The whole ordeal has felt surreal. It has been a week and it has not hit me yet: I'm home for good. I did not even get emotional saying goodbye to my Spanish family and friends or leaving the beautiful city I have called home the last five months. 'Bittersweet' is the only word kind of justifies what leaving/coming home has felt like. On the one hand, it was painful to leave Salamanca and to say "hasta luego" to the friends I have come to know and love in Spain. On the other hand, it has been so incredible to reunite with my American family and friends, to partake in some of the 'little things' I have missed for five months (ICED.COFFEE.), and to speak my native language all the time. I keep reminding myself of that phrase, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."
I already miss so much about Spain. I miss eating tapas, I miss walking everywhere, I miss meeting friends for café con leche, I miss going out late, I miss being forced to speak Spanish, I miss learning and feeling independent, I miss all of the people I met, I miss hearing "¡Hijas, a comer!" every day... I miss it all. You know you're in for a rude awakening when the man at customs at Logan Airport stamps your passport brusquely while saying, "Welcome back to reality." However, I was fortunate enough to go. I am fortunate to be home now, too. I'll just have to go back to Salamanca someday. (Especially since they wouldn't exchange my remaining Euro coins at the bank...)
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
All Good Things Must Come to an End
...but more good things are always in the works.
Four-and-a-half months later and my stomach is in knots again as I wonder how all of my 'stuff' will possibly fit in just a couple of insufficiently-sized suitcases. My destination is a bit different this time, though. Time has flown by and I am so grateful to have been blessed with this opportunity. I cannot wait to see my family and friends, but it is hard to imagine leaving this all behind.
I will miss you, Spain. Thank you for being so good to me, for showing me so much about life, for letting me see another side of myself. I will see you again someday.
More thoughts on leaving Salamanca (and returning home) to come. Eventually.
Four-and-a-half months later and my stomach is in knots again as I wonder how all of my 'stuff' will possibly fit in just a couple of insufficiently-sized suitcases. My destination is a bit different this time, though. Time has flown by and I am so grateful to have been blessed with this opportunity. I cannot wait to see my family and friends, but it is hard to imagine leaving this all behind.
I will miss you, Spain. Thank you for being so good to me, for showing me so much about life, for letting me see another side of myself. I will see you again someday.
More thoughts on leaving Salamanca (and returning home) to come. Eventually.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Spring: Spanish Style
Spring in Salamanca is a beautiful, yet fleeting kind of thing. Blink and you might miss out on eating tortilla española in the park with friends and a backdrop of pure pink, red, and green.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Christmas Morning
(...or at least it feels that way. Receiving packages is the best!)
A few not-so-subtle hints from me and $40 in shipping later...thanks, Mom and Dad!
Peanut butter doesn't really exist in Spain. Thus, I will be diving into this jar by the spoonful.
GREAT LASH is the best mascara. I searched for this pink and green tube of goodness everywhere in Spain. I actually found it for sale in a shop about a week ago for €6.75 (around $10), nearly triple its price in the good 'ol U.S. of A.
Muchas gracias a mis padres.
("Thank you to my parents"...and anyone else who contributed to the making of this lovely, semi-unexpected surprise).
A few not-so-subtle hints from me and $40 in shipping later...thanks, Mom and Dad!
Peanut butter doesn't really exist in Spain. Thus, I will be diving into this jar by the spoonful.
GREAT LASH is the best mascara. I searched for this pink and green tube of goodness everywhere in Spain. I actually found it for sale in a shop about a week ago for €6.75 (around $10), nearly triple its price in the good 'ol U.S. of A.
Muchas gracias a mis padres.
("Thank you to my parents"...and anyone else who contributed to the making of this lovely, semi-unexpected surprise).
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Hasta pronto, Africa...
I can honestly say that I was in AFRICA this morning! I spent the weekend in Morocco; it was an experience I will never forget. I still have to document all of the details, but for now, here is a photo that pretty much sums up my entire trip:
Stay tuned.
Stay tuned.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Today
Today, I miss:
These are all artificial flowers (if you couldn't tell), but they still manage to brighten up my tiny room. I can't wait to snap pictures of the real things once they bloom!
- peanut butter
- my family
- my friends
- CVS
- my car
- sunshine - even if it is partly-cloudy, because intermittent sun is better than none at all
- this opportunity
- my health
- the people I have met here
- the people I love at home
- seeing my family in April
- celebrating my 21st birthday
- traveling to Ciudad Rodrigo for carnaval this weekend
- embarking on more adventures
- getting a hair cut
- experiencing spring in Salamanca
These are all artificial flowers (if you couldn't tell), but they still manage to brighten up my tiny room. I can't wait to snap pictures of the real things once they bloom!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
C'est la vie, carpe diem, etc.
