Sorry for the delay in the blog post
Friday was a long day for me, I woke up at 6:30am Barcelona time and my last flight landed in Myrtle Beach at 3:25am Barcelona time (9:25pm eastern time). Then it was an hour and a half drive back to Charleston...finally at 6:10am Barcelona time (12:10am eastern time) I laid my head down and went to sleep; I was just shy of being awake for 24 hours. Thankfully all of my flights went smoothly, I was overcome with excitement when we landed in Philadelphia because as I went through customs and passport control I was told "welcome home Mr. Ashby". I had always heard that saying in movies so it felt good to finally hear it directed at me! Needless to say all day yesterday I was still tired so that is why I am finally getting to the FINAL BLOG POST!
My internal clock and general equilibrium are still a bit off but I am slowly starting to get back into "the swing of things". I didn't reset the clock on my laptop back to eastern time until today and I still haven't reset my watch...even as I am typing my watch reads in Barcelona time, I will change it sometime this week.
I drove my car yesterday for the first time since January 3rd and I will admit at first it was a bit strange and awkward but driving a car seems to be like riding a bike...you never forget. My first meal back in the states was at a Chick-fil-A in the Philadelphia Airport, I wanted a Philly Cheese steak but the airport did not seem to have any authentic Cheese steak places. It feels great to be back home, right now the excitement of being back is drowning out everything else but I know in about 2 weeks I will start to miss some of my favorite things from Barcelona.
This semester has been a wonderful experience, and I want to thank everyone who helped me along the way from those who helped to fund the trip, prayed for me, thought of me, read the blog and everything else in between! I have been talking about all of the things I will miss and those that I won't miss throughout the week but the greatest thing I am taking away from this trip is the realization of how big this world really is. We often say "it's a small world" but after spending 4 months in foreign settings I have to disagree...the world is huge! There is so much more to life and earth than the confines of our daily lives and I feel so grateful to have witnessed these events and lifestyles. Europeans do certain things vastly better than what we do in America, and here we do certain things vastly better than the Europeans do...both cultures could learn so much from one another. I intend to go back to Barcelona in the future, I would love to see what has changed and stayed the same, only time will tell! I have accumulated around 3000 pictures during my time abroad, and even more memories and stories. Over the past four months I have had the joy of sharing some of those with you through this blog...you have traveled vicariously with me. Even the days I had that were "uneventful" were amazing and worthwhile.
As I suspected the surrealism and realization that I was in Europe is hitting me heaviest now that I am no longer there. Thank you so much for reading and experiencing my adventures for the last four months, it has been a pleasure chronicling my stories. And now for the last time: Buenos Noches!
Monday, April 23, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
My Last Week Abroad pt. 4
Today was my last day in Barcelona!!!!!!!!!!
I can't believe it is over, I just spent four months in Europe...the time has flown by. It really does seem like yesterday that I began this journey. Tomorrow night I will post my last blog post and reflections on the semester....last post from Barcelona, Spain....next stop Charleston, SC!
Today I didn't waste anytime, I spent all day walking around the city experiencing it for the last time...it was very bittersweet. I took over 100 pictures just today as I walked around revisiting sites and scenes from throughout the semester.
Things I won't miss:
I can't believe it is over, I just spent four months in Europe...the time has flown by. It really does seem like yesterday that I began this journey. Tomorrow night I will post my last blog post and reflections on the semester....last post from Barcelona, Spain....next stop Charleston, SC!
Today I didn't waste anytime, I spent all day walking around the city experiencing it for the last time...it was very bittersweet. I took over 100 pictures just today as I walked around revisiting sites and scenes from throughout the semester.
Things I won't miss:
- First and foremost the awful, terrible, unacceptable, frustrating, and slow internet.
- The smell of cigarettes and every other person blowing smoke in my face as I walk down the street!
- Worrying about stepping in dog waste on the sidewalk.
- The lack of respect for personal space most Europeans seem to have
- The hustle and bustle of the touristy "La Rambla"
- The lack of Papa Johns, Chick-fil-A, Zaxby's, Sonic's, and all other essential fast food establishments.
