Off and Away

It's officially been my longest non-blog-writing streak, but I've decided to make some changes to help this.

Tomorrow I am headed off to Europe, where I will spending a semester studying abroad at the University of Seville in Spain. I've created a blog on WordPress that will probably be updated more frequently than this one, as it will be more media-based versus writing-based. My longer posts with descriptions, stories, and all that jazz will be updated on this blog, while I find WordPress a bit more suited to handle all of the millions of pictures I take over time.

I'll be spending the next week with family in the Netherlands, before I fly off to Spain to visit Caroline for a few days in Madrid.

Two summers after our big departure in Madrid, I'm finally heading back. What's weird is how long ago exchange feels, and 'how young' we all claim to have been. Three years have passed since I was packing and heading off to New York for orientation, and I'm in the same situation again. It's like repeating something from your childhood...except...not quite.

Hard to explain.

Packing-

First things first. I'll be bringing two checked bags to Spain versus the one I took during my year abroad. Why? Because I plan to buy the least amount of things possible, so I'm just taking it all over. I know the styles, I know what I missed last time, and I know that no matter how much time you spend packing you'll always end up bringing things over you won't need, and leaving things at home you wish you'd brought.

Housing-

I won't be staying with a  host family! I've graduated. I'll be in a shared apartment, be responsible for my own meals, etc. It was my first choice and I just got my placement yesterday. It looks like I'm really close to the University, which is good, because from what I can tell the nearest bus stop is about 3/4ths the walk to the university. The University is beautiful by the way, I'd post pictures but prefer to post only what I, myself take, so those'll have to wait.

Still don't know who my roommates will be, or when they will be arriving, but that doesn't really bother me too much. I didn't know my college roommate before I got there, and things couldn't have worked out better.

Classes-

Classes for me can be taken at three different places. One- at the study abroad center (CIEE) with other CIEE students. Two- Direct enrollment at the university with other Spanish students. And three- at the university, but classes specially designed for exchange students. Exams can range from anywhere between December 12th until the end of January, depending on where I take them. This will influence my choice a bit, as although I am guaranteed housing until my exams end, I'm not sure if I want to be sticking around an entire month for just one or two exams. We'll see.

Trips, traveling, galore-

WE GO TO MOROCCO!!! One of the things on my bucket list. We got our itinerary about last week and we have  a few excursions planned. Good stuff.

For now that's about all, I'll post again with some type of news.

Keep updated with my "photo blog continuation" on WordPress at Mary Beth Abroad.

( www.marybethabroad.wordpress.com )

"Y'all come back now,"

-mb