I start a lot of things and never finish them. A million loose ends somehow end up untied. Unfortunately, this blog is no exception. I have about three posts started that I have yet to just.get.done. I promise I am trying to finish them, trying to change my ways. In the meantime, feel free to send me a letter! (I don't hate packages, either...) Maybe some words from the U.S. of A. would motivate me to be prompter with my blog postings? Here is my address:
Kayla McGowan
C/O AIFS
Plaza del Corrillo, 19, 2-2
37002 Salamanca, Spain
Also, send me an e-mail (kayla_mcgowan@my.uri.edu) or leave a comment with your address, and I will gladly send you a postcard from Spain!
¡Gracias!
Kayla McGowan
C/O AIFS
Plaza del Corrillo, 19, 2-2
37002 Salamanca, Spain
Also, send me an e-mail (kayla_mcgowan@my.uri.edu) or leave a comment with your address, and I will gladly send you a postcard from Spain!
¡Gracias!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Some (of the many) Cultural Differences
I have learned so much about Spanish culture in just seven weeks. Ironically, I have learned much about American culture as well. Here is a list of some cultural differences I have noticed so far:
Time
Spain is six hours ahead of the East Coast. This does not, however, mean that Spain's schedule coincides six hours ahead of America's. Everything starts much later here. This is not to say that people do not get up early (in fact, my host father leaves at 4:30 am every morning to go to work). However, the standard business hours of 9-5 that we are so accustomed to in the States do not exist in Spain. As I mentioned earlier, shops, restaurants, and businesses close for a couple of hours mid-day for comida (lunch) and siesta (rest). School is no exception; there are no classes conducted from 3:00-4:30. Since the large meal of the day is eaten around 2:00-3:00 pm, dinner is eaten much later. We eat dinner around 9:00-9:30 pm! And while this might be disconcerting to an American, (you might be wondering how someone could possibly eat dinner an hour before bed-time) this is the norm in Spain. People do not go to bed at 11:00 pm. Dinner is fully digested before bedtime.
On the weekends, the younger crowd usually goes out around midnight. (Mom, you can stop reading). The hardcore Spaniards don't go out until 1:00 or 2:00 am! The "good" clubs don't get crowded until around 4:00am. An early night means going home at 3:30. A late night night means getting home when it is light out, around 7:00 am. Although this schedule has been somewhat difficult to adjust to, for the sake of cultural immersion, I have learned to adapt. If this means sleeping in until it's time for comida on Saturday, so be it! (Remember, I'm only doing it for the cultural reasons). I am enjoying this lax schedule now, as I know I am in for the rudest of awakenings when I return home. In case you forget about the time difference, don't fret! We are probably on the same sleep schedule anyway.
A Spaniard's concept of time is unlike that of an American's as well. "Meet at 5:00" really means meet around 5:00, but more like 5:15-5:20. Professors and students alike are often late for class. "Tranquilo" (calm) is the Spanish mantra. I must have some Spanish blood in me, because I have been abiding by this concept of time my entire life!
Food
This could be an entire post in itself, but I'll try to give the brief version. As I mentioned before, breakfast is a light meal that consists of toast, fruit, and coffee. Comida (lunch) is the largest meal of the day and takes place around 2:00-3:00 pm. Dinner is lighter than lunch and is usually around 9:00-10:00 pm. My señora, Lourdes, is an excellent, health-conscious (or so she assures me) cook. She makes nearly everything from scratch! A typical comida might be paella (saffron rice, chicken, and vegetables), a pasta dish (similar to lasagna), or a piece of chicken, lamb, or ham with salad. We also usually have chicken soup or vegetable puree with comida. For dinner, Lourdes often makes these delicious salads with oranges, apples, kiwi, pasta, and lettuce. Another typical dish is tortilla española -- an egg omelette with potatoes.
Some common staples in the Spanish diet:
Another cultural difference lies in the concept of an on-the-go lunch. A Spaniard's idea of a bagged lunch is hardly that of an American's. Whenever we go on weekend trips, Lourdes packs us a "bolsa de bocadillos" (literally, a bag of sandwiches). This is not the brown-bagged PB&J lunch we are familiar with in the States. When we went to Madrid last weekend, Lourdes packed my roommate, Mallory, and me an obscene amount of food. Each bag included three sandwiches: one ham and cheese, one with grilled chicken, and one baguette filled with tortilla española (Spaniards don't do 'low-carb'). Lourdes also tossed in two oranges, two apples, and an entire sleeve of cookies. Luckily we only have bagged lunches occasionally or else I might need to book two seats for the flight home.
