had formed at the top. We passed many cows and sheep grazing on the hillsides, and we were awed by the dewy silence that embraced the mountaintop.  Since I was told we would be hiking and canoeing for the day, I brought my film camera for that day, so those photos will have to wait!

After visiting the Basilica we went on an afternoon river canoeing adventure as a group, which was en excursion to say the least. We were handed wet suits and waterproof buckets that held our lunches, and then we were given a very quick tutorial on paddling in Spanish, only to be pushed into the river in canoes of two from a wooden chute, with Maria Jose waving us off from the dry shore. Along the way we passed many cows just chillin’ and grazing near the river, and we stopped to eat our “ham” sandwiches, laugh, and complain about how tired we already were. Exciting as it was to navigate the few rapids and keep the group of 16 together, we were cold and exhausted and not exactly fit for three more hours of paddling, but it was a fun bonding experience nonetheless! Sleep felt good after that.

After checking out of the hotel the next day, we headed for more coastal regions in Asturias, including Cabo de Peñas, the northernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula, which had an incredible view of the Bay of Biscay from the cliffs. We also stopped at two other beaches, one where we were able to spend the afternoon relaxing on the sand before heading on our long drive back to Alcalá.

Cabo de Peñas

Since Asturias, we have been into Madrid several times for the afternoon, and planned our own trip as a group to Valencia. In Madrid we have rented row boats in el Parque de Retiro, gone shopping on Gran Via and at el Rastro (street market held each Sunday), and seen a few famous sites with Maria Jose such as la Plaza Mayor, el Palacio Real, and Sol, the actual center point of Spain.

el Parque de Retiro

In Valencia we experienced what it’s like to stay in a hostel (which turned out to be a really clean and friendly place to stay!), to carry everything we need on our backs, and to explore a Spanish city without a guide. We visited the gorgeous Cathedral of Valencia and spent one of our days at the beach which was absolutely beautiful. It was quite the adventure, but we managed to pack in a lot of fun and still make our buses there and back.

La Catedral del Santo Cáliz

Although I didn't attend mass at the cathedral in Valencia, I did go this past weekend to mass at the cathedral in Alcalá, and although I could hardly comprehend anything, being able to practice the same faith in a different culture was renewing and an awesome experience. I'm hoping to learn at least some of the prayers in Spanish so by the end of the semester I'll hopefully be able to actually participate.

Right as we started getting into the groove of our class schedule, our first class actually ends next week, and our final exam is on Monday. And the following week we will continue with our other five classes! But fear not, the travel doesn’t end here! This weekend we will be going to El Escorial y El Valle de los Caídos with Maria Jose, next week I will be leaving with a few friends for London and Paris, and the weekend after most of the group is going to Barcelona!

More soon! 'sta luego! :]

enamorarse de la vida en el extranjero

¡Bienvenidos a Alcalá de Henares, España, my new hometown for the semester! One week in and I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I'm on the other side of the Atlantic. Brief bio: Alcalá de Henares is a small city about an hour or less east of Madrid, where Spanish writer Cervantes lived (best known for his novel Don Quijote), and also where Ignatius of Loyola had studied. Historical fun facts, booyah. The most central part of the city includes the Plaza de Cervantes on Calle Mayor where there are many shops and restaurants, including taparías and panerías, and also where most of the buildings for the University of Alcalá de Henares are located. Most of my studies will take place at Alcalingua, the language institute of the University. The city is clearly very old, but it's adorable in its antiquity. I love the colors and the architecture and feel of the town, so far I love it here!

Towards the end of summer, I had been growing increasingly nervous and anxious about my arrival and the adjustment process, and being able to communicate clearly in a language I hadn't practiced for months. And after a stressful stretch of days spent packing and last minute shopping and counting down the minutes left with family and friends, I was more or less freaking out by the time we stepped onto the plane. There's no doubt about it, when we arrived in Spain we dove right into the culture, but there are still many moments where it all feels so surreal. However, it's been nothing short of amazing so far, and I'm running out of adequate synonyms for the damn adjective. After a sleepy bizarre day one, and an active and invigorating day two, I knew I had made one of the best decisions of my life.

