A Sweetly Different Kind of Birthday

Yesterday was my 21st birthday! If you'd asked me on my 20th birthday what I expected to do on my 21st birthday I never would've thought to reply celebrate with new friends in Spain. Two days before I left for my trip I was so blessed to have a fabulous birthday party with friends and family in Columbia, and so I felt as if my birthday had already come and gone before the actual day. However, yesterday was full of sweet little surprises in the way people here in Salamanca went out of their way to make me feel special! In my 9 a.m. grammar class, my professor left to make copies and asked my friend Irina to help her and then they both came back singing happy birthday and holding a little pastry with a candle stuck in it! So precious!





What are real birthdays without trick candles though? After I blew out the candle and absent-mindedly laid it on the table I was surprised/horrified/so confused to see the worksheet our fiesta had interrupted suddenly become engulfed in flames! Well, at least a small burning hole was rapidly expanding! Thankfully Ola had the presence of mind to grab her folder and beat out the fire before it burned down the table...what a fail ending that would've been to such a nicely-intended, peaceful fiesta. Besides charring a corner of my pastry, giving it a pleasant toasted marshmellow flavor, no damage was done. :) Lots of laughter of course!



The birthday celebration continued at lunchtime, when Isabel and Maria were so adorable to shower me with "Feliz Cumpleanos" and wishes thay I'd have many more and also coming up to me to pull on both my earlobes and counting my years with a double tug when they got to 21--a Spanish birthday tradition, I guess kind of like our birthday spankings? After lunch they surprised me with a delicious birthday "torta" complete with a 21 candle! Pictures are below--unfortunately the one of me with Matt and Marcel is rather dark; and then the third one is Isabel on the left and Maria (I'm thinking that's a birthday hurrah). :)







The day of little fiestas finished with a lovely evening of going out for tapas with friends. It was the first time I've tried this Spanish tradition, but I am a big fan! It was so fun crowding around a little table and ordering a bunch of appetizers for all of us to share. My favorite part about it was that we were such a diverse group of different nationalities--Zeneide and her husband Francisco from Brasil; Erin and I from the U.S.; Irina, Ola, Frederique, and Gabrielle from Canada (with Fred and Gabrielle's native language being French); and Fernando (or Ferdinand) from Germany--and yet we were all able to sit around and enjoy each other's company chatting in Spanish! The first photo shows the ecclectic birthday party group (from L to R): Francisco and his wife Zeneide from Brasil, Ferdinand, Irina, Erin (in the back), me, Frederique, Gabrielle (also in the back), and Ola.

A Saturday in Madrid

As I mentioned, it didn't take my roommate Erin and I long to realize how little time we really had in Spain....so little time and so many places to see while we're in Europe! We spent a lot of time on our computers after classes last week researching cheap flights and bus trips to relatively nearby destination spots. For this past Saturday we bought train tickets to take a daytrip into Madrid with three of our new friends from Canada (Irina, Ola, and Gabrielle). We got up early Saturday morning and walked to the station to get on a train that left Salamanca at 7:50. We arrived into the city around 10:30 and were greeted with a rainy, cold Madrid. We kept high hopes of it clearing up later in the day, though, and Ola helped us all keep sunny attitudes by pointing out that this would be a perfect excuse for us all to buy pretty umbrellas.





We were very pleased with how easy it was to navigate the Madrid metro and found our way to our first stop, the Royal Palace, in no time. Never have I seen such an ornate display of wealth! Each room was so detailed and unique. My favorite part were the gorgeous frescoes painted on the ceilings. We tried to sneak photos but every time I pulled out my camera a guard would happen to pop up at my elbow so I gave up trying after a while. Although I did get this one of one of the main halls:




Que fantástico, no?

After el Palacio, we hit up two museums: first la Reina Sofia (contemporary art), where we saw works by Picasso and Dalí, most notably La Guernica (which honestly I'd never heard of but apparently it was a mural commissioned by the Spanish republican government during the Spanish civil war--see third photo down); then the Prado, which was overwhelming but so worth it! The design of the museum was so confusing...we walked around in circles and probably spent double the amount of time we meant to in there, but we were determined not to leave until we all the most famous paintings there by de Goya, Velasquez, and El Greco.









