Unfortunate Things that Happened to Me Abroad

1. A group of school kids in Sevilla decided to all stop in their tracks, point at me, and yell “Norte Americano” repeatedly. Thank you for pointing that out to me…

2. I was in a rush and trying to catch the green crossing signal so I jumped up on a grassy area to bypass the slow walkers in front of me. I failed to notice the 2 foot ditch that I proceeded to fall into. People came running from all directions to pull me out and yell various things in Spanish at me. Needless to say I missed the crossing signal and had to stand with all my saviors for an uncomfortable amount of time.

3. I got pick pocketed…twice.

4. Morocco. First, our hostel was basically located at the end of an alleyway of a market and across from the entrance was a big lot of dirt that people were digging through. One morning we were walking to the main road, heard a cute little chicken, and then saw a butcher holding it by its neck with a large knife in his other hand. Second, we made a list of things that were said to us during our short stay in Marrakech. Examples include: “I love you 3000…no 2000”, “I love you from afar”, “Hello flower” and a variety of other slightly creepy things. I was also physically trapped in a shop until I agreed on a price of a shirt that I wanted to buy…

5. I found out that riding a bike is not necessarily a skill that stays with you. My friends and I rented bikes in Mallorca and after 30 minutes of them trying to teach me, they put me on the back of a tandem bike.

6. My host mom was giving me besos after returning from a trip and I went to move onto the other cheek when she wasn’t ready yet. We kissed on the mouth instead.

7. I was fortunate enough to have had a dress to wear for Feria, the Flamenco festival in Sevilla. I had just gotten back from a trip and was sitting on the floor of my room and my host mom burst in and told me to take off my clothes. I literally stood in her office in my bra and underwear with the door wide open as she put on different dresses to figure out which one fit the best.

8. Guys in clubs enjoyed petting my head, running their fingers through my hair, and picking me up for no reason. All of these acts confused me greatly.

9. I ate a questionable apple that my host mom packed me and puked in the main trash can outside of UPO, the university I attended in Sevilla. I then sat in a bathroom stall for the next hour and puked 5 more times until I was confident I could take the metro back home without incident.

10. Even though I spent four months in Spain, my Spanish accent still sucks. And people were not afraid to let me know. A shop owner even said, “Ehhhhhhh… Más practica”. On the other hand, people loved to come up to me and start speaking Spanish and asking me for directions. And don’t forget, someone told me that I spoke English very well. Thank goodness for that at least!

Despite these incidents, the four months that I spent abroad were the best in my entire life. I would not trade any of the experiences or adventures for anything in the world. I made great friends and we will share unforgettable memories together. I can only hope to one day travel back to Europe and maintain the friendships that I have formed with the people that made my study abroad experience so positive and fun.

Prague, Czech Republic (05/08/2015 – 05/10/2015)

Early on Friday morning, we took a bus from Budapest to Prague. After another grueling 6 or 7 hour bus ride, we finally made it to our destination. I immediately fell in love with the city. Just the overall atmosphere, the architecture, and the feeling that the people gave us was very welcoming and exciting. It didn’t hurt that the world championship for hockey was taking place and there were hockey fans galore. Our hostel on the other hand was not the greatest. But I have not come to expect much from hostels in my travels. After dropping off our stuff, we immediately started exploring the city. The Old Town Square was basically the center of the city and had plenty of restaurants and it was central to most of the attractions in the area. We saw the St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Town Bridge Tower, the Astronomical Clock, and we walked along the various bridges.

That night we went to Karlovy Lazne, which is apparently the biggest club in central Europe. It was definitely worth the lengthy walk and the price of sleeping in the next morning. On Saturday we got pasta for lunch and continued exploring Prague. We went to the John Lennon wall, which was very cool and inspirational. We spent a fait amount of time taking pictures and appreciating the wall of graffiti. At this point, a few of the girls I was traveling with were feeling under the weather and we stopped at a cafe to get coffee and a bite to eat. We attempted to go see the Prague Castle but by the time we climbed the steps to the ticket office, we would only have about 30 minuted to explore the huge buildings and gardens. Unfortunately, we did not get to see nearly as much as the city had to offer but it was a great way to end my travels abroad. I hope to make it back to the Czech Republic in the near future.

