moments that matter

the summer months have officially arrived and the heat, final exams, and frantically filling each day to its max are in full swing. as always, time is zooming and i'm constantly racking my brain for things still left to do: presents and granada goodies to buy, favorite tapas bars to eat at, things to give away, 'see ya laters' to be exchanged, and hours of studying looming in the distance. yet, when i really stop i think i realize that all these things will get done in due time and the days will pass, but what will i remember most? it won't be the little moroccan earrings i buy or the exact flavors of the gelato i ate, or the time i spent studying in the cafe. i will remember the people i've met and the moments we shared. ok, it's true. i am starting to get nostalgic, but seriously--one life lesson that has really been reinforced over here is the importance of people and the value of spending time together, showing them you care. while we all have moments when we need to shut the door and swallow the key, get work done, and sadly turn down the opportunity for a mid-day coffee date with a friend or weekend adventure at the beach, i truly believe there should be more 'yes's, more time spent together than things checked off our to do list. spain knows how to do this quite well, and while sometimes it drives me nuts when time for 'getting things done' dwindles as a coffee date turns into a 3 hour affair, i have learned to love it and need social outlets in a different way than before.
so, here are some pictures of this past week and the moments shared with some pretty incredible people who have made this adventure the extraordinary experience what it has been:
first, my exchange program had our 'Cena de Despidida' (Farewell Dinner). check it out. here's the terrace where we ate dinner. not a bad view :)

california kids rock. i take such comfort in knowing that we will be in the same state next year

after the dinner it was time to dance.

hike up to the caves--hanging with the gypsies and some davis girls.

here's our international dinner with chinese food, spanish cuisine, and hummus :)

gathering on the terrace to watch the sunset and enjoy the evening with friends:

our little spanish/italian/cali family :)

holes in my socks and 'th's on my 's's

with the summer months quickly approaching i find myself in a constant whirlwind of contradictions. while some of the last 10 months crawled by, others zipped, and now i face a little under two months to 'wrap up' this abroad experience. as i have started to think about my journey back to the glorious place i call home, it is clear that preparing for my 'despedida' (farewell) will be much more than packing up my suitcase; it will be saying 'hasta luego' to a different life. how can i explain how daily life in this city, in this country, with a culture and language that are not my own, has become so normal? little things such as, lighting my stove with a match, to buying groceries based on how much i can carry home, interacting (speaking spanish) with people from multiple countries daily, cooking dinner at 9:30pm, ordering a beer (for less than 2 euros!) with a free plate of food, and picnic-ing at moorish castles are all amazingly normal and are done without much thought. when i ask the waitress for a 'cafe con leche' (coffee with milk) i say, 'gracias' with the andalusian (southern spanish) accent, pronounced, 'grath-i-ath'. but, it is so much more than that. this place has become my home, and this has become my life. most importantly, i am different because of this life.

yet, much of me longs for my home-home and the distinct opportunities that the united states offers. the holes in my socks and dwindling amount of american coffee sitting on my cupboard stand as little indicators that whisper 'it is time to go home.' the truth is when i think of being back in the states, surrounded by the people i love, my heart soars and i can't help but be elated by the idea. suddenly, thoughts of cayucos (my ultimate comfort place), hugs and snuggling with family and friends, stores that stay open between the hours of 2 and 6, and a school system that actually makes sense, are soon to be my new reality. going back to my life before granada is such a blessing, but saying goodbye to this is undoubtedly going to be tough.
so, until that time comes, i am going to take time every day to do something unique to granada life whether it be watching the sun set over the city or ordering a tapa with a friend after class, because at this point, what will help the most is knowing that i truly savored this year as much as possible and that it is now forever a part of me.

fun during finals. yes, it is possible.

i've learned from last semester's spanish finals experience and have therefore decided to make fun a priority in the midst of stressful times. so far, so good.
first mission in living up to my new mantra was realized by enjoying the 'La Día de los Cruces' (the day of the crosses). this holiday is unique to the city of granada and consists of displayed crosses all over the city decorated in red carnations with spaniards of all ages dressed in flamenco attire (aka huge dresses of ever color fruit-loop with ruffles and fluff spilling out everywhere) dancing around them and/or eating ice cream. the culture of southern spain sparkled through each aspect of the holiday: the families out on parade, school cancelled, drinking beer and eating ice cream at 4:00pm on a tuesday, literally every spaniard breaking out their flamenco moves (it must be required in grammar school), chicks walking around in heels on cobblestone like it's no big deal, and all ages enjoying any reason to party. i absolutely love stuff like this--cultural events that remind me that i am somewhere DIFFERENT and get to be an intimate spectator of something that is in their blood, apart of who they are. here are some pics of the event:

this is an example of one of the 10 or more crosses just in my tiny neighborhood.

as i said, all ages :)

one of the main squares had an open stage for any brave souls wanting to get their flamenco face on...some were more into it than others.

