since study abroad i have changed a lot in my life. After returning to UofI in the fall of 07, things were just not the same for me. A lot of personal shit went down and i opted to leave Champaign-Urbana. I finished off the semester working at Pitaya, but was not attending classes anymore.
In my semester off I had to make a decision about becoming an art teacher or dental hygienist, I applied for both options. At the time i was leaning towards art school, however it was pretty much a decision of being rich or poor. Either way i think i would be happy since i have a love for both; yes yes a creepy love for dental hygiene. In the end though i was accepted to Pratt Institute, considered an ivy of the art schools, and i felt i could not say no.
I currently live in Brooklyn where the school is located.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Monday, April 9, 2007
Visitor!
My mom came to Barcelona for a week, and we saw the entire city and more. At first when she arrived we were pissed off at the hotel since they promised free wireless, but they lied... stupid ass holes. But it all worked out and we got ripped off and payed for it. Very worth while; since the home stay at this time has gotten old and i am so excited to move out. Mercedes is nice, but she never respects my opinion or my wishes. At some point i began to feel like i didnt exist because no matter what i said she never listened. So having my mom's hotel to stay at for the week was a great break.
That friday we went to figueras and saw the Dali museum. It was an amazing museum, very interesting and just very fitting to Dali's personality (being that he designed it). The ceiling is supposed to represent the universe and buried under it in the center is Dali. He had a huge ego and was incredibly narcissistic. Interesting art work, very trippy with all the double images.
While my mom was around, i got to live like a queen and eat delicious food all the time. But it was still tiring to be tour guide and student at the same time. And because my mom stayed on America's schedule and Spain's is just SO different, i missed out on a lot of sleep.
We went to all of the Gaudi stuff: the pradrera, parc guell, and of course segrada familia. I absolutely love Gaudi's work, one of the most unique architects.
Then we hit up all the museums in barcelona since we bought those museum passes. It was worth while. Being in two art classes i've seen most of the museums twice already; but it made it even better because at this point i could explain a lot to my mom about all the buildings and paintings we saw.
The week with my mom flew by, but at the end i was ready for her to go since i was then leaving to morocco the next day! But i really appreciated my mom coming, seeing a familiar face was amazing. Coming abroad as a sophomore has been really challenging as everyone else here has their best friends with them. But i've also taken a completely different perspective with me by coming now on my own, and it has been worth while.
That friday we went to figueras and saw the Dali museum. It was an amazing museum, very interesting and just very fitting to Dali's personality (being that he designed it). The ceiling is supposed to represent the universe and buried under it in the center is Dali. He had a huge ego and was incredibly narcissistic. Interesting art work, very trippy with all the double images.
While my mom was around, i got to live like a queen and eat delicious food all the time. But it was still tiring to be tour guide and student at the same time. And because my mom stayed on America's schedule and Spain's is just SO different, i missed out on a lot of sleep.
We went to all of the Gaudi stuff: the pradrera, parc guell, and of course segrada familia. I absolutely love Gaudi's work, one of the most unique architects.
Then we hit up all the museums in barcelona since we bought those museum passes. It was worth while. Being in two art classes i've seen most of the museums twice already; but it made it even better because at this point i could explain a lot to my mom about all the buildings and paintings we saw.
The week with my mom flew by, but at the end i was ready for her to go since i was then leaving to morocco the next day! But i really appreciated my mom coming, seeing a familiar face was amazing. Coming abroad as a sophomore has been really challenging as everyone else here has their best friends with them. But i've also taken a completely different perspective with me by coming now on my own, and it has been worth while.
