The Humble Abode

For the past week and a half now, I've lived in the residence of Señora Gracia Andra, 74 year old grandmother, host mother, and bingo extraordinaire. I've had a lot of experiences here, ranging from practically getting quarantined for sickness to watching Spanish soap operas to hanging out with her granddaughter (but more on all that another time). I took a few pictures of my place, and just wanted to show you all what it was like.

Our kitchen. You'll notice that the TV is on (it's always on), and there is a blanket under the table. There's a heater underneath the table, as well, and every afternoon and night we eat dinner while watching TV and talking. When your body is both full and warm, it's no wonder the Spanish take siestas!

The room in between where we eat and where our rooms/kitchen/bathroom is. I have literally never done anything in this room, or seen Gracia do anything here.

Kitchen shots. You can't see it in the picture, but there's always a pig's leg on the counter (it's behind the brown paper bag). The Spanish love their ham!

The bathroom. Don't drop the soap!!!

Alex and I's bedroom. My bed is on the left. We both have our own nightstand and closet, as well as some different desks and storage areas to put our stuff. Also, since there's no central heating, you'll see the space heater, which is Alex's best friend. The room's not huge, but it does the job.

The one and only beautiful Gracia, my host mother for the next 4 months.

Questions? Comments? Peath out.

Brad.

First Day of School!

Hola,

Today marked my first official day of classes at Pablo de Olavide University! I commemorated the day like I have done every first day of school with my mom since the beginning of time: with a photo! Gracia's daughter took it for me (I don't know why people always act like taking a picture and using a camera is like dismantling an atom bomb, it's the same button on literally every single camera. Yet people always ask, "which button do I push? This one?"). Anyway, this one's for my mom. And anyone else who likes my face.

Between the time it takes to walk to the metro stop, take the metro, and walk to campus, it's about a 35-40 minute trip to and from school each day.

I'm only taking 12 hours of classes this semester, so I have 3 hours of class Monday-Thursday. All my classes are centered around my major of marketing and Spanish. My first class today was Español por los Negocios, or Spanish for Business. It is one of my 2 classes actually taught in Spanish, and one that I think I'll really enjoy. It was very simple to understand my teacher, and she seemed really accommodating to our desires for the class. My second class, international finance, also seemed pretty sweet. It's taught by a Spaniard who said that if we see him at a bar to be sure to come up and talk to him and he would buy us a beer haha. Life is so different in Spain - at the reception that we had through our university last night, they served us wine and beer. If I ever saw someone drinking wine and beer at the cafeteria at K-State, I would definitely be surprised.

Anyway, all in all, it was a successful first day of classes. It took me a while to find the building that I needed to go to, but now that I have I feel very comfortable and confident that I can find my way around the university. I also made a friend who went to high school with a Kanakuk friend and now goes to school at KU, so we had some Rock Chalk conversation.

Big gulps, huh? Welp, see ya later.

Brad.

This Has Nothing To Do With Spain...

..But everything to do with life. If you read nothing else in this blog, read this: Jesus Christ is alive and living in this world, and it is our duty to proclaim the Good News! Our lives are so meaningless and trivial without this as our mission. Make everyday a serious devotion to Christ.

Need motivation? Spend your quiet time simply listening to this worship CD, recorded by Will Reagan and the United Pursuit Band. Probably the most passionate worship CD I've ever heard. I can't get enough of it!!

Praise the Lord for all that He has blessed me with.

God bless, y'all.

Brad.

King of Spain

A fun song.

Download it here - The Tallest Man on Earth - King of Spain

Bed Ridden No More

Yesterday was one of the weirdest days of my entire life. If you think being sick is bad, try being sick in another country, thousands of miles away from anything familiar or comforting. Gracia has been so wonderful and caring to me, though, making sure that I'm taking my medicine and always asking how I'm doing. However, she keeps insisting that I drink more milk with honey - something that at one point I loved, I now become nauseous thinking about.

