Las Navidades

I've been having a really lovely time here in Ponferrada. Being in a familiar family setting has made all the difference this holiday season.
Christmas here is Spain is a little different than the United States. Christmas Eve held the big celebration instead of Christmas Day. We visited the family in the pueblo, we had a big dinner of prawns, clams, ham, cheese, bread, and salad; Finished off with holiday cake and traditional cookies, polvorones and champagne. We exchanged a few, but very meaningful gifts and preceded to sing karaoke and drink more champagne till 3 am. It might not have been my blood family, but his family has adopted me into their home and I'm eternity thankful.
The past few days have been spent watching Greys Anatomy, eating more polvorones than necessary and getting ready for New Year's Eve. This is another big celebration that the lively Spainish have turned into an all night party. We're expected to leave the house around 1:30am and aren't expected back till 9am. Everyone dresses up on their best suit and dress and its supposed to be one of the most exciting nights of the year. We'll see if I can stay awake for that long, but it's sure to be an interesting night no matter what.
I've decided to keep my resolutions simple this year as, like everyone else, they seem impossible to keep. My resolutions are to be nicer to people, to be more aware of other countries news, and to remind my loved ones that I deeply cherish them more often.
Happy New Years to you and yours
All my love XOXO

Viajando mujer

I've been traveling now for just about a week. My first stop was Madrid with a very old friend from high school and her host family. I had a great time catching up on high school gossip and getting to know her host family. Her host mother Alicia was a total doll and I enjoyed her a ton. She made me promise to come back. From Madrid I took a bus to Valladolid, I had a great stay there in a little apartment I rented a room in with a couple who were working on their masters. It was a super cute place and very close to the city center. I went to Cervantes house when he lived there, and I also got to see some great nativity scenes.

I get very lonely at times , but I'm also really enjoying the freedom of doing whatever I want. It'll be very nice to have some home cooked food and people to talk to though.
I love and miss you all dearly, happy holidays!
All my love
XOXO

If It Scares You, It Might Be a Good Thing To Try.

            Today marks the end of my first semester in Spain. It’s hard to believe that I’ve made it through maybe the most difficult semester of my life. From the beginning, I was scared to be away from home for so long, I was sad to miss my first Christmas with my family, I was missing a big leadership opportunity in my sorority, and my Grandfather’s health worried me. Life in Sevilla has not been a walk in the park; it has been a semester of growth, hardships and loneliness. My Spanish has improved, my emotional self has matured and I have faced new obstacles and have come out on the other side stronger than before. And while the rest of my program heads back to the States with heavy hearts to leave this beautiful city, I am embarking on a new, exciting and challenging chapter in my life. I don’t get to spend the holidays with my family, but I get to spend it in a beautiful country with wonderful company in Northern Spain.

            After the holidays, I will be leaving Spain for Eastern Europe to see, experience and be challenged in a completely different way than ever before. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous and anxious about my coming travels. The thought of this trip is overwhelming, I’ve never been to these countries before, I don’t speak the language and I have no permanent traveling buddy. It is a trip that doesn’t happens more than once in a lifetime, and that may be the scariest thing of it all. These final days of the semester have been stressful booking tickets, hotels and trying to learn the basics of a language that doesn’t make sense.

             I am blessed with amazing parents who remind me on a daily basis that I can do it and that it will be so worth it in the end. It won’t be easy and smooth at every moment, I’m sure to get lost, lose track of time and maybe miss a bus, but it’s in those moments of struggle that we grow and learn and become better for it no matter how rough the ride. I’m looking forward to witnessing places I’ve only read about in history textbooks, experiencing countries from my heritage, and being pushed beyond what I thought were my limits. I know that after this trip, I will be so happy to have accomplished it all by myself and so thankful for the opportunity to have had such an amazing experience.

            I’ll try and update this blog during my trip, but because I won’t be bringing my laptop, unfortunately it won’t be as frequent as wanted. I’m not comfortable posting where exactly I’ll be on the Internet. But if you are interested, please message my parents or myself on Facebook or shoot us an email and we’ll be glad to let you know where I am and where I’m headed. I return to Sevilla February 1^st.

I can’t thank everyone enough who has supported me thus far in this chapter in my life. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the love and words of encouragement from all of you.

Here’s to new experiences, new places and the adventure of a lifetime. I can’t wait to share it all with you.

All my love to you and yours, Happy Holidays and Happy New Years.

XOXO