Monthly Archives: May 2011

First Thoughts

Wow. It has been less than 12 hours that I’ve been in Sevilla, but I already feel like I’ve known the students on my program so much longer. It’s amazing how close people bond together when they are in a new and unfamiliar place.

My flight was delayed in Dulles by 2 hours so I had to seriously book it in the Madrid Airport to transfer to my next flight. At the baggage claim, I swear I almost had a heart attack because I’d been waiting there for a good half hour and still hadn’t seen my suitcase! Turns out it was coming out on the wrong belt and by some stroke of luck, I happened to glance over just in time and saw it. Once I picked up my bag, I raced through the crowd, weaving in and out with my little baggage cart–it was intense. And to my surprise, I got through check-in and security quickly and even arrived early at my next gate. As I was walking over, I heard someone call my name and saw my friend Ali! She was with Steve, a guy from Penn State whom I hadn’t met till today, and as the 3 of us were talking, gradually we gained more and more CIEE people who overheard us. It turns out that there were about 15 of us flying on that same flight from Madrid to Sevilla, many of us Penn State students.

My first sight of Sevilla wasn’t actually as pleasing as I was expecting it to be. Apparently it was beautiful from the aerial view, but I was sleeping like a rock on the plane and saw nothing. My first view of the city was of the airport area, which obviously is in a more open, desolate area. It actually looked a lot like the airport area of Puerto Vallarta, so for the first few hours I kept feeling like I was in Mexico. But it didn’t take long for Spain to kick in. We are staying in the Hotel Del Sol Melia, which is right next to Plaza de España– an absolutely stunning edifice complete with a vast courtyard and fountain. After a short nap, a group of us went for a walk through the Plaza, Parque Maria Luisa, and then got Sangria!

I cannot wait to get to know the area better and I’m so excited just for this whole experience!!

IMG_3936.JPGPlaza de España with Jaclyn and Emily


Location: Sevilla, Spain

Ready for Take-Off!!

Hola!  My name is Kathryn Clark and I will be leaving tomorrow for a month-long study abroad trip to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico.  I am an upcoming Senior at Penn State majoring in Hotel Management.  A group of about ten of us in all (a mixture of Hospitality and Spanish majors) are making the voyage together.  We will be studying at the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras, San Juan.  Of course as I’ve heard many times, “how much studying will we actually be doing…???”   I am quite certain that the city, walking-distance historical sites, and beach will be quite the distraction.  After all, it IS summer, right?
unidepr.gif          All joking aside, (ah-hem), besides the schoolwork, we’ll be taking a variety of trips throughout our time there.  For example, we’ll be visiting a “Bio bay” filled with tiny microorganisms that actually light up as their defense mechanism.  I’ve been told it feels as though you’re swimming in a pool of glitter.  We’ll also be exploring both the newer sections of San Juan and the historical areas including old forts.  In addition, a trip to the El Yunque Rainforest is in the cards.  Due to my obsession with resorts, and I guess the fact that one of my classes is about them there…., I will be sure to visit many while in Puerto Rico.  If you’ve been to the island or have heard of something interesting there, please comment as to where we should visit.  I would love any input and will be taking plenty of pictures along the way!
       So at this point, I have finally got all, most, a good deal of my packing done.  As you can see a major item on my to-do list is having to tell the pup he’s not allowed to accompany me…shadowglasses.jpg



Location: York, Pennsylvania

To Mexico Tomorrow!

Oh my!

 

Tomorrow morning, I will be waking up bright and early at 3:30 AM to start my day and journey to Puebla! I cannot believe that it is finally here. I suppose it didn’t help that I put off packing until today, either. I can just hear John Denver singing in the background…

 

 

35691.jpgSo, I have successfully managed to fill my suitcase and carry-on to zip-able levels, but I leave behind in my wake a masterful disaster of clothes, books, and other belongings that sadly did not make the cut.

 

I would be lying if I wrote that I wasn’t nervous at the moment. The cool and calm thoughts of last week have currently flown the nest. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel enough times that it’s not the flights or airports or buses that’s doing it, but it’s rather just the big idea that I am going out there. More on my own than I’ve ever been. I mean, I am looking forward to so many things, but I can’t kick these jitters. To summarize– and quote Zac Efron– I suppose I am nervous but excited.

