Bilbao-wow

Over the weekend, I had the grand opportunity to visit the Northern city of Bilbao. The University of Minnesota set up an amazing excursion here so we could learn more about Spain before classes start. I will be honest; when I was first headed there, I thought it would be boring and I was questioning why did they not pick someplace like Barcelona or Valencia but when I got to Bilbao, I instantly fell in love.

If you have not been there, you must go!! The place is amazing; there are tons of mountains and beautiful scenery and pretty pretty neo-gothic houses along the edge of the river. Fun fact: Bilbao speaks its own native language– Basque (along with the national language of course). This language is so unique because this is the only place it is spoken and there is no direct lineage of where it may have originated.

In Bilbao we first took a tour of the city where I saw many neo-gothic houses. These houses actually came from the gothic era but, in a way to make things more modern, the people of Bilbao created something new adding along the old gothic art. There are actually some building that are still standing from the gothic era too! The colors are very pretty–yellow, orange and red. We then went to the Guggenheim museum, a very famous museum known for its artists who take real life and make them bigger and connect, in the art, two objects that never go together. Another thing I gathered from this museum is that America is really looked at in a…judgmental way. I read one piece of art that started out as: “The End of the U.S.A.” Dark, right? Yeah. Last but not least, I had the luxury of being apart of a two hour tour boat ride. This, I would say, was the most fun because I got to watch the beautiful houses alongside of the river. Even more interesting, I saw this ferry like machine going from one side of the river to the other except that it was moving in the air with long cables connected to some type of steel built from the ground up to the air. Incredible!

One last note. I tried my first sangria. Muy bueno!! I recommend it to anyone!

As I said above, a lot of the art here involved taking something that was naturally small and making it unusually huge and taking two things that had no relation naturally and putting it together. Here is a flower statue of a dog. The artist took something that was naturally smaller–a dog–and made it huge. The artist also took two things that had no relation–a dog and flowers–and he made them connect through art.

Adventure Time

This week has definitely been one for the books. Earlier this week a couple of people along with myself were able to go to the La Roselada in Retiro Park and then to the Reina Sofia museum. The Roselada (rose garden) was beautiful with many many flowers from all over the world. We arrived at the garden around 10 a.m., the time it opened, and the view was stunning! Many of the flowers had labels on them, so we were able to see the many variety of roses which originated from all over Europe! For example, one of the roses originated in France named the Botticeli Floribunda. There was also a sparkling fountain as soon as you entered the rose garden and many dirt paths that winded within the garden so that we and other visitors could see the flowers close up. The colors are what I would say were most striking to me; I saw an orangish colored rose that I had never seen before. If anyone knows me, I am a sucker for flowers!! So this Roselada definitely made my whole day.

After the Roselada, fuemos ir al Reina Sofia museo (we went to the Reina Sofia Museum). The museum is massive, and one of the most famous artists who’s work is praised is Davis Wojanrowicz. David was an American artist who, during the 1970’s, created art on the political side to show his support for the LGBTQ community as a way to politically fight against the laws and attitudes people in the U.S had. This work was the most interesting to me because it was not just painting and sculptures, but it was various poem -like works that may have been written on some of his paintings to inspire others and to go against the grain. His works are very special and this museum was definitely awe-inspiring to me.

Taken at La Roselada; the fountain appears when you first walk in the rose garden and it is absolutely stunning.

–Mo the Adventurer

2 Astonishing Differences

So I’ve only been here for about a week and I have seen and even talked about some astonishing differences between Spanish and American culture. The first one I noticed right away were habits:

Everyone seems to smoke cigarettes here. When I say everyone, I mean every one. I literally walked by a group of five people, and then by a group of three people and then one person by herself and all. of. them. were smoking a cigarette. What surprised me the most was that even the young people around my age was smoking. This was surprising to me because America has the whole no smoking campaign so seeing people smoke cigarettes is really not as common as here (unless I am just not seeing it).