Home life

The family I am staying with this semester is wonderful. My host parents are generous and patient, and are willing to explain things and clue me in when I'm lost, which I am extremely grateful for seeing as that occurs multiple times a conversation (but I'm getting better! :]) There are few moments when they are not laughing or smiling about something, making it a very happy environment, por ejemplo, today my host father was singing as he was putting away groceries. While they both love to ask me questions and hear about how things are in the states, I probably talk with my host mom the most. She is so sweet, and I can tell she loves being able to share their traditions and their culture with me. Their home is a cozy townhouse in a little complex with a community pool, and it's quite lovely. They both participate in cooking meals, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that I've enjoyed everything I've eaten here thus far, even the spinach and tuna lasagna (cue my parents' shock). Weird, right? I don't know how, I really don't. Jamón (ham) and pescado (seafood) are common main dish features, but there is so much variety that so far I haven't felt any redundancy in meals. I'm sure that having ham in everything here is comparable to having chicken in everything in the states, I mean, let's be real, how many various recipes do you know that involve chicken? I've never tried so many different things in one week, and never imagined I would enjoy all of it this much!

My host "sisters," ages 18 and 21, are also very kind and patient, and I've really enjoyed their company while at the house. From the beginning we've been able to joke and laugh and find interests that we share. The older daughter and I like a lot of the same bands, and I'm finding that the younger daughter and I think a lot alike, making it easy to be myself and goof around, especially when I can only partially communicate what I'm thinking as it is! They've willingly driven me places, escorted me to the main plaza and around town at night and included me to hang out with their friends by their community pool. And while I try and participate here and there in conversation, even just sitting and listening has helped me adapt a bit more.

I've spent at least two afternoons talking to the kids by the pool, where even the younger kids hang out with the older ones, all joking around and jumping on each other as kids on any neighborhood block would. They have been there every day when I walk home from the plaza, so it's no surprise to me how close they all are, regardless of age. The boys get a kick out of spitting out English phrases and I've enjoyed interpreting lyrics from American songs. They listen to a surprising amount of American music and watch so many American movies, I had no idea! It's just so interesting to interact with them, because much of it really feels the same, just in another language. Each day with them is like another puzzle, because I don't know everything yet, but that's what makes it so curious. I feel extremely fortunate to be living with girls my age who are willing to share their lives and their home with me, but also to be a friend towards me as well. I'm sure my experience would have been drastically different without a full family, seeing as I've been talking much more at the house than I would have if I didn't have "siblings" around.

Then there's the pets! Their two dogs, Britney and Mick Jagger are the cutest little Malteses I've ever seen. God knows I'm gonna miss my little white dog, so how fortunate I am to have two new furry friends here! Yesterday I walked them with my host mom and they kept stopping each time we passed through shade, it was quite humorous. And like Riley, they do tricks too! It's so cute to see them respond to things in Spanish. I'm still getting used to the cat factor, seeing as there are three of them and two of the three (Milou mostly, and Magu, who is blind) tend to appear on my bed a second after I open my door (the third is named Glen, but he tends to stay outside). And with cats comes hair, and well, it's everywhere already, including my keyboard..? * vigorously sweeps computer* ew. But I'm not really complaining cause they really are adorable. It just means I have to be more conscious of my open door. Needless to say, in this house, it's definitely the more the merrier, so I'm blessed to be in good company, animals and all!

Yesterday the family included me in their plans to visit their grandmother for her 76th birthday, which was really kind of them, because they certainly aren't expected to. She lives on the other side of Alcalá, and on the way over, my host mom explained the dynamic and a bit about my host father's sisters, and that they usually only go to their mother's small apartment twice a year for her birthday and el Día de los Reyes Magos on January 6 (day of the Magi Kings, which is kind of like their separate day for Christmas morning, but the Kings deliver gifts instead of Santa). As soon as we got there, I was welcomed and encouraged to feel at home. We spent most of the afternoon eating and talking, although many parts of the conversation I could still only half understand. The quieter I was, the more I was pressured to come mas! (eat more haha) But their aunts were so nice and they all included me in the conversation as much as they could and were patient enough to let me speak and participate. I enjoyed the entire afternoon, and much of their interactions reminded me of my own family.

One of the traditions they have when gathering in early September is designating "secret Santas" although I forgot the name they actually called it once they were trying to explain it to me. After writing down everyone's names, kids and adults alike, and put them in a cup to choose one person for whom they must make a gift for el Día de los Reyes Magos. They do this instead of buying expensive gifts for everyone, and in doing this the gifts are much more meaningful. They had me participate by passing around the cup from person to person, and we were all amused because it took so many tries before everyone selected one without someone choosing their own name.

