Well Friends,
Spain is awaiting my arrival. In exactly one month from today I will be boarding the steel bird for my trip to the land of legalized marijuana. Oh, and then Spain too. I can honestly say for the first time that I am EXCITED.
Up until my drive home from school last night I could only see what I would be leaving at SNC and at home while I was away. I will be missing my sisters, my parents, my brother, my friends, my room, my stuff, English. I won't get to celebrate my brother's birthday, the thrill of recruitment, watching my sisters grow into their place in the sorority. I'll miss dances and parties, an Ugly pageant, an Ugly picking, initiation and other sorority celebrations. I won't get to celebrate Easter with my family or be fully initiated into American culture for my 21st birthday. All of this and more had me dreading my departure. But now, I am only thinking about the great things that everyone in the States will be missing while I'm in Spain:
Living in a city that is more than 500 years old, traveling to a new city or country every weekend, becoming fluent in a new language in the land where it originated in. Celebrating Easter and my 21st birthday with the Popa en Roma! Living with a new family. learning about he world, actually living in it! Toledo, Madrid, Sevilla, Barcelona, Granada, Florence, Rome, Amsterdam, Valencia, London, hmmm, where else could I visit? There are museums to visit, streets to explore, tapas to taste, new friends to meet and serious adventures to be had.
I won't lie, I'm TERRIFIED to leave. I don't speak Spanish well. The closest I've come to international travel is Mexico. I've never been away from home for more than 10 days. I am not the best at meeting new people. I'm shy. I tend not to know what to say in 75% of social settings and am pretty sure that will only get worse when I have to do it in a foreign language. I follow the rules a little too much most of the time. I don't know anything about Spain and will probably be a 'dumb American' for the better part of my time there.
But WHO CARES! I am going to Spain. I am finally starting to grow up and live the life that I grew up wanting. Saint Norbert is a great place, but let's be real, life is just beginning. There's a world outside of Wisconsin and it's about damn time I start living in it!!
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Hey Angela, I'm so glad to know that you are excited for your trip abroad. It will be AMAZING, let me tell you. Time certainly flies during the semester abroad. I can't believe I have been here as long as I have. You will really enjoy your experience. Who cares if you have to miss a few classes to see the world? Go do it! Yes, I, Kristen, am telling you the skip class to sight see. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. Really, seeing what you want to see is first in importance...at least that was my philosophy this semester, and I have no regrets :)
ReplyDeleteAngela,
ReplyDeleteYes, you are going to be scared at first but you will become fast friends with your family and fellow students. They will become your family and will be have so much fun experiencing the new sights, sounds, tastes, cultures that you soon will not miss Wisconsin.
You will be in Rome for your 21st? I have the best restaurant for you to dine at. It was the best experience of my life. It is near the Spanish Steps, down and alley, into a not very well advertised place. The best meal ever! Also, in Barcelona there was a place that I liked. They had one seating. People lined up in the alley about 30 minutes before it opened. They had the BEST sangria! I'll get you that name and location as well. Hopefully your time won't all be spent at the Sagrada Familia though. Take some time and tour a Gaudi building and the Parc Gui (sp?) that was amazing. Try to go to the Parc when they have their market going on.
You, my dear, will flourish and mature so much during your experience! I have no doubt about that. You will come back ready,willing, and able to tackle the world!
Angela,
ReplyDeleteScary yes...but the time of your life too! I think back with such fond memories of when I was abroad in college and a broad too;)Anyway, take baby steps out of your comfort zone and knock 'em dead with your American smile:) they won't know what hit 'em.
Do the things Kerrie mentioned because she knows about them first hand, in London you must go to this out of the way museum called Sir John Soane's Museum it's fab! Go to the website and check it out (http://www.soane.org)it was hands down my favorite site ah some 22 yrs ago!!! UGH where does the time go??
XO come say bye before you go!
You go, girl!
ReplyDeleteAngie, If you think your Jan 21 meeting was difficult, try being at an official Embassy function as an American/hostess with 100-350 diplomats from many countries who you are supposed to charm and introduce to each other. AJ
ReplyDeleteIn Uruguay dinner food was available only after 10 p.m. I lived near a restaurant where I would venture forth about 9 p.m., hoping some of the food would be cooked early .... many's the night an evening would begin about 9 and end in the wee hours of the morning .... 'twas OK for the natives, but we working folk never did get accustomed to it.
ReplyDelete