Spain So Far...

Anyone who knows me must know that I go to school full time in London, England, because I seem to talk about it non-stop. However, last year, having fallen into the dreaded sophomore slump, I felt as though everything I was doing was useless and boring. Basically, I felt stuck. I decided I needed a break, and a new experience- and what better way to achieve that, than studying in a different country? Since I had studied Spanish from elementary school all throughout high school, Spain was obviously the place to go (and my first thought was that if I ever decided I missed London too much, it wouldn't cost a fortune to go back for a weekend.) Before I knew it, I was all signed up with a study abroad program and booking my ticket to Seville, Spain...and, that's where I've been for the last few months! Let me fill you in on what I've been up to.

First of all, I must say that I got incredibly lucky with my living situation. I live in what is called "El Centro," which is--you guessed it--the center. In other words, I live dangerously close to a never-ending street of clothing stores, restaurants, and places to get frozen yogurt (or gelato, if that's what you're into.) It's also within walking distance of pretty much everything else in Sevilla, such as the Guadalquivir river, Torre del Oro, Plaza de Espana and the Cathedral. In terms of where I sleep at night, I'm in what is called Casa de Sevilla, which is something I would consider a mix between a home-stay and an apartment. I live with seven other girls on one floor of the building, and our host mother lives above us, and comes down to bring us lunch, dinner, and our laundry. It's a good thing I do a lot of walking here, because she brings us tortilla Espanola and paella once a week! 

Not only do I do a lot of walking, but also a lot of traveling. In fact, I think I've seen more of Spain in  the two months that I've been here, than I have of England in the two years that I've been there (did that sentence make any sense?) One of the perks of my study abroad program is that weekend trips are included in the tuition. So--so far, I've seen Portimao, Portugal (a trip that included loads of tanning and a ride on a jetboat), Cadiz and Jerez (AKA an amazing tour of a winery) and Aracena (which wasn't actually included in the program--but a great place to go hiking for the day.) And of course, a semester in Spain isn't complete without making a trip to Madrid (where I got to spend my 21st birthday!)

But of course, it wouldn't be "studying abroad" if I wasn't actually studying--though I will admit that the classes here are much less "college-y" than ones I would normally be taking at my school in London. One of my favorites is 'The Culture of Food and Wine in Spain,' and my professor is basically the reason I love this class (which is something I don't think I've ever said before.) Aside from the fact that he stars in the Spanish version of "The Biggest Loser" as one of the nutritionists and is pretty much a local celebrity, he also has an extreme passion for food, and has a constant energy that makes the class incredibly entertaining. And not to mention, we have regular tasting sessions. Think chocolate, cheese, olives (or aceitunas), and gazpacho. Again, it's a good thing I do a lot of walking. 

I could keep going on about all the things I've been doing during the last two months, but that one be one very long blog post- so for now, thanks for reading! Expect more pictures/posts soon, and a video on my  Youtube channel!

xx Gabi 

...And who am I?

...That's a secret I'll never tell. (Gossip Girl anyone?)

Okay, I guess I'll tell you. My name is Gabi, and as of now I'm 21 years old. I'm from Portland, Oregon (the city of rain and bearded men) but currently attending university full time in London, England. Why London, you ask? Well, visiting London had been a dream of mine for years and years and years until it eventually became an obsession. However, the thought of living there never even crossed my mind until my senior year of high school, when the dreaded college-applications and omgwhatamIgonnadowithmylife stress was in full swing. I originally had a plan to go to a big university two hours away from home, until my best friend told me about a small university in London that had everything I had wanted. Long story short, I applied without thinking I would get in...then a few months later I got a phone call from a lovely-sounding British man informing me that I had, in fact, been accepted, with a scholarship! I gave myself the "you only live once" pep talk, took a chance, and decided to enroll. Though I hadn't been to London before accepting my university's offer, lucky for me, I ended up loving it so much that I stayed for a full two years.

"Only two years? Well where are you now?!"  Great question. As I'm typing this, I'm in Seville, Spain for the Fall 2014 semester, because since I studied Spanish from elementary school until the end of high school, I wanted an opportunity to be immersed in Spanish culture and improve my speaking skills. But as London is basically my second home, I'll be returning after my semester "abroad abroad"...y'know, since I technically already study abroad full time. Maybe that was self-explanatory.

So now that you know that I go to school in London but am now in Sevilla, I guess I'll throw some other facts about myself out there since this is technically supposed to be one of those "get to know me" type posts.

• I'm part Puerto Rican, and part something else.
• I've been a vegetarian for 9 years.
• I can't properly park a car to save my life.
• My favorite show of all time is "The Office" (US version. I still don't really get British humor.)
• I'm kind of a shopoholic. Any money I get, I spend on clothing.
• My first "real concert" was a One Direction concert in April 2013, my second semester in London, and it was literally the best night ever. Harry Styles totally looked at me.
• I love peanut butter and frozen yogurt more than any normal person should.

Aaaand by now you're probably bored of reading this, so I'll end this post now. If you care to find me anywhere else, check out my Youtube channel (www.youtube.com/gabiblabby13), as well as my twitter and instagram, both @gabiblabby. Thanks for reading!

Hasta la vista xx

Let's Talk About London

            If someone were to ask me to describe London, England in only one word, it would be nearly impossible-and I suppose that's one of the things I love most about it. When most people think of London, they think of an over-crowded, expensive city that isn't known for having the best food (have they not even been to Nando's?!); but when I think of London, I think of a beautiful, busy, historic and stylish city that is also...strangely peaceful. See? Hard to pick one word, because there are so many different sides to it. As I spent more and more time there, I learned my way around, met new people, tried new things, and made memories that will last a lifetime.

           First, let's talk about the food. I see where people are coming from when they say that London isn't known for its food; however, that doesn't mean that all the food is terrible. Because it's so diverse, you can pretty much find any kind of food you're in the mood for, whether it be Indian, Mexican, American, Lebanese, Irish, Pakistani...you name it. Though I'll also admit that the standard English cuisine is not my favorite (Hog's pudding? Hmmm.) Of course, that excludes Nando's--a great place to go if you love chicken, but also vegetarian-friendly!

            While the food has received mixed reviews, something that doesn't deserve any complaint is London's parks and gardens...AKA its more 'peaceful' side, if you find the right spot. In fact, one of my favorite places in the entire city happens to be Richmond park, located exactly 30 seconds from my university. Its wide open spaces, amazing scenery and large deer population are a nice change from the slightly more crowded and touristy Central London, and it's a great place to spend time when you're feeling stressed and overwhelmed (if you go on a day that isn't cloudy or rainy, even better!) Other alternatives closer to Central include Primrose Hill and Hampstead Heath, especially if you love a good view.

              Speaking of Central...even if you aren't crazy about being surrounded by large amounts of people, you simply can't get the most out of a trip to London without doing and seeing things through the eyes of a tourist (they're called “attractions” for a reason!) Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Hyde Park, and the London Eye include some of the main things that should be checked off of the official 'London Bucket List.' Even though I've completed two years of university here, I still act as a tourist on occasion, because it takes me back to the excitement of the first time I visited London.

          While I could go on and on about all the different amazing aspects of this city, I'll leave you with a few photos I've taken throughout my time there, so you can see for yourself if you have yet to see it in person. Thanks for reading!