Today began quite early for me. Even though our bus call time to return to Madrid (and eventually home) is 3 PM, I found myself waking up around 6 AM. The final hours of the morning were spent finishing my packing and cleaning up the apartment I have called home for the past two weeks. As the morning transitioned into afternoon, Maria picked up Dianne and I for a quick lunch. Francesco and Manu were able to join us before we walked over to the Torres de Quart to say our farewells, give the ISA staff our gift, and board the bus. Our time in Valencia has been truly wonderful, enriched by the company of students, ISA staff, and the welcoming community. As I reminisce on all that we have done over the past three weeks, I can't help but feel a surge of emotions knowing this beautiful chapter is drawing to a close. The drive from Valencia to Madrid spans about four hours. During this time, I scrolled through photos from the trip, listened to music, and gazed at the passing landscape. I was filled with bittersweet emotions—sad to leave yet excited to reunite with my loved ones. After arrival to our hotel, we had about an hour to freshen up before gathering together for our farewell dinner! We enjoyed a variety of tapas, drinks, and dessert while each student shared about the biggest differences between Spanish and American culture and their favorite experience from the past three weeks. It was a wonderful send off and we were grateful to have Maria join us for one last meal and cap off the night by sharing some words of wisdom. After our dinner, I returned to our hotel to get some much needed rest before our long travel day tomorrow. As I settle down to sleep, Maria’s words stick with me, and I hope with our students as well: “Everything you set out to do might be difficult, but nothing is impossible”. Adios, Spain.
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After breakfast, some friends and I decided to go to the beach. Taking the bus system to get there took longer than expected as the metrobus system goes between the beach and the stop once an hour. While we waited, friends and I got the chance to buy snacks and beverages at the nearby Mercadona. Artisan pastries and bread here are much more common. Having three quality pastries for lunch costing less three euros seems to be quite the steal from my own cultural lens as artisan croissants in the states generally cost a bit more.
The trip is nearing an end, and it is a bit bittersweet to go. I love my family and miss the things at home, but the people here now hold a special place in my heart. From my homestay family to the ISA guides, the people in Valencia have made my experience special. I miss them already, and I haven't even left yet. I leave this city sunburned, sentimental, and grateful.
It is always a bittersweet moment when school ends. Our last lecture on Thursday morning epitomized this feeling. It was bitter because it was marking the near conclusion of our trip. Yet, it was sweet because it meant no more schoolwork and the promise of a free day in Valencia the following day. The lecture on Thursday morning was my favorite of the curriculum. The guest lecturer, Professor Ignacio Ramos Gay, discussed 'La Movida,' a cultural movement that emerged following the death of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco and during Spain's transition to its current democracy. The lecture was incredibly engaging, providing eye-opening insights into the development of the Spanish culture we have been immersed in for the past two weeks. Before the lecture, we knew what Spanish culture was. However, afterward, I felt I understood the reasons behind what makes Spanish culture the way it is today. Following class and a two-hour lunch break, the group embarked on an expedition to explore some of the famous Valencia landmarks. Starting at the ‘Estación del Norte’ – The North Station and main railway station in Valencia, the group headed out to see the Valencian town hall, or as the locals call it the ‘Ajuntament de València’. While unfortunately the inside was closed for tours, the exterior of the building was still great to see. An amazing building with an impressive balcony and statues lining the exterior surfaces and roof. The next stop was ‘EL Miguelete’, a gothic-style bell tower in the heart of the city. Climbing to the top of the tower took quite a bit of doing. With 207 steps to climb up a spiral staircase, not only was the group a little tired after the climb but also a little dizzy! The view from the top however was well worth it. From the top, the whole city was in view. The group also received a nice little scare at 3:00. Focused on the views before us and not watching the clock, the bell gave everyone a startle when it started ringing. After our descent down the bell tower (much better than climbing up) the group made its way to the ‘Iglesia de San Nicolás’ or the church of San Nicolás. The church was very impressive, built in the Gothic style, and in the 13th century, it is a testament to the rich history of Valencia. The church is dedicated to two catholic saints, Saint Nicholas, and Saint Peter Martyr. The main altar and ceiling are spilt down the middle, celebrating each saint on either side. The ceiling was most impressive to me, painted the whole way down illustrating different stories of the two saints. Following the church the group headed to its final destination, the Torres de Serranos. The tower is incredibly impressive. Also built in the 13th century, the feeling of being in such a historic and impressive structure is intoxicating. Not to mention feeling some vertigo at the top of the tower when looking out over and ledge. After finishing exploring the tower, and walking around the city, the group needed some relaxation time. The group finished the day by enjoying some native Valencian refreshments at a Café right next to the towers.
