Final Night Thoughts

Hola! 

Today is my last day in Segovia. 

I honestly cannot believe I just wrote that. 

The entirety of my clothes and memories from the past four months are packed into one suitcase - it is a surreal and bittersweet feeling. Thus, I decided to make one last video diary post, as it is the last time I am able to record myself in my wonderful Segovian home.

This isn't happening. I am not leaving. This semester is not over. You can't make me leave.

Cheers,
Anna

Top 10 Reasons Why Segovia is the Best Place to Study Abroad

Hola! 

Two days. 48 hours. 2880 minutes. 172800 seconds - such little time left in Segovia. 

With this, I am spending the time I do have doing the things I love about Spain: running,  eating froyo, hiking the mountains, and spending time with friends and my host family. In addition, I am taking time to reflect over my wonderful semester and thus have concluded that this quaint city is the greatest location to spend four months. 

Top 10 Reasons Why Segovia 

is the Best Place to Study Abroad

1. Diversity of Spain

Before my semester abroad, I knew very little about the country and its people. I didn't realize that it had various regions that are almost like individual little countries themselves. That is, each area has its own dialect, traditions, flag, and customs. Even more, the geography of each part is so diverse. Spain has everything from snow-capped mountains to flat lands, the Mediterranean and Atlantic beaches to a desert region, and so much more. By living here for four months, I was able to visit most of the regions (I didn't make it to the Northern Basque Country) and see and meet a variety of people. Spain is truly a diverse country.

Map of Spain and its various regions
(Segovia is located in Castilla y León)

2. Being able to visit numerous countries

One of the main reasons why I originally picked Spain was because it is located in Europe, which means that it's close to many interesting countries. During my four months, I have gone/will go to Spain, Portugal, France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hungary, Slovakia, Belgium, and Holland. Nine countries in about 100 days - pretty amazing! Plus, it's relatively cheap too! My entire weekend in Portugal (flights, living, food) cost about $200 - that's way cheaper than flying to Portugal from Minnesota!

I have seen so much in less than four months!

3. Safety 

Segovia is a safe haven. Now, I realize that it is a bit naive for me to say, but it's the best way to describe this quaint Spanish town. I have never felt in danger during my four months here, which cannot be said for many study abroad programs. With this sense of security, I am able to run and walk alone- even late at night. There are also no "sketchy" parts of town, so I know that I am always (relatively) safe.

I always feel safe on the Segovian streets!

4. Best bang for your buck

Things in Segovia are reasonably priced, which cannot be said for many other abroad programs (e.g. London or Australia). More importantly, though, is that all the necessities are included in the starting price. We don't have to buy groceries, metro passes, cleaning supplies, or anything else for that matter!

I like the euro way more than other European currencies

5. Home stay

Living with a host family is an indescribable and priceless experience. It allows you to learn so much more about the culture and people of the country than you would if you were merely living with other Americans. You eat their food, follow their schedule, and truly live their way of life. In addition, you get treated like a queen during your home stay. The family cooks all of your meals, does your laundry, and cleans your room and bathroom. It's great! I like it not only because it's less work for me, but it also allows me to spend more time exploring and enjoying Segovia. Finally, I like host families because it means that someone is caring and looking out for you. This is especially helpful when you're sick or are having difficulties with cultural barriers. In all, I highly recommend home stays. Good day or bad, it has been an incredible ride. 

Diego and Jorge, my two host brothers

6. European men

There is un montón of eye candy in the streets and halls of school. European men are tall and preppy. They exude confidence and class. In essence, they're the best.

European guys > American guys

7. Course offerings

All of the professors in Segovia are incredibly kind and understanding. They realize that we are in Spain for both the academic and cultural experience, so they take this into consideration and assign light amounts of work. In addition, the earliest class starts at 9:30 AM. Thus, there are no 8:00 AMs! I have been stuck with taking 8:00 AM classes every semester at CSB/SJU, so I have enjoyed starting my days a bit later in Spain. Finally, the longest class in Segovia is an hour and a half, which is much shorter than the three hour classes that exist in many other study abroad programs (e.g. London program).

Sign from my school, IE Universidad

8. Gladys White

As I have previously written, the woman is a saint. She is definitely the best study abroad director!

Gladys and some Bennies!

9. Running trails

In my opinion, Segovia has the most spectacular running paths in the world. You run by a river, flowers, mountains, a cathedral, and a castle. It can't get much better than that! In addition, there are so many trails! You never get bored! 

Photo taken with my phone during a run!

