All good things must come to an end...

So I am a short 48 hours from starting my travels toward home. I miss my family, my friends, Chris and a couple other aspects of home. But currently, I am a little sad. I wish they could all just pack up and come to me, instead of me packing up and going back home. I really love it here. I love the culture, and the way of life. It's so awesome. I love being able to speak Spanish and being understood. I have had no problem with language barriers since I have been here and have been told by many natives that I speak Spanish really well. Which makes me really proud of myself, because I have worked really hard on my Spanish for the past 10 years. But like I said I wish my parents and everyone could just come and live in Spain with me but instead I will be traveling back to Chicago. I am taking a 5 hour bus ride from Bilbao to Madrid airport. Then a flight from Madrid to Dublin which is two hours and a flight Dublin to Chicago which is 8 hours. I will be literally traveling all day but it's worth it to see my family and Chris. I've had a great time here in Bilbao. I did exactly what I came to do and that was to keep improving my Spanish and work hard in school. I did just those things and had a lot of fun a long the way. Finals went really well today and tonight I will be receiving my grades and transcripts where we will be having a little ceremony then drinks after. Then it's time to get ready and fly home. After these past 5 weeks, I would really like to come back to Spain. Maybe go to other parts that I haven't visited yet but I do know that matter what I want to come back. It's just been an amazing trip and a wonderful experience. I only have but happy memories for these past 5 weeks. But Bilbao was great, it's not goodbye it's just see you later.

Spain update

Sorry I haven't updated in awhile. I've just been preoccupied with school and adjusting a little bit more. But now that I am completely adjusted it's almost time for me to go. Spain has been really good to me or more like Bilbao. I am really glad I chose Bilbao instead of a bigger city like Madrid. It's really safe and quaint and like I have said absolutely beautiful. School has been going extremely well. I really like going to school, I've never had an issue. I love going to school at UIC and attending class there. I find myself feeling really comfortable at the University of Deusto. I have great professors and I've learned a lot. I really like my Culture and Politics class. I've learned so much about Spain and it's history and it's made me enjoy it and appreciate it even more. I've loved having the opportunity to speak Spanish and become more comfortable with it. I've gotten the chance to speak with native speakers and it's been a blast. They are so curious about American life and I am so curious about the Spanish life. Aside from school I've been keeping myself busy with home work but also exploring a little bit. There's the old quarters named Casco Viejo. There's a ton of shops, ice cream shops, bars, restaurants, and so much more. We really like to go there on Friday's after class and pick up souvenirs for family at home and we go to this one bar where they have pinxto's or tapas or little appetizers for about one euro a piece. I've had amazing calamri and other interesting foods but it's been an awesome experience. Last Saturday my roomate and I went on a funicular that takes you to the top of a mountain and you can see a complete over view of Bilbao. It was one of the most amazing sites I have ever seen, after that we ended our adventure with a pitcher of sangria, yum! Then that night one of the program directors has a cousin who lives in Santurtzi and was having a party for us. It was a strict guest list and we had to RSVP but we got on it right away. Santurtzi is very popular and crazy this time because of the Fiestas del Carmen. A little side fact a lot of the festivals they have here are religious and they celebrate them by eating lots of food, live music, and of course drinking. But this apartment where the party was amazing!!! It was beautiful and when you step outside onto the balcony you get an over view of Saturtzi at night with the stars and all the lights from the stage and the festival. And there was also food and drinks at the party. So we all ate and drank and watched the concert then they had a DJ. It's seriously one of my best memories I've had here, just dancing all night over looking Santurtzi, it was so great. This weekend is our last weekend here, it's already coming. I think on Saturday myself and acouple other friends are going to climb a mountain called Santera. It's a 45 minute climb up and you can see all of Bilbao and then the ocean on the other. Then beach on Sunday. I am going to miss the beach the most. Laying on a towel with the sand and the sun. Then having a whisp of the ocean float in the air so you get a nice mist to cool you down and with a good playlist on your Ipod is complete heaven. Then classes and finals next Wednesday then I will be home Friday. It's gone by so fast and I had a thought the other day that what if this was my last chance to be here, what if I never come back? Then I realized that I love it so much here, and I know that I will do everything I can to come back. I would really like to bring my family here and whoever would want to come along. It's a great place to be. Such an amazing place enriched with culture and tradition. Spain has fought a lot for their independence. They didn't have a democratic constitution until 1978! They had a socialist president until 1975! You can see that the Spainards are so so proud from where they come from and from their culture and it's so great to see that sense of pride of who they are. This truly has been one of the best experiences of my life and I can only hope to have another or at least come visit. Dear Spain, this isn't over yet! I will be back!

