Paris time.

Due to bad internet connection and busy long days, finding the opportunity and drive to blog was difficult. But as I write, I am currently in the air flying to Athens! Pre-travel is already over and the program actually starts tonight, my how the time flies!

To bring our trip to a close, we finished up in Paris. Definitely another amazing experience. We got in on Friday morning and got right into things. We started by having lunch at a local French café and then found our way to Notre Dame. This church is absolutely beautiful. I later learned on Saturday that it actually didn’t start out as a Christian church, rather it was a place for kings and French royalty. The structure is truly gorgeous and definitely a unique gothic style. Being that it was stormy and rainy on Friday, it looked quite mysterious and dark (making it all the more amazing, I thought). After taking some pictures and just exploring the area, we decided to head to the Louvre museum. It really is as beautiful as it seems. The amount of art is overwhelming and one could literally spend days and days learning. I saw some exquisite pieces, and yes, even the Monna Lisa. I’m not sure really where all this hype came from; it’s very small and well, boring, compared to all the other works of art. But hey, I saw it!

After we spent a few hours in the museum, we ate a simple dinner at a local café. As for food goes, France is one up on Spain. France specializes in breads, sandwiches, paninis, and my favorite, desserts J. In Spain, seafood was one of the most common cuisines and that is something I have no interest in. Ick! In France, I had the best crepe I’ve ever tasted. For those of you who are like, “what’s a crepe??” I will inform you. It’s like a thin (giant) pancake folded together with anything from meats to desserts inside. Being the dessert girl I am, I had nutella and whipped cream put inside. Ooooh, deliciousness. Definitely try one; they’re everywhere, cheap, and just plain amazing. Aside from that, I also enjoyed my ice cream too J.

Sacred Heart Basilica.

Throughout the rest of our weekend, we toured the city through NewEurope tours, went to mass at Notre Dame (Aah, so good!), shopped the local streets, made the climb to the Sacred Heart Basilica (where we met other Bennies and Johnnies!), and yes, went up the Eiffel tower. Our tour was a really great learning experience and I could share a million different little stories, but I won’t bore you with those. I did though see some previous movie sets (Devil Wears Prada and Bourne Identity) and who doesn’t like those?!

 Mass at Notre Dame was definitely a highlight. It was difficult; being that it was in French, but luckily the readings were printed also in English so I got to somewhat follow along. Romans 12 and Matthew 16 especially had an impact on me. These particular readings always grab my heart and remind me of what Christ has done for me. In return, we too are to take up our cross and walk with Christ, leaving our worldly desires behind and focusing on an eternal perspective. I have found that this gives my life so much more meaning and purpose. This study abroad experience is not just merely about being in another country, but it’s also about seeing how Christ can work in me, help me grow, and use me for His purpose. One can really take a lot from church, even if it is in French J.

And to close on our last day, we made our way to Eiffel tower. Yes, it really is everything it’s made up to be. We made our way all the way to the top and the view of the city was simply breathtaking. We just gazed out into the city for a long time and then made our way down 43 stories of stairs. That was just fantastic lol. But later that night, we made our way back to see the Eiffel tower all lit up, and sparkle of course. On the hour every hour, the tower sparkles for about 5 minutes. A little fun fact for you, every time this happens, the artist gets paid in his name, because it is considered his work of art on display. Hello money! But there truly is nothing like seeing it sparkle. Maybe it was at this point that it truly hit me that I was in Europe, experiencing all the things I’ve dreamed of experiencing.

Yes, it is that beautiful. 

The girls!

It’s hard to believe that I’m going to be here for so long, and sometimes I have mixed emotions, but overall, I do know that I am supposed to be here. I am relying on God and His work in me while I am here and I know that I will learn so much and just grow in who I am. Please keep me in your prayers while I begin the actual program! I am really looking forward to having a permanent base for a while and being able to unpack and getting comfortable in one place. Not to mention the classes and finally being with the rest of the group! A lot is on the way so yes, please keep me in your prayers.

Missing you all & sending my love from Europe!

God bless.

Bonjour, France!

Nice, France is absolutely amazing.

Yesterday was our full day here & we had such an incredible day! We slept in, which was definitely needed, ate a quick brunch and then made our way to the beach for the afternoon. The beach was, in my book, a bit better than the one in Barcelona. The view was gorgeous, but the beach was also pebbles/rocks instead of sand and I actually really liked that. Plus, a little less nudity, which was rather nice. The water was much cooler, but I loved it. We saw many people parasailing as well and I can’t wait to do that. I will definitely be doing so in Greece!

There is something about beaches. Whenever I’m at one, I can’t help but feel overwhelmed with peace and in great awe of God’s creation. It truly is so beautiful here. It’s amazing to think there are places like this here on earth, but in reality, it won’t even compare to heaven’s beauty. The architecture, the colors, the landscapes; they are all so unique, and even though I sometimes wish I could live in a place like this, I also find myself thankful that I have places like this to visit. If I lived here, it would become all too familiar. Rather, I can be extremely thankful and always find something new in these creative cultures.

