The Highlights:
What: Traveling to Sevilla and Granada, Spain
Who: Me, Lauren and my new ISA friends
-Airplanes and jet lag and Spanish speakers and converting currency
The Longer Version:
I've made it (obviously) to Spain and more specifically Granada to meet my group, even though there were a couple of points which I didn't think I would make it through.
Let's back to up the last post. I was sitting in sketch-ball Shuttlesworth airport in Birmingham. Flew to Miami, had a couple hour layover where everybody in my terminal spoke Spanish. I thought this was bad until I got to Madrid and the ONLY thing that people spoke was Spanish! The 8 hour flight was pretty nice considering I had a whole row to myself, made friends with the flight attendants and got extra brownies and drink services. I was also warned repeatedly about the boys in Morocco and they all fretted over my safety because I have the "typical" American girl look. I don't know what that means, but Roll Tide.
I had an hour or so in Madrid, paid 6 Euros for 30 minutes of Internet access which is close to $8! After riding a very bumpy hour in close quarters on an Iberian flight, I made it to Sevilla! Now, I hadn't exchanged money in Madrid because I assumed that I could exchange all of my American cash, and this was a bad idea. So I get to Sevilla, pick up my luggage and proceed to walk around the airport lugging my huge duffle bag and carry-on with around 30 lbs of Doc Justice equipment, ugh.
I found an ATM after directions in broken English and proceeded to guess which buttons to press. Now, I'm not sure if any of you heard about Taiwan-ATM catastrophe, but let's just say, my track record with foreign ATMs is not so hot. I figured out that a warning sign popped up and grabbed a nearby policeman to help me out. I assumed he spoke some English and once again, I was very wrong. I instead got a very large man frustrated while he spoke to me in LOUDER Spanish what I already didn't understand in regular Spanish. He walked away and I almost cried. I was stuck in the airport with no cash to catch the bus or call Lauren to explain the situation. Luckily, I wondered upon another ATM with a clearly labeled, "English" button. Crisis averted.
So, cash in hand, I caught the bus and rode it to the University at met Lauren.
Lauren is a friend from my church in Birmingham and is serving as a journeyman with the International Mission Board in Sevilla, Spain. I had the opportunity to stay with her for the night and go grocery shopping with her and her room-mate (also named Lauren, also a journeyman!) They had a group of students over last night for a party and bible study. I had interesting conversations with students who had very little English experience. Getting to sit in on their (completely in) Spanish bible study was super cool though.
So after a very very long night, Lauren and I went to bed around 2am Spain time. At this point, I had been up for about 24 hours straight and was hurting. I'm still really sore from the car accident and have taken to coughing pretty harshly. We had the intention on waking up early, walking the city some then catching a ride to the train station, but let's be honest, that didn't happen.
We woke up late, called a cab, and headed toward the train station. I purchased a ticket and exchanged my cash (finally!) then bought the best cafe con leche in my life. Spain can do coffee, man, and I love it!
Now onto the subject of my new favorite form of transportation: TRAINS! Ah, so wonderful.
The train ride from Sevilla to Granada was ridiculous. I had downloaded an album by Andrew Belle for the ride down and it was absolutely perfect for the trip! In addition to being really smooth and modern and clean, the view from the train was the highlight. Mountains and groves of orange trees and rivers and gorges.... ahh it was awesome!
In Granada I caught a taxi to the hotel, and moved into my room for the next 4 days. Since then it's been a whirlwind of meeting people and going on a short excursion of the city and eating the most delicious fried dough balls covered in chocolate. Seriously, Spain is treating me well so far.
Tomorrow we are going on a walking tour of a historic part of the city and have the afternoon on our own to explore!
Sending much love your way from Granada!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Airports, etc
I'm sitting in the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport as a light hangs down from the ceiling in concourse B and flickers in horror-movie type fashion. This is where things get real.