that following weekend, i figured that i might as well roll with the fun i was having and headed off on a weekend jaunt to Bologna, Italy :) my main travel partner and i took bus, after bus, to plane, to the next bus to make it into several bear hugs from some italian friends and kristen's california girlies in italia before midnight on friday. the best part about traveling to places where you can hang with the locals is getting to see the insiders scoop of the place (and the best food spots!). bologna is a college town and therefore geared towards the younger crowd. fun, fun, fun :) here are some pic highlights:

california girls taken over bologna! or at least the eco breakfast cafe :)

bologna is also called the red city...this picture explains why. most all the buildings are some shade of this color.

sunday park fun with water guns. those things never get old.

the dog's cafe :) love it.

now it is back to granada and the time crunch has started. the crunch time for studying and crunch time for soaking up as much as i can in these last two months living in the south of spain. there is no time to waste.

danish love

hey all!
that time of the semester has come again...assignment due dates approaching, copious amounts of coffee consumed, panic in the pit of my stomach with thoughts of upcoming exams, and the need for deep breathes/some solid time for reflection. plus, i must share with you my completely soul warming 10 days spent with the one and only Julie Streton. as many of you know, julie is my other half--my tall, beautiful, silly, blonde other half. after growing together for a memorable year in california we became sisters of sorts. she knows my california world quite completely, from family to favorite spots to weird habits. yet, up until mid-april, i had yet to see her world--her family, her favorite danish spots, her home.
all that has now changed! after years of hearing about julie's people and places, i finally was there to physically meet and see them all. our adventures were numerous: exploring copenhagen, bike riding around town, swimming (and screaming) in the danish ocean in april, going to sweden, and eating breakfast in the forrest. yet, when thinking back on my time in the north what brings the biggest smile to my face are the memories eating dinners with julie's family in her home, feeling that homey comfort, and just feeling so loved. here are some pics that i think say it all:

the whole atmosphere along the water in copenhagen was stunning--the sun sparkled off the water and hit the colorful buildings, street performers sang that Titanic song, people of all ages lounged in the sun and chatted with friends all consuming a delicious beer or sweet ice cream, and naturally, there were smiles all around.

danish castle exploring with Michael, julie's fabulous dad. this is Shakespeare's Hamlet's castle with the fog and mist surrounding the gothic castle.

back to julie's hometown. we rode our bikes to this gorgeous lake surrounded by big, beautiful trees.

bird houses in "Freetown Christiania" the hippie, arsty part of Copenhagen.

julie and i climbed up one of the many towers to see the view. copenhagen rocks from above and at ground level.

on my last morning, julie and i first rode our bikes to the local, bomb bakery, then to the forrest covered with little white flowers indicating the coming of spring. listening to adele in the danish forrest, giggling and smiling...it was one of those 'life is good' moments.
now, let's head north and visit one of my homelands...sweden!

here's the story. julie's aunt bought a summer home in southern sweden as the perfect weekend get away and family time spot. although it is just three hours by train from copenhagen, it is another world--a place of moose, wild boars, chopping wood, and that inner peace that only nature can bring.

talking a walk around with julie, her grandma, and younger cousin.

the lake on our early morning quest to try and see a moose. although our wildlife sighting wasn't as successful as we hoped, the stillness and beauty of the morning was stunning.

although it is never easy to say goodbye to my danish sister, especially knowing it will be over a year before we are together again, i know without a drop of doubt that we have a lifetime of 'hello's and 'see ya later's.' in our future there will be world exploring, more freezing bodies of water to jump in, family reunions, weddings, hard times, love, and one of a kind moments. while we are definitely different people who have known different lives, we are forever connected and both take comfort in knowing that the next adventure of vanilla and chocolate is never too far away <3

dreams to be dreamed and dreams to be lived

i just can't stay away. paris, you have caught my heart so completely...if only my wallet and language skills could keep up! a while back when i realized my time was winding down, kristen and i booked tickets to go to paris for the weekend to be able to sing the classic verse "i love paris in the springtime" and visit her friend from santa barbara who is studying there. although we were only there for two and a half days, we covered a lot of ground and ate at the majority of pastry/bread shops in the center districts :) each day started with a pan chocolat, map in hand, and discussion of future plans for how we are going to live in this city some day. the changes in seasons were incredible--the sun was out, flowers were blooming, and everyone was out and about to get a taste of life without the winter layers. what is there to really say, except that paris is magical in every season. with some sense of direction, it is easy to stroll from one national monument to another, discovering picturesque alley ways and unexpected treasures. the city seems to never stop and be in some balance between extremely old and startlingly modern. there is an energy that is distinctly it's own, sparking curiosity in its visitors and continuing cooly through the daily lives of the locals. it is hard for me to believe that the novelty of it all could be warn away quickly.
here are some pics of the beautiful city and a taste of a dream come to life:

this captures one aspect of the parisian essence--adorable bikes parked near little cafes where beautiful people chat and watch the world go by.

notre dame from the back-side

we stumbled upon a local market with gorgeous produce (and to-die-for baked goods of all kinds)

taking an eating/walking break on the bridge

spring flowers in bloom

getting ready to climb to the top...obviously a little loopy from the sugar and cinnamon crepe eaten directly before this picture

here, with the view of the city below and all different languages being spoken around us, the performer started singing 'Hotel California.' i couldn't be happier being in that moment, exactly where i was with an incredible friend by my side, both of us smiling with contentment that our home is with us where ever we may go.

