If you saw the news this weekend you may have seen a story or two about the long lines in major US airport as people were getting screened for the virus. WELP. That was me. After a redeye from Bilbao to Munich and then 10 hours from Munich to O’Hare I found myself in the inexcusable mess that was the customs and health screening process. All in all it took 6 HOURS between getting off the plane and exiting to the baggage claim. I can rant on and on about how awful this was and how paranoid I was the whole time (everyone around me were coming from Germany or the UK or France, not a hotspot like Northern Spain, I was constantly worrying if I was asymptomatic) but now I am just happy to be safely home and through that whole ordeal. I am so incredibly grateful for my dad who was waiting for 7 hours to drive me home to Madison.
First views of the US of AOne cool thing was that my tweet of the crowd did make a dent in the Twittersphere and a BBC reporter actually contacted me for my statement, still waiting to see if my bland, un-dramatized version of the story is posted anywhere.Emerging from luggage claim
I avoided human contact as much as I could throughout the night and am now in 14 days of self-isolation/quarantine in my house. I am allowed in my bedroom, the upstairs bathroom, and the front living room. Right now both my parents are working from home as an extra precaution.
Last time “walking” through the main hallway of the university
A scary Friday the 13th indeed. Late Thursday night I received the inevitable email from Marquette saying that they advise me to return to the United States. Between that email, the president’s announcement, and my dad’s spreadsheet of cases in Spain, the call was made to United and my flight was booked for Saturday morning. That meant that I had one more day in Bilbao and one last day with all the amazing friends I had made. Naturally this meant a photoshoot in the university until the security guards told us to leave because the whole block was getting shut down.
Please enjoy some random photos of friends and school
The whole squad in front of the Language department
Photo with our Spanish teacher (photo taken from Polina’s Instagram)
I am sitting on a bench next to the Guggenheim museum of art. It is 8:19 and there is someone taking very professional photos of the sunrise streaming through the mist that is shrouding the whole city this morning. It feels like the whole city is holding its breath, which I know is one of those cliques for writers when they want to set up a dramatic, pivotal moment. In the case of Bilbao, it seems like everyone is holding their breath to avoid coughing or breathing in a beast. I haven’t written a blog post since ______ because any update about classes or adventures paled in comparison to the greater event unfolding. The uncertainty has felt debilitating at times but knowing that so many people are looking out for me has helped me figure out the next right thing to do.
They say that your semester abroad seems to go by in the blink of an eye, yet you will remember it for the rest of your life. While I don’t think this is the situation anyone envisioned for that statement, it is incredibly accurate. I am afraid that my time here will be over sooner than anticipated yet the experiences here will stick with me for the rest of my life. When you ask me about my time in abroad, I won’t be able to ramble off a list of the places that I went and the monuments I visited. I will simply smile, and try to think of where to start. My goals of study abroad were to improve my language skills, learn more about the Spanish culture, and create relationships with people different from me. My language skills certainly have improved although I can’t quite say I am fluent from two months. The Spanish culture here is unlike anywhere else. The combination of Basque and Spanish, historical and modern, traditional and industrial has made for fascinating discussions and endless questions to contemplate. And the people. I never imagined that I would be sitting in class and becoming so close with people from every corner of the globe.
So it has been a bit since a post because the days are now pretty routine from week to week. This past weekend was quite fun including a dinner with the Deusto choir and a visit from my friend, Claire, who is studying at SLU-Madrid. It was so nice to see a familiar face and to travel Bilbao like a tourist for the weekend! It made me realize how comfortable I am in the city and how far I have come from getting lost my first weeks in the hostel.
We went to the best lookout of the city, spent over 3 hours at the Guggenheim museum, and did our own little Camino walking along the Bay of Biscay coast. The weather cooperated perfectly so the only time it rained this weekend was when we were exploring the world of modern art– and struggling to understand it.
Another update is that the corona-virus (COVID-19) is spreading in Spain with more than 20 cases in Madrid and some farther north as well. Here in Bilbao there is no public panic or any canceled events. The only thing I have noticed is that the major department store in town has run our of hand sanitizer. But don’t worry mom, I am taking multi-vitamins and avoiding clicking refresh on BBC’s live reporting of the outbreak.
One person or two? This was the only photo we could snag here before the security guard yelled at us.
Really cool abandoned house on a cliff overlooking the beach.
Dinner with the choir!
No filter here! Cool art exhibit that used lights to mute all color.
The view from the Guggenheim looking at Desuto, I had only ever seen the opposite.
