Even though Spain is already three months in my rearview mirror, life continues to be a continuous series of adventures. 
My time in Europe ended with visiting four countries in two weeks. My mom and I spent a weekend in Casablanca, where I got to trade in Spanish for my rusty French. We explored the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world. We jumped a train to Marrakesh for the day, and caught a glimpse of the High Atlas Mountains. After running through the Casablanca airport with no shoes on to catch a flight that ended up being delayed four hours, we arrived in Milan and ate one of the best meals of our life. Less than 24 hours later we were on a plane to Athens. We visited the Oracle at Delphi, took a day cruise to three of the surrounding islands, trekked up to the Parthenon, and drank ouzo with my Danish friend Karina. I had my wallet stolen and then recovered (30 euros lighter). We made our way back to Spain via Casablanca, where we once again found ourselves running through the airport without shoes - this time with the legitimate risk of missing our flight to Madrid, where I had only a day to introduce my mom to Iberian ham, Rioja red wine, and the Gran Via.
 |
 |
7 months, over 17,000 air miles and 9 countries later, I came home just in time for my 24th birthday.
My current adventure actually began with two doors closing –
one to the University of Arizona and the other to the University of
New Mexico.
Suddenly, while I was struggling to say goodbye to my life in Spain, I also needed to figure out what to do with myself for the next year, until I have another opportunity to enter a master's program.
To say I felt lost would be an understatement.
Then again, sometimes life comes together in completely unexpected ways.
I'm in Madrid the night before meeting my mom, when I get a text from one of my former roommates: "Do you have plans once you get home?"
And that is how this wannabe speech therapist found herself teaching freshwater ecology on an 85-foot schooner in Bay City, with one of her best friends as first mate.
I never imagined myself running a science program, much less learning how to be a sailor. That said, not getting into a master's on my first try has allowed me to gain another amazing set of experiences I wouldn't ever have otherwise.
What's more, it seems that fountain in Covadonga may have worked - !
I don't know where or when my next adventure will happen, but I am willing to bet the days of the chica sola are over.
Yup, life comes together in completely unexpected ways.
