GETTING TO GRANADA (WITH CUBAN CIGARS AND A STOP AT THE BEACH)
Some people don’t like surprises. They get nervous when plans change or when the natural order of life is disturbed. Now, when I had to repack my bags before flying out of JFK, I was not a happy camper and fit somewhat into this category. However, I think the Spanish way of life is starting to calm down this five-foot-whirlwind-walker-pre-planner, and all for the better! It is a wonder how even the best-laid plans can float away with even a small breeze. Our breeze was not even a strong wind. What we experienced was a typhoon that changed every step during our trek to Granada.
First, the bus that picked us up from the hotel to take us to the airport was not nearly large enough for the luggage of 15 overloaded international travelers and one resident program director carrying a single suitcase and a tough-as-nails attitude. Jorge told me that he has been overseeing UD students for 20 years, and it is sure a good thing that he knows what he is doing. He was fit to be tied at this first glitch on our journey. We did fit on the bus, but we had to bring some of our bags on the seats with us (I was fortunate enough to sit in the shot-gun seat next to the driver). What a way to the airport!
Upon arriving at the airport, we checked our luggage and looked for our departure gate. The funny thing was that there was no such flight to Madrid from Barcelona like our boarding passes and tickets indicated. That’s right, our flight was headed to a much further destination—Havana. Of course, our plane had a connecting flight in Madrid, New York and Washington, D.C. before Cuba, but Jorge was extremely irritated that we could not fly directly from Barcelona to Granada. Furthermore, the plane took off over a half and hour later than the departure time. We were cutting it rather close.
Our plane landed in Madrid (unfortunately, I never got to meet Fidel Castro or Desi Arnez in Cuba like I had hoped), but the flight attendant directed half the group to the right and the other half straight ahead. I went straight with Jorge, but being with the man in charge made no difference. We all had to trek to the complete opposite side of the Madrid airport to terminal HJK (approximately 26 minutes from where we landed). Here’s where things started unraveling: we were split up into the two groups, security made several of us go through the checkpoint a second time because our computers were not in separate bin from our other items (no other airport during our entire trip required this), and we had to hustle up and down escalators, through long hallways and onto airport trains to make our flight. Then, somewhere about a hundred feet in front of us, like the first glimpse of a pool of water in a desert, we saw Gate K55 (one of the last in the ENTIRE terminal)! The water, glistening on the horizon, however, turned out to be a mirage. Despite the fact that our plane was sitting outside the gate and all 16 of us were standing there, we were not permitted to board because we had missed the last boarding call.
We missed the last flight from Madrid to Granada on Saturday, and I heard quite a slew of strong words from everyone around me. I think everyone had reached boiling point after all the issues surrounding the pre-trip and the current conditions: miscommunications with UD staff about our visas this summer, the sight of our plane still sitting at the gate, and the refusal of Iberia from letting us board even though it was their previous flight from Barcelona that was late and made it impossible for us to make the flight out of Madrid. People were hungry and worried about their luggage and whether or not it would arrive when and where we needed it.
Somehow, I was not at all bothered by our change of plans. Sure, it would have been nice to head straight to Granada, but I believe the peace of God was with me in that airport. I could have been upset that I forgot to pack a change of clothes in my carry-on bag. I might have been upset that the woman in the Barcelona airport never gave me my luggage receipts/tags when I checked my bags and my entire luggage could have been lost. I could have even complained that I was hungry, since I ate a very early breakfast. One of the guys in our group called me an optimist. Honestly, I needed to be calm amidst the sea of frustrated folks around me. And that, I must say, was the God’s hand at work.
Ultimately, Jorge, who was angered by the incompetence of UD and Iberia personnel alike, managed to get us on a flight to Málaga, where we then took a bus to Granada. That is how I made it once again to the Mediterranean, to the city where I lived and studied two years ago. For the first time during all my travels, I was assigned a window seat on the plane (hooray for breathtaking views)! Additionally, taking a bus provided the opportunity for me to take pictures en route. Plans may change, but I believe that plans made by human hands are prone to err. The plans made higher up are those so perfectly made!
UN BESO SANTO
I met Carmen, my host mother around 22:00 on Saturday evening. She welcomed me into her beautiful apartment where her first order of business was to feed me. A Spanish tortilla and a salad was enough to do the trick, and I must say that she is an excellent cook! I am certain that I will never go hungry in Granada. I have my own bedroom and bathroom since I am the only student staying with her this semester. It was so nice to finally unpack everything and have some space to call my own (besides two square suitcases zipped to the max). Indeed, I cannot help but smile—I do feel welcome and at home.
