Thinking about Spain every day.
Take me back...
my new home, Sevilla
07 September, 2011
21 December, 2010
aint no mountain high enough...
Well, Spain was upset that I am not staying the year, and London was upset that I didn't come visit this year, so my flight was cancelled from Madrid to London, I literally had a nervous breakdown. I was so ready to be home.
British Airways is finally getting their act together though, and put me on the next available flight as per my request through AirEuropa. I landed in JFK and Juliet's mom was so nice and came to get me, fed me, and gave me a bed to sleep in. I was overjoyed, she even took me to the New Jersey airport this morning.
I have seen the New York skyline, the lunar eclipse, and the sun rise, all in one morning. By tonight I will have (hopefully) been in 4 states in one day.
What a story for the grandkids, it all happens for a reason.
Being in America is great, there has never been a kinder person, I make sure to say hello to everyone, IN ENGLISH!
At the DC airport I have seen Cinnabon, Cinnabon!!! And 5 guys burger and fries, who knows what other goodies they have!
If all goes well I will be landed in West by god Virginia at midnight, finally.
There was no amount of ice and snow that could keep me from getting home for the holidays
<3
British Airways is finally getting their act together though, and put me on the next available flight as per my request through AirEuropa. I landed in JFK and Juliet's mom was so nice and came to get me, fed me, and gave me a bed to sleep in. I was overjoyed, she even took me to the New Jersey airport this morning.
I have seen the New York skyline, the lunar eclipse, and the sun rise, all in one morning. By tonight I will have (hopefully) been in 4 states in one day.
What a story for the grandkids, it all happens for a reason.
Being in America is great, there has never been a kinder person, I make sure to say hello to everyone, IN ENGLISH!
At the DC airport I have seen Cinnabon, Cinnabon!!! And 5 guys burger and fries, who knows what other goodies they have!
If all goes well I will be landed in West by god Virginia at midnight, finally.
There was no amount of ice and snow that could keep me from getting home for the holidays
<3
19 December, 2010
18 December, 2010
as our time ends, we remember...
The trip has winded down, almost everyone has gone, and tomorrow I leave Sevilla.
Last night UPO had a farewell reception and it was really nice, it was catered at this nice place, people were walking around with trays of beer, wine, shrimp keish, cheese cubes, cheese pastry, turkey, etc etc. It was nice to see people one last time, but it was really hard to say goodbye to a few.
I have to pack everything up today, daunting task to say the very least. Tomorrow we take a train to Madrid at 1:45, how I will ever maneuver with 200 pounds of luggage is beyond me.
Last night UPO had a farewell reception and it was really nice, it was catered at this nice place, people were walking around with trays of beer, wine, shrimp keish, cheese cubes, cheese pastry, turkey, etc etc. It was nice to see people one last time, but it was really hard to say goodbye to a few.
I have to pack everything up today, daunting task to say the very least. Tomorrow we take a train to Madrid at 1:45, how I will ever maneuver with 200 pounds of luggage is beyond me.
16 December, 2010
do you hear what i hear?
Sounds that I will not be missing while in Spain:
-The sound of incessant honking at all hours of the day and night.
-Juliets alarm that vibrates the entire frame of our bed.
-Paula's music that makes it seem like we live in a concert hall.
-The phone almost literally ringing off of the hook.
-The sound of incessant honking at all hours of the day and night.
-Juliets alarm that vibrates the entire frame of our bed.
-Paula's music that makes it seem like we live in a concert hall.
-The phone almost literally ringing off of the hook.
14 December, 2010
emotional, to say the least.
This week is so bittersweet. At the drop of a hat I start to cry, happy to go home, yet so, so sad to leave Europe and these amazing, crazy people.
