Author: Kaija Reinelt

This weekend my family drove to Cordoba for a wedding that, of course, I knew almost no one. We arrived and slipped into the church just in time. I think the people in Spain have never heard of not out-dressing the bride, because I’m pretty sure for most people this was the dress rehearsal for their very own wedding.

The ceremony was beautiful and many cried. I repeated many phrases and words I really didn’t understand and then learned, the hard way, you are not supposed to cross your legs in a church. Then after the ceremony I got to throw rice at people, who were happy to receive it, for the first time. Though I ended up with most of it in my hair, clothes and some in my stomach (my siblings and I might have had a little bit of a rice fight, more like war).

A Spanish wedding wouldn’t be complete with out stuffing yourself full with various foods of different variety. There were some things I tried that I had to give them that smile and then casually spit it out in my napkin when no one was looking. But most was extravagant in looks and delicious in taste.

It was so fun to be out and to meet people that thought I was the coolest person because I lived in California (No, I didn’t tell them there isn’t a beach for miles where I live and that I haven’t seen a famous person, like ever). It was full of life and, being the crazy emotional person I am, I loved it.

On Sunday, after waking up around 12pm and eating a yummy (giant) breakfast. We decided to head in to the beautiful city of Cordoba. We went to the old town, ate ice cream, and I bought some weirdly delicious Spanish desserts. Then we went into the old Mosque and…

It. Was. Breathtaking.

I think I could have spent hours on end walking through the beautiful arches and looking at the millions of intricate designs. I never grew up with a religion, but I think churches and places of worship have a truly beautiful light to them. I love that the people who build places like these believe so much in what they are building that I can’t help but feel the passion inside. It’s safe to say/scream AHHHH IM IN SPAIN, after seeing the beautiful history. 

The next day we took a turn to nature, and climbed a mountain, overlooking many vineyards and puffy clouds (sighhh), and ate fancy sandwiches atop old castle ruins (sighhhhh). Being tired from the eating and exploring we took a nap on an ancient stone, which you just kind of have to do.

I am pretty sure I reached a new mental state of peace mindedness that day, because it was enchanting, angelic, ****** beautiful. Weekends like these remind me why I came to Spain in the first place. Living, enjoying, breathing in things that seem impossible until they aren’t. I’m pretty sure no one at home can say they napped on very very veerryy old castle ruins this fall break. 

And now, your tip of the day…

Tip of the Day for how to tell a story in Spanish when well, you really don’t speak Spanish.

1. Lots of eye contact (make those suckers regret they ever decided to talk to the American)

2. But then again remember to smile a lot because, yes you actually want these people to like you.

3. Lots and lots of hand gestures, noises, because let’s be real, you’re pretty much just playing sherades with this person, hoping they are compatible with your mind and will guess what the heck you are saying.

4. Try not to die laughing, and it’s hard, really hard. 

Almost two weeks into this crazy study abroad adventure, and I am thinking I have experienced just about everything. I have somehow survived a fourteen hour flight, I became good friends with the only other Americans in the huge city of Madrid within two days. I have become part of a family that I had never met, but are now permanently a part of my life.  

I have gotten through the first day of school in Spanish, and not without complications I might add. I have tried the famous siesta (three hour nap) which by the way I love. And I have tried more new and weird foods in the past week than I have in my sixteen years of existence. I’m now thinking what more can they throw at me and BRING IT ON!!

And then this weird thing happened, like a giant freight train, it hit me. I am going to be here for a year. Not see my parents, my sister, my pets, my friends, my room, and not taste the deliciousness of pancakes for a whole year.

I’m not going to lie, my first thought was how do I get myself out of this. Family emergency? Fake my own death? It could work. It really did take me a couple of days to calm down and realize pulling off my own fake death wasn’t very likely, but I did, and still am, realizing that even though what I am doing is crazy, like really, there is a big reason why I am doing this.

This reason, that led me across the globe for longer than a sixteen year old’s brain can comprehend, is that anything and everything  I experience here in beautiful España will outshine sitting at home or at school and thinking what more could I do with myself.

I have this feeling that I might, just maybe, be able to do this, but all I have to say is BRING IT ON!