Maurine @ Home

I’m coaxing myself to finish up writing this blog, but I’m struggling. I feel like if I finish writing about being here at home then that officially makes España over. Granted, it was over when I left Calle Postrera, when I took off from Madrid, when I landed in New York, and when I arrived here in Northampton, but it still doesn’t seem quite real. I feel like I should be going back, but I also love being here. It’s a strange feeling to say the least.

Thursday morning I went next door to see my little boys. They’ve grown so much! Aiden turned six and started Kindergarten while I was away, and Aaron is in preschool just had his fourth birthday this past week. Ashton, my beloved little baby man, is now walking and saying a few words. It broke my heart to be away from them for so long, but it was also that much sweeter to see them again. Aaron ran into my arms and in his standard, raspy, little boy voice, yelled  “Mo! I just missed you so much! I love you so much!” I cried. It was such a happy moment to have him throw himself on me. Of course it was also wonderful to see Wendy and Tim, too. They were really excited about the olive oil I brought home for them and the red Spanish bull t-shirts I brought for the boys.

Thursday evening I went to TDXmas, a Christmas formal hosted by one of the fraternities at Amherst. It was amazing to see all my friends, though it wasn’t as much fun as last year. It was only my second night home, so I was still really jetlagged. Needless to say, staying out until 2am was a true challenge. Luckily I’m going to have other opportunities to see everyone (outside of the packed bar environment) before they hear out for Christmas break.

Friday I did some Christmas shopping at the mall and ran some errands around Northampton. Though mundane, it was so nice to run around Northampton going to the Post Office and Shu-Fix. I missed the simple, little things!

Saturday afternoon and evening I was with Aiden, Aaron, and Ashton while Wendy and Tim had a night out. They stayed at Hotel Northampton, so I had a lovely overnight with my three little munchkins. We made cookies and did crafts before bedtime, and then Ashton and I snuggled all night in bed. I never even bothered to put him in his crib; I just wanted to hold him. 

Baby man, Ashton

My love

Early on Sunday morning Aiden and Aaron came and got in bed with Ashton and me, and the four of us watched cartoons for a while before going to get some breakfast. It was paradise- I missed the boys so much!

Yesterday afternoon Mommy and I went for a lovely seven mile run along the river trail over by he Smith Campus, which was great. I missed my fabulous Northampton running routes. After hot showers to warm up and a bit of lunch, we headed out to get our Christmas tree at Four Corner Farm. 

Cutting our tiny Christmas tree!

We spent the evening decorating the tree, went to a Messiah sing in town, and finally got our Christmas e-card put together, with photos from the half marathon and the Alhmabra in Granada:

I still have unpacking to do, though all my suitcases are put away in the closet now. Its not that I’m in denial, I just feel no particular rush to finish hanging clothes in my closet and folding the clean laundry.

I’m here in Northampton to stay, and I’m thoroughly enjoying the chilly air and Christmas spirit. Córdoba was life-changing, and I’m so grateful to have had the experience. I’m now bilingual, have made some amazing friends, and have been to some of the most spectacular places on Earth.

When I started “Maurine Abroad,” I though that I’d write a post every week or so; I never pictured myself doing an (almost) daily update on my time travels. I’m so glad I did though, its been great having people following by trip, not to mention a really easy way to share the experience. Gracías por leer! (Thanks for reading!) I've gotten over 3,000 hits! plan to have the entire compilation printed and bound so I can have a paper copy. So… that’s that! I’m home, I’m changed, and I’m happy. Feliz Navidad, compañeros, y que tengáis una buena temporada de vacaciones!

Con Amor~

Maurine @ Home

A very Preshco farewell

In true Preshco fashion, Tuesday's farewell party was a total blast. The evening started with a performance form the guitar class, and was followed by our Sevillanas spectacular. Jess and I brought down the house with our dance. It wasn’t that our dance skills were anything impressive, but between her matador suit and our combined enthusiasm, it was enough to get the audience really psyched. 