Just a word on parking in Spain:
There seem to be virtually no laws in place about parking. Therefore, double parkig is a very common thing, the system works like this...If you are the one that blocked someone in, you simply leave your car in neutral, the person who needs out pushes your car out of their way, and goes on their merry little way. Parking spots are merely a suggestion, you can park in the space, in between two spaces, whatever you want, and the rest will follow suit. Sidewalks, sides of the road, and blocking an intersection are all fair game.
Two finals down and three more to go, almost done!
Just a word on parking in Spain:
There seem to be virtually no laws in place about parking. Therefore, double parkig is a very common thing, the system works like this...If you are the one that blocked someone in, you simply leave your car in neutral, the person who needs out pushes your car out of their way, and goes on their merry little way. Parking spots are merely a suggestion, you can park in the space, in between two spaces, whatever you want, and the rest will follow suit. Sidewalks, sides of the road, and blocking an intersection are all fair game.
Two finals down and three more to go, almost done!
07 December, 2010
the christmas season in seville
The other day, Juliet and I tried to go see Harry Potter in english, we went to two different theaters, no such luck. Hopeful that it will still be playing somewhere when I get home.
Yesterday, and tomorrow, are both holidays in Spain, so no classes. Yesterday Juliet and I just wandered around, I FINALLY got a falafel, that I had been craving so much. It was well worth the wait, I had two of them, ha.
Today, Mileen and I went on a shopping excursion and there are so many christmas lights, and trees, and decorations all around Seville. Then we stopped into Cien Montaditos and when we came out, ALL of the bells in Giralda were ringing at one time, it was so beautiful!
13 days, eek
Yesterday, and tomorrow, are both holidays in Spain, so no classes. Yesterday Juliet and I just wandered around, I FINALLY got a falafel, that I had been craving so much. It was well worth the wait, I had two of them, ha.
Today, Mileen and I went on a shopping excursion and there are so many christmas lights, and trees, and decorations all around Seville. Then we stopped into Cien Montaditos and when we came out, ALL of the bells in Giralda were ringing at one time, it was so beautiful!
13 days, eek
01 December, 2010
what a silly goose i am
In my laziness and distaste of blog-keeping, I realized, I have left out some things that I just can't let myself forget about. This has been one of the greatest trips of my life, hopefully I'll be back to Europe soon enough, but there will never be THIS same experience...
-Like the first week in Madrid whenever Lindsay and I, with our baby friendship, went out to lunch and she had BABY EELS, well, I knew that they were baby eels because of my Travel Channel obsession, but she found out for herself the hard way ;)
-And when Juliet and I took our long weekend to Barcelona, I can't just let myself forget about how it was POURING the rain when we got out of the club, and we hid underneath the lip of an awning, if you want to call it that, and we took a cab back to Las Ramblas. And the pitcher of sweeeeet sweet cocktail and the hot bartender who gave us lollypops :)
-My business professor, one of the coolest guys and greatest TEACHERS i have and will ever know, took us all out for tapas...well I don't eat meat and Spain LOVES their meat, so I just ate a couple of things, and drank a few beers and it was a really nice time..Well, then we went to Alfalfa, and my experience with Alfalfa is always fairly similar, but nevertheless, he keeps getting us stuff, and I'm a tank, it is a fact of life.. But let me just put it this way, those mojitos, they get me EVERY time.
-And I need to document that when Mike and I were in St Marks Basilica in Venice, there were signs that said the usual No Phones, No Flash.. and then there were also the usual phones so you can pay and have a tour, basically. Mike looks at me and he says, what are those? I tell him and he says, Kaitlyn don't think I'm stupid but..I thought they were payphones and that they were charging you because you can't use your own phone in here. HAHAHA I love you<3
-After Venice Mike came back to Seville to see where I have been living for these past few months, he stayed at a hotel near the Cortes Ingles, and we had a nice time. I showed him the Cathedral, we met Juliet's friend from home and got Rayas and Cien Mondaditos (he loved the Crema de Queso just as much as I do) and overall we just had a really nice time. Showing him Seville, I realized just how well I have gotten to know the city and how well I am at navigating. I was really impressed, surprised, and proud of myself. When I first got here, all I ever did was get lost, but Seville, I think I won the war.
