Adios Muchachos

     Well friends, I will be leaving tomorrow...TOMORROW!!!  I'm nervous and worried...but the excitement is building.  I thought of some more tips to consider before studying abroad:

• go on the CDC website to review shots and vaccines that you should maybe get before you go to your study abroad country and countries you might visit, this should be done early
• I mentioned in the last post to get banking done early...but did I mention to get it done EARLY because I really mean early
• get your electronics in order: make sure chargers and batteries are ready!
• get a gift for your host family...this I was just reminded of by my aunt tonight so it's a bit of a scramble, but I will make some soaps (yes make them) for the family
• print out forms and documents you will need, you never know when the next time you can get at a printer will be

Regrets:

• I don't have many so far, but I've been knitting a blanket and I will definitely not be able to finish by tomorrow so I have to wait until may which is disappointing...knitters will understand
• I didn't do banking early enough... SERIOUSLY IF YOU TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM THIS BLOG IT IS DO BANKING EARLY

Well readers, the next time you hear from me will be in probably 2 weeks when I'm settled in with a host family.  I will try to keep you posted as often as possible, so be patient!

Kayley

Good Bye America, Hello España

     Well everyone, in 4 days I will be leaving the United States and boarding a plane headed for Barcelona.  I'd like to say that I'm so excited and happy to leave, but honestly I have trouble getting excited for the 4 months away from home and Saint Mike's.  When I was getting ready to go away to Paris I experienced the same apprehension, but once I got there and got really settled in to the Parisian lifestyle, I ended up loving the experience.  Hopefully it will be the same for me, nervous to leave at first but once I've gotten to Madrid and settled in I'll be fine. 

The differences:

     There are quite a few differences between my Paris Study Abroad and my Madrid Study Abroad:

• The first being of course that I will be away for a whole semester, not just a month
• I'm going to fly to Barcelona and then travel with a group to a couple different cities (Gerona, Barcelona, Valencia, and the Azahar coast) on a 10 day study tour and then go to Madrid, where I'll be for the rest of the semester
• I will be staying with a host family and a roommate...fingers crossed for a good match!
• I will be taking 5 classes at a University (although I did study at the University in Paris, I was only taking 2 courses)
• I will have the opportunity to travel internationally, being in Paris for only a month with 2 planned weekend trips I didn't leave Paris to go to other countries, instead I chose to take advantage of what was offered in the city
• I had to pack a lot more, and I have to think about clothing and shoes for several seasons whereas I only had to worry about summer weather in Paris

Recommendations:

• banking: make sure you get this done EARLY, like a month prior to leaving...it makes life a ton easier and maybe I'll learn that eventually
• make sure your ATM card or whatever you use has a VISA logo on it, that means it will be accepted at more places because it is internationally recognized
• passport: renew or get one SUPER early
• currency: shop around to a couple different banks and see where you can get the best rates or special deals
• get all your packing done early so that you can have time at the end to think of extra things you need
• don't forget to check and research the weather patterns of your area
• look at baggage requirements for your airline!
• DO NOT OVER PACK, chances are you will buy clothes and other things abroad, so there is no need to pack every little thing you think you will possibly need, remember everyone is in the same boat so you can be an outfit repeater!

Well, that's all for now and I will definitely check in before I leave!

Kayley

Thank you Audrey

Spanish and French- a very bilingual major

     Hi everyone, not sure if I've ever really pointed this out, but I'm a Spanish and French double major.  It can prove a difficulty at times, but most of all it is very rewarding. 

Logistics: the major requirements are the same

One must take:

- fourth semester of the language
- Advanced conversation (or studying abroad)
- Advanced Grammar and Composition
- Literary studies
- 18 credits of upper level courses
- Senior Seminar

I have always found that it is helpful to know a second language, and in the job world sometimes it is essential.  I definitely recommend studying languages at SMC, some of my favorite professors have been my Spanish and French Professors!

Well, Happy Holidays!

Kayley

Decorating for the holidays

Wooo the Holiday Season is upon us!  Let's see how one can decorate in the dorms/ houses...although now it is a little too late to start thinking about this if you are leaving to go home before friday. 

African Drumming

Two weekends ago, the African Drumming classes performed at the Champlain Valley International Festival.  My roommates Sam and Taylor and I went to see our other 2 roommates Caitlin and Allyson perform.  They were fantastic! 

Semester Recap!

     I hate to say this semester has been my most difficult yet, but it just seems that college keeps getting harder! Except they say that that's what you're supposed to expect! Since it is the end of the semester, let's look back at what I've taken and how far we've all come!

This semester I took
     Spanish Theater (in spanish)
     French grammar and composition (in french)
     the Victorian Novel
     Christians and Muslims

     These courses definitely piled on the work and were extremely challenging, but I really enjoyed them all!  Spanish was a course dedicated to reading plays such as Bodas de Sangre, la Vida es Sueno, and Tres Sombreros de Copa.  It was a lot of reading, translating, and acting too!  French was a class filled with writing short essays, correcting them, and then correcting them again.  Not fun, but very helpful.  Victorian Novel was dedicated to reading the classics, but proved to definitely be more reading than I expected, just about 300 pages a week! We read:

Pride and Prejudice
Jane Eyre
Wuthering Heights
Adam Bede,
the Turn of the Screw
Heart of Darkness
David Copperfield
Jude the Obscure

      Many novels, and tons of reading! But I loved it all, and I was even in class with some of my friends.  Christians and Muslims was another interesting course that opened my eyes to the Islamic faith and history as well (and with Prof Saint-Laurent one of my favorite professors!)

     Besides classes, I had the great fortune of living in a townhouse and making new friends with my new roommates and classmates.  These girls became my constant company and we loved to hangout with each other! 

     This semester we celebrated birthdays, had family dinners, watched movies, danced around, and lived the lives of crazy college students.  I could not have asked for a better set of roommates and I definitely do not want to leave!  I also made new friends this semester, (sadly not many pictures with new friends, but you must trust me, they exist!): 

     I am so looking forward to spending a semester in Spain, exploring the country and perfecting my spanish!  I will miss my friends, old and new, but I will make more in Spain.  I wish you, reader, a fantastic next semester, whether you are in college or high school or not, and always take time to make new friends where ever you go! 

Kayley