Travel Day
I went to bed the night before at about 3, got up at about 4:45. Micah left at that time, so we said our goodbyes then. I’ll miss Micah, he’s a great guy, roommate and friend. Our sarcasm and personalities are very similar, although we’ve agreed that we would prolly swim in different circles if at the same University. I left at 5:30 for the bus stop. I have taken about five airport buses (to the airport obviously) and each one first goes to the train station. Just to be careful, I asked the bus driver if it went to the train station and he said no. Awesome. With about 5 euros left it wasn’t sufficient for a cab so opted to walk. It was now about 6:10. I was hoping to change to a 7:15 train. I walked about 40 minutes, dragging my luggage, sweating profusely, but I made it. Train ride was nice, for the 10 minutes or so that I was actually awake :)
Arrived at 10 in Madrid. Took me an hour to wind through the metro system to the airport terminal. So I got to the airport at 11 for my 1240 flight – talk about cutting it close. I ran into two Americans from my program that paid for a taxi to the train station in Seville, as well as taxi train station to airport in Madrid. Lots of money. I made it through the airport without any glitches. I’m enjoying my window seat, neck pillow on, preparing for a nap. Oh, and my bag was 22 kg, and I’m allowed 23! Perfect. No adjustments needed. I’m reading a great book that Micah gave me Civil Action by Jonathan Harr. I recommend it. I should land at about 2:30 London time for my 3:45 flight. Won’t have to go through security or recollect my bag so it shouldn’t be a problem.
Oh! And I got a B+ in my history class! It was originally a B but VERY close to a B+ so I asked him if he could raise it and he basically said no problem! He said I participated more than anyone else so I deserve it :)
Writing this portion on my second flight:
I think I’m fairly smelly. I’ve broken out into a good sweat about 4 times by now, a long-sleeve shirt was a bad choice. I got off the Madrid to London flight and rushed to make my 3:45 flight. I got off the plane at about 2:55. I managed to beg my way into the business class lines to make it through security faster, and made it to my terminal just as we were boarding. My seat on the long flight is okay. I have more leg room than normal, but my window seat is windowless. Also, I have no place to put my bag under the seat in front of me (because there is no seat in front of me), so I had to put it above. Nothing is allowed on the floor so it’s difficult to switch off reading the bible, my book, using the computer, and snacking. A Civil Action, Micah’s book, is really good. I’m already on page 100.
I may try to nap a bit if I can. Overall, I just want to try and make it home tonight, not stay in a hotel. I’ve stayed in enough hotels. It’s now 12:10 Minnesota time (7 PM for me) and I’m going back to my book.
Writing this portion at HOME:
I made it through the flight just fine, passed by customs and saw my parents. I see my dad from afar and just give the old fist raise that I made it! It was great seeing my parents. The drive back went smoothly. We left at 7 and made it home at 2. Well done Mom and Dad. I slept 11-2. It’s good to be home.
There’s a big Welcome Home Austin sign in the living room. I’ll post again soon. It was a good trip.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Final Day Part II
The sadness has set in. I am sad to leave Seville. It was hard to say goodbye to Ana and Thiago. I spoke to Gustavo on the phone. I love the family.
Ana is planning on buying a Bible and reading it, things she brought up, not me. She has questions and is really eager to check out an evangelical church! Praise God for his influence! I laugh that she brings this up on the last night, I could have been such a good resource! Well, we're now facebook friends and I will do everything I can to answer her questions - she knows that.
I have said goodbye to all American friends except for Micah. They'll be missed greatly. I hope I can see them again soon. We went down by the river to hang out until 1 am. One last bike ride through the beautiful streets of Seville. I'd love to come back some day. This is the one city I spent months in but the one city I'll need to revisit.
After some minor flight problems (the times were different than I had been informed), things will hopefully work out. I will be taking a 7:15 AM train from Seville and hope to arrive in Shoreview at 1 AM Minnesota time (8 AM seville time). Yes, 25 hours of travelling. I love you all, see you soon!
Austin
Ana is planning on buying a Bible and reading it, things she brought up, not me. She has questions and is really eager to check out an evangelical church! Praise God for his influence! I laugh that she brings this up on the last night, I could have been such a good resource! Well, we're now facebook friends and I will do everything I can to answer her questions - she knows that.