-Speaking of Mike's hotel, there was a little incident that I also can't allow myself to forget. He had to take a taxi super early to catch his flight, so I just went back to sleep in the hotel..Well I go to leave and they show me this bill, I think, what..Ok not a big deal he paid half then whenever we got here, so then the machine won't take my cards, so I have to find an ATM, take out money, walk back, they say no, the whole bill, I get so mad, I don't know what to do, so I just take off running with them yelling after me. I have to go back, crying, asking my roommate for the rest, she really helped me out, I went back a couple hours later and gave them their stupid money. Needless to say Mike still feels bad about it. Many people love hearing the story. It was NOT funny at the time.
-Recently it was our host sisters 18th birthday. I've never exerienced a birthday party quite like it, her mom bought 10 liters of beer and 10 liters of coke, was cooking for days and days, and then a bunch of teenaged girls come and there is all this food, and sillyness, it was cute. The cake was really good, it was a 3 chocolate pudding cake, I will have to get the recipe!
-This week at school, we were leaving class for the day and it had been POURING the rain (seems to be a normal thing in Seville all of a sudden, whatttt) and I look out the window and scream, LOOK OH MY GOD LOOK. Tamara thinks that someone is being murdered, but no, it's just the brightest rainbow I have ever seen, a full, entire, bright rainbow, with a lighter one behind it. A double rainbow..what good fortune :)
-The last thing that is a specific memory that I need to hold dear happened just today, actually. had a migraine, and was finally taking a nap and was planning to nap for at least 4 hours, I wake up to the sound of a horrible spanish song. I might not have been as mad if this didn't happen every single morning at 8 am, and then from 2-8 every single day, music BLASTING, usually the same 20 American songs that I heard the entire summer. Juliet is banging on the bathroom door, no answer, I just about bust the door down and no answer. Juliet and I have decided we really don't like the girl.
Less specific memories include all the nights that I have gone out with these crazy amazing friends I have made. One time I had to intervene in between a girl in our group and this too touchy guy and he choked me so I felt like it was everyones obligation to buy me drinks, well, fast forward, later that night I was on the phone and slammed smack into a tree. It was beyond hilarious. That same night I met these Spanish guys at a botellon with people in our group, and one of them had gone to high school in America, specifically WEST VIRGINIA, I probably launched myself at him at the speed of light, I could not sop yelling, I was just thrilled. Or like the night in Fundicion when Juliet's "money got stolen" haha kidding and we somehow recorded us singing and me yelling, and just this past weekend at this club Abril, someone keeps tapping on my shoulder and won't stop, I get so mad, and it's Toba who is now laughing so hard. And then walking home in the POURING rain, with James Doherty, whom I love more than life and have more hilarious moments with than anyone else in this city. And Mileen's birthday dinner at the mexican place, how I managed to not blog about mexican food I will never know, with the creep waiter, who put sombreros and cowboy hats on us. I just can't even remember them all, but I know they will come back in spurts and I will just laugh.
And there are only SEVEN, yes seven, more times that I have to go to Pablo de Olavide, I have classes tomorrow, then it's winter break, then classes Thursday and one on Friday, and then finals, and that is ALL. Where in the world did the semester go? Oh, that's right, to Europe.
I changed my plane tickets, I will officially be home December 20th. That's soon. As ready as I am, my heart will ache for Europe. I think an Ireland-Scotland trip should happen soon, I owe it to my ancesors, right?
There is a freedom I never thought I would LOVE in moving alone to a foreign country.
