I'm actually abroad right now due to my major: European Studies, with a focus in Spanish Studies. Much to the chagrin of my bank account, OU would not let me graduate until I traveled to Spain, and I somehow procrastinated this until my senior year. Thus, I had to scramble to find a program that wouldn't hinder my graduation date this spring. The task really seemed impossible and I had almost resigned myself to studying abroad over the summer and delaying my graduation, until I encountered this January "J-term" course, which would last 3 weeks from December 30 through January 20. Unfortunately, that exact timeline gets me back to OU a week and a half late (also factoring in the two days of flights I will be on to return to the States.) Thus, this is the only class that isn't currently docking points from my attendance grade...and boy do I appreciate that, though it's surprisingly hard to find free WiFi in Seville to get these assignments done.
Another reason that delaying my graduation would have been Really Bad (and the source of most of my personality traits) is that I am also in Army ROTC. I've been doing that for the past 3.5 years to prepare for my commissioning which is speeding up here in four months, in which I will swear into the US Army as a Second Lieutenant. I already know that I will be trained as a Quartermaster (in charge of supplies, logistics, and all that actually really important stuff,) and in a month or so the Army will tell me where I'll be stationed for the next few years. Because of this, I am very into fitness and plan on spending almost all of my free time this semester at the gym...in between coffee breaks, because Spanish coffee has really been doing a number on my caffeine addiction.
 |
| Sunset over the ocean in Cadiz; Personal Photo |
 |
| Seville from above; Personal Photo |
Hi Alana,
ReplyDeleteYou are AMAZING! This is so crazy. I could never imagine doing anything that you have done ever. Thank you for all you do. It really takes someone special to do ROTC. I hope you had fun in Spain. I am going there this summer! Is there a reason you chose European studies? I am in love with Europe and have been taking French for almost 8 years!
Hope this semester will go fast for you!
I am so jealous of your Spanish adventure, Alana; it sounds wonderful, and the pictures are BEAUTIFUL! January 20 has come and gone so it sounds like you are perhaps back home now and caught up in the whirl of campus life. It is also so weird to switch continents; I used to go back and forth a fair amount to Europe in grad school... but I never got jet lag coming home, thank goodness, although I sure would get clobbered flying west. Is yoga a part of your fitness regime? That is something that resonates so nicely with this class if you are interested in that; a lot of the yoga positions are named for characters you will meet in the epics, like the Garuda Asana, named for Garuda, the eagle mount of the god Vishnu! :-)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHey Alana! That sounds a little stressful finding a class at this point before your graduation, but I hope you were still able to enjoy your time in Spain! Those pictures look incredible. Also that's really awesome that you've been a part of the ROTC program for so long. I imagine that to be hard but very fulfilling, especially now that becoming a Second Lieutenant in the army is so close! Keep up the good work!I hope you have an awesome last semester.
ReplyDeleteHi Alana! Starting your spring semester of senior year in Spain is worth a few points off of attendance! That is really cool. Getting to spend time abroad is something everyone should try, and it will definitely help with your major. Hopefully you have adjusted well and can get caught back up now that you're back. Good luck with the Army, and thank you for your dedication to service!
ReplyDeleteHey Alana!
ReplyDeleteDang your semester sounds pretty stressful so far but I hope you're at least enjoying Spain! I studied abroad last summer in Arezzo Italy and had the time of my life and I bet you're also! Well I hope your teachers will be easy on you since you literally had no choice.
Hey Alana!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you were able to find classes that wouldn't fully hinder your spring graduation. Also, at least your missing the first part of classes instead of the last, where everything really gets hard and due dates are crunched. Europe is a great place to spend abroad and, from your pictures, it looks absolutely stunning! Good luck on your adventures ahead!
Hey Alana,
ReplyDeleteI think it is so cool that you are able to study abroad and your major is European studies. Being immersed in a culture is the fastest way to learn it I have heard. Especially with having a focus on Spanish, being I'm sure being in Spain is going to drastically speed up not only your knowledge, but being able to assimilate into the culture where you are going to be stationed.
Hey Alana!