I feel like there is no way that I can head off without first expressing gratitude for the sea of support that has sent me off. I have been floored by the outpouring of love that my sweet friends have shown me. Whether it's been through phone calls/ skype dates while I pack, letters, or prayer, each of you has had a huge impact on me as I prepare for this trip. You have truly been the hands and feet of Christ and I can scarcely believe that I would go into this with half as much confidence if it wasn't for your support.
I can only pray that God will provide me with a community of people to pour into in Morocco to pass along how you have all touched me. Know that the burden that I feel to share with those in my school group, housing and people I meet along the way has been lightened by the joy it is to have such love filling me up from home and the love and grace from Christ that sustains us all.
Birmingham, Miami, Madrid, Sevilla. Let's go.
LOVE.
I feel like there is no way that I can head off without first expressing gratitude for the sea of support that has sent me off. I have been floored by the outpouring of love that my sweet friends have shown me. Whether it's been through phone calls/ skype dates while I pack, letters, or prayer, each of you has had a huge impact on me as I prepare for this trip. You have truly been the hands and feet of Christ and I can scarcely believe that I would go into this with half as much confidence if it wasn't for your support.
I can only pray that God will provide me with a community of people to pour into in Morocco to pass along how you have all touched me. Know that the burden that I feel to share with those in my school group, housing and people I meet along the way has been lightened by the joy it is to have such love filling me up from home and the love and grace from Christ that sustains us all.
Birmingham, Miami, Madrid, Sevilla. Let's go.
LOVE.
Monday, January 24, 2011
INN WHY SEA.
I recently had the opportunity to fake that I was an elite jet-setter and fly up to NYC for the weekend. Why? You ask. Well why not? Two of my sweet friends, Morgan and Rebekah joined me to split a hotel room and traipse around the Big Apple for 3 days. Actually, that's a good enough excuse as it stands alone, but one of my close friends attends West Point (the United States Military Academy) located about 60 miles North of NYC. Greg invited me to attend a class formal as his date back in September and I've been anticipating it ever since! Greg and I have known each other since High School and he is one of my nearest and dearest friends. Every year, to celebrate their 500th night till graduation, the junior class (called "cows) celebrates 500th Night which is a formal banquet and festivities to follow. So I was pretty much freaking out because this is a pretty huge deal for their class!
Morgan, Rebekah and I flew up to NYC on Friday, checked into our hotel which was conveniently located two blocks from Times Square smack dab in the middle of the Theatre District and proceeded to dominate the city- or something like that. We had lunch and shopped on 5th Avenue and waited for G to catch up with us. We spent Friday night exploring knock-offs in Chinatown, eating pasta in Little Italy, and playing with toys in the Times Square Toys R' Us. We also had ridiculously excellent cannoli:
Saturday morning we woke up, grabbed breakfast at a cafe around the corner and set out for Lower Manhatten. We explored NYU for a bit (after getting a little mixed up on the subway) and headed back to the hotel around lunch time. Greg and I packed up for the evening (I fit everything I needed- makeup, brush, FORMAL DRESS, and accessories in a messenger bag and was very impressed with myself!) and headed by taxi to Grand Central. We missed our train and spent an hour killing time at the UN (which made me SO happy because I had been wanting to see it!!) eating authentic NY pizza and exploring outside the embassies.
After a BEAUTIFUL 70 minute train ride we arrived in Garrison, NY which is a small town about 20 minutes from West Point. We spent the afternoon visiting with his friends, touring the campus with his cycling coach- Colonial Bastianelli- and me taking a ridiculous amount of pictures of the architecture and views of the river:
After being blown away (literally) by the gusty bitter winds, we retreated inside to his barracks where I got to meet his two roommates and hangout with another girl who is friends with them. I was completely intrigued by their life in a military school. I have a tremendous amount of respect for my friends who make the commitment to such a disciplined yet difficult lifestyle. But seriously, they were all so cool that it made me feel lame for going to a state school (not really, I take it back! Roll Tide!)
