Donde Las Montañas Cantan...

Before I left for this study abroad experience, I made a bucket list. Some of the items on the list are in the first entry of this blog, others are hidden away in my journal. But, one of the goals on that bucket list was to climb one of the Picos de Europa. 

So, week 1 in Oviedo, I sought out info on the Mountaineering Group connected to the Universidad de Oviedo that takes bi-monthly day trips to different picos near Oviedo. My friends, Joanna and Lauren, accompanied me as we decided to sign up for the Level 2 (of 4) Pico Cornon.

Two weeks later, filled with eagerness and excitement we joined a bus full of well-prepared and evidently practiced hikers, with hiking poles and energy bars in hand. Our contrast to these mountaineers was laughable. With holes on the outer side of both of my tennis shoes and a no longer waterproof raincoat, I was optimistic that I could brave the elements if necessary.

Well, after 20 minutes into our hike, it started to rain. What I love about having lived in Oregon and Oregonians in general is that we like to romanticize rain by giving it human or enchanting characteristics, such as "spitting" rain or "mist". Well, my friends, the rain that we experienced for the next 6 hours of our hike was "spitting rain", the kind that makes you want to scream "Make up your mind already!"

While the views were somewhat non-existent thanks to the constant fog/rain, I was blessed with an opportunity to fill my lungs with mountain fresh air, put some red in my cheeks with more strenuous exercise and contemplate how great God is and how small I feel when hours away from civilization on a Spanish mountaintop.

At the top!
View: non-existent
Sense of achievement: Extraordinary
Bucket List to hike a Pico: Check!

Blessed with a rainbow on our descent

The blessings were multiplied a few weeks later when Joanna and I took a day trip to Cangas de Onis/Covadonga with Joanna's conversation partner, Diana. With the help of Diana's aunt and uncle who live in Cangas de Onis, we were able to take a car ride to the hard-to-reach Covadonga Lakes. While we were told the whole day that we would be unable to go as the fog would make the drive treacherous and the view non-existent, the Lord answered our incessant prayers by clearing away the clouds and producing the most perfect weather for us to take in the gorgeous view of the lakes and the refreshing mountain air.

La Música de Mis Venas

While I am not a cultured person in the least, I do enjoy a little mixture of Mozart, Bach or Tchaikovsky now and then. Plus, I have spent many hours of my life ticklin' the ivories thanks to my parent's urging and the competitive sibling rivalry of trying to be better than my almost perfect brother in at least one activity. I also attempted the flute for a while (I even went to band camp... it's where all the cool kids went), but after receiving a "C" in band in 7th grade (who gets a "C" in band?!), I decided to part ways with the wind instruments.

So, after arriving here in Oviedo, I started looking for tickets to see a classical music concert. With an already packed schedule due to my tendency to over-plan, the options were limited due to my few free weekends. However, I ended up deciding with Joanna and Lauren, two friends from my program, on a concert of violonchelo with pieces from Tchaikovsky and Schubert.

The adventure truly began the day before the concert. Unlike many of the ticket systems back home, I had to go to Cajastur, a popular local bank in the region of Asturias where one can print their tickets. However, after entering my debit card and selecting "Imprimir Entradas (print tickets)", I proceeded to watch the first, second, and third ticket all get stuck in the ticket box as the door would not open however hard I pushed/pulled/banged on it (I'm truly doing my best to re-assure the infamous perception of "dumb Americans").

So, as ticket #3 fell and the door to the box once again did not open, I decided to turn the woman at the ATM machine next to me and ask her if I was misunderstanding how to use the machine or if she knew of a number I could call. She tried to open the box to no avail and then turned to the other 4 women that were standing at ATM machines nearby, which caused me to be swarmed by 5 overly attentive Spanish women.  It is at this point that I would like to state how wonderfully helpful the Asturian people have been whenever I have asked for help in the form of directions, grammatical questions, or the case of the trapped concert tickets.

In the end, I had to call the 24-hour customer service line and spend 15 minutes explaining my situation and finding a remedy. The service agent informed me that she would forward my information to the ticket box and that I could enter with just my debit card and identification. The irony of this mishap is that after asking the name of the customer service agent to potentially reference later, I had to laugh as she told me "Esperanza"... or "Hope". God is sooooo humorous.

To get to the main point of the story, the concert was incredible! With the heart-stirring performance of the main cellist supported by a string orchestra, I was beyond thrilled and quickly forgot the trouble of the previous day. I have attached pictures as well as a short clip from "Andante Cantabile" by Tchaikovsky for your viewing pleasure.

Also, the second video is from a free concert I was invited to by my friend Lauren's host mom who is an accordion aficionado. The short clip is from one selection of "Filomenillas", a collection of short duets for violin and accordion composed with a child-like quality. Please enjoy!

Tengo Escalofríos (Goosebumps)!

Ok, before I discuss the reason for the title of this blog post I want to clarify that I have yet to have one problem/issue here in Oviedo and Spain in general. I can honestly say that my time here has been a blessing in every possible way. God has repeatedly revealed to me that he is evident in the details of my life instead of just the big picture. 

