4th of July.

Is it weird I already have a countdown for this holiday?

Maybe it's because I can't wait to make this...

Don't these look absolutely delicious and refreshing? Check out the recipe below.

Raspberry Coconut Popsicles

Ingredients {makes roughly twenty 3 oz. popsicles}
*1 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen)
*1 cup blueberries (fresh of frozen)
*1 can coconut milk (full-fat or light)
*2 cups water
*1 cup apple juice (or any other juice you have on hand)
*1/2 cup honey (or more–adjust to taste)
*5 oz. Dixie cups
*wooden popsicle sticks

Preparation
1. Combine all of the ingredients in your blender.
2. Pour mixture into 5 oz. Dixie cups, filling 2/3 of the way.
3. Freeze for 30 minutes, insert sticks, and continue to chill until the popsicles are fully frozen, 2 hours or more.
4. Carefully cut and tear the Dixie cups off of the popsicles, and seal in a plastic bag.

(Recipe was found here)

All things beautiful

Sigh. I just love. All of this.

(All images can be found here)

(Image can be found here)

(Image can be found here)

Florence.

By far, one of my favorite cities. Florence was beautiful. On our last day there we went to the Michaelengelo look out point to watch the sunset. Absolutely breathtaking is all I can say.

See for yourself...

Morocco.

A little late but....here's a video of my trip to Morocco!

I didn't make it (hence, the random people in it haha) this was made by the guys at Discover Sevilla, which is a company here that does trips and lots of fun stuff for us Americans. My semester would not have been the same without them! I absolutely love them and all of the guys that work there Benni, Dani, Manuel, Alan, Luis, Rufus...(hope I'm not forgetting anyone!).

Such a great trip with great people. Rode camels, saw the ocean, bought a blanket (that I absolutely love), ate delicious cous-cous....was in AFRICA!

Waka, waka........

Rough day? I'd say so.

Today, was a rough, rough day here in Sevilla. It started off early-- 10am. That is about eight hours too early for me as I tend to wake up around 6pm here (ask my host family they will tell you I sleep like a hibernating bear, as they have not hesitated to tell me about a hundred times or so). I woke up from a really strange dream that had left me just really startled and shaky throughout my entire morning. I walked the 30 minutes to class in this rainy, but super humid weather. My feet were hurting, my legs were hurting, basically my whole body was hurting (this because I have started exercising recently...I had to lose these 10 pounds somehow...). Finally, get to class and sit through an hour of nothing. Literally, nothing. My professor talked about nothing that had any relevance to Sociology in Education whatsoever and it was just so upsetting because I have to stay until this class ends (June 8th) even though it is all crap. Well, after this hour of nothing, I have to check out some books from the library and find out that I am not even registered at this school and they have no record of me ever being there. GREAT... They send me all over telling me different things in each office and finally I am told that that was a mistake I actually am enrolled. Phew...Good to know that they now know what I had been trying to tell them all along! I was so frustrated and it made me miss America so much. I kept thinking to myself this would NEVER happen in America I just want to go home! I was so frustrated that I proceeded to hide behind a bookshelf and bawl my eyes out (definitely felt better afterwards though).

My day had a few other low points mainly getting interviewed for a great job, but possibly not going to get it because I have to stay until June 8th for this pointless class. Even though I could be home on the 2nd because my professor is letting me take the exam early, but noooo my program is forcing me to stay until the last day of lecture. It is just so upsetting and so frustrating. My day ended by a huuuuge bug flying into my room while I was trying to sleep. This bug looked like a cockroach with wings. It was terrifying. I was trying  to get it out of my room, but somehow lost it and had to go sleep on the couch because I was too scared to sleep in my room.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I'm sorry I just want to SCREEEEAAAAMMMM and get all of this built up frustration out. I keep kicking myself for signing up for this class because if it wasn't for this class I would be home already. And I am just so mad I feel like it's ruining my life. So far this class is
1. keeping me from going to my brother's graduation in 10 days, 2. keeping me from going to the beach house with my best friend Kaela at the end of May, 3. most likely keeping me from an amazing summer job, 4. keeping me from going homeeee. It just honestly is ruining my life right now! I know that's an exaggeration, but really I just keep thinking to myself "What if I hadn't signed up for this class?"