El Encierro!!! Or The Running of the Bulls!!!

Today we went to Pamplona to the San Fermin festival where they have the running of the bulls. Basically everyone wears red, and white, gets completely drunk, and runs with the bulls and get their butt's torn up! But I'll explain a little bit more into detail. First of all we left our dorms at 4:50am this morning! Mind you that's only 11:50pm back home, so I was up at 4am! Yikes! On the drive to Pamplona we all basically slept while freezing from the AC but I woke up to the sunrise coming up over the mountains. It was the most amazing thing I have seen since I have been here. Then we are informed that we must sign a contract saying no drinking, no running with the bulls, no picking fights etc. Which makes total sense. We arrived in Pamplona at about 7am where we got off the bus and were introduced into a large mass of people. We totally stuck out, and we were being taunted by other Spaniards, calling us "toury's." But it was interesting. Imagine the day after the Taste of Chicago, or after a music festival. There were glasses, broken wine bottles, the smell of puke and urine. Not a good first impression of Pamplona. All the bars were rocking out, serving beer and wine, and at 7am! We weren't allowed to watch the running from the streets, so we went to the bull ring and that's where they bring the bulls in after they run through the calles or streets. They had screens so we could watch. Then all of the sudden a large mass of people come running in, and then they appeared the bulls! It was quite entertaining, and sort of exciting. These people are really nuts to be doing this. So after the bulls run through the ring, they go into the pen. Then people kneel down and sort of form a pyramid where the bull comes out of. When they release the bull they pretty much get stepped on while he rams out of the pen. Then the people who are in the ring, taunt the bull by patting him on the butt. He does not like this! We saw so many people get rammed by the bull. He was literally scooping them up by the horns and throwing them. One guy lost his shirt and it got stuck on the bulls horns! Later we saw him walking around with two large gashes on his back from the horns. They repeat this process several times, then it is over. After the bull ring, my friends and I walked around, bought some souvenirs and took some pictures. We ran into a lot of characters! People were completely wasted, coming up and talking to you. People in their white clothes covered in wine, and sangria. It was quite the sight to see. Then we had the most amazing breakfast, churros con chocolate! Probably not the best thing to eat for breakfast but when in Spain... All in all it was pretty cool to experience. I really wish my brother and dad could have been there. They would have loved it! Maybe one day we'll go as a family.

Bilbao update!

For the past few days I've really gotten a taste of what it is like to live in a foreign country. You start to learn what stores are open at what time, how the metro works, and different customs that they have. This is also my first time living in a dorm and it's been a pretty good experience so far. I have a room mate, and her name is Sarah. She's my age and from Michigan. I met her in Madrid and she has been so great. We really get a long, and see eye to eye on a lot of things. And she knows how I'm feeling at times because she is really close to her family and has a fiance back home so she knows how it feels to miss the people you love so much. The food isn't always best but lucky there is a super market across the street ran by "los chinos" or the chinese. They're always open when you need them, and they don't take long siestas, and are open on Sundays unlike the other ones.