Budapest, Hungary (05/07/2015 – 05/08/2015)

Early on Thursday we caught the 1:00 am bus to Madrid in order to get our flight. From Madrid we flew into Budapest. One of the first things I noticed was that there is a very distinctive look about people from Hungary. I cannot describe exactly what it is but you could definitely tell who was a native of the country. Having less than 24 hours in the city, we headed straight for the hostel to drop our bags. For lunch we found this tiny Chinese food place that was so cheap and amazing! From there, we took the metro into the city center to do some sightseeing and take some pictures. We took a cable car up to a castle like building that gave us a great view of the entire city.

Unfortunately, at this point in the semester, I am so sick of taking pictures and traveling. I regret not taking many pictures of Budapest because it was absolutely beautiful. We were going to go to the famous thermal baths but by the time we ate dinner and made it back to the hostel, it was already 10 pm and a lot of them were closed. Instead, three of us went to a ruins bar to enjoy our sole night in Budapest. I don’t know if night life is like this in the United States but I saw/experienced some weird stuff happening in this particular bar. One, some guy complimented me on how well I speak English (he was American too)… Not too long after, I once again was picked up and carried around. I will never understand why this has happened to me twice in the past month as if it is a normal occurrence. And last but not least, I was looking for one of my friends and while I was walking around in the room I looked over and saw people shooting up needles into their arms. At this point I was ready to go back to the hostel in order to catch our 6 am bus to Prague.

Seville, Spain (4/26/2015)

On Sunday I attended my first European fúbol game. It was Sevilla FC v. Rayo Vallecano, which is lesser known team from Madrid. Tickets were only 30 euros which is very cheap compared to games featuring big names such as Real Madrid C.F.or FC Barcelona. I went with three other girls from my program and we met up at TGIF (nothing like an American chain) to get some drinks before the game. The seating in the stadium was very confusing and we ended up in seats that were not even ours for the entire game. Seville ended up defeating the other team, 2-0. Compared to the MLS game that I had the opportunity to attend last year, I was kind of disappointed in the enthusiasm and chanting that took place. I think the New England Revolution fan section can give these dedicated Europeans a run for their money!!

Seville, Spain (04/22/2015 – 04/25/2015)

On Wednesday when I got back from my trip, I walked into my room and my bed was covered with three flamenco dresses. After dinner my host mom came into the room and had me try on the various dresses to see which one fit the best. I really liked a red one that she had but it was so long that I would have dragged it on the streets. Finally, she put a black polka dot dress on me and had me wear a pair of her wedges. Nani did up my hair with two fake flowers, gave me necklaces and earrings, and even lent me a jacket to wear. Walking in the outfit to meet up with my friends was quite the experience. I felt like I looked like a Spaniard but in reality, I probably looked like a tourist that was trying too hard to fit in. Regardless, I feel extremely lucky that I had the opportunity to wear a Feria dress.

At Feria, there were the casetas, which are tents that line the streets where people socialize and dance, and there was the carnival. It was a little strange to see the women and girls in their flamenco dresses going on rides and eating fair food. My friend and I split a jar of the official drink of Feria, called Rebujito. From what I could tell, it was a mixture of white wine and 7up. Over the next several days, we would go to the carnival part during the day and then go to the casetas at night. Unfortunately, bad luck struck me again and my wallet was pick pocketed in a public caseta. I don’t know how I have managed to survive the cities that are well known for pick pocketing (Barcelona, Paris, Rome), yet I have now been the victim twice in Sevilla. It really sucks but I am trying to remain positive and enjoy my last month in Spain, even if I only have 7 euro to my name until my new debit card arrives…

Palma de Mallorca, Spain (04/19/2-15 – 04/22/2015)

On Sunday, after pulling an all nighter and three of my friends getting pick pocketed at the club that we went to, we made it safe and sound to Palma. The island was absolutely beautiful and we were ready to start our relaxing beach vacation. The hostel (Sol de Mallorca) upgraded us to a three bedroom apartment with a balcony instead of the standard 5 person room that we booked! It was a much appreciated surprise, considering it was only 11 euro a night! As soon as we got into the apartment, the three of us passed out for a much needed nap. Later that day, two of our other friends joined us. We had Mexican food for lunch and then watched the sunset on the beach

On Monday we had a beach day. We attempted to get up early but I think we were all still so tired from Barcelona that we slept in. Later in the afternoon, we rented bicycles for the day. Unfortunately, I soon found out that not everyone remembers how to ride a bike. After about 20 minutes of me completely failing, the two guys in my group got a tandem bike and put me on the back. Although it was embarrassing, it was certainly a fun day and we were able to see a lot of the island. For dinner, we went to the supermarket and got the ingredients for pasta with tomato sauce. After months of not being able to cook my own food, it felt great to cook a meal.