Long time...
after amsterdam, i jet setted off to Liverpool a couple weekends later. It was a crazy time full of puke n' rally. It being "Patty's Day" as they call it the city was full of green and drunk Irish people since liverpool is a thirty minute ferry ride to Ireland. It was amazing, one of my best party days of the semester. We started off early drinking as we watched rugby all day, since it happened to be the final of the european cup of rugby (i think thats what it was called, i dunno). At some point though i blacked out and made friends with an Irish guy; who tried so hard he even bought a few drinks for my guy friends i was with. It was nice to finally have the exotic foreign accent and be able to use it to my advantage. After a few free drinks we had to be on our way since hunger had called, being that breakfast was 6 screwdrivers.
apparently mexican food does not exist in euorpe, so we ran to the super market to make our own. After buying another case of beer and having three bags of groceries, we decided to jump over a 10 foot wall which on the other side turns into a 12 foot wall onto a parking lot. Luckily after i handed down the groceries; when i was laughing and jumping/falling off the wall i was caught on the other side safely. the day turned into night and the clubbing continued until around 4, who knows what happened in between besides some horrible dancing, some puking, and hanging out with some of the best Brits around.
apparently mexican food does not exist in euorpe, so we ran to the super market to make our own. After buying another case of beer and having three bags of groceries, we decided to jump over a 10 foot wall which on the other side turns into a 12 foot wall onto a parking lot. Luckily after i handed down the groceries; when i was laughing and jumping/falling off the wall i was caught on the other side safely. the day turned into night and the clubbing continued until around 4, who knows what happened in between besides some horrible dancing, some puking, and hanging out with some of the best Brits around.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
how the time passes
This past month has been crazy and has flown by, and i know that not too far off from now i'll wake up and have to come home. But for now my flights have taken me anywhere but home.
Munich, Germany: February 16-18, 2007
So i went to Munich hoping to meet up with some friends of mine who live in Berlin. They don't exactly speak the best English, but they had said they were coming. So i fly out there and hadn't really heard from them the week that i left. They end up e-mailing me that they're not coming; as i am already in Munich. So i decided to make the most of my solo travels and signed myself up for a guided tour of the Dachau Memorial.
The Memorial was something that took out all the breath in one's throat. Just thinking of the horrible things that occurred to the people who were sent to the camp. And all i could think about was why... where does evil like this come from... and why hasn't it ended? It was haunting to see the plaque with the words "never again" written in various languages,
as it has been a common phrase in the campaign to help stop the genocide in Sudan. I find myself repeating the question of why over and over again.
Well thats the rundown,
~PeeCola
Munich, Germany: February 16-18, 2007
So i went to Munich hoping to meet up with some friends of mine who live in Berlin. They don't exactly speak the best English, but they had said they were coming. So i fly out there and hadn't really heard from them the week that i left. They end up e-mailing me that they're not coming; as i am already in Munich. So i decided to make the most of my solo travels and signed myself up for a guided tour of the Dachau Memorial.
The Memorial was something that took out all the breath in one's throat. Just thinking of the horrible things that occurred to the people who were sent to the camp. And all i could think about was why... where does evil like this come from... and why hasn't it ended? It was haunting to see the plaque with the words "never again" written in various languages,
as it has been a common phrase in the campaign to help stop the genocide in Sudan. I find myself repeating the question of why over and over again.Out of going on this tour i made friends with a group of army guys who i bumped into frequently around Munich. Then i also met two Peruvians, who invited me out to have lunch with them. We ended up hanging out all afternoon in an attempt to make it to a museum, but then seeing it closed we made it to a beer garden instead. Well the Beers are a liter big and the Germans can take down about four and not feel a thing. As for myself one liter was enough. The night ended at 12 for the Peruvians, but at the hostel i met these Chilean guys who wanted to go out and catch a drink, so that's just what i did.
That next day i saw some guys surfing in a river, and happened to stumble onto a festival.
At first i had many fears of traveling alone, as it could have been dangerous; but i've learned to follow my instincts... lets hope those hold up.
Lisboa, Portugal: February 23-25, 2007
Well my Portugal trip was a little more risky then the last one. So i had met these Portuguese guys at our usual bar, Princesa 23, in Barcelona. They seemed like pretty cool guys, so i kept in good contact with one of them named Andre. I decided to buy tickets to visit these guys in Portugal, but originally planning on staying at a hostel they insist that i stay in their town. So i get to the airport in Lisbon and just hope that this weekend doesn't lead to my death. Andre picks me up in his BMW and shows me around the city, then we go home and i met his family.