Carmen is probably in her mid-sixties and she loves to watch the television. From the news, to entertainment gossip channels and American dramas like NUMB3RS and JAG (dubbed in Spanish, of course), this woman is a character! I enjoy speaking with her, although because I speak well, she is under the impression that I can comprehend just as much as I talk. The rate at which the words come from her mouth can be overwhelming at times. She assured me, however, that after a week, I should be just fine.
The apartment is one block away from the cibercafé, one block from El Parque de Frederico García Lorca, a fifteen-minute walk from El Centro de Lenguas Modernas (where I will study this semester), and two blocks away from La Iglesia Evangélica (the church). Another UD student lives in the apartment building and most of my other friends live on neighboring streets. I am amazed at how perfectly everything came together.
On Sunday morning, I attended the church and I can finally say that I understand the command from 1 Peter—to greet one another with a “holy kiss.” I was welcomed into the church by more people than I can remember their names. In addition, there were more than a dozen international students there who I met today and hopefully will continue to get to know this semester. Imagine an InterVarsity large group, but spoken (and sung) entirely in Spanish and with even more enthusiasm!
I returned from church, ate an enormous lunch and went on a walk around the city with Lauren, the other student in my building. We took the long way around town and walked all the way to La Alhambra and La Alcazaba. We returned about two and a half hours later, exhausted, but glad to have seen the city. I climbed the five flights of stairs up to my apartment, had tea and cookies with my host mother, and took a quick nap before dinner.
This is by far the longest not I have written of my travels. There will be fewer unnecessary details later on, as soon as I am in a routine and have less to describe. Before I close, though, I just want to say how blessed I have been. I had a wonderful roommate in Barcelona, I made it safely to Granada, and my accommodations here are beyond what I could have imagined. God is very good and I am content.
Your happy traveler,
Diana (my name in España)
“Confia de todo corazón en el Señor y no en ti propia inteligencia. Ten presente al Señor en todo lo que hagas, y él te llevará por el camino recto.”
Proverbios 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
Monday, September 8, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Barcelona: Capital of Catalunya, Host of the 1992 Summer Olympics, and “Home” for the First Few Days in Spain
HERE WE GO, INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER
On Tuesday at 13:30 (9:30 AM for all the folks in the U.S. EST time zone), our group arrived in the airport of Barcelona! We were met by Jorge, our resident director for the program and loaded out luggage onto the bus. Now before I proceed, I must make one important note in reference to my last posting. I tried my hardest to pack everything into one suitcase before I left home, but upon checking my bag at JFK, I learned that my suitcase was so far over, that I had to go off to the side and transfer some of my belongings into my carry-on bag and then check both suitcases. I was so overwhelmed by my foolishness and I was mortified as I threw things from one bag to the other right between the check-in desk and the security gate. Ultimately, I sent some books and shoes home with the mom who drove me to the airport. It was not the most enjoyable experience nor am I proud that I was “so well prepared,” but it was followed by a rushed but successful trip through the security checkpoint.
OVERCOMING THE LAG OF THE JET
We all pulled our luggage into the hotel and prepared to eat lunch. My roommate Rebecca and I, along with the four guys on the trip, walked around the major streets near the hotel and strolled down Las Ramblas, a long and entertaining road. Geared for tourists, there were vendors, restaurants, and most exciting of all, people dressed up as elaborate statues, complete with face paint, props and costumes. In the early evening, Jorge took the whole group down Las Ramblas until we arrived at the waterfront. There, we rode an elevator to the top of the 40m statue of Christopher Columbus and saw an amazing view of the city. Jorge bought us café to give us a bit of a boost and then he showed us how to take the Metro around the city. We returned to the hotel and a few hours later at 22:30, we went out to dinner (translation: 10:30 PM—my kind of meal time)!
WHAT IS ART?