The metro system in Bilbao is actually really awesome, and Daley could learn a thing or two from them. They come very often, even late at night. And they tell you how long until the next one comes. As far as customs I have seen and learned a lot. For instance, when you meet some one, or even greet someone first time or not you always give each other a kiss on each cheek and hug. Always, no matter what! Another custom is that you eat late, and bars really don't start hopping until 1am! And here, you're allowed to smoke in restaurants and bars. Which sucks because you come out smelling like an ash tray and it can definitely ruin an appetite.

There is no air conditioning! In the stores yes, but in the dorms, classroom, restaurants no air conditioning. But everyone has cell phones, and internet every where. Which I don't understand, but oh well!

The locals that we have met have been pretty friendly. They accept our misusage of Spanish grammar and always ask where we are from. If you need directions, they will help. Other locals like to cut you in line while shopping, and stare at you like you have an eye in the middle of your head while you walk down the street.

But tomorrow starts classes. I have a culture class for a hour in the morning, and then a Spanish language class for 3 hours, with a 20 minute break. The classes I think will be intense because they have 3 weeks to jam a semesters worth of information. But I came here to study and expand my education. The chairs are so uncomfortable! But I suppose I will begin to get used to them. The days go by so fast here. One hour you're waking up and then before you know you're getting ready for bed. And I'm sure once class starts the days will go by faster and faster! But I am having a great time. I've got to visit so many places, and walking in Bilbao is great because you get a constant view of mountains, and the city. It is absolutely beautiful! Also Bilbao is great because there are so many beaches. I've been to two, and have fallen in love. The salt water burns if you have just shaved your legs, and sand gets every where, but it's a wonderful place. To me the view and the fun time in the sun is worth the sunburn. I am looking forward to going to Pamplona this week, which we will be seeing the "The Running of the Bulls!" Which should be interesting, funny, and a bit scary!

Madrid/Segovia/Bilbao

So I went on Sunday to meet up with all my other classmates and professors and so far it is going pretty well. I have met so many new people from all over the US and it's been pretty awesome. These people are just so fun and have their own stories and backgrounds. I meet new people every day and it's been so much fun.

On Monday we toured a providence of Madrid named Segovia. We toured a castle there, and we even climbed up the tower to go to the top and see an over view of the city! I think someone counted like 200 steps but the view was absolutely amazing. It was well worth it. Today we went to the Museo del Prado. I got to see so many original paintings of Goya and Velazquez including my favorite "Las Meninas." It's a beautiful museum and I am so glad I got to see it. Then it was time for a 5 hour bus ride to Bilbao! Yes 5 hours! I slept, journaled, read, and listened to music. Then we finally arrived. They took us on a mini tour of our university and it is quite beautiful! Tomorrow is another busy day of touring this city I will be living in. And I'm living in a dorm for the very first time ever! Everyone gets their own room with bathroom but for right now some people are doubled up. I'll probably have my own room Thursday. I wish it could be sooner because I really just want to unpack completely but I guess one more day won't kill me! Then Friday I start classes! I'm really excited to get the ball rolling on class and continue to meet friends, and explore the city of Bilbao. Being away from home by myself has become quite the experience and I have learned that you can't be shy. If you're shy you won't make friends. I know I will be experiencing a lot these next couple of weeks, and I honestly can't wait. And there will be lots of stories to tell with pictures :0).

Madrid!

Hey guys!

So I am in Madrid. I went out an explored a little bit. My hostal is really close to Plaza Mayor which is pretty famous in Madrid. I started off my day as a traditional "madrileno" and went to a panderia or bread shop and had a glazed croissant and oj. So good! And then I continued my walk to Plaza Mayor. It is really cute there. There's lots of outdoor cafes and booths so there was some sort of festival I think. Then there are other streets that lead off that have tons and tons of other cute shops and restaurants. I'm in Madrid by myself until Sunday and that is when I have to go to another part of Madrid to meet up with other students and professors who will be in Bilbao with me. I'm in Madrid til Tuesday and then we arrive in Bilbao and then I will be there for 5 weeks! It's been kind of lonely being by myself but it's been a short amount of time so it is not so bad. I'm really excited to keep updating and exploring more.