10. Small town community

Segovia is great because if you meet someone, you are likely to see them again. You may make a new friend at a café and then see them later in the day on the street- it's great! Everyone is so friendly too, so they are likely to say hola to you every time they see you. 

I love Segovia

Don't make me leave.

Cheers,

Anna

Cosas Pequeñitas

Hola!

In the Spanish language, when you add "ito/ita" to the ending of a word it indicates either smallness or affection. Thus, I created a list of the really little things I miss about home and decided to share it in this blog.

Las Cosas Pequeñitas 

1. My closet

Back at home, I have a nightly routine of standing in front of my closet and picking out my outfit for the next day. I like to turn on music and put combinations of clothes together until I find the perfect match. It's great not only because it's relaxing and fun, but it also saves me time in the morning! In essence, it's some value me time during my hectic days where I get to play with my fashion sense. 

Unfortunately, I do not get this luxury in Spain. For the past four months, I have been living out a suitcase and thus do not have a wide selection of clothing. Before coming, I prided myself on only bringing one suitcase that was under the 50 pound limit, which meant that I did not have much room for my clothes. I merely have "versatile" options. That is, my Segovian closet is filled plain colored shirts, neutrals, and jeans. It's pretty boring and definitely doesn't let me be creative with my fashion. I am so excited to have all my clothes when I return home! 

Ok so this isn't my closet, but a girl can dream, right?

2. Starbucks
If you know me at all, you know I am a coffee snob - and by that I mean I am extremely partial towards Starbucks. I relish in getting my tall, extra hot skinny vanilla latte every week. Unfortunately, Segovia does not have a local Starbucks. The closest location is an hour away in Madrid. Because of this, I only get to have the little cup of heaven when I travel, which equates to about once a month. My friends can attest to the fact that I freak out whenever I see a Starbucks and that I've even been collecting their mugs in every city I visit (I have six so far). Needless to say, I miss my weekly latte and the wonder that is Starbucks Coffee.

Sidenote: Starbucks > Caribou (sorry Lauren)

One tall, extra hot, skinny vanilla latte for me! 

3. The gym

Now, I absolutely love running in Segovia. It is actually the thing I am going to miss the most. With that being said, though, I still miss the gym at home. I miss my interval speed workouts on the treadmill, watching TV on the elliptical, and spending time doing resistance training in the weight room. I am excited to return and strengthen my arms and core again!

Let's work out! 

4. My favorite foods

I eat like a queen here. All of my meals are prepared by scratch and I don't have to lift a finger during clean-up (I still continue to offer my assistance, though). However, I do miss picking out my own meals and meal times. In addition, I miss my some of my favorite foods! The following foods are staples in my diet at home, and I have not had any of them during my time in Europe. I miss them!

A. Organic peanut butter

I have found peanut butter in Spain,
but it's nothing like organic peanut butter from home!

B. Black beans

I eat black beans almost every day at CSB/SJU

C. Ice in my drinks

Apparently ice is only an American food staple!

D. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is my go-to breakfast in the States

5. Cell service
I do have an iPhone in Spain, but I can only use its phone-like features when I have wifi. Thus, when I am outside of the house or walking on the streets, I cannot use it as a way to communicate. This has been especially frustrating during excursions or vacation as people easily get lost. I can't wait to return home and have my wonderful Samsung Galaxy 3S back and be able to call and text whenever I want- let alone use the internet too! 

Before the trip, I always took for granted the ability to call or text anywhere! 

Two days left in Segovia. Time flies.

Cheers,

Anna

America does it Better

Hola!

Now, I feel like I might have bashed the United States a little too hard yesterday, and thus felt compelled to write an entry entitled, America does it Better. That is, after months here I have also realized that there are many things that make more sense at home.

1. Meal times
After months of living in Segovia, I have learned quite a lot about Spanish food and their eating schedule. With this time, I have adapted, yes, but I am still not a fan. Namely, I do not like the large gap of time between la comida (lunch) and la cena (dinner). With this, I come home at night and am starving and thus stuff my face with food. Soon, I am extremely full and yet it is time for bed. I do not like this feeling! In the United States, on the other hand, I eat dinner around 7:00 PM, which gives my body time to work off the food and go to bed in a comfortable (or even slightly hungry) state - much better! 

2. Nightlife departure time
On a similar note, I do not like how late Spaniards leave to go to the bars and clubs. Now, I don't mean to sound like an old lady, but I can't handle leaving at 1:00 AM and coming home at 5:00 AM. It makes your next day miserable if you have to do anything, or it makes the day a waste if you sleep all day. Getting back at 1:00 AM, like I do in Minnesota, makes much more sense! With this, I can be asleep by 1:30 AM and still get seven hours of sleep when I start my day at 8:30 AM. Yet again, much better! 