I have said goodbye to all American friends except for Micah. They'll be missed greatly. I hope I can see them again soon. We went down by the river to hang out until 1 am. One last bike ride through the beautiful streets of Seville. I'd love to come back some day. This is the one city I spent months in but the one city I'll need to revisit.
After some minor flight problems (the times were different than I had been informed), things will hopefully work out. I will be taking a 7:15 AM train from Seville and hope to arrive in Shoreview at 1 AM Minnesota time (8 AM seville time). Yes, 25 hours of travelling. I love you all, see you soon!
Austin
Final Day Part I
Lot of emotions running through me. I am sad to leave this beautiful city, but I am happier that I was blessed with the opportunity and that I chose Seville over other cities. The decision was purely academic - it's the only one that fit what I needed, but if I were to choose now, it still would be Seville... EASILY
We got up a bit late, at about 1045 and went out with Rob to Puerta Jerez in El Centro near the cathedral. We went in a couple of stores around there, circled the cathedral, and just sat around. We also went into a cafe and they had their last helado (ice cream) while I had a fanta.
It's so hot in Seville. People are very intentional about being in shade while walking on sidewalks or waiting at stoplights.
Mathias: I gave him my Vikings hat! He was so happy - he's a great guy. He told me that he called his family yesterday and told them about me. I also showed him my Minnesota ID, he'd never seen one before. So I said goodbye to him and wished him luck.
After lunch, we're headed to Isla Magica (Magic Island), which is a theme park to do some rides this afternoon. I'll finish the night off with packing, checking-in for my flight, saying goodbye, and taking one last night bike ride. I'll keep you posted as always. Love you all.
Aust
We got up a bit late, at about 1045 and went out with Rob to Puerta Jerez in El Centro near the cathedral. We went in a couple of stores around there, circled the cathedral, and just sat around. We also went into a cafe and they had their last helado (ice cream) while I had a fanta.
It's so hot in Seville. People are very intentional about being in shade while walking on sidewalks or waiting at stoplights.
Mathias: I gave him my Vikings hat! He was so happy - he's a great guy. He told me that he called his family yesterday and told them about me. I also showed him my Minnesota ID, he'd never seen one before. So I said goodbye to him and wished him luck.
After lunch, we're headed to Isla Magica (Magic Island), which is a theme park to do some rides this afternoon. I'll finish the night off with packing, checking-in for my flight, saying goodbye, and taking one last night bike ride. I'll keep you posted as always. Love you all.
Aust
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Bailando y Cocinando!
Dancing and cooking! What a day. So many things I am trying to remember to write down. I got a book for the ride home: A Civil Action by Jonathon Harr. Micah gave it to me.
After lunch we were planning on exploring the city, but it's just sooooo hot. We napped instead. At about 7 we went with Rob to the river to hang out and relax. Phil met up with us. Afterwords, at about 9 Micah and I made it back to cook for Ana. After getting some supplies earlier in the day, I made a salad with lettuce, spinach leaves, nuts, carrots, tomatoes, green peppers, and turkey. The only problem is that Spanish grocery stores don't have any type of American dressing. We used a mixture of vinagre and olive oil. It was delicious. Micah is the better chef, he cooked sliced eggplants, with tomatoes on top with mozzerela and tomato sauce on top. It was incredible. Ana was impressed.
Ana received the thank you card that Joel and Dawn sent today. I read it to her, she loved it!
Anne made it safely to Florence, is loving it, and has already consumed gelato.
After dinner Micah and I joined Rob, Andree and Phil to grab some tapas at a nearby place I'd never visited. They had two Spanish guys and four spanish girls with them. It was a great interchange of Spanish and English all around. Where else in my life will I find this kind of experience?...Where ten people can speak in either language and all can understand? At about midnight we wandered over to a club I hadn't been to, for salsa dancing! I didn't really dance very much, I don't know salsa. But some members of the group taught me the basics. Also, each night they have a "birthday dance" where if it's your birthday you go the center of the dance floor while everyone watches. There were two men who had birthdays, and therefore women would wait in a line to dance with the birrthday guys until the song ends. It was great.
I left at about 1:45 and walked 25 minutes home, by myself! And it's crazy, you feel completely safe! There were couples or individuals in front of me and behind me all over the streets. You don't see that in the US.
