Well, this is it. This is my final day in Sevilla. I head up to Madrid tomorrow morning early to go visit Toledo (Spain's old capital) for half a day and then back to Madrid to go the airport. It feels so weird to be writing this, saying that this is my last day. I can't believe it. It feels a bit more real this morning since I helped one of my roommates move out. I wasn't home when they all moved in so I offered to help the one who was leaving, Christina, this morning cause it was the least I could do.
She was not crying at all and was upbeat about everything...she didn't even cry when she said goodbye to our senora! But it's better for everyone that you don't cry and she and Manoli were talking about how she wasn't going to cry so I think that's why.
I have SOOOOOO much to do right now but I am trying to take this all in. Last night, amidst all the crazy Sevilla fans going nuts about their win, I strolled alongside the river and took pictures and admired the couples sitting or standing by it. It was a glorious night weather-wise too which just made it wonderful. I did a lot of reflecting on my time here and on someone I wish could've experienced this all with me. It's bittersweet to say goodbye now cause with all the friends I've made here (locally) I could easily stay for awhile. But I know the time has come. I'm starting to see the city with different eyes now that I'm leaving. Sevilla has been the perfect place to live and study abroad. I couldn't have picked a better place...but now it's almost time to say goodbye.
But I feel like this is all just a see-you-later instead of goodbye. I don't know when, but I will definitely be coming back here. Spain has not seen the last of Sarah! She will return and this time with her brother, Nathan, so that they both can experience the mother country together....and have a wild, crazy and awesome time!
'Ta luego, mis amigos!!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
What to expect?
I went to the last group Bible study called Cambio here in Sevilla yesterday and this girl shared a really neat verse that got me thinking. I am a bit apprehensive to come back to the US a completely different person with a lot more life experiences than I started with.
18 "Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:18-19
I am coming back to the States with a greater appreciation of things in my life than I ever did before. I wasn't able to talk to my family as much as I usually do, eat the things I was used to eating, coming and going when I pleased or having the same Christian encouragement I usually have through friends back in Jacksonville. However, God provided a lot of those things for me...some things I didn't even know I needed (friends who were like family, opportunities to eat for free and good, healthy grocery store finds, and Spanish Christians who want to seek God as much as I do).
But at the same time I am coming back to the States with some unresolved issues. I mean I will be giving up one freedom to gain another (being in my home country with my family) but I will have to "get used to" the things about my family again that annoy me. Also, I will have to slowly get readjusted to living in America and parting with the wonderful Spanish culture I've grown accustomed to...and dealing with America's new issues. Like public healthcare.....what?!
Honestly, I am just trying to savor the last days here. I am down to one last full day in Sevilla...and I want to make it very, very memorable. I know that it will be hard to adjust back to my life back in America and its problems, but I will just take it one day at a time. God has brought me this far and He can definitely do more neat things this summer! [Which I am excited to see what He will do after Spain.]
The goodbyes all seem surreal right now cause they feel like "see-you-laters" and that's good.
I will come back here one day....I don't know when or where or with whom, but one day I will return to this beautiful country. Spain, I will miss you so much!
Hasta la proxima vez...un beso!
Sarah
P.S. A Sevilla futbol game is going on live on TV right now....my host dad just screamed goal a few mins ago. As did the rest of this part of my neighborhood (no joke)! Ohhhh, Sevilla. :)
18 "Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:18-19
I am coming back to the States with a greater appreciation of things in my life than I ever did before. I wasn't able to talk to my family as much as I usually do, eat the things I was used to eating, coming and going when I pleased or having the same Christian encouragement I usually have through friends back in Jacksonville. However, God provided a lot of those things for me...some things I didn't even know I needed (friends who were like family, opportunities to eat for free and good, healthy grocery store finds, and Spanish Christians who want to seek God as much as I do).
But at the same time I am coming back to the States with some unresolved issues. I mean I will be giving up one freedom to gain another (being in my home country with my family) but I will have to "get used to" the things about my family again that annoy me. Also, I will have to slowly get readjusted to living in America and parting with the wonderful Spanish culture I've grown accustomed to...and dealing with America's new issues. Like public healthcare.....what?!
Honestly, I am just trying to savor the last days here. I am down to one last full day in Sevilla...and I want to make it very, very memorable. I know that it will be hard to adjust back to my life back in America and its problems, but I will just take it one day at a time. God has brought me this far and He can definitely do more neat things this summer! [Which I am excited to see what He will do after Spain.]
The goodbyes all seem surreal right now cause they feel like "see-you-laters" and that's good.
I will come back here one day....I don't know when or where or with whom, but one day I will return to this beautiful country. Spain, I will miss you so much!
Hasta la proxima vez...un beso!
Sarah
P.S. A Sevilla futbol game is going on live on TV right now....my host dad just screamed goal a few mins ago. As did the rest of this part of my neighborhood (no joke)! Ohhhh, Sevilla. :)
Saturday, May 15, 2010
But there were lessons learned...