As angry, frustrated, homesick, upset, and worried as I am though I know that there is a reason I am still here and not home yet. I trust that the Lord will provide, like He always has for me, and in the end things will work out just the way they are supposed to. It's upsetting knowing that I can't control what happens because I am human and all I want to do is be in control. But I know that I have a loving Heavenly Father, who has great plans for me. I am just trying to put my trust in Him, especially on hard days like these.

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; 

I will protect him, because he knows my name.

When he calls to me, I will answer him; 

I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, 

because they trust in you. 

Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, 

the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal." Isaiah 26:3-4

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." 1 John 5:14-15

Oh, I just can't get enough...

NO8DO

pan

picos

RyanAir

Sevici

Constitucion

Demo

Alfalfa

Agua de Sevilla

Bare Nostrum

CIEE

vale

hombre

NPN

Buddha

BAMF

Internation Party Sevilla

teach me how to dougie

DiscoverSevilla

Toba

Benni

Dani

Luis

Torre

botellon

Don Simon

Cruzcampo

interest group

yellow bar

rio

terrazas

cafe con leche

wifi

Mascarpone

Coloniales

patatas bravas

queso

jamon

Feria

rebujitos

tinto de verano

Cien Montaditos

jarras

euro

Tetuan

Sierpes

Matahambre

Vodafone

toque

Puente de Triana

Los Remedios

Hotel Bequer

Sol Melia

taxi

PDC

Calle Betis

Fundicion

Bar Julius

senora

homestay

Big Ben

cerveza

chupitos

Long Island

Levies

chinos

chino candy

Principes

U. de Sevilla

Poonfest

Socibus

bueno

C2

Giralda

Catedral

naranjos

cobblestone

horses

Corte Ingles

Arte y Fiesta

shortcuts

Asuncion

Abril

Bandalai

Plaza de Espana

Granada

The Situation

babes, babes, babes

food fair

Morocco blanket

day drink

flamenco

La Carboneria

boxed wine

casetas

Italica

Salvador

Flaherty's

tequila

Camborio's

ron

Jerez

Tio Pepe

Matalascanas

Alcazar

peacocks

Phoenix

40's

bocadillos

kebabs

churros con chocolate

gitanos

Strongbow

TexMex

sangria

vino

Cerveceria Internacional

Mahou

Virgen de Lujan

Plaza de Armas

converters

lentejas

Zara

HyM

lefties

cursos

siesta
futbol

Sevilla.

Most of my friends have left Sevilla because our semester ended on Thursday, but I am here to finish up an extra class. I'm actually not as lonely as I thought I'd be though. I've been spending a lot of time with my host family and it's also been really nice to have alone time. It's given me the opportunity to reflect on my experience here, whereas if I would have left Sevilla the day after classes ended (like most of my friends did) I would have been immediately thrown back into life at home and would not have had this time to reflect.

Today, I spent some time reading some of my blog posts and I laugh at some of the things that I had forgotten happened here. I also read the list of all of the American things I miss and all of the things I disliked here at times and I realized that as much as some of those things did suck, they are what made my experience here. Things like my siblings walking in on me while I was showering, them almost breaking my computer, walking 30 minutes to class and crying because my feet hurt so bad, the intense heat, the rainy days that I had to taxi to class and just wished I could drive there myself and not waste 8 euros, sobbing while Skyping my family wishing I could go home, hysterically crying on our last night here at the club. All of those things that weren't ideal are what made my amazing experience here and have given me great stories to tell.

My time here is honestly indescribable and it's a weird feeling knowing that as much as I talk about it and try to retell my time abroad no one will ever understand just how amazing it was. I love all of the new friends I made here from all over the U.S. It is a wonderful thing to have at least one friend in almost every of the 50 states. These people that I lived my experience with and became so close with in our time here will always hold such a special place in my heart and even though our time in Sevilla has ended, we are forever bonded. I cannot express into words what an incredible semester this has been and all of the memories that I now have. And I also can't put into words how much I love Sevilla and how it hurts to know that in a few weeks I will be leaving this beautiful city. My heart is so full and I have so much love for Sevilla. The amazing cobblestone streets, the orange trees that give the city such a distinct smell, the horse drawn carriages (minus the poop the horses left everywhere, but honestly I will miss that too because it is part of Sevilla). I will miss it all so so much.