After finally kicking all the boys out of the room 10 minutes before we had to be at dinner, I was able to get dressed and do minimal makeup then we headed out.
Dinner was served in Washington Hall which is pretty much what I would picture Hogwarts is like but without ridiculous starry sky yet BIGGER and BETTER. We toasted to the President, to the country, and to West Point. At the end we also toasted to those who were serving overseas and those who have died in service. I loved how tradition driven everything was there. The class president spoke briefly about the achievement of their time at WP so far and then a 4-star General addressed the class. I was, literally, hanging on the edge of my seat. Dinner was delicious and conversation was excellent. We shared a table with 3 of Greg's classmates, their dates and a Major and his wife. After the banquet, Greg and I toured around Washington Hall a bit and mingled with his classmates at a reception in another building. It was INCREDIBLY COLD and my toes were a bit frost-bitten after we walked back from the other building. We both changed and headed back to the City via the train (my new favorite form of transportation) and crashed at the hotel after waking up Rebekah and Morgan in the wee hours of the morning.
Sunday we all got up and packed our bags before grabbing breakfast and heading to the airport. We left Greg and headed back down south to the warm 45 degree weather- it's a breeze after you deal with 12 degrees and wind whipping through the sky-scrapers in the city.
So pretty much, this was one of the best weekends I've ever had. I fell in love with WP. The entire time I was there, I felt like I was in a dream. The history and tradition of the place is astounding and it was so special to get to share this event with a dear friend and a great way to finish up my time in the states.
Doesn't he look so dashing?
Also, I would like to extend a formal apology to my twitter followers for my excessive tweeting this weekend. I was excited and felt like sharing a lot.
Till later,
Morgan, Rebekah and I flew up to NYC on Friday, checked into our hotel which was conveniently located two blocks from Times Square smack dab in the middle of the Theatre District and proceeded to dominate the city- or something like that. We had lunch and shopped on 5th Avenue and waited for G to catch up with us. We spent Friday night exploring knock-offs in Chinatown, eating pasta in Little Italy, and playing with toys in the Times Square Toys R' Us. We also had ridiculously excellent cannoli:
Saturday morning we woke up, grabbed breakfast at a cafe around the corner and set out for Lower Manhatten. We explored NYU for a bit (after getting a little mixed up on the subway) and headed back to the hotel around lunch time. Greg and I packed up for the evening (I fit everything I needed- makeup, brush, FORMAL DRESS, and accessories in a messenger bag and was very impressed with myself!) and headed by taxi to Grand Central. We missed our train and spent an hour killing time at the UN (which made me SO happy because I had been wanting to see it!!) eating authentic NY pizza and exploring outside the embassies.
After a BEAUTIFUL 70 minute train ride we arrived in Garrison, NY which is a small town about 20 minutes from West Point. We spent the afternoon visiting with his friends, touring the campus with his cycling coach- Colonial Bastianelli- and me taking a ridiculous amount of pictures of the architecture and views of the river:
After being blown away (literally) by the gusty bitter winds, we retreated inside to his barracks where I got to meet his two roommates and hangout with another girl who is friends with them. I was completely intrigued by their life in a military school. I have a tremendous amount of respect for my friends who make the commitment to such a disciplined yet difficult lifestyle. But seriously, they were all so cool that it made me feel lame for going to a state school (not really, I take it back! Roll Tide!)
After finally kicking all the boys out of the room 10 minutes before we had to be at dinner, I was able to get dressed and do minimal makeup then we headed out.
Dinner was served in Washington Hall which is pretty much what I would picture Hogwarts is like but without ridiculous starry sky yet BIGGER and BETTER. We toasted to the President, to the country, and to West Point. At the end we also toasted to those who were serving overseas and those who have died in service. I loved how tradition driven everything was there. The class president spoke briefly about the achievement of their time at WP so far and then a 4-star General addressed the class. I was, literally, hanging on the edge of my seat. Dinner was delicious and conversation was excellent. We shared a table with 3 of Greg's classmates, their dates and a Major and his wife. After the banquet, Greg and I toured around Washington Hall a bit and mingled with his classmates at a reception in another building. It was INCREDIBLY COLD and my toes were a bit frost-bitten after we walked back from the other building. We both changed and headed back to the City via the train (my new favorite form of transportation) and crashed at the hotel after waking up Rebekah and Morgan in the wee hours of the morning.