I know, I know

it's been a long time since I have posted.  Just been with busy with school and everything.  But it is official.  I will be studying/living in Bilbao, Spain in July.  It's in the Northern Coast, and it literally neighbors France.  I leave June 24th and I fly from Chicago to Dublin, Ireland.  I have a quite long layover but I figured in that time I can go out and sight see.  Or if I can't sleep on the plane maybe I could find a place and have a little nap, play around on my laptop we will see. Then I fly to Madrid from Dublin.  Now I am going to be there 3 days earlier than I am supposed to.  I don't meet up with my group and other people until the 28th.  I haven't planned it yet but I'll probably book a hotel room and sight see for a few days.  Then I go to Bilbao in July and then I am there and I return home July 30th.  I decided to live in the residence halls because I figured I would be more comfortable.  I am definitely excited to attend class there and see how it is and how they learn over there.  I also plan to travel a lot especially to Barcelona because I didn't get a chance to get there in high school and probably back to Granada because I loved it there when I visited!  I also would love to travel to France and/or Portugal.  That would be so amazing.  I'm really excited for this trip however I can't get too excited yet because I do have to finish out the semester first.  But once it's over in about two weeks, preparing for Spain is definitely really going to take off.  I have to get some things, call the bank, schedule appointments to make sure I'm up to date on vaccines and nice and healthy.  Figure out how and what to pack so I make the amount that you are allowed to have.  Anyone have any travel tips?  I will probably update through here and upload pictures or maybe send out a mass email?  I haven't decided yet.  But I will have my laptop and the University of Deusto does have wireless and the residence halls have a computer room so I will have access to the Internet.  But I have a catch, I don't want to be the only one sending updates! I'm going to be out of the loop for a month, I want everyone to send me updates about their lives!  Deal?

For the past two weeks

In my Educational Policies class we have been talking about our career trajectory's.  Such as what we plan on doing in reality with our lives and careers compared to what we want to do in our alter ego's meaning if we had no financial issues or obligations.  Mine looked like this:

Reality

- Graduate UIC

-Sign a contract with CPS OR teach in Spain for one year

-Keep teaching OR come back to Chicago

-Grad school AND teach

-Graduate grad school/keep teaching

-Get married

-Teach/establish marriage

-Have a baby or two

-Teach/be a mom

Alter ego

-Graduate UIC

-Teach in Spain for a year

-Move to New York and teach there for a year or two

-Come back to Chicago grad school/teach 

-Open a bakery/coffee shop

-Get married/establish selves

-Run bakery

-Have a baby or two

-Be a mom/work

So both are a little different but have similarities.  Graduating UIC is a major thing that I want to accomplish first and I would really like to teach in Spain for a year.  To live there would be so amazing, and I'd have a chance to speak Spanish and experience so much culture.  But no matter what I want to live in a big city.  I am a city girl and I can't be anywhere else so whether it's Chicago or New York I want to be in that loud, busy, cultural environment.  Another huge and probably the most important ending in my trajectory is to be married and be a mom.  Of course it can be in a long long long while, trust me I am in NO rush!  But I've always had this thought that I knew I'd be the happiest and accomplish what I wanted to when I became a wife and mother.  I guess it's because aside from it's ups and down's I've idolized my parents marriage.  Married for 27 years and they're more in love than they were in 82'.  And I've been so fortunate to have a good childhood and raised well by my parents.  I want to be able to do the same for my very far future children, and I want to pass down traditions and things that I experienced to them.  

Through all of this I realized that it is a good thing to have goals and to know what I want to try and succeed for when I get older. However, right now presently I think the best thing for me to do is take it day by day.  And as I get older all I can do is play the cards that fate will deal me, and just ride the wave and let things happen.  If things were meant to be a certain way it'll happen.  

I'm supposed

to be doing other things like reading, or studying, or preparing but I can't seem to concentrate.  I've decided that I would like to vent.  Every time I try I just hear"you'll be fine."  I appreciate, so much the optimism, but I'd just like vent just for a little bit.  