Oh, one other cultural difference: Clothes dryers! They are rare here. Because electricity is so expensive, most homes (including mine) do not have clothes dryers. Instead, they hang everything on clotheslines throughout the year. It has taken a bit of getting used to, but now I know that if it's rainy, it will take a couple extra days to get my laundry back. I have a new-found appreciation for soft clothes and soft towels! There is nothing like stepping out of the shower and drying off with a towel with the softness of an S.O.S. pad. Oh well, I'm not complaining!
A view of the clotheslines from my window.
Here's to celebrating cultural differences! I will come back to America running late, craving new foods, and raving about the marvel that is the Whirlpool clothes dryer.
Time
Spain is six hours ahead of the East Coast. This does not, however, mean that Spain's schedule coincides six hours ahead of America's. Everything starts much later here. This is not to say that people do not get up early (in fact, my host father leaves at 4:30 am every morning to go to work). However, the standard business hours of 9-5 that we are so accustomed to in the States do not exist in Spain. As I mentioned earlier, shops, restaurants, and businesses close for a couple of hours mid-day for comida (lunch) and siesta (rest). School is no exception; there are no classes conducted from 3:00-4:30. Since the large meal of the day is eaten around 2:00-3:00 pm, dinner is eaten much later. We eat dinner around 9:00-9:30 pm! And while this might be disconcerting to an American, (you might be wondering how someone could possibly eat dinner an hour before bed-time) this is the norm in Spain. People do not go to bed at 11:00 pm. Dinner is fully digested before bedtime.
On the weekends, the younger crowd usually goes out around midnight. (Mom, you can stop reading). The hardcore Spaniards don't go out until 1:00 or 2:00 am! The "good" clubs don't get crowded until around 4:00am. An early night means going home at 3:30. A late night night means getting home when it is light out, around 7:00 am. Although this schedule has been somewhat difficult to adjust to, for the sake of cultural immersion, I have learned to adapt. If this means sleeping in until it's time for comida on Saturday, so be it! (Remember, I'm only doing it for the cultural reasons). I am enjoying this lax schedule now, as I know I am in for the rudest of awakenings when I return home. In case you forget about the time difference, don't fret! We are probably on the same sleep schedule anyway.
A Spaniard's concept of time is unlike that of an American's as well. "Meet at 5:00" really means meet around 5:00, but more like 5:15-5:20. Professors and students alike are often late for class. "Tranquilo" (calm) is the Spanish mantra. I must have some Spanish blood in me, because I have been abiding by this concept of time my entire life!
Food
This could be an entire post in itself, but I'll try to give the brief version. As I mentioned before, breakfast is a light meal that consists of toast, fruit, and coffee. Comida (lunch) is the largest meal of the day and takes place around 2:00-3:00 pm. Dinner is lighter than lunch and is usually around 9:00-10:00 pm. My señora, Lourdes, is an excellent, health-conscious (or so she assures me) cook. She makes nearly everything from scratch! A typical comida might be paella (saffron rice, chicken, and vegetables), a pasta dish (similar to lasagna), or a piece of chicken, lamb, or ham with salad. We also usually have chicken soup or vegetable puree with comida. For dinner, Lourdes often makes these delicious salads with oranges, apples, kiwi, pasta, and lettuce. Another typical dish is tortilla española -- an egg omelette with potatoes.
Some common staples in the Spanish diet:
- Ham
I hardly eat ham in the US, but the ham here is delicious. Plus, it is prevalent in many dishes, so I really have no choice! The Spanish obsession with ham does not stop at mealtime. Spaniards snack on ham, too. You guessed it, there are even ham-flavored Pringles here.
Okay, curiosity got the better of my roommate and me. We shared this canister of foreign-flavored Pringles, and I hate to admit it, but they aren't really that gross. Once you pop, you just can't stop (even if they are pork-inspired).
Okay, curiosity got the better of my roommate and me. We shared this canister of foreign-flavored Pringles, and I hate to admit it, but they aren't really that gross. Once you pop, you just can't stop (even if they are pork-inspired).
