My Sister the Rockstar

This blog was intended to serve as a journal of my experiences overseas. And it has...but I felt the need to blog about events occurring on the other side of the pond to reduce this feeling of being so far away.

These past two weeks have been AWESOME for my best friend, my little sister Zahra.  She was the recipient of two awards, the first a prestigious “Youth Who Excel Award” from the city of Chicago and the second an I-STAR Award recognizing her academic achievement.  At the ceremony for the second award, Zahra was also acknowledged for taking home the Gold at November’s National Sports Tournament.


Serena, Zul and Zahra

My little overachiever, she'll hate me for this when she reads it. :D

But what was probably the highlight of these past two weeks was that Zahra was accepted into all of her top universities, specifically into their School of Education programs. Not only has she secured Direct Admit statuses, but she’s received many scholarships and a stipend to teach abroad at some point during her collegiate career.

Hero.

Though she hasn’t formally committed to a university yet (even if she did, I’d keep it a secret for her to announce), I just wanted to post this shout out and say how proud I am of her. Zahra, all of your hard work, long nights of studying, tears and passing those brutal AP exams has paid off.

I want you (and the rest of the world) to know that you are a Rockstar and that I’m so lucky to be your BIG.

xoxo

Madrid: Mishaps and Magical Moments

This past weekend, I spent 54 lovely hours in the city of Madrid.  The capital of Spain, Madrid felt like a cross between Chicago and New York. But first…my interesting journey to Madrid.

Originally, KT and I had booked our bus tickets, leaving from Sevilla, for 6PM Thursday night.  Unfortunately, a mandatory Internship event forced us to change our bus time to the next available: 11PM. As horrible as that journey may sound, KT and I made it through the six hour bus ride very easily. We slept like babies, at least I did…KT had a very annoying bus buddy who was interested in learning more about our Madrid plans. Creepy.

We finally made it to the Madrid Bus station at 5:15AM.  After freshening up, KT and I wasted time observing other travelers, as we waited for the city Metro’s to start running at 6AM.  At 5:55AM, we bought our tickets and entered the tunnel, making sure that our hostel directions corresponded with the colorful maps at the station. 

We had a plan of action: grab the grey line, get off at the first stop and then switch onto the baby blue line and get off at the major stop (aka: Sol or the “Time Square” of Madrid).

But even the best laid plans fail.

KT’s creepy bus buddy jumped onto our Metro car just as the doors were closing.  Once again, he struck up conversation with KT, asking her where she was going and staying.  Flustered and wanting to get as far away as possible from this man, KT and I got off the Metro and then proceeded to get on the wrong line, taking us in the opposite direction of our destination. Some thirty minutes later, we found our way onto the right line and to the right stop.  Once out of the station, we climbed out onto what can only be described as a quiet, dark Time Square-esqe center – La Puerta del Sol.  We quickly found our hostel, rung the doorbell until an angry owner woke up, got our room and took a nap so we could start off the day recharged.

All of Friday, we explored the East side of town (or at least it was the East side on the map we had): El Jardin del Buen Retiro, Puerta de Alcala and Plaza de Cibeles were first on the list.  It was a great day for outdoor sightseeing as the sun was beaming all day. We also had a chance to enjoy El Museo del Prado, home to one of Europe’s best art collection.  For someone who’s artwork can’t get anymore complicated than stick figures, I have come to appreciate various artistic styles, taking an interest in learning more about the inspiration and history behind an artist’s work.

After long day of walking and enriching our minds, we grabbed a very delicious (but pricy) lunch in la Plaza Puerta de Sol. Grilled fish, fried chicken smothered in soy sauce, mussels, olives and luscious Mousse de Naranja (Orange flavored cake) were quickly consumed between the two of us. We left for our hostel to rest up for a night out in the town.

Since it was a Friday, I had arranged plans to attend religious services at Madrid’s Ismaili place of Worship.  A total of twelve people (including me) were in attendance for Friday ceremonies.  Our prayers were recited in Arabic (as always) but most of the other rites and rituals were done in SPANISH! Total cool! I was so stunned because I had grown up participating in these activities in my parents’ native tongues: Urdu, Hindi and Gujrati. 

Afterwards, the family offered me sweets and began telling me about their small community of forty Ismailis.  I asked them questions about why they had settled in Spain (instead of the US, Canada or England where there are large immigrant Ismaili diasporas).  One answer led to another question which led to a story, and then another and another and another.  By the time I looked at my phone, it was close to midnight! I had had a great time with the family and definitely learned a lot about my religious history that night.

Hungry like none other, a friend and I found a local tapas bar to grab a quick dinner before getting on the last metro for the night.  I ordered Tortilla Espanola (a very basic tapa) and Zumo de Naranja Natural (freshly squeezed OJ) for the both of us. We had a chance to catch up and discuss our experiences in our respective study abroad programs. 

