Stamps in my Passport

Ever since 8th grade when I knew I wanted to become a Spanish teacher, I had a desire to travel abroad. My middle school Spanish teacher, Mrs. Reith (SO thrilled I had her for 3 years! best teacher!), is the one that inspired me to take two languages in high school. When she talked about the time she lived abroad, it made me excited for when I would get to go abroad.

So for today's little story in the #blogeverydayinFebruary challenge, I am reflecting upon the best decision of my life: Spring 2008 semester abroad in Seville, Spain. I came home broke, wishing I had traveled to more cities but honestly, hands down best decision! Originally, I wanted to only go for a summer session which is essentially a month. Then my advisor in college convinced me to do a semester abroad (she was pushing for a year but I don't know if I could have handled it...or afforded it!). I chose Seville because it was a program offered through my school, it was in the South (warmer than the North of Spain!) and my friend Bethany had done it.

I was able to visit beautiful cities like Granada and see La Alhambra. Indescribable.

 

Could be a post card picture!

I even went to a resort in Marbella which overlooked the coast of Africa. So cool!

One weekend, my roommates and I went to Barcelona. I loved walking down Las Ramblas and going to Parque Guell where America's Next Top Model was one season.

My mom came to visit me for two weeks and we went to London, England!

 

Outside Buckingham Palace

 

When in London! 

 

Outside St.Paul's

 

At Madam Tussaud's in London with The Beatles (And I look super tan here....WAAHHH!!)

Then I went to Dublin, Ireland and the Netherlands with my roommates Sam, Jessie and Stacy who was in our program.

Went to the Guinness Factory for a tour!

 

 

At Trinity College in Dublin

 

Ann Frank Museum where she was hidden with her family

At the I amsterdam sign!

I also went to Cordoba for a group field trip

My entire program group in Cordoba! We had our program director Miguel and our tour guide Luis there.

Who can forget getting sunburned in Cadiz?! (I AM SO TAN HERE!! I WANT TO GO BACK!!)

Almost two years ago I went on a tropical cruise with my now ex. I love getting to explore new cities. I love being able to see things I have learned about for years. I love getting to use the language. I wish I could have gone to more cities and/or countries when I was in Spain studying abroad. Mainly France and Italy (almost went to France when my mom was coming to visit). 

On my travel bucket list is Paris, Italy, Greece, Madrid (I only saw the airport!), other cities in Spain, Portugal, Germany, Poland, etc. I want to also visit every single Spanish speaking country.....well, the safe ones. 

Where have you traveled? Where do you want stamps in your passport?! 

Link up with the lovely Bailey today! 

{A memory you'd love to relive}

Another day of blogtember! A memory you'd love to relive.


Hands down, studying abroad is definitely a memory I would love to relive. I majored in Spanish in college and I always knew I was going to study abroad from the time I was in 8th grade. I bet many of my 8th graders right now don't know what they want to do when they get to college but I did when I was there age. I just wasn't sure if it was going to be a summer program, a semester program, or a year program.

I originally wanted to just go for a summer and apparently the summer program was 6 weeks. After much talking to one of my college professors for three classes and my advisor at the time, I decided to go for an entire semester. I decided to go to Seville, Spain which is in the southern region of Spain. BEST DECISION I EVER MADE! 


Regardless of coming home almost dirt broke and traveling 18 hours to get back to NY, and the entire week I cried myself to sleep because I was homesick, I don't regret a single thing. I got over the homesickness eventually once I settled into a routine but it was scary at first because it was the first time I went abroad and even though I was with girls I knew from school (and eventually friends with the rest of my program mates). I went from January-the middle of May 2008 (my spring semester my junior year of college).

There were experiences I will never forget. Like being able to go to the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam. Or eating pancakes the size of my head in Amsterdam.

Anne Frank House

 

 At the I am amsterdam sign

Or seeing the changing of the guards in London when my mom came to visit me and we went there.

