Adieu

This was not an easy year. 

My Final Days of European Bliss

Clearly I'm home. Clearly, this post is so late as to be [almost] obsolete. However, it never sat right with me that there was no real closure to this blog of mine, other than my farewell letter, so consider this one of two entries that will be dedicated to officially closing out an amazing chapter of my life.

I'll try to make this summary quick and regale y'all (oh yeah, the southern lingo is back) with only the high points of my last week and a half in good ole eSpain. #PictureThis:

A Farewell to Spain

I'm leaving Spain in a few hours, not to return anytime in the foreseeable future. In thinking about that stark reality, I thought about what I'd write in a letter to this second country of mine if it were a person. It would read something like this:

I Can't Believe That Wasn't London Bridge

I'd like to believe that I didn't have your average tea and crumpets London experience.

My First Travel Love

Hint: it's Granada.

A Note About My Students

They've shaped my experience here in more ways than I can count and I'm a different (in a good way, I like to think) person because of them. 

Things I've Discovered About Traveling

My days as an expat are coming to a rather quick conclusion. This time next month, I'll be fighting jet lag in Mobile while thinking back to my days here and appreciating even more just how blessed I am. That being said, I'm finding myself in a more reflective state. I've started thinking about the trips I've taken and those that are to come and have come to some conclusions about my likes and dislikes, do's and don't's when it comes to traveling. They are: 

Why the Protest Movement in Spain is Accomplishing Nothing

They are "...malcontents who offer no program for changing the undesirable conditions about which they complain." ~Carter G. Woodson

The Istanbul Diaries, Pt. VI: The End!

Finally. This is it for all things Turkey.

The Istanbul Diaries, Pt. V: This Ain't Morocco...

...therefore, the cheap, but quality, handmade scarf game was non-existent. 

The Istanbul Diaries, Pt. IV: "Do You Want a Turkish Boyfriend?"

Why no, actually, I don't.

The Istanbul Diaries, Pt. III: Whirling Dervishes and Dancing with the Serbs

I think it might be slightly sacrilegious to group the whirling dervish show with my night out on the town, so to speak, but they happened on the same night and they were both different forms or entertainment sooooo...

The Istanbul Diaries, Pt. II: Food!

I. Love. To. Eat. There. I said it, and there's nothing wrong with that (in moderation, of course). One of my favorite things about traveling is trying local food. I really liked what Istanbul had to offer (including the randomly delicious Mexican), though my gastronomic adventures in Italy still rank above every other food I've tried while abroad. Recap:

The Istanbul Diaries, Pt. I: Sights

Istanbul, Istanbul, I-stan-bul. How I love(d) thee. I take notes during my trips so that I won't forget pertinent details. If I tried to give a day-to-day recount of those five glorious days in the 'Bul, you'd be reading for about a year. If you've read any of my other posts, you know that I can write/talk, so the fact that  this post would have been longer should tell you something. Therefore, in an effort to condense my gushing to a (slightly) more appropriate length, I present the Istanbul Diaries, which will divide my time there into the easiest categories I could think of. I shall first begin this segment with a not really quick rundown of the bazillion sights my travel companion and I visited. 

Where NOT to Stay in Istanbul

I was partly placed in this bind because I decided to book a flight that lands in the middle of the night in order to have five full days in Istanbul. However, I honestly believe that my culpability ends there.

Italian Adventures, Part IV: Milan: A Rainy End to a Whirlwind Ride

My last 24 hours in Italy were spent in Milan. It's a decent city, but I'm glad we only spent one day there. Recap:

Italian Adventures, Part III: Venice, that Little Seaside Village

Venice was lovely. That may sound a little underwhelming after gushing about the historical architecture of Rome and everything in Florence, but lovely really sums it up. Recap of my two days there:

Italian Adventures, Part II: Under the Tuscan...Rain

I don't think I mentioned that it rained, off and on, for the entire nine days, did I? Welp, it did, though that didn't detract from my enjoyment. 

Italian Adventures, Part I: Roamin' with the Romans

Before I get into the nitty gritty of my trip, I must say that I really do think the subtitle of this post is quite catchy and unique. However, I'm sure it's also the title of a billion other blog posts about Rome. Can't blame a gal for trying, though.

Black and Christian in Spain

Praise the Lord, Saints.

That Moment When I Felt As Though I'd Birthed 12 Children

Not physically, of course. Never physically. But mentally, emotionally, spiritually...heck yes.

A Mid-Year Reflection

My Fulbright grant lasts for nine and a half months, which means that, in early February, I reached the halfway point of my time here. I really don't want to re-hash every minute detail of the last 4.5 months (read the earlier posts if you want to know what was going on during my first few weeks here), so I'll just share a few epiphanies and a little of the knowledge acquired.

Stuff Spanish Teachers Say

First, Happy February, Mardi Gras/Carnival, Month in which the Oppressor Decided to Acknowledge the Contributions of People of African Descent to the World, Commercialized Love Day, and--my personal fave--birthday to the fifty million members of my family who decided to make their entrances into the world during the shortest month of the year. 

For You, Unc

To say that writing this is hard would be the understatement of 2013. Heartbreakingly painful would be closer to an accurate description. 

The Portuguese Discovered the World

...if we are to believe the advertisements we read in airports.

Hello 2013!

AKA: My gawd, have I really already completed 1/3 of this journey!?