Sunday we all got up and packed our bags before grabbing breakfast and heading to the airport. We left Greg and headed back down south to the warm 45 degree weather- it's a breeze after you deal with 12 degrees and wind whipping through the sky-scrapers in the city.
So pretty much, this was one of the best weekends I've ever had. I fell in love with WP. The entire time I was there, I felt like I was in a dream. The history and tradition of the place is astounding and it was so special to get to share this event with a dear friend and a great way to finish up my time in the states.
Doesn't he look so dashing?
Also, I would like to extend a formal apology to my twitter followers for my excessive tweeting this weekend. I was excited and felt like sharing a lot.
Till later,
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Fall in Review.
Oh HEY blog,
It's been quite a while since I've posted here. The last time I opened my blog dashboard I was in Nolensville interning and it was probably 90 degrees outside. In contrast, I'm sitting on my bed in my parent's home in Birmingham listening to the sound of snow/sleet out in the chilly 25 degree weather.
But enough about weather. I have challenged myself to get back into the habit of blogging because in a little over 2 weeks I will be boarding a plane headed for Morocco where I will be spending this semester.
Fall 2010 brought many good and new challenges. Apparently getting older means your classes get harder, relationships are more difficult to hold onto and maintain, and the Lord brings more and more challenging lessons.
For starters, I moved into a house on campus and lived with 3 girl friends of mine plus 8 new faces. The Rotary House (or RoHo as it was affectionately named) is a living-learning community of sorts located in an old fraternity house on frat row (holla) that is designed for international students and American students to live together and share life in this house. I shared a room with my sweet friend Emily and we shared a bathroom and shower with two precious girls from China- Lily from Hongkong and Jessiey from Beijing.
For the second year, I served on leadership at Calvary and was blessed by the privilege to lead an upperclassmen girl's bible study with two girls who I became very close with throughout the semester. Meredith M and Rebekah taught me so much through our preparation for leading every week but also through their friendship and the sisterhood of accountability that we shared. After leading a freshman group my sophomore year of school, I was excited to be given the opportunity to lead a group of older girls, but I was a little concerned with who I would be leading with. God is so faithful to put us in situations with people that we once called strangers and by running to the cross together, we were able to develop an incredibly strong bond. I count these girls and the rest of our group close to my heart and will be praying for them as they continue to meet and grow this semester.
August's Potluck Dinner at House 23 kicked off a rousing semester of parties at the home of my favorite 5 boys. Soon to follow was the Anti-Penn State Rally, the Music Symposium, the Red-Neck Meltdown, and the Christmas Semi-Formal. Needless to say, I have some of the coolest friends around. I'm not sure of many other places where 200+ people parties can be held, ridiculous dancing and fun occur, and everybody remembers what happened! This is one example of the LOVING community that I am a part of at Calvary in Tuscaloosa. God's hand on our college ministry blows me away and I am overwhelmed by the love that the church, staff, students and friends of this church has for the Lord and creating community and fellowship where new people are welcome. It's such an encouraging atmosphere to be in.
September I got to work at Disciple Now for the Valleydale Church in Birmingham and get the chance to pour into a group of High School senior girls as well as work downtown at the Race for the Cure.
