The Last Blog..

Madrid has treated me well this year. In the last 2 months I have had such amazing times here. After saying good-bye to sam :( Emma and I have been making the best out of our last moments here. Anja Wittels, one of my amazing friends back at home, came and visited Madrid for 4 days. It was a pleasure to show her around. Having people visit allows me to see Madrid through different eyes. It is always super exciting and new, because I feel like a tourist! We toured the Royal Palace and also went to The Prado museum for my second time. Anja got to meet my spanish friends and family and even practice her spanish! It was so great to show my life to someone from home, and I have been honored to do that quite a bit here this year.



Other than that I have been full force enjoying the World Cup and following it closely. Considering Europe is crazy about soccer and I happen to be in Spain for the World Cup, I have been watching as much of it as I can. This weekend is Gay Pride in Madrid also known as Orgullo 2010. And I am really looking forward to the famous parade on Saturday! It is one if not the biggest street festivals in Madrid, and I have been looking forward to it all year.

So, it has come to an end. With 2 more weeks left, I look back on all the incredible people I have met and the times I have had with them. Thanks to all of you that supported me along the way. I look forward to sharing my stories face to face.

Y por supuesto, muchas gracias España!! He pasadao un año inolvidable, os echaré de menos mucho.



I gotta go live up my last moments!

See you all on that side soon!
Lots of Love
Besos

The clock is ticking..

The last month here has been full of emotional roller-coaster rides. The goodbyes finally began and time is starting to disappear. I feel like April and May were just beyond incredible months for me. The weather has been beautiful in Madrid 80s to 90s everyday, and I see Madrid through a different pair of eyes because I can wander the streets in the sunny weather. One of my two best friends, Sam, said in her blog at the beginning of the year that when you leave the US you see the world through blue lenses, when you arrive in a different country you see the world in yellow lenses and then one day you wake up and you see the world through green lenses. This is what has happened to me in the last few months. I now see and understand two completely different cultures. I have friends from the US and friends from Spain, and both groups mean so much to me. I can speak, read and write in two languages (common conversation of course). And my heart is split into two pieces one for Lake Tahoe and the US and one for Madrid and Spain. It is unlike any feeling I have ever felt, I have never been this happy and content in my life. This year I have made some of the best relationships I have ever made in my life, and I have experienced some of the most challenging situations, but that has only made me stronger.

This past week, Emma and I said goodbye to Sam as she had to return to the Minneapolis and go back to reality, you could say. It was an anticipated goodbye, we all knew that this year eventually would come to an end, but once she left we felt like a part of our exchange had left. Emma and Sam have become my family here, we just understand what we are all going through. Coming here I never thought I would make two friendships that I know will last for a lifetime and I couldn't be more appreciative to have them both.
(Forever and Always)

Along with the relationships I have with Emma and Sam, I also have my Spanish friends and my sister. Nerea and I have had our differences this year, but I completely consider her my sister and best friend now. I would have been lost this year without her, and on a daily basis we say how much we are going to miss each other.

Here I sit in my room, in Madrid, Spain with approximately 38 days left and the question is what do I think? Am I excited to go home, yes in ways. But am I sad to go, more than you know. Life has become very bittersweet and everyday I ask myself, am I living it to the fullest? But, then I look back on my year, and I think "Are you kidding, of corse I am living it to the fullest." So I spend my time reading great books, writing down my ideas on life, talking to people in beautiful parks, and practicing one of the most beautiful languages. What more can I ask for?

My cousin showed me this and I think it represents exactly how I feel with 5 weeks left..
Quotations THE STATION

By Robert J. Hastings

TUCKED AWAY in our subconscious minds is an idyllic vision in which we see ourselves
on a long journey that spans an entire continent. We're traveling by train and, from the
windows, we drink in the passing scenes of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at
crossings, of cattle grazing in distant pastures, of smoke pouring from power plants, of row
upon row upon row of cotton and corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of city skylines and
village halls.

But uppermost in our conscious minds is our final destination--for at a certain hour and on a
given day, our train will finally pull into the Station with bells ringing, flags waving, and bands
playing. And once that day comes, so many wonderful dreams will come true. So restlessly, we
pace the aisles and count the miles, peering ahead, waiting, waiting, waiting for the Station.

"Yes, when we reach the Station, that will be it!" we promise ourselves. "When we're
eighteen. . .find that love of your life… win that promotion. . . put the last kid through college. . . buy that 450SL Mercedes-Benz. . . have a nice place for retirement!"

From that day on we will all live happily ever after.

