Feliz Navidad!
Hola readers,
Finals are over and I am home with my family in good old Massachusetts! Despite being sick for the past week, (perils of traveling) I have managed to see everyone in my immediate family and my close friends. It is so bizarre to feel culture shock from your own culture! I drove again for the first time in 4 months and I can't say I missed it too much!
Over the course of the semester I have kept in touch with my family in Europe. My Grandfather in Wales, U.K. said I could spend the three week break at his house, but as much as I would have liked to have a holiday in the United Kingdom, it was important for me to come home to the United States. The first year away from home is tough for any college student and I knew coming to Spain meant that I would be thousands of miles away from my family. I never anticipated how much I would miss my relatives and the quirks of my hometown. I am never sentimental and I have never been homesick before, but in Spain I found myself being reminded of my family and friends everywhere I went. When I saw an old tapas bar in Granada, with driftwood tables, I thought of my father's driftwood table. When I went to El Rastro (the infamous flea market) I reminisced times spent at Todd Farm, the flea market in Rowley, MA, where I dutifully spent my Sunday mornings in search of trinkets and lost treasures. I could not walk into a pharmacy in Madrid without conjuring images of my part-time job at Rite Aid Pharmacy and my friendly co-workers. Those who stayed in Madrid while the majority of us at SUMC went home are very brave and lucky to have time to travel Europe commitment-free.
While it is nice to be back with my family and reconnecting with friends, I do miss Madrid. Coming home was a relief for me; I believe it reaffirmed that coming to Spain was the best decision I made. Instead of Skyping with friends from Boston, I am now Skyping the friends I made at SUMC! I have bought tickets to Lithuania for March 22nd-25th and have confirmed a trip to Paris, France with my friend Caitlin Cataldo in February to celebrate her birthday. Traveling is important to me, and I intend on visiting as many places as I can next semester. I am so excited to see the new faces of students in January and the adventures the new year will bring.
Feliz Navidad, Happy Christmas, Linksmų Kalėdų!!!
Have a great holiday season!!
Adios,
Jenny Usovicz
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Waitlisting Does Pay Off!
Hello!
I have news! I made it to Granada!
I went to the school at seven am and found that many students opted out of the
trip to Granada to focus on impending deadlines. I am so fortunate to have had
the opportunity to travel to so many places in Spain. Barcelona, Santiago, and
now Granada! My favorite trip so far (including London) has been Granada. I
loved the diversity and clash of cultures in Granada. It has a huge Moorish
influence and many Moroccan restaurants and stores.
The first day there we walked
uphill and got an incredible view of La Alhambra and then were left to explore
independently until dinner. I got some great Christmas presents/souvenirs for
my family in Granada and everything was reasonably priced. Dinner was at a
Moroccan restaurant where we were served exotic lemonade and sweet tea with
desert. Our meals were gigantic plates of couscous topped with either vegetables
or chicken (I had the vegetables). The interior of the restaurant was
beautiful. I took some photos of the indoor fountains and stained glass lights.
I felt like I had entered a passage to another country! Being in Granada made
me desperate to travel to Morocco and made me even more jealous of the students
traveling there this weekend (you know who you are..)!
The next day we actually went to La
Alhambra and saw as much of the inside as possible. The detail was extraordinary.
My favorite part however, was the gardens. I think because I associate gardens
with vacations in Cardiff, Wales, where my Granddad lives. He takes great pride
in his vegetable garden and rose bushes.
The last day everyone went to the
bathhouse and got massages. Exhaustion got the best of me and I decided to save
my energy for visiting the Cathedral in the afternoon, and slept through the
bathhouse visit. I have to say the hotel in Granada was the best hotel I have ever
been to in Europe. Breakfast was so nice in the morning it reminded me of the
United States in some ways, waking up to a traditional American breakfast. I
got lunch with Amy McAllister (head of student activities in Madrid) that day
and I asked her about how she learned to speak Spanish so clearly. Amy replied
that when she met her husband it gave her the encouragement to use the language
constantly. But she also said that she is always learning new words and that her
Spanish vocabulary is still growing. I wondered how I could apply that same
tactic to my Spanish speaking and have actively sought out friends like Soraya
to encourage me to only speak in Spanish to her.