The weekend consisted of hanging out, relaxing, going ATVing, and i felt kind of sick so lots of sleeping. There isn't much to tell of things that i did in Lisbon, except that it was an amazing experience to really see Portuguese culture by being friends with them and not just from a tourist perspective. But maybe i should have at least taken one photo... oops.
Amsterdam, NL: March 1-4, 2007
Ahh best trip yet! So Brian meets up with me coming from Ghana on the first of March; and then Friday Drew also came and met up, coming from his busy life as a grad student in London. It was such a great time. It consisted of the Heineken Brewery, Van Gough Museum, Anne Frank House, and lots of good times. I've been having a really hard time not sharing everyone's excitement when friends come into town of they meet up abroad; since none of my close friends are abroad right now.
I'm not really sure if seeing them made me less homesick or if it made me more lonesome for to see all my friends back home. Right now i feel very homesick and wish that i was able to share all the same stories of my AXO girls and UofI friends. But at the same time i can't turn away from this experience or miss out on it, which isn't what i let myself do. But again i took no photos : ( I think of this sometimes and realize how bad that is, but then at the same time i don't want to be so busy making sure i have pictures to capture the moment, versus living the moment.
Well thats the rundown,
~PeeCola
Monday, February 5, 2007
skype... and digits
oh one more thing, if anyone ever wants to talk on the phone with me download skype and it's free. Free to download and to talk between skype members. My skype name is katherine.morris87; or if you love me a lot and want to call my cell phone: 011-34-63-847-1199 and if you're looking for a laugh and want to talk to my senora call 011-34-62-042-7148 and you can also reach me there.
random thoughts of the night
Hmm so how bout dem bears?? On the bright side at least you didn't stay up until 5 watching the game. That was an overall miserable experience, there were all these spaniards who continued to shout the only words they knew in english at the tv and had no clue what was going on in the game. We also got to have british commentary and there were no funny commercials. Just a piece of advice, don't watch the Superbowl abroad, its not all that fun.
So i added a link to my photos on the bottom of the page. I haven't really taken all that many, but it's a small start.
Barcelona is amazing, but i am excited to do some traveling outside. Last weekend wasn't all that great because most people started their travels, and only a few of us stuck around. However my friend Carrie and i spent a night out in the barrio "el Born," and found a bunch of really nice bars and great places to eat. We also found one of the best pizza places in Barcelona, and it's reasonably priced, even the beers are cheep there. I've learned that it is always good to find some places that taste like home, because after a while there is only so much ham and mayonnaise one person can eat. I typically wipe off all the mayonnaise, its just too gross for me.
I've decided to go against all that my spanish teacher has taught me here, and to get starbucks whenever i want, that is whenever my wallet permits me to. However when drinking starbucks in public one must be ready for complete rejection; because as i took my chi tea late on the metro no one would sit next to me. Every single bench was occupied except mine, it was me and three empty seats, and then a bunch of people opting to stand. It was worth the rejection, i can't make it through two hours of class, all in spanish, four days a week, from 5-7. It also sucks that my classes end at 7 at the spanish university because it takes 40 minutes to get home everyday. And then i have to wake up at 8am to leave my house by 830 to make it to my daily 9ams, at least those are closer at my program's center.
I'm still suffering through the culture shock of mandatory class. That is the absolute worst thing about Barcelona and is my biggest culture shock yet. What if i feel sick? I don't want to go to class, but no they drop your grade everyday you miss. Then they randomly call on you to answer questions. whats up with that? If i wanted to share what i thought about spanish culture i would have raised my hand. And not being able to doze in and out of lecture is the worst, because being there just isn't enough. I'm looking forward to coming back to my 700 person classes and being one of the masses again. ohh folinger and lincoln hall...
So i added a link to my photos on the bottom of the page. I haven't really taken all that many, but it's a small start.