-Like the first week in Madrid whenever Lindsay and I, with our baby friendship, went out to lunch and she had BABY EELS, well, I knew that they were baby eels because of my Travel Channel obsession, but she found out for herself the hard way ;)
-And when Juliet and I took our long weekend to Barcelona, I can't just let myself forget about how it was POURING the rain when we got out of the club, and we hid underneath the lip of an awning, if you want to call it that, and we took a cab back to Las Ramblas. And the pitcher of sweeeeet sweet cocktail and the hot bartender who gave us lollypops :)
-My business professor, one of the coolest guys and greatest TEACHERS i have and will ever know, took us all out for tapas...well I don't eat meat and Spain LOVES their meat, so I just ate a couple of things, and drank a few beers and it was a really nice time..Well, then we went to Alfalfa, and my experience with Alfalfa is always fairly similar, but nevertheless, he keeps getting us stuff, and I'm a tank, it is a fact of life.. But let me just put it this way, those mojitos, they get me EVERY time.
-And I need to document that when Mike and I were in St Marks Basilica in Venice, there were signs that said the usual No Phones, No Flash.. and then there were also the usual phones so you can pay and have a tour, basically. Mike looks at me and he says, what are those? I tell him and he says, Kaitlyn don't think I'm stupid but..I thought they were payphones and that they were charging you because you can't use your own phone in here. HAHAHA I love you<3
-After Venice Mike came back to Seville to see where I have been living for these past few months, he stayed at a hotel near the Cortes Ingles, and we had a nice time. I showed him the Cathedral, we met Juliet's friend from home and got Rayas and Cien Mondaditos (he loved the Crema de Queso just as much as I do) and overall we just had a really nice time. Showing him Seville, I realized just how well I have gotten to know the city and how well I am at navigating. I was really impressed, surprised, and proud of myself. When I first got here, all I ever did was get lost, but Seville, I think I won the war.
-Speaking of Mike's hotel, there was a little incident that I also can't allow myself to forget. He had to take a taxi super early to catch his flight, so I just went back to sleep in the hotel..Well I go to leave and they show me this bill, I think, what..Ok not a big deal he paid half then whenever we got here, so then the machine won't take my cards, so I have to find an ATM, take out money, walk back, they say no, the whole bill, I get so mad, I don't know what to do, so I just take off running with them yelling after me. I have to go back, crying, asking my roommate for the rest, she really helped me out, I went back a couple hours later and gave them their stupid money. Needless to say Mike still feels bad about it. Many people love hearing the story. It was NOT funny at the time.
-Recently it was our host sisters 18th birthday. I've never exerienced a birthday party quite like it, her mom bought 10 liters of beer and 10 liters of coke, was cooking for days and days, and then a bunch of teenaged girls come and there is all this food, and sillyness, it was cute. The cake was really good, it was a 3 chocolate pudding cake, I will have to get the recipe!
-This week at school, we were leaving class for the day and it had been POURING the rain (seems to be a normal thing in Seville all of a sudden, whatttt) and I look out the window and scream, LOOK OH MY GOD LOOK. Tamara thinks that someone is being murdered, but no, it's just the brightest rainbow I have ever seen, a full, entire, bright rainbow, with a lighter one behind it. A double rainbow..what good fortune :)
-The last thing that is a specific memory that I need to hold dear happened just today, actually. had a migraine, and was finally taking a nap and was planning to nap for at least 4 hours, I wake up to the sound of a horrible spanish song. I might not have been as mad if this didn't happen every single morning at 8 am, and then from 2-8 every single day, music BLASTING, usually the same 20 American songs that I heard the entire summer. Juliet is banging on the bathroom door, no answer, I just about bust the door down and no answer. Juliet and I have decided we really don't like the girl.