One moment that particularly struck me from the day: one of my host father's sisters had made a few CDs for their other sister, and she wanted to play some of the songs for her as we were all sitting together. Lo and behold, the first song she turns on is one of my favorite songs by Sia, and happens to be my ringtone. I was then able to share with them that Sia was one of my favorite artists, to which their aunt was joyed to know that I liked her as much as she did. It was not an extreme coincidence, although very few of my friends at home know of Sia, but I felt equally shocked and relieved. Weird as this sounds, it felt like another reassurance that I'm not alone here, and that any familiarities in a place that is so foreign to me are a blessing. Little unities make a big difference. It's so nice to feel comfortable and be in company of a family that treats me as so when I'm so far from my own.

Week One Observations

Some of the most notable things so far regarding Spanish lifestyle are how meals and the seasonal weather seem to influence the schedule structure. Each meal is important, and usually invites the family together. Saying that seems bizarre, since in the good ol' U.S. we push ourselves regardless of whether we "have time" to eat and regardless of the season (But then again, I don't feel like getting into all the things that don't work in America, I'll save that blog for another lifetime). But it's true, that instead of taking the time to sit down, unwind, eat a meal and detach ourselves, we remain constantly plagued by "work." Even when we try and get away, it lingers in the back of our minds, and sometimes we even feel guilty taking the time to make ourselves sane.

But here, everything closes in the afternoon around 2, and the streets become increasingly silent and empty as everyone departs for home (or for lunch out elsewhere). Lunch itself lasts close to two or three hours, depending on whether you nap or not, and it involves cooking a full meal, sitting down at the table with your family, going for a walk, or simply resting. And then it's back to work until about 8 or so, because dinner won't be needed until closer to 9-9:30! And if there is any recreational event, it occurs late into the night following dinner around 11! The week that we arrived, for example, was the week of La Feria (the fair) that annually occurs in August in Alcalá . From 10pm - ? the streets and main plazas were packed with teens and families with young children and older couples, eating at sidewalk tables or listening to the concert in the square, and this schedule is typical of most weekends in summer. But, it's practical, particularly with the heat of summer, to go home and rest at the hottest point of the day, and to go out late when the temperature is much cooler and more enjoyable. It's astounding to see the contrast in livelihood between 3 in the afternoon and 1 in the morning here.

And then there's the sleep pattern! One would wonder, if they don't finish dinner until 11:30, how do they get up for work in the morning?! Well, simple. Because they separate their home life from their work life twice a day, the second time for the night. I honestly believe it's the detachment at the end of the day that makes it possible to feel more relaxed, regardless of how many hours of sleep you actually get. And the more relaxed you are off the job, I can only imagine how much more productive those hours spent actually working would be. Mind you, I'm not speaking from experience, but I'm getting the sense that the Spaniards (and possibly many other Europeans that follow the siesta lifestyle) have it figured out. It's not that stress doesn't exist in Spain, it's not some magical time zone where everything's easy and pleasant–no. But they do have the right idea when it comes to establishing a lifestyle that helps manage it and comfortably balances "work and play."

The climate itself is also noteworthy, especially the fact that the screen-less window in my room has been open since before I arrived, and I haven't had reason to close it since. The doors and windows in the house are often just kept open for the breeze, and as far as I know we haven't used the air conditioning much since I've been here. The air where we are in Spain is dry, and not very humid, and for that reason only when I'm in the sun is it really hot, and in the mornings and evenings the air is significantly cooler. This means that when it's winter, the air is going to be veryyy dry and cold, but I don't want to think about that yet!

Classes

In total, I will be taking six courses this semester, but luckily for the month of September we only have one at the language institute of the university from Monday to Friday and another with our director on Tuesdays and Thursdays which continues into the semester. The other four will begin in October, as the first one ends, including a contemporary Spanish theatre literature course that is taught at the university itself, with Spanish students (yikes!), but it seems strategically planned, and although it will get gradually more difficult, speaking in general is bound to get gradually less taxing, so it should all work out somehow. The bonus to staying in Alcalá is that we learn so much outside of the classroom, just being with Spanish families and talking and eating with them has made such a difference in adjusting and understanding the culture more.

