SPAIN!!

I just arrived in Segovia, Spain for part DOS of my summer adventures! After an 8 hour flight from Atlanta to Frankfurt, another 2 hour flight to Madrid, and an hour bus ride, I am finally settled in my new home, with my new familia and roommate Nicole!

Our madre's name is Maria, and our Padre is Leute. (I'll get a picture with him soon!)

We flew on Lufthansa Airlines, and it was the most comfortable flight I have ever been on. We had leg room, fluffy pillows, real blankets, individual tvs with an awesome movie selection, and airplane food that wasn't all that terrible.

We arrived safely and are being submerged headfirst into the language, the city, and the people.

There is a quiet elegance here; the city holds 3000 years of history and culture. It brings you back to a time and place where everything is simple, streets are cobblestone and people take time to enjoy life.

There are little streets and parks everywhere, all around the most famous part of Segovia, the aqueduct. Stone arches as tall as buildings, held together by sheer force and physics, as old as Jesus, and still standing strong...it's incredible!

I am already finished with my first day of school and cannot WAIT for the adventure to unfold!

Hasta luego :)

Adios!

This trip has been one of the greatest experiences of my life so far. I've been turned upside-down, flipped over, spun around, and then put back rightside-up again. I have been challenged in so many ways, and I have grown so, so much.

One day, I stood on top of the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan. Looking out at the fantastic view, I had a revelation.

If you want to study spanish, or really any foreign language for that matter, you are actually choosing to study life.

You have to fall in love with everything that the language represents, or you miss out on the point entirely.

And when you discover that passion, Spanish is suddenly much more than a college major.

It is learning how to say hello and goodbye.
It's Salsa, Cumbia, and Merengue.
It's gaining an appreciation for a little spice.
And a little tolerance for the unexpected.
It is laughter.
It is celebration.
It's dancing along to a mariachi band.
And watching little kids play futbol.
It is hundreds and hundreds of years of rich culture and history.
All summed up in one Diego Rivera painting.
It is the smell of fresh bread being made on our way to school everyday.
And a watching Quincineara begin a few doors down.
It is making new friends.
And saying hola to every stranger.
It's loving a little chaos.
And going with flow.


Looking back, I think my favorite thing about Mexico is that everywhere you look there are people smiling and laughing. In America, not many people grasp the idea of living in the moment, letting the day take you where it wants to go. The people here understand that happiness is something important. They treat every day like it is a beautiful gift, ready to be opened and enjoyed. I have learned so, so much from being here.

Today is my last day. It's bittersweet knowing the next incredible chapter of the summer is about to begin, while at the same time, already missing this place.

I've climbed mountains and pyramids, braved the bus system, eaten the best food I have ever experienced, cheered on the Mexican futbol team in the World Cup, talked and talked and talked over anything and everything, made new friends, watched the sun set behind gorgeous mountains, relaxed on a beach in Acapulco, danced in the middle of the city, experienced a meat market, and learned more about myself than anything. This trip has been....perfect. It was hard, but so worth every moment.

And now.........................................SPAIN!!

Menu Por Favor?

The food here is absolutely fantastic! Everyone keeps
taking pictures of it all so I thought I would give you guys
a run-down of what I have been enjoying lately!




Salsa. Self explanatory.



TORTILLAS. These come with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
But there is a specific way to roll it. If you do not properly roll your
tortilla, it is a dead giveaway that you are a Gringo. (Not that
we aren't already dead giveaways by pretty much everything else we
do around here anyway haha)



Quesadillas. When you order a quesadilla in Mexico,
you must always remember to ask specifically for the queso.
Otherwise you just get ...well.... a dilla.



MEXICAN REFRIED BEANS


AMERICAN REFRIED BEANS

NOT THE SAME THING.

AUTHENTIC refried beans are the STAPLE of Mexican cooking.
Mexicans use refried beans like Paula Deen uses butter.
And trust me, you'll never go back to the can after the real deal.



Cevinche - Yummy soup with a quail egg that nobody touched



Chile con Carne y Arroz. Surprisingly NOT spicy.



Enchiladas con Mole. Mole (pronounced Moley) is
frankly the most interesting thing I have ever tasted.
There are several varieties.. green, red, and black are the most common.
It is basically a sauce that tastes a bit like curry. It's hard to describe,
but can either be really tasty or really nasty.



Enchiladas Habaneras: HOT.



This soup... I forget the name but it has cactus in it,
and cactus tastes like a mix between a pickle and a green bean!



Chocolate. That is all you need to know.



Sangria Preparada (Sweet spanish wine!)


For the Brave souls in our group who somehow managed to think
that a hamburger in Mexico would be any good...Not
sure what they were thinking at the time. They found out
quickly that it was not so good.
(Disclaimer: I promise, this is not my plate.)


Hasta Luego!