On Tuesday we took the bus into the city center and then caught another bus to the Cuevas del Drach (Caves of Drach). We toured the caves and then did some hiking on our own. We found a “trail” right along the coast. The water looked absolutely breathtaking and even though there was some naked man lounging across from us, it was one of the most beautiful places I have experienced.

After catching the two different buses back to our hostel, we once again made dinner instead of going out. Usually food is the biggest expense when I am traveling but it worked out to be very cheap to buy our own groceries and prepare the food ourselves. On Wednesday, we cleaned and packed up our bags before heading to the airport in order to return to Sevilla. The Barcelona-Palma trip was a lot of fun and the people I traveled with made it even better. One more trip is in my itinerary before heading back to the states in late May.

Barcelona, Spain (04/16/2015 – 04/19/2015)

On Thursday, we arrived in Barcelona and checked into our hostel at around 10 pm. Two of our other friends were staying at the hostel and the five of us were somehow convinced to join the free pub crawl that the hostel was offering. It should have been apparent at that point that it was going to be a long few days in Barcelona with little to no sleep keeping us going.

After a solid two hours of sleep, we found a breakfast place to energize ourselves for the day. Barcelona is so different from the rest of Spain because there was so much diversity in the people, languages, and cultures that can be found. We joined a free two and a half hour walking tour in order to get us accustomed to the area and learn more about the background of Barcelona. For lunch, we went to the marketplace and wandered through the numerous aisles to find some food. I had the most delicious fresh coconut strawberry juice. If I lived in the area, all of my money might go towards supporting the juice sellers. Next, we went to the Sagrada Familia, which is definitely the most beautiful church that I have seen thus far.

Then we took the metro to Park Güell, which was also an amazing sight. We did not get the chance to explore everything that the park had to offer because we were all so hungry. We decided that a quick photoshoot would suffice. For dinner we found a Chinese food buffet and we all stuffed our faces out of happiness. After almost three months of no Chinese food, it seemed like the best meal to all of us. Once again we went on the pub crawl with the hostel because all the entrance fees were free if we went with them. The Barcelona nightlife was pure craziness but so much fun with the company I was with.

On Saturday, we had a late brunch and then headed to the beach. We were all so exhausted it was wonderful to just sit on the beach instead of running around the city. Later that night, we went to the Magic Fountain and watched the light show that takes place a few times each day. It was very crowded but we managed to wiggle our way into some spots to watch the music and light show. Unfortunately, when we went out that night with the pub crawl, we were all expecting a fun last night but it just was not meant to be. Some large man stepped on my foot and half of my toe nail fell off, some other man decided to pick me up and hoist me above the crowd, three of my friends were pick pocketed of their phones and/or wallets, and it was down pouring when we had to leave in order to catch our flight. Overall it was an amazing experience but it would have been perfect if not for the unfortunate events that took place on the last night.

Málaga, Spain (04/10/2015)

On Friday we had our last ISA excursion of the semester to a city about two and a half hours away from Sevilla. It was so sad to think that it was last time traveling with the majority of the people that I have met throughout the semester. As soon as we got off the bus we completed a walking tour and then we went to the Picasso Museum. Picasso was from Malaga and his family donated a large number of his works to this particular museum. Although his pieces of art are a little strange it was definitely my favorite museum that I have had the opportunity to visit thus far. After the museum we toured the Málaga Cathedral and then we were set free for the remainder of the day. A group of us headed towards the beach area and stopped at a Mexican restaurant on our way. Once we were done stuffing ourselves with burritos, nachos, and guacamole we finally found the beach! The water was really cold but the weather was beautiful and we were able to enjoy the hour we had before heading back to the bus. I wish we had had more time to spend in Málaga but it was a fun day and I was already able to fit in a beach day this year!

Seville, Spain (03/29/2015 – 04/05/2015)

Between my trips to France and Morocco, this particular week in Sevilla is a very big deal. Semana Santa (The Holy Week) is a week long celebration leading up to easter. Here is my understanding of the festival:

The churches throughout Sevilla have brotherhoods, which sound and look like secretive communities of religious people. All year they work towards having the best Paseo (float) in the processions that take place on a daily basis. The Ku Klux Klan actually stole the outfits that the nazarenos wear, making the whole celebration a little awkward for the Americans in attendance. The Paseo is carried by men throughout the streets and apparently they weigh more than a ton. Most are then followed by a band that accompanies the Paseo as it makes its grand appearances in important parts of the city.