Long story short, I pulled a Grandpa Joe and got out of bed and ready to go out and see the world! Apparently it's very impolite to not wear shoes in a Spanish house - everyone either wears shoes or zapatillas (house shoes). Gracia let me borrow some of her very beautiful flowery shoes, but seeing as though I didn't want to be the next karate kid, I opted to go buy a new pair of my own.

Sevilla is a pretty amazing city. I obviously haven't gotten to explore it hardly at all yet, but can already tell that I'm going to love it here. The 70 degree weather doesn't hurt, either.

Here's a picture of La Plaza de España, my favorite spot in Sevilla so far. Built in the 1920's for the World's Fair, the plaza is surrounded by a beautiful park that I hope to run through in the mornings and spend quiet times at on a weekly basis. It was also the spot where scenes of Star Wars Episode 2 was filmed.

Brad.

Sick.

I think people make fun of me a lot for this, but I just have to express it: I absolutely love hand soap. More specifically, I love Bath and Body Works hand soap. The amazing smell of antibacterial goodness on your hands that make your nose and your immune system happy... mm.

You make fun of me now, but you won't be laughing when you go to a foreign country. Since arriving in the hotel and meeting my recently ill roommate, I realized that I have not used actual hand soap once. Sure, I've washed my hands every time I go to the bathroom, but I just have to use a stale piece of bar soap from the hotel - you know, the kind that you unwrap and get confused as to which bar is for your face and which one is for the rest of your body.

I have recently obtained my roommate's sickness. I'm sure I've felt worse than I do right now, and have slept worse than I did last night, but I'm having a hard time remembering those times. From feeling like the room was 20 degrees to feeling like it was 120, I officially have caught whatever Alex had.

You can bet your bottom dollar that hand soap will be the first thing I buy at the supermarket the next time I go...

Brad.

I made it!

What's up!

Just a really quick note letting everyone know that I've made it here to Sevilla and have gotten settled in with my host mother. Her name is Gracia, is 74 years old, has a very lively personality and a great family. More details to come. For now, I'm going to try to fight a cold by getting some sleep.

Brad.

P.S. The picture is a super sweet knight dressed in armor. Toledo had all sorts of armories, and this picture was taken in the basement of one of them. Everything was handmade in the store - so impressive!

El Escorial and Toledo

My friends,

I'll go ahead and start this off with a tangent - what's with all of this SOPA stuff I keep reading about on the twittersphere? Anyone care to fill me in?

Today's been a lot of fun. We left the great city of Madrid and headed out to the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, where we visited El Escorial, home of some of the former kings of Spain as well as a current monastery and school. The town itself was about 30 minutes outside of Madrid, and it was a beautiful place - kind of the stereotypical image you would probably get when you think about a smaller town in the Spanish foothills.

We got to take a tour of El Escorial, and it was very different than the Royal Palace we saw yesterday. The elegance and intricacy of each room was much less impressive, which apparently was the point of King Phillip, who wanted to live a simple life like the monks did at that time. (sidenote: the whole tour was in Spanish, so if these facts aren't completely accurate, I apologize). We saw rooms ranging from the library and "exercise room", to the bedroom and even the room containing all the tombs of past kings and queens of Spain. The whole complex was very impressive, but the cathedral was what really stood out to me. While everything else in the palace lacked fanciness and flare, the cathedral was amazingly detailed and gorgeous. It was by far the most beautiful center of worship that I had ever been in, with its amazing height, gorgeous statues, and 4 gigantic organs that could all be played simultaneously (that probably got me more psyched than anything).

After visiting El Escorial, we drove a few hours to the city of Toledo. It was a very refreshing change from the hustle and bustle of Madrid. Toledo's history is very rich (so rich that I would butcher it if I even tried to explain it all), and it was amazing getting to imagine the history that passed through the city. We took a walking tour around the city and saw a few different cathedrals. Our tour guide showed us original works of art from Goya. Art always amazes me whenever people actually give me the background of it. We also saw a Jewish synagogue that was made in the twelfth century. Crazy to think about...

