Empieza

I’ve been back for going on three weeks now, and even though life has returned to normal, I can’t say the same for myself.

Besides the physical changes- slight weight gain, trouble with my sleeping pattern (I’ll touch on those later) my mind is neither here nor there.

I’m bored with day to day life and every day expectations, and seeking something else. I don’t quite want to travel abroad right now, but I can’t stay rooted forever. It just won’t please me anymore.

I start getting inexplicably tired around 10pm, and I struggle to stay up a lot later than that. I’m waking up later, which is better, but not much of an improvement. 

Besides that- not knowing when, what, or how much to eat is driving me crazy!

• Coming from a world that doesn’t really believe in breakfast, back to America (can you say pancakes, waffles, eggs, french toast, cereal, bagels?)
• Comparing a society with 2 big meals a day vs. my usual 2 medium sized meals with lots of snacks in between
• And being too dependent on a señora that had lunch on the table at 2pm (8am for America) and dinner at 9:30 (3:30pm in America), I never know if I really want breakfast, or should I just eat lunch, or try the small meals, or pretend like it’s Spain and ease myself out of it

A lot of the other students in my program can agree on one thing- a slight displacement. We missed our friends and family, and are happy for our old routine, but it was a routine TOO regular. It almost feels as if studying abroad didn’t even happen- it happened so fast!

I’m sure the transition will get better, but I’m only a few weeks in, and it’s just a bit rough.

If any of you are planning on studying abroad, or you’re currently somewhere far from home, please please please don’t take it for granted. Live in every moment and enjoy the time for what it’s worth.

My visit to the mosque in Córdoba was the highlight of living in Spain. I’ve [not so] secretly been obsessed with the mosque since I learned about it in my AP Art History class, and the moment I knew for sure that I was going to Spain, I was determined to see the mosque.

The columns are done in hypostyle, which simply means- there are a LOT of them, and they’re EVERYwhere!

Apart from the columns though, the mosque (obviously) had many Arabesque elements, including the ceiling, the doors, the shapes on the windows, etc.

Except for the more recent structures- like the chapel. Yes, the chapels. Although this is a mosque by name, after the Muslims were forced out of Spain, Spaniards turned the mosque into a Catholic church (allegedly, it was a church before the Muslims as well). 

I thought that was incredibly lifelike!

The main altar was nothing short of breathtaking- impressive, incredibly detailed, awesome… well, you get the point.

Allegedly, this 

is the area where Christopher Colombus went to pray that the king and queen would give him permission to “discover” the new world. And I believe every saint is represented there too.

There were a lot of statues and other things I found really interesting all throughout the mosque (mosque/church?)

But, I took SO many pictures (this is my favorite architectural structure people!) that I think I’ll continue splitting up the posts.

You can look forward to artifacts and other ancient treasures held in the mosque in my next few posts.

After 4 months, I’m finally home.

And even though dos maletas turned into tres maletas and a travel bag, I’m excited to be back. I still have pictures to show you, so like I’ve said before- stay put!

By the way, if you were wondering- today’s breakfast of waffles was amazing.

studentsgoneglobal: Hi, we saw you are studying abroad! We are StudentsGoneGlobal, a cool new blogging platform for the study abroad community. We would love to have you blog with us while are you abroad. We just launched so check out our homepage and let us know what you think!

I’m leaving tomorrow, but if anyone reading this plans to study abroad, you might be interested in this opportunity!

One day remains in this roller coaster ride that has been my study abroad experience.

After the last final, the school’s travel agent/advisor showed us a slideshow of most of the pictures he’s taken. I didn’t realize it, but that was probably the first time all 13 of us have been together in that room since orientation.

This semester abroad hasn’t been cake for me- I’ve been very open about the problems I have with Spain, in regards to gender, but especially racial issues.

However, that does not necessarily negate everything that I have seen and learned in this world, and everything that I’ve learned about myself.

When it’s all said and done, I’m really grateful for this opportunity. Not many people get to travel the world, meet new people, try new foods, see famous landmarks, etc. Not many people have the support system I have, backing me and wanting me to get the best that this world has to offer.

Anyone that knows me, knows that I’m far from a sentimental person.

With that being said, this was one of the best things I’ve ever decided to do. It’s changed my life, forever.

My advice, to anyone- save up, and when you feel like you’re in over your head, book your plane ticket and leave. You aren’t running away from your problems, you’re running towards a solution, I promise. The first step is the scariest, the first week may be the toughest, but it’s a chance to start something new for yourself, and to realize what you’re made of.

This is my personal guarantee that you will gain a better understanding of yourself- who you thought you were, who you want to become, and who you have the courage to be, at home or overseas.

Entonces- con corazón, con alma, y con todo lo que tengo, por favor

Empieza.

With such little time left, I want to give you all my final thoughts.

Don’t think this blog is going away!

I still have posts on

• The mosque in Cordoba
• My trip to Oceaonographic, the aquarium in Valencia
• My plans for continuing Spanish, and hopefully learning how to cook Spanish food.

So don’t go anywhere! ¡Quédate aqui!

lavernedawn: ´5 días???? dónde ha ido el tiempo?? pero disfruta, ya sé que has aprovechado de tu experiencia, así que ahora puedes hacer lo que quieres para culminar to vida en españa (hasta que regresas!) =)

Pues, ¡ahora 4 días! Jajaja. Muchas muchas gracias, lo agradezco :)