Even though I am not a religious person, I could appreciate the beauty and importance behind this particular festival in Sevilla. My friend and I managed to see a handful of them and were even in the front row for a few of the Paseos that went by us. Unlike in the United States, Easter is not commercialized by bunnies and easter eggs. Rather, the people in Seville stick to the true meaning behind Easter.

After my trip to Morocco, almost everyone either left Sevilla or was still on other trips. So it was a rather uneventful weekend for me. Even my host mom left Friday for the beach until Monday. Most of my time was spent catching up on some of my television shows and Netflix. On Saturday, I walked around Sevilla for a few hours just to get out of the house. Most of the flowers and trees are in bloom and the parks were absolutely beautiful to walk through. I am definitely going to miss some of these places when I am gone. Also, its kind of depressing knowing that I am going to be missing Easter tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to Facetime my parents tomorrow and see my family!

Marrakech, Morocco (03/31/2015 – 04/02/2015)

After one day of rest from my Paris trip, I was back on a plane with two friends from my program to Morocco. We had booked this trip back in January and we were super excited that the time to go to Africa had finally arrived. It was also nerve wracking because we were basically told we shouldn’t go unless its with a tour company (which we weren’t doing) and numerous people expressed their concern. However, our time in Marrakech was amazing and even though we were a group of three girls, we felt safe and comfortable in our surroundings. Our hostel had the most confusing directions but one of the girls was absolutely amazing with following them and led us there on our first attempt. The hostel was beautiful and the owners were very nice and offered us advice for our safety during our stay. The whole place was covered in colorful tiles and there was no roof, instead it was an open patio that let natural sunlight into the rooms throughout the day. We were finally settled around 8 pm and went to meet a friend of one the girl’s friends (confusing, I know). Although I cannot remember her name, she was extremely nice and drove us around the city to show us areas that we could go to the next day. She even brought us to the marketplace and we tried freshly squeezed orange grapefruit juice.

Wednesday was our only full day in Marrakech. First we went to the El Bahia Palace. Even though it was only about 9 or 10:00 in the morning, it was already so hot. The three of us stuck with pants or long skirts and no tank tops in order to fit in and be more respectful of the culture. The palace was beautiful and it was the first time I had the chance to take out my camera and capture our time on Morocco. On the streets I don’t think I would have felt completely comfortable whipping out my camera because we were already stared at a lot and I didn’t want to flaunt money in their faces.

After, we went to the Marrakech Souk, which is a huge maze of vendors. Here, the shop owners were very aggressive and some of the things that were yelled at us definitely did not make us want to shop in there little stores. I ended up getting a really pretty top and had to bargain my way to get a good price. The shop owner basically trapped me in his shop and wouldn’t let me leave until we settled on a price. I also ended up getting a bracelet! I wish I had gotten more presents for family and friends but the atmosphere was just too busy and chaotic for me to think and plan.

For lunch, we went to one of the small restaurants near our hostel. There were no menus so we just ordered whatever they were cooking on the little grill on the sidewalk and mint tea. The dish is called Tagine and the one we ate consisted of lamb, potatoes, jalapeños, peas, and zucchini. It was so delicious and had lots of spices and herbs mixed into it. The mint tea was also very good and they gave us each a little tea pot full of almost three cups of tea. When you opened up the lid you could see the fresh mint leaves that were used to brew the tea. I can’t wait to try to make my own sometime in the near future!

After lunch we went back to the hostel to fill up our water bottles and take a quick rest from the sun and heat. The next thing on our itinerary was to visit the El Badi Palace. This palace was very different from the other one but it was also very interesting to see. There were no extravagant mosaics or marble but rather it was just simple the structure of the old palace that you could walk through. It was also incredible to see snow covered mountains in the distance. It was so warm out but then you would look up and see snowy tops of mountains and wish you were there lying in them instead of melting away in the sun. On our way back we stopped at the Souk again to make any last minute purchases and indulge in another cup of orange juice before leaving the next day. On the edge of the Souk is a large square where there are a bunch of street performers and artists trying to see their work. It was really depressing to see the poor monkeys chained to their owners as tourists paid them for a picture. After this we called it a night and went back to the hostel to sleep.

Although we felt like we accomplished what we wanted in Marrakech we wish we were there for another day or two to do excursions to the mountains and the Sahara Desert. The one thing that I really wanted to do was ride a camel through the desert so I guess I will just have to back in the future to accomplish this goal! Until next time Africa!