I can’t believe the last time I wrote was about Morocco! That seems like a lifetime ago, and yet I cannot believe we have passed that check point and another! Last weekend I was able to go visit my dear friend from SPU Chloe in Canterbury, England where she is studying. We had a ton of fun together and it was absolutely wonderful seeing someone from home! 
After waking up early enough to see people going out for the evening, I caught a taxi to the airport. Interesting fact, security doesn’t open at the Sevilla airport until 5:00am, even if you have a flight leaving at 6:50am. So I sat around for a while in the Sevilla airport. And then some more in the Madrid airport. However, the Madrid airport was decorated for Christmas, so that was fun to see. There were even giant mice singing American Christmas music. Adorable, albeit a bit creepy. After a ride on the tube and another train ride, I was in Canterbury! 
I stayed with Chloe in her dorm room at the University of Kent, which was surprisingly like an university from the U.S. It was strange to hear all of the English. That sounds a bit crazy, but when you get used tuning people out because you can’t understand them unless you are expressly focusing on what they are saying, hearing your native language all around you is a bit overwhelming. Way too much information going through my head. Oh, and I forgot the word for hazelnut in English and looked like an idiot at the Starbucks in Kings Cross. That was weird. (Hazelnut = avellana in Español). 
So then we had some time to kill because, yes, we went to the Breaking Dawn II premier. Before I get any crap about that, it was the first English movie I had seen in over 2 months, and it was actually pretty decent. The best part of the movie was during a specific scene that they changed up from the book a bit. Hearing the gasps and cries from the audience was hilarious.
Chloe had class the next morning, so after she got back (and I finally got out of bed), we headed back into town. We got some delicious little things called pastys which are basically a flaky delicious pastry filled with meet and cheese. Mmmmm. So tasty. I also got an Iced Tea which you cannot find anywhere in Spain (okay, I admit, it was Lipton, but still). We then wandered aimlessly around Canterbury again, stopping in cute little shops and simply enjoying the walk and chat.
Later that afternoon we went and got tea, complete with scones, jam, and clotted cream. I am so glad I don’t live in the UK, I would eat far too many of those. It was so delicious. We spent the rest of the evening back at her dorm room just hanging out. We were both pretty tired from the previous evening and we had an early start the next morning.
So the next morning we hopped on a bus to London! After arriving, we checked into our hostel (first hostel experience was a win) and took off on to the streets of London. We had a bit before our next planned event, so we went and walked around Oxford Circus a bit. We also hit Harrods and the Christmas Market by the River Thames. We had mulled wine and wandered through the stalls, full of Christmas ornaments, jewelry, and other random and exciting things until it was time to head out.
The next part of our adventure may have been the best. Although plans went a bit astray, after meeting some nice students from Notre Dame, taking a giant bus-taxi, and a nice nap on the train, we were at Leavesden Studios! For those of you who don’t know, this where they filmed all of the Harry Potter movies, the actual sets! 
I don’t really know how to talk about it all, but we saw tons and tons of props from the sets, many of the actuals sets including The Great Hall, The Cupboard Under the Stairs, The Potions Classroom, Hagrid’s Hut, The Burrow, Umbrige’s Office, and so many more. We got to fly a broom on a green screen while watching ourselves fly through the streets of London and then refresh ourselves after our journey with butterbeer. I climbed onto The Knight Bus and sat in the driver’s seat of the Flying Ford Anglia. It was a blast, and an absolute dream come true for a Harry Potter addict like me. So the next day, after a wonderful evening, we went out on the streets of London again. We went and saw the Tower of London and walked across Tower Bridge before hunting down a long-lost friend. Chipotle. (Now remember, I haven’t eaten any true American food for over 2 months, I felt I deserved a little treat.) It was delicious. Best Chipotle I have ever had. Mmmmm.
Unfortunately, it was then time for me to head back to my beloved Sevilla. So Chloe and I parted ways on the tube and I headed to the airport. Now, I wish that was the end of that adventure, but of course not. For some reason they couldn’t print my Madrid - Sevilla ticket at Heathrow and told me to pick it up while I was in Madrid. A little stressful because I had to get through customs, pick up my ticket, and cross the airport in under an hour. However, only after getting to Madrid do they tell me my flight doesn’t exist and that the last flight left to Sevilla an hour ago. Cool. Let me remind you, this is all in Spanish, and while I am pretty decent at the Spanish language, when you have 4 customer service reps all speaking at the same time trying to help, it is a bit overwhelming. So I found myself at a pretty nice hotel with just my backpack (no clean clothes or toiletries) a few meal tickets, and a whole evening to myself. It wasn’t the worst ever, except that I had to be up dark and early to catch my flight that hopefully would get me back in time for class. But of course, my flight was delayed and classes were a no-go. SO! That was my adventure to England. An awesome time that, although had its kinks, will be a wonderful memory.
The rest of my time in Sevilla since has been a bit stressful. There are these things called “final projects” they expect us to do over here. No one has any motivation to do them, and with only a few weeks left, all we really want to do is be with each other and doing things in Sevilla. However, I have 1 down and only 3 more to go.
So yesterday was Thanksgiving. My first one away from home, which was a bit sad, but it also didn’t really feel like Thanksgiving at all. My program is wonderful and set up a formal dinner for us at a nice hotel in the area. It was so fun to get dressed up and give thanks with all of my new friends here. Our program director got up and gave a toast (they served us wine, even though they aren’t supposed too, haha), which was so heartfelt and absolutely precious. The best part was, after the toast, they played the American national anthem. We all about died, it seemed so out of place, but it was a nice thought. The meal was delicious, if not exactly like what we have in the U.S. Turkey, mashed potatoes and vegetables. Followed by a pumpkin tart-thing and champagne.
I seriously have the most wonderful family of friends here. We joke about being a family a lot, but I really do feel so blessed to have them around. Thanksgiving was a wonderful time to remember this trip, the people I have met here, and the things I have experienced and I simply how incredibly blessed I am to have this life-changing opportunity. A few days ago someone asked me the question, “What is the biggest surprise of yourself you have discovered.” I think that question is going to take a lifetime to explain because I truly believe I have learned and grown so much in the past two and a half months. The biggest surprise is that I will never stop being surprised at the growth and experiences in my life.
So thank you for sticking with me, I know I say this a lot, but it means the world to me to have people back home interested in my life over here. I love you all!
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| Our family Thanksgiving Picture. (We are goofs) |
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