Needless to say, after those three sites we were exhausted, but so proud of ourselves for being so efficient with our time in Madrid, with time to spare for finding dinner and doing a little shopping. For dinner we went to El Museo de Jamon (literally, "the Museum of Ham: what?? See the first photo down) which was a crazy experience--it was so crowded we had to push our way to the bar and order our food and then just keep our ground and scarf down the meal as quickly as we could because we felt bad about taking up precious space. I really enjoyed la Plaza Mayor of Madrid, through which we walked around some as well! There was SO much going on...it reminded me of some of the random spectacles you would see in NYC's Time Square. The giant bubbles were super fun! The headless man was a little disturbing.











All in all it was a perfect day with a great group of girls! We arrived back in Salamanca around midnight...Madrid: check!

(left to right: Ola, Irina, Erin, Gabrielle, and me!)

La Café de España

I feel like the coffee in Spain is worthy of some discussion. What I love about the coffee here is that it is STRONG. For a girl who enjoys a robust, bold cup of joe rather than the wimpy watery kind that at the smallest drop of cream is immediately cooled off and dilluted of what little flavor it already had, the Spanish coffee is perfect. HOWEVER where it supersedes typical American coffee in its intensity of flavor, it is sadly lacking in size. I know, I know--Americans want everything super-sized. A Starbucks "tall" is too large to really be considered a "small." BUT if you order a café con leche here, it is at least three times smaller than a Starbucks tall. Half the size would be understandable. But if I can only enjoy my cup of coffee for a few small sips, there is a problem. Perhaps this points to a cultural difference between Spain and the United States in the purpose of coffee? I don't know...in the meantime, I shall continue to enjoy the strength of the coffee and perhaps will get used to the smaller portions. :)

Viva la Salamanca!

Hello all! It's been a while since I've blogged...so I suppose now this will become like the summer travels of Rebecca Kneisley blog. I am now at the end of my fourth day of my month in Spain! The days pass by SO quickly here! Ihad an overnight flight that left from Atlanta Saturday evening and arrived at the Madrid airport early Sunday morning. Our dear new friends the Humes who are missionaries in Madrid were so gracious to pick me up from the airport and let me spend the rest of the day with them on Sunday and sent me on my way to Salamanca Monday afternoon. The Humes invited me to go to church with them which, even though I wasn't sure how long I'd be able to last that morning, I was really excited about! And that ended up being my favorite part of my trip so far! Their church is a precious little Spanish Baptist church with much of the congregation comprised of American missionaries. The pastor who spoke was actually visiting from London, so they had someone translating his message into Spanish for most of the congregation and I didn't end up having to use one of the translating headsets they normally offer visitors. It was so exciting to be able to understand the Spanish prayers and worship songs...what a fantastic way to have my first immersion into Spain! The rest of Sunday afternoon was a wonderful day of rest with the Humes family...spaghetti lunch (which was delicious at the time but I should've appreciated it more...I already miss my American food!), then a MUCH needed nap, a walking tour around the town with Mr. Humes and their son Ethan, and finishing the day with an old Frank Capra movie (this family is SO like mine!). And it was a definite blessing to have such a restful day to prepare me for what turned out to be a rather hectic travelling day on Monday from Madrid to Salamanca! Who would've known it would be such an ordeal to get from one city to another that's only three hours away? It took me what seemed like forever at the Madrid airport to figure out how to get a bus to Salamanca! After a couple of VERY unhelpful Spaniards working at the little information desks (I think as soon as they heard my accent and I started stumbling over my words they stopped listening), and after dragging my luggage at least 3 times across what seemed the entire airport (I fluctuated between having drama queen pity party moments and being pleased that I was having one of those terrible transportation problems in Europe that I feel like everyone has to experience at least once in a lifetime), I finally made it to the metro station which got me to the bus station 30 minutes later and I was finally in a bus on my way to Salamanca at 3:30 (which is when I was originally supposed to be arriving). The ride to Salamanca, however, completely erased all the stress of the three hours before! Breathtaking views of the Spanish countryside--wide open fields sprinkled with vivid yellow and red flowers interrupted by the occasional rambling little stone wall...and BIG BLUE sky! That's one thing that I have loved about Spain...the sky has been a beautiful clear blue every day so far! When I arrived in Salamanca my program director Maria met me at the bus station and took me to my host home, where I met my host mother (an elderly woman in her 70s named Isabel) right away informed me that she was about to go meet some of her friends and wanted me to come with her! Next thing I knew I was in a taxi with her and her daughter on our way to a restaurant where we were greeted with a large table of her loud elderly Spaniard friends. That was my second favorite immersion experience, and so much different from the Spanish Baptist church experience! The Spaniards periodically would start banging on the table with their hands and heartily singing what Isabel told me were university songs. Then these old men from another table would turn around and join in too and it was just one big happy fiesta. :) Since this is dragging on to be super long (sorry I'm so bad at being concise!), I'll sum up Tuesday and today with a few highlights:
1) I started classes yesterday and love them so far--they're just at the right level for me to be challenged while not overwhelmed. I'm taking Grammar, Conversation and Composition, and Spanish Culture. My grammar professor is my favorite--her name is Andrea and she is HILARIOUS--and so full of energy and really stylish too...I want to find out where she gets her clothes!
2) My favorite spot in Salamanca so far is the Plaza Mayor (see pic below)! The architecture is phenomenal and there are so many fun cafes with tables set up outside--perfect place for an afternoon cafe con leche! My roommate Erin and I strolled through the plaza today with a couple new Canadian friends who are in our classes and got helado (icecream!).
3) Travel in Europe is so cheap! We are sad we only have three weekends to make little excursions. This weekend we're planning a daytrip to Madrid...there will definitely be photos!