While Oviedo has been more than I could have imagined, it did hold some surprises... since the beginning of October, the weather has changed from a lovely 70 - 75 degrees to a more frigid 50 - 55 degrees. This change is also known as autumn, for those of you who don't have the pleasure of enjoying 4 seasons like all of us Oregonians (Apologies for the shameless plug...). Now, I consider myself a fairly hearty girl. I am not usually bothered by cold weather or rain (I have lived the majority of my life in one of the rainiest states). Additionally, one of my many nicknames among my friends is "Heater Hands" due to my surprising ability to have warm hands during the freezing winter months. 

But, nothing could prepare me for the shock that was discovering the majority of apartment complexes here in Oviedo, do not turn on the heat until November! This is due to a few reasons: to reduce pollution, to conserve energy, and the most important reason, the manager of the apartment complex controls the heater. What this means is that when I walk in the door after coming home from school, I am greeted with a warm "¡Hola! ¿Qué tal?" from my host mom contrasted with cool air of our frigid 60 degree home. Good news: according to my mother, people burn more calories when they are cold (something about the body having to work harder to stay warm). Not as good news: every day, my host mother and I have to wear every layer of clothing we can possibly fit on our bodies, trying to stay warm (Imagine the little kid in all of his snow clothes from "The Christmas Story"). We are truly a humorous pair and I would take a picture to show all of you, however, I am too cold to get up take the picture. 

Also, I am debating whether or not I will shower until November as the idea of having to take a shower in this freezing house makes me cringe. 

So, beyond the joy of seeing autumn inch closer and closer, I have the additional pleasure of knowing that November marks the beginning of removing at least a few layers of jackets/sweaters as well as taking showers :)

Hasta pronto!

Two New Favorites: Chocolate con Churros y El Cristo

Having now been in Spain for 3 weeks or so, I am in love. With the culture. With the Spanish people. With the sights. And, with the food. My host mom and I regularly discuss all of these topics; however, food is probably our most popular topic. While I had assumed before leaving that I would probably come back a curvier version of myself, my host mom quickly informed during a meal consisting of a huge chunk of bread, fried chicken, a fried egg, and cheese, that she was confident I would not gain weight while I was here in Spain. While the mediterranean diet is known to be a very healthy diet, I had my doubts.

My doubts mainly stemmed from the fact that my favorite section of the food pyramid has always been desserts. So, although fruit or flavored yogurt is usually the dessert of choice here, my friends and I made a delicious discovery on our way home from an orientation: chocolate con churros.

Now, I am guessing the image you have in your head is the cinnamon sugar-covered churros sold at country fairs and the like. While delicious, I am talking about a whole new level of churro. Served freshly out of the oven, the churros are sprinkled with sugar, and paired with melted dark chocolate served in which one can dunk their crunchy sweet treats. Talk about heaven!

With that said, it is not surprising that my other new favorite is "El Cristo", a Christ-like stone statue situated atop a nearby hillside in Oviedo that is reminiscent of "El Cristo" in Brazil (but a much smaller version). With 360 degree views of all of Oviedo and its surrounding areas, including the beach town of Gijón, it is breathtaking. The best part is that in order to observe these incredible views, one must hike a steep hill for an hour: the perfect solution to an indulgence in chocolate con churros. Another bonus is that the hike begins with views of 8th century monuments that have been preserved and are still open for tours.

I am honestly so grateful for how God has already blessed my time here through every aspect of the experience, even though school started today :)

To give you perspective, I have included pictures and video of both of my new favorites. Enjoy!

*Please forgive the poor quality of the audio... there was a lot of wind.

Las chicas and I at La Corte de Pelayo enjoying our new treat!

Angelina and I at the top

Hasta pronto!

La Brisa Fresca de Oviedo

Well, after literally running from my hostel to the train station (looking like a true American with my Oregon Ducks shirt and yoga pants, breathing heavily with a 60-pound bag and a backpack) to catch the 2:00 train to Oviedo last Tuesday, I have finally arrived in my home for the next 3 months.

I wish that I could create an accurate and complete image of this town in your heads. For those of you that have had the pleasure of seeing the movie "Chocolate", think the old architecture with cafés sprinkled throughout the town serving churros con chocolate (unfortunately, minus Johnny Depp). It is an interesting combination of 14th century buildings such as their gorgeous, centrally-located cathedral paired with modern architecture such as the infamous "Spaceship", a building that is shockingly large with features resembling "Star Trek".

As I enjoy telling stories, I have decided to stick with the tradition of telling one story or describing one location that has had a significant impact while I have been here. However, since I have not written a new blog post in a week, I will share two experiences that I have had so far...

On Thursday of this last week, our program directors led our group on a tour of the Old Town area of Oviedo. Let me preface this by saying that Oviedo is the oldest city that I have ever visited. We began our tour at the cathedral, which began construction in the 8th century! It is a part of the Camino de Santiago, which is a story in its own right (I recommend googling it).

We then moved on to see sights such as the Plaza de Paraguas (literally a square with a huge metal umbrella in the middle), and the oldest non-religious building in Oviedo, a 14th century stone structure that I honestly would not have paid much attention to... but I'm sure it was quite metropolitan during its time.

