I'll spread my wings and learn how to fly.

Well here I am writing the beginning of my next post in the middle of a sidewalk in a town I don't even know the name of (I will explain the fun details later).

This weekend I decided to venture to the south of Spain to see the city of Granada. I am a huge history nerd (I mean hello future teacher here), and seeing the Alhambra and the art influence the Muslims had on the palace completely excited me. Not to mention... this was the palace that Christopher Columbus was commissioned by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand to sail and make some amazing discoveries. Okay. I will stop. You get the point.

But of course me being the way that I am I had to step the "epicness" of my trip up a notch. I booked a paragliding trip in Granada over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Why you may ask? Well, I already went skydiving for my 20th, bungee jumping for my 21st, so why not paragliding in Spain for my 22nd (Happy early Birthday to ME).

 

 

Although, it's not really the paragliding itself that made this experience so memorable, but rather getting to my destination. You see in my short 21 (Almost 22) years of my life I have learned that it's all about the climb--yes thank you for that Miley Cyrus. And in the climb, there are a million stories that make for an entertaining blog. And like many of you, I am full of crazy stupid adventures worth sharing. Many of mine just happen to take place while I am abroad.

 

So here I am sitting in the middle of a sidewalk, and through a series of unfortunate events I am debating whether I am going to cry or laugh.

 

 

 

1) I have no idea where I am

2) The bus driver, after showing her the address of where I was headed, dropped me off at the wrong stop.

3) No one speaks ANY English

4) My phone is dead, but who could I call anyways?

5) Once I found the paragliding office I discovered...No one is at the office

6) It's getting dark outside

7) I am sitting next to a staircase that has the words rape and kill in graffiti on it (This better not be foreshadowing).

 

 

Well clearly, this was not foreshadowing. After an hour of sitting and thinking what the hell am I doing just sitting here I began walking to find a bus. And go figure, the paragliding duo pulled up in their car right as I made up my mind on leaving. They both yelled after me "Rebecca.."!-- And of course they knew it was me because clearly I was the only person on the street who didn't look Spanish.

 

When we got to the top of the Mountains where we could over look the city (That I still don't know the name of) and Granada, I was in awe. And in that moment I felt free of any worry and stress. I was able to sit back and enjoy the view, and be thankful that I was here in this moment. Because nothing else mattered right now

 

 

When the paragliding adventure began I ran towards the edge of the cliff to jump and fly away. I couldn't help but feel so at ease. Here I am in this beautiful moment flying like a bird. This meant so much to me metaphorically because I was learning how to spread my wings and fly in this moment and in my personal life as well. Embracing this journey of self discovery, and becoming a brave, independent, and strong woman. So all of the fear I experienced today was worth this moment of soaring into the sunset.

 

 

When my instructor and I reached the ground we shared our excitement for soaring over the mountains, and  after I proceeded to ask him about how I was supposed to get back to my hotel. Should I take a Taxi? I don't want another bad bus experience, you know? I even asked... Would you wait with me until my bus comes?

 

He looked at me with a smile on his face and said:

 

"Rebecca, do not worry for you are a strong and brave young woman. You can do anything, and you will make it back just fine. You are smart, you just need to believe in yourself. You will take the bus".

 

Little does he know, those words will have an impact on my life forever. 

 

And guess what this girl did?

She took the bus. 

 

 

 



 



It's all a part of the Journey

When buying my airfare for my summer adventure in Spain I was ready for my total to be almost $2,000 dollars. Airfare to Europe is beyond crazy, but when I came across a deal through cheapairfare.com I couldn't help but jump on the amazing ticket option. $1,200 dollars for a round-trip to Spain with only 1 stop in Amsterdam!

Getting from Portland PDX to anything international is AMAZING. So of course, I bought the ticket right away. My only thought in the back of my head was.. oh no.. Amsterdam Schiphol... not again.

 

You're probably wondering what's wrong with Amsterdam Schiphol? It's not that I don't absolutely LOVE Deutschland (Because I do!) but when I last left this airport I swore up and down I would never be coming back. When I first went to Europe in 2011 with my best friends Ashley and Ariel we took the Chunnel from London to Brussels, and then a train from Brussels to Amsterdam.

 

 

See from the picture above it all looks like fun and games, well that's how it started. It didn't end that way. Let me give you a little background on us individually:

 

Ashley (crazy face in front): She is on her toes at all times and is pretty much the leader.

Ariel (only blonde in the picture): She is a hot mess (bless her heart) She freaks out a lot (But now she has gotten a lot better, and to give her a break it was our first time out of the country alone).