Or going to the beautiful country of Ireland, where some of my ancestors are from, and exploring the city.

I loved exploring Marbella in the end of January. I was swimming in a pool while everyone was at home in snow!

Exploring the beautiful city of Cadiz on one of our group trips!

 

Me, Allie, Jessie, Jessie G, Sam, Milena, Stacy

Our entire group!

I also loved exploring Barcelona

 

Gaudi Museum

outside La Sagrada Familia

I would go back to this experience in a heartbeat. I don't regret a cent I earned. I still have my wine bottle with the cathedral in Sevilla etched on it on my bookcase. This city and experience always will hold a special place in my heart. I would relive it and go on more trips!! I want to explore more cities in Spain and go to France & Italy. I will get back to Europe some day!

Random Thoughts

If any of my friends were asked if I was a pretty random person, they'd answer "YES!" in a heartbeat. I say it like it is. Sometimes...a little too bluntly. Case in point...one of my co-workers Sarah {hilarious girl who trained me} told me that once when I was seating a table {I'm a host in a restaurant} a guy was trying to fix the blinds because the sun was shining in and he was standing on the booth. Apparently, very bluntly, I was like "Sir, please get down. I'll do it for you. We don't want you falling on your head or anything." She cracked up and basically tells me I say things like it is. Truth.

And...I normally don't think before I speak. Not ideal say in a job interview {hello awkward moment!}. I kind of let my mind do the thinking....afterwards.

So lately, lots of random thoughts are running through my head.

1. I probably should apply for my FAFSA {financial aid} for loans for the fall because yeah, where am I going to come up with $5,000+ for my two classes. {That's what sucks about going from a state school to a private school.} And probably should figure out how I'm paying for my two summer classes since they sent me my bill..again. I'm surprised they're up on their game this time...when I applied almost two years ago, they "claimed" to have never received my financial aid. They were just lazy and didn't pull it off the computer.

2. School supplies. I love. buying. them. SO RANDOM. I literally have enough pens I could not have to buy anymore until say 2019. But I just love when they put all the back-to-school stuff out. I love buying new school supplies...I even took my niece school supply shopping when she started kindergarten last year!

3. My Kindle. I bought it for myself as a birthday present back in November. I LOVE IT. Don't love it originally broke after having it for 9 days {thankfully Amazon has AWESOME customer service and sent me a new one!} but wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I need suggestions as to books to add to it. I've got a $50 gift card burning a whole in my pocket from my brother Eric for Christmas.
4. Reality TV. I realize almost all the shows I watch now are reality tv. HAHA. Well, who does not love watching those coupon-savvy people on "Extreme Couponing"?! And I LOVE the Real Housewives of New Jersey. Seriously. I think I like this cast better without having Danielle on it {she was such trash.}

5. I.do.not.need.more.clothes. I mean, I have two hampers worth {clean, mind you!} that I need to put away. Instead, I'm watching tv {hello MTV's 16&Pregnant} and not doing it. ONE...I repeat, ONE of these days...soon...I'll get it all clean. The pile of sweaters sitting on the floor in front of my closet make me sweat bullets even thinking about it.

6. I am NOT excited about getting up at 6am on a Sunday. I have to be at work at 7am for a rollout meeting...that's mandatory. Aka, Kristin will be staggering into work in PJ's (thank GOD I am not working til 5) and a massive cup of coffee. I remember the days when I thought coffee was disgusting....that was three years ago and I needed it the summer I came home from Spain.

7. I want to know how to add pages to the top of my blog. Like an about me page, a bucket list page, etc. Who knows how to do this and can help me out?

8. I miss Spain. I want to go back. I lived in Sevilla, in the southern part. It would be like 105 degrees in May there. I mean, look how gorgeous it is.

{Plaza de España}

{Me in Plaza de España...it was used in the Star Wars movies}

{Plaza de España lit up at night...I might be a little biased...this is my favorite spot in Spain}


Okay, time to go get my brain working and read my chapters for class tomorrow!