Amanda takes on the Spanish Health Care System

         There are some parts of the trip here that I would gleefully trade away for a day or two at home, but none as much as October 27 and 28th. October 27th began as a completely normal day, but that’s how days are supposed to begin before all hell breaks loose. I returned home after a day of taking midterms and took a nap. When I woke up, I felt like I had been hit by a truck. I knew I was sick, but I had to finish reading a book for one of my classes and write a paper on it. This I knew was not a feat I could accomplish under heavy doses of medication. Therefore, I decided to push through and finish the paper and then fall asleep.

       The next morning was even worse, I woke up, tried to force down some breakfast and in my feverish stupor attempted to go to school. Thankfully my host mom was awake and able to tell me to go back to bed. I slept until four that evening before waking up and realizing I needed antibiotics and badly. I called my study abroad office and they set up an appointment for me that I needed to leave for almost immediately. Stupid, fever infested me figured I could handle walking to the metro and then finding the hospital. After I got off the metro to switch lines, I had to sit down and put my head between my knees to avoid passing out in front of a bunch of random strangers halfway to my destination. I then regained strength and vision and was able to gingerly pick my way to the next line I needed to be on. At this point, all I could do was pray.

       I finally got off at the metro stop by the hospital, and a 5 minute walk to the hospital ended up taking 20 because I got so turned around. I collapsed into a chair in the international office, heard the sweet sound of the English language, and I knew I had made it. Doctor #1 immediately diagnosed me with strep and sent me off to get meds. Little did I know this was only the beginning.

       I woke up the next morning running a fever of 103. I took a second dose of meds and fell back asleep only to wake up again still running a high fever of 101. Realizing the meds I was taking were not strong enough, back to the hospital I went. This time I got to see a general doctor instead of one who spoke English. Doctor #2, affectionately known as my hero, immediately gave me a shot because my tonsils were so swollen I had trouble breathing and he prescribed me the good stuff. Now taking three different types of medication, I finally felt back to my old self, but those two days were a blur of taking whatever medicine I was given, drinking something, and going back to sleep.

Moral of the story, if ever sick abroad, take a taxi to the hospital.

My Moroccan Adventure

       I honestly had no idea what to expect when I stepped off the plane and onto Moroccan soil, but Morocco beyond exceeded my expectations. I travelled with my ISA program, and there were about 90 total kids there from Madrid, Bilbao, Barcelona, Salamanca, and Valencia.

Inside a shop in the Medina

       We spent our first day in Fez, where we got to explore the Medina which is an enormous marketplace. We were taken into shops where we saw how the ornate metal plates, ceramics, leather, and clothes are made which was incredibly cool. We were then taken to a pharmacy where we learned how argan oil is made as well as many other different types of cosmetics. The girls on the trip had a field day in the Medina before we returned to our hotel.

       That night, we went to see a belly-dancing show, which was the only part of the trip that did not meet my expectations. The belly dancers were older and not at all an image of beauty. However, they did pull many kids from the program up to dance with them which was very entertaining. There were also drummers who came in and a magician, so all in all day one was pretty great.

Oasis

      The second day we drove by bus to the Sahara Desert, which is about a seven hour drive from Fez. It was definitely the most beautiful drive I have ever experienced. We drove past beautiful landscapes and even stopped and ate lunch in an oasis. We finally arrived in the desert and had to ditch the buses for Jeeps that would take us the rest of the way to the camp. It was 6 people to a Jeep, and our Jeep driver was awesome! He quickly learned we were a very enthusiastic group, and he played American music while we cheered him on to race against the other Jeeps. We then watched the sunset which was incredible before driving the rest of the way to camp. The tents were enormous, with all of the girls sleeping in one tent and all of the guys sleeping in another. Our beds were mattresses with sheets on them and then a really thick blanket on top, because the desert was frigid cold at night. That night we were able to stargaze, and I will never forget how incredible the view was. Everywhere you looked you could see stars, I saw about 10 shooting stars, and you could even see the Milky Way.

Our awesome Jeep driver

desert sunrise

       The next morning, we were woken up so we could watch the sunrise over the sand dunes, and while we were watching the sunrise, our camels began to arrive. All 90 of us hopped on camels and then rode to an enormous sand dune, which we then had to climb. The view was amazing from the top, and before I knew what was happening, one of the local children had grabbed me by my ankles and pulled me down the dune! It was basically sledding without the sled and it was awesome! We then returned to the camp for lunch and many of the boys from the trip played soccer against the local boys while the girls got hennas. That night we were able to watch the stars again while some of the locals played the drums and guitar around us.