- Olive oil
- Bread
Another cultural difference lies in the concept of an on-the-go lunch. A Spaniard's idea of a bagged lunch is hardly that of an American's. Whenever we go on weekend trips, Lourdes packs us a "bolsa de bocadillos" (literally, a bag of sandwiches). This is not the brown-bagged PB&J lunch we are familiar with in the States. When we went to Madrid last weekend, Lourdes packed my roommate, Mallory, and me an obscene amount of food. Each bag included three sandwiches: one ham and cheese, one with grilled chicken, and one baguette filled with tortilla española (Spaniards don't do 'low-carb'). Lourdes also tossed in two oranges, two apples, and an entire sleeve of cookies. Luckily we only have bagged lunches occasionally or else I might need to book two seats for the flight home.
Oh, one other cultural difference: Clothes dryers! They are rare here. Because electricity is so expensive, most homes (including mine) do not have clothes dryers. Instead, they hang everything on clotheslines throughout the year. It has taken a bit of getting used to, but now I know that if it's rainy, it will take a couple extra days to get my laundry back. I have a new-found appreciation for soft clothes and soft towels! There is nothing like stepping out of the shower and drying off with a towel with the softness of an S.O.S. pad. Oh well, I'm not complaining!
A view of the clotheslines from my window.
Here's to celebrating cultural differences! I will come back to America running late, craving new foods, and raving about the marvel that is the Whirlpool clothes dryer.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
More Recapping: Portugal!
January 25-28: Lisbon, Portugal
Because we had the next few days off before our actual classes began, most of the students in the group did some independent traveling. A group of about twelve of us decided to go to Lisbon, Portugal. I had essentially no existing knowledge about Portugal, but we had found an inexpensive flight and hostel online so it seemed like a good opportunity to explore.
It turned out to be an amazing trip! We stayed at Yes!Hostel, ranked #2 Hostel Worldwide in 2010 by Hostelworld.com (a happy coincidence). Luckily, the staff there gave us some suggestions as far as what to do and see in Lisbon. We toured the Castelo de São Jorge, an impressive fortress with incredible views of Lisbon. The weather wasn't so bad, either (sunny and low-60s!).
The following day, we took atrain to Sintra, a historical town about 45 minutes from the center of Lisbon. The group of us walked around and toured The Moorish Castle (I doubled my amount of visits to a castle in just one weekend). This castle, built some time in the 9th century, had breathtaking views as well.
Portugal proved to be both a worthwhile trip and a welcomed reprieve from Spanglish. Many of the people we encountered spoke English! Despite my best efforts, however, I only managed to improve my Portuguese language skills by one word: obrigada ("thank you").
Since this trip was a continuation of the last, I still lacked a charged camera battery. Thus, I take no credit for the following pictures (stolen from friends):
A warm welcome to Portugal
Trolley!
View of Lisbon
Tiled street in Lisbon
A cathedral in Lisbon
Inside the Castelo de São Jorge
(I couldn't get over how green the grass was -- in January!)
View of some of Lisbon's colorful buildings from inside the Castelo de São Jorge
Castelo de São Jorge
Amazing view from the Moorish Castle in Sintra
Moorish Castle
Thank you to Lauren, Maricella, and Sarah for sharing your photos!
I will never forget my battery charger again.
Because we had the next few days off before our actual classes began, most of the students in the group did some independent traveling. A group of about twelve of us decided to go to Lisbon, Portugal. I had essentially no existing knowledge about Portugal, but we had found an inexpensive flight and hostel online so it seemed like a good opportunity to explore.
It turned out to be an amazing trip! We stayed at Yes!Hostel, ranked #2 Hostel Worldwide in 2010 by Hostelworld.com (a happy coincidence). Luckily, the staff there gave us some suggestions as far as what to do and see in Lisbon. We toured the Castelo de São Jorge, an impressive fortress with incredible views of Lisbon. The weather wasn't so bad, either (sunny and low-60s!).
The following day, we took atrain to Sintra, a historical town about 45 minutes from the center of Lisbon. The group of us walked around and toured The Moorish Castle (I doubled my amount of visits to a castle in just one weekend). This castle, built some time in the 9th century, had breathtaking views as well.
Portugal proved to be both a worthwhile trip and a welcomed reprieve from Spanglish. Many of the people we encountered spoke English! Despite my best efforts, however, I only managed to improve my Portuguese language skills by one word: obrigada ("thank you").
Since this trip was a continuation of the last, I still lacked a charged camera battery. Thus, I take no credit for the following pictures (stolen from friends):
A warm welcome to Portugal
Trolley!
View of Lisbon
Tiled street in Lisbon
A cathedral in Lisbon
Inside the Castelo de São Jorge
(I couldn't get over how green the grass was -- in January!)