Tomorrow is my interview for candidacy to student teach.  I had to turn in an application, letters of recommendation, and an essay.  Also you have to a 3.0 out of 4.0 GPA and pass your Basic Skills Exam to be considered.  Well my GPA must of been up to par, and my application etc must have been great because I got the interview.  I'm already going to be deferred once because I take my exam at the end of this month so I won't know completely until about March if I got in or not.  You see, you have to be a candidate for student teaching in order to keep on taking Education and Special Education classes.  

I am a teaching of Spanish major and my application went through the Spanish department.  There were only 6 spots for interviews.  I don't know if that was how many applicants or if they had to dwindle down the list.  When asked why I want to be a teacher, where I want to teach, how will I set up my classroom I know my answers.  I've written and rewritten my essay 3 or 4 times, and have answered this question for so many friends and family.  Now what is making me so nervous is that this is all in Spanish.  I have to speak Spanish in front of the two people that will decide what is the next step for me.  Yes I have been speaking Spanish for quite some time but I still get flustered.  Before I answer a question in Spanish classes I think about my answer first, and when I get called on randomly my face gets steaming hot and I get nervous.  I only know of what they may ask me because a friend of mine had hers today.  But yet she tells me how easy it was and not as bad as we thought...but easy for her to say, she is a native speaker.  I can't help but feel they either expect me to be really good because I am a non native who thinks she can be a teacher or they expect me to be horrible for the same reason.  I'm worried that my answers won't come out as well as I wanted them to or that I will be so nervous that I will completely blank.  I don't want to have to reapply next year, I want to pass my exam and get in so I can follow my plan.  This is my next step sort of to beginning my future.  By getting into the program and being able to take the classes I need I can get to student teaching faster so I can graduate and start what I want to do in life...  I can't help but wish that too bad this didn't depend on fashion first. My mom and I went shopping yesterday,  and if it did oh man I would get accepted in a heart beat, haha.  

Overdue

As I sit here, restricted to the living room and the couch (Chris' orders)  I find myself slightly bored.  The reason why I have to follow his orders is because I fainted at work Saturday morning.  I went to go see something that my manager wanted to show me and I got tunnel vision.  Next thing I know I woke up, killer headache, confused and scared to all hell.  I passed out for a minute hit the front of my face and I had a swollen upper lip and then fell back and hit my head which gave me a golf ball sized lump on the right side of the back of my head.  Paramedics came, I didn't go to the hospital.  I was embarrassed I work at a cafe and it was during breakfast so it was busy and here I am sobbing.  My parents came to get me and then I just took it easy but was being watched carefully.  Sunday morning woke up, bad neck pain, headache, dizziness, and nausea.  So my mom took me to the er.  I had ct scans and xrays and thankfully everything came back positive.  But my neck muscles are so tense and it hurts to keep my head up so I have a soft neck brace and was prescribed Valium for muscle relaxer.  Then Motrin for pain.  I've been so lucky though.  My parents have been there and taking care of me.  My mom sat with me for 4 hours in the emergency room.  Then Chris came here on his way home from ISU and took care of me last night and this morning.  I've had friends checking on me.  It feels nice to know I have people that care about me.

On a happier note, school is going pretty well.  Just working hard, doing homework, and getting things done.  I typically stay home one night a weekend to do homework for Monday and so I can relax on Sunday.  I turned in my application for candidacy to student teach so I am waiting to hear if they want to interview me and then when they receive my basic skills exam score we will see if I get in.  This summer instead of Barcelona I might be going to Bilbao in Spain.  UIC isn't offering the program and its touristy so they want students to steer away from Barcelona.  But I really want to go this summer.  So we will see, keeping my fingers crossed.

I'm really looking forward to these next couple of weekends.  With Valentine's Day and going out to dinner and just having a really relaxing, mellow night with Chris is going to be wonderful.  Then the weekend after going to Dekalb, and just getting way for a day.  Then my basic skills exam and sort of getting that out of the way will be really refreshing.