Sooner or later, however, we must realize there is no Station in this life, no one earthly
place to arrive at once and for all. The journey is the joy. The Station is an illusion--it
constantly outdistances us. Yesterday's a memory, tomorrow's a dream. Yesterday belongs to a
history, tomorrow belongs to God. Yesterday's a fading sunset, tomorrow's a faint sunrise. Only
today is there light enough to love and live.

So, gently close the door on yesterday and throw the key away. It isn't the burdens of today
that drive men mad, but rather regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and
fear are twin thieves who would rob us of today.

So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, swim more rivers, climb more
mountains, kiss more babies, count more stars. Laugh more and cry less. Go barefoot more often.
Eat more ice cream. Ride more merry-go-rounds. Watch more sunsets. Life must be lived as we
go along. The Station will come soon enough.

So here I am, enjoying the journey.

Home is where your heart is with the people you love and care about.

Lots of Love!

Living in the Moment

My time is flying here so I have been spending as much time as I can really exploring the beautiful city I live in with Emma and Sam. One day we went to an Opera show here in Madrid. We have student ID cards here so we payed 16 euro for 130 euro seats. We went and saw a German Opera called Salome, it was very different than anything that I expected. One day we took the train out to a small historic town outside of Madrid, Alcala de Heneres. It is a historic University town so we bought a map right as we got off the Metro and walked around the little town all day. Seeing all the cathedrals, plazas and the university. Ending the day in a beautiful park. Below is the University Building and Sam and I the Opera along with more pictures from Alcala de Heneres





One Day I went to the Amusement Park here in Madrid, it was a little pricey but totally worth the 5 hours of roller-coaster riding that we did. The was actually a roller-coaster that starts upside down, that I wasn't going to do, but with the lovely peer pressure from Jesse, Sam and Emma I did it.




A few days ago my host father recieved tickets to go to a bull fight and he was so kind to give them to me and my host sister. My host sister was then also very kind and she gave her's to Emma. So Emma and I got to go experience another wonderful cultural experience in Spain. I would say about 40-50 percent of people in Spain actually support bull fighting and enjoy watching it. The rest are disgusted or just not a fan.

Emma and I took the metro to the Plaza de Toros in Madrid and once we arrived I noticed everyone was dressed very nicely and buying candy or sunflower seeds as if we were going to the movies or something. Emma and I joined them, bought some candy and entered the bull ring. We purchased two butt cushions for 1.20 a piece and crammed into small concrete bleachers where your knees are literally touching the person's back in front of you and if you want to leave, well good luck. You are surrounded by older men smoking cigars and chanting "ole"
The next description is from Emma's blog, I apologize I was lazy..

The bull fight consists of six different bulls and three stages of the fight with each bull. In the first stage, Tercio de Varas, two men called picadores ride out on blindfolded horses. The horses are covered in padding and the picadores carry lances. The picadores’s job is to stab the muscles on the back of the bull’s neck using their lance, leading to the first blood loss. This weakens the bull. The stage ends when a trumpet is blown.

Next is the Tercio de Banderillas, involving three men called banderilleros who attempt to stab barbed sticks decorated like flags into the bulls shoulders. They hold two sharp flags in their hands and run towards the bull, stabbing it in the shoulder just in time to run out of the way. This leads to excessive blood loss. The bull at this point is much weaker but also much more frustrated and irritable. During this time it will often make ferocious charges. This stage ends once again with a trumpet being blown.

Finally, there is the Tercio de Muerte when the bull is killed. The matador enters the ring with a red cape and a sword. The matador attracts the bull using his cape and completes a series of passes called the “faena.” This is the matador’s time to show off with fancy footwork and highly dramatic movements. They are demonstrating their control over the animal. This is the most dangerous part of the fight. During a good series of passes the crowd will shout “Ole!” After about ten minutes of faena the matador attempts to use his sword to stab the bull through the shoulder blades and all the way down to the heart. If his sword does not completely enter the body and kill the bull then he will be given a second sword to cut the spinal cord. Once the bull is killed the body is dragged out by mules.

It was very hard to watch at first, the hardest part for me was the beginning with the horses because I can't imagine being blindfolded and then rammed into by a bull. It was very gory and bloody, and it was an experience that I will always remember, but not something I am interested in going to again. I can see the culture and history behind it, but it is very brutal to watch. Here are some photos..






Other than that I have been waiting for summer and soaking up every little drip of Spanish fun that I can get.

Lots of love!

Mom's Visit

After 8 months of not seeing my Mom, she stepped off the plane in Madrid. My host family was so kind to let here stay here in my home with me in Madrid. We spent 4 days in Madrid first, visiting all the amazing places that I have been surrounded by all year. One of the days we took a day trip to Segovia and Pedraza two historic small cities about 2 hours outside of Madrid. We walked around Segovia and site saw and then drove to Pedraza and enjoyed lamb for lunch. I went there my second week here, it was great to return with my Mom. We also went out to dinner with Emma and Sam, they fianlly got to meet my Mom. It is really exciting to meet other exchange students families. Here are some pictures...





