Chiloe Made Me Fall in Love with Nature

Before you begin reading, I invite you watch this video first. It better explains the title than what I have written below. I always say that a video speaks a million words. I must say that I have always appreciated nature but never was really enchanted as I was by it when I filmed this video. Enjoy.

So, it’s been about a few months since I was able to to visit one of Chile’s most scenic places, Chiloe Island. The farthest I have ever been from the hustle and bustle of Santiago where I am living. It doesn’t get any better than the tranquility of only being able to hear my breath in the silence of the shores of the island or even to appreciate the unhindered sun rays penetrating through the thickets of green on afternoon hikes on its moderate hills. Prolonged hours of walking and trekking forgiven by the scenery that it all provided. My filmer-self wanted to capture everything and was frustrated that even what I caught didn’t capture the fullness of what I experienced. But I had to try to film what I could up until I got overwhelmed by it all, put my camera away and just took it all in. Somethings, however, I had to film. Like watching waters by our hotel ripple right under the dock taking the breath away from my friends was a shot that I couldn’t miss.

My filmer-self wanted to capture everything..up until I got overwhelmed by it all, put my camera away and just took it all in. 

Or the wandering cat in the forest that became our ambivalent companion our trek. Or the horses on the plains that seemed overly indifferent to our presence than they were focused on their grassy lunch. Or even just the creativity that seven dandelions, a sandy cliff, and a still puddle of the Pacific’s water can inspire. What did we learn from running around Chiloe’s shores? That nature provides us with flowery diadems, earthy mattresses, and water playgrounds. But how could I have not seen this before? Has the life of a busy college student killed the childlike spirit within me that I have forgotten what it is like to be a child? To explore? To question? To play? Questions like these began flooding in my head as I experience this all and with another one being “Where can I go to experience this again?”

“Nature provides us with flowery diadems, earthy mattresses, and water playgrounds.”

I wanted more. It was certainly something that I would make sure that I would dedicate more of my time to in my stay in Santiago be it hiking the cordillera or exploring the areas most untouched by the metropolitan influence in the country. My next stop, I decided, was San Pedro de Atacama. With only 20 days left until I visit the world’s driest desert where the stars are so large and clear that they almost seem reachable. I only hope that when I visit that I take in the experience for what it is and not for what it could be like in my next Instagram post or documentary. But I admit, that will be difficult for me to do.

“Ser sólo con la tierra, vivir en consecuencia con la tierra solo como hermano” / “Be with the earth, live accordingly with her, like siblings”

Below are some small videobits and photos that were left out of the montage above. It will say each video is 0:00 but you will have to press play until the white bar goes all the way through and it will play.

Αντίο Athens!

These days, when I’m not busy recalibrating my circadian rhythm, I’ve been spending my time missing Athens in every way. I miss my dear friends, the weather, the Acropolis, and the Greek people. I have spent time thinking about how the semester has shaped my views and my temperament, and what characteristics I adopted there that will inevitably carry over here (sitting at restaurants for four straight hours is the first that comes to mind…). At home I’ve been enjoying many unexpected things, including understanding conversations around me, going outside without shoes on, and regularly eating chocolate chip cookies.

One of the biggest challenges I faced in my last days in Athens was mastering the art of saying goodbye; it is certainly not something at which I excel. I did my best, by spending my last few days with friends I had made throughout the semester at places we learned to love along the way. I went to my favorite cafe for iced coffee with my roommate, visited a favorite restaurant with my neighbors, and had one last spinach pie with my field trip buddies.

Standing on Mars Hill during my last visit to the Acropolis.
Housemate Dinner!

There were many tears at the end, as I said goodbye to friends from California, Oregon, and, oh yeah, Greece, whom I will not see again for some time. I don’t feel I can prescribe any advice on how to properly say goodbye, as I am still saying it even now. But I will give you the advice I received from my roommate Kalya when I texted her in a frenzy when I noticed one of my friends on the verge of tears, (okay actually I do have some advice: Don’t be on your phone when one of your friends is on the verge of tears…). Anyway, Kalya said, “Uh oh. Madison it’s okay. Be emotional. Feel feelings in your goodbye!” So there you have it folks, the best advice I can give, for now.


So to Greece I say, one last time, Goodbye, see you later. I will miss your laid back attitude, your bluest sea, and your blazing sun. And to Michigan I say Hello! I have missed your greenery, your familiarity, and your wide open spaces.

Until next time, Greece! And to you, my faithful reader! Αντίο!