Over the last two days, the group walked through town, rode on a tour bus through various parts of the city (with a headset giving a guided tour in 10 different languages) and visited several cultural destinations. On Thursday, we saw the Museu D’Història de Barcelona (History Museum of Barcelona), the Cathedral Gotica, and the Museu Picasso. On Friday, we boarded the tour bus and headed toward the Museu Nacional D’Art de Catalunya (National Art Museum of Catalunya) and the Museu Miró (Joan Miró Museum). We hopped back on the bus after more café and agua (water) from the museum shop and saw the waterfront, various statues and sculptures of the “modern” sort, and the Olympic Village from the 1992 Summer Olympic Games (finally I made it to an Olympic city)! In all of this though, I struggled with the various perceptions of art, from Picasso’s shift through impressionism to cubism and Miró’s passionate depiction of a black line across a 20-foot white canvas. Indeed, I was puzzled until I saw Sagrada Familia, the cathedral designed by Antonio Gaudí, with its height, intricate curves, swirls and sculptures. Following that architectural marvel was the Park Güell, also designed by Gaudí. I cannot express how extraordinary the brightly colored mosaics, columns and stone sculptures appeared against the park’s gardens. Indeed, I am satisfied with Barcelona’s cultural presentation in all its forms.
THE “NEAT, NEW, AND NOT SO NIFTY” OF SPAIN
The Neat
1. Think you can parallel park in the city? Try putting your SUV into one of the many Vespa spaces lining the streets. Not only do Spanish commuters drive smaller automobiles and motorcycles, but Barcelona has bicycle lanes right down the middle of every street for those oh so fuel-efficient two-wheelers.
2. Tapas and paella are phenomenal! The finger food or small dishes known as tapas provide a meal with multiple options. Paella, the famous Spanish rice dish, is filling and is also available in various varieties (seafood, chicken, you name it, they make it!)
3. There is very little traffic at 9 AM on the city streets. Surprisingly enough, the morning commute is not as crazy as it is in America. I personally attribute this to the fact that in Spain, everyone is a bit more relaxed and probably don’t rush to work at the crack of dawn.
The New
1. The architecture in northern Spain is breathtaking. Barcelona was primarily influenced by the Roman Empire up through the conquest by the Arabs around the 8th century. Finally everything I learned in Art History comes to life!
2. In Barcelona, they have two types of Spanish: Castilian (what we learn in Spanish class) and Catelán, which is influenced by France from the north.
The Not-So-Nifty
1. Spaniards in large cities like Barcelona assume that if you are American, you cannot speak Spanish. Thus, our Spanish-speaking is limited while in restaurants and other public arenas (translation: EVERYWHERE). Also, we don’t very often speak Spanish together in our group, except for talking to our tour guide and Jorge. This has me a little bummed out as I would love to practice more and it would be fun to really perfect the language while I am here! Several of us ladies have decided that once we are in Granada and everyone feels more comfortable with their host families, we will make sure that our conversation is entirely of the “Spanish” sort.
2. Garbage anywhere on any street smells like fish. I suppose that’s what you get when you are in a city with a port!
3. The Spanish like to smoke a great deal, and it is pretty much guaranteed that anywhere there are people, an ash tray is sure to be found.
OFF TO GRANADA
Tomorrow, we leave the hotel for Granada, where I will finally meet my host mother. I do not know what Internet access will be like once I arrive in my new home, so I will leave you all guessing about my next adventure. My apologies now for being so verbose in my updates, but you knew what you were getting yourself into when you signed onto this blog. You are all in my thoughts and prayers as you start new jobs, take classes and enjoy being home, close to family and friends.
Hasta pronto,
Diane
On Tuesday at 13:30 (9:30 AM for all the folks in the U.S. EST time zone), our group arrived in the airport of Barcelona! We were met by Jorge, our resident director for the program and loaded out luggage onto the bus. Now before I proceed, I must make one important note in reference to my last posting. I tried my hardest to pack everything into one suitcase before I left home, but upon checking my bag at JFK, I learned that my suitcase was so far over, that I had to go off to the side and transfer some of my belongings into my carry-on bag and then check both suitcases. I was so overwhelmed by my foolishness and I was mortified as I threw things from one bag to the other right between the check-in desk and the security gate. Ultimately, I sent some books and shoes home with the mom who drove me to the airport. It was not the most enjoyable experience nor am I proud that I was “so well prepared,” but it was followed by a rushed but successful trip through the security checkpoint.
OVERCOMING THE LAG OF THE JET
We all pulled our luggage into the hotel and prepared to eat lunch. My roommate Rebecca and I, along with the four guys on the trip, walked around the major streets near the hotel and strolled down Las Ramblas, a long and entertaining road. Geared for tourists, there were vendors, restaurants, and most exciting of all, people dressed up as elaborate statues, complete with face paint, props and costumes. In the early evening, Jorge took the whole group down Las Ramblas until we arrived at the waterfront. There, we rode an elevator to the top of the 40m statue of Christopher Columbus and saw an amazing view of the city. Jorge bought us café to give us a bit of a boost and then he showed us how to take the Metro around the city. We returned to the hotel and a few hours later at 22:30, we went out to dinner (translation: 10:30 PM—my kind of meal time)!