After a few days exploring Madrid we flew to Barcelona to explore. We spent 3 days in Barcelona, trying to cram the whole city in. Lots of walking and pictures. We stayed in a small 2 person apartment that was right next to the Hospital San Pau, the view was incredible. Of course we went to all the main attractions, La Rambla, Parc Guell, Sagrada Famlia, Guadí houses, the Gothic Neiborhood, and the beautiful Mt. Juic. Pictures..











After Barcelona we took off to Alicante Spain, It is a small city on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. It literally has just boomed in the last 10-15 years. We stayed in a really small hotel close to the main beach. Alicante doesn't have a lot to see. They have one castle that looks over the city, but that is about it as far as ancient sites. We spent the two days we had there just sitting on the beach and swimming in the Mediterranean ocean. I have a few exchange student friends that live there so they were kind enough to show us a beautiful beach to go to one day, and take us out to the bar neighborhood at night.



After lots of traveling and running around we made it back to Madrid, and spent 3 more days here. The weather was beautiful and we went to Parque del Retiro and the Prado museum. On May 3rd I took my Mom to the airport and said good-bye. Having her here was incredible, I loved showing here around and giving here a taste of what my life has been life for the last months. Here are a few pictures one of my Mom on Gran Vía and the rest in the Park. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take pictures in the Prado, but it was truly remarkable.



Love you Mom

Spring Break Barcelona 2010!!

After the boys left I spent the next 6 nights with my host sister and friends in Barcelona. It was Nerea, my host sister, Sergio, Miguel, Javi, Lau and I. Lau actually left early so Nerea and I ended up being the only girls for most of the trip. We spent a lot of time relaxing in the sun and going to big discotecas. As well as everyone else did in Barcelona.

Here are some photos...
Nerea Lau Sergio Miguel


In front of the Museum at Mont. Juic and below is the view from the top, it looks over Barcelona and I think is the prettiest place in Barcelona...





Above.. Heading to a club with the whole spanish crew.
Below...My beautful host sister...my year would be nothing without her..

At the end of our trip, I finally made it back into Madrid after almost a full month of traveling. It felt really good to be back, i missed what has now become my home. The day I got back into Madrid I could tell spring had hit the weather started to get beautiful and this past weekend it was in the 70s. I have been spending lots of time in parks soaking up the sun, and I can't wait for summer.

Below Emma, Sam and I in a park. Can you tell maybe why we get along??



Life is good.

Lots of love!

Trip to Bilbao and Barcelona with the Cali Boys..

First I wanted to give my friend Emma credit for parts of my last Blog entry, I stole some of her descriptions on where we went, because I was too lazy to write them all out on my own. Thanks EM!

Literally 2 days after I got back from the bus trip, three friends from home, Joel, Jackson and Dylan came to visit me. They are from Chico, Ca and they have worked with me at Jakes in the summer for the last 2 years. Dylan in currently studying in Bilbao for the year and Joel and Jackson decided to take a trip over here to visit us.

We spent the first 2 days in Madrid, and I showed them around. Then we took a bus to Bilbao, where Dylan lives. It is on the coast in northern Spain, the Basque country. By far the greenest part of Spain I have seen so far. We spent 2 days there walking the streets and visiting the Guggenheim. It is a very family oriented, clean city. I enjoyed the time we spent there. Here are some photos of our time in Madrid and Bilbao..
Madrid...


Bilbao...





Joel Jackson Dylan

The Guggenheim...



After a few days in Bilbao, we hopped back on a bus and went to Barcelona. I spent 4 days in Barcelona with them and then another 7 with my host sister and spanish friends. It was a overlap of friends and languages. While I was in Barcelona with the boys we went to all the main tourist attractions including, spending half of a day in the wonderful Parc Güell designed by Gaudí and touring the inside of La Sagrada Familía also Gaudí and to a Barcelona Fútbol game! I have now officially seen both famous Spanish teams play live! We also went to some incredible dance clubs. Here are some pictures with Joel, Jacson and Dyl in Barcelona...









The biggest discoteca in Barcelona named Razmatazz. It'd 5 separate rooms, 5,000 people.


On my last day with them we walked to the Gothic district of Barcelona and came along a whole plaza a people dancing a greek dance in front of one of Barcelona's most famous churches...


The last night the boys were in Barcelona they came over to the appartment I had rented with my host sister and we hung out until they had to head to the airport at 2am. It was crazy to have my best friends in Spain hanging out with friends from home. It made me realize, I really do have friends all over the world.