Today was paella day. It’s a traditional dish in Spain from Valencia made of rice, lima beans, and the meat of chickens, rabbits, snails, or snakes. The ingredients are all cooked together in the frying pans it gets its name from over an open fire. We were going to try some in a restaurant where all the ingredients come from the farm surrounding it, but first class and a short bus ride into the countryside. Elijah practiced “Sabor a mí” on his ukulele before we all got on the bus and watched the traffic thin and the buildings shrink and give way to vegetable fields and orange orchards. We arrived at La Barraca de Toni Montoliu and sat at long tables in an outdoor area next to the restaurant in the shade of trees. Opposite the restaurant was a farming museum we would see later. The kitchen was a brick and stucco building with a red round-ridge-tile roof that was opened on the long side facing the tables by a series of arches. Inside, huge shallow frying pans at least a meter wide held rice, meat, and olive oil over flames. A rooster crowed. Toni Montoliu attended the paelleras while we helped by taking the stems off of long and flat green bean pods and piling them together. They gave us water, peanuts, and very salty-tasting yellow beans while we worked. Our progress was monitored by three white and brown-patched cats that spent most of their time sleeping in the sun and the rest sleeping in the shade. Half the group was called to come somewhere else after we were done with the green beans. I wasn’t sure what we were doing, but it seemed like I should go, so I followed. The eight of us walked a little up the road and were surprised and excited to find a horse and cart waiting for us. We climbed into the cart and set off down a dirt road passing an occasional anachronistic car. I remember Halen and a few others saying how happy they were that they chose to come when they didn't know we'd be doing this. We stopped at the orchard where they let us pick a couple oranges from the trees. I’d had oranges in the U.S. called Valencian and I’d had oranges here in Valencia too, but these were fresher and something to look forward to. Enrique came back with one that was so big it looked more like a pomelo or a bowling ball. After visiting an old barraca, we said goodbye to Christian and were back at the long tables where we had time to try our oranges; sweet, juicy, a bit of a mess, but very much worth it. Some time later, the food was ready and we were lead into the restaurant. On the way to our seats we passed a group photo of previous study abroad students labeled “Americans 2019”. Tapas were first. Slices of bread with hummus and cayenne pepper, patatas bravas that were cooked on the outside but were soft and hot on the inside, and a cabbage salad with salt on top. Next, the paella; fried rice tinted yellow by saffron with the green beans we helped with earlier next to chicken meat and snails in their shells. I was served a plate with roasted vegetables including zucchini, onion, red bell pepper, mushrooms, eggplant, and apple. They also gave me some of the rice without the meat in it. They were both very good, though I felt bad because I couldn't finish either.
