Final Hike in Segovia

Hola! 

Recently, I have told some of my faithful followers that I would make more posts about my time abroad. As you know, I post-traveled without a computer and so I could not easily blog about my final adventures. Then, I returned home to Minnesota and had to quickly unpack, see friends, and then repack and move to Columbia, Missouri (where I am now). Thus, I have been extremely busy and have not had time to tend to my blog. 

That is, until now. Today is the day! On this gloomy Memorial Day, I decided to spend the morning updating old entries (I added more photos to recent posts- check it out) and creating a new video blog. This video is about my final two days in Segovia. 

Enjoy!

Cheers to a wonderful semester!

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

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

Post-Travel Plans

Hola! 

This Friday, I embark on more European adventures! That is, I'll be traveling north as I make my way through France, Belgium, and Holland. Specifically, I am traveling with my two friends, Maddie Tompkins and Laura Kosch. I can't wait! 

By looking at pictures online, looks like I'm in for the trip of a lifetime!

Marseille, France 

(April 26 - April 28)

Marseille is located in the south of France

Paris, France 

(April 28 - April 30)

Paris is capital of France

Brussels, Belgium

(April 30 - May 3)

Brussels is the capital of Belgium

 Bruges, Belgium

(Day trip from Brussels)

Bruges is only an hour from Brussels - perfect for a day trip!

 Amsterdam, Holland

(May 3 - May 4)

Amsterdam is the capital of Holland

After post-travel with friends, I am flying back to Barcelona to meet up with my mom and dad. To say I am excited for this would be such an understatement. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THEM! (Yes, the all-caps and bold combination was necessary)

Spain 

(May 4 - May 14)

My parents and I are going to Barcelona, Toledo,
Granada, Sevilla, Córdoba, Segovia, and Madrid! 

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

Running in Segovia - Part II

Hola! 

The other day, my friend Nikki posted an Instagram photo that really made me think. Like me, she enjoys working out and last year studied in Segovia. The photo she posted was a side-by-side comparison on her past and current running locations (see below). The caption of her picture was "scenery sure has changed over the year," which made me realize how blessed I am to have such an amazing running course. In my humble opinion, it is one of the most spectacular paths in the world. It truly makes you feel as if you are running in a fairy tale.

With this, I want to express my gratitude to Segovia for providing a safe haven in which I can run. I am grateful to live in a city that values the active lifestyle and has created paths designed specifically for runners and walkers alike. It's something I do not want to take for granted, and for that I thought it deserved a second entry.

Below you can find Nikki's Instagram photo and a video of a recent run. Enjoy! 

Seeing this comparison really made me appreciate the running path I have in Segovia (left photo)

Quick video of a recent run:

Oh, and one more thing! Like I said before, Segovia supports health and wellness, which can be seen in its free exercise parks. They exist throughout the city and allow people to work out outside of the gym! I approve! 

Cheers,
Anna 

CARNAVAL

Hola! 

Today, I am blogging about the Spanish tradition of Carnaval. Now, I do realize that this is a belated post, as the festival occurred February 8-12, but better late than never, right?

Hope you enjoy the video! 

CARNAVAL: an annual festival held during the Friday to the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent.

We had a great time dressing up and celebrating Carnaval. In essence, it was a mix of halloween and mardi gras - it is a family friendly holiday celebrated by all! 

Cheers,

Anna 

Typical Spanish Meals

Hola! 

I'm finally home! Our trip to Andalucia was wonderful, but it feels great to be back. Segovia truly feels like home now, which makes me smile. Going into the semester, I hoped that Spain would one day become a second home, and I can now say that it has. When the bus rounded the corner last night and faced the beautifully lit aqueduct, all I could think was "Ah, home at last." With this, I decided to forgo a long post about Andalucia (don't worry - it will come later this week) and write about something more routine: food.

What do typical meals look like you may ask? Well, let me show you.

El Desayuno:

I eat "el desayuno" before I go to school in the morning, normally around 8:45 AM. Typically, it consists of café con leche, Fitness cereal and an apple. ¡Delicioso! 

Fitness is a tastier version of Special K

La Comida:
La comida is the biggest meal of the day, and I eat it with my family around 2:00 PM. Unfortunately, I have not been able to take any pictures of my meals. Don't let that fool you into thinking that they're not delicious, though (I just feel awkward taking the pictures when the table is packed). Dani, a woman who works at our house, makes la comida every afternoon and she is a great chef! 

This meal consists of freshly squeezed orange juice, two plates, and un postre (dessert). We start with either soup or a pasta dish. Next, we have fish or meat with vegetables. To end, we have un postre, which is yogurt or fruit. 

Needless to say, this is my favorite meal of the day.

La Cena:
When I get home at night, I have la cena with Marta. The boys normally eat this meal around 9:00 PM, whereas Marta and I eat at 9:30 PM*. I enjoy this part of my day for many reasons. To start, the food is always fresh and healthy. More importantly, though, is that I get quality time to chat alone with Marta. Sometimes, we sit and chat for an hour during la cena. 

*9:30 PM is early to have la cena. Many of my friends eat this meal around 10:30 PM.

Marta's typical salad: mixed greens, pimientos, tuna, crab,
corn, cucumbers, and  dressing of olive and vinegar.

Miscellaneous Notes: 
One thing I love about the food in Spain is that it is all fresh. Being close to the ocean, we eat fish that was caught the day before. Similarly, the fruit and vegetables are all grown in local gardens. Trust me, you can taste the freshness! 

Secondly, Spaniards follow the Mediterranean diet. That is, they consume large quantities of fish, vegetables, and olive oil. Having studied this diet last semester, I am aware of its proven health benefits and for that I am glad to live in a family that follows it!

Extra virgen olive oil 

One last point! 
This entry would not be complete without including the following Spanish cuisine:

Tortilla con patatas
Ingredients: potatoes, eggs, onions, and olive oil.

Sangría
Jesús (bartender at Oso Blanco)
makes the best sangria in Segovia!

Paella 
This dish consists of Spanish rice and an array of seafood. 

Cheers,
Anna