Stories of Seville: A Study Abroad: Semana Santa Adventures! Paris & Ulm, Germany

Wow I have lots of updating to do! It's crazy that I'll be back in the USA in five weeks or so and my time here is nearing its end. I've learned a lot about myself, about the world, and about Spanish this semester, and if anyone is considering studying abroad I definitely recommend it. It's not the easiest thing you'll ever do, but it overall makes for a wonderful experience.

This past week was Semana Santa here in Sevilla, and as such I didn't have class all week. Therefore travel. I spent five days in Paris then five days in Ulm, Germany!

In Paris I stayed with a Covenant friend that is studying abroad there (Susanna) and had a wonderful time experiencing the city with a "local"! Really though I'm so thankful to have been there with friends who knew what to do. I went to Parisian bars, a market, ate baguettes with fresh cheese in Park de Buttes-Chaumont, took in views of Paris from Sacre Coeur, which is a beautiful white church in Montmartre. We also walked around that neighborhood, ate and walked through the Latin Quarter, had Belgian waffles, and saw the Pantheon. I ate ice cream in front of the Eiffel Tower, went to a French church, visited the Arc de Triumph, shopped a little on Champs Elysees. I saw the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Lock bridge, and also read a book at Shakespeare & Company. I went to Plaza de Republic where there still are things that say "Je Suis Charlie". And my favorite part and where everyone must go in Paris was Musee d'Orsay where I went with a friend, Hannah Brown, and experienced the beautiful museum that was once a train station and also saw many beautiful works by Degas, Monet, and van Gogh. Degas' "Little Dancer" was even there and I saw her in DC right before coming to Spain! It was a great few days with some wonderful people in a beautiful city!

My grandparents have always had exchange students, and when I was 16 they had a girl named Franzi from Germany come stay with them. Franzi and I became pretty good friends in her year there, and her family invited me to spend Easter with them in Ulm, Germany! I had a wonderful time with her and her parents, drinking coffee, eating fresh bread with homemade jams, exploring Ulm, and reading books and newspapers. It was a great way to end my week!

Looking ahead I don't really have anymore "big" trips planned. My parents will be here in less than ten days and I can't wait to see them! Then I'm going to the beach in Portugal at the beginning of May then on back to Maryland for the summer! I'm still kayaking as much as possible and speaking lots of Spanish!