I didn't have room for dessert either, but I had it anyway. They served slices of orange with walnuts and honey on top and some cake. The orange and honey in particular was unique and sweet flavor. We all rode the bus back into the city again, Ariana and I shared pictures of the experience we just had and Elijah played the ukulele. Most went back to their homestays to succumb to the food comas that had been setting in since dessert; I joined Emily E to see the modern art museum. We saw a few different exhibits, the first included a lot of very different works. Some excluding parts or askew to make the observer consider what was missing, others intentionally absurd and as unconventional as the artist could make them. There was a tower of speakers all playing different broadcasts, a group of stone sculptures in many styles, and a painting of a watchtower done on bubble wrap. A different exhibit focused only on the works of a single artist, Eusebio Sempere, while he lived in Paris. The images were mostly of regular polygons, circles, and parallel lines in primary colors but put together in ways that were still interesting or resembled things like blueberries. Another was audio-based. There was a book that treated music theory mathematically with charts that looked like electrical diagrams. A record labeled as contemporary Spanish music sounded like a classical orchestra where each player was on a different page or the conductor had mixed feelings. I woke up to my alarm for another morning in Valencia! I quickly got ready for the day and left my homestay for a short, 5-minute walk to the University. Today we had our class at 10:00am with guest lecturer, Agustin Reyes-Torres, a Ph.D. Professor in the Department of Languages and Literature Education at Universitat de Valencia. The lecture was titled “Higher Education and Culture in Spain.” We had interesting class discussions about the structure of the education system in Spain and the goals they are currently working towards. We also went in depth into topics such as what makes a good educator, honor codes in universities, and how to best translate information into knowledge. After having lunch at my homestay, we went back out to meet the group at the university to walk over to the The Museum of Enlightenment and Modernity. This museum was very different from any others we visited. No photos or videos were allowed and it was more of an immersive experience with audios, exhibits, and screens to view. There were also different characters that guided us through the museum. We were all weirded out in the beginning when a man in a cloak opened the door to greet us. The first half was interesting, learning about the enlightenment period and significant historical figures, but I didn’t really enjoy the second half due to some of the videos they played. Overall, reviews from the group were mixed. Some enjoyed it and others did not.
This morning I woke up and opened up my blinds to a sunny morning in Valencia. I got out of bed and started to get ready for the day. My roommate, Emily and I ate breakfast together which consisted of bread and a bit of butter which was delicious. Then it was time to head out and go to class, but first was the walk. We met up with the group, otherwise known as “Calle San Vincente” in our WhatsApp, which consists of Emily C., Elijah, Enrique, Halen, and I. As I arrived to class, I immediately went up to Lilli to update her about watching Bridgerton and we had a moment to chat a bit before the guest lecturer arrived. Then it was time to get started with class, which was presented to us by Eduardo España who is a Professor at the University of Valencia in the Language and Literature Department. In class, we learned about the different types of communication used in the 21st century and how it has changed immensely whether it be in Spain or the United States. Something that we chatted about for a bit were podcasts and how popular they have become recently, and Eduardo shared that a significant amount of students here have one in which they are able to share their thoughts, opinions, etc. about any topic that they may choose. I personally listen to podcasts quite frequently and it was interesting to hear about why they have become so popular and why certain topics are talked about in podcasts but not in our daily lives. After class Emily and I went back to our homestay to eat lunch, and then I went to a coffee shop to start my journal. It was then time to go back to Colegio Nuestra Señora de Loreto (volunteer school we went to last week). Instead, this time we would be spending time with children in the age range of 9 to 12 years old. During my time at the school, I was able to meet a group of children and get to know about them and what they have learned about space within the classroom. They were so excited to share about their alien and planet that they created and it was truly such a sweet moment to share with them. Here’s a picture of the kids explaining their booklets to me and the amazing astronauts of the day! Once we finished up at the school, some of us went to get last minute gifts for family and friends. After, Mallory, Emily and I got a sweet treat from an ice cream shop and then we made our way back home. I am one of the biggest fans of corgi’s and let’s just say I was freaking out when I saw one on our walk home, I just had to take a picture. Look at how cute!