Every time I travel somewhere new,
I realize how much I love traveling and how much of the world I have not seen.
Being in Europe where everything is so much closer has changed my perspective
on the United States. My friend Caitlin Cataldo and I have begun planning trips
to New York City and Chicago for when we return to the United States during
winter break. There is still so much of the United States that I have not seen.
Caitlin and I have resolved to correct this at once by spending time in each other’s
hometowns and showing off the best things they have to offer during our winter
break.
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| View |
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| La Alhambra/view |
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| At the Moroccan restaurant |
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| Maggie liked the Garden |
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| Moroccan restaurant! |
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| Vintage Flamenco! |
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| Modern Flamenco! |
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| This place reminded me of my Dad, I think it was all the drift wood. |
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| Tortilla Sandwich |
To my American readers, Have a great Thanks Giving! To my Madrid readers, have a great weekend!
Jenny
Thursday, November 17, 2011
A Weekend in London
London!
The first day in London, we
ate and went promptly to sleep. The next day we woke early and set off for Shakespeare’s
Globe Theater and took a guided tour of the inside stage. We also went on the
London Eye, a major tourist attraction that takes you up above London and gives
you a bird’s eye view of London. Unlucky for us, it was foggy of course, so
beyond the clouds, we were lost in the fog.
Hello!
I got back from London on
Sunday, and I was so happy to be home. That was when it struck me. I now
consider Madrid, and my host-household my home. I never thought I would get
used to city life, navigating the metro, or constantly overhearing conversations
in Spanish and wondering what the conversation was about, but I have. While I
was in London I would feel a smile form across my face when I overheard
Londoners make comments about the Spanish, who surprisingly, they had a lot to
say about. I glanced back at the women speaking Spanish on the street,
searching their faces for some familiarity, but mostly received raised eyebrows
in return. I am beginning to associate a small part of myself with Madrid.
I have also noticed my Spanish
improving. My host-mother and I usually keep our comments to each other brief,
because she speaks no English, and I barely speak Spanish, but lately we have been
able to converse with ease. I am by no means fluent, but I aspire to be. I have
been making an effort to practice in my spare time.
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| Chinese Food, right next to the Hostel |
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| Shakespeare´s Globe Theatre! |
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| Nurse´s Costume in The Globe |
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| Young Maiden Costume |
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| Queen´s dress for The Globe |
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| Memorial to Veterans |
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| Ahh, London |
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| Interesting Graffiti we turned into a photo-opportunity! |
However much I associated
with Spain, I also felt that my trip to England was a chance to get in touch
with my roots, since my mother was born in London, England. London was not at
all what I expected, but that isn´t a bad thing. It was just different from
what I assumed. I thought the city would be a constant source of entertainment,
people crowded in the streets, cars and busses whizzing by, but what I found
was all that and more. Yes, in Piccadilly Square and Oxford Square, there were
busses, cars, and people all threatening to run you over, but there were
quieter places, peaceful places where I found I fit right in. We visited a
lovely park and took pictures in the gold and scarlet fallen leaves. The entire
trip the only tea I drank came from the watery kettle in the hostel bar.
I hope the next time I write you, it will be about my wonderful surprise trip to Granada (I am on the waiting list right now). Have a great weekend!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Off to London!!
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Hola!
Today in just a few hours I will be
leaving for London! I am so excited to be getting in touch with my British
roots. My mother, who was born in London, is ecstatic. The other day I went and
exchanged my Euros for Pounds so now I am all set for England! I am interested
to see how England will live up to or disappoint my expectations. I have never
stayed in a hostel before and this is my first time leaving Spain since I got
here in September. I hope that this is the beginning of many positive travels
to come.