Please keep me in your prayers. I know many of you have been praying for me and I am so amazed and thankful for how the Lord has so graciously answered so many prayers! Some particular ones that He's answered so far were for safe travels, my luggage arriving fine, getting along well with my roommate, and adjusting well to my classes! He is good, and He is in Spain!

Photos: My friend Mateo entertaining us with some of his jazz piano skills at a cafe in la Plaza Mayor; la Plaza Mayor; me with my wonderful new friends Mrs. Humes and Adrianna

The Kneisleys escape for a weekend to the mountains of Franklin, NC

The weekend before I left for NYC, our family packed up and headed for the hills on a little getaway to the sweet, humble mountain town of Franklin, NC. It was a low-key few days spent relaxing in the cabin, hiking, toodling around in antique shops (Franklin has the BEST antique shops I've ever been to, by the way, and I've been to quite a few!),and heading into the town square for live bluegrass music (with a performance by some cloggers! Our rustic mountain town experience was complete!) Little family trips like this one are one of my favorite things EVER. :) Something I really appreciate about my parents is how they have always been consistent throughout the years in making time for fun little family getaways to random, creative places!

This is a ring I saw in one of the antique stores and I want it!



The first day we went on a hike. Very short and sweet--just about an hour roundtrip to see a waterfall. That, by the way, is my idea of the best kind of hike:







In the cabin, we played speed scrabble, watched the World Cup England vs. U.S. game, and just enjoyed relaxing.




More photos from our antiquing expeditions:






That's all for now! Right now I'm sipping some delightful fresh-sqeezed limeade, contemplating whether or not to dive back into my Russian History book. I'm having a TOUGH time making myself get back into the homework-mode. Hence, my attempt to make it better by fixing myself a glass of limeade. :)

The end of the New York City series...

Hello all!

Summer has officially ended and I have now hurdled full force into my junior year at USC--thus my blog silence these past 20 days. But I'd like to put the final seal on my series of blogs on my Summer Project in New York City (which now seems SO long ago!)before I move on, by sharing with you my follow-up letter that I sent to the family and friends who supported me prayerfully and financially.



