My last week in Spain and my last university classes EVER

I don't even think this is going to hit me until I finally make it back home, but I have spent 4 entire months in Spain. I just have this weekend left--5 days--and then I'm leaving Alicante forever (okay, hopefully not forever).

It's hard to believe I've been here this long, because it felt like just yesterday that I got off the plane in Valencia, exhausted and completely lost trying to find the bus station from the airport. Since that first day forward, Alicante has become my home away from home. I have really enjoyed myself and accepted my situation here, even if that meant struggling with difficult classes and (some) difficult people for 4 months. 

I am very excited to come home to see my amazing family again, and of course my wonderful best friends and for all of us to celebrate together at the annual Komblevicz Christmas Eve Bash, but it's very bittersweet to say goodbye to Spain. 

After study abroad, I have a feeling Michigan is going to seem pretty dull and I'm going to forever have an unquenchable thirst to travel. I won't even be returning to a routine of classes and work since I just graduated with the Class of 2014! (which is possibly the best Christmas present ever)

No more university, no more studying, no more exams--just cracking down and working. If I could make it through college packing my schedule to the rim with full-time classes, 30 hours per work week, a part time internship, and was able to make time for PRSSA meetings and PR Central, then I think I can handle just working. Life may not be easy past this point, but I sure know it will be less stressful. I made it! 

In this last week of reminiscing of my study abroad experience, I'm going to share a recap of some of my favorite and memorable moments of Spain, but of course this blog would be 100 pages long if I shared it all. Hopefully this inspires some people to travel! 

Taking the bus from the Valencian Airport to Alicante and seeing the mountains for the first time!

Meeting the Josés, our directors at UA. 

Visiting the beach and the Explanada for the first time.

Meeting the entire U.S. crew! 

Trying my host mom's healthy cooking 

Looking out my bedroom window and seeing the beautiful landscape 

Seeing the Festival de los Moros y los Cristianos 

Studying at the most beautiful campus 

Visiting Alcoy with my new friend Jorge 

Halloween in Barcelona! (My favorite city I visited in Spain, by the way) 

The crazy island of Ibiza. 

Madrid 

Enjoying a drink--or two...or 10--with new friends. 

To sum it all up...I absolutely loved Spain and 4 months has definitely gone by way too fast, but that will motivate me more to return again some day!

Yesterday is but today's memory, and tomorrow is today's dream.

Week 1 in Alicante: Festivals, shopping, cafés and more!

I can't believe a whole week has already passed! This place is so different and full of adventure that I feel like the time is flying by.

I found out that I basically live in the center of everything. The center of the downtown area is called "Plaza Luceros" and it only takes me 5 minutes to walk there. The other day, our whole group went to "La Festival de Los Moros y Cristianos" or the Festival of the Moors and Christians in a city pretty close to Alicante. It was a religious parade, but also a party in the entire street in the city of Villena. 

Some pictures from the festival:

These were my favorite costumes! (They can cost $1000!)

The streets of Villena

Moors

The next day, Kris, Damaris and I traveled to San Juan Beach (which was about 45 minutes on the tram) and had tapas and cañas and talked politics for a few hours. The water is SO extremely warm, it's amazing!

Saturday night, Damaris, Katie and I looked around and went up and down streets by the beach. One very well known spot in Alicante is La Explanalda, which is their colorful riverfront: 

La Explanalda

My favorite park, Gabriel Miró, in walking distance and the Fuenta La Aguadora

Interesting graffiti (notice it's in English)

A funny misspelling on one of the "American Diner" menus

Today, we finally started classes and I think it's going to go smoothly. The directors of this program are incredible! Not only are they directors, but also guides and friends. They took us for our first tour, and also one of them is teaching a class we all have together. I thought I would be way more lost here, but I've felt comfortable and safe the entire time! 

Jose Calvo-Ferrer even helped me get my SIM card for my phone (so I can have a Spanish number and call people in my group without insane roaming charges). Thank god he was with me because I don't understand technical terms in Spanish (yet). A plan for 20 SMS/ 20 minutes/ 600 mB cost 10 euro and you can "recharge" it whenever you run out. Not bad, but I'll be using a lot of Wifi as to not go over. So for tonight, I'm going to buy some school supplies and relax for the rest of the day!

Some interesting things I found out about Spain:

• They use the word "conducir" instead of "manejar" for drive (manejar is Mexican)
• They use the word "coche" instead of "carro" for car (carros is also Mexican)
• It hasn't rained in Alicante for almost a year
• You can buy beer at the cafeteria on campus
• They also don't enforce the drinking age (I saw drunk kids at the festival last week!)
• It's easier to take public transportation than drive
• No one here knows what a longboard is. Good thing I didn't bring mine
• The word for "coffee" actually means espresso. If you want a regular coffee its called "cafe americano"
• Locks on the doors are extremely difficult
• It's VERY safe to walk around alone
• There's shops called "tiendas chinas" (chinese stores) that are extremely cheap
• All of the food here is extremely healthy. My host mom doesn't eat ANY processed food. Even the tuna is fresh (and not canned).
• "Monteditos" are little sandwiches you can buy for about 1 euro

That's all for today! Thanks for reading. :)