España

The three day weekend (they have off here for Pentecost) left a few of us wanting to go somewhere. Being so close, we chose Spain. We rented a car and hit the road into Basque country to the amazing city of San Sebastián. Upon arriving, we explored the beach and downtown area and had an amazing lunch at one of the many, many tapas bars/restaurants. I had spider crab crepes and fresh shrimp. It was completely amazing.

After walking around, we checked into the hotel, changed for diner, and took to the mountains. It was great having a rented car, because we could go places we would have never seen had we taken the train. For example, this mountain field and Spanish graveyard:

The ocean view was unbelievable. I couldn't believe my eyes the whole time. We then drove to the top of one of the main mountain points in the town and climbed an old castle. 

Seeing this in real life was more amazing than I can put into words. For dinner we went to a restaurant that has had many American articles written about its amazing food.

The top left is butter, the bottom left is my entree of glazed suckling pig with apple garnish and dried apple chips. The top right is a traditional Basque dessert curd of goat's milk with walnuts, and the bottom right is an appetizer of Spanish iberico ham, which originally looks like this: 

These legs were hanging everywhere, and they cost thousands of dollars for only one. The meat is shaved very, very, thin and is the most amazing meat I've ever tasted. 

The next day we headed to Bilbao, which is about an hour west. We had a lunch of paella, ribs, and flan. 

It was Sunday, so almost everything except the bars were closed. We stopped by the Guggenheim, and checked out their older section of town. 

We sat in this mist for like 10 minutes. 

Dinner that night was at one of the extremely few places open, a tapas bar also. 

The top picture is fried pork's cheek and red peppers. I'd never had cheek before, and it was amazing. Left to right is season green peppers, a different type of ham that I don't remember, and helado fresca. All completely amazing. I'd live in Spain just for the food. 

Overall, Spain was really fun. I love the sights, the company, and the food, and I loved trying to speak Spanish. I think this trip helped me on the road to not being scared to make mistakes while trying to speak a different language. Being in a different culture at first was completely shocking, but I'm starting to really like it. Tonight my host mom took me for a walk through a beautiful park across the street from the apartment that leads to the Pau river. It flows from the mountains, and I cannot wait to swim in that bad boy. Walking around in a bathing suite not on a beach or at a pool is illegal here, so I'll have to cover up quick! 

For some reason Facebook isn't letting me upload pictures, so check back soon for more shots of Spain! 

les premiers jours en France

This will be brief because I want to take a nap.

The 8 hour flight was better than expected. I watched the Vow. I didn't sleep. Charles De Gaulle is freaking insane. If I wasn't with a group I'd of been royally screwed. A train and a bus to get to the terminal + you don't understand the signs = major stress. A nice lady helped us out. That was the last of the kindness for us.

I ordered water on the plane in French. It gave me confidence. Hours later that confidence was shattered. At first it was super interesting to hear people speak French everywhere. Then, when things actually need to get done, it's completely terrifying. Shopping is especially scary. I made a complete fool out myself yesterday at the mall when a lady asked me if I had their special card and I said yes. Then I walked straight into the gate that's in the grocery store that you need to scan your receipt in order to get out. I haven't gotten yelled at, so it hasn't been all that bad. People are generally apathetic and will not speak English to you no matter what, and for good reason. I'm sure I act the same in America. I'm in the lowest class at school, and I'm actually surprised I can understand so much for only taking one semester. Yesterday I felt really sorry for myself because lots of students can actually talk to people. If I had the opportunity to go home last night, I would have. Today is much better. I can get to school and back on the bus really easily, and it's becoming less awkward to never know what anyone is saying. I accidentally spelled an English word like a French word yesterday, so I think that's a good sign. Today I am feeling more confident and comfortable. It can only get better.

Pau is absolutely beautiful. My host mom was really excited to show me the mountains today, which finally have come out of the clouds a bit. Downtown is wonderful and is walking distance away. This weekend a group of us are going to San Sabastian, Spain for the long weekend, and I cannot wait to go to the beach. Here are some photos.

The view of the mountains from our balcony.

Pre-Trip Jitters and Such

One week from today I leave for France. It doesn't seem real that I will be experiencing probably the most exciting event in my life thus far in only seven days. That is a dramatic statement, and I am fully aware that millions of other people have also done what I am about to do, but that's the essence of the human experience isn't it? We think our situations are so incredibly unique when so many others have been through it, but it's unique to us, and that's all that really matters.

This post is coming at you at 1:07 am Chicago time, courtesy of my whacked out sleep pattern. I get tired at midnight, go to bed and lay there for an hour and then get up and do something. Stay up til 2 am, sleep til 10, and repeat. It's ridiculous. I have zero will power to get up at 8 to put the whole thing right again, and I figure it's just going to get jacked up when we land in Pau anyways.

Pau. Pronounced po. Like the popo gunna come git you.

Southwest corner of France, where French and Spanish cultures are wonderfully mixed. The two countries are roughly divided by The Pyrenees Mountains, which are visible from Pau. 

http://freedoniapost.com/tag/mountains/

Let's make some lists here.

Things I'm Most Excited About:

 - Meeting people (and my host family!)

- Taking pictures/the sights

- Just plain traveling

- THE FOOD (and beverages)  :)

- being in a completely different culture

- To be out of my house/my town/Illinois/the US

Things I'm Most Nervous About

- being accidentally offensive 

- my horrible accent while speaking French

- SPEAKING FRENCH

- numbers in French (they're simply horrid) 

- getting lost (although this can be fun, it can also be dangerous) 

- getting mugged

- getting sick

- getting stuck next to a really fat, smelly man for the 8.5 hr flight to Paris

Though it is not proved by the lists, the excitement does in fact out weight the fear at this point. Thinking about everything I need beforehand makes me want to skip that part and just get to Pau. My mom and I are making a list tomorrow. Packing will be interesting. 

