People and Places that Inspire Me

Today is Friday, a miracle of a day, and I am relishing in the time I have to relax and unwind after a busy week.

I want to take this time and share with you all the people and places that inspire me and are miracles in themselves.  May this list bring you inspiration and happiness!

People
Susan Branch: Susan Branch is an artist who publishes beautiful handwritten books filled with scrumptious recipes, advice on love and friendship, and so much more.  She keeps a blog about her daily life in Martha's Vineyard, and her joy for life permeates her writing.  She is just as much in love with England as I am.  Recently, she spent a couple months in England and blogged about her entire experience.  She is even going to be publishing her "English Diary" and all the pages will be beautifully handwritten like her other publications.  She calls her fans her "girlfriends."  For a burst of happiness and souljoy, visit her blog!!

Carolyn Weber: Carolyn Weber is the author of Surprised by Oxford, a memoir of her time as a romantic literature graduate student at the University of Oxford.  My kindred spirit Samara recommended this book to  me as we both studied at Oxford in the Summer of 2011.  The village of miracles and fairytales, I just knew that this memoir was going to be special.  Carolyn converted to Christianity while in Oxford and met her husband there.  She writes about her life and reviews many time honored books like Anne of Green Gables and Persuasion with a Christian angle.  If you have any connection to Oxford or are at all fascinated by the university, I highly recommend her book!

The Lizzie Bennett Diaries: A group of immensely talented actors and actresses have created a modern version of Pride and Prejudice presented in video blog form.  As of now there have been 46 episodes and at this point the Bennetts are getting ready for "Bing Lee's" party.  Go to this YouTube channel, start watching, and laugh merrily!

Places

West Harwich, MA 

Oh, Cape Cod!  I have not been able to return for three years, but prior to that, I came here every summer for 19 years.  This is the view from my grandparent's condo and serves as the background picture for my blog.  We have a private beach and travel to it via a weathered wooden boardwalk bordered by tall shrubs and beach plums.

If you ever go to West Harwich, you must try Bonatt's Bakery and have their melt-aways, a flaky pastry sprinkled with a cinnamon sugar crumble and filled with anything from cream cheese to fruit! Some of my fondest memories come from Cape Cod.

Oxford, England

The Radcliffe Camera: This is part of Oxford's Bodleian Library and where I did the majority of my Jane Austen research.  This photo was taken from the Vaults and Garden Cafe, my favorite cafe in Oxford where I got my Sunday breakfast.

Magdalen Tower:  I lived in Magdalen College and told time by the bells in this 14th century tower.  I bravely climbed to the top, despite my extreme fear of heights.  If ever you step foot in Oxford, you must visit Magdalen.  I experienced the most amazing peace and expanded my intellect more than I could have ever dreamed.

Chatsworth House, Chatsworth, England

 Do you recognize this place?  

 Now do you recognize this place?!

Nestled in the Peak District, Chatsworth House serves as Pemberley in the Kiera Knightley version of Pride and Prejudice.  I talk about this trip extensively in my blog about Oxford.  This was the best day of my life, the most perfect trip.  If you ever visit the Peak District, visit Chatsworth!! Also, if you love nature and walking, consider taking a guided walk with Sally Mosely.  I unfortunately could not arrange a guided walk with her, but she is a local who guides many through the most amazing walking tours of the countryside.

There are so many more people and places that inspire me, but the list I have above shows people and places very dear to me right now.  More inspiration coming soon!  Have a wonderful weekend everyone, keep seeing the miracles and inspiration all around you! 

Memories of September 11th

University has kept me extremely busy...so sorry I have been away for so long!

Today is September 11th, and I'd like to share my memories of that day in 2001 with you all.

First, I need to flashback to when I visited the World Trade Center in 1996.  I was six years old and visiting my aunt and uncle in Manhattan.  We rode the elevator to the very top at rapid speed, my ears popping as we made it to the top floor.  I remember the carpet, the movie theater inside, the machine where you could mold a penny into a design of the towers.  The view was spectacular.