After our time at the beach, we went and climbed a mountain (yeaaa.. I can’t remember the name) and when we reached the top, there was a beautiful waterfall, even though it was man-made, and the view of the entire city. We could see the coastline, the mountains, and all of the buildings spreading across the city. Besides that, there was a very big park that many people played different games at. We played Frisbee for a while and also shared in great conversation. I couldn’t help but feel God’s presence in this simplicity.

The view of Nice. 

Obsessed.

When we made our way down, we found a local café to eat dinner at. We ate outside in the small streets of France and it was so much fun. We could hear music being played throughout the streets as well. If I had a picture of what France would be like in my head that was it. We all ate an entire pizza to ourselves, and yes I did finish mine. I was quite impressed with myself J. It was so delicious. After that, as we made our way back to our hotel, we came across an open square where tons of people were line dancing. We stopped to watch for a while and the dancing was so incredible! On a Tuesday night, hundreds of people were just gathered to dance and have a good time. It all looked so pure, there were no ulterior motives and people were just there for a good time. Laura and I tried to join in, but as soon as we did, the music faded and couples began to dance. Not really our place haha.

Love these streets!

After an awesome day, we all came back and just relaxed for the evening. Today, we are off to Monaco for the day! I’m excited for this and then tomorrow we are off to Lyon! I’ll write again soon.

God bless & prayers to you all!

Embrace Differences.

 As I write, I’m traveling by train to Nice, France. It has been a long day thus far, being that this day is dedicated to travel. We left early this morning from Barcelona and have had to hop trains three times today in order to get to Nice. I’ve been in and out of sleep for the majority of the way so I can’t really complain J

To back track a bit, our time in Barcelona was really incredible. In comparison to Madrid, it was definitely less crowded and many more people spoke English. Everything seemed more spacious and I overall thought it was more beautiful. Regardless, I am very happy to have experienced both. It has shown me two very different sides of Europe and I can really only be thankful for that.

On Saturday, we took the metro to the Sagrada Familia, which is a Catholic church that is still in the process of being built. With really no idea what to expect, I was blown away when we arrived at the church. It is going to be the tallest Christian church in the world and when started in 1882, it was estimated to take 200 years to build. I have never seen a building so beautiful before. As you can see from my pictures, it is exquisite in its architecture. On one side, the death of Jesus is portrayed on the outside, and the other is the birth of Jesus. The other two sides, which will be dedicated to Mary and the glory of Jesus, are not finished yet. I was captivated by the images of Jesus’ death. It is meant to tell a story, with images like the betraying kiss, Jesus falling, and His crucifixion. Right in the center, there is the image of His face upon a cloth that the woman wiped upon Him. This cloth is called “Veronica”, which has nothing to do with the name of the woman, but the word itself means the “Face of Truth”. This was so amazing to me. Plus this was only the outside! The inside was just as incredible, if not more. My pictures cannot even give it justice. To just touch on one of my favorite things, above the alter, there is the crucifixion of Jesus underneath an umbrella like structure. Around the umbrella, is wine and wheat, representing the blood and life. It was a very beautiful structure. I could write and write about this experience, but it’s really something someone has to see. I hope to go back, for it is to be finished in hopefully 20 years.

So beautiful.

The inside!

The facade of the birth of Jesus

Beyond that, our weekend in Barcelona was spent doing all kinds of things. We wandered through a park that looks out over the city of Barcelona and we were able to see the ocean.

Despite the heat, it was a wonderful afternoon just exploring the city. On Sunday, we went to a Spanish mass in the Cathedral of Barcelona (couldn’t understand a thing), then the beach, had some ice cream at a suggested gelato place (favorite place thus far- SO GOOD) and then walked one of the more famous streets in Barcelona to Hard Rock Café for a late dinner. The majority of our walk was along the boardwalk and everywhere you looked one could see palm trees, the ocean, or sailboats. Aaaah everything was so beautiful!

The beach though.. oh gosh, what an experience! What up topless women and lots of speedos! Culture shock all over again. Let’s just say I’m glad we don’t do this in America. It challenges my views in that we value our bodies by covering them, whereas they do so by being free in them. But overall, I don’t think this is something I’ll ever really be comfortable with. I guess that’s just something Europeans and Americans see differently. Which is good I think. After a delicious American meal at Hard Rock (I can’t help but love American food!), we made our way back to our apartment to call it a night.

I’m learning so many things each day and I feel like so much has happened in only a week’s time. I wish I could express all of these things, but it’s so much just for me to take in! Nice, the next part of our journey, is meant for some relaxation and beach time, which I am looking forward to. Know that I am always thinking of those of you back home and praying for you always. I know God has so much more to reveal and show me and that I am excited for. I will write again soon, until then, bonjour! J

God bless,

Jen

Adventure is everywhere.