View of some of Lisbon's colorful buildings from inside the Castelo de São Jorge
Castelo de São Jorge
Amazing view from the Moorish Castle in Sintra
Moorish Castle
Thank you to Lauren, Maricella, and Sarah for sharing your photos!
I will never forget my battery charger again.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
More Adventures: Córdoba, Sevilla, and Granada
January 22-25:
Part of the reason I decided on this particular program (American Institute for Foreign Study) was because it included a few guided excursions around Spain. After orientation, the group of us traveled to Andalucía, the southern region of Spain.
Córdoba (Core-doe-bah)
First, we took a long bus ride to Córdoba where we saw the impressive La Mezquita. Here are a few images from inside the cathedral-mosque and the surrounding courtyards:
Orange trees in the courtyard! Don't be fooled by the balmy appearance. We happened to travel to Sevilla on the coldest day on record in over twenty years! I still can't complain, of course, as "cold" in Sevilla means low-40s.
My friend, Maricella, and me after walking down Calleja de las Flores
(Street of Flowers).
The city of Córdoba and the Guadalquivir River.
Sevilla (Say-vee-yuh)
Next, we traveled to Sevilla where we saw the Plaza de España, Reales Alcázares de Sevilla, and the Catedral de Sevilla:
Plaza de España
Part of the group!
The Moorish fort-turned-royal-palace
Inside the Real Alcázar
View of Sevilla from the bell tower
Forgive me, but I was a little bit ecstatic to find a Starbucks in Spain. After over two weeks of living in a foreign country and not having iced coffee, I mustered up enough Spanglish to order this delicious concoction. Best 2 € I have spent thus far!
Last Stop: Granada
On the final leg of our weekend excursion, the 28 of us ventured to Granada. We took a tour of the Alhambra, the famous Moorish fortress. I was also fortunate enough to see an authentic flamenco show! The show was performed at a cramped hole-in-the-wall type "studio" near the Alhambra. Michelle Obama attended a flamenco show at the same venue this past summer! Unfortunately, my camera battery died during the tour of the Alhambra so some of these images are borrowed from friends:
Where Washington Irving wrote Tales of the Alhambra, "a collection of essays and verbal sketches" (according to Wikipedia).
Views of Granada from the Alhambra
View of Sierra Nevada
Some tourist at the Alhambra
The Generalife Gardens
(Photo of a photo)
Michelle Obama at the flamenco show we attended in Granada!
I loved our weekend trip to Andalucía: History, beauty, culture, and Starbucks to boot!
Part of the reason I decided on this particular program (American Institute for Foreign Study) was because it included a few guided excursions around Spain. After orientation, the group of us traveled to Andalucía, the southern region of Spain.
Córdoba (Core-doe-bah)
First, we took a long bus ride to Córdoba where we saw the impressive La Mezquita. Here are a few images from inside the cathedral-mosque and the surrounding courtyards:
Orange trees in the courtyard! Don't be fooled by the balmy appearance. We happened to travel to Sevilla on the coldest day on record in over twenty years! I still can't complain, of course, as "cold" in Sevilla means low-40s.
My friend, Maricella, and me after walking down Calleja de las Flores
(Street of Flowers).
The city of Córdoba and the Guadalquivir River.
Sevilla (Say-vee-yuh)
Next, we traveled to Sevilla where we saw the Plaza de España, Reales Alcázares de Sevilla, and the Catedral de Sevilla:
Plaza de España
Part of the group!
The Moorish fort-turned-royal-palace
Inside the Real Alcázar
View of Sevilla from the bell tower
Forgive me, but I was a little bit ecstatic to find a Starbucks in Spain. After over two weeks of living in a foreign country and not having iced coffee, I mustered up enough Spanglish to order this delicious concoction. Best 2 € I have spent thus far!
Last Stop: Granada
On the final leg of our weekend excursion, the 28 of us ventured to Granada. We took a tour of the Alhambra, the famous Moorish fortress. I was also fortunate enough to see an authentic flamenco show! The show was performed at a cramped hole-in-the-wall type "studio" near the Alhambra. Michelle Obama attended a flamenco show at the same venue this past summer! Unfortunately, my camera battery died during the tour of the Alhambra so some of these images are borrowed from friends:
Where Washington Irving wrote Tales of the Alhambra, "a collection of essays and verbal sketches" (according to Wikipedia).
Views of Granada from the Alhambra
View of Sierra Nevada
Some tourist at the Alhambra
The Generalife Gardens
(Photo of a photo)
Michelle Obama at the flamenco show we attended in Granada!
I loved our weekend trip to Andalucía: History, beauty, culture, and Starbucks to boot!
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