Happy Carnival! This weekend in Bilbao there were endless events and parades going on to celebrate and party in preparation for Ash Wednesday this Wednesday. Last night we walked along the streets into the old town where everyone was dressed in costumes! The best comparison I could make was to Freak Fest at UW-Madison’s campus every Halloween. However, every generation was out in force and in costume and overall I saw very few scary costumes. Some of my favorites was a family King Kong (dad=building, baby strapped to dad=king kong, mom= woman on top, two older sibling=airplanes running around in circles around them), bunches of grapes sipping wine, and the group of adults who created the entire cast of Shrek (so I had to ask for a photo).
On the Plaza de Santiago there was free spirits that the older women around kept calling “el agua de Bilbao”. I was not a fan and quickly opted for actual agua from Bilbao. To top it off there was a parade, multiple stages with music around the city, and fair rides that were so fun!
I need to start assembling my squad for Halloween this year, clearly the bar has been set high.
The fountain with free “espiritus”. Honestly just a classy looking keg.
Did we scream louder than the little kids on the ride? Yes. Do we regret it? No.
I figured I should start by saying that there are no photos with this post. There was never a time where I felt that a photo could capture the experience. I encourage anyone (Catholic or not) to consider visiting this beautiful spot.
As I am sitting outside a chapel at Our Lady of Fatima, I found myself being quite critical of the large groups of people talking loudly, taking selfies, and ignoring the reverence of this holy place. But then I realized that all these people came here for a reason. There is no great entertainment feature in this small town an hour from Lisbon. There is no amusement or reward. Everyone here had heard a story about Mary talking to young children; sharing a message about the rosary, about forgiveness, and about praying for sinners over a hundred years ago. (If you want a quick overview of the story, this video has a good explanation)
My prayers today were for the discouraged. For times I have felt discouraged navigating a new culture or homesickness, for loved ones feeling discouraged in their work or personal lives, and for all of us who are feeling discouraged by the world around us. I hope that we can turn this feeling of discouragement into courage to take on the challenges we are given in life knowing that it is all part of a bigger plan.
Even sitting alone in a cold hallway brings me great joy knowing just around the corner are hundreds of people just like me who heard a story about children over 100 years ago and wanted to feel that presence themselves. Feeling part of something bigger is one of the most powerful feelings that truly help us all feel less alone. Besides that string of reflective moments, my pilgrimage helped me redefine my goals for my time abroad, my time this upcoming Lent, and my future as it stands today.
When I was touring colleges in high school my dad and I would check off an imaginary checklist of the basic things that every college tour mentioned (worth noting I never actually took a tour of Marquette). The main points were always the blue safety lights ☑️, lots of club options☑️, and a statue or seal that has some good luck/special tradition☑️.
European cities are kinda like that. Every city has its kobblestone streets, dozens of gimmicky souvenir ships, and an overpriced boutique cafe that is a must-stop place. Once you move past these standard features is when you truly start to get a flavor for the city. Walking around Lisbon this evening the flavor of the city really started to shine. Between the postcard stands and kobblestones were talented street performers, smoking roast nut stands, and an African dance school having a showcase in the middle of the plaza. This combination of cultures and arts brought the city alive in a way a cup of coffee never could.
This weekend I was able to meet up with Emily, a Marquette student, along with two of her friends studying at Loyola in Seville. Seeing a familiar face was very nice and on Saturday we went to the town of Sintra to see the most colorful palace I have ever seen. After that (and a few hiccups on the public transportation) we made it back to downtown Lisbon where we spent two hours on a sunset tour seeing the city by boat (special thanks to family friend and expert traveler Kay Jensen for the suggestion of Viator.com). This was such a unique way to see the city and was my highlight of Lisbon. On Sunday we did a half day pilgrimage to Fatima where we went to Mass, prayed the rosary, and truly felt the presence of this amazing place (post about Fatima to come). To end the trip I parted ways with my friends and just walked around the downtown streets before catching a bumpy flight back to Bilbao late Sunday night.
Palace in Sintra, Portugal
Emily
Captaining the boat
Actually just taking directions from the captain
Sitting on the boat over looking the old town of Lisbon
Lisbon reminded me of a cooler version of San Francisco, I say, having never been to San Francisco.
