As the end draws near

by Katie Reed
Universidad de Navarra, Spain

It has been awhile since I have last updated, but I will try to catch everyone up with everything that has happened since.  No major events have occurred since the end of the semester is almost here and exams are coming up.  As days go by my extreme dislike for the Spanish educational system grows even more.  Between the inefficiency of some classes and grading systems, to a couple annoying and extremely unhelpful professors to the fact that our exams are our final grades and the exams are nothing like what information is in the corresponding powerpoints.  However, I am surviving...thanks to some great friends and family pushing me to get to the end.  Between the long days of making notecards and attempting to study Amanda and I continue our adventures.  Another hair treatment has been crossed of the list...no bananas this time though!  Eggs, oil, and water....makes for some super oily hair!!  We also went out for "Juevinxtos" with Bryson and Nick (and also met a group of students here from Vermont for a couple hours) and had quite a fun and interesting night to say the least!  After a straight 5 days of rain the weather is finally better...and hot to say the least with thanks to no air conditioning.  We have been going out several days to lay in the sun and attempt to get a tan.  After being called "negrita" (black) about four times in one day I think the tan is coming along nicely.  I also got the privilege of attempting to explain to our teacher what  redneck is...I must say it was funny just to hear what other from around the U.S. describe one as....I have come to the conclusion that unless you are from the South you do not truly understand the concept.  I also got another comment on my accent last night....I thought those were over after the first couple months, I was wrong.  Anyways, another night at Marengo has also been crossed off the list.  This one was one to remember though for sure!  Spanish guys here....there are hardly words to explain.  After finally escaping them all and getting them to leave us alone after we told them we did not want to go to breakfast with them we finally got a cab back to Abedules and got some rest...all day!  While talking to Mom on Skype one afternoon she proceeded to tell me how she was leaving work going to get a McD's sweet tea and then head shopping.  Needless to say I was not happy....I told her she better hush because I did not want to hear any of that!  I proceeded to inform her that she was talking to me who is over here on the other side of the world with nothing she has while she is driving her car, in the air conditioning, getting my favorite drink in the entire world, and going shopping.  Telling me all that and knowing I can't have any of it is just pure torture!  Anyways...more trips to the store, La Morea, the Chino, and more.  Cooking dinner together and movie nights continue of course.  We actually made homemade strawberry shortcake yesterday...yummm.  We sat outside last night after dark and just talked for a long time, that was definitely nice.  Not only was it cool but just relaxing and girl talk.  As the end of our 6 month adventure that we never end draws near the emotions are starting to kick in.  We are definitely excited to go home and see everyone, but it is very bitter-sweet.  We are decided we will be crying quite a bit when we leave here no doubt.  This has become our life and have become accustomed to what we have here and being out on our own, so it will be hard to go back at first and be with so many people, having phones (which I will probably be sick of in a matter of hours) and all the little things that we don't have here.  However, seeing friends and family will make it all worth it!  The closer it gets the more my mind reflects on what all I have been through and how I want to remember every bit of it.  I have learned so much from being
away it really blows my mind and I don't even think I realize exactly how much I have changed until I go back home and am back in my own environment.  We really only have 2 more weeks left of stuff to do here and the last week is vacation for us.  This coming weekend we have so many projects and exams coming up that studying will consume every bit of it.  The next weekend we will be out celebrating with two of our good friends Kaci and Audrey before they head back to the states.  And the weekend after that we are going on a trip..hopefully Portugal if all plays out well.  Anyways...I will update more later.  Until then it is time to study for the worst exam of my life which is...tomorrow! Comercio Internacional = death!  Hasta luego mis amigos!