 

I’ve been reading a few books in Spanish (tending to stick with a few familiars, like Harry Potter y La Piedra Filosofal, for instance) and reviewing my vocab, so hopefully I’ll be able to speak it well enough to converse and get by. I can’t wait to get to Puebla, mi ciudad nueva!


Location: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Ciao!

Hi! My name is Danielle, and I will be a Junior in the fall, studying Sociology and Crime, Law and Justice with a minor in History. I will be studying in Todi, Italy this summer, and cannot be more excited. Todi seem like an idyllic, smaller Italian town, which I think will be perfect to be spending my summer in. I have never been to Italy, but have wanted to go for as long as I can remember, so I think this will definitely be a fantastic experience.

Through studying abroad, I really want to not only improve my Italian language skills, but also become more knowledgeable about other cultures as well. I have never really heard anything bad about Italy, so I am unbelievably excited to be leaving for this trip of a lifetime. We are starting out with a week in Rome, then heading to Todi, where we will all be living with host families. We will also be traveling to Florence and Venice, and hopefully many other places. I will be ending my trip with a week long stay in Andreis, a very small town about 45 minutes northwest of Venice, where my grandmother’s family still lives today.

I fly from Philadelphia to Rome tomorrow night – it’s crazy to think that in less than 24 hours, I will be on a plane to Europe! In between now and then though, there is still a lot of packing to finish up, as well as just getting any last minute things I may have forgotten.

I have never blogged before, so I hope you continue to check back for new entries about life in Todi!


Location: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA

Arrival!

I’m here! I flew out of JFK with about nine other people who will be in the program with me. We left on a Friday night and arrived on a Saturday afternoon (the time change is really confusing). We landed in Frankfurt, and we had to take trains to Pforzheim. They offered us a group deal, nine euros for three train changes. Naturally, we took it, and after six hours and getting lost twice, we arrived in Pforzheim. As we were trying to follow the map to the hostel, our tutor, Sarah found us. She took us to the hostel and out to eat at an Italian restaurant. The hostel seems nice. It’s probably cleaner than the dorms at PSU. My roommate arrived while we were out at dinner, and she seems really cool. I think flying at night was smart because after dinner, we were all so tired that we just passed out. I think we have successfully evaded jet lag.

    The next night, we ate dinner with our international buddies (German students studying international business) and the professors in charge of the program (Prof. Wentzel, Sabine Schnabel, and a grad student from Croatia) and Prof. Wentzel’s children. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. After dinner, the buddies took us out to the Irish Pub.
    We started classes the next day, and they were really interesting. We had European Economics and Integration and German class. The first one was really interesting to me. The second one was really difficult to understand. After class, we went a little past Pforzheim University into the Black Forest where we did a really intense ropes course. It was so much fun though! It even incorporated rock climbing and there was this really long, awesome zip line. Around the course, there was something similar to a small zoo. 
    Anyway, we have class for the rest of the week, but we are going to Munich this weekend! I can’t wait! Ciao! (yes, I know that’s Italian but a lot of people use it so say goodbye here)

Location: Pforzheim, Germany

Departure to Sevilla

Summer goes by so quickly… And with that, my plane slowly glides into the gate. I still don’t really think it has hit me yet that I’m actually going to Spain today. I am the airport about to board the plane, but mentally, I feel very much still at home. I suppose that may be because I am still at home though. Once I land in DC it will feel more real. I’m also starting to feel a little homesick; it was hard leaving my house today and saying goodbye to my Mom. But that’s strange to me because this is my 5th consecutive summer abroad (minus one year that I went to Pittsburgh for the summer). You’d think that I’m used to leaving home by now. Regardless, I am truly looking forward to my trip and I’m so excited to just see Sevilla in person. All I’ve seen so far are the beautiful cathedrals from Google images searches, and I can’t even imagine what the real place will be like!

