Eat, Pray, Love.

My European adventure has finally come to a close. It feels like just yesterday I was sitting at Angelo's in Little Italy with my mom for my final dinner and holding Bren's hand as we landed in Paris. And now almost four months later my bags are packed and I await for our 3 AM bus ride to the airport.

I can't explain everything that has happened during my time here and how much this experience has changed my life. By far living in Europe is the most daring, fulfilling, and worth while decision I have made. And during my time here I have learned so much about myself; my limits, my values, and above all else who I am. I still can't wrap my head around the idea that one day I will be telling my kids "That one time when I was nineteen and lived in Paris, Rome, and Seville and travelled through Europe". And through this journey I have had my two best friends by my side, while creating new friendships that will last way beyond just this trip.

When I first started this blog I didn't know what to call it. My mom had the cheesy idea "Jordan is A-broad" (Very clever though Mom!) but that just didn't cut it. But then it hit me- My Own Eat, Pray, Love. And during my time here I did just that. In each of the three cities I lived in for five weeks one of these applied more so than the other, but all three carried through my trip. Praying in Paris, Eating in Rome, and Loving in Seville.

Pray;

“There’s a crack (or cracks) in everyone…

that’s how the light of God gets in.” 

- Elizabet Gilbert, "Eat, Pray,Love"

I have visited countless churches throughout Europe, more than I can count on both hands! Each had a different element that is unique and sticks out in my mind. In Paris the campus ministry of campus was phenomenal and really went above and beyond to highlight the beauty in the churches in the City of Love. We went to a different church each week (By far my favorite was Sacre-Coeur!) , and I often attended. Even though I did not understand it gave me time to reflect and just have a moment with myself. But it goes beyond just the attending mass and the churches. The easiest way I can explain this is by telling you a story during my spring break trip while I was in Vienna...

. . .I had been in Europe for three months and I felt tired and had to pull myself together to realize I only had a month left and I eventually I'll make it home. I was missing my family tremendously and all I wanted was to be at the dinner table with the Bouchie Bunch. The idea that everyone was home celebrating Easter only made it that much worse. So in Vienna we walked into the famous St. Stephen's Cathedral. Even through the gaudy gold and extravagant stained glass windows there was something so level-minded about the church in my vision. I went over and lit a candle while Praying. Praying for my family back at home, and for a safe trip back home so I could finally be in their arms again. I thanked God for all I have been blessed with and for the experience of traveling the world as I had so many times before in the masses and while visiting all of the different churches and cathedrals. But in just those few minutes, even with complete strangers around me, I felt like it was all coming together and I was okay.

Eat;

“I am a better person when I have less on my plate.”  

-Elizabet Gilbert, "Eat, Pray, Love"

Oh, where do I begin with food?! I can't even begin the explain how good the food was in Rome. It really is such a big part of the culture and some of my favorite memories of not only my time in Italy but my whole European time is going out to dinner. My favorite night was when my mom and Ry visited and we went out to dinner and then ended in Piazza Novona (my favorite place in the whole wide world!) and shared dessert and a bottle of wine. It are the times when you sit with those people you love and enjoy the company of those around you. All of us students have brought up how nice it is not to have our cell phone and while sitting at a restaurant talking to one another rather than being typing away to someone who wasn't even there. I had crepes in Paris, pizza in Naples (from the same place as "Eat, Pray, Love"! What a surreal moment!), paella in Spain, kebassi in Prague- but nothing beats the pasta in Rome! With Ry and my mom we found a little gem called "Da Tony's" that I have mentioned multiple times. The food was just so delicious! The pasta was what you expect while you're in Italy and the bread is fresh with vinegar and oil, and you were to be sure to end the meal with chocolate, ice cream, or lemoncello on the house (or in some cases all three!). I know for sure that when I come to Rome next (since I threw my coins in the Trevi Fountain I know I will be back!) that Da Tony's will be my first stop for a big bowl of pesto pasta and chicken parmesan!

Love;

“I think I deserve something beautiful.”

