So, how was my semester? I turned 21 Toured so many cathedrals and castles that they have meshed into one Watched sunsets that took my breath away And literally been blown away Surrounded myself with some wonderful people Questioned my values Which sometimes aren’t this clear Stayed out until 7 in the morning And was hungry for adventure I’ve grown up in the most loving, nurturing, and healthy family. I’m obviously biased in this regard, but I would consider my upbringing as close to ideal as one could get. In retrospect, my parents were able to provide me everything I [...]
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All posts by Amanda Ayers
Monday, April 22nd, 2013
A smorgasbord of anécdotas graciosas
I’m a post behind, so I thought I’d compensate with a list of humorous anecdotes I’ve been jotting down and meaning to share for some time now. 1) At 4 p.m. everyday while we’re finishing up lunch, the sports section of Channel 5 news comes on with Sara Carbonero, a famous reporter and entertainer who is dating one of the players on the Real Madrid soccer team. My host mom, Carmen, is so blunt about how people look – she’ll say things like, “AY, look how bad Sara looks today! Look at that terrible shirt,” as if she’s on a [...]
Monday, April 8th, 2013
Semana Santa
My mom, grandmother (Yiayia), and godmother just left from a girls’ week in Spain! We traveled to Madrid, Toledo, Sevilla, Granada, and Barcelona. Having already been to all but Barcelona, I was their personal tour guide and translator, compensated with new clothes and leftover euros. Seeing as I buy frozen yogurt almost everyday after class (and know the workers at multiple stands), I accepted this generous donation to the Mandy froyo fund with open arms. When I was younger, I wanted only two things in life: a pony and a pool. My parents sort of filled the pony square when [...]
Wednesday, March 20th, 2013
God Bless America
I think there comes a point in every study abroad student’s experience in which he or she sits down and says, “What’s wrong with me? I’m in ____(insert incredible foreign country)_____, so why am I thinking about home?” I called my mom up the other day and rattled off first thing that I’ve been dreaming of nothing but Fourth of July picnics and pulled pork lately. I requested that she be waiting for me at the airport in May with a peanut butter and honey sandwich in hand (my go-to since I was 7 – old habits die hard), and [...]
Monday, March 18th, 2013
Video: first BeE excursion
Our first official Bucknell en España group excursion was last weekend. We visited Segovia, Madrid, Valle de los Caídos (where Franco is buried), El Escorial, and Toledo. Sometimes words are insufficient, so I thought I’d share a video I made of some trip highlights. Bucknell en España Spring 2013 Excursion
Thursday, February 28th, 2013
Studies Abroad
This is dedicated to my parents, who are thoroughly (but wrongly!) convinced that I have not opened a textbook since I’ve been here. The 3-week intensive class we finished at the end of January was a tedious crash-course in grammar and vocabulary – useful, but tedious. Don’t get me wrong, grammar for 4 hours straight, 5 days a week is a blast (especially in a foreign language), but I think the general consensus within our group is that we’re all overwhelmingly excited to move on. I have three weeks’ worth of official classes under my belt, and so far am [...]
Wednesday, February 13th, 2013
Abroad feature in The Bucknellian
I wrote a study abroad feature that will be printed in this week’s issue of The Bucknellian, and thought that I would share it along with some recent photos: Buenos días de Granada, a city as rich and flavorful in heritage as the tapas its inhabitants prepare. One of 18 participants in the Bucknell en España program here, I’ll be taking excursions with the group to various Spanish cities this semester, as well as doing some independent travel to other parts of Europe. I am so incredibly grateful for this opportunity, as well as the chance to delve a bit into [...]
Tuesday, February 5th, 2013
Birthday weekend in London
Because our intensive classes ended last Tuesday and the official University classes did not begin until yesterday, most of our group took advantage of the break by jet setting off to various cities in Europe. I went with three friends to London and had an incredible weekend. If you were thinking about going to London and staying in the Astor Victoria hostel, don’t. We showed up and were greeted by a receptionist with pink eyebrows and jewelry in places I didn’t know could be pierced. They charged us for everything. We had to pay to use towels, as well as [...]
Tuesday, January 29th, 2013
An Andalusian weekend
Another great weekend in Granada! My parents keep joking with me that every weekend I have here is the best weekend ever. It was jam packed with quintessentially Andalusian activities. FRIDAY: When I first arrived here, I had mentioned to Carmen that I have been singing my whole life and am part of the Rooke Chapel Choir at Bucknell. Excited, she got me in contact with Iván, a flamenco singer who gives lessons and sings sometimes with her daughter when she dances. On Friday, I finally (barely) mustered up the courage to go to one. I show up and am [...]
Monday, January 28th, 2013
Weekend adventures in the Sierra Nevada
…or what we thought was the Sierra Nevada. I’ll start by saying that this past weekend was one of the most bizarre yet fun that I’ve ever had. Our group had collectively decided last week to embark on a short ski trip to the Sierra Nevada for the weekend. We reserved two apartments advertised as close to skiing for a night and then, assuming that we had booked in the correct place, had a bus lined up to drop us off there near the slopes. We all get up super early on Saturday morning and take the bus into the [...]