Oh yeah! And, Ana out of the blue told me she knew an evangelical christian. She then told me that she was going to buy a Bible and read it! She said she'd tried before but didn't really understand it. I don't think she knows much about Catholicism, even though she weekly attends mass. Catholics, I think, believe Mary's mother was also a virgin. Ana didn't know this. Good for her! Praise God allowing her to have a heart and motivation and thirst for his Word!
That's all I can remember. Goodnight!
Austin
After lunch we were planning on exploring the city, but it's just sooooo hot. We napped instead. At about 7 we went with Rob to the river to hang out and relax. Phil met up with us. Afterwords, at about 9 Micah and I made it back to cook for Ana. After getting some supplies earlier in the day, I made a salad with lettuce, spinach leaves, nuts, carrots, tomatoes, green peppers, and turkey. The only problem is that Spanish grocery stores don't have any type of American dressing. We used a mixture of vinagre and olive oil. It was delicious. Micah is the better chef, he cooked sliced eggplants, with tomatoes on top with mozzerela and tomato sauce on top. It was incredible. Ana was impressed.
Ana received the thank you card that Joel and Dawn sent today. I read it to her, she loved it!
Anne made it safely to Florence, is loving it, and has already consumed gelato.
After dinner Micah and I joined Rob, Andree and Phil to grab some tapas at a nearby place I'd never visited. They had two Spanish guys and four spanish girls with them. It was a great interchange of Spanish and English all around. Where else in my life will I find this kind of experience?...Where ten people can speak in either language and all can understand? At about midnight we wandered over to a club I hadn't been to, for salsa dancing! I didn't really dance very much, I don't know salsa. But some members of the group taught me the basics. Also, each night they have a "birthday dance" where if it's your birthday you go the center of the dance floor while everyone watches. There were two men who had birthdays, and therefore women would wait in a line to dance with the birrthday guys until the song ends. It was great.
I left at about 1:45 and walked 25 minutes home, by myself! And it's crazy, you feel completely safe! There were couples or individuals in front of me and behind me all over the streets. You don't see that in the US.
Oh yeah! And, Ana out of the blue told me she knew an evangelical christian. She then told me that she was going to buy a Bible and read it! She said she'd tried before but didn't really understand it. I don't think she knows much about Catholicism, even though she weekly attends mass. Catholics, I think, believe Mary's mother was also a virgin. Ana didn't know this. Good for her! Praise God allowing her to have a heart and motivation and thirst for his Word!
That's all I can remember. Goodnight!
Austin
Mathias
That's the name of the man that works from 7 AM until 8 PM selling kleenex, necklaces and lottery tickets to traffic during each red light at the same intersection every day. He's from Uganda and Nigeria and came here because of wars going on in Africa.
I initially approached him to give him 20 Euros. I had been planning on doing this for a while. Can you imagine working 13 hours a day in the Sevillian sun, selling with a VERY low success rate, and a sale gets you maybe a euro? I sit with plain view of him every day I have coffee at my favorite coffee place. He's always working hard and has a great relationship with stopped traffic. He speaks English and Spanish very well but couldn't understand why I had 20 euros in my hand. Finally, after I explained it twice, he said "Quieres cambio?" which means, do you want change? (Break the twenty) No I said, take it. It's for you. He was so happy! We talked for about 20 minutes. I learned that he has to hit a quota before going home each night. He explained why he was in Spain, to avoid the wars in Africa, and that he doesn't want to do anything wrong, he just tries to earn what he can. I was shocked, but apparently he sends some money home. I don't know how he makes enough to send some home, but yeah. He said that God brought us together. He said that God made us know each other. He said that he works hard every day because God is eventually going to open up an opportunity for him. 1 Peter 2:19. I told him - I believe all of those things as well. What I find interesting is always the homeless or very poor will say "God bless you" when you do something nice. Jesus was poor and sought to help the poor.
He asked if he could see an ID card of mine, because he'd never seen one before. He was just so happy to talk to an American. I clarified that one of the reasons I mor or less randomly gave him this money is because I see him work so hard every day. That meant a lot to him. Anne - I'm prolly going to give him my Vikings hat. I wasn't wearing one or anything, but when he was talking about America he said that's the one thing he has always wanted. He definetly wasn't taking advantage of me or anything - just a genuine guy. He told me, "I have caps(he was wearing one), but they're no good in Europe. I have always wanted an American hat."