On the morning of September 11th, my Dad left to go on a business trip to San Diego.  He was in a plane during the attack.  The flight attendants thought there was a bomb on his plane, and he called my Mom with a voice, she told me, she would never forget.  His plane emergency landed in St. Louis, and he and his colleagues had to to drive a U-Haul 10 hours home to Columbus.

I was in Mrs. Caplin's 5th grade class.  The school guidance counselor came in and told Mrs. Caplin something in the hallway.  She came back into the classroom looking pale and simply told us that New York had been bombed.  I immediately thought of my uncle who worked in Manhattan, right across from the World Trade Center.  Thankfully, he was on a business trip in Philadelphia that day.

The teachers never told us the specifics of what happened.  It wasn't until I got home that day that I realized what really occurred.  I was petrified as an 11 year old, that such a thing could happen to thousands of people and in a place where I had once stood.  I remember going upstairs to find photos from our World Trade Center visit in 1996, and I found two photos that my sister took from the roof of the tower, overlooking New York City.

Looking back on how I handled 9/11, I realize that I sincerely mourned the loss of those towers and the thousands of victims.  I printed out pictures of the towers and taped them to the walls of my room.  I wrote a poem from the perspective of the towers on the six month anniversary.

I am proud that our country is ingraining this event into our collective memory.  We must never forget the victims that suffered on that day, and pray for peace in our present.  

My Last First Day of School

Today was my first day of classes, and oh what a glorious day it was!! I have two classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays: Business Communication and American Literature.  The former is going to be so practical for me as I am job-searching/applying to graduate school, and the latter will allow me to not only explore an area of literature with which I'm not familiar, but a ton of my friends are in this class with me!  My Business Comm. professor even gave me a hug this morning and says she is looking forward to working with me.  I love it when people are unexpectedly kind!!

Then I got home and went on a walk/run around campus, starting up my exercise routine so that I can become even healthier.  What I love about this plan is that with every run I can just continue to soak up the beauty of my campus while I can!

Here's to a happy, healthy, and productive semester!

And yes...I do have a neon yellow lunchbox.  :)

My Second Home

Hello everyone!

I am back to blogging after a much needed month home in my hometown.  With the GRE under my belt, I am now back at the University of Dayton for my Senior year!!

Oh, to be back at UD!  This university has been such a miracle in my life.  I have the most amazing support system in my friends, and the Campus Ministry just can't be beat.

This was the view from my dorm room window freshman year.  Now, I'm a senior with my very own house! I get to live right across from my church and hear the bells ring every hour.  Telling time by the bells...it's exactly what I did in Oxford via Magdalen Tower.  Hearing those bells is becoming a little daily miracle for me because the sound is so soothing and can not only bring back beautiful memories of England, but can also become a wonderful part of my memories of Dayton. :)

Today I was able to visit my very best friends (besides the ones I live with) and chat for hours.  I love the porch life at UD.  Everyone is outside, listening to music and enjoying each other's company.  It's the miracle of community here that I absolutely love!

So now that I am starting a new year, my goal is to blog every two to three days about the little miracles that I find in my last year of university.  May this year be filled with joy and love. <3

Home

Home is where the heart is.

So incredibly cliche, but for me right now, it is so incredibly true.

My journey home felt like an odyssey of sorts.  Let me explain why.  I had a smooth flight from Madrid to Newark, NJ - we landed early and customs was a breeze.  My luggage even got there safely - first miracle of the day!  I transferred terminals just fine and got through security without a problem.  Then came the hurdles.  My flight back home got cancelled which threw me into momentary panic as I have never in my life had a flight cancelled.  Thankfully, with my father's lessons in sweet-talking and my naturally sweet demeanor (hehe), I was able to be put on a flight home scheduled two hours later, and put into first class for no extra charge!  That was definitely a "Thank you God" moment, the second little miracle of the day. 