-Elizabet Gilbert, "Eat, Pray, Love"

That silly thing called love. It had always been an on going joke with my friends that I was going to find my European lover and be whisked away and never come home. Did that happen? Not quite, but came pretty close one night in the Seville Hospital. But my "love" part of my trip has been much more than that. During my trip, especially in Seville, I realized more than ever how much my family and friends mean to me. With Brett doing so well in baseball (watch out Yankees, you're going to have a new pitcher in a couple years!) and Emma already going on her eighth grade trip to Washington D.C and keeping me updated with things going on at home (Yes Brett, I know about your movie date thanks to her! We'll be talking when I get home!), and mornings I wish Ry was there so I could tell her about something crazy I did the night before even if I know it will only mean playing the twenty questions game from there out- my heart is longing to be back with my siblings! And my relationship with my mom and dad, being as independent from them thus far in my almost twenty years (even though I will forever be financially in debt to them, oops!) has grown as well. I can't thank them enough for allowing me to do this trip and supporting me 100% through it all. Now I value my friendships even more than before. (Linds and Adri- thank you for putting up with my countless facebooks messages and my ranting and raving about my trip. I cannot wait to be home to catch up! Bren and Kimm- This trip wouldn't have been the same without you. Having you two by my side through the thick and thin has been the best thing that happened to me.Without you girls my head wouldn't be attached to my body.) And to all my friends and family that have been following my blog, thank you so much. It means the world to me that you take the time to share this experience with me. And on top of it all, I have a special place in my heart for the seventy three new friends I have made here. It's unlike any bond you can have between a group of people, sharing such a life changing experience like this. But above all else, I have strengthened the love for myself as an individual. I can't even begin to explain what goes through my head on a daily basis taking all of this in. But the mere fact that I have had this experience and learned so much about myself has meant more to me than anything.

So this chapter is closing. Tomorrow I will be snuggled up in my bed in the U.S.A and this will probably all feel like a dream. I have visited eight countries (France, Ireland, England, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Prague, Vienna), twelves cities (Paris, Dublin, England, Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Venice, Florence, Seville, Barcelona, Prague, Lagos), three in which I can say I called home. But I have so much to look forward to; being reunited with my family and friends, a jam-packed summer, the start of my junior year of college, being a plunge leader again in the fall, and returning to the city that never sleeps- It is hard to leave but there is so much more I have in the future. Au Revoir, Ciao, Adios Europe, you've been too good to me, I'll see you again one day.  

Friends that Turned into Family

This has been definitely a week for the books! As our last week in not only Spain but Europe all of us on the rotation really came together to make the most of the time we had left on this experience!

It started off as a weekend get away to Lagos, Portugal, which was absolutely beautiful! Friday morning fifty of us loaded onto busses and through a program called Discover Seville we had a little DTW family vacation! We got there and right away were whisked off to a sangria sailboat tour where we listened to music and took little boats into some amazing caves. Even with a few clouds in the sky we all were loving this surreal life that we are living. After sleeping off our early day buzz we went to a place called NahNahBah, a local restaurant that is known for their burgers. The tucan burger, what I got, is ranked one of the fifty best burgers in Europe, and rightfully so! I never would think of putting pineapple on a burger but it was absolutely delicious! From there we went out to a bar/club where Discover Seville held a litte "party" for all of us. The next morning it was early rising to go to the top of the cliffs where we got to see the aerial view of the caves! It was absolutely beautiful and the look out down the coast was breath taking. Even in a dress and flip flops I climbed my way through the cliffs to get to the very edge; Mom, you would've had a heart attack if you saw! From there we went to the beach where we stayed for the day, playing beach volleyball and all hanging out. And to end the night we went to the "End of the World" to see the sunset as Alan played guitar and we all sang along. Sunday we spent the day in the center of city doing some souvenir shopping (I got my final key chain for my collection of all the places I've been!) and went to a little hole-in-the-wall diner known for their American breakfast! Then we hopped on the busses and went home (it was only a three hour bus ride!) And to end the perfect weekend we went to the fireworks that celebrated the end of Feria! It was the cherry on top!Obviously that is the most condensed version you could get of the weekend, but I pulled an all nighter at the Seville Hospital (long story, don't worry I'm fine!) so I'm definitely running on empty today.

But this weekend, and the week that followed all going out together and spending our days in the City Center, has really showed how close we have gotten on this trip. It's weird to think that many, and really in most cases, of us didn't know each other at all just three and a half months ago and now we have stories and memories that are absolutely irreplaceable. Even if we all didn't talk all the time or go out together every night we all have a relationship with one another; It's passing each other in the hall and saying hi to everyone. It's sad to think that my time in Europe is quickly coming to an end (only a day and a half left!) but what lies in the future outweighs that above all else. I can say that I have met secenty four new people that I share something really unexplainable with. I know when I get home everyone is going to ask my favorite places and my favorite part of the trip, but no one can really fully understand what it has been like being here besides those who were on the journey with me.

So Discover the World family- I really am going to miss you over the summer and cannot wait until we're back at school to bring all this craziness home with us! Thank you for all the amazing times we have had.

"Listen to the music of the moment people, dance and sing

We're just one big family

And it's our God-forsaken right to be loved."