When we returned to the cathedral at the end of the tour, it was finally open for viewing. You will have to watch the video below to understand but this cathedral was spectacular. With so much history and intricate details lining every wall, it was hard to grasp the significance of standing in such a structure. My friends from the program and I are planning on grabbing a café con leche next Sunday before attending mass at the cathedral (I think the café will be necessary because I believe mass lasts for 2-3 hours...).

Later that day, on my way back home from Old Town, Angelina, Kelsey and I ran across a huelga (strike) that was happening for the workers in the mining industry. Apparently, the miners have been significantly impacted by the recession that has happened in Spain and are being mistreated by the managers of the mines (underpaid, overworked, etc.). So, in a diplomatic fashion, they walked through the main street of Oviedo setting off minor explosions (think fireworks with a little extra gun powder). The girls and I were initially shocked by the display until we saw families strolling about with their baby carriages as though nothing was wrong. Interestingly enough, this huelga happened the same day that the fight broke out in Eugene (yep, we heard all about the tear gas situation over here).

So, there you have it: a picture of pure beauty and pure strife. Since I have already written a novel, I will not include the story about my run through the Parque de Invierno. However, let me just say that God truly blessed me with the most gorgeous sunset on my run last week through the largest park in the southern part of Oviedo (I will include pictures at a later date).

Please enjoy the photos and videos from both of my experiences in Oviedo this past week...

The oldest non-religious building in Oviedo...

La Plaza de Paraguas

The interior of the cathedral

I have attached links to the cathedral and to the huelga (please forgive the frightened look on my face)...

Hasta pronto!

Mi Propio Descubrimiento de Madrid

... And so the adventure begins! On Saturday, I arrived here in Madrid and have been in a state of excitement and disbelief ever since.

While each day I have enjoyed touring the city and its surrounding areas with my travel buddy Kelsey and her sister Ashley, the best blessing has been walking through the city on my own. When I first arrived in Madrid, I had basically all of Saturday to do as I pleased until the girls arrived.

With my camera in hand, I strolled down the Calle de San Jerónimo, taking in views of the Museo del Prado, La Fuente de Neptuno and La Iglesia de San Jerónimo. The gem of wandering about the city, however, was my discovery of the Parque del Retiro. A massive park in the middle of bustling Madrid, the Parque was a breath of fresh air from my 16+ hours in airplanes and airports.

After grabbing a sandwich at a local cafetería, I ate on a bench in the park, allowing my mind time and space to process. When finished eating, I started on my way from the entrance to el estanque, a mini-lake with paddle boats to the Palacio Cristal, a large palace made of glass that holds exhibits of contemporary artwork. All of these destinations in the park allowed me to observe all types of Spaniards, from families, to artists to accordion players. Additionally, what was most surprising (for those of you who know me well), I spent my whole 3-hour stroll without speaking a word.

The Lord completely blessed that time of solitude and allowed me to see, through notes that friends had given me before I left and His Word that He is with me always.

I anxiously look forward to seeing how He continues to reveal Himself to me while I am here and what I have yet to learn.

Thank you for those of you that prayed for my safe journey here... God is faithful!

Please enjoy the pictures from el Parque del Retiro and an accordion player's lovely version of "La Vie En Rose"....

The link for the video is here.

* Sorry that the video is sideways! 

La Preparación

"What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" - James 4:14

As I continue preparations for my trip, I am reminded of this verse. Most of my friends are very aware of the fact that I am a planner by nature. To paint a quick picture: I used to repeatedly ask for the itinerary of our family vacations as a kid to know what we were doing every hour of the day. My family members and I have diagnosed this strange behavior as a combo of intense anxiety/worry. Thankfully, I was stretched to outgrow this behavior through a study abroad trip in high school to Costa Rica for 2 months. However, the tendency is still there (which is evident in the fact that I received a planner for my 18th birthday - how thoughtful!).

With that said, in the past few days of preparation for my trip, I have been reminded of how easily worry can creep into one's mindset. From buying the correct adapter/converter to making copies of my passport to deciding if I want to hide 50 euros in my shoe or my ultra-cool, hide-a-fanny pack, there will be some things for which I cannot plan. For most, this would be acceptable. For me, this is worrisome.  

So, as I reflect back on James 4:14, I am asking God to help me remember the brevity of life and to be grateful for this incredible aventura loca on which I am about to embark. 

And, as this will be an adventure, I have created a Spain Bucket List:

- Go on a hike in the Pyrenees Mountains

- Visit La Alhambra

- Hike the Picos de Europa

- Go on a wine tour (per Tabitha's request)

- See La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

- Swim in the Mediterranean Sea 

I am still compiling this list, but I definitely welcome any suggestions :) 

Lastly, people have been asking for my address in Spain, so here it is:

C/Cervantes, 14   1-Dcha

33004 OVIEDO

SPAIN

P.S. You can totally Google maps my house (it's really an apartment complex) by putting in "Calle de Cervantes, 14, Oviedo, Spain"!

*John 15:4