But then, of course, that flight got delayed an additional 6 hours.  What was I supposed to do with myself for 6 hours?  How was I supposed to stay AWAKE?!  Well, since 25 other flights were cancelled that day, I decided to interact with my fellow travelers and hear their stories.  One of the most fascinating experiences a human being could ever have, besides feeling like a minority, is to become fully aware of the fact that everyone, every one of the over 6 billion people in this world, has a story.  The airport is the perfect place to discover a mulitude of stories.  I met a family from Knoxville, TN flying home after they went on a relaxing European vacation.  I met a lady from Oxford, OH who has a farm and we exchanged tomato sauce recipes and learned a thing or two from each other.  I met a girl from Northern Ohio about to start her 5th year of college with a fiance and is as busy as ever, but she helped me stay awake in those late hours right before my flight took off (at 12:30 am)!! 

One of my favorites to meet was a worker at the newstand who saw me come through three times as my flight status kept changing.  She put on a blank face with everyone else, but for some reason her face would light up as I came to buy my snack, then my magazine, and then some further hydration as my flight got further delayed.  I think it was because I actually looked her in the eye and talked to her.  She had the most beautiful laugh.  I wish people would stop more and talk to the people helping them out, you know?  That laugh, as well as the kindess in those people I met, were the most lovely miracles in my day.  They helped me through my anxiousness and allowed me to stay awake through it all.  I got home at 2am EST to tired but very happy parents all the same. 

Now I'm home and absolutely relishing in some much-needed me-time.  This is the beginning of harvest time for my family's garden, so the taste of home-grown vegetables is simply divine for me.  Yes, I am about to embark on further responsibilities such as my thesis, taking the GRE and further researching grad schools, but for now spending time with my family is all I really need.

5 Lessons I Learned in Spain

Well, it's about time I updated this blog!! My apologies for being so out of touch - work and the Spanish lifestyle have certainly kept me busy!!

I finished my last day of work today, and I was pleasantly surprised by the editorial staff when they brought us each a free Spanish dictionary from the company and made us delicious brownies.  I felt the love and appreciation today.  That makes me so happy and joyful in my heart, to know that I have done good work for them and that they appreciate it.  I think that being appreciated by someone is one of those little daily miracles that can sometimes be overlooked.  Tell someone you love that you appreciate them - it will be such a miracle in their day!

Spain has taught me so much.  I have gone through many struggles here, but I firmly believe that the lessons I have learned and the successes I have experienced make up for it all.

So. Five lessons. Here we go...

1. There is always going to be someone who is better than you.  Embrace the beauty of who you are.
-- We all compare ourselves to others far too much.  When we meet someone who seems to be smarter, prettier, more accomplished or making more of an impression, it is hard not to completely focus on all our faults, all at once.  This tendency to compare myself to others has been a constant struggle, but now after being here and experiencing this internship, I see that it does not do to think in such a negative manner.  For the reality is that no one can achieve pure perfection.  It's just not possible.  Instead, we should all focus on the beauty that lies within our souls.  Each and every one of us has a story, something that makes us special and unique unlike anyone else on this Earth.  Embrace that beauty!

2. Cherish moments with family.
-- I think the long Spanish dinners and the board games with my host family truly made me see the importance of this lesson.  Americans are too antsy.  We rush through our dinners and plan everything to a T.  Spaniards spend 2 hours eating dinner and having meaningful conversation.  They relish in good food and take the time to play board games with one another.  I have missed my family terribly while I have been gone, and now I know I will cherish every dinner, every board game, every movie marathon...everything. Even more.

3. Being spontaneous is okay.  Sometimes taking risks and not having any plans turns out for the best.
-- My life has been extremely spontaneous here.  Anyone who tried to plan a Skype date with me knows this.  What a difference from my typical "plan everything to a T" routine.  Some of the most fruitful experiences came from making a decision right on the spot.  We would walk into the most fantastic restaurant, or we would wake up one morning and say "Let's go into Madrid" and have the best time.  Obviously, there are some things in life you must plan.  However, I urge you all to try being spontaneous one day if, like me, you like to plan everything all the time.  It takes you out of your comfort zone in the best way possible.

