May update

May 10, 2010

All right so this is my first real spring that I have really lived. We have springs in Florida, but they can not hold a candle to those of Germany. Life is truly a million times better in spring. All the trees are covered in flowers that look as if they were from a Doctor Seuss book. Many trees have balls of flowers at the end of them. As I walk to class, I am overwhelmed by this aroma, and it truly is fantastic. I could have never expected such beauty in Dortmund. The weather has been indecisive. One week it will be in the 70 or 80 with a bright sun over head, the next a high of 45ish and raining (that’s what this week was.) A German saying is that April does whatever it wants. However, it’s May; I should not have to wear a scarf. It’s as cold as it was when I first got here in March. An old Swedish saying is: no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes.

This trip has made me realize how lucky I am, as well as, how small the globe is with high tech transportation. This has led me to find new ways of seeing the globe. I have emailed Kate Mattingly (study abroad advisor) and have asked her whether or not the program in China would fit into my schedule and whether or not I would get behind. I feel, if my major is international business, this would be a great thing to put on my resume. I could say I have lived and studied in the steady European market, as well as the booming Asian market. I want to go to Asia because it is so different than America. It’s fun to adapt to these new cultures. I think that humans are meant to adapt in the core and I think we get pleasure from it. For example, when you solve a very tough problem at work, you get satisfaction and you enjoy solving it. I think it’s the same way. I always want to be out of my comfort zone, and I never want to stop exploring! It creates growth in new ways. For me it also brings about an inner self-realization. I believe I have also told you about the job I applied to in Nepal? I applied to a Buddhist monastery nestled in the Himalayans to teach English. As you struggle through the grammar, you may wonder 'How are you qualified?!' I thought the same thing. I emailed them about this, they responded back stating 'Nepal is a very poor country and needs any resources it can get. As a native speaker, I could do more than they have right now'. I could take an online course to help solidify myself as a teacher, which to me seems a bit dodgy. However, I think this would be an eye opening experience for me.

This next section is from my journal when I wrote it on my plane to Barcelona
I must be unbelievably lucky. That’s all I can think as I sit in my seat looking at the window and have a delightful conversation with an English teacher from the Netherlands. It is her first flight and her husband asked if I would partake in scaring her when she left her seat momentarily. Every once in a while, He or I will say 'Well that just doesn’t sound right', and she looks back at us with paniced eyes and a death grip on the chair. I feel bad, but who am I to ignore this man’s wish?

I just can’t help it; I have this perpetual smile. I am FLYING through Europe as if it is no big deal. It’s wonderful. I am forced to adapt to a new and interesting culture daily. Sometimes things get lost in translation, but they always end in a laugh. It’s wonderful.

Right now as I look outside my window, we are literally approaching the French Alps. They sit alone behind large lakes and rolling hills. They are jagged like snow covered sharks teeth rising high above the clouds. The sun shines down upon the mountains producing a glint that can not be described. The valleys are cloaked by a deep blanket of clouds. Truly awe-inspiring but each day someone or something takes my breath away. I feel as if I am the richest man. Even though I slept in a crowded airport to avoid taking a taxi, and have been rationing out a Twix for breakfast; I feel so fortunate to be here…In this moment

I woke up yesterday and realized that half of my time in Dortmund experience is over. It broke my heart a little. It is a shame. I think it takes about a month to get settled in and one semester is not enough. To any prospective study abroad students out there. Go for a year; a semester is to short, everyone here agrees. I think you will get the same advice from everyone that has studied abroad and enjoyed their time.

I have been told to always plan your next trip before you come home from the one you’re on. I told you a little about Nepal but I have other options I’m seeking. My second option is to backpack through either South America or South East Asia. Not sure on which I will choose, but I look forward to walking the road least traveled. I want to experience something completely different; learn to adapt and enjoy it. Let me know if you are interested. I have invited Travosourous Rex already but I think there is always room for another person with a little adventure in their heart and a smile on their face.

Written on the plane from Barcelona to Madrid.
The past three days were fantastic. I went through a roller coaster on Barcelona. On the first day, I wasn’t really feeling the city. I thought it was a little over rated and I was unbelievably sleep-deprived and hungry. I walked around the city with my pack enjoying the nice weather. I was seeing the sights, but wasn’t really enjoying the city. It was just so crowded and I needed to relax for a bit. I headed to check into the hostel which is perched in the mountains covered in deep vegetation. It was a trek to get there, but it was beautiful. Just what I needed a little time to just enjoy nature and the moment. At dinner, I met an Aussie named Larissa. I asked where she had been and I was taken aback when she said replied 'just got back from seeing most of South America, second week in Europe.' I almost coughed up my food. I was expecting, England or Ireland not another continent. She is 18 and is traveling around the world solo for a year. I can’t imagine that. How awesome to get bitten by the travel bug so young (I’m only 21, but I know I wish I did something like that). We both had a good time and decided to explore and get lost in the city together.