The End!

And just like that my semester abroad is coming to a close. In nine days I’ll be sitting in my house in Geneva, Illinois with my family who I haven’t seen for four and a half months. The best word to describe how I’m feeling at this point is content. I’m happy in Ecuador and have loved my time here. It’s an experience that I’ll cherish forever, but at the same time I’m excited to get home and see my friends and family. I’m sure over the next few months I’ll have to deal with all that comes with processing an experience like this, but for now I feel content about leaving.

This is my final post, so I thought I’d share some advice for studying abroad!

  • Get to know the people in your program.

One of the greatest blessings of the semester has been the friends that I have made here. There are nineteen of us in the IES Quito program and I take my classes with the same ten people everyday. We will be the first to tell you that we are a diverse bunch. We have different interests, different personalities, and we all come from very different backgrounds. But that’s the beautiful thing about these friendships. We are all very different from one another yet have grown so close because of this experience. I am going to miss seeing these people everyday and doing life with them, but I know that for the rest of our lives we will always have this bond, no matter where we are in the world. We struggled together, laughed together, and have seen the best and worst in one another. To my IES amigos, I am forever grateful for you!

  • Know that whatever you’re feeling is valid.

Studying abroad is exciting and scary at the same time. You leave everything that is comfortable behind to jump into a life filled with unknowns. It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous. Everyone feels differently when they leave. For example, I was anxious beyond belief. It didn’t hit me until the morning I was leaving that I was actually terrified. But I moved past it once I arrived and took it one day at a time. Some of my friends were just excited to get here. Everyone is different and whatever you’re feeling throughout the whole semester is okay!

  • Step out!

The biggest lesson that I have learned this semester is that stepping out of your comfort zone is where you experience the most growth. Try new foods, meet new people, do things that you might not normally do (with reason of course). When you leave your comfort zone you learn so much about yourself and it’s pretty cool. Be adventurous!

  • Be present.

While I have fallen in love with Ecuador, there have been a lot of times when I think about what’s going to happen this summer, next semester, etc. Try to stay as present as you can in your experience because it doesn’t last forever. I’m not saying cut off all ties with your previous life, but try to stay as connected with the country you’re in and the people you’re with as you can. Studying abroad is temporary but the lessons you learn will never leave you.

  • Open up your perspective.

Be open to new ideas and opinions. With having a diverse group of friends I have heard various opinions on all kinds of topics. Take it all in. You become more well-rounded when you take time to listen. Ecuador had its presidential election while I was here (it was huge, they haven’t had a new president in ten years) and I learned so much about different people’s perspectives and viewpoints. Be open, don’t judge, just listen and then shape your own opinions.

  • GO!!!

If you’re even thinking about going abroad, do it! You won’t regret it! You will learn things that you never could have learned anywhere else. There’s a country for everyone, so look into it, apply, and get ready for the journey of a lifetime!

When I think back to when I chose to go to Ecuador I just think about how I had no idea what was in store. I have seen and done a lot, more than I knew possible, and I am thankful for all of it. Even the struggles and obstacles, I am thankful. I can honestly say that I will not be coming back to the United States as the same person that I was when I left. Thank you, Ecuador. My life has forever been changed for the better and I will miss you dearly.

 

 

Best of Salamanca

I love Salamanca. As my semester is drawing to a close, I’m reflecting on some of the best memories I have here and why this city is so special. Since I’ve been here around four months, I think I am qualified to give native advice about visiting and living in the city. Here are the most important things to keep in mind before a visit to Salamanca:

Top five things to do in Salamanca:
  1. Go to the top of the tower of the new cathedral: the view of the city is incredible!
  2. Sit for a while in La Plaza Mayor: people watch, order a coffee, take in the beautiful plaza.
  3. Watch the sunset over by El Río Tormes and La Puente Romano
  4. Find the hidden frog on the facade of the University of Salamanca
  5. Go shopping. Calle Zamora and Calle Toro have the best shops, and I’m lucky enough to pass by the multiple times a day on my way to class!
Top three places to shop:
  1. Zara
  2. Mango
  3. H&M

They’re my go-to’s. Clothes are reasonably priced and very stylish. One of the two Zara’s in Salamanca used to be a church, so it’s worth checking out.