I started my day relatively early in the day at around 12am on a Monday night. Abran, Faith and Emily C met up with Mallory and Kasee at a club not too far from out hotel. We stayed for a little bit and danced for awhile. In the group everyone stayed relatively close together to prevent anyone from getting lost in the new city. Although it was not a large city, you never know what can happen. It was nice to be around people our age because the last time I went to a club in Spain, it was full of parents and middle aged individuals. This club felt homey despite its small size but large character.Next, we moved onto another club with better music an slightly more direct individuals. This time only me, Mallory, Abran and Faith went in while the others retired for the night. They played some spanish music but most popular English artists such as Rihanna and some occasional Drake. Around 3:30 am, we decided to leave in hopes of waking up early enough to attend the rest of the group at the Zoco. Unfortunately, I woke up at 10am, the exact time were supposed to embark for the Zoco. According to Aidan I set an alarm for 7:30 am in hopes I would wake but slept right through them. I got up fully at around 10:30am and ate with Faith, Anna H, Mallory and Emily C and packed for departure. During breakfast, I had salchichas with eggs, avocado toast, and fresh fruit. At 12 pm we loaded onto the bus and bided Granada a farewell.On the bus ride back I watched Elijah and Abran play chess in an attempt to learn but I couldn't fight my sleep after watching for ten minutes. Upon waking up, we arrived at our first stop and I stubbled off the bus half sleep and bathed in the sun.Apart from drifting in and out of sleep, the trip was filled with good views of the mountains and fields of olive trees. I usually don't enjoy bus trips but it was nice to have the quiet time to unplug and appreciate nature once again. I was only able to include one nature picture due to the four picture limit but the other pictures I took really depicted how Spain is similar to a tropical island and desert coming into one landscape. I hope to visit Granada again in the future with family and more friends to create more memories. We arrive back in Valencia at around 6:30pm and our host dad Jochen picked us up and took us home. The rest of the day, we relaxed, at dinner with out family and discussed out weekends together.I have been looking forward to my blog day this whole trip because I get to talk about our only full day in Granada! I woke up this morning feeling well-rested and headed downstairs for breakfast, where I tried some of the many flavors of croissants. We then went back upstairs to grab our stuff, when I had the realization of leaving my airpods on the bus the previous day. I grabbed all my stuff while hoping we were taking the same bus Ieft them on. We all met up, boarded the bus, and then were off to Alhambra! While on the bus we chatted about the upcoming day, found my missing airpods, and relaxed before our tour. When we arrived, we all got our papers we needed to get in and started walking towards the entrance. My bad luck of misplacing things continued because somewhere between going to the bathroom and walking outside the bathroom, my paper to enter was lost. But Maria being the incredible Maria made sure I could get in and have the amazing experience of Alhambra. This is a picture of me and Emily walking behind a rightfully disappointed Maria. (Sorry again Maria<3) We then entered Alhambra and I must say we were all amazed by the view. We got to learn about the history of the palace as well as the complexities of the architecture. We took pictures, heard Jhalil sing, and admired the beautiful scenery. My favorite fact from the tour was that Granada means pomegranate! After the tour, we had the rest of the day free, so the group split up for lunch. Most people went to get local food for lunch, while me and Mallory headed to Mcdonald’s. While preparing for Spain we were continuously told to try local food and only eat fast food on the rare occasion, if at all. However, after a long day of walking, me and Mallory could not resist trying Spanish Mcdonalds. There were many differences on the menu and we both splurged and got a bit more food than we could eat. I will say that McPops and Kit Kat Mcflurry are must tries. After ‘dons’( Mallory’s pronunciation of McDonald's) we decided we needed to buy swimsuits and enjoy the pool at our hotel. Along with being the nicest hotel I have ever stayed at, there is a rooftop pool with one of the best views I have seen yet! We enjoyed the pool and the sun for a couple of hours until they started preparing for a wedding so we were asked to leave. We headed to shower and get ready for the night. After taking showers, me and my roommate Kasee sat down to relax, and I guess we were tired because we woke up three hours later to Mallory knocking on our door. The three of us decided to go to a tapas restaurant where we ordered tapas with potatoes, cheese, and tomatoes. It was easily my favorite food so far on the trip. After eating we headed to hang out with some of the group and enjoyed our last night in Granada!