3. Smoking
With all the research and public knowledge of its danger, why do people still smoke?! It baffles me everyday to see young people on the streets of Segovia lighting up with friends. Not only is it expensive, but it causes you to age and die quicker due to its negative health effects. In Minnesota, smoking is looked down upon and is not accepted in society. In Spain, on the other hand, it is a cultural phenomenon and is part of the social scene for all ages. It is both incredibly frustrating and sad. 

4. Store hours
In Spain, most people follow the no pasa nada lifestyle. That is, they do not feel compelled to pack their days and always be on the go. Spaniards wake up later, take afternoon siestas, and spend hours preparing and consuming meals with family. While I'll admit this is probably better than the US lifestyle, there are parts that frustrate me about it. One in particular is how the no pasa nada mentality affects the shops in town. That is, all stores (including supermarkets) are closed on Sundays. This can be frustrating and difficult, especially when you're hungry! Similarly, most tiendas (stores) do not have set store hours. They open when the owner chooses to arrive and close when the he or she decides to leave. I'll admit that the shop keepers try to keep a daily routine with this, but it is still irritating to not know the set hours. 

5. Education system
In Spain, you specialize your studies fairly early in your schooling. That is, there is less time to be "undecided" with your path in life. While I realize that there are pros and cons to this, I appreciate that the education system in the US allows (or even forces) students to spend time exploring their options in regard to major/specialty. I think it equates to greater happiness later in life.

Two days left in Segovia. Time flies.

Cheers,

Anna

Spain does it Better

Hola! 

After studying abroad and living in Europe for four months, I have learned un montón not only about Spain, but also about the United States. With this, I have come to realize that there are many things in America that simply do not make sense.

1. Outlets - Two-prong, three-pong -why are there different types of wall outlets in the United States? It doesn't make sense. In Spain, there is only one type - the classic, two-pong, never fail outlet.

Spain has one wall outlet

Why does the US have two?!

2. Metric System- why must the United States be so difficult and use a measurement system that differs from the rest of the entire world? Spain uses the metric system and thus is in accordance with the rest of society.

Metric system is the most logical, too

3. Temperature System - On a similar note, using the Celsius System for measuring temperature makes more sense than the Fahrenheit System. The conversion between the two is not simple, either. Classic America trying to be different - what's new?

Celsius > Fahrenheit

4. Walking - In Spain, very little cars are used as people walk everywhere. Because of this, people get in touch with nature and use their legs to exercise. It's cheaper, too! It makes me wonder, why do Americans drive everywhere?!

Yippee to walking!

5. Wedding bands - Now, you may be confused by my last example. Wedding bands? How could one country do it better? Well, I decided to include it in my list because I think the Spanish method makes a lot of sense. That is, when you're married in Spain, you wear a ring on your right hand. You wear a ring on your left hand to symbolize that you're widowed. Thus, you don't have to stop wearing a wedding ring if your spouse passes away.

Ring on right hand? Looks like you're married!

Cheers,

Anna

Five Things I Missed Most

Hola! 

A few days ago, I received an email entitled "CSBSJU Returnee Handbook." That is, the Office for Education Abroad sent material that would help "prepare [me] to help say goodbye to [my] most recent home for the last few months and how [I] can start transitioning back to the USA." With my time in Segovia quickly coming to an end, I thought I might actually use the given resources so that I can start unpacking some the experiences I have had these last few months. One in particular is called Anticipation and Expectation Exercise. It includes a variety of questions that should be answered honestly before coming home, and I thought I would pick one to include in my blog.

The five things I missed most about home while I have been abroad are:

1. Family
I have the best family, so not being able to see them for four months has been hard. I've missed calling my mom in-between classes, hearing advice and motivation from my dad, and bonding with my sister. They are truly my rock and greatest support system, and for that I am looking forward to returning home. In addition, I miss the animal members of my family! I can't wait to play with Otto, Eddie, and Woody again!

My mom is my best friend!

My dad is my role model and inspiration!

My family supports me in all that I do! (Photo taken at TC Marathon)

2. Friends
Second to my immediate family, my friends have become my second family. I am blessed to have amazing networks of friends, both from Edina and CSB/SJU. I cannot wait to be reunited with them again! 

I miss my best friend Kristin the most!

Close friends from Minnehaha Academy and Edina!

Members of my CSB/SJU family!

I love my Edina friends!

Who could forget these goons? I love Kaitlyn and Graci!