Top three things to eat in Salamanca:
  1. Tortilla de patatas: egg, potatoes, and onion. In English, a potato omelette, the best ones are made by Spanish mothers.
  2. Chocolate con churros: you know it’s good chocolate if you set a spoon on top and it doesn’t sink. I recommend Valor or Las Torres for the best churros.
  3. Croissants: they’re good anywhere. My favorites have chocolate, I recommend a “Napolitana Blanco y Negro” from Croissantería París because it has white chocolate and dark chocolate and it tastes heavenly.

Honorable mention: Paella. A must-try, the classic is “Paella Valenciana” and is probably the most famous and most commonly served dish in Spain.

Top three things to drink in Salamanca:
  1. Café con leche: Coffee with milk. Coffee here comes in smaller serving sizes but it just tastes better.
  2. Zumo natural: Fresh squeezed orange juice. Delicious.
  3. Sangria: I recommend trying sangria from multiple places because some restaurants do it right and some just don’t. When sangria comes with fresh fruit, that usually means it’s good.
Top three things to learn a little bit about before coming to Salamanca:
  1. The Spanish Civil War and the Franco Regime: the most important part of Spain’s history from the past century. Modern culture relates to what happened during the dictatorship and it’s impossible to understand Spain without understanding that era.
  2. The Reconquest: very important to understand the history of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity in Spain. Nine hundred years of conflict, a general knowledge is a must.
  3. The current economy: not doing very well and unemployment is high.
Top three souvenirs to buy:
  1. Botón charro: the symbol of Salamanca! Check out any tourist shop and they come as earrings, necklaces, bracelets, bookmarks, etc.
  2. Una rana: the hidden frog from the facade of the University
  3. Postcards: send them to everyone! Keep them for yourself!

I’m so glad that I chose Salamanca as the city where I studied abroad. It is full of history yet not too big, and I’m happy that I’ve gotten to be involved in the Spanish culture. This is my best advice for people who might want to visit Salamanca, and it also gives a snapshot of what my life has been like for the past four months!

Semana Santa

The Spain version of spring break is Semana Santa, or Holy Week. We had an 11 day break that ended on Easter, and this is is when students studying abroad take advantage to travel Europe. Luckily, my break coincided with my Hope roommate’s break who is studying abroad in Liverpool, so we traveled the whole week together! We started the week off in Paris, then Venice, then Rome, and we finished our time off in Switzerland! Here are some of the highlights:

1: Paris

We started the day off bright and early at the Eiffel Tower, and made our way to all the sights by walking along the Seine. The Louvre was amazing, I wish we could have spent an entire day there because the building is so huge and it contains so much art. We saw the Notre Dame cathedral, ate pain au chocolat, and had lunch at Laduree. It was a perfect day in Paris!

 

2: Venice

In Venice we were welcomed to Italy by a kind, elderly Italian couple who spoke to us in Italian as if we could understand what they were saying. We spent our couple days here exploring the canals, getting lost, and entering most churches we stumbled upon. The Basilica of Saint Mark was beautiful and unlike any of the cathedrals I’ve seen. Naturally, we ate spaghetti and the best pizza I’ve ever had.

      

3: Rome

Our time in Rome was limited, so we really had to squeeze in all of the sights we wanted to see. Rome is very different from Venice and it astounded me how the city is so full of history. We sat outside the Coliseum, visited the Tre Vi Fountain, sat on the Spanish steps, and made a stop at the Parthenon. We also made spent part of the day in the Vatican City, where we visited the Basilica and then saw the Vatican museums and the Sistine Chapel!

   

4: Switzerland

After the whirlwind of we had, Switzerland was a bit more relaxed. Our first day we took a day trip to Lausanne and spent our time sitting next to the lake, admiring the mountains, and wandering around the city. The next day we took a trip to Chamonix, which is a small town in France where tourists go to ski and see the mountains. We started our day off in a coffeeshop that reminded us of Lemonjello’s, and then we took two cablecars to get to an altitude of 3,842 meters. At the top of the mountain we tried to take in the immensity of the Alps and we could see Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in the Alps. Our last day in Switzerland we spent in Geneva and we walked around the old city and explored, saw the United Nations from the outside, and ate Swiss cheese.

The weather was perfect during our whole trip, our travel from place to place went as smoothly as it could have gone, and I got to travel Europe with one of my best friends! Absolutely surreal.

Life at the Lake: Lago de Sanabria

A few weeks ago I took a trip with a small group of people from IES for a weekend trip to Lago de Sanabria. The lake is one of the largest lakes in Spain (nothing compared to Lake Michigan, though), and we hiked in the mountains surrounding this natural park. As we were driving into the mountains I realized how much I’ve missed nature. I’ve been in a city for so long, the mountains were a literal breath of fresh air!

