Hi from home sweeeeet home....
Made it back safely with no problems..just a few delays. I am SO happy to be home---I can't even tell you. Going abroad was by far the best thing I've done in my life as of yet...I learned so much about myself and the world we live in...I feel like I have a different place in it, if that makes sense. I feel like my vision is bigger and my boundaries are wider...I have this confidence that I can do anyyyything and go anyyywhere and be OK. It was also the hardest thing I've done as of yet...but looking back on it, it was nothing but a happy experience. This quote has been in my head for past few weeks--(some guy said it in People Magazine's Sexiest Men of the Year Issue...I know, lame, but it's so good)---"Knowledge is sexy and international travel is the best education you can get".

Here are some other things I learned....
*I love and am now addicted to olives with anchovies in them (a traditional Spanish dish)
*I will neverrr grow if I stay in a place where I am always comfortable and secure
*you gain what you risk
*you cannnn survive living in a country where you don't know the language
*In the long run, I don't want to live in a big city
*I can cook (enough to get by :))
*how to know people's nationality just by looking at them (Spanish, French, German, American)
*a tonnnn about Judaism
*I'm now functional in Spanish...wahoo.
*there is NO PLACE like home
*a relationship across an ocean is possible...with patience and understanding.
*it's good to question your beliefs
*having an open mind in evvvery aspect of life is so so important
*I know more about Spanish history than I know about American
*the currency exchange rate sucks
*friends from home who have tried to stay in touch are the ones that matter
*European fashion is gooood...and pretty much anyone can pull off skinny jeans...just remember that. haha...
*hostels aren't scary
*ryanair.com is da bomb
*how to pack for a trip using only a backpack
*there are so many things to see in the U.S. and I'm going to start taking advantage of traveling to new places in my own country
*I can do ANYTHING

John got here Thursday morning (I got a little lost in the airport and had him waiting for 30 minutes...) and it was so good to seeeee hiiiiiim. We just hung out that day and got used to actually being in the same room with eachother. We left for Paris on Friday morning...it was AMAZING...absolutely freezing (we're talking chicago in the winter time)...but a great trip overall. On Friday, we did a free walking tour throughout the city. Our guide was really cool and knew a lot of random information...For example, you know big horse statues with famous men on them? Well if the horse is standing on all 4 legs, the man died of natural causes...if the horse has one of his front legs up, he died of unnatural causes...and if the horse is on his hind legs, the man died in battle. Good to know, right? Moving on..on the walking tour we went to St. Michael's Fountain, The Louvre, Arc De Triomphe, and a bunch of cool plazas and squares. After, we met Ashley (who was also in Paris for the weekend) at the Louvre...the place is HUGE (if you looked at every painting and sculpture in the louvre for 30 seconds, it would take you a consecutive 3 months....thank you tour guide). We saw the Mona Lisa (a tiiiiny little painting) and some others we thought might be important. The three of us went to dinner after. On Saturday, the three of us went to The Eiffel Tower.....we waited for about an hour to ride the elevator to the top...it really is an amazing structure...and the view from the top was really good. The tower is just as beautiful as I thought it would be. We went to lunch after....and ate delicious French onion soup (one of France's specialties, obviously). That night, John and I went up to the Sacre Couer Cathedral (Sacred Heart)...it's on top of a hill and overlooks the entire city. It was by far our favorite thing we did. We hung out inside for a while and just took it all in...really pretty and peaceful inside. Afterwards, we walked around that area of town, it's called Montmarte....really funky and fun and young with a lot of cute restaurants and little shops. We ate at a hole-in-the-wall Italian place and it was awesome. On Sunday, John and I got omelettes (thank you again, France) and went to the Notre Dame cathedral (yes...from The Hunchback of Notre Dame). We did a tour of the inside and there was mass going on, which was cool to see, but weird to be walking around while people were trying to worship. We climed 422 steps to the top...it was a struggle, let me tell you, but the view was definitely worth it. After that, we went to the St. Chapelle....a chapel made of almost all stained-glass...it was crazy. We got crepes that afternoon (a "must" when you are there) and then flew back to Madrid that night. It really was such a fun trip...even better being with John.
*Everyone finished finals today...and we are all celebrating tonight :)
*I head home on Saturday...I can't believe this is almost done! Seriously, it flew. I'm sad...and happy. Both of those things. More to come...

pictures are up! :) see you soon! (weird)

hey heyyyy...