We swapped names, phone numbers and emails. I look forward to hearing from him. Pray for Mathias if you can!
Today I went to Al Campo, a huge mall, in search of reading materials for the trip home. No luck. Two rows of books with nothing in English. Sure I can read Spanish, but it takes waaaaaaay too long and too much brain power. No magazines in English either. A business week at the airport costs about 5 euros, I do not want to spend that much. It's now 1 and I am going across the street to get a nice cold juice and to read my bible. I still haven't heard if Anne has made it to florence!
I initially approached him to give him 20 Euros. I had been planning on doing this for a while. Can you imagine working 13 hours a day in the Sevillian sun, selling with a VERY low success rate, and a sale gets you maybe a euro? I sit with plain view of him every day I have coffee at my favorite coffee place. He's always working hard and has a great relationship with stopped traffic. He speaks English and Spanish very well but couldn't understand why I had 20 euros in my hand. Finally, after I explained it twice, he said "Quieres cambio?" which means, do you want change? (Break the twenty) No I said, take it. It's for you. He was so happy! We talked for about 20 minutes. I learned that he has to hit a quota before going home each night. He explained why he was in Spain, to avoid the wars in Africa, and that he doesn't want to do anything wrong, he just tries to earn what he can. I was shocked, but apparently he sends some money home. I don't know how he makes enough to send some home, but yeah. He said that God brought us together. He said that God made us know each other. He said that he works hard every day because God is eventually going to open up an opportunity for him. 1 Peter 2:19. I told him - I believe all of those things as well. What I find interesting is always the homeless or very poor will say "God bless you" when you do something nice. Jesus was poor and sought to help the poor.
He asked if he could see an ID card of mine, because he'd never seen one before. He was just so happy to talk to an American. I clarified that one of the reasons I mor or less randomly gave him this money is because I see him work so hard every day. That meant a lot to him. Anne - I'm prolly going to give him my Vikings hat. I wasn't wearing one or anything, but when he was talking about America he said that's the one thing he has always wanted. He definetly wasn't taking advantage of me or anything - just a genuine guy. He told me, "I have caps(he was wearing one), but they're no good in Europe. I have always wanted an American hat."
We swapped names, phone numbers and emails. I look forward to hearing from him. Pray for Mathias if you can!
Today I went to Al Campo, a huge mall, in search of reading materials for the trip home. No luck. Two rows of books with nothing in English. Sure I can read Spanish, but it takes waaaaaaay too long and too much brain power. No magazines in English either. A business week at the airport costs about 5 euros, I do not want to spend that much. It's now 1 and I am going across the street to get a nice cold juice and to read my bible. I still haven't heard if Anne has made it to florence!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Senior Year Begins
I'm done with all of my finals!! It feels great!! I'm going home in a few days!!
As a preview of all of the gifts I have for you guys back home, this photo is the first one. The Joel Savat in Mallorca photo.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Notable!
Javier, my Contemporary History of Spain professor gave me a grade of "Notable!" with an 8.2 (Anything between 8 and 9 is notable). After receiving a 6 on my midterm (equivalent of a C+), I earned an overall grade of 8.2 which translates to a B! Woo hoo! The slight bummer: an 8.25 is a B+ haha.
Anyways, my final final exam is tomorrow at 12:30 and them, literally, home free! Because of Mom and Dad's hype and recommendation, I will be buying a train ticket for Seville to Madrid Saturday morning, rather than take an overnight bus. A full night's rest would prolly be beneficial for my long day of traveling.
I still do plan on creating a post on the family's habits and traditions that you'll all... umm... both enjoy. I figure it'd be better to post that one after I return :)
It's 2 and I'm eagerly awaiting lunch. Micah and I decided to cook for Ana this coming Thursday. I'm going to make a traditional Savat salad and Micah is making burgers or omelettes, I don't remember.
Some photos! Not working right now, will post shortly
Thiago eating milk, rice and cinnamon desert.
Micah and Thiago
Getting the bull fight arena ready
The really comfortable seats
My shoe in comparison to the depth of these seats
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