After thinking that I had seen the greatest cathedral ever at El Escorial, I was quickly mistaken after seeing Toledo's famous cathedral, Catedral de Toledo. Luckily, I did get to take some pictures in this place, although I don't think that the pictures can do the cathedral justice.

I tried to upload more of them just now, but the internet is going a little slow so I guess they'll have to wait until the Facebook album..

Unlike Madrid, which is more or less a grid-like layout, Toledo has streets going every which-way and it was fun to get lost and explore the city a little bit tonight. I went with a few friends and explored a few tapas bars (be careful how you say that or else Americans might think you're a perv), and then found a fun bar to go watch the much anticipated soccer game between Real Madrid and UC Barcelona. Although I don't like soccer very much, watching the game in Spain was so much fun! Everyone is so passionate about the sport and their team - I just made sure I remained neutral the whole time..

I ended the night having the pleasure to talk to two of my favorite people - my girlfriend and my dad. From talking all about Spain and life in Waco with Kathryn to talking about Spain and KU basketball with my dad, I loved every minute of my conversation and definitely consider myself blessed to be able to utilize technology these days.

Tomorrow I'll take the bus with my group to Sevilla and get to meet our host families! I'm so excited to get to officially meet my host mother and get settled in and unpacked. It's been a blast of a trip so far, but I'm ready to be in a place that I can call my home for a few months and not just live out of a suitcase.

Alright, that's all I want to say.

Ay dee ose.

Brad.

P.S. Mom - I love you :)

I'm here!

My friends!

Greetings from the Spanish capital of Madrid! I don't have much time to type, so here's a summary:

• Philadelphia's airport is weak. Very few outlets in a technology-filled world. 8 hours of layover wasn't the best, but having my mom's goody bag of treats made it a whole lot better.
• I have the greatest airplane luck. Not only was I the only person out of around 100 to not have anyone sit next to me on my first flight yesterday, but I had a full 4 person row to myself on the 7 hour flight to Madrid. This all while flying standby, mind you. Maybe I should take that as a hint..
• I'm a minority in Spain (and in my program). Not only do I obviously stick out as a blonde haired Nike wearing American, but I am 1 of about 15 guys in our API group of about 60. The bro's have learned to stick together, though, and luckily some of them seem like they keep up with sports as much as I do (Pats-Giants Super Bowl rematch, anyone?)
• Madrid is different. The plazas and architecture of the buildings are all so great. My hotel room is super small for the 3 of us staying here, but the Hotel is right in the center of Puerta del Sol and only minutes away from virtually anything.
• Duck is delicious!! I tried it last night for the first time and couldn't get enough of it. They served it with some kind of teriyaki raspberry sauce at the restaurant we were staying at, definitely a fan.
• My roommate, Alex, is cool. He's going to the University of Tampa right now, but has lived in Arizona and more recently London. You can tell he's very cultured and excited to make the most of the study abroad opportunity.
• We went to the Prado Museum and Royal Palace today. Both places were absolutely amazing and very culture-filled, but I think I enjoyed the Palace more. I enjoy architecture more than paintings, and the Royal Palace had some of the most amazing architecture I have ever seen. It was fun thinking about kings of Spain from the 17th century living in the palace.
• I got an email from a missionary that I had attempted to contact earlier in the week, and it looks like I might have an opportunity to play guitar and lead worship this semester! Excited to see what comes of that..
• We have a bidet in our hotel bathroom....
• I'm currently watching some sort of hybrid basketball/soccer/polo right now where people dribble and throw a small ball at an indoor soccer-sized net. Anyone know what this sport is called?
• I'm so excited to see what this semester brings. It still hasn't sunk in yet that I am actually IN Spain, and probably won't until I settle in and start taking classes in Sevilla. For now, I'm just going to enjoy my time in Madrid and try my best not to get pickpocketed!