*So on Monday our apartment threw a Hanukkah party (led by my wonderful roomate and token jew friend, Miriam)...she cooked latkes (potato pancakes) and we ate them with sourcream and apple sauce. I know its sounds disgusting...but it was delicious. She and her Jewish friends from around the city (they always find eachother) lit the Menorah and said the traditional prayers...it was really cool to be a part of it. I've learned so much about Judaism living with her. You know how there are different degrees of a religion? Well she is like, the strictest and most traditional kind. She only eats kosher foods...and she goes to synagogue every Friday night no matter where she is (Amsterdam, Rome, Barcelona, etc.) She doesn't use any electricity during the Sabbath....so she cooks all of her food for the next 24 hours before sundown on Friday night...she doesn't take any form of transportation during the Sabbath--you can only walk...so she usually ends up walking an hour to synagogue and an hour back...she also doesn't spend any money during the Sabbath. She's like, so dedicated. It's really admirable. At home, she has a ton of Jewish friends...but here, she's often the only one and has to do all of it by herself....she's said she really misses her Jewish friends--because community and being with friends and family is such a huge part of the religion. Every single aspect of her life revolves around her faith...and it's been a really great experience living with her. I'm planning on going to visit her in New Jersey and she told me she'd show me "how the Jews do"...hahaha can't wait.

*Last night, Ashley, Miriam, Sarah and I went to see the play Beauty and the Beast! (La Bella y La Bestia). It was really good...exactly like the one in the States...(I guess thats what you'd expect, right?) But like...all of the songs were perfectly translated...and all the words fit the rhythm and everything. It was great fun and made me realize how much I miss going to the theatre.

*I got my haircut yesterday...I was scared to death because apparently, you run a high risk of getting a mullet when you get your hair cut in Spain..but I made it out alright. whew.

hiiiii!
-Barcelona (actually, its BarTHElona...don't you feel silly?) was so fun! Turns out its my favorite city in Spain..for sure. Sorry Madrid...you just got beat. It was just like, bright....if that makes any sense. A lot of young people...really funky and trendy...everyone pretty much spoke English...clean...modern. Loves it.
-Barcelona is in the north west part of Spain on the Balearic Sea coast. It has about 1.5 million people and is the 2nd largest city in the country...the official language is Catalan (which is a mix of French and Spanish) and if you can't speak Catalan, they prefer you speak English. There is a lot of tension between Barcelona and the rest of Spain---it started a long time ago (Spanish Civil War) and is still going strong....they just have a deep need for independence...and its pretty much a competition between them (the area of Catalunya) and the rest of the country...
-Ashley, Jessica, Tory, and I got there on Thursday...two of Jessica's friends, Marteen (the one from Florence..remember?) and Garrett (he's studying abroad in Germany) met us there. They were great guys...and all of us together could speak English, Spanish, German, Italian, and Chinese. Crazy, right?
-We walked around on Thursday...went down "Spain's Most Famous Street"-Las Ramblas--its this long street with little booths, flower shops, street performers...it was fun, especially at night. We did some shopping...there was a lot of really cute local jewelery stores..That night, our hostel arranged a "night out" for anyone who was interested....we went to an Italian restaurant and then to a couple of bars...it was the 6 of us, plus 2 guys from Kentucky (weird, yeah?), 2 girls from DePaul (even weirder), an Australian, and a guy and girl from Slovakia. It's so weird throwing random people from around the world together at a dinner table...really cool though. I learned some Australian slang and got to talk about my favorite things to do in Nashville with the Kentucky boys..haha!
-On Friday, we did one of those bus tours of the city...we lucked out with the weather (just a litttttle chilly..but sunny) so it was great...It was nice to just ride through the city...we saw the the Olympic Stadium, rode a cable car to the top of the city for a good view, we saw the Gothic Barrio, Pueblo Espanol, and the National Art Museum of Catalunya. We were standing outside the art museum in this huge plaza and this guy walked up to Jess and Garrett and asked them to be extras in their student film..haha...so they were pretty famous for a while. We got lunch at a cute tapas place.....and rode the bus some more. That night we went to an Italian restaurant for dinner...it was delicious.
-Saturday was my favorite day...We had a 2 day deal for the bus...and we got to see all of Gaudi's works. Antoni Gaudi was a famous Spanish architect who was based in Barcelona so all his work is there...I didn't realize how much I liked his stuff, but it was really fun and weird...all of his buildings look like they belong in candy land...colorful, bubbly, over-the-top. We saw Casa Botillo, this huge house that looks like you can eat it....we went to La Sagrada Familia- a huge cathedral that he started building in 1882. He worked on it for 40 years before he died, and they are still working on it...they expect it to be finished in 2020. We didn't wanna pay to do a guided tour or whatever, so we went to mass in it for free..which was really cool. The only parts that are really finished inside are the stained glass windows..pretty pretty. After, we went to Park Guell...a huge park with colorful statues, monuments, walls, and sculptures by Gaudi..he also built his house there, which was cool to see. The park was beautiful...a lot of people...and ladies selling funky jewelry and stuff...We saw the Barcelona futbol stadium and ate dinner at Hardrock Cafe...wahoo.
- Ashley, Jessica and I had a lot of good talks on this trip...at the airport, we talked for hours about everything...like how relationships change over the years...and how you learn throughout your life which qualities you need in someone...how big of an influence your family has on your relationships and the way you treat people/ let people treat you...They are just solid girls and we always seem to end up talking about things that matter...we get eachother thiiiinking...and I like it.
- John gets here on Thursday and I'M SO EXCITEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!! I can't believe its here already...I remember being like, "ahhhh 4 more months"...and then "we made it to october!"...haha..and now its THIS WEEK. I'm beyond excited.