On Friday we had our first intensive language class, and after being placed in what seems to be an intermediate level, so far it feels fitting. One of the questions we were asked after introducing ourselves and explaining why we wanted to study Spanish, our teacher prompted us to share objectives that we had by studying Spanish in Spain, to which I answered that I would like to eventually dream in Spanish. Once my subconscious mind figures out the whole think in Spanish without thinking first in English thing, that must mean my conscious mind will finally be getting somewhere with it also. Right away she said I would be able to within three or four weeks, so I'm hoping this to be true! I might even shoot for writing a few poems in Spanish along the way, we shall see ;]

Along the way I will be updating about specific trips/adventures/places we explore or encounter, seeing as this first post is enough of a novel as it is. Read further and stay tuned to learn about my experiences and observations from the start of my exciting experience studying and living in Alcalá! Coming soon: updates on our trips to Madrid and Asturias! :]

That's all for now folks, hasta luego!

breaking grey

He sat thumbing absent-mindedly through the Life and Leisure section of the weekly paper, not so much reading headlines as he was pondering life and leisure itself. The black and grey print suddenly felt like a dusty attic to his mind, a cluttered place he’d rather ignore. Staring at the remains of his everything bagel, the same bagel he has every Tuesday at Sam’s Deli at the same outdoor table with the same stale coffee he long ago learned to tolerate, he felt oddly out of place. He threaded his fingers through his thinning white hair, sighed and then stood with wobbly urgency that made a woman nearby nearly lose her croissant to the gravely sidewalk below. He removed his thick-lensed glasses, carefully observing them closely, and after a moment snapped them at the hinges and at the bridge, dropped them onto the newspaper beside half of a tip stuffed under his plate and walked away, for he discovered in that moment that he had grown tired of detail and would prefer to see things with his own vision, blurry as it may be, as if each scene was meant to be viewed as an impressionist painting.

Sometimes he misses the clarity, but most days not; he has grown progressively more ignorant of the world around him, but never ceases to see its beauty. And he has never felt more content.

community & Catholic Heart

I often think of "community" as this security blanket, that no matter where you go or what you do, it will always make you feel safe and warm. We collect communities throughout our lifetimes, some we feel more “settled” in than others, even if only in a figurative sense. However, while pieces of these communities often physically disperse and spread, we each take with us a thread from the knot that held us together, that knot being our collective purpose. This summer I had the great privilege of working, traveling, reflecting, singing, dancing and laughing with an extraordinary group of people who I have witnessed encourage, energize and enlighten each other and all the wonderful teens and adults that spent a week of their summer serving communities away from their own.

The month I spent working with Catholic Heart has been a blessing, and I am beyond grateful for the unbelievable experience it has been. I have witnessed God’s love through the energy, patience and passion that my teammates, our managers, directors, teens and adults showed each hour of the day, even in the face of challenges, fatigue, and discomforts. And as always at Catholic Heart, we were able to witness the contagious joy that results from these efforts of love and service, reassured by the reactions of the residents we served and the energy that the teens showed through the last minute of each camp. This joy constantly reminded me why I was meant to be there, and reaffirmed my work and its purpose. One of my favorite quotes illustrates how discovering what you love has a direct impact on the rest of your life:

“Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in a love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the mornings, what you will do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.” -Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J.

Ultimately, if you work for what you love, there’s nothing to inhibit you from loving what you do. And that in itself is a blessing. If anything is certain, I loved working for Catholic Heart and I would do it again in a heartbeat if I could. I am hoping that this flame that has ignited won’t fade, I hope that this particular community of Team 1A and the whole community that is Catholic Heart and its participants doesn’t ever really disappear from our hearts where it holds shelter, and that it will always help serve as a reminder of who we are and why we do the things we do. And as we each return to the bookmarks we placed in our hectic bullet train lives, I pray that we can maintain the same spirit, attitude, energy, heart and drive that we each put into the work we did together for Catholic Heart this summer.

When you find yourself sheltered by love, hold that shelter in your heart, for the times that you need it most. Don’t forget the laughter, the struggles, but most importantly, don’t forget the purpose, the seed, the knot that holds that community together.

Aaaand one of my favorite videos that were selected by Catholic Heart for pre-program, because it's awesome and relevant. To living with a soul uncovered.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8cAU475dQo]