And Me: I am a laid back and go with the flow kind of traveler

 

So our tactics are much different, making us a fun bunch. Minus this particular night we had many stressful mishaps. Beginning with the fact that the lovely twins packed too much, and who had to carry most of it while panic attacks were happening.. ME. So, with several bags we ran from each place to place (I only had one of my own.. and some of their things). When we finally were on our last part of the trip Ariel screamed it's time to get off this is our stop! So.. we got up quickly, as we argued back and forth, "I don't think this is right".. but she insisted it was. So we got off.

 

Surprise, surprise we got off one stop early instead of Amsterdam Central where our friend Marina was going to meet us we got off at Amsterdam Schiphol. There is mistake #1, but many more to come..

 

1. Getting off at the wrong stop

2. We had no cell phones

3. It was so late at night no one was around

4. We ran up and down the airport several times... without realizing it was the airport.. (wow).

5. We couldn't figure out how to use the payphone

6. When we did figure out the payphones Marina gave us her house phone, but we thought it was her cellphone so when a man speaking in Dutch kept picking up we kept hanging up (At 1 and 2 in the morning).

6. Ariel's suitcase handle fell off

 

When we finally figured out it was Marina's home phone after spending nearly 15 euros, we were able to explain the best we could to Marina's dad to got ahold of Marina to come and get us.

 

We made it back to her house by 4:00AM!  

 

So I didn't want to return to Amsterdam Schiphol. But I knew I had to. With my luck and the fact that the airport is cursed.. my flight was an hour late, so I missed my second flight out of Amsterdam. Friggen fantastic.

 

 

(Excuse my I just got off a 10 hour flight face and have to wait another 4 to get on a 3 hour flight)

 

So with this airport being cursed. I couldn't help but laugh, and think of my first time here with my closest friends.

 

At the end of the day whether you're traveling, or just living your day to day life the best stories you will ever have are always the mistakes or crazy moments you had. In the moment it may be very stressful, and even though it may seem that it isn't going to get any better, it will. Because you will look back on it one day with a smile on your face saying "I can't believe I did that". Or in this case.. "I can't believe Ariel did that". ;)

 

So relax, it's all apart of the journey.

 

 

And come on lets all be honest... when you think of planes you can't help but play this scene from Brides Maids over and over again in your head, this will always put a smile on your face Jet-Lag and all.

 

 

 

 



 

 

Stepping Into The Unknown.

I am a girl on a journey to make her mark in this world. I follow my heart wherever it may lead me, and at this point in time it has led me to take a job over the summer in Sant Cugat del Valles, Spain (Outside of Barcelona). Why Spain you may ask? Well to be honest, I have no idea. In short, I was given an opportunity that was put in my lap, and I would be crazy to pass it up. Although, a year ago accepting a job in Spain for the summer never would have crossed my mind.

A year ago I was ring shopping, looking at apartments, buying furniture, and planning a future with someone special. Laying in bed at night wondering to myself.. am I making the right decision? Am I ready for this big step? Well truth be told we both weren't ready to take the step. At only 20 years old we were scared and decided we weren't ready for the commitment. It completely broke my heart in ways I didn't understand was possible. But, it was the right thing to do.

SIDE NOTE: If you were hoping for dirty details on my break up, unfortunately there are none. He is one of the best people I know, and we still talk on a regular basis. Timing just wasn't in our favor. Instead our journeys at this point are to figure out who we are.  

Back to the story...After we broke up I was watching people around me getting married, having kids, and living their happy lives. I felt very alone. But I decided this was my time. My time to find myself. I wasn't being punished, but rather given a second chance. So instead of focusing on what made us happy it was time to figure out what made me happy.

So I began my pursuit of happiness through picking up the pieces and starting to do what I loved again. I was on a mission to figure out what made my soul come alive. An obvious conclusion came out... TRAVEL.

So not to go all Eat, Pray, Love on you... BUT. I sold my half of all of the apartment treasures we repurposed or bought for cash for a big adventure that wasn't even planned. I began looking at ways to get out of my home town and venture into the unknown. I became inspired by books like Wild, or Eat, Pray, Love. Reading stories of these courageous women who went out into the world SOLO and rocked it.

I wanted to be one of those women. A solo BA woman, who could do anything she put her mind to. Yes, I have traveled before with my two best friends: traveling the East Coast, Backpacking Europe, Studying Abroad in Florence, Italy, and our journey to Nicaragua meeting our sponsored children. But this solo experience I know will be completely different, and in many ways liberating (Although I am going to miss my partners in crime more than anything in this world).

 

 

When I accepted the job in Spain I was completely scared, and still am. I leave tomorrow, but I am excited to grow in this experience and take every little moment in. It's time to do what makes me happy and embrace every aspect to its fullest.