This has been the most incredible time of my life. And even though it hurts to know that it is over, I could not have taken more advantage of my time here. I did it all. Went out every night even though waking up for class was awful, ate everything even though I knew I was gaining weight, made incredible new friends, traveled everywhere I could and saw amazing things like the clocktower in Prague, the Lennon Wall, the Vatican, the sun set over beautiful Florence, rode camels in Morocco. Everything. I loved every minute of it. And even though I will be paying off student loans forever, it was so worth it to be able to live this incredible experience.

So $8,000 poorer, 10 pounds bigger, 5 shades darker, 10,000 pictures, and 1 million memories later...Sevilla, NO8DO.

Abril (a club), every Friday.

Botellon (pregaming) at Torre de Oro every week with all of our friends.

Buddha (my favorite club) every Thursday night as a BAMF. My friend Dani.."teach me how to Dougie. 

The 3rd largest Cathedral in the world. Walked by this everyday for school. 

CIEE going away party with my intensive session girls. Going to miss them and getting coffee everyday after class for 2 weeks straight.

Cien Montaditos 1 euro nights with my interest group. Angela, John, Claire, and I.

Definitely going to miss my orientation roommate, first friend, and one of my best friends here Marlee. And of course Bar Julius aka Da Jungle, Toba, 1 euro shots and beers, Room Raiders always on TV, and some crazy times.

Demo. Our second home. 

Things usually got pretty wild at Demo.

Feria de Abril. Wow. No words for it other than it made me love Sevilla so much more.

Tuesday nights Fundicion. Beer pong, flip cup, free sangria, and the infamous bull.

The beautiful Giralda. No other building in the city is taller than it.

Long Island and their shots from every state.

Long Island.

The beautiful narrow cobblestone streets.

Amazing architecture and NO8DO everywhere.

The delicious pasta I got at my homestay. Tomato sauce, cheese, and tuna.

Walking across this bridge everyday and the amazing view of the city at night.

The many days spent at the rio and beautiful Torre de Oro.

Sevicis all over the city and the crazy rides I had throughout the city.

Sevilla FC Futbol game and riding through Sevilla on motorcycle with Jorge, director of my study abroad program.

The spectacular views of the city from the Giralda.

The amazing weather and drinking at the Yellow Bar.

NO8DO.

This song has been playing on repeat this past week. It made us all cry because it sums up perfectly our time in Sevilla. It is so sad saying goodbye to the amazing people that made my experience here. This was the best thing I have ever done though and the most amazing time of my entire life. NO8DO.

Flamenco dress disaster...

So this past week was Feria in Sevilla, which is a huge celebration/tradition here. It's been going on for tons of years and in a nutshell...the ladies wear flamenco dresses, men dress up super nice, there's drinking, dancing, carnival rides, food. It's just this huge all day and all night festival for a week straight. It was amazing and made me love Sevilla so much more (if that's even possible), but I don't really feel like going into detail about it right now so I will share when I come home.

But anyway, my host mom let me borrow one of her flamenco dresses so I would be able to dress up and immerse myself in the culture, etc, etc. I was kind of excited to be able to dress up and wear it to Feria, but it was soooo tight on me when I tried it on. It looked really good though because the dresses are beautiful, but then I had to zip it up and it was soo hard to zip. Guess those crepes with nutella finally got to me...But it zipped...or so I thought...I got it to zip all the way up, but when I went to look in the mirror the zipper broke from like the bottom to the top and I was stuck in the dress! And I didn't want to ask my host mom for help getting out of it because 1. I was so embarrassed and
2. felt awful for ruining her dress. And they're so expensive so I was panicking! After a ton of effort, I was able to yank the opening wide enough to swivel the back of the dress to the front so that I could work on fixing the zipper. Basically I yanked and yanked until the hole was big enough for me to get out of the dress. By this point I was sweating profusely and almost in tears because I didn't know what I was going to tell my host mom. I worked on the zipper forever and in the end I was able to fix it PTL. Moral of the story: 1. I need to work on losing the 10 pounds I've gained here....2. Never again will I try to make something fit that is obviously just NOT GOING TO FIT. And 3...no more crepes with nutella :(

The dress was kind of...sort of...like this. Except all black and no sleeves just two straps.