Wednesday was a holiday here in
Spain, Our lady of Almudena, (a local holiday in Madrid) so everyone had the
day off from classes. My friend Chi and I decided to walk around Sol and the
surrounding areas that afternoon. We were surprised to find hundreds of people
gathered in La Plaza Mayor and several film cameras documenting the event. We
stayed for a few moments to listen, but unfortunately we were so far away from
the microphone and speakers it was difficult to hear. We decided to grab some
lunch on the way back to Sol. While we were sitting down to eat, we noticed a
parade started to form in the street. There were flags, elaborate costumes, and
instruments. We gathered around the windows and the workers filed into the
street to watch the parade. The men who worked there explained that the holiday
was for the Virgin Mary, and that the holiday was hundreds of years old. Both
workers said that the holiday had lost meaning for them, because neither of
them was religious. Chi and I took photos and admired the costumes but I
could not help feeling sorry for the men who worked there. It seems that
Franco´s influence has not evaded the people of Spain. I think because Franco
made them ashamed to be Spanish, and because he supported a religious Spain as
opposed to the atheism of communism. I tried to explain this to my older
sister, Emma, via Skype, but she did not understand. She even asked me, “Who is
Franco?” leaving me shaking my head. It is a huge reminder of the benefits of
an education abroad. I have learned so much about Spain by just being here,
that I would have never learned in the United States. It solidifies in my mind
that Suffolk, Madrid was the best place for me to start my freshman year.
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| A Band! |
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| Various Flag |
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| You thought I forgot a food picture! (Provolone salad with tomato and vinaigrette) |
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Back from Barcelona, on to London!
Hello!
Yes I
am back from Barcelona! Barcelona was my favorite place I have visited in Spain
(so far). We saw lots of architecture, from Gauí including: El Dragón de Parque
Güell, la Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, y Casa Milá. The architecture of Gaudí
and other modernists is such a big part of Barcelona. My camera died once again
before I could take photos of these amazing places, but I luckily had my film
camera, so when those develop I will put them up as soon as possible. Barcelona
is one of those places you can´t visit just once. I want to plan a trip there
for next semester to explore the city and the places I didn´t have time to see.
Next
weekend, I am excited to announce, I will be in London. It is mind-blowing to
me to think of all the traveling I have gotten to do in just a few short
months, as well as all the traveling I hope to accomplish. Today before classes
I spoke with my Lithuanian cousin, Asura, and I have now begun planning a trip
to Kaunas, Lithuania! I will be the first person in my family to do so, even before
my half-Lithuanian father! Living here in Madrid has made me want to take
advantage of how close I am to other European nations and encouraged me to get
in touch with my family overseas. I have mailed letters to my Nana in Ireland
as well as my Granddad and Aunt in Wales. I hope that in February I will be
able to visit them as well!
Today,
my fellow blogger Soraya and I decided to write to each other in blog form!
Here is what Soraya had to say:
Hi Jenny!
How
are you? I hope you are very well! Do you remember Barcelona? It was amazing
wasn´t it? The thing I liked the most was Batlló´s house. Gaudí´s style and
lack of straight lines caught my attention. I loved it! What did you like the
most?
I hope we have the
chance to travel together again! Take care.
Best wishes,
Soraya
Want to see what I wrote back? Read Soraya´s blog and find
out…
http://www.madridistheone.blogspot.com/
http://www.madridistheone.blogspot.com/
p.s. I passed all my Midterms! Yippee!!
Have a great weekend,
Jenny
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Midterms are over!
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| Sierra and Csaba enjoying their noodles |
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| Sesame noodles with veggies! |
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| Incredible! |
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| My dinner on Saturday |
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
First Mid-term!
Hola,
¿Qué tal? Today I had
my first Mid-term! It was for Unfolding the European Union. I was very nervous
for the exam, but when I sat down to take the test I felt a wave of reassurance.
Thank goodness I studied! I have not done much exploring Madrid, due to
mid-term cramming sessions, but I will resume the photo documenting and museum
visits soon enough. Tomorrow I have another midterm for English 101, but
luckily no mid-term for Spanish 101.
I am amazed how quickly the semester is going
by. When I walk into the front gate of school every morning, I am reminded of
my first day at SUMC when I arrived. I was jet-lagged and grumpy, but
immediately everyone was very friendly and curious about the new arrivals. I was
with my Boston orientation friends, Csaba, Kiecha, and Chandler so I didn´t
feel so alone. The student ambassadors were informative and helpful that first
day at Suffolk and later on the excursion trips some of them have become my
good friends.
I have
mostly spent the past week studying at my house, but I thought I´d take a
picture of my dinner so you have something nice to look at while you read this
post. :)
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| Salad, cream of zucchini soup, and patatas (basically tater tots)! |
Have a great few days, I will write more Thursday!
Hasta luego!
Jenny
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