       Then at last it was time to leave the desert and head to Meknes, another 7 hour drive away. But this drive seemed so much longer because everyone was dying to shower off the thin layer of sand that coated each one of us. I have to admit, that was the best shower I have ever had in my life. Unfortunately, as I'm writing this 5 days later, I have learned you can wash the sand off your body, but you can't get the sand out of your shoes.

       The next morning we left Meknes and flew home to Madrid (it still feels strange to be calling Madrid home now) and we all took the long metro ride back to our host families. It was a phenomenal trip, probably one of the best I have ever been on, and I do hope to maybe go back some day.

Safety First!

       As I have spent more time here, I have watched my friends have a plethora of things stolen from them; backpacks, phones, wallets, cash, the horrible list goes on and on. I have been fortunate enough to have kept all my belongings, and I have learned how to be proactive after I have heard my friends as to how to protect my stuff.

       The place where the most stuff has gotten stolen is the clubs. My first night I went, I had taken a purse, and I spent the whole night clutching it in fear. NEVER dance with your drink. Drinks get spiked often in clubs because the more drunk you are, the easier it is to rob you. Ladies this tip goes out to you: take only a phone, some cash in your phone case, and your keys to a club. Take as little as you possibly can, and for safekeeping use your bra as your purse. Many girls have had phones stolen right out of their hands, so put it somewhere where you will notice if someone tries to take it. Gentlemen, your front pocket is your best friend. Everyone thinks they could feel wallet being slipped out of their back pocket but these people have years of practice. Front pockets you are more aware of, and it's always better safe than sorry.

       On the metro, or other forms of public transportation, keep your backpack firmly between your legs and lightly hold on to your purse if you are wearing one while slinging the strap across your chest if possible. Don't cling to your bag as if your life depends on it, that makes you a noticible target. Just simply observe how other women are holding their purse, because all women subtly hold them.

       In restaurants, DO NOT hang your purse of the back of your chair or casually leave it on the floor, and the same goes for backpacks. Either leave it in your lap or put it on the floor between your feet.

      The bottom line, take only what you need, especially when going out at night. Do not dance with your drink, drink it at the bar and then go have fun. Bras and front pockets are best places to hide your stuff, and when out and about casually hold on to the strap of purses. Make sure some part of you is touching your bag at all times, and you'll be fine! Be smart, be proactive, and leave as many valuables as you can at home.

The Art of Procrastination: Study Abroad Style

       The key to being a successful study abroad student is to be a part-time student, part-time tourist. To successfully procrastinate, you have to put away Netflix (which doesn't even work here) put down your phone and go explore. The best thing to do is on Sunday google sightseeing things that you can do in the city you are studying in, and try and set a goal for each day as to what you want to see.

       For example my procrastination has taken me to the Royal Palace in Madrid, the Royal Cathedral, Retiro Park, the naval museum, an egyptian temple, a sky trolley over the city, and to an art museum. And the more research I do, the more museums I find exist here. My program was also very helpful with letting me know what museums are free on certain days, and you can go virtually anywhere and get a discount if you have a student ID.

       Weekends, procrastination becomes even easier because you can plan day trips to cities in the country you're staying in, you can travel to other countries, or you can stay and enjoy your cities night life. As you all know from reading my previous blogs, so far I have been to France and Portugal, and I have trips planned for Amsterdam, Italy, and Poland before the end of the semester. As far as sightseeing in Spain, I have been to most of the touristy cities on my previous trips here. This trip I returned to Toledo and I took a medieval train to Siguenza so far. The price of my program also includes several weekend trips to cities in Spain, and it also includes a trip next weekend to Morocco for five days! I can't wait to write about my adventures riding camels, camping in the desert, and exploring Moroccan markets in one of my future blogs!

       Yes I know, I´m horrible for telling you to procrastinate, but I mean procrastinate for the afternoon. Homework, in Spain at least, has a large influence on grades. So go out and enjoy the afternoon, but be prepared to get done all the work you have been assigned after the sun goes down. Every city has its own hidden gems, you just have to look up from your phone apps and take part in the culture because, as I´ve heard hundreds of times now, the opportunity to study abroad is a once in a lifetime experience.