- The fact that movies shown in English are nearly impossible to find.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
My Last Week Abroad pt. 3
Very early flight this morning...6:45am. Thankfully the flight went very smoothly, I was a bit worried at first because the weather in Stuttgart this morning was a tad unpleasant; once we got above the initial rain clouds during takeoff the rest of the flight was perfect. I was tired so I as soon as I got back to Barcelona I went back to sleep!
I spent tonight watching my last FC Barcelona Game in Barcelona at a local cafe/bar.. unfortunately Barca lost but it was still a nice way to spend the evening.
So what will I miss from Europe in general...
For starters the priority of the pedestrian...over here pedestrians rule the streets. It is much safer and easier to navigate the crowed city with all of the automobiles. I will also miss the public transportation systems....the Metro systems (Barcelona especially) and bus systems are light years ahead of any American counterpart I have experienced. I'll miss the antiquity of everything over here....the small side alleys and meandering streets, nooks, and crannies to the heavy stone walls. The retail stores are in buildings that are beautiful and magnificent, not like the warehouse style boxes that our retail stores occupy. I will also miss the cafes....who needs an overpriced Starbucks when you have local cafes with great tea and pastries that Starbucks can only dream to create. Also the concept of ordering a "Viente" actually means something over here haha. Surprisingly I will miss the Euro; the Euro makes shopping and buying groceries easy! What you see on the price tag is what you will pay at the cashier, the tax is already incorporated into the product....back home you have to mentally tally your purchase total keeping in mind that somewhere around a 7% tax will be added! I will also miss the dress/fashion over here; everyone dresses to impress on a daily basis even when they go to "Wal-mart" like stores. Casual over here takes on a completely different meaning; this sense of style forces you to take people seriously!
Tomorrow is my last day...I haven't fully figured out how I am going to spend it but I do know I won't waste any minute of it...it is about that time.
Great views outside, miles in the air
I rented out the entire row, for free haha
Barcelona from above!
Right above the fluffy clouds
I spent tonight watching my last FC Barcelona Game in Barcelona at a local cafe/bar.. unfortunately Barca lost but it was still a nice way to spend the evening.
So what will I miss from Europe in general...
For starters the priority of the pedestrian...over here pedestrians rule the streets. It is much safer and easier to navigate the crowed city with all of the automobiles. I will also miss the public transportation systems....the Metro systems (Barcelona especially) and bus systems are light years ahead of any American counterpart I have experienced. I'll miss the antiquity of everything over here....the small side alleys and meandering streets, nooks, and crannies to the heavy stone walls. The retail stores are in buildings that are beautiful and magnificent, not like the warehouse style boxes that our retail stores occupy. I will also miss the cafes....who needs an overpriced Starbucks when you have local cafes with great tea and pastries that Starbucks can only dream to create. Also the concept of ordering a "Viente" actually means something over here haha. Surprisingly I will miss the Euro; the Euro makes shopping and buying groceries easy! What you see on the price tag is what you will pay at the cashier, the tax is already incorporated into the product....back home you have to mentally tally your purchase total keeping in mind that somewhere around a 7% tax will be added! I will also miss the dress/fashion over here; everyone dresses to impress on a daily basis even when they go to "Wal-mart" like stores. Casual over here takes on a completely different meaning; this sense of style forces you to take people seriously!
Tomorrow is my last day...I haven't fully figured out how I am going to spend it but I do know I won't waste any minute of it...it is about that time.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
My Last Week Abroad pt. 2 (The Black Forest)
The Black Forest....
I got to visit the Black Forest today!! (Shout out and thank you to Liz Masters). The drive there was very picturesque with all of the rolling hills of the German country side; the forest was even more picture worthy...the forest is amazing. I figured it would be cold in Germany before I came here but I would have never guessed it to be quite as cold as it was today. The entire forest covers an area of about 4600 square miles so it is very large, we visited a city called Triberg which was located in the Black Forest.
I went on a short but exasperatingly steep hike/trail to the top of the Triberg Waterfall and nature park. The area was astonishing and I had the chance to take some really neat pictures (at least in my opinion ha). The air at the top of the trail was so clean and fresh...I almost felt like me exhaling was contaminating the purity of the air up there. It was so cold that my hands were starting to get numb by the end of my hike...not to mention the spots of SNOW and ICE that randomly covered the ground. I also took a look into the various Cuckoo Clock shops in the town...the Black Forest area/towns are famous for their Cuckoo Clocks (they were invented here!!). Some of them were extremely large and ornate...which meant they were very expensive! I took a look inside/at the largest Cuckoo Clock in the world too. I also had Black Forest Cake! Surprisingly it was not as delectable as it looked, it was soaked in liquor with sour cherries and minimal sugar! But none the less I am glad I tried it. Great last day to the end of my Independent Travels....back to Barcelona tomorrow, bright and early flight.