This was one of the earliest starts to a day that we have had since beginning our trip. It started around 6:30 by waking up to my 4 different alarms, my homestay family knocking on my door and my mom calling me at 1am her time (thanks mom) as I did not want to miss the bus to Granada. I was handed my breakfast and lunch from my host family and headed downstairs to head to the Quartz Towers so we could head to Granada. There was not much that happened on this 7 hour trip to Granada. We stopped at a couple rest stops to get food and give the bus driver a break. I was finally able to try Croquetas de Jamon which were highly recommended by the kids from the school we visited a few days ago. The croquetas were very good and everyone should give them a try. After the bus ride, we finally made it to the hotel and checked in. Here are some of us waiting in the lobby.After checking into the hotel, Enrique and I decided to go on a walk around the city near our hotel and explore a little bit of Granada. We got to see different restaurants, stores, and the river that runs through the city. This was a good time to talk and also experience a little bit of the city. We got back in time for a time to chill before we needed to meet up with the rest of the group. We did go up to the roof of the hotel to check out the pool deck and to get some amazing views of the city. It was really cool to see the mountains in the background and to see snow on the tops of them as I do not think that I have seen this in the past.Now it is time to walk through the city and take a stroll through Albaicin, the old Arabic Quarter. This was a very hilly and rocky walk as we went through small streets with cars passing through. We got to go to the top of a viewpoint in order to get some amazing pictures of the city, mountains and La Alhambra. We also took this time to buy some ice cream and drinks and enjoy some of the street musicians. This was such a cool walk to get some breathtaking pictures of the city.The final part of the day was the flamenco show. This took place in Los Tarantos in a cave-like area. We enjoyed drinks and got to watch some fun, rhythmic singing and dancing. This was one of my favorite parts of the trip as it felt so different from a lot that we have done. I loved hearing the sounds of their singing, instruments and shoes on the floor. After the show finished, we went out to eat at a place and had some really good pizza and conversations. This was definitely a fun first day in Granada!This sunny day in Valencia started out with me waking up at 8:30 to my alarm. After getting ready, my roommate, Faith, and I both ate a bowl of yogurt with granola and honey. Then, we headed downstairs to meet with Halen, Elijah, and Enrique to walk to class together. In class, we had our first guest lecturer. Our guest was David García, a philosophy professor and the Director of Study Abroad in the Universidad Católica de Valencia. His lecture was about the “Literacy Rituals and Poetics of Crime: Mechanism and Spanish Popular Literature.” It was interesting to hear about how people wrote songs or poems describing the crimes of others. I was able to learn many different types of literature and ways that people create literature that I know I would not have learned at Purdue. After the lecture, we all headed towards the Serrano Towers to eat lunch. After eating, we were able to do the activity I had been waiting all day for: the scavenger hunt. We were split up into three groups of five, and my group consisted of Emily E., Enrique, and me. Each group was given a paper with a list of ten places we had visited before and take pictures with each location. We were also given a paper map and were not allowed to use phones to find our way around. We had to interact with the locals and tourists to take pictures and ask for information. We had an hour and a half to find as many locations as we could. I felt confident in my group. We were ready to win the competition and get the prize! Once the competition started, we walked all around Valencia looking for our different places. We were able to talk with many different people asking for directions. Unfortunately, not only did my group lose, but we also got last place :( In this scavenger hunt, I discovered that using a paper map is much more difficult than it seems, and I definitely do not know my way around Valencia. The group of Faith, Anna H., and Ariana won the scavenger hunt, getting all ten places and making it back on time. After the scavenger hunt, we were able to watch Elijah pull out his amazing break-dancing moves and defy gravity. It was very entertaining, and I had lots of fun watching Elijah perform for us. Then, we walked around the center of Valencia and shopped at some stands with homemade ceramic bowls, plates, cups, etc. Each dish was made beautifully, and each was unique.
After roaming around Valencia for a while, we headed back to our homestays to relax. I was able to shower and pack for our trip to Granada. Our homestay mom, Emi, and her daughter, Ana, came back, and we all enjoyed a pizza together. After dinner, Faith and I met up with Mallory, Anna W., Kasee, Michael, and Abran to walk around the Turia Riverbed. We headed back to our homestay late at night and got ready to wake up early the next day for our trip to Granada. |