I cannot thank you enough for all your prayers and support for my Summer Project to New York City. It was evident that the Lord heard all the prayers as He blessed our trip in ways beyond our expectations. As one of our project directors reminded us at the beginning of the trip, NYC is not a place isolated from God; rather, God is very active in NYC, and we indeed saw Him come alongside us throughout the five weeks we were there. I would love to share with you some of the ways I witnessed the Lord work through me and the rest of our team, as well as how He worked in me.
As I wrote in my first letter to you, our main focus was ministry on college campuses. We were divided up into ministry teams to reach a total of twelve college campuses throughout the New York City metro area for the summer. Each ministry team was assigned a “home base” campus on which to focus most of our time and effort. After a week of training in evangelism, we were sent out on campus to conduct “decoding” surveys, gathering information relating to the student life and demographics of the campus to give to the NYC Campus Crusade staff in order to help them determine where and how to launch future campus ministries. Because there are so few staff in the NYC metro area, and so many colleges around the city, our team was able to cover ground in five weeks that would have taken the staff more than a year to accomplish. The remaining three weeks of the project were more evangelistic-focused, as we spent our time on campus approaching students, talking to them about life and spirituality, and taking opportunities to share our faith with them. It was fascinating to me to talk to students from such a wide range of ethnic and religious backgrounds—in fact, most of the students with whom I conversed were not originally from the United States. I was able to see that the world really is represented in New York City. We talked to students from China, the Dominican Republic, Pakistan, and India, among others. Yet, despite the variety of cultures I encountered, it was amazing to see each person with whom I conversed express a common thirst for meaning and purpose in life. Our team as a whole saw seven people accept Christ as their Savior for the first time, and I was blessed to be a part of two conversations leading students to Christ. Yamila and Max are the names of my new sister and brother in Christ, and I look forward to seeing them in heaven one day. The NYC Crusade staff will be able to follow up with the new believers, to encourage their growth and help them get involved with a fellowship of other believers. In addition, many of us developed friendships with NYC students who have invited us into their lives, with whom we hope to keep in touch and continue to point to the Gospel.
Just as I saw the Lord use me and the rest of the Summer Project team to work in the lives and hearts of NYC college students, I am humbled and thankful for the way I saw Him accomplish His purpose for my own growth while in the city. Where to start? Let’s try the beauty of the Gospel. Every time I shared the Gospel with a student for the first time, the more real and awesome its truth became to me, as someone who has struggled with feeling indifferent rather than awed by the Gospel since I have grown up so used to hearing it again and again in home and at church. Through the process of inviting others to give their lives over to Christ, as well as receiving His truth and love through Bible study, discipleship meetings, and teaching sessions, the Lord placed on my heart a deeper realization of His loving character and what it truly means to live a life surrendered to His grace. The Lord used this summer to prepare me for the ministry He intends for me on my own campus, the University of South Carolina, as I use the teaching and training I have received to lead a freshman girls Bible study this upcoming year, as well as share His love with other students I encounter on campus.
Please continue to partner with me in prayer for New York City. There is such a need there for believers to sow seeds for the Kingdom. The Campus Crusade staff in the NYC metro area are pouring into the lives of future shapers of the world who come to the city for college: future engineers, diplomats, fashion designers, scientists, and journalists. Pray that the Lord would continue to put it on Christians’ hearts to go to New York City. Praise God for the work He is already doing there and for the encouraging community of strong believers I saw in the city at the various churches I was able to visit! Please pray for the students who invited Jesus into their hearts and lives for the first time this summer. Pray that they would seek to learn more about God’s character and purpose for their lives through His Word and fellowship with other Christians. Pray for those with whom we had spiritual conversations but have not yet given their lives over to Christ, that the Lord would place other believers in their lives to point them to Jesus.
Again, thank you for the way you have contributed to the Lord’s work in New York City! May He bless the rest of your and your family’s summer.

Little Glimpses of New York City Charm, Part II