The second difference that I am about to list came up in a conversation with my host mother and I as we talked about the tragedy in Virginia Beach this week; she told me that possession of a firearm in general, among the citizens of Spain, is illegal. Now I honestly (I know, very terrible of me) just assumed that it was normal for people to be allowed to have firearms but here in Spain, it is not the case. Here are some other differences:

  • dinner really starts at 9
  • The elevators are tiny, as in only two people depending on your size can fit in them tiny, and they have doors
  • There are no light switches; there, instead, are square like buttons that you just lightly press up
  • There is no door handle on the outside of my host family’s (and others) house. Instead, there is just a lock to insert your key and there is this tiny knob thing toward the bottom center of the door that you then use to push it open.
  • There is no lock on the inside of the house door as we have in America. I’m guessing there is an automatic lock.
  • There is no AC
  • Guns are not allowed
  • There are shops, not stores or malls or outlets. Shops.
  • Pastries are everything. I cannot really describe the difference, but there’s a difference.
  • The fanta soda is everything!!! Much more fruitier and less carbonated
  • Here’s a picture to satisfy your cravings 🙂

Taken by me at a coffee and pastry shop near my house! I got 6 of these for 2 euros !! Yummy!

–Mo the Adventurer

Everyone needs coffee…

No seriously. I have only been in Madrid for 4 days and I have seen at least 50 different coffee shops. People do not just drink coffee in Spain because they may be tired, but they drink it because it is a social activity or, like us typical Americans, we may be feeling stressed and need to un-wind with a cup of coffee. Not only do the locals need a cup of coffee, but I do and I need it for the former and latter of the three reasons listed above. These last couple of days have been hectic. Let me rewind and start from the beginning….

So in Philadelphia, as soon as I got on the airplane to go straight to Madrid, I started getting migraines so bad that I felt the pulse on top of my forehead. I did not think to drink lots of water because of dehydration. That is the first time, if I would have been up to it, that I needed a cup of coffee. Upon my arrival to Madrid, my suitcase was left in Philadelphia and I would not have it until 2 days later (not that bad no) and that is the second time I needed a cup of coffee. The third time I discovered that I needed a cup of coffee was this morning when I got lost in the big city of Madrid trying to find my way to class. Now I know you may be thinking wow, this woman REALLY needs a cup of coffee!! But what I did not tell you was the second part of my title, “Everyone needs coffee, but you can still function without it.” My point being, even if you need a cup of coffee for stressful reasons, unlike the locals here in Madrid, just take a step back and realize where you are. I was very happy that I did not let those things stress me out. I even enjoyed myself a little as I was lost and was able to laugh at it later on with my host mother. If one is able to do that, then one will be able to enjoy life more and have that cup of coffee because of social gatherings, not stress.

–Mo, the Adventurer

Lights! Cameras! Travel!!!!

Wow!! A semester really flew by just like that! I get on my first flight in just TWO DAYS and I am nervous. Since the semester ended, I’ve only had a week to leave school and go home and in this week I’ve done A LOT of preparation. First off, I must have switched my suitcases about three times trying to figure out which one was bigger hahaha. I must admit, I can be a pack rat so I really really really tried very hard to not bring unnecessary things so I honestly started packing for Spain last month to allow myself some time to reorganize. I also switched my phone plan (yaaay adulting) so that I can use it in Europe. Being with AT and T is very nice and allowed me to do that effortlessly and cheap.

Among those two big things, I must have been to 3 stores making sure I bought everything on my list.

  • Meds
  • Lock and Keys
  • Money Belt
  • Toiletries
  • Travel size everything
  • Adapter and convertible
  • Sunscreen
  • Bug spray
  • And Gifts for my Host family

I must say that the only exciting part of this preparation was buying gifts for my Host family!! (Maybe you’ll see that in a later post!) I definitely am very excited and nervous at the same time!!! I’ll see you in Spain!

–Mo the Adventurer

Preplanning Prevents Poor Performance

Planning to study abroad anywhere for anyone takes A LOT of preparation! When I first decided to study abroad, I had no idea how much planning and research I would have to do. Now that I have almost completed my semester long process a planning and research, I can say that I am now (almost) prepared! Looking back, there are a couple of things that I wish I would have taken into consideration more carefully.

The most and perhaps one of the most important things I would tell myself is to save, save, save! Even though I knew how much money I wanted to bring and I knew the cost of tuition and room and board, there will definitely be extra costs that sometimes will have to come out of pocket BEFORE you reach your study abroad destination. I did not realize this until it was almost too late and thank goodness a way was made! The second thing I would tell myself is not be afraid to take that first to studying abroad. There were many many times that I kept changing my mind and second guessing myself regarding studying abroad. You have to stay in a state of excitement and positivity because then it will just change and perhaps ruin your whole experience.

The last advice I do have for anyone is to buy things ahead of time in increments! This really helped me a lot as I was planning. Even buying small things like travel sized toothpaste or deodorant at times helps!

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk!

–Mo