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| Carnival |
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Posted by:
Maryn on February 26, 2007 |
This week is midterm exams and I got two done today.
Things have been a little stressful with having to find time to
study with activities and group excursions, but I am enjoying
myself.
The weekend of the 16th I traveled with a group of students
to Cadiz for Carnival. It was crazy. I had never seen so many
people in my life. The streets were full of people in
outrageous costumes. There were people dressed up as TV
characters, Smurfs, taxi cabs and Tetris blocks. I bought a
Mardi Gras-style mask at a stand by the road. There were
dancers and a parade during the day (which sadly we missed due
to the bus schedule) and at night the streets were packed. It
was a big fiesta. I enjoyed dressing up with my friends and it
was definitely an experience I will never forget.
The next weekend we went on a group trip to Sevilla, which is
now my favorite city in Spain. There were palm and orange trees
and bright flowers lining the streets. We stayed mostly in the
historic district where we saw Christopher Columbus’s tomb and
el Alcazar (which was also the name of our hotel.) The most
wonderful thing about the city was the weather and the scenery.
The buildings were beautiful and there were many skinny streets
with small shops and cafes.
Traveling is exciting but also tiring. Making plans and
catching buses can be stressful but in the end it is very worth
it. I am still sometimes affected by the cultural differences
and using my second language and finding my way around a new
city can wear me out. By the end of the day my mind and feet
are tired. These extra stresses call for some type of release
which I have found in running with a friend in the afternoon.
Studying abroad is not always the most comfortable situation.
It is full of challenges and also amazing experiences. I can
say that I have learned a lot about myself and feel that facing
these challenges has helped me grow as an individual.