I already love Barcelona.

This morning we left Madrid and experienced our first train ride. Awesome? Yes. The train we rode was so comfortable, quiet & not to mention, full of great scenery along the way. By 3, we were in Barcelona and I was just excited to see grass and have more room. Our apartment is great, smells a bit funky, but overall really great. Plus the view is awesome (pictures to come soon, I promise).

Before we knew it, it was dinnertime and we went to a supermarket just down the street. While dinner was being prepared, we had a really great conversation that definitely brought our group closer. It’s amazing really, how well I feel like I know these people already. Conversation comes so easy and everyone is eager to open up and share their lives, thoughts, and beliefs on different things. We are all quite different so our conversation is so stimulating and I learn so much from them. I feel like I’m already growing in perspective. After all this greatness, we decided to head down to the magical fountain show. One word: breathtaking. It runs continually from 9-11 and all different kinds of music is played while this beautiful fountain presents an incredible show of different patterns, colors, and designs. It was more than that though. During this show, I felt relaxed. I felt like wow, I am IN Europe. I am living here for four months and I get to surround myself with this beauty, adventure, and culture. I was overwhelmed by this opportunity & thanks to God for all that is before me.

So the overall lesson of the day. Hmm.. ya know, there is so much I could say, so much I have already learned, but what I think has really been sticking out to me this week is the beauty of difference. I am in complete of God’s uniqueness. There is no two people the same and these different walks of lives are just plain fascinating. These differences are what cause us to grow, to challenge ourselves, and to look beyond our own lives. I am so thankful for being pushed outside of my comfort zone, even if it doesn’t seem that great at the time. I guess overall I’m saying- I’m learning to embrace me. I’m made uniquely for a purpose and I am no better than anyone else. Embrace change and difference, because really, we all have so much to offer. 

Oh hey, culture shock.

I'm in Europe. Yes, I'm aaactually here.

Nothing seems quite real yet & it seems as though I'll be going home in a short while. There is so much to get use to! So we'll start at the beginning, relatively.

After a long flight, we arrived in Madrid around 8 in the morning and found our way around the metro (not the easiest that early and when you speak very minimal Spanish). But by 10:30, we had found our apartment and were able to get in by 1. It's awesome, to put it simply. We all fit comfortably and just have a really nice space to call home for a few days. We just explored the city yesterday and tried some delicious helado (icecream). Madrid is truly a fascinating place. My immediate reaction? I feel small. First of all, they start their days around 10 or 11 and the night life is quite the sight. So few speak English, and that really surprised me. We've run into quite a few confusing conversations to say the least.

Anyway, last night we enjoyed a night in (due to our extreme exhaustion from jet leg) and made some spaghetti & just had fun getting to know each other! Now today, hooolly crap. What a long day. I'm pretty sure we walked for at least 10 hours. It is currently World Youth Day in Madrid and there are people EVERYWHERE.. from everywhere. We took a walking tour this morning and learned so much about Madrid's history. It was all very fascinating & our tour guide was quite the guy. Though from Israel, he talked as if he walked right out of an Austin Powers' movie. Truly groovy, baby.

Beyond that, we went to an authentic Spanish restaurant for lunch and that was definitely an experience. A few tried some seafood dishes and I actually tasted octopus!! It didn't have much taste (I took a small bite, mind you) but hey, at least I can say I did it! Following that, we decided to try and see if we could catch a glimpse of the Pope. Hahaahaa. Yeaaaa right. There were so so so many people. Though it was awesome to see that many Christians gathered in one place, I felt as if the Pope was what was worshipped, rather than Jesus. That kind of crowd is definitely something I have no desire to experience again, but the passion for Jesus was definitely felt. After that, we toured a museum for a short while & then enjoyed some churros that our tour guide from earlier had suggested!

Now I am back in our apartment and quite honestly, feeling overwhelmed by this journey so far. I can't quite wrap my head around everything and it already has stimulated so many questions and thoughts. Some to share with you:

1. Language barriers: tricky. It's crazy to see this life, and yet not understand how they speak and work everyday. To see all of these walks of life is such an experience, I can hardly explain it. I appreciate these differences, but it is hard to see how different my life is. It really opens your eyes as to what is outside of you.
2. Spain is dirty. And really only has two smells: smoke & BO. Mixed. Yummy, I know.
3. You are where you grow up, for the most part. I already appreciate space, less populated areas, and the simple pleasures of clean air. Culture shock really does happen folks.
4. My group is great. We have stimulating conversation and getting along comes so easily.
5. Naps are indeed popular over here. It's like the city shuts down for a few hours in the afternoon.

That's all for now. I'm really tired & thinking deeply is not really happening for me so I'll write again soon! Off to Barcelona tomorrow & I am quite excited for this.

Love to everyone & please keep us in your prayers!
Oh, and please update me on your lives. Missing everyone greatly.

Godbless.