So what will I miss.....
Germany. Germany has turned out to be my favorite European country during my time abroad. The people seem very smart, and for the most part relatively nice towards Americans....over half of the population speaks English. They are also very methodical and orderly...everything appears to have a solid plan and infrastructure (the autobahn is always being maintained). The cars are well...Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volkswagen....do I need to say more???! People actually know how to drive over here....they have to when the cruising speed is 90mph! The food is also great...Sausages (Bratwurst anyone?), potatoes, and chocolate! And the country side is fantastic.
From Barcelona/Spain I will miss the seafood, the tapas, the Gelato, and CHURROS WITH CHOCOLATE. I will also miss the "Siesta", taking a nap during the middle of the afternoon is pretty nice. The beaches are beautiful...and the girls, two words (LAS CHICAS!) To my surprise the Spanish Country side ended up being really nice too...even better than Germany. Most importantly I will miss the language, I have had my struggles with Spanish throughout school but I have come to learn it much better and love it. It sounds amazing when spoken correctly and it has enlightened me on Italian, the two languages are actually pretty similar. I just hope I don't forget what I have learned!
More to come on what I will miss from Europe tomorrow.
The largest Cuckoo Clock in the world....
Black Forest cake...looks heavenly right?
The density of the trees...gives it the name
Halfway up the trail
The water fall/stream was really cool
Freezing....
Baby Pines or Firs?
The moss or lichens have taken over!!
I got to visit the Black Forest today!! (Shout out and thank you to Liz Masters). The drive there was very picturesque with all of the rolling hills of the German country side; the forest was even more picture worthy...the forest is amazing. I figured it would be cold in Germany before I came here but I would have never guessed it to be quite as cold as it was today. The entire forest covers an area of about 4600 square miles so it is very large, we visited a city called Triberg which was located in the Black Forest.
I went on a short but exasperatingly steep hike/trail to the top of the Triberg Waterfall and nature park. The area was astonishing and I had the chance to take some really neat pictures (at least in my opinion ha). The air at the top of the trail was so clean and fresh...I almost felt like me exhaling was contaminating the purity of the air up there. It was so cold that my hands were starting to get numb by the end of my hike...not to mention the spots of SNOW and ICE that randomly covered the ground. I also took a look into the various Cuckoo Clock shops in the town...the Black Forest area/towns are famous for their Cuckoo Clocks (they were invented here!!). Some of them were extremely large and ornate...which meant they were very expensive! I took a look inside/at the largest Cuckoo Clock in the world too. I also had Black Forest Cake! Surprisingly it was not as delectable as it looked, it was soaked in liquor with sour cherries and minimal sugar! But none the less I am glad I tried it. Great last day to the end of my Independent Travels....back to Barcelona tomorrow, bright and early flight.
So what will I miss.....
Germany. Germany has turned out to be my favorite European country during my time abroad. The people seem very smart, and for the most part relatively nice towards Americans....over half of the population speaks English. They are also very methodical and orderly...everything appears to have a solid plan and infrastructure (the autobahn is always being maintained). The cars are well...Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volkswagen....do I need to say more???! People actually know how to drive over here....they have to when the cruising speed is 90mph! The food is also great...Sausages (Bratwurst anyone?), potatoes, and chocolate! And the country side is fantastic.
From Barcelona/Spain I will miss the seafood, the tapas, the Gelato, and CHURROS WITH CHOCOLATE. I will also miss the "Siesta", taking a nap during the middle of the afternoon is pretty nice. The beaches are beautiful...and the girls, two words (LAS CHICAS!) To my surprise the Spanish Country side ended up being really nice too...even better than Germany. Most importantly I will miss the language, I have had my struggles with Spanish throughout school but I have come to learn it much better and love it. It sounds amazing when spoken correctly and it has enlightened me on Italian, the two languages are actually pretty similar. I just hope I don't forget what I have learned!
More to come on what I will miss from Europe tomorrow.
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