granada reunion in belgium

adventures await everywhere. i was reminded of this once again as i packed my bag on a sunny tuesday to take my first ryanair flight to the little country of Belgium with my flat-mates from last semester. speaking rapid spanish, Yoyo (French), Agnes (German), and I (Californian) may have looked like an odd group to other travelers, but to us, our many differences were small compared to our connection created at a little flat off a cobblestone street in Granada, Spain. we arrived in Belgium to be greeted by Aurélie, our old belgium flat-mate (and tour guide) along with Pascal, the honorary male of our home. after exchanging big hugs, we jumped in the car headed straight for a brass band concert. belgium beers in hand we danced the night away, feeling far away from Spain, but strangely comfortable and at home.
now, how to sum up the trip without boring you with all those little 'you had to be there' details?
i guess i'll start off with the highlights:
-- Aurélie lives in a huge home with 10 other students in a co-op kind of deal. it's pretty incredible. dinner is eaten together every night (the chef rotating on a schedule in the kitchen), all food and house responsibilities are shared, eggs are collected from the chicken coop, musical instruments are scattered in each room, and nights are frequently ended all around the firepit in the front yard chatting about days events and stories of when we discovered the truth about santa clause. (pic of breakfast on the patio)
-- the weather was incredible. sun. blue sky. t-shirts. i am convinced that what they say about the country have 300 days of cloudy skies and the majority with some sort of precipitation is a grand conspiracy.
-- it must also be noted that everyone in the house (and our travel group) spoke french...except me. there was a lot of listening, trying to interpret body language, and trying to contribute as much as possible with smiles. just another facet of the adventure.
--our second day there we took the train to a little town called, Bruges. it is in the Flemish part of the country (no french spoken here) and is seriously something out of a storybook (and is referred to as the Venice of the North). a canal connects the majority of the town and runs along brick buildings with potted plants and charming moss covered roofs. in addition, almost every street contains at least one chocolate shop with a window display begging to be eaten. it was a magical day of strolling the streets, riding a small boat along the canal, and being together--a group of young people, appreciating a beautiful city.

this is the main square in Bruges--horse drawn carriages run everywhere and those triangle shaped roofs are everywhere. love them!

the city from the oldest bell tower in the town.

a garden of daffodils in a park made for the nuns of Bruges to enjoy.
-- one night, it was MEXICAN FOOD night. Aurélie had promised the house my cali-mex cooking specialty a while before we got there, so fajita style burritos it was! cooking for 18 people was an adventure (along with giving several lessons in how to properly fold a tortilla...a skill that must be practiced i learned).
--next big adventure was Brussels, "the capital of Europe" and home to all the official EU buildings. i must say i enjoyed the city, but found it very different from any place i'd visited before. maybe it's the combo of the Flemish and Franco parts of the small country or the clash of modern and gothic architecture...regardless, it was a cool place. here are some pics to prove it.

the spanish flat together in Belgium!

buildings in the main plaza

maybe it's just me, but sitting on the ground in a main plaza felt odd..yet, here it's all the rage and a completely normal way to enjoy the architecture.

i was a little out of the monuments loop when i was told we on our way to see one of the main monuments in Belgium...the statue of Brussels, the dignified 30 cm statue of a little boy peeing into a fountain commemorating an old tale of a young boy saving the city by putting out a fire with his bodily fluids. i was told it's Belgium humor. (they even dress the statue up on holidays and for random occasions)

those five days in Belgium are ones i will never forget--it was a trip unlike any other on many accounts. now on to the next adventure :) cheers!

signs of spring

after weeks of rainy, gloomy, less than enjoyable weather, granada decided to remind me of the warm, good ol' days this past weekend. it's amazing how a little sun can change a city--out of nowhere came spaniards of every age scarfing down a gelato (yet, still too afraid to shed their winter jackets...what's the deal people?), groups of dazed but happy tourists wandered the cobblestone streets, smiles appeared on even the grumpiest of frutería ladies, and an overall energetic buzz blasted from tapas bars that spring has finally arrived.
naturally, an event such as this could not be wasted inside my dark and damp piso doing homework or procrastinating doing homework by knitting scarves in my toasty bed--no, no, no. instead i joined kristen and an australian friend, tim to indulge in some Los Italianos cassata (gelato cake mixed with dried fruit and nuts) and explore our beautiful city. what started out as a tour of the neighborhood and the epic graffiti art that is housed there, ended up being a long awaited hike above the city and among the "cuevas de los gitanos" (caves of the gypsies). it is exactly as it's named: caves dug into the side of the hill that have been occupied by gypsies...quite fascinating actually. as we hiked by in my dress and kristen's flats (clearly not so prepared for hiking) we yelled "hola" to the residents as we trotted by their homes on the dirt trail and and feel in love with the views.




it was a wonderful way to celebrate the beginning of spring and see the city from above. plus, i forgot how soul cleansing hiking in some nature is. i will be visiting my gypsy friends again soon.
till then, i will be off to Belgium to visit an old flat-mate and check out that chocolate and waffle filled country :) update to come in a week or so.