It all hit...

me like a big train.  So I was sort of bombarded with the fact that I need to apply for candidacy for student teach in 2010 by February 1st.  It's a 15 page application, an essay, and 2 letters of recommendation.  It will probably take a week or two to do but I am pretty confident I can get it done on time.  I feel like with the Education courses I am taking this semester I really am starting to be prepared for my future as a teacher.  Like when I graduate I will be 22, get a job teaching Spanish hopefully at a private school for kids.  I don't know how I feel about the Chicago public school system but I want to be living in the city by then and the commute from the burbs to the city can be a pain.  But we will see, a job is a job.  Then after I establish myself a little bit back to school for graduate studies then who knows what.  I'm just excited and so happy that I'm finally getting things together and ready for my future.  This is what I have been waiting for, and working toward.  And I'm only going to work harder.  Granted my study abroad application will have to be put off a little bit this month but my job to become a teacher is more important.  I'll get it done though, whether I may have to stay in on a weekend or wake up early on a Sunday morning and don't stop until its done but it will.  My future is too important to me, and getting into the program and being certified will be huge accomplishments and yes the proud feeling that I will get from my family will be great but I think my own proud feeling for myself will be a greater feeling.  Though my education professor was saying today that the percentage of students who actually go to college is very small. So for those of who are going to college, went, or will go back we are an elite bunch and we should be very proud of ourselves.  I feel like this semester I am going to learn a lot.  Not just education wise but I feel like I am going to learn a lot about myself and what type of successful future I am going to want.

I want to be like Anthony Bourdain...

Well, minus the recovered drug addict.  But he has one of the coolest jobs.  He flies around from country to country and gets to see different countries and taste different foods.  Talk about a great opportunity.  Speaking of traveling, today I started downloading all my applications so I can print them and begin my study abroad process.  I really want to go to Spain this summer. Yes I will miss my twenty first birthday, and I will miss everyone and miss out on some things but the experience I think will be worth it.  Every summer it's the same routine, work, hangout, sleep etc and I need to do something different this summer.  I want to go away for a little while, live on my own, do my own thing and it's even better because I'll be in a different country, miles away from everything and everyone I know.  I'll have the chance to learn and do a lot of things that I may not be able to do when I am older. Perhaps I'll learn things that may even help me out later in life.  All I know for right now is that I really want this, and I am going to cross my fingers, work really hard, and do what I can to make this possible.

As weird as this sounds, I cannot wait to get back to school. With finals, the holidays, different work schedules, and just break in general everything has just been so different.  Because of the economy work has been cutting hours, so I'm not working as often as I'd like.  Days were jumbled because of the holidays, yesterday felt like a Sunday but it's Friday!  I'm just excited for things to get back to normal.  But being typical me I have my schedule figured out for work, and when I can have some free time and work it all in with school.  Next week is my last week of break, I'm glad that I've had the time to relax but I'm ready to get back to my daily routines.  But overall the holidays were really good.  I got to spend time with my family, and friends' of my brother I haven't seen in so long. It's really nice when Sean and Stephanie are here.  Just to be able to catch up and spend time together and relax is great.  I got to spend time with Chris' family which was really nice, they made me feel so welcome.  New Year's Eve was fun.  My cousin got married, and Chris and I just hung out with Sean and Stephanie and had a pretty good time.  We ate a little, danced a little, drank a little but 2009 began with exactly who I wanted it to and who I wanted to be with and I can't complain.  

I'm so glad that 2008 is over.  And I only have high hopes for 2009.  Every year I always make resolutions but never follow them.  But I have thought about them greatly and I really want to try.  Though when it comes to one I'm not doing a very good at but it's only the second day of 2009, I have 363 days to work on it.  But someone told me last night to "live in the moment", and he couldn't be more right. Maybe that could be my 2009 mantra?