The next day (Saturday) I spent exploring the west side of town (or so on the map), with my best friend, while KT met up with her roommates from IU who are currently studying abroad in Madrid. We visited Plaza Mayor, el Catedral de la Almudena, el Palacio Real, Plaza de Oriente, Plaza de España and el Templo de Debod (Egyptian ruins gifted to Spain by Egypt!!!).  All that sightseeing finally led us to Calle Gran Via (Madrid's Michigan Ave).  We stopped by a Chinese Restaurant (yes Chinese) for some long-desired Asian cuisine.  We spent the rest of the day shopping for hip European apparel, taking advantage of the last week of Rebajas (sales) in Spain. 

A sad goodbye and a few promises to plan future trips later, we were off our separate ways.  I arrived back at my hostel and was greeted by KT.  We packed up, had a great night out and went to bed at a decent hour in order to catch our 11AM bus back to Sevilla, the next morning.

Six hours later, I was back at home sweet Sevilla.  I’m still in the process of unpacking and sorting dirty clothes from reusable ones (laundry is done every two weeks at my homestay).  Though I am still a bit tired from the long bus ride home, I am in trip planning mode again!!!

Next stop on this Globe Trotter’s Itinerary: LISBON, PORTUGAL! (T-Minus TWO Days!)

Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day…

…And rightfully so.  I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak – of what I hope to see in Rome – yesterday, in Itálica.  About ten miles outside of Sevilla, it houses the ruins of a city built by the Romans in 206 BC.  El Conjunto Arqueologicigo de Itálica preserves what archeologists have been digging up for years and years: streets, homes, mosaics, and the magnificent stadium used to by warriors to fight, as an entertaining sporting event (like in the movie Gladiator).  As our guide was describing how brave warriors would fight to the death (literally, every single time), we looked around and suddenly felt as if the seats in the stadium were filled with loud, drunk Romans cheering on their favorite fighter.  Goosebumps.

As we walked through what is now left of Italica, I couldn’t help but be fascinated by the intelligence and “technology” that was used some 19 centuries ago.  Did you know, the checkerboard style street (similar to what we see in Chicago) was created by the Romans? Or that they came up with the first, efficient way to get rid of bodily waste (still used in Ghana)? Well, I didn’t.

It’s been said, pictures speak a thousand words.  I’d like you to enjoy a few snapshots from my visit…as my description would NOT do justice to the work I’ve seen.

Enjoy!

A Change of Heart

Chicago, you’ve done it once again. Just as we thought we’d have to wait until next winter for a proper snowstorm, you proved us wrong.  Walking into my office today, I felt as if I had walked out of a snow globe and into reality. A snow sprinkled jacket, wet hair, sloshy boots…yep, Chicago you showed your true colors this morning. Classy.

As I walked the mile and half to work this morning, it hit me how ready I am for a change in scene.  You’re probably thinking, “What was this girl thinking walking to work? Couldn’t she just catch a cab?” Or, if you are my mom reading this, you’re saying “if only she had listened to me four weeks ago when I told her to buy a CTA bus pass.” My response to that: buses and cabs are not for the “regulars.” 

I’d like to think I’ve become a “local” in the city.  Storming out of Union Station and brisk walking with the same crowd has become routine since this past May.  Every morning I see the same man, with his large coffee and breakfast sandwich from Corner Bakery, to my left and a woman, having stepped out of Vogue in her four inch black Stilettos approaching me as I walk down Wacker Drive (except today her Stilettos were replaced with fashionable boots). Opting out for a more comfortable mode of transportation would prevent me from experiencing Chicago at its finest:

-- being greeted by the Chicago Tribune man in the morning, “Happy Tuesday young lady”,

-- turning the corner to the same homeless man, who no longer asks me for spare change, but reminds me to watch my step as I hurry to work and smile as I do so,

-- watching locals slip left and right, sometimes even wiping out, only to have fellow locals help them up and ask if they’re okay,

--annoying city drivers as I wait until the final seven seconds to cross a main street, like a typical pedestrian.

These are the simple pleasures of Chicago, of home, that I have come to love and appreciate.  BUT, I am ready for a change.  With seven days until take off, I am sensing a change of heart.  As the days move closer to January 18^th, my anticipation to move to Spain grows more and more. 

For 17 weeks I will be studying and interning in beautiful Sevilla, in southern Spain.  Ninety other students and I will be dispersed around the city, in dorms, apartments and with gracious Sevillanos who have opened up their homes to us.  I have chosen to live with a family to improve my Spanish fluency.  My goal, over these 119 days or so, is to make Sevilla my new home…to become a local. I foresee many language mishaps, getting lost in transit and being gawked at, but I hope these instances will make me stronger and transform me into something more than just a four-month tourist.

I survived Chicago. I hope to say the same about Sevilla.