Barcelona is amazing, but i am excited to do some traveling outside. Last weekend wasn't all that great because most people started their travels, and only a few of us stuck around. However my friend Carrie and i spent a night out in the barrio "el Born," and found a bunch of really nice bars and great places to eat. We also found one of the best pizza places in Barcelona, and it's reasonably priced, even the beers are cheep there. I've learned that it is always good to find some places that taste like home, because after a while there is only so much ham and mayonnaise one person can eat. I typically wipe off all the mayonnaise, its just too gross for me.
I've decided to go against all that my spanish teacher has taught me here, and to get starbucks whenever i want, that is whenever my wallet permits me to. However when drinking starbucks in public one must be ready for complete rejection; because as i took my chi tea late on the metro no one would sit next to me. Every single bench was occupied except mine, it was me and three empty seats, and then a bunch of people opting to stand. It was worth the rejection, i can't make it through two hours of class, all in spanish, four days a week, from 5-7. It also sucks that my classes end at 7 at the spanish university because it takes 40 minutes to get home everyday. And then i have to wake up at 8am to leave my house by 830 to make it to my daily 9ams, at least those are closer at my program's center.
I'm still suffering through the culture shock of mandatory class. That is the absolute worst thing about Barcelona and is my biggest culture shock yet. What if i feel sick? I don't want to go to class, but no they drop your grade everyday you miss. Then they randomly call on you to answer questions. whats up with that? If i wanted to share what i thought about spanish culture i would have raised my hand. And not being able to doze in and out of lecture is the worst, because being there just isn't enough. I'm looking forward to coming back to my 700 person classes and being one of the masses again. ohh folinger and lincoln hall...
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
you wish you had a mercedes... and i'm not talking benz
Ohh Mercedes, my chocolate loving senora, and when i say chocolate loving i am not making any jokes about it. this woman can eat an entire box in one sitting. it happened to be her 73rd birthday this past sunday, so i bought her a giant chocolate milka bar. how long did it last??? One day. I don't know where it all goes, she is definitely not overweight, and doesn't work out either. This is how the home stay thing works: you live in a spaniard's home, they give you breakfast, they make you dinner, and once a week they do your laundry. This is how my home stay works: Mercedes force feeds us pastries every morning, then gives us a stern talking to if we don't eat them. We go to class all day with messy rooms, and come back home with our beds perfectly made and our messy clothes folded in a pile. (sometimes this can be good and bad, because often things are misplaced and i hate when people touch my stuff, but i enjoy having my bed made for me). Then i like to take a nap in my bed and wake up to a nice delicious dinner, with more food then humanly possible to consume, but our plates must be clean by the end or Mercedes goes on about how we don't like her food. I ended up getting really lucky and having a senora that can cook. And the dinner discussion is beyond hilarious. Every day we always get to hear some story about someones friend's, cousin's, sister's, uncle's, daughter, or something like that. These stories are all in Spanish because Mercedes speaks not a word of english, which i'm completely fine with. I enjoy her daily conversations about how she cannot take an airplane because she has "the claustrophobia." She also calls me Kim One, and my roommate Kim Two; because we are both share the name Katie, which she either doesn't know, can't hear us, or just blatantly calls us something else. Either way i'm okay with being Kim One, "la morena". Even my roommate who doesn't speak spanish always gets a kick out of Mercedes and her expressions. After dinner we all usually go out, but getting out the door is another thing as Mercedes likes to keep you talking, but eventually we pretend not to understand and scramble out the door. Coming in late at night in most home stays is often like being in high school and sneaking around, ohh but not in Mercedes' home, because she cannot hear us come in ever. One time i knocked over the phone and it was beeping loudly at me for five minutes (took me a while to figure out where the beeping was coming from) and she didn't even stir. Then my clothes all reek of smoke here since all europeans love cigarettes, so i put my clothes in the laundry bag and they get washed almost daily! Ohh mercedes... my sweet sweet senora, she really is the best of Barcelona.
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