Nostalgia in 2013

It's been quite a year, so naturally, with the new year here I've been on a bit of a nostalgic kick. I mean, just this time last year I was about to leave the country for 5 months, and spend it in one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. It changed my life, and I met some amazing people from all around the world. Hopefully I will have an equally amazing time abroad in London this summer if all goes well with the internship I am interested in. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Right around this time just last year is when I was about to embark on one of the biggest adventures of my life; thus the birth of this blog. The start of the journey of a mad white woman. I just can't believe that was almost a year ago, time sure does fly. I remember writing things like, "I'm a little nervous, but so excited to find out what I'm going to be experiencing for the next 5 months of my life in a foreign country," in my first posts. I can't believe that was 30 posts back. I guess for the most part, I'm still writing things like that, only now it's along the lines of I wonder what I'll be experiencing for the next, oh I don't know, two to five years of my life. It's all kind of a guessing game. You can predict, and sometimes those predictions might come true, but more often than not I'm usually way off the mark. You find yourself reminiscing with your friends saying things like "Man I can't believe we did that." Or, "What a year..." something along those lines.

I for one did not necessarily plan out that I would be going abroad. The thought of actually going started when I found out my school even offered programs abroad. I saw study abroad fairs in our schools campus center and language department, started looking at some flyers, and heard the stories of others about their great experiences from where ever they decided to go. So who knows what will happen in just a few short months. I'm hoping greatness. And fun, fun is always good too. I'm just trying to figure it out, while enjoying myself in the process.

These four photos I think pretty much encompass the majority of my 2012 abroad:

This picture was taken outside of my host families house in El Bosque, the town I lived in just outside the heart of Madrid. My host mother, father, sister, and host brothers fiance are at the table, but also my amazing friends who visited me during their spring break. We had a great lunch to welcome them to Spain with all the traditional food and wine I have grown to miss so much. Coincidentally at this lunch, Dom was coined the nickname "El Borrachon" (the drunk) by my host mom. Every time he asked for más agua por favor, his reply was from my host mom was, "No borrachon, más vino." We had a great afternoon, and I had fun playing translator since my host family does not speak English, so needless to say that was an amazingly interesting day.

The USA crew. This picture was taken at Carolina's going away dinner (to my right), since she was going back to the states before all of us. We made up the majority of the Americans who were at La Univerdidad Europea de Madrid last spring semester. Because of the unique experience we were all on, we formed a strong bond in such a short amount of time. The same can be said for this picture as well: 

From all parts of the world we met here in Spain. They are all truly amazing, and beautiful people. I hope to meet up with them all again someday. But for now we have the memories, and also the pains of missing each other, and the great times we had in a country other than our own. 

La última cena en Madrid. This was my specific program since we were all from SUNY schools they grouped us together when we arrived in Madrid with an amazing program director, who was from SUNY Oswego as well, but fell in love with Madrid and decided to make a life there. She was so great in showing us around the city so we could navigate and explore ourselves, while showing us some great buildings and places to eat, and also the history behind it all. This picture was taken right before our last supper at the oldest restaurant in the world, El Sobrino Botín. This is in one of my favorite squares, ópera. In the background is the opera itself, where we were so lucky to have seen a show during our stay in Spain. 

Reminiscing is great, and I miss everything about Spain, but I have a good feeling about this upcoming semester too. With the hopes of an internship abroad in London is making me excited about graduating and doing something different. As for the semester itself, I have a pretty good schedule, with great housemates and great friends. And of course, my 22nd birthday which is rearing it's ugly head right around the corner, so Oswego friends you should start to prepare for the shenanigans that will surely ensue. Here's to a great 2013. 

Oh and this photo as well, which is now the inspiration for my first tattoo! It is from La Ambra in Granada, Spain. After all, todo es merece la pena.