This trip is such a blessing though. I have literally been praying for two years for the ability to travel, and had you asked me what I thought I would be doing this summer, I would have told you that I'd be working. God makes me laugh when He proves to me how well he knows me. I thought I would have a month at home, but it ended up being two weeks. I was a little bummed at first, but now I see that a month at home would not particularly benefit my relationship with my family. 

I have decided to find a book of French poetry when I get over there and to translate it. It'll be good practice.

I am also planning on writing a play. I've wanted to for a while. It's going to be about a professor falling in love with a student. SCANDAL! 

Some Thoughts on Failure

As humans, we have a deeper relationship with failure than we initially realize. From the time we are children, we are taught to blindly run from failure, doing everything we can to strive after perfection. Soon we learn that this is extremely difficult and that it boarders on impossible, yet we keep going. We expect perfection in school, relationships, sports, and music. We are disappointed when we come in contact with failure on someone else's part, and we're extremely hard on ourselves when we personally fail. Through all this, there's one thing we forget: trials and failures are two of our greatest teachers. 

As an Education students, failure is something we have to treat very strategically. A great amount of effort goes into reversing students' predispositions and fear towards failure. If students are afraid of failure in the classroom, they will learn significantly less than if they put their pride aside take risks. This is exactly how we should treat life. We will fail, it's inevitable, but it's how we react to failure that determines what comes out of that situation. 

The ability to rise above the the bubbling black failure of this world also requires a connection to something that never fails. Many people turn to romantic love for this, but this is a dangerous misstep, and even the most devoted partner is going to make mistakes. Unfailing, unwavering, and everlasting love can only be found from our Creator, the one divine example of perfection in a world full of failures. His plans, promises, and Word never fails. He is completely perfect, requiring nothing, and yet He wants us more than anything. That is the definition of perfect love. Let's look at some examples of His perfection: 

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Isaiah 51:6
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail

Isaiah 58:11

The Lord will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land 
    and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden, 
    like a spring whose waters never fail.

Lamentations 3:22
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

Summer!

Within the last two days, I have gotten ridiculously excited for summer, which arrives in less than a week.
I am most excited about:

-France! And all the things that are thus included.
-Seeing my family
-Seeing my pets
-Going to my church
-Going to Chicago
-Sleeping
-Being reunited with all my books
-Being in my room
-The stars at night
-Jumping on the trampoline with my sisters
-Taking walks at night
-Family parties
-Watching TV
-Reading whatever I want
-Scary movies
-Home cooked food
-Grilling
-Grandparents
-Being a senior (I CAN'T BELIEVE IT)
-Concerts
-Lake Michigan
-Family vacations
-Camping
-Fishing
-My back porch
-Walks in the power lines
-Thrifting

It's going to be an incredibly full and wonderful summer!

Lessons

Wow! I haven't posted one blog post this whole semester! It's been a whirlwind of 20 credits and putting the most effort into my grades as I ever have. However, there is one big lesson that sticks out from this semester and year that I'd love to share with you.

The most prominent lessons I've learned this year comes from John 15. Verse 1-5 say,

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." 

Now, obviously, there are many lessons and talking points that can be extracted from this passage. The bolded sections are what God has emphasized in my life this year. 

Firstly, He prunes so that we can be more fruitful. Slowly and painfully, He cuts away parts of us that don't look like him. If you ask any of the girls on my floor last year, they will tell you that I was very far from being a kind person this time last year. It has been quite a journey to trust God to take away my pride, bitterness, and hatred towards people. Over time He has replaced that with His unfailing love. It's the most shocking and incredible feeling when you instantly feel love for people that you either don't even know or really dislike. This can only be from God. 

Secondly, we must remain in Him. He is in us and calls us to remain in Him. It's the place we belong and it's the only place of restoration and peace. The world wears on us more than we initially realize, and remaining in Him is the only solution. When life becomes really hard, there are two choices. Try to fix it and wallow in human efforts, or remain in Him. When my grandma passed away in November, remaining in Him was literally the only reason I got through. You eventually get to a point where talking about it with people and trying to figure out how to feel better just don't work. I learned that worship is choice and it is the perfect reaction for every situation. I started off singing words that seemed so far away from where I was, but when the choice is made to turn towards Him, healing begins.

Lastly, apart from Him we can do nothing. Everything we have is because He allowed is to have it. Everything we do is made possible by Him. Thankfulness is the only response to this. 

Travel Blogging Failure

The plan to fully explain and share each day of my wonderful stay in New York was obviously not fulfilled. Here's the short version.

I visited multiple boating towns along the northern shore of Long Island. These were exceedingly beautiful and full of New England charm.

This was my favorite shot of my whole trip. Port Jeff, NY

We then took the train into the city and saw Chicago on Broadway at the Ambassador Theater. The musical was amazing and I much enjoyed the smallness of the theater. We then briefly viewed Times Square, where we saw movie trailers parked near the sidewalk. After this we went to 30 Rock, which was surreal. There were so many people at 30 Rock that it literally was like one giant mosh pit. Despite the crowd, I enjoyed photographing this wonderful establishment. 

The next day we headed to the Hamptons, where we enjoyed the beautiful beaches and observing the posh people who live there. 

We spent New Years at my aunt's friend's house in Sea Cliff, NY. This was probably one of the best New Years experiences I've had. The company and the location were more than ideal.

Shamu, our lovely hostess's beautiful Newfoundland

My goals for this trip were to enjoy traveling to a place that I'd never been, but the people I met ended up being the highlight. 

While in New York, I discovered by a good friend a summer study abroad program that I would like to pursue. Two months in Pau, France, which is in the southwest corner, two hours from Spain. Exciting!