This trip will be a big change for me. It’s been over 6 years since the last time I went to Europe, and I’ve never been to Spain. Usually, my international travel is focused in China and Japan, so I have a feeling that the atmosphere of this trip will be very different. For one, Seville has a semi-arid climate, which is quite a welcome change from the sticky, humid weather in Asia. Also, for the first time in a long time, I won’t be able to look like a native person no matter how hard I try. In Asia, it’s easy for me to blend into a crowd because I am ethnically Chinese and I also try to dress like the locals. When I was in Tokyo last summer, I doubled my traveling wardrobe and got a Japanese haircut. Likewise, I researched for hours online about Spanish clothing, but then I realized that it won’t even matter that much because there probably aren’t too many Asians living in Spain. Also, I can’t roll my r’s for the life of me.


Well, they just started boarding for my plane. I’m off to Destination España!! (I’m not going to the circle though, Sevilla is on the west side of Spain)

mapofspain.jpg


Location: State College, PA, USA

They Made Me an Offer I Couldn’t Refuse

Realizing that my time in London is starting to come to an end is really depressing. But I’ve started to take more advantage of living so close to Europe (apparently Brits don’t count themselves as European) by spending the last couple of days in Pamplona with my favorite Godsister Maria. With a flight out of London Luton at 6 in the morning, I decided not to sleep the night before so I could walk to Victoria Coach Station to get the 3 AM bus to the airport, where the display book of the week was… Stardust. I kid you not. Naturally I bought it and read it before landing in Madrid. If you want to read it I warn you that it is not anything like the movie.

Pamplona was a glorious 30+ Celsius when I met Maria, who caught me up with all the Navarra gossip, before seeing my wonderful Godfather Emilio, Maria Jesus, Maria’s Abuela and Suna! In the five minutes of arriving, I quickly changed into Maria’s clothes, because they are better than mine, and went to watch Maria and her radio friends do a broadcast.

That night Maria and I played dress up, and went out to a long, nice dinner with 30 people who work with her, and had a several hour meal. After each course I kept thinking how proud my Daddy would’ve been, especially as I ate jamon! As Maria tells me, I’m not a vegetarian in Spain. For some reason that girl can make me do anything.

"MariJok"After trying desperately to understand Spanish for the better part of three hours, and trying really hard not to fall asleep after being awake for 40, the group went out dancing, which fortunately I can do on autopilot. Around 4 in the morning some of Maria’s friends that I knew from spending last summer in Pamplona came out, and we had a massive jumping reunion, and decided that they should probably soon call my Dad to plant the idea of taking me back to San Fermin this year. But the night did not go entirely smoothly, as between 5:17 and 5:30 my US phone was taken. I immediately went looking for it, and called it with my London phone, where someone answered and told me they had no intention of letting me have it back. But we got back to Maria’s house at 6:30 in a thunderstorm when my US phone called Maria, and later Jokin, Ali, Hilary, Kristen and God only knows who else.

Can't live with this

Later that day, after sleeping for about 3 hours I returned to my running route around Pamplona, back to exploring the ruins of the fortress and already missing it knowing that I would have to leave soon. We meet one of Maria’s friends for a drink at an English pub, and then went out with some of her school friends for an awesome nachos dinner.

The next morning we woke up at 9 which seems ungodly early there, and set out for Huesca where we would get to visit Jokin! The drive was absolutely breathtaking, and I wanted to stop every five minutes to hike and explore. But as we were wearing heels and dresses and Maria isn’t the number one hiker this hardly seemed like the best idea. Jokin’s apartment is absolutely amazing and palatial, and it smelled like the incredible roast chicken that inexplicably had a can of beer stuffed inside of it. Maria made a squid paella (in it’s own ink!) and we had a great lunch before Jokin had to leave for his game. Maria and I went an hour later (after having an adventure hiking across a field) to our special players

section seats, practically on the field. The game was really good and ended a tie, even though a goal was disallowed that would have won it for Huesca. After the game Maria had to do a phone interview broadcast, and we had a magical WAG moment when we sped away from the field in Jokin’s car.

That night we watched the Osasuna game from the radio station and it was incredible to see. I have a completely new respect for sports broadcasters. Not that I could understand anything, they were talking so quickly my head was spinning. Since I had to leave early in the morning, and Maria had an exam the next day, we went back to her house and had a late dinner celebrating the last time I’d eat meat until I go back to Spain.