Jess on the stairs at Circulo de Amistad

The lovely couple

Traje de Sevillanas

Dress and hair

Proud papa, Carlos. 

After the performances (and a change of costume) the real party began. There was a huge selection of tapas, wines, and a live band to entertain the evening as we chatted amongst professors, family, and friends. 

With Maricarmen, Carlos, and Kim- the family of Calle Postrera

With Maricarmen and Carlos

Dancing with Jess 

The party ended all too soon, however. I had to catch my 1am bus to Madrid, so I had to get all my things together and head out by around 12:30. Before leaving, I made sure to grab a microphone and thank everyone for everything. I didn't even make it to the microphone before crying, though. I though I would be fine, and not emotional at all, but I was a waterworks standing there in front of a room of 200 people. And from the microphone I went straight to the a taxi. Kim came outside to the taxi with Maricarmen and Carlos and saw us off. I know I'll see her again soon, but we both clung to each other and sobbed. She was a wonderful housemate.

Kim and I with our "diplomas" (hats) from the Universidad de Córdoba

Maricarmen and Carlos brought me to the bus station and saw me off. I cried again when I left them- they were really amazing host parents. I get the idea that they travel though, so I hope I'll see them again on the other side of the ocean.

The overnight bus ride was long and sleepless, and I arrived in Madrid just as the sun was rising. Check-in included some last-minute weight re-distribution in my suitcases, but I made it with two suitcases at the exact 23 kg limit. I slept some on the flight from Madrid to JFK, but the anticipation and excitement of being in America and seeing my Mom again was too much. And alas....

I finally made it! and apparently I was grinning ear-to-ear when I emerged through security to another tearful reunion. We made the woman next to us cry, too. After some rush-hour traffic coming out of the city, and a few more hours of travel, I made it HOME. Walking through the door and seeing my cats and sleeping in my bed has been beyond amazing. Only 24 hours of traveling... and 36 hours of being awake.

There's been more since the first night here, but I'll finish the update another time. I'm still on European time, so its time to get in my wonderful bed again!

I'm the luckiest girl in the world

After a wonderful Prescho party in Córdoba last night and a long 36 hours of traveling, I am home in Northampton. I'm exhausted, elated, sad, and feel so blessed. These past three and a half months have been incredible. I'll write more about the final evening in Córdoba and traveling home, but for now its about 18 hours past my bedtime.

Flamenco, Let's go

Packed and ready! I spent this morning running around Córdoba getting last minute gifts, and then this afternoon was all about finishing packing up and taking my Geography final exam. Its all done! And now I've just finished my hair and am about to head out the door with all my suitcases to the Preshco party and on to Madrid!

Sleepless

I couldn't sleep at all last night, despite being so tired. Anticipating today's party and departure and my arrival tomorrow at home has turned me into an insomniac. So instead of sleeping, I doodled in Paintshop and made a nice little map:

Keep breathing

Ah yes, the joy of final exams. Córdoba exams are hardly stressful in comparison to Smith, but still. An exam is an exam, and should be taken seriously. Today, however, the proved to be more than I could handle.

This morning I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things for lunch since I was going to be prepping for my music exam at the facultad during lunch hour with the other girls in my class. I got a nice bag of green beans to munch on, and they tasted great. Everyone had a few, but I ate the majority for lunch and felt lightly satisfied and great. Five minutes into the Music exam, however, was a change of tune. No pun intended.

We had to identify two pieces and be able to write an essay on both of them talking about the musical and historical components of both. Normally this would have been no problem, but in the hour and a half I had to write two essays, I barely made it through one. I guess the beans must have been bad or something, because I literally ran back and forth to the bathroom five times during class to yack my brains out. In the times when I came back to class to write I ended up just sitting and focusing on breathing and making my hands not shake. Needless to say I felt badly for the other girls in the class with my running in and out- I had to take the exam though. At least the first half, that it. Pilar called time and I had only done 50%. I asked her if I could possibly write the other at home in bed and turn it into her tomorrow.