More than Sangria and Siestas

There's so much to catch up on I can't even keep it all straight! You would think with all the down time I've had in the past week and a half I would have written a blog by now, but the relaxation and sun have gotten the best of me! I guess it will be easier to explain what I've been up to by each thing rather than a day-by-day play back.

Last Sunday (I can't believe it was a week ago already!) a big group of us went to a bull fight! As part of Spanish culture I really wanted to go and see what it was all about, especially being the bull fighting capital of Spain, even though I had been warned it was quite gruesome. We got dressed up (bull fights are considered a really important outing and the people who sit up close to the ring dress up with big hats, kind of like the Kentucky Derby!) and went to the bulling in Seville right down the street from our hostel, the oldest in Spain! We made our way to the seats, which were high up but in the shade which was nice to hide us from the beating sun, and the match began! There first was a parade of all the matadors in their sparkeling costumes and some on big beautiful horses. Then the ring was cleared and before you knew it a bull was charging out! I had no idea what to expect so I sat there anxiously with my hands ready to cover my eyes. The way a bull fight works is in three parts; The first is when the bull is released and runs around the ring with four matadors inside with pink capes. The bull runs around charging after the capes as the matadors hide behind a wooden wall. The second part is when a man comes out on a horse with a large spear (Ah!) This was my least favorite part. On the horse the fighter would stab the bull four times. Majority of the time the bull would angrily attack the horse, stabbing it with their horns. The horse had full body protection on, but it still made all of cringe. Then the matador the fight would come out with three darts. The goal was to get the darts in between the third and fourth rib cage. The closer it was to that, the more points received. At this point the bull is tired and clearly injured, so the red cape comes out and the matador puts on a show, and stabbed the bull with a skinny sword until it would finally fall. There are six bulls used for each fight, so it happens six times. In our case, one of the bulls was not fighting well and fell after being stabbed by the man on the horse just once so the crowd began to chant and the bull was herded out of the ring to be killed in the back. A man who was sitting infront of us explained to us that if a bull is not fighting well that the crowd will do this and a new bull will be broughten out. He also told us that the winning matador of the fight can win up to 400,000 EUROS for just one night. How crazy is that?! It sounds violent, I know, but it was really interesting to see. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it, but it was actually one of my favorite things I have done yet in Europe! It really gave me an inside look into the culture, and even though it was not easy to watch I really appreciated it for what it was as a part of culture rather than slaughtering. And to make the experience even cooler was the fact that it was the week of Feria and so there was bull fights every night of the week when usually during the season they are only on Sundays. It was a great start to a very exciting week!

Go Team Bull!

Feria is the biggest festival in Seville of the year! Monday night was the big lighting ceremony of the big arc way of the festival area and all the lights of the street. It was a site to see! There were tents lining the streets of the area. I had read about the festival before and saw that the tents were owned by the elite of Seville and it would be a really big honor to be invited into one and extremely unlikely. On the other side of the fair is what is called "Hell Street" where all the rides are. That is where we ended our night going on rides and having the time of our lives. Going on the ferris wheel and over looking the whole thing with all the lights was beautiful! We spent the next couple of days spending all of our free time there! And it was nice because my professor was in Hungary for the week, so I didn't have class so it was a week of vacation at the fair for me! Tuesday a big group of us went back to go on some more rides and spend the day there. I spent majority of my time (when I wasn't upside down on a ride!) admiring the beautiful flamenco dresses of all the girls and women. Everyone was dressed up in tradital flaemnco dresses with flowers at the top of their heads. I felt totally underdressed for the occasion. The streets were packed with people and horses. I loved how people were casually sitting on their horses eating and drinking as if they were just seats! It was so lucky of us to be here for Feria. With it being such a relaxed city it gave us some excitement and something to look forward doing with no class for the week! 

 

There were a couple of excursions the school took us on during the week, but my favorite by far was back to the bull ring. It ended up being a small group of us girls that decided to go so we got a personal tour and an inside look! It was awesome to go back and see up close where we had just been days before and learning more about it. We went into the bottom of the ring where there was a museum explaining the history of bull fighting with capes and even bull heads of famour fights! After they treated us to lunch and we spent the day walking around the City Center doing some souvenir shopping at the special markets the lined the streets for Feria! I got my mom a present from there I've had my eye on for some time now, and I can't wait to give it to her! It was a very productive and fun filled day, one of my favorites in Seville yet!

So that was my crazy last week in Seville! I spent the weekend in Lagos, Portugal which was the cherry on top of Europe, a perfect way to spend my last weekend here! I'll be sure to write about that in the next blog! I just wanted to fill all of you in on my last full week in Seville! It was one for the books! It definitely has made me appreciate where I am a lot more so than before now that I have seen what is most important to them, and to show me more to the Spanish culture than sangria and siestas!