WHAT IS ART?
Over the last two days, the group walked through town, rode on a tour bus through various parts of the city (with a headset giving a guided tour in 10 different languages) and visited several cultural destinations. On Thursday, we saw the Museu D’Història de Barcelona (History Museum of Barcelona), the Cathedral Gotica, and the Museu Picasso. On Friday, we boarded the tour bus and headed toward the Museu Nacional D’Art de Catalunya (National Art Museum of Catalunya) and the Museu Miró (Joan Miró Museum). We hopped back on the bus after more café and agua (water) from the museum shop and saw the waterfront, various statues and sculptures of the “modern” sort, and the Olympic Village from the 1992 Summer Olympic Games (finally I made it to an Olympic city)! In all of this though, I struggled with the various perceptions of art, from Picasso’s shift through impressionism to cubism and Miró’s passionate depiction of a black line across a 20-foot white canvas. Indeed, I was puzzled until I saw Sagrada Familia, the cathedral designed by Antonio Gaudí, with its height, intricate curves, swirls and sculptures. Following that architectural marvel was the Park Güell, also designed by Gaudí. I cannot express how extraordinary the brightly colored mosaics, columns and stone sculptures appeared against the park’s gardens. Indeed, I am satisfied with Barcelona’s cultural presentation in all its forms.
THE “NEAT, NEW, AND NOT SO NIFTY” OF SPAIN
The Neat
1. Think you can parallel park in the city? Try putting your SUV into one of the many Vespa spaces lining the streets. Not only do Spanish commuters drive smaller automobiles and motorcycles, but Barcelona has bicycle lanes right down the middle of every street for those oh so fuel-efficient two-wheelers.
2. Tapas and paella are phenomenal! The finger food or small dishes known as tapas provide a meal with multiple options. Paella, the famous Spanish rice dish, is filling and is also available in various varieties (seafood, chicken, you name it, they make it!)
3. There is very little traffic at 9 AM on the city streets. Surprisingly enough, the morning commute is not as crazy as it is in America. I personally attribute this to the fact that in Spain, everyone is a bit more relaxed and probably don’t rush to work at the crack of dawn.
The New
1. The architecture in northern Spain is breathtaking. Barcelona was primarily influenced by the Roman Empire up through the conquest by the Arabs around the 8th century. Finally everything I learned in Art History comes to life!
2. In Barcelona, they have two types of Spanish: Castilian (what we learn in Spanish class) and Catelán, which is influenced by France from the north.
The Not-So-Nifty
1. Spaniards in large cities like Barcelona assume that if you are American, you cannot speak Spanish. Thus, our Spanish-speaking is limited while in restaurants and other public arenas (translation: EVERYWHERE). Also, we don’t very often speak Spanish together in our group, except for talking to our tour guide and Jorge. This has me a little bummed out as I would love to practice more and it would be fun to really perfect the language while I am here! Several of us ladies have decided that once we are in Granada and everyone feels more comfortable with their host families, we will make sure that our conversation is entirely of the “Spanish” sort.
2. Garbage anywhere on any street smells like fish. I suppose that’s what you get when you are in a city with a port!
3. The Spanish like to smoke a great deal, and it is pretty much guaranteed that anywhere there are people, an ash tray is sure to be found.
OFF TO GRANADA
Tomorrow, we leave the hotel for Granada, where I will finally meet my host mother. I do not know what Internet access will be like once I arrive in my new home, so I will leave you all guessing about my next adventure. My apologies now for being so verbose in my updates, but you knew what you were getting yourself into when you signed onto this blog. You are all in my thoughts and prayers as you start new jobs, take classes and enjoy being home, close to family and friends.
Hasta pronto,
Diane
Monday, September 1, 2008
Destination: Barcelona (via JFK and a Slew of Safety Regulations)
TUESDAY, September 2, 2008
For friends, family and former roommates or floormates, my desire to be prepared for ANY situation has been a source of great amusement. At school, I have supplied orange thread, a hammer, picnic blankets, cooking oil, and both real and artificial sweeteners all in the name of "What If Someone Needs It?" Well, the joke is now on me.