October I pulled my first ever work-related all nighter of college in the edit lab in Reese-Phifer working on a film project for Documenting Justice. Doc Justice is a year-long interdisciplinary program where UA students learn about film-making, ethics of film, interviewing, etc and make a documentary about a social issue in Alabama. I am in the International Documenting Justice Program which is for students studying abroad. I will be filming in Morocco and next fall will come back and edit my film and screen it in Tuscaloosa (stay tuned...) I also got to attend a banquet in Birmingham for the United Nations Assocation, Birmingham Chapter and meet Susan Dulin. Susan works to head up JUNA (Junior United Nations Association) which is the first Model UN conference I ever attended back in the 7th grade. I was pretty much a teenage girl when I met her and stumbled over myself thanking her for the opportunity to attend and how it has influenced what I'm studying in college now. end nerd rant.
November was busy with a visit to Jackson, TN to visit my best friend Rachael at Union University. We also got to swoon over Dave Barnes and Ben Rector who performed a homecoming concert at her school!
Jessiey also came home with me over Thanksgiving and was introduced to her very first American Thanksgiving with the Wildes-Bryant families and let's just say- that was an experience.
Among other interesting experiences in November, I had the first of my close friends get married. Megan, Kellie, Shelby, Sydney and I road-tripped to the small town of Wallis, Texas and got to be with my friend Katie Truitt as she stepped into a very exciting life as the wife to Tanner Coleman. It was a sweet weekend filled with desserts and blue skies and Love.
My housemate Jessiey also came home with me for Thanksgiving and the Wildes family introduced her to American Thanksgiving in appropriate fashion. I hope my family makes this a tradition for Thanksgivings to come. I love bringing in new people and sitting around making conversations and learning about what being thankful is and to whom we are thankful.
December rounded out with dead week and finals and packing up all of my stuff and moving out of RoHo back home for about a month and a half.
This break has been so wonderful so far and I've had the opportunity to reconnect with my close group of friends from High School who are in college all over the country. Now that they are packing up and leaving to go to class, this semester is really being put into perspective for me.
I'm beyond excited not just for the upcoming stamps in my passport and photos I'll get to take, but for the change that I'm anticipating this semester to hold for me. People always say you come back from any time abroad changed, but for the first time in my life I will be challenged with what it's like to live abroad- to make home and community in a completely foreign land with only the Lord as my sustenance and strength.
So as we continue on in January I would ask that you would pray for me in preparation for this semester.
-That my eyes would be focused on how to enjoy the Lord and seek His face first before anything else.
- For the final plans to be finished diligently on my part and also on the part of my study abroad program
-For the other students joining me in this journey, that God would set aside a friend for me to encourage me and build me up in a Godly manner, that we will help walk through this semester together in the Word
-For my parents as they prepare to see me off for 4 months in a foreign country speaking two languages that they do not know.
It's been quite a while since I've posted here. The last time I opened my blog dashboard I was in Nolensville interning and it was probably 90 degrees outside. In contrast, I'm sitting on my bed in my parent's home in Birmingham listening to the sound of snow/sleet out in the chilly 25 degree weather.
But enough about weather. I have challenged myself to get back into the habit of blogging because in a little over 2 weeks I will be boarding a plane headed for Morocco where I will be spending this semester.
Fall 2010 brought many good and new challenges. Apparently getting older means your classes get harder, relationships are more difficult to hold onto and maintain, and the Lord brings more and more challenging lessons.
For starters, I moved into a house on campus and lived with 3 girl friends of mine plus 8 new faces. The Rotary House (or RoHo as it was affectionately named) is a living-learning community of sorts located in an old fraternity house on frat row (holla) that is designed for international students and American students to live together and share life in this house. I shared a room with my sweet friend Emily and we shared a bathroom and shower with two precious girls from China- Lily from Hongkong and Jessiey from Beijing.
For the second year, I served on leadership at Calvary and was blessed by the privilege to lead an upperclassmen girl's bible study with two girls who I became very close with throughout the semester. Meredith M and Rebekah taught me so much through our preparation for leading every week but also through their friendship and the sisterhood of accountability that we shared. After leading a freshman group my sophomore year of school, I was excited to be given the opportunity to lead a group of older girls, but I was a little concerned with who I would be leading with. God is so faithful to put us in situations with people that we once called strangers and by running to the cross together, we were able to develop an incredibly strong bond. I count these girls and the rest of our group close to my heart and will be praying for them as they continue to meet and grow this semester.