I was sad not to have been able to see my other wonderful Godfather Eduardo and Ana, and their grandson Javier, clearly I’ll have to go back soon and make amends.

Welp, I have to finish my last essay before leaving for Paris tomorrow with Caitlin, so I’m theoretically going to stop listening to my new favorite Spanish music and get back to work. I’ll leave you with some of the songs though, and you can have your own dance parties. Just imagine I’m there too please.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zp1TbLFPp8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS22HZ21uKM


Location: Pamplona, Spain, Navarra

“A mini break means true love.” -BJD

I’ve begun to realize that my time abroad is coming to an end although it’s been so long since I’ve had a class that just seems wrong. In other things that seem wrong, the days off the UK gives for just about anything, (although I’m not in any place to complain as my only work is studying).

Last weekend we had off Good Friday and Easter Monday. I understand Friday, but I’m convinced Easter Monday is just a made-up thing. This past weekend the nation was given off Friday for the Royal Wedding. That one is a stretch, but I understood after millions of people flocked into the city, basically shutting down massive areas of London. What I do not understand is getting off the following Monday to continue the celebrations. But it did mean that I got to spend another weekend as The Three Best Friends That Anyone Could Have. By which I mean myself, Matt and Mo. We went to Devon Friday afternoon to stay with Matt’s sister Bec, his brother Rob, and his favorite 4-legged family member Diesel.

After getting in, we quickly changed into dress-up clothes and went to some sort of charity/opening/royal party event, complete with harpists and several piece orchestras and heralds that gave us royal titles. I became Claire Princess of Pennsylvania; I’ll allow you all the opportunity to bow down to me later.  We had a wonderful time and closed several lounges before making a late return to Bec’s.

We spent the next morning lying on the beach and recovering, and Momo and I swam in the ocean, regardless of the freezing water without wet suits like everyone else. Several people commented on our ‘braveness’ which I take is BritCode for stupidity, and assured of after Momo had turned gray.

After the beach everyone was ready to have a barbecue, only to realize that there was no grill. While this would have ended all of my hopes of eating except possibly microwaved porridge, the Smiths were genius enough to put together a grill by playing the game ‘grill made out of things in the shed’. As Momo pointed out, the Smith family and anyone connected to them are capable of making anything, only to point out that we were clearly the exception.

The next afternoon we went to the village Clovelly, which was on at least a 45 degree angle to the water’s edge. I tried my first real Cornish pasty, and have since developed a taste for potato, cheese and onion filled pastry. Afterwards, two of the Bec’s friends from Wolverhampton came with their one-year-old son, who seemed incapable of being unhappy. We went out for Cream Tea (which is actually tea and scones with cream), although for the second time in a week Momo and I committed a faux pas and drank coffee instead of tea at tea time. I learned to differentiate ‘going for tea’ and ‘having tea’… No, wait, no I didn’t. Only that one means dinner and the other means proper tea.

The next morning while Momo and I were making ourselves breakfast we heard the unmistakable sounds of a certain soundtrack coming from the living room only to find that Rob was kind enough to put on Stardust (obligatory mention), as we had talked about it non-stop since the mini-orchestra had played the theme, and we’d insisted on reenacting the gatekeeper scene at every stone wall. We then went back to the beach to teach Harry to like sand and picnics before packing up and heading back to London. Our way back was lousy with traffic, and what had been a three-hour ride down was nearly doubled on the way back. The pluses were our impromptu dance party on the side of the motorway and a slow-moving view of Stonehenge, which I can now cross off my list!


Location: Devon, Cornwall, Clovelly, Stonehenge

Spring Fever

It all started with the London Marathon. Since it happened two weekends ago it’s been hard to make excuses to stay inside, and with finals looming it has not been easy to crack into stacks of books. Fortunately for me today is positively depressing, what with the sky being partly cloudy and the temperature in the low 60s, I don’t feel obliged to be out subjecting myself to this miserable weather. Just kidding. But really, all of this niceness is beyond ridiculous.