Puebla de Sanabria

On Friday we had a tour of Puebla de Sanabria, a small town nearby. Our tour guide dressed in medieval attire to contextualize the history of the area, and she told stories to make us laugh and have a great time! After our tour, we stopped for lunch and then went on a hike. It was a tough and rocky trek up the mountain, but were rewarded by the incredible view of the lake once we made it to the top. We were also on the lookout for cows as obstacles on the way and navigating the rocky slope was a puzzle which kept us entertained.

                       Mountain Cows

Lago de Sanabria: view from the top!

Hiking day 2

The next day we went on another hike! The landscape on Saturday was very Lord of the Rings-esque, and once again it was incredible. After lunch we went to a famous wolf reservation where we could see the wolves that used to roam freely throughout the whole peninsula.

Wolves!

 

 

 

Sunday was our last day, and our activity was to take a boat ride on the lake! We were on a 100% eco-friendly boat that was created so that the lake can remain clear and unpolluted. It was a perfect relaxing weekend to be in nature, see a little snow, and prepare to be back in Salamanca!

Snow! Dare I say I missed winter in Michigan?

“Fast Friends” and Other Idioms

On Good Friday several weeks ago, there was a beautiful procession around the block of the church. Every parishioner was holding a candle and walking in a mob behind the priests who were singing hymns. On any given Sunday, I am often the tallest in my pew. Aside from blocking everyone’s view, this height difference was made even more problematic during the candle light procession: my hair was at candle level, ready to combust at any moment. I awkwardly wrapped my scarf around my hair in the name of self-preservation. As I did this, I heard a snicker behind me. I turned around to see a young guy who was clearly amused by my paranoia. After explaining that I wanted to keep my hair in tact, we proceeded around the church together and continued to talk.

His name is Σπύρος (Spyros) and we became “fast friends.” I say “fast friends” in quotes because it is one of the idioms I had to write down in his notebook. You can see him and his trusty notebook in the (candid) photo below:

He began to carry this notebook after growing tired of asking me, “What did you say?” when I said something like “It doesn’t matter,” or “How’s it going?” Now, if I say something idiomatic or complicated, I must write it down. Yesterday we were walking and I asked if he wanted to walk left through the garden, or right through the central square. He furiously scrambled for his notebook and leafed through the pages, “It doesn’t matter!” he said. One evening, my rooommate Kalya and I cooked dinner and Spyros joined us. He sat down at the table and opened his notebook asking, “Am I the…third wheel?” at which point we could not stop laughing.

In the same way, I have begun to carry around my own notebook so I can write down new phrases like, “να σου πω την αλήθεια…” (To tell you the truth…) and idioms like, “να ‘σαι καλά” (for your health). My Greek language class is very very good, but there are some common words and phrases that are too informal for me to learn there. You would not believe Spyros’ patience as I butcher Greek, saying phrases like “Perhaps we shop for the bill,” instead of “Maybe we should pay.” and “I have fullness,” instead of “I’m tired.”
Every time I fail he says the sentence in proper Greek and I repeat it. Of course, there are some times when my Greek is so far from anything correctable that I receive a head shake and a sad “Δεν καταλαβαίνω.” (I don’t understand).

It’s been very fun to practice Greek and walk around Athens with a person who has lived there his whole life. However, meeting new friends is just another reason to be sad to leave in only twenty days. On a lighter note, I think I will ace my final Greek exam on account of all the extra practice I’ve had.

Birth, Quarantine, and Death: My Trip to Crete

Last weekend, CYA whisked us away to the island of Crete. We took an overnight ferry from the port at 9:00PM on Thursday and arrived in Crete at 6:30AM Friday. I spent the entire night in my cabin feeling like a pirate/trying to forget the excessive amount of Greek meatballs I had just eaten (συγγνώμη soutzoukakia).

On Friday morning, we visited the cave where Zeus was born, Dikteon Cave. The cave was very significant for cult worship of the greatest god of the pantheon as early as 2000 BC.

Here is a view from the bottom, looking up.

On Saturday, we took a small boat to the islet of Spinalonga. The eerily abandoned islet operated as a leper colony between 1903 and 1957. Lepers, along with their families, were sent here to live in quarantine. The day was cloudy and cold, adding to the spooky atmosphere as we walked through streets of abandoned store fronts and through the “sanitization room.”

