Wrapping up the Trip

June 13-15, 2022

After an exhausting, but thrilling trip to Barcelona, we still had class the next week to get ready for! Monday and Tuesday consisted of a trip to the congress building and (suppose to be) a trip to another art museum.

Before we met up for class, Ash, Liv, and I ate at Acanto, a restaurant Luis suggested to us. We had a three course meal and it was very good. I had cauliflower, meatballs, and tiramisu. I had never tried tiramisu before and it was so good I think I’ll order that the next time I get desert anywhere!

Cauliflower, meatballs, and tiramisu

We went to visit the congress building and learned about a few important rooms inside. The congress building was pretty, but I don’t even know much about the United State‘s congress, so I didn’t really know what was going on, oops! After our visit we got ice cream AGAIN. Why is it so good here?!

Mint and chocolate ice cream

On Tuesday, we were suppose to go to an art museum for class, but it ended up being closed, so we went to get croquettes and hang out for a bit. Personally, I think that’s better than class :) Later that day Maddie, Liv, Ash, and I all went to get our last lunch at a place we’ve been trying to get to the whole time we’ve been in Madrid, Ojala. I finally got the tacos I’ve been wanting this whole time, and they were a 10/10. Ojala is really cool, the basement has a bunch of sand on the bottom so it’s like a little beach restaurant!

My yummy tacos

Next on the itinerary was our last group dinner. Don't cry, don’t cry, don’t cry. We went to a nicer restaurant for our last night in Madrid. I had some steak with cheese sauce on it. It was sooo good I still think about it sometimes. It was a bitter-sweet dinner because it was nice to reflect on our trip, but also it meant that it was over. We did superlative awards and I won most likely to forget their passport, and most likely to get kidnapped. I‘m not sure how I feel about those.

Cheesy steak!

As this trip has officially ended, I have a lot of emotions about it. I feel pretty proud of myself for coming on this trip in general. I didn’t know anyone when I came and I was the youngest person on the trip, but I left with friends for life and memories that I’ll cherish forever. I’m so glad that I decided to do this. I learned so much about myself and about Spanish culture while I was here. I learned how to pronounce words differently, and little things about Spain that I never knew before. I feel way more confident with my Spanish; I can order at a restaurant and understand what people are asking me. I also feel very confident in traveling! I traveled a lot growing up, but I feel like being responsible for myself and getting myself places has made me mature a lot.

The time absolutely flew by. The first week felt like it took a while to adjust, but after that, the days went so quick. Something that made this experience so special was my amazing professor. I don’t think this experience would have been what it was without someone who cared for us all as individuals and wanted us to have the best experience possible. He was the most knowledgeable and selfless professor I’ve had (soon to be friend after this fall semester, right Luis?!). The other people that made this trip memorable was my roommate, Maddie. I’m so thankful she was my roommate, as she was always down to go out with me and always had my back. I’m going to miss my girl Ashleigh so much! I’ve never grown so close with someone so fast, and we already have plans to backpack Europe next summer (which we better follow through on). Liv, Ash, and Maddie all came to the hospital when after I had a heat stroke. I couldn’t ask for better friends to be with me during that time.

I‘m so excited to keep improving my Spanish. Being abroad gave me a lot of clarity as to how important this language is, and will be in my life. I can’t wait to continue to travel the world and to continue my friendships with the new people in my life.

Hopefully you’ll stay tuned.

Adios!

Morgan, a now U.S. citizen again :(