Counting down

Hi friends,

I’m getting down to the final hours in Spain.  Wow, crazy to think about it.  I wanted to send you all a quick update before I get on the plane tomorrow morning.

Since I finished finals, I’ve been hanging out with my friends, relaxing, and attempting to pack.  On Saturday, we all met up and went to an awesome tapas bar called El Tigre.  I had never been there before, but a lot of other people had.  We all ordered drinks and then got a ton of food (tapas) along with the drinks.  I really liked the food, and I wish I had gone to that place more than just once, although it’s probably good that I didn’t because it’s a bit expensive.  After El Tigre, I went to Sol with a few people to take some pictures, and then went home.  Saturday night, a big group of us went to the Egyptian temple that is in Madrid (Templo de Debod).  We just hung out and chatted.  It was a great chill night, and I had fun with everyone.

On Sunday, my friends Brittany and Maddy arrived in Madrid from Omaha.  They are spending a month here in Spain for a summer study abroad program.  Mary Kate and I met up with them at Retiro that afternoon, and we had a nice Creighton reunion.  We took them to Sol and went to Cien Montaditos (the bar with the 100 little sandwiches).  It was great to see them, even though they were a bit jet lagged.

Monday was another chill day.  I met some friends on campus in the afternoon, and then Megan, Victoria, and I went to the park to sunbathe and relax.  Those girls are my best new friends, and I’m so grateful to have met them.  We all go to different schools, but I know we’ll keep in touch, and hopefully get together this summer :)

Last night, a group of us girls went out on the town.  Those of us who were finished with finals went out and met up with Brittany and Maddy.  We first went to a sangria bar and then to some other bar where we were offered free drinks.  It was a great night out with just the girls.

Today, I spent the whole day packing.  Many of you probably know how much I detest packing.  I thought it would be easier this time because I know what I need to pack… it’s not as bad as when I’m at home and have tons of options.  But this was still hard.  I don’t have room for all my stuff, so I’m leaving some clothes and other things to donate.  Tonight is our last night out in Madrid.  I won’t be out too late, but I can’t miss the last big event with my friends in Madrid!

Tomorrow morning, I am taking a shuttle to the airport with Victoria, her host mom, and her roommate Maya.  I’m really looking forward to getting home!  Not very excited about the long flight, but I guess you gotta take the bad with the good.

All right, hasta pronto everyone!  Madrid, I’m gonna miss you, but U.S., I can’t wait to see you!

Much love,

Elizabeth

Adios Sophomore Year

Hi everyone!

This post is coming to you from a dreary Saturday morning in Madrid.  And it’s dreary not only because it’s raining, but also because this is my last Saturday in Madrid.  I can’t believe the semester is already coming to a close.  But, you know, time is a weird thing.  Sometimes it feels as though I’ve been here for only a few weeks, but other times, I feel as if I’ve been away for years.  Overall, however, I’m ready to be going home and getting back to “normal” life.  It’s a little sad to leave all the friends I’ve made here because most of us don’t go to the same school, but I’m excited to see everyone back home.  Bittersweet ending.

On a positive note, I am officially done with my sophomore year of college!  I had my last final yesterday, so now I am a junior and have a few free days in Madrid.  Sweet!  My last three finals went pretty well.  Philosophy was easy—took me 45 minutes to write the two essays.  Art History was kind of obnoxious because it was long (I wrote 6 full pages, and remember, the paper here is longer than at home haha).  There was also some confusion with another professor (who doesn’t speak English) and her class.  They came into our room and said that it was their time for the exam, even though it was our normal time and classroom, and our class was on the schedule posted on the door.  But whatever, she’s the professor, so clearly, she’s correct.  Anyway, our prof was late, and it wasn’t really the best way to start a final exam, but whatever.  Then our professor left about half an hour in and said the other lady would proctor the rest.  But this other professor had to show slides to her students and they spent the second half of the exam talking about every slide that she showed.  Seriously?  This is my time to take a final, and you and your class are talking through it.  Geez.  If I had any problems taking tests, this would have been a disaster.  As it was, the final took me longer than it should have, but it’s over and done with now.

After our finals on Thursday, my friends and I went to Sangria Thursday for the last time.  It’s amazing to see what a transformation can occur in the span of four months—people who didn’t know each other at all have become really close, good friends.  Humans are pretty cool like that.  :)

Yesterday, I had my final final :) which was positive psychology.  I didn’t really study much for it because I didn’t have the motivation, but it went well.  Psychology is so interesting to me that things tend to stick with me, and I usually don’t have to study much.  Convenient.  I really enjoyed that class and am looking forward to reading the positive psychology books that I ordered for myself when I get home!