As Alex would say, "cheers".

Brad.

First Post

What's up!

This is my new blog that will (hopefully) be kept up-to-date on my happenings for the next semester. As some of you already know, I am going to be studying international business abroad at Pablo de Olavide University in Sevilla, Spain. I'll be leaving Sunday, January 15th and getting back May 19th. While in Spain, I'll live with a host mother, Gracia, who is 74 years old, as well as have another American roommate, Alexander.

Within the next 4 months, I hope to be stretched, challenged, and broadened in both my intellectual and cultural experiences. I invite you to come and follow along with me on this journey through Europe as I blog my thoughts, findings, and experiences throughout the next semester. Leggo!

Things I'm Excited About:

Immersion:

Since my freshman year of high school, I've always wanted to be able to speak the Spanish language fluently. I saw what an asset speaking another language could be when I went on a mission trip to Mexico my sophomore year of high school. I only spoke bits and pieces of Spanish and still gained close relationships with many Mexican people, some of which I'm still in contact with today. I'm hoping that immersing myself within the Spanish culture by living with a host family, taking classes in Spanish, and altogether speaking Spanish to nearly every person I come in contact with will create the opportunity for me to be challenged in my Spanish-speaking skills. One of my main goals throughout these next few months is to be able to confidently say "I speak fluent Spanish", and I believe that immersion within the Sevillan culture will help to bring me closer to that goal.

Excursion:

I want this trip to be full of adventures! In no way do I want to regret not making the most of each and every day. My life at K-State is often very busy and at times taxing - I have many different jobs and responsibilities along with school that I am committed to on a daily basis. In Sevilla, the only real responsibility I have other than taking classes is to live in Spain! Extended free time, what a weird concept for an American! Along with the planned trips through API (Cádiz, Granada, Cordoba, Doñana, Lisbon) I hope to embark on my own adventures throughout Spain and Europe as well.

Decision:

I think that for the majority of my high school and now college career, I have been somewhat undecided on what I want to do upon graduating. Since running my own mini-business for a class project in 5th grade in which I sold beaded lizards to my classmates, I have always been intrigued by business and the art of sales persuasion. However, I have yet to find a real direct career path that connects with my passion for marketing and presentation. I am hoping that my time abroad will direct me towards a more clear and concise career path, whether that be international business, marketing, or something else.

Mission:

I believe that I am going to Spain my junior year, spring semester for a specific reason. Although my initial thoughts and desires are to have internal benefits, I know that God has something so much bigger in store for me. I am excited to find a community of Christian believers in Spain and to have opportunities to evangelize to others through my words and actions. I am trusting that God will put me in situations that will challenge me and give me an opportunity to bring Him glory, and I ask for prayers that I would be able to have the boldness to confidently proclaim the Good News to them.

Things I'm Apprehensive About:

Filets:

I want to be all about trying new foods, but I can see this part of the trip being somewhat difficult for me at times. I've heard that the food will often still be "looking at you". I'm already not a huge fan of fish, so this could be a little bit of a problem. Oh well. Here's to losing 20 pounds while still respectfully trying everything your host mother makes for you!

A Ways:

The hardest part of this trip is going to be being away from the people I love the most. I am so blessed to have an incredible family, friend group, and girlfriend. In no way am I looking forward to being away from any of them for this long, but know that I would regret not seizing the opportunity to study abroad while I still can. Communication is going to be tough with a 7 hour time difference and no wireless internet in the house I'll be living, but I know that distance can strengthen relationships and I'm looking forward to seeing the ways that the Lord strengthens me and my loved ones.

Bidets:

Is an explanation even necessary? Yikes...

And so it starts... Thanks in advance to everyone offering me prayer and support, I really couldn't do it without you all.

Brad.