4. Being the minority in any situation is tough.
-- Honestly, this was the first time in my whole life where I have felt like a minority.  Americans living in the parts of Spain I lived were extremely sparse.  I was judged for my American accent when speaking Spanish.  I received strange glances many, many times that really shook my confidence sometimes.  I kept trying though, working through the cultural differences and doing my best to adapt.  I now have increased empathy for international students, immigrants, refugees, any foreigner really.  I know exactly how it feels now, and I want to bestow the kindness and understanding upon them that I wished I received more of here.

5. Globalization is very real.
-- I learn about globalization in university.  All the philosophical theories behind it and the predictions about its effects have been ingrained in my brain, but I have never really seen it come to fruition until now.  What struck me most about Spain was that all the music on the radio is in English.  Yes, I'm serious!  So the Spanish population that doesn't know English therefore does not understand the lyrics of the music they listen to on the radio!  They focus on the beat instead.  Crazy, isn't it?  But this trend also shows me that there is more opportunity for bilingualism here - there is so much more exposure to English here than we have in Spanish for example in the US.

Most of all, I have realized the importance of love while in Spain.  I did not receive a hug for a month and a half, so when I got my first hug from my host family's baby girl, I seriously felt like it was a God-given miracle!!  Among the wonderful publishing experience and beautiful Spanish food, I have developed even more empathy and love for others.  Mission accomplished, I'd say. :)

Happy Days in Aranjuez

Hello beautiful people!
I have extremely busy ever since my most recent move to Aranjuez!  I am now living with an American who works in the company and her family.  What a beautiful family she has - three sons and a precious baby girl.  All of them speak just enough English to be able to practice with us, and we get to have wonderful Spanish practice.  Her husband also cooks the most miraculous dinners - the freshest gazpacho, the most succulent chorizo, the meats are to die for, and we have the freshest fruit for dessert every night.  The family also blesses the table and gives thanks to God before every meal which is so comforting!  On Tuesday I got to go to her sons' music concert that was the most precious thing I have ever seen.  Imagine an elementary school auditorium filled with about 30 children dressed as pirates and the stage decorated like a pirate ship.  Then imagine a play all about a pirate expedition in Spanish complete with songs from the piano, guitar, and a rock band.  It lasted 2 and a half hours, but I loved every minute of it! The rock band even sang songs in English which was SO fascinating.  I'll have more comments about the presence of globalization here soon!

Aranjuez is the safest city in Spain, did you know that?? It is a medium sized city outside of Madrid and it's in the valley so guess what...it's GREEN!!! Yes, lots of trees and grassy parks.  This weekend Kaitlyn and I are going to explore the Royal Palace and its gorgeous gardens.  Oh yes, Aranjuez has a Royal Palace, AND you can see the palace from the house.  The house I am staying in is at the top of the hill so I can see the entire city and the mountains.  I also still get to be with golden retrievers - two of them actually! Luna is 9 years old and Osita is 3 years old.  Osita means "teddy bear" in English!

My job is starting to get really interesting!! I am doing research for the company about their competition in digital innovation, and I also got to translate bible stories from an entire textbook for 4th level Primary and simplify the English.  So, I basically got to do the initial writing of the text - so cool!! I am also translating interactive activities online for secondary level textbooks.  My thesis research is going swimmingly - such a miracle that I got to come here and have so many wonderful, enriching interviews.

Oh! I have to tell you all about a miracle that happened yesterday.  The lady we are living with had to go to a conference for the day yesterday and said she would pick us up around 5pm.  Well 6:30pm rolled around and we still hadn't heard from her, so we decided that we needed to take public transport home.  We walked outside and right as we got to the driveway, she pulled up!! That saved us about 2 hours of time on public transport home.  Miracle?? You better believe it!!

To close out my blog post, I would like to mention the miracle of Spain's VICTORY yesterday!! I love watching the EuroCup here!! Pictures of Aranjuez to come soon as well as my musings on the cultural aspects of Spain!!