Briefly, here are the most important things I've learned this semester:
*Don't worry about things you can't change or control...although you have to do your part in using the time and resources God gives you wisely, God has your best interests in heart and controls everything. Worry is just a waste of time.
*Nothing and I mean NOTHING will ever be perfect, go perfectly or be the way you want it to be exactly...so get over it! And accept changes in schedule, plans and expectations. If you are reading this and know me, this is a hard thing for me to let go! haha
[Side note: I'm listening to my Zune right now and the song, "Let it Go" by Tenth Avenue North just came on. Okay, God, I hear what you're saying. :]
Anyways, I was put in a home where all the other girls are virtually perfect and pleasant and never upset our host mom but I am messy, keep odd times coming and going (cause my plans often change!) and seem to spend the least time in the house. I used to think why, oh why did you put me in the diva house, God??? But now I see His logic in it (or at least I think). I now have a greater appreciation when things go right for me....it used to be I would get really, really upset and angry when things didn't work out and pity myself and complain, but now I have found a hidden blessing in all of this...and a lesson that I really needed to learn.
I just came to that revelation a few days ago and realized that it's a blessing this morning, so it's very fresh in my mind.
I also saw this quote on someone's profile a little while ago: "Things go wrong, so that we can appreciate them when they go right."
*I AM A VERY SELFISH PERSON. And just how much makes me sick when I actually thought about it. Everything this semester seems to have been about me...what places I'll go to, the friends I'll make (both Spanish and American), what I'll buy, learn, experience, what can I tell people back home...that I completely forgot about witnessing to the Spanish people here or letting my life be a witness to the people around me. I feel really ashamed of how I've acted at times this semester and how I've turned a little bit into a snob-just like the Europeans here. I make sure I look good and stylish and constantly check myself out in mirrors, windows, etc. I've never done it before, but they are pretty much everywhere (windows at least) and so it makes it easy to be vain here. I can only hope that people see something different about me and see that my friendship is genuine and that God can use that and my prayers to bring them to Him. I am doing my best to leave a mark on my Spanish friends...so that one day we can be brothers and sisters in Christ.
*BE CONTENT. Every time I tried to go on big trips internationally God threw a monkey wrench into my plans. It was NOT in His plans for me to travel extensively and extravagantly here and I found that out the hard way. Not only did I not have the money to do it, but I had a purpose to fulfill here. I am thankful for the trips I've gone on and the memories made, but I am really happy that most of my time has been spent here in Sevilla. The friendships, life experiences and hands-on practice with the language have been invaluable for me. My love for Spanish is even deeper now!
I could not ask for a better experience abroad...and it is what I came here for--to get to know the people on a personal level and be so accustomed to speaking Spanish that I forget English, and that's exactly what I've gotten! God just had to break me and my pride down to where I could finally see that and really appreciate the gift that He gave me to be here....cause it is a miracle that things worked out for me to come!
Well, this brief snapshot of what I've learned this semester turned into a usual lengthy post for me. If you had the ganas [literally, guts] to read both posts congrats!
Now I'm off to continue packing (a week ahead) and finish up a paper before I head out to dinner and salsa dancing! Helloooo no sleep tonight! :)
Un beso!
Sarah
*Don't worry about things you can't change or control...although you have to do your part in using the time and resources God gives you wisely, God has your best interests in heart and controls everything. Worry is just a waste of time.
*Nothing and I mean NOTHING will ever be perfect, go perfectly or be the way you want it to be exactly...so get over it! And accept changes in schedule, plans and expectations. If you are reading this and know me, this is a hard thing for me to let go! haha
[Side note: I'm listening to my Zune right now and the song, "Let it Go" by Tenth Avenue North just came on. Okay, God, I hear what you're saying. :]
Anyways, I was put in a home where all the other girls are virtually perfect and pleasant and never upset our host mom but I am messy, keep odd times coming and going (cause my plans often change!) and seem to spend the least time in the house. I used to think why, oh why did you put me in the diva house, God??? But now I see His logic in it (or at least I think). I now have a greater appreciation when things go right for me....it used to be I would get really, really upset and angry when things didn't work out and pity myself and complain, but now I have found a hidden blessing in all of this...and a lesson that I really needed to learn.
I just came to that revelation a few days ago and realized that it's a blessing this morning, so it's very fresh in my mind.
I also saw this quote on someone's profile a little while ago: "Things go wrong, so that we can appreciate them when they go right."
