Mis días de aventura...

definefandom asked: So this is a tad bit random, but I was looking up CIEE tags and stumbled across you. I am also an exchange student through CIEE who has been in Spain (and, strangely enough, named Katherine). If you don't mind me asking, what program are you in, how long have you been here? I was in the high school program (though I was on a gap year) and lived near Madrid.

Yo sé que es muy al azar, pero tenía que preguntarte. =) (Puedo hablar mejor que puedo escribir en español. =P)

This is awesome!!!! I can actually write better than I speak. It’s funny, I never check the email attached to this but I was watching a movie via netflix (getting my fix now that I’m back in the states!! For those of you who don’t know, you can’t get that or Hulu overseas) and it made me re-log my password RIGHT BEFORE THE BEST PART… so I checked my and lo and behold I had another lovely question! 

I was in the CIEE Liberal Arts program through Sevilla, Spain. It partners with Indiana University to send kids along with the advanced liberal arts program and the business program. I had another friend in Madrid, her name was Kelsey, maybe you know her? Probably a long shot! Sadly I’m back in the states, I have been for about a month or so. I REALLY need to update this blog! I have so many stories and so many pictures that I haven’t shared yet!

Are you still in spain? I really hope so! It was such an amazing experiences and I look forward to the days when I can return, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you to take full advantage of a semester abroad in college! 

Lo mejor de las suertes a usted! Espero que hayan tenido una aventura increíble como lo hice!

The three hour walking tour of Edinburgh was amazing, our guide was funny and very informed (if somewhat of a pretentious twat). 

This history of Scotland can apparently be summed up with one gesture: Two stiff middle fingers at the British/England

SAVED BY THE BELL:
The phrase “Saved by the Bell” was NOT coined from the awesome 1980’s teen tv romp so aptly names “Saved by the Bell” but rather, after dead people! Or ALMOST dead as it were… When you died, or were believed to be dead, your body was sealed up in a coffin and you were buried. As it happened, there were times when the deceased individual wasn’t actually dead and when their graves were opened later to add more bodies or by grave robbers, people would find scratch marks on the coffins indicative of a desperate attempt to get the hell out of there! In those days, the poor would burry their dead with a little vial of poison in their breast pocket for just this occasion, so rather than suffer any longer than need be you could just drink the poison if you found yourself buried alive. The more wealthy people would burry their dead and attach a little bell to the grave, which then would be attached to the finger of the body. If the individual did in fact wake up, they would only have to vigorously shake that finger to alert their presence. Thus, the phrase “Saved by the Bell” came about.

I’m not exactly sure how successful this bell apparatus was, before I could ask Mallory was struck by a tree limb on what is sure to go down in history as THE single most windy day in all of Edinburgh’s history.

DEAD RINGER:
The phrase “Dead Ringer”, which today means very similar in appearance,  also comes from that lovely little bell! It was a morbid joke back around the 1500’s that the dead individual had somehow come back to life and was walking amongst the living again, as if they had been alive and rung that little bell. 

My personal favorite (and please excuse the language, this is PURELY for educational purposes) 
SHIT FACED DRUNK:
As many college students know, the phrase “Shit faced drunk” is thrown around. A lot. Usually in the context of relaying the previous night’s exploits.  ”Aw man I was shit faced drunk last night! Do you remember anything past 2am?”
Well this phrase ACTUALLY has a root in history too! Crazy, I know.
Here in Edinburgh there was a curfew imposed at exactly 10 p.m. This means that the town gates were locked down, and all of the bars/pubs emptied their slightly to heavily intoxicated patrons. 10 p.m. also happened to be the time when the residence of the city emptied their bed pans out of their windows. Now, most of you probably see where this is headed but I’d like to paint the picture for you anyways. 

You’ve just spent a great evening with friends, you’ve thrown a couple back and you’re felling good. The bar is closing so you and your friends make your way home… and the you hear it. The distinct sound of wood and stone scraping together, the sound surrounds you. You look up and then it hits you… literally. And there you have it, shit faced drunk!

Again, I apologize for the language! 

Anonymous asked: what company are you studying abroad with and how do you like it?

I studied with a program called CIEE in Sevilla, Spain. There were flaws with the program, but overall I would highly recommend that company. CIEE was really good about taking care of their students, they employ a knowledgeable and helpful staff, and try to make each student’s experience unique and unforgettable. Your safety, education, and cultural experience are their number one priority and it really shows! Best of luck picking your program, I hope you have a great time abroad just like I did (am!)

Anonymous asked: how does studying abroad compare to living/traveling independently in one country for the same duration? what are the benefits?

This is a good question! I’m slightly biased as I have only experienced the study abroad portion of the question, but I know that a lot of the friends that I made in and out of my program plan on returning to Spain to live after graduation or already live there. Studying abroad gives you some sort of stability that traveling around probably wouldn’t offer you, so if you are an individual that enjoys having a “home base” to return to at the end of the day, then I would suggest studying in said country or living/working there. Studying was the best option for me because I’m still in college and I was able to receive credit for my time in Spain, I get to travel and progress in my degree. Win win! 

Another wonderful thing about my study abroad experience were the program directors. They organized the right amount of cultural and social activities that allowed the students to get to know the city, meet locals, and make the experience unique to themselves. There were interest groups for everyone, Food, culture, advertising, art, dance, journalism…. 

I would imagine that with traveling or living independently in a country, it would be a little harder to adapt to the local culture as quickly or as deeply (I’m not sure if that makes any sense)
Having said that though, I’ve been in Ireland for about 5 days and I already feel like a part of it! I’ve met some amazing people and we managed to stumble on local gems that most tourists never encounter! I’ll try to edit this/elaborate more when I have some time but I hope this helps a little bit!

I apologize that I have so many stories backlogged! It’s crazy what I’ve been up to. I think I left off before Semana Santa, which was the start of my crazy traveling adventures, I may have even left off before my parents arrived! 

The point is that I’m so far behind on everything and I’m sorry!

Where I’ve been in the past two months that I will do my level best to update you all on: 
Toledo, Spain
Madrid, Spain
Malaga, Spain
Granada, Spain
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Prague, Czech Republic 
Budapest, Hungary 
Feria (A week long festival in Spain)
Palma Mallorca, Spain (an island)
Finals! EEEKK
Dublin, Ireland
Cork, Ireland
Blarney, Ireland

We’re currently heading back to Dublin for the night as a stop over on the way to Belfast in Northern Ireland. I’m so excited. So far Ireland may be my favorite location, the people are friendly, the music is great, everyone loves their beer, and there are so many cute bartenders ;) and free drinks
All of which equal a good time! After Ireland, we head to Scotland and then to Wales and finish up in London for 3 or 4 days. Then my friend Mallory leaves for the US :( but I’m meeting up with two other girls from my program and we are traveling Nice, France and around that area then on to Germany and Austria for my remaining time in Europe. I’d love to go back to Dublin though, I really loved it a lot. 

Anonymous asked: I think you are really really cute.

How sweet, Thank you! I bet you say that to all the extranjeros ;)

This reminds me! Anyone who wants (blog or no blog) to ask me anything, give me suggestions, or just chitchat can do so by “asking” me something. If you don’t have a blog and want me to know who it’s from, just type your name at the end of the message!

www.aspanishkat.tumblr.com/ask