3. CSB/SJU
Even though I am abroad with a CSB/SJU program, I still dearly miss my school. I miss feeling the wonderful sense of community on campus, being involved in various clubs, and working as a Biology Teaching Assistant and Exercise Lab Assistant. I can't wait to be back in St. Joe again soon! 

I can't to be a CSB Senator this fall!

Johnnie football is the best!

4. Science
As geeky as it may be, I've deeply missed science. Studying abroad in Segovia means 16 credits of Spanish classes, which differs greatly from my typical science-filled course load. Going into the semester, I relished in the fact that I would not have any labs, but now I actually miss them! I can't wait to spend hours in the library studying things that interest me - things that actually matter! (No offense, Spanish).

This is a video recorded during finals week last semester.

 I was studying for Biochemistry, which has been 

my favorite class I have taken in college.

5. Church
To end, I miss attending church on a weekly basis. Specifically, I can't wait to go to Praise in the Pub, which is a Wednesday night gathering at CSB/SJU, and Upper Room, my home church. Both help keep me grounded and are always the highlight of my week!

A picture taken at an outdoor service of Upper Room this summer!

Cheers,
Anna

Cosas Pequeñas - Part II

Hola!

With eight days left in Segovia, I have to make the most of my blog entries. Thus, I want to blog about things that truly matter and document things that have made my experience abroad so memorable. With this, it is time for Cosas Pequeñas - Part II

Cosas Pequeñas - PART II

1. Gladys

Gladys White is the leader of our trip and has been amazing. She does so much for us! Not only is she understanding, but she is also incredibly witty and bright. Gladys makes me laugh on a daily basis and has made my time in Spain very enjoyable. Above all, she is extremely caring. For instance, she gives up her apartment's heat so that she can use the money on us and our activities. In essence, the woman is a saint.

2. Not having class on Friday

Thursday nights are the biggest nights of the week in Spain - they are a must! Because of this,  we often stay out pretty late, which makes Friday morning classes pretty brutal. Most of my friends have class on Friday at 11:00 AM*, but I have nothing so I get to sleep as much as I want! Also, it means that I get three-day weekend every week! What's not to love?

*This class start time may not seem early, but it is when you stayed out until 5:30 AM the night before! 

3. Viber

Viber is a free texting and calling application that works on all smart phones. Thus, it allows me to text and call my family and friends back in the United States for free! I don't have a data or phone plan here, only an old iPhone, so this application has been a great way to stay in touch! 

4. Sleep and class schedule

I absolutely love my class schedule. Unlike most of my classmates, I start and end my day at the same time Monday-Thursday, which I like because it gives me a set routine. Specifically, my first class is always from 9:30-11:00 AM, and I end at 6:00 PM. It's great because it is early enough to start my day in the morning, but still allows me to sleep in until 8:30 AM. I love it! 

5. This blog

I hope you know how much I enjoying blogging about my semester abroad. It means so much to me that people care and want to learn about my experience in Spain. Also, I know I will greatly appreciate it when I come home and can reread my entries and relive all of my wonderful and cherished memories.

Cheers,

Anna

CSB Senate Elections

Hola! 

Today, I start my second to last week of classes here in Segovia. I have ten days left in Spain. It is crazy how time flies! 

Now, I have mixed feelings about this fact. On one hand, I am extremely sad about leaving this quaint town that I have called home for the past three months. Segovia is enchanting, safe, and full of history- it is the perfect place to study abroad. On the other hand, though, I am also excited to go home as I have an exciting year ahead of me! Not only will I be a senior when I return, but I was just elected to be the President of the CSB Senate! I feel both blessed and nervous to take on this position, and I am truly thankful for all of my peers for voting and supporting me. 

Congratulations to all the newly-elected senators! It should be a great year! 

Cheers,
Anna

Good to be Alive

Hola!

This afternoon was absolutely breathtaking. The Segovian sun was shining and there was not a cloud in the sky. For this, I stopped halfway through my run to admire the stunning beauty that surrounded me. As you might have guessed, I decided to capture it on tape too. 

Hold on, is this really the life I'm living? 

Cause I don't feel like I deserve it. 

Every day that I wake, every breath that I take you've given.

So right here, right now, while the sun is shining down

I wanna live like there's no tomorrow,

Love like I'm on I'm on borrowed time.

It's good to be alive

Hold on, if the life that we've been given

is make beautiful in the living,

And the joy that we get brings joy to the giver,

Then right here, right now

This is the song I'm singing out

I won't take it for granted

I won't waste another second

All I want is to give you a life well lived,

to say "thank you"

Cheers,
Anna

PS. I leave for Semana Santa tomorrow!