As it is, between no real obligations and the country going crazy over the royal wedding (which I watch preparations of from my window), I find myself enjoying these extra British holiday day relaxing, exploring and running, in the hope that next year I too will be running the London Marathon in some ridiculous costume that gets me into Guinness. In the meantime, I’ll just keep running past Westminster while the Royals have last rehearsals. Oh wait, that was yesterday morning’s run.

This past weekend I spent Easter with Momo, Matt and his family up in Wolverhampton where we had a wonderful time hiking in the beautiful English countryside, an awkward playing of British Cranium, and enjoying the 80 degree days. Along with trying to recreate every scene in Stardust. We even had, as Momo aptly put it, an Easter miracle when the goldfish in the Smith’s pond ‘rose from the dead’ after we assumed they’d been eaten by a heron.  John got us tickets to the Wolves/Fulham game, where I made initial contact with Stephen Kelly, and practically proposed to him in my quest to become a WAG. I imagine it’s only a matter of time until I hear back… Probably from his lawyer… with a restraining order. On Easter Sunday, Jen made Momo and me each the most adorable Easter bags, filled with giant chocolate chicks. The wholeweekend was so nice, and one of the first times that I have eaten successive home-cooked meals since leaving, well, home.

Finally, after originally deleting my Facebook account only to reactivate, I have once again deleted it until I finish my last paper. I realize I’ve used that one for a while, but I have been hit by serious Writers Block that I think will only ease up when the deadline looms. At least I have about six outlines for when that time comes.

Well, Happy Wedding to you all, I will be wearing a large hat, and probably a white dress to steal attention away from the bride. I am off to Devon with Momo and Matt for another installment of The Three Best Friends That Anyone Could Have.


Location: Wolverhampton

Seventy and Sunny… Again

Every novel I’ve ever read that mentions a trip to England refers to weak and/or watery British sunshine, the overcast sky and massive downpours. I am here today to tell you that there must be some serious reverse advertising campaign against London tourism because that absolutely cannot be true. Maybe it’s the whole global warming hoax or some cruel practical joke by the universe, because I am one of the few people who genuine loves overcast, cool and sun-free days. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been having a wonderful time in all of this warmth and whatnot, between long hikes with Momo, picnics everyday, and sunsets on Primrose Hill, but we’re now going on about 10 days in a row of blue skies and sunshine. I’m officially tan. And that doesn’t happen easily. Now part of this is to make everyone at home a tad bit jealous (is it working?), but it also segues into how I spend every day.

With no more class and a month-long spring break before exams I find myself with a lot of time. So to occupy it I wander around London and visit places I haven’t been before. But not before walking onto campus almost every day, so I will now take you on a virtual tour of my walk to school.


When I first get out of my dorm, I make a left and face the stunning Imperial War museum, before making a quick left and getting coffee from the wonderful people of Costa.  Coffee in hand I march along to Westminster Bridge where I outwardly scowl at tourist taking pictures of Parliament and the London Eye, while inwardly doing my best to look Vogue in the background of every single shot (Alexis, I hope you’d be proud of how much my hand is in my face).

I then admire Westminster Abbey briefly, make a right at the end of the bridge, walk on to Trafalgar Square and turn left at Nelson’s Column, once again getting in every picture of the National Gallery and Portrait Gallery. I stay on Cockspur (Mom) Lane, before getting to Piccadilly Circus, where I practice my frogger skills as I try to avoid death by buses, cars, vespas and most dangerously, bikers, as I cross the road. 

That’s until I get to Regent Street, which is a little bit of Heaven as every store now has nautical themed outfits on display. It’s seriously become blue/white/red stripe overload, and I’m thankful I usually get there before the shops open. I try to blend in with the other people who are clearly annoyed at the hordes of slow walkers,  by pretending it’s a home football game and walking in the street to avoid people.

I then get to my school just as I’m out of coffee, get a free refill from the magic room upstairs and frown at my newfound tan-ness. I’m starting to forget why I like rain so much, but we’re supposed to get a shower sometime in about a week, so hopefully I’ll remember then.

 

I have to apologize for the picture/word formatting. I’m sure I can control it, but it’s about to stop being bright outside, so I’ll try to fix it later.


Location: Parliament