When she laughed at my question I thought I was about to burst into tears. She said no, but instead of writing at all she had me just come talk through what I would have written about. I still had to get up during our conversation and run for the baño, but I managed to not have to write an essay. GRACíAS PILAR!

The rest of the afternoon was spent jumping between bed and the bathroom floor, but after a nice nap and some dinner I felt great. It was most definitely food poisoning, and I’m thankful for that. I thought my last 24 hours here in Córdoba were going to be like my first days here in Spain- sick sick sick.

Anyways- hurray! Also, at dinner Maricarmen gave Kim and I eat two big boxes of holiday goodies like marzipan and turron to bring home to our families. And as a special gift for us, she got us each a really beautiful ring that was handmade by the best friend of one of our neighbors. I’m so touched and honored!

I particularly like that you can see my suitcase and Sevillanas dress in the background. 

I have to say that as much as I am excited to go home tomorrow, I will miss this place. Golfo, one of the dogs, tied to put himself in my suitcase today.

The rest of the evening has been a Sevillanas rehearsal for our big performance tomorrow night at the final Preshco party. I’m going to the party with all by suitcases packed, and leaving form the party on a 1am bus to Madrid. I arrive at the airport around 7, and check in for my departure to New York at 11. Oddly enough, I arrive at 1:30-something. Only a two and a half hour flight? No. 8.5+ hours. And then my mom and I will drive home. I’m going to be exhausted. Its also weird to think that I’m not sure where I’ll be posting from next time. Could be the US? The only thing I know for sure is that I'll be listening to Citizen Cope- My Way Home as I touch down on American soil. I've been planning it all semester, and now its less than 48 hours away. Loca!

Ah Córdoba, if this is the last time I blog from within the confines of your historic old city walls on Calle Postrera, let me just say that this semester has been spectacular. No puedo agradecerles lo suficiente por todas mis experncias. 

Queda dos, venga tres

I've been lazy about writing! My apologies. Let's do a day-by-day recap:

I actually had two classes on Friday, Music and Geo, because the professor wanted to get in one more class session before the final exams. I personally didn't think another class was necessary for either considering we had already finished the material, but oh well. I have the Music open note exam tomorrow (Monday) and the Geography exam, which is just writing a bit about some photos of Spanish landscapes he's going to show us, on Tuesday. The rest of the day was exceptionally lazy and uneventful.

On Saturday, yesterday, I busted out the suitcases and began packing. Considering that I have to get everything organized and be ready to go on Tuesday, I thought it'd be a good idea to start before departure day. The only real challenge is figuring out how to get my plates home since they're fragile and weigh a lot. There are no weight restrictions on carry-ons, so I think I'm just going to wrap them in clothes and carefully put them in my backpack. I'm too nervous that they'll put my suitcase over the 50 pound weight limit and end up broken.

Yesterday was also Amber's 21 birthday celebration. We were going to botellon in a park before going to a club or something, but it ended up being one of the few nights of rain here. Shoot. We didn't want to pay for drinks at a bar! So expensive! Kim and I are really cheap, too, so we brought wine for ourselves. Unfortunately because of the weather everyone went to a bar, and we couldn't bring our wine if we went. Instead, we found a small shed with an awning in the park and sneakily drank our wine there. It was a crack up. We eventually made it to the bar, and wished Amber a happy birthday, but the high point of the night was definitely the wine under the shed awning. This is what our lives have come to... Drinking wine in a park at night... amazing.

This morning we managed to peel ourselves out of bed in time to go to mass at the Mezquita. I had never been to mass before, so it was an interesting experience. It was also just the excuse I needed to go to the Mezquita one more time before I leave. The rest of today has been rainy, so I've been inside packing bit by bit and doing a bit of prep for my exam tomorrow.

Closer to home every day! Two until I leave, three until I'm home... ALA! Whoa.