I made such a major effort to cut down on what I planned to take to Spain (believe it or not). I soon discovered my suitcase was a bit overweight (on the scale) and it was having trouble zipping up. I sat on it, stood on it, all to no avail. I nearly grabbed my two puppies to stick on top, but I just knew it was useless; they would be knocked off the top of a very buoyant piece of luggage. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights, I packed and unpacked this bag, trying so hard to make it fit. But even when I managed to shove everything in, it was over the 23kg weight limit (approx. 50.706 lb). Three time's the charm, right?
Essentially, my big red suitcase needed to go on a diet. Cutting calories would have been easy; deciding what to leave home--not so much. Out of necessity, I cut down my supply (and it was painful for someone like me) and switched suitcases, although I think overage charges will ultimately apply. I will still have the necessary bandaids as well as the needle and thread, but some of the all-occasion attire needed to go. I concluded that God must be trying to teach me that I really can't be prepared for everything and anything. In everything, He provides what I need when I need it, and just maybe He's asking me to trust Him a little more with the "what-if's."
So, beyond the luggage comes the actual traveling! I will be driving up with someone from my group to Manalapan, NJ where we will meet a third person. Her parents will then proceed to drive us to JFK, probably through rush hour traffic. The flight takes off at 9pm (EST) on the 2nd, and I am expected to arrive in Barcelona at 1:10pm (MAD) on the 3rd. I will spend three days in Barcelona getting over my jet lag and seeing the city, then I will be heading to Granada (with a brief layover in Madrid) on the 6th.
With all that said, and with my bags finally packed, I am ready to depart. The next time anyone hears from me, I will be across the Atlantic! Please keep the fifteen of us UD travelers leaving today in your prayers, that we make it onto the plane and arrive safe and sound.
Signing off,
Diane
For friends, family and former roommates or floormates, my desire to be prepared for ANY situation has been a source of great amusement. At school, I have supplied orange thread, a hammer, picnic blankets, cooking oil, and both real and artificial sweeteners all in the name of "What If Someone Needs It?" Well, the joke is now on me.
I made such a major effort to cut down on what I planned to take to Spain (believe it or not). I soon discovered my suitcase was a bit overweight (on the scale) and it was having trouble zipping up. I sat on it, stood on it, all to no avail. I nearly grabbed my two puppies to stick on top, but I just knew it was useless; they would be knocked off the top of a very buoyant piece of luggage. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights, I packed and unpacked this bag, trying so hard to make it fit. But even when I managed to shove everything in, it was over the 23kg weight limit (approx. 50.706 lb). Three time's the charm, right?
Essentially, my big red suitcase needed to go on a diet. Cutting calories would have been easy; deciding what to leave home--not so much. Out of necessity, I cut down my supply (and it was painful for someone like me) and switched suitcases, although I think overage charges will ultimately apply. I will still have the necessary bandaids as well as the needle and thread, but some of the all-occasion attire needed to go. I concluded that God must be trying to teach me that I really can't be prepared for everything and anything. In everything, He provides what I need when I need it, and just maybe He's asking me to trust Him a little more with the "what-if's."
So, beyond the luggage comes the actual traveling! I will be driving up with someone from my group to Manalapan, NJ where we will meet a third person. Her parents will then proceed to drive us to JFK, probably through rush hour traffic. The flight takes off at 9pm (EST) on the 2nd, and I am expected to arrive in Barcelona at 1:10pm (MAD) on the 3rd. I will spend three days in Barcelona getting over my jet lag and seeing the city, then I will be heading to Granada (with a brief layover in Madrid) on the 6th.
With all that said, and with my bags finally packed, I am ready to depart. The next time anyone hears from me, I will be across the Atlantic! Please keep the fifteen of us UD travelers leaving today in your prayers, that we make it onto the plane and arrive safe and sound.
Signing off,
Diane
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Ready to Fly
Dear Family and Friends,
This fall will inevitably be an interesting semester. For once, I won't be rushing away to Newark for another three months of classes. The hour-and-a-half distance from home has been quadrupled and the means of communication made limited.
I would love for you to overlook the distance and break down the transcontinental barrier by staying up to date on where I am and what I am doing! I invite you to read about my adventure to Spain (and to any other foreign land I manage to plant my feet).
Thank you so much for your prayers as I study and travel this semester. You are such an important part of my life, and I will miss you while I am away! Please, let me know how you are doing and NEVER hesitate to contact me.
All my love,
Diane
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