pictures are up :)
hope you're doing great.

It's Christmas time in Madriiiiiid...and I love it. All the lights are up and there are actually men in the streets "roasting chessnuts over an open fire"...and little quartets singing Christmas music...Speeeeeaking of people singing....on the metro, people sing and play guitar or sing along with these kareoke machine things...and I mean, its pretty crowded in there so you have no choice but to watch them and make awkward eye contact...and then you feel guilty not giving them money because you've made eye contact..Miriam has such an issue with these people haha...she says, "WHYYY do you think I want to listen to you? Whyyy do you think you are worthy of my time??"
*Its my last weekend in Madrid (Barcelona..then Paris..then home)...and it's been really relaxing and nice not traveling for once in a while. Today, Miriam and Sarah and I went to the Reina Sofia Museum..its one of the main museums in Madrid and one of the best art museums in Europe...we saw works by Picasso, Moro, Dali...it was really cool. After...we went to Starbucks and walked around Retiro Park...Ohhh Madridddd..how i'll miss you.

I just got back from the grocery store...do you think it's obvious that I'm American when I only buy peanut butter, pickles, mexican salsa, and gum? Surely not...
Also, the grocery store clerks don't bag your items here...they just throw you a plastic bag and you have to hurry and do it yourself..and the person behind you is always waiting for you to move and getting in your personal space...it's nerve-racking....

So my Spanish Civ and Culture class took a field trip to the Spanish Senate today....the tour was in Spanish so I can't really tell you a lot...except that it was pretty..and that the Spanish 6th graders that were in our tour group needed to lay off the sugar.

After the tour, our teacher, Isabel, treated us to coffee. She's really sweet..her English is a little shaky so it makes it easy to listen to her teach because she searches for words a lot...She has an interesting life...she sings at a jazz club in Madrid and has a little boy who is 11....her husband is a lawyer and her parents are involved with something in the government because they always get invited to events at The Royal Palace...cool, yeah? Anyway, at coffee we were talking about how we think college is the perfect time to go abroad if you're ever going to do it...And Isabel said that it's very common for Spanish kids to start traveling and studying abroad at a much earlier age--like, elementary school. Her son goes to The German School of Madrid and is fluent in German...he spent 3 weeks in Germany with a host family last summer and can't wait to go back again...it's like, no big deal that he is 11 years old. Wild, right? (Kids live with their parents til they are 30 but think nothing of moving to a foreign country when they are 11)...She said that it's much easier and affordable for Spanish kids to do stuff like that. Innnnnnteresting....