Less specific memories include all the nights that I have gone out with these crazy amazing friends I have made. One time I had to intervene in between a girl in our group and this too touchy guy and he choked me so I felt like it was everyones obligation to buy me drinks, well, fast forward, later that night I was on the phone and slammed smack into a tree. It was beyond hilarious. That same night I met these Spanish guys at a botellon with people in our group, and one of them had gone to high school in America, specifically WEST VIRGINIA, I probably launched myself at him at the speed of light, I could not sop yelling, I was just thrilled. Or like the night in Fundicion when Juliet's "money got stolen" haha kidding and we somehow recorded us singing and me yelling, and just this past weekend at this club Abril, someone keeps tapping on my shoulder and won't stop, I get so mad, and it's Toba who is now laughing so hard. And then walking home in the POURING rain, with James Doherty, whom I love more than life and have more hilarious moments with than anyone else in this city. And Mileen's birthday dinner at the mexican place, how I managed to not blog about mexican food I will never know, with the creep waiter, who put sombreros and cowboy hats on us. I just can't even remember them all, but I know they will come back in spurts and I will just laugh.
And there are only SEVEN, yes seven, more times that I have to go to Pablo de Olavide, I have classes tomorrow, then it's winter break, then classes Thursday and one on Friday, and then finals, and that is ALL. Where in the world did the semester go? Oh, that's right, to Europe.
I changed my plane tickets, I will officially be home December 20th. That's soon. As ready as I am, my heart will ache for Europe. I think an Ireland-Scotland trip should happen soon, I owe it to my ancesors, right?
There is a freedom I never thought I would LOVE in moving alone to a foreign country.
29 November, 2010
thoughts & feelings
Thanksgiving itself wasn't so bad, the mashed potatoes were delicious, I had been missing them. And it was all-in-all a good holiday, afterwards a few of us went to a bar to watch the football game and have a few brews, which really only made me sad that I have managed to miss the entire season :/ But it was definately on my list of favorite Thanksgivings!
Just looking back on my posts, I remember how homesick I was when I got here, and now it's just normal to take the subway to class every day, and be able to order drinks, and be away from family and close friends, although I must say, I met some real keepers :) I have seen SO many amazing places, I don't know how I managed to be such a lucky girl. Tomorrow is the last day of November, and I'll be in the home stretch. So much to do, so little time.
All I want is a taco salad, my dog, and my boyfriend. In that order.
Just looking back on my posts, I remember how homesick I was when I got here, and now it's just normal to take the subway to class every day, and be able to order drinks, and be away from family and close friends, although I must say, I met some real keepers :) I have seen SO many amazing places, I don't know how I managed to be such a lucky girl. Tomorrow is the last day of November, and I'll be in the home stretch. So much to do, so little time.
All I want is a taco salad, my dog, and my boyfriend. In that order.
25 November, 2010
feliz dia de accion de gracias
well, it's that time of the year again, the holidays.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Maybe I shouldn't be so emotionally attached to food, but I am really going to miss all the food of Thanksgiving, even though I don't eat the staple, turkey. I guess I just miss being home, regardless of the holiday. It doesn't really help that I haven't heard from my boyfriend since he landed in America, so I'm just going to worry myself sick until I hear from him, great... :(
Nevertheless, API is having a Thanksgiving dinner for us, which, minus the food, could potentially be better than spending Thanksgiving at home because it wouldn't be as much fun. :)
And in just ONE month from today, I will be on my way back to America. I remember when there was just one more month until I embarked on this crazy adventure, and the time sure flew by, so I'm assuming the same will happen from here..its all just a little too bittersweet for my taste.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Maybe I shouldn't be so emotionally attached to food, but I am really going to miss all the food of Thanksgiving, even though I don't eat the staple, turkey. I guess I just miss being home, regardless of the holiday. It doesn't really help that I haven't heard from my boyfriend since he landed in America, so I'm just going to worry myself sick until I hear from him, great... :(
Nevertheless, API is having a Thanksgiving dinner for us, which, minus the food, could potentially be better than spending Thanksgiving at home because it wouldn't be as much fun. :)
And in just ONE month from today, I will be on my way back to America. I remember when there was just one more month until I embarked on this crazy adventure, and the time sure flew by, so I'm assuming the same will happen from here..its all just a little too bittersweet for my taste.
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