Málaga

This past weekend, four girls and myself went to Málaga, which is located on the southern coast of Spain, on the Mediterranean Sea. We took a bus there, lasting about 2.5 hrs, on Friday around 3pm. On the bus, we met two other students that were studying abroad in Salamenca and also heading to Málaga. The weather was cooler and we all layered quite a bit. The mountainous scenery was such a beautiful sight and it made the bus ride go by fast. Once in Málaga, we found the Youth Hostel which was about a 15 minute walk from the station. It was very good for being only about 16 euros and we got a free breakfast the next morning also. After checking into our rooms we all headed out to get something to eat and check out the town. For dinner, three of us went to this wonderful tapas cafe that only served seafood tapas. Fried seafood galore! It was fantastic. We didn´t know what to order so we just asked for a mix and they gave us about 9 different types of tapas, a little bit of each. Then afterwards, we all went to a cafe that only served chocolate y churros. They gave us two large plates of churros between 7 of us and cups of chocolate that were borderline solid. Comida rica! Then we walked around the town and toward the sea and sat on the beach a little while. The view was great because you could see the grande and looming castle in the moonlight in the background. We went to a quaint bar that nite and got to talk to the husband and wife bartenders who were extremely nice and patient with us.

The next day we went to the Alcazaba, the Castle, and the Cathedral of Málaga. The Castle was about a twenty minute hike up a hill and then we did some more walking around it. We did so much walking that by the end of the day, I was about ready to take a 10 hr. nap. That nite we got home around 9pm.

All in all, it was a very fast and fun excursion.
You can see the pictures at

http://uwp.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2013469&l=43735&id=184703838

http://uwp.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2013470&l=cb3a0&id=184703838

Bonita, Bonita, Ciudad Bonita!

So, I originally thought I´d only post once in a while, but it´s easier to post shorter blogs more often because there is a thirty minute time limit to use the computers. They´ve been keeping us busy with so many trips that I´ve hardly had time to be homesick. I suppose that´s their plan! We visited the Real Alcazar which is the royal palace here in Sevilla. It´s very grand and beautiful with intricate carvings and designs. There is an interesting mixture of Christianity, Islam, and Judism. We also visited the Catedral. It´s gothic style is overwhelming and the inside is amazing. I´m going to have to go back to explore more. Connected to the Catedral is La Giralda, a large tower that gives a great view of the whole city. I´ve been walking more and farther than I think I ever have in my whole life! I tried wearing high heels one day, but I don´t think that´ll ever happen again since the cobblestones are a treacherous path and it´s better to be as close to the ground as possible. However, spanish women do it everyday, of all ages. I really don´t know how they do it. With all the walking, you get quite an appetite. Our landlady, Paqui, feeds us so well. Usually lunch is a big meal at 2pm and dinner a bit smaller at 930. However it seems as if both meals for us are huge and we never leave hungary. Hope everyone is well! Oh and here is a link to an album of some pictures I´ve taken so far

http://uwp.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2013203&l=4e07d&id=184703838

and

http://uwp.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2013228&l=e53eb&id=184703838

¡Hola!

This is my second day in Sevilla and all is well. Except for a small sore throat and a little jet lag, I´m feeling pretty good. My landlady, Paqui, is very nice. She´s about late 50s or early 60s and explains everything (always in Spanish of course. She feeds us such good food like soups,bread, chicken, egg tortillas, and sweets. The apartment is small and cozy and there´s a beautiful courtyard outside. The streets are amazing here. They´re very narrow and the cobblestone is very picturesque. Everyone is very stylish and always moving around. There is a lot of walking and many small cars lining the streets. The cab drivers are quite loco. My first cab ride was from the airport to the apartment and they just zoom through these tiny streets like nobody´s business. My roommate is a biology major from Madison and very down to earth and has a good sense of direction, which is great for me! However we just spent about an hour and a half trying to find our school when it´s probably only 15 minutes away when you know where you´re going. But it´s fun walking around and looking at the various shops and every street corner you turn there´s a different smell. The buildings are absolutely beautiful. The colors are bright and they take much pride in keeping their streets clean. I was surprised at the amount of graffiti on the older buildings. It seems like such a contrast. Old tradition and tasteful art with rebellion and new age "art". The weather here is kind of tempermental. It´s quite cool in the morning, gets fairly warm by mid day and nites are chilly. The floor feel like ice and so slippers come in handy. Well, I´ll keep everyone updated and hope all is well with everyone. Adios!

*I miss you too Anna! Hasta luego!*

Time Difference

Time in Seville, Spain


Hometown Time


*Thanks to Michelle for such a beautiful picture!*

¡Gracias & Adios!

As there is less than a week left before I leave the country, I thought I'd set up this simple and non intrusive blog to keep everyone updated while I'm off gallivanting in Spain. I hope to leave updates maybe twice a month. I'm almost ready to begin packing and I must say that it really hasn't sunk in yet that I'll soon be hearing the Spanish language on a regular basis. There are so many little things I take for granted in the States that I know I'll miss abroad for example my personal advisers and financial contributers that I have 24/7 (Mom and Dad), my stress relievers, fan club, and extended wardrobe (my sisters and cousin :) ), my blood related best friends and coffee mates (Trese and Adriana), my relatives who are always so accessible, supportive and fun (Aunts, Uncles, cousins, Nana, Nanu, Grandma, etc.), my friends who put up with my oddities, my rants, and my imperfections, and my friends that make me a better person and challenge me in my views.

I'll miss my bunk bed, peanut butter, being able to walk around my house in complete darkness without falling over, Common Grounds, Miraz, Lake Michigan, my comfort zone, my Dad's carbonara and lasagna, my Mom's meatloaf and bread pudding, my Dad doing my laundry, my dog, driving the wagon, having my sister around at school, easy Spanish classes, splitting subs with the sis, recognizing people on the streets, and working all the time.

I know I'll be homesick, but I know I'll be back and that's comforting. I'm so anxious to become fluent and I'm going to try my hardest in my classes and in the culture to acquire this skill. I'm excited to travel and go outside of the "American bubble" that we live in. I know I'll have to make some hard decisions and I hope I follow my conscience and intuition, which I'm sure will sound much like my Mom's voice. I hope to grow stronger in my faith, visit lots of gorgeous churches, and take the initiative to make myself a better Catholic. I ask for many prayers and I'll being keeping everyone in mine as well.

This is my first step towards my future goal of being a bilingual physical therapist and eventually doing missionary work in a Spanish speaking country. Although idealistic, finally being so close to my dream of studying abroad makes me realize that it may be feasible to accomplish my future dreams. I'll make the most of these four months and when I return, I hope to be the same, yet enriched.