In my Women's Roles class ,we got a copy of the "Teachers Agreement" from 1923...the following are some of the rules that teachers had to abide by..I found it interesting and wanted to share...enjoy.
I, ______________, agree:
1. Not to get married. This agreement will be automatically cancelled and without effect if the teacher gets married.
2. Not to be in the company of men.
3.To be at home between the hours of 8pm and 6am, unless to attend a school play.
4. Not to be in downtown icecream shops and cafes.
5. Not to leave the city under any circumstance without permission from the Presdent of the Delegates Board
6. Not to smoke cigarettes. This agreement will be automatically cancelled and without effect if the teaher is found smoking.
7. Not to drink beer, wine, or whiskey.
8. Not to travel by car or motor vehicle with any man except her brother or father.
9. Not to wear shine-colored clothes.
10. Not to dye her hair.
11. To wear at least two petticoats.
12. Not to wear dresses shorter than 5cm over her ankles.
13. To keep the classroom clean: Sweep the floor at least once a day, wash the classroom floor at least once a week with hot water, clean the blackboard at least once a day, light the fire at 7am so that the classroom is warm at 8am when the children arrive.
14. Not to use facial powders, make-up, or lipstick.


peace out

Hey hey...
Switzerland was great!
*Just a little Geneva, Switzerland background info: it was an 1 1/2 flight from Madrid....everyone speaks French there (weird, right?) and some people speak German and Italian...most people understand a little English....their currency is the Swiss Franc which is awesome if you're used to using Euros (it's pretty much double its worth)...it's really clean, really safe, and really modern.
*Sarah, Ben and I flew into Geneva Thursday night...we ate dinner at an Italian restaurant next to our hotel and it was delicioussss (nothing like a traditional Thanksgiving meal)...it was pouring rain so we went back to the hotel and just watched CNN for like, 4 hours straight. It was the first time I've watched TV since August and it was glorious. We got up early on Friday and transferred to our hostel (we had to split up where we stayed because everything was booked). You can pretty much walk everywhere in Geneva....and by then it was just drizzling...so we walked along Lake Geneva, through this park with all these weird statues, up to the European Arm of the United Nations. It was cool to think that a lot of important decisions were possibly being made while we were standing outside the building...haha...we also saw the World Trade Organization. We had lunch at a Mexican restaurant..a REALLLL mexican restaurant..with like, rice and beans...chips and salsa..it was awesome. I can't wait for Mazatlan. Moving on...after lunch we went to Cathedrale St. Pierre...its the church where John Calvin preached and where Calvinism was developed. It was nice to see a regular CHURCH, not a frou-frou cathedral....we climbed to the top of the steeple and the view of the city was great. After, we went on a little boat tour of the Geneva coast and then saw "The Flower Clock"...a working clock on the ground that is made up of flowers...it was cool. That night, we ate at another great Italian restaurant. Saturday morning we took a 30 minutes bus ride to a small village in France. The only main attraction there is a cable car that takes you to the top of Mont Blanc--part of the Swiss Alps. We went up about 1100 meters...it was amazing...it was so foggy and rainy that at one point in the cable car we were completely surrounded by white..it was crazy. We walked around and stuff on the top of the mountain and it was soooo foggy...like, intense...then we hiked 30 minutes through the WOOOODS to a tiiiiny restaurant....we were the only ones there and they definitely didn't speak anyyy English...it was frustrating/fun....we hiked back down to the cable car and went back to Geneva. There was a little Christmas market going on in the middle of the city so we went there and shopped a little bit...they had all the lights and decorations up...made me realllllly excited for Christmas and got me in the holiday spirit...There was an iceskating rink set up so we iceskated for a while..Sarah used to compete in iceskating and Ben used to play ice hockey....so I looked like the "special" friend trailing behind them...trying to keep up haha...That night, we went to an Irish pub type place and then just went back to the hostel. We had Starbucks this morning (wahoooooo..oh how i miss you..) and flew back to Madrid!
*Switzerland is known for its chocolate (it was ahhmazing)
-The better your travel partners, the better the trip...all of my favorite trips have been great because of the people I've traveled with...you know how you can only spend 24/7 with certain people? Sarah and Ben and I pretty much laughed the entire time and it was great...Sarah is from Colorado and has a boyfriend back home...so we can complain to eachother about how we miss our boyfriends and not feel annoying...haha...Ben is from Pennsylvania and is just a quality guy that reminds me of guys from home....they are both 2 of my closest friends here
*I've noticed that all of my favorite trips are to places that aren't really cities..but have either mountains or a body of water close by...hmmmm....


hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!