August's Potluck Dinner at House 23 kicked off a rousing semester of parties at the home of my favorite 5 boys. Soon to follow was the Anti-Penn State Rally, the Music Symposium, the Red-Neck Meltdown, and the Christmas Semi-Formal. Needless to say, I have some of the coolest friends around. I'm not sure of many other places where 200+ people parties can be held, ridiculous dancing and fun occur, and everybody remembers what happened! This is one example of the LOVING community that I am a part of at Calvary in Tuscaloosa. God's hand on our college ministry blows me away and I am overwhelmed by the love that the church, staff, students and friends of this church has for the Lord and creating community and fellowship where new people are welcome. It's such an encouraging atmosphere to be in.
September I got to work at Disciple Now for the Valleydale Church in Birmingham and get the chance to pour into a group of High School senior girls as well as work downtown at the Race for the Cure.
October I pulled my first ever work-related all nighter of college in the edit lab in Reese-Phifer working on a film project for Documenting Justice. Doc Justice is a year-long interdisciplinary program where UA students learn about film-making, ethics of film, interviewing, etc and make a documentary about a social issue in Alabama. I am in the International Documenting Justice Program which is for students studying abroad. I will be filming in Morocco and next fall will come back and edit my film and screen it in Tuscaloosa (stay tuned...) I also got to attend a banquet in Birmingham for the United Nations Assocation, Birmingham Chapter and meet Susan Dulin. Susan works to head up JUNA (Junior United Nations Association) which is the first Model UN conference I ever attended back in the 7th grade. I was pretty much a teenage girl when I met her and stumbled over myself thanking her for the opportunity to attend and how it has influenced what I'm studying in college now. end nerd rant.
November was busy with a visit to Jackson, TN to visit my best friend Rachael at Union University. We also got to swoon over Dave Barnes and Ben Rector who performed a homecoming concert at her school!
Jessiey also came home with me over Thanksgiving and was introduced to her very first American Thanksgiving with the Wildes-Bryant families and let's just say- that was an experience.
Among other interesting experiences in November, I had the first of my close friends get married. Megan, Kellie, Shelby, Sydney and I road-tripped to the small town of Wallis, Texas and got to be with my friend Katie Truitt as she stepped into a very exciting life as the wife to Tanner Coleman. It was a sweet weekend filled with desserts and blue skies and Love.
My housemate Jessiey also came home with me for Thanksgiving and the Wildes family introduced her to American Thanksgiving in appropriate fashion. I hope my family makes this a tradition for Thanksgivings to come. I love bringing in new people and sitting around making conversations and learning about what being thankful is and to whom we are thankful.
December rounded out with dead week and finals and packing up all of my stuff and moving out of RoHo back home for about a month and a half.
This break has been so wonderful so far and I've had the opportunity to reconnect with my close group of friends from High School who are in college all over the country. Now that they are packing up and leaving to go to class, this semester is really being put into perspective for me.
I'm beyond excited not just for the upcoming stamps in my passport and photos I'll get to take, but for the change that I'm anticipating this semester to hold for me. People always say you come back from any time abroad changed, but for the first time in my life I will be challenged with what it's like to live abroad- to make home and community in a completely foreign land with only the Lord as my sustenance and strength.
So as we continue on in January I would ask that you would pray for me in preparation for this semester.
-That my eyes would be focused on how to enjoy the Lord and seek His face first before anything else.
- For the final plans to be finished diligently on my part and also on the part of my study abroad program
-For the other students joining me in this journey, that God would set aside a friend for me to encourage me and build me up in a Godly manner, that we will help walk through this semester together in the Word
-For my parents as they prepare to see me off for 4 months in a foreign country speaking two languages that they do not know.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
About Me
- mgw
- Just a kid from Alabama privileged to serve the kingdom of God in France for the next few years.