*I AM A VERY SELFISH PERSON. And just how much makes me sick when I actually thought about it. Everything this semester seems to have been about me...what places I'll go to, the friends I'll make (both Spanish and American), what I'll buy, learn, experience, what can I tell people back home...that I completely forgot about witnessing to the Spanish people here or letting my life be a witness to the people around me. I feel really ashamed of how I've acted at times this semester and how I've turned a little bit into a snob-just like the Europeans here. I make sure I look good and stylish and constantly check myself out in mirrors, windows, etc. I've never done it before, but they are pretty much everywhere (windows at least) and so it makes it easy to be vain here. I can only hope that people see something different about me and see that my friendship is genuine and that God can use that and my prayers to bring them to Him. I am doing my best to leave a mark on my Spanish friends...so that one day we can be brothers and sisters in Christ.
*BE CONTENT. Every time I tried to go on big trips internationally God threw a monkey wrench into my plans. It was NOT in His plans for me to travel extensively and extravagantly here and I found that out the hard way. Not only did I not have the money to do it, but I had a purpose to fulfill here. I am thankful for the trips I've gone on and the memories made, but I am really happy that most of my time has been spent here in Sevilla. The friendships, life experiences and hands-on practice with the language have been invaluable for me. My love for Spanish is even deeper now!
I could not ask for a better experience abroad...and it is what I came here for--to get to know the people on a personal level and be so accustomed to speaking Spanish that I forget English, and that's exactly what I've gotten! God just had to break me and my pride down to where I could finally see that and really appreciate the gift that He gave me to be here....cause it is a miracle that things worked out for me to come!
Well, this brief snapshot of what I've learned this semester turned into a usual lengthy post for me. If you had the ganas [literally, guts] to read both posts congrats!
Now I'm off to continue packing (a week ahead) and finish up a paper before I head out to dinner and salsa dancing! Helloooo no sleep tonight! :)
Un beso!
Sarah
This is ending?
So a week from day I will leave one of the most wonderful countries that I have ever known and have called home for the past four months. With final exams and papers nagging at me to finish them, I can't help but let the memories of this semester distract me. :)
Last Tuesday I went to a Bible study that's been going on this whole term but haven't been able to go to due to a class that meets at that time. However, last Tuesday it was canceled so I was able to go. It's an English-speaking Bible study full of Americans, but it was so great to see a lot of them. It's called "Cambio" and it's led by a guy named Jake who has been here the whole school year!!! Which is just awesome....and I'm a little jealous that he's spent 5 more months here than I have. haha
The theme for this week was to share what we've learned or what God has taught us this semester here in Sevilla. A lot of people had some great stories and lessons learned....some painful to learn but beneficial nonetheless. A couple people in particular learned just how faithful God is and how He provided things they were concerned about or didn't even know they wanted and God provided.
One guy in particular did a Bible study on his own the whole semester and pretty much kept it up this entire time. He set a goal to read the whole NT in one semester and has almost completed it....He started reading Acts to Revelations and then went back to read the the Gospels separately. I think he's in either Luke or Mark right now. Something that he said really struck me. He said that he didn't realize what happens with your relationship with God when you really get into the Word. It changes it so much, but in a very good way. He found that the times when he didn't read or when he was traveling were the times he felt the most distant from God...and the most conscious of sin in his life.
What a lesson to learn during your semester abroad! I must say I'm envious that he found that closeness with God this semester....but I admire this guy for his endurance and faith. I wish I could say that this semester I grew the closest to God, but I can't.
I can't go into too much detail right now, but I am one of those people who learned some harsh realities about myself and hard lessons here in Spain. I have greater appreciation for some things in my life now though so I need to learn these, or at least God wanted to make sure I learn them.
Last Tuesday I went to a Bible study that's been going on this whole term but haven't been able to go to due to a class that meets at that time. However, last Tuesday it was canceled so I was able to go. It's an English-speaking Bible study full of Americans, but it was so great to see a lot of them. It's called "Cambio" and it's led by a guy named Jake who has been here the whole school year!!! Which is just awesome....and I'm a little jealous that he's spent 5 more months here than I have. haha
The theme for this week was to share what we've learned or what God has taught us this semester here in Sevilla. A lot of people had some great stories and lessons learned....some painful to learn but beneficial nonetheless. A couple people in particular learned just how faithful God is and how He provided things they were concerned about or didn't even know they wanted and God provided.
One guy in particular did a Bible study on his own the whole semester and pretty much kept it up this entire time. He set a goal to read the whole NT in one semester and has almost completed it....He started reading Acts to Revelations and then went back to read the the Gospels separately. I think he's in either Luke or Mark right now. Something that he said really struck me. He said that he didn't realize what happens with your relationship with God when you really get into the Word. It changes it so much, but in a very good way. He found that the times when he didn't read or when he was traveling were the times he felt the most distant from God...and the most conscious of sin in his life.
What a lesson to learn during your semester abroad! I must say I'm envious that he found that closeness with God this semester....but I admire this guy for his endurance and faith. I wish I could say that this semester I grew the closest to God, but I can't.
I can't go into too much detail right now, but I am one of those people who learned some harsh realities about myself and hard lessons here in Spain. I have greater appreciation for some things in my life now though so I need to learn these, or at least God wanted to make sure I learn them.
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