This weekend I had the incredible opportunity to take a day trip to the neighboring Basque city of San Sabastian and then the counterpart city across the border, Birraritz, France. It is quite crazy to think that in the time it takes to drive from Madison, WI to the Illinois border I can be in France from Bilbao. I guess that is what happens when your countries are the size of mid-western states. These two towns are the largest tourist spots in the Basque country (the cultural land stretching from Northern Spain to Southern France). Additionally, both of these towns came to exist because the royal family of their respective countries wanted a prime vacation palace on the beach. Today the former queen residence in San Sabastian is an elite spa and fitness center while the palace built around the time of Napoleon is now a fancy hotel. The kind of hotel that I got side eye from the valet for entering in my classic tourist attire.
Well, so much for these being regular posts. I will try to go back and post photos and explain the days but honestly they are starting to blend together already. Classes have started this week and although there were some hiccups with scheduling, it feels great to be back to a more regular routine and be in a room with local Spanish students. Last Friday, some fellow international friends and I decided to hop on the metro and go to a beach just 45 minutes away from the city center. This beautiful beach was such an amazing site and we were lucky enough to see the sunset as the surfers headed for land for the day.
An American, Italian, Polish, Solvakian, Turkish, two Brazilians, and two Ukrainians walk onto a beach…Beatriz says she has been to more beaches here in Spain this week than she has in her native Brazil.
Quick update on classes, I will be continuing with a Spanish Grammar course, People Management, Organizational Management, International Marketing, and possibly a Basque Language and Culture course.
Each year, my mom and I take time to make vision boards for the upcoming year by cutting out pictures and phrases from magazines that we hope will represent our year. And every year my mom reminds me that my goals for the next year need to include something for each part of the life wheel. This “life wheel” or health circle consists of mental, physical, social, and spiritual goals that help keep you balanced. Today I was reflecting on how I am doing with these goals and how leaving home has affected them:
Mentally, I have been challenged in new ways that have made me question my self-confidence and mental fortitude in difficult situations. I fear people find me less intelligent because it is harder for me to articulate my thought. I am worried that I am not ready to be a full-fleged adult taking care of themselves. However, I have also gained a great trust in what my gut is saying and felt reaffirmed in all my emotions.
Physically the steps on my Fitbit have been skyrocketing while my nutrition has been dwindling. Trying all the new foods here has been so satisfying to my taste buds but not having a kitchen or a home-cooked meal in a week has not been satisfying the rest of my body. In addition to adjusting my body to the different mealtimes in Spain (breakfast between 7-9. Lunch 2-4, and Dinner not until 10), I realized I need to focus more on adjusting where I am getting my nutrients from. Thankfully, a quick search for a supermarket today ended with me eating fruits, protein, and a delicious cup of noodles (what, I am still on a college budget after all).
Left= Ham salad on toast Right= The kraken with cream sauceLeft=Hard boiled egg and shrimp with cream sauce. Right=some sort of pungent seafoodMy main food groups were bacon, chocolate, bread, and octopus.
Socially the past day has been zero to one hundred for social interaction. The only people I talked consistently to for the first 4 days were my extremely patient boyfriend and my unwaveringly caring parents. Other conversations occurred between waiters and my future homestay mom, but these interactions were not enough to quell my outgoing nature. However, the beginning of classes brought with it new people from all across the world who are looking to talk to me as much as I am looking to talk to them. I also want to be grateful for the wonderful woman who works at the front desk of the hostel who was very thrilled when I told her I had finally made friends.
And finally, spiritual health. This is the part that can truly dictate all the other aspects and yet it can be the hardest for people to recognize and maintain. Having spiritual health is the difference between waking up everyday wondering what you are living for and waking up knowing Who you are living for. The fundamental belief that God has a plan for me and I am simply trying to discover what it is has redefined my perspective at high-anxiety moments. Also, the fact that I am never alone in my faith has become crystal clear in the past days. I have been lost in this city more times than I can count but no matter where I ended up it was never more than a block away from a church whose beauty would take my breath away. On the first three nights in Bilbao I went into the same nearby church for prayer and Mass. My mind and body instantly felt at home with the familiar rhythm of a Mass, the universal nature that I cherish in my Catholic faith. An older woman grabbed my arm after Mass and began sharing her favorite parts of the church to me: a clear outsider who was struggling to understand her. She then showed me to the back sacristy where elegant stature of Mother Mary brought me back to my home parish, Our Lady Queen of Peace. During my breakdowns on the phone with my loved ones they reminded me to pray and made me realize that my prayers are not alone. The peace deep in my heart knowing that people on the other side of the world (some of whom I haven’t met) are praying for me is such an extraordinarily humbling existence that makes me feel blessed beyond words.
The Odyssey Years 