A remnant of the old fortification built in the 16th century.

On Sunday, we visited the Suda Bay cemetery dedicated to men who died in the Battle of Crete; the battle began on 20 May 1941 as a result of a German air invasion. Many of the graves belonged to Cretan allies, who came mainly from New Zealand and Australia, among others. It was a very somber day, though the weather was not to blame, for the sun was shining and the air was warm. A majority of the graves belonged to young men my age. There were inscriptions like, “A beloved son,” or “A faithful husband and father of two.” Many of the graves had no name and were simply labeled, “A Solider of the War: Known Unto God.” The cemetery was remarkable.

After this, we boarded our beloved ferry. I decided to skip the meatballs this time and go to sleep early. We arrived back in Athens around 6:30AM Monday morning, just in time for a little nap before 9AM classes. We only saw a fraction of the island, since it is so large, but we still got the full experience, hearing a different dialect of Greek and trying new Cretan foods.  It was a whirlwind weekend, but the trip was wonderful.

 

Resorts, Rest, and Realizations

After all of the adventures that I’ve been on this semester, from snorkeling with sharks to hiking a volcano to bungee jumping, it was okay with me this weekend when we decided to take a break and have a relaxing getaway. This weekend we went to a town called Papallacta which is located in the mountains east of Quito. We only stayed for one night and that was just enough time for me.

We stayed at a hot springs resort and it was probably one of the coolest resorts I’ve ever been to. The resort has tons of hot springs everywhere for you to try out the different temperatures and what not and all of them have incredible views of the mountains. We stayed in cabins which was a fun change from hostels and we had hot springs right outside our door.

Pretty much the whole time we were there I just relaxed in the pools with my friends, having good conversations and forgetting about all of the essays that we had waiting for us in Quito.

Before leaving the resort to head back to the city, a few of us decided to stay a bit longer and do a hike in Parque Nacional Cayambe-Coca. This hike was one of my favorites because it was easy and had amazing views of the mountains around us. We would walk through segments of a forest, crossing bridges over a river while inside the trees, and would come out into the presence of the green mountains that surrounded it all. Truly beautiful in every way.

 

Eventually we left to get back to the city in the most Ecuadorian fashion: waiting on the side of the road until a bus would hopefully come by. Don’t worry, we only had to wait about ten minutes before one stopped for us. It was a quick trip away but one that was necessary and that brought just enough rest for the upcoming week.

As I looked back on my photos from the weekend I was really struck by the mountains and began thinking about this theme of mountains in my semester. I have faced a lot of mountains this semester, literally and figuratively. Here’s the thing about them: mountains are rarely easy to climb. You feel weak and inadequate and want to give up. However as this semester has gone on I have become less intimidated by mountains and the challenges they bring because I have experienced undeserved grace and constant faithfulness in the most difficult climbs. The struggles are real and that is okay. Struggles are a part of life. But there is joy that comes when the thing that once made us weak is overcome.

 

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

On my last trip of the semester I fulfilled a life-long dream of visiting Ireland. I stayed with friends in a hotel in Dublin, but we also booked a day tour to Galway and the Cliffs of Moher.

Dublin is a smaller city but there are so many things to see. You can visit the Trinity College Library or take a free tour of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral (and see where politician and author Jonathan Swift is buried). There are plenty of pubs for lunch and dinner with specialities such as Guinness beef stew or a classic burger and fries.

Since we only had one day in the city, we had to miss some attractions with longer waiting times. I guess I’ll just have to make it back someday (what a shame…)

Around Trinity College there are many pubs to visit, as well as souvenir shops and hidden gems.
Look for the signs near the gift shop to meet a tour guide and learn about Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.

On the second day our bus tour across Ireland left at 7:00 a.m. The tour was only 40 euro (booked through Finn McCool’s) and took us to Galway, the Burren, and the Cliffs of Moher with smaller stops along the way for food and coffee. Galway is a beautiful town. The Claddagh ring, symbolizing love, loyalty and friendship, is believed to have originated here. The Burren is a region famous for limestone formations. The Cliffs of Moher are one of the most famous sights associated with Ireland and are featured in films such as The Princess Bride and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. 

Fall in love with a Galway girl, as the song says, or just fall in love with the city.
Sitting (and freezing) on a beach in the Burren.

Visiting the Cliffs of Moher is one way to get over your fear of heights…

If you even slightly enjoy great food, kind people, and a breathtaking countryside, plan to visit Ireland!