I don’t think I can accurately describe Barcelona. It seems to be a lost city. It has a metropolitan area, but it is also has a hippie beach vibe in some areas. Art is everywhere, from the graffitti to modern monuments to funky art. All over the city, it just flows from each corner and building and it consumes you. I felt a revival of energy and creativity as if happiness was pouring out into the streets, it could have been the sun. Even it was raining, you saw many locals smiling with umbrellas or hurriedly running down the sidewalks with a brief case of their heads. However, all the tourists were huddled inside like cows awaiting slaughter, frowns were on each face with a deafening cloud of silence cast on them…waiting for the rain to stop so they could go outside and be happy. Kind of ironic, huh, the people that live there are having fun and the people on holiday, are miserable.
Anyways so you have all of these old buildings everywhere gothic and hundreds of years-old with gargoyles staring down at you, large medieval squares with traditional inscriptions in each building. But then you have the complete opposite, there are these buildings designed by Gaudi, who ignored all of the rules and just comes up with funky designs…round buildings with no right angles covered my mosaics. I mean just wild stuff especially compared to the neighboring buildings that stands there disapproving. Gaudi designed a church called Sagrada Familia which is stunning. It’s not even done yet; but when it is finished, I want to make a trip back and see it. I have seen a lot of cathedrals since being here and this one takes the cake. Look it up. It’s a masterpiece, there are just so many small things that just contradict normal cathedrals, just fantastic.

I really enjoyed the chaos of Barcelona, as I strolled along the crowded market with people selling any and every type and part of an animal you could think of. Selling fruit that is unbelievably vibrant and just as delicious. The stands honestly look like rainbows. I think I enjoyed this so much because there really is no chaos in Germany. The people are so disciplined and so reserved. For example, there may not be a car coming in sight, but they wait till they have the green walking man. And if someone does cross, well, I have heard a old couple yell some not so nice things after than young 'wild child.' But in Spain, it’s different. They think, “Well, I have a 50-50 chance of getting hit if I go now...Well I better walk fast.” It’s great. I needed a break from everything be so organized. This being said I enjoy living in Germany and their culture more, but Barcelona was great to visit.

We stumbled upon a communist rally in Las Rambas which is the heart of tourism in the city. It was interesting, we heard drums, trumpets, and shouting and we said “hey, let’s go check it out.” It was huge, the whole street was packed with people, shoulder to shoulder, in most spots. They were waving flags, holding banners, balloons (not sure why balloons I was expecting to have them folded into an animal but nope). There must have been seven thousand people, but it is impossible for me to give an accurate number, but it was interesting. I scoffed at the large Che posters with Cuban flag in the back round... Read a book, Castro abandoned him while he was on a mission in Bolivia where the lack of support led to his eventual death. Yes, he did help bring communism to Cuba but he also went to fight capitalism in other countries. Just looked ignorant, that’s all. However, I completely understand why they are so frustrated. The country’s unemployment rate is around 20%. It differs from source to source, I actually just looked it up, and one government agency said 7% and another said 21%, so not that much congruency. The people are tired of living in poverty and they want change.

Stepping away from politics, I think my favorite time in Barcelona was not seeing all of these magnificent buildings or stunning architecture, but it was getting lost. I loved it. It was the only way to feel the heartbeat of the city. Get away from the tourists, find your own way. It was seeing what the city was actually like, outside of all the souvenir shops. Also, when Larissa and I just hung out in a park that overlooked Barcelona's Arc de Triumph had a Cola (each country tastes just a little different) and ate an ice cream and just relaxed soaking up the sun. It was truly marvelous and could be the most relaxing day in Europe yet. Larissa and I have decided to meet up in Amsterdam next month as we both enjoyed exploring the city together. Amsterdam is high on both our lists to visit. So I have started looking at trains and buses to get me there. I look forward to meeting with her again she was truly a magnificent travel partner and if I’m ever in Gold Coast, Australia, she can expect a phone call from me.

Madrid.

Ah, Madrid was great. However, it was not as chaotic or not as vibrant as Barcelona. It seemed like many of the buildings were grand old banks, the GOB if you will, or large town squares.

I spent most of my time just wandering the city looking at and figuring out the map and what there was to do. I think I saw the majority of the city in one day. It’s gorgeous but it begins to run all together the clear lines of architectural differences. I stayed with my friend, Carly, a fellow Osprey, who was an unbelievable gracious host and fed me more than I could have expected. Lots of needed vegetables. Delicious. We taught another Osprey, Shiv, how to SWOOP (like the gator chomp but for UNF.) He’s getting the hang of it, but still has a bit to go. Carly took me to a bazaar which is the largest in Europe. Before we went, she said 'Nathan I would wear your back in the front people here are sneaky.' I thought, eh, I know Europe well enough and ignored her advice. Bad call. An hour into the day trip I took off my back pack and realized that it was completely unzipped. Gypsies got to it. However, luckily, nothing was taken. I learned my lesson and looked lame for the rest of the day, but I had peace of mind as I walked down the crowded and narrow roads of Barcelona. So, if you go to a market in Spain, take Carly's advice, gypsies do not play around.

I spent a lot of time in Parks in Madrid. They have great parks and I think are better than Central Park in NYC. It’s very nice; however, don’t make eye contact with sketchy looking people unless you want to buy drugs... I learned my lesson a few times and had to explain: No Grasias pero oferta (no thanks, but thanks for the offer).

Where am I off to next!

I have an awesome 30 days ahead of me. I am traveling to Rotterdam, Croatia, Amsterdam, London, and Dublin. I will try to update my blog as often as I can.
I have met a lot of people while traveling in Spain. To be honest, it was great. I had a beer and shared a cigar with a Russian professor at a hostel as we talked about politics. He offered me his house if I ever journey up to St. Petersburg (I might take him up on that) and too many others to name. However in the beginning I met an Italian around 3:30 in the morning in a train station. While we waited for our connecting train to take us to the airport, we talked. And he had and interesting quote 'the most beautiful and important moment is now' I love it. Just a great quote. Maybe it was because I was so tired, but it stuck out. You meet fascinating people while you travel.

I love you all; stay safe

Find the adventure in the small things, and seize the day.

Nathan