Last night was Maggie’s prom, so I Skyped the family before things got crazy and all the kids got there for pictures.  Maggie looked beautiful!  I can’t wait to hear about what a good time she had.

Today, it is unfortunately raining, but my friends and I are going to get some food this afternoon and then who know what after that.  I’m free as a bird since I don’t need to study anymore!  And then my Creighton friends arrive tomorrow, so I’m very excited to meet them here in Madrid!

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend.  Get ready for my return to the U.S.A.!!

Love,

Elizabeth

Approaching the end

Hey there!

It’s official, finals have begun.  I had my first one (Spanish) this morning at 9 AM.  I think it went well, but we’ll see.  Some of those grammar questions can be tricky!  My second final (philosophy) is in 2 hours, so I’m going to review a bit and then head back to campus.

I realized a few days ago that I never wrote about my most recent meeting with Sonja.  She and Henry came to Madrid last week for a few days, and I had dinner with them on Thursday.  We ate at a restaurant that I went to with Dad, Maggie, and Michael.  It was so nice to see Sonja again and catch up with her.  And Henry is absolutely wonderful—adorable and very well behaved.  He doesn’t know much English yet, so he read a book during dinner.  Cute!  This past Sunday/Monday, Sonja had a flight to Chicago, so she got to stop in L-ville for a few hours to see Mom, Dad, and Emma.  It’s great to reconnect with friends!

Yesterday was my last day of classes.  And I didn’t even go to both of them… In Positive Psych, our professor, Eduardo, was leading a meditation for the final class.  To be quite honest, I have no interest in meditation, so I skipped class and spent that hour and fifteen minutes productively by studying for philosophy.  I think it was a good choice.  I did go to school after that though.  Before I left the apartment, I checked the weather, and, even though it wasn’t supposed to rain until 6 PM, I grabbed my umbrella.  Good thing too, because when I was about halfway to campus, it started raining cats and dogs.  I literally was caught in a deluge of rain.  But somehow, I was in a really good mood and smiled through it.  The storm (complete with thunder and lightning) only lasted about half an hour and then it was partly sunny again.  Weird weather.  Anyway, I had my last art history class, which was just a review for the final.  Then I walked home with Victoria and started my studying.

I suppose that’s all for today.  I am officially down to less than a week until I leave to go home.  I can’t wait to see everyone when I get back!

All my love,

Elizabeth

In These Shoes

Hola amigos!

Today is the Fiesta de la Comunidad de Madrid, which means very little to me, except that I don’t have class!  Yay for Madrid!  Unfortunately, finals are rapidly approaching, which is much less exciting.

Before I get into all that stuff, I want to explain the title of this post.  I realized when I was traipsing through the Roman Forum that the boots I was wearing (see below) have traveled through 5 different countries with me—the U.S., Spain, France, Ireland, and Italy.  Pretty cool.  I really love these boots, and they have a lot of great memories associated with them now.  Plus they’re in a ton of my pictures!  I think it’s also interesting to ponder of the concept of walking in someone else’s shoes.  I have to say I don’t always do that, but can become easily offended by people who don’t step into mine automatically.  I think that’s something I should work on.  As I’ve traveled around Europe and learned about different people and cultures, I think it has become a little bit easier for me to see new/different perspectives, but there’s always room for improvement, right?!

Anyway, the past few days have been filled mostly with studying… pretty boring.  I also finished the Millennium Trilogy (which starts with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).  It was fantastic—couldn’t put it down!  If you haven’t read it, or started it but never got into it/finished it, I highly recommend that you give it a try.  The books are intense, but definitely worth the time.  Enjoy!

Other than that, things have been pretty quiet for me.  Some of my friends were in Barcelona this weekend, and I didn’t really feel like “going out,” so I mostly stayed at home and hung out with Maria.  I am really going to miss her.  She came in my room the other day and said that she knows how stressful finals can be, and that people get very nervous, so if there is anything I want (tea, coffee so I can study late, apples, oranges, anything) she would get it for me.  How sweet is she?!  I got really lucky with her as my señora.

Well, I think that’s it for now.  Tomorrow is my last day of class, and then I have finals on Wednesday through Friday.  Wish me luck!

Much love,

Elizabeth

P.S.  Good luck to all of my stateside friends who are studying and taking their finals, especially at Creighton!