ReplyDeleteYour major sounds so interesting. I didn't even know you could major in European studies. How did you find out about it? What kinds of classes do you have to take it? I'm so jealous that you got to Spain. I'm sorry the timing was so inconvenient for you though. Good luck with the Army! I hope you get stationed somewhere nice!
Hello (or Hola) Alana! So nice to meet you! I'm reading your intro quite late, so I bet you are already back in the United States (i hope you had safe travels). It's so cool you got to spend a couple of weeks in Spain, from the pictures you have posted, it looks absolutely breathtaking. I have always wanted to go to Spain, but life hasn't given me the opportunity just yet (hopefully one day). That is so cool that you will be in the army after graduation and its amazing that you've been able to work that into your schedule while also trying to finish a college degree! Very commendable.
ReplyDeleteHey Alana,
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your micro-fiction I thought I'd check out your intro, and was happy I did. Hope you had a good time in Spain, despite the stress that came along with it. Your pictures look fantastic, and I have a close friend from Spain that always rants on about how amazing and beautiful it is there. Is she just homesick, or is it as awesome as she says?
Good luck with your graduation this semester, and your future endeavors. Seems like you have your work cut out for you.
Hi from Oklahoma! The pictures you included are beautiful and have led me to daydream about where and when my next vacation will be... I'm sure with the traveling, studying abroad and time differences you're enduring, keeping up with your classes back here are difficult. I applaud you and have the utmost respect for what you do; keep on keeping on! And don't forget to enjoy yourself in Spain. I've never been, but it looks so dreamy.
ReplyDeleteHi Alana,
ReplyDeleteIt is so cool that you are taking this class while abroad, what an awesome opportunity to take an online class. I think it is great you are taking advantage of studying abroad while in college because everyone always says it is the best time! Seville looks so beautiful in the picture you included! Have fun in the rest of the semester!
Hi Alana, I hope you made it back to Europe safely! Traveling these days is getting a little complicated, so I'm happy you got to have a great study abroad experience. I did not know that you have to travel for European Studies- I'm sure you're having a blast; your pictures look so lovely!
ReplyDeleteHi Alana!
ReplyDeleteI know this was written two months ago, so I am curious to your situation currently?! Have you come back to the US yet? You probably get that question a lot recently. I hope you loved Spain though while you got the spend your time there and hopefully you aren't too jet lagged! The Army ROTC also sounds really cool and I wish I was more into fitness than I realistically am.
Hi Alana!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have enjoyed Spain. I know abroad trips have been canceled so I hope you got home safely and there is still an option for you to graduate. I went to Spain almost eight years ago. I had some of the best food there and overall it was a lot of fun. I also love fitness. Since I am at my house all day now, I have found a lot of fun in home workouts. Awesome introduction and I hope all is well!
Hi Alana! I’m reading this now in the middle of our little outbreak and I hope all ended well with your program. I always wondered a bit more about the ROTC here at the university so it’s cool to get to read in on somebody who’s living that experience. I hope you are able to finish up your degree here rapidly and can reach that spring semester graduation goals (unless you have a big focus on walking through graduation). Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteHi Alana!
ReplyDeleteGood thing you were in Spain for just January because things could've gone very south. I studied abroad last summer and really enjoyed it so I hope you enjoyed your time in Spain as much as I enjoyed my time abroad. I hope you are staying safe and will get to graduate this semester!
Hi, Alana!
ReplyDeleteI'm very jealous that you got to study abroad in Spain. Even though it looks like it has been a stressful time, I hope that you got to enjoy the time that you spent their. I was actually planning on going to Spain for spring break before whole outbreak happened. I have a friend who is in OU's ROTC program too, and I have heard it is consists of a lot of hard work and dedication. I hope all is well with you and you are staying safe!
Hi Alana,
ReplyDeleteI hope you are staying safe in Spain during this tumultuous time. Nevertheless, I hope you are having fun there! Spain looks so pretty! My cousin is in the Navy and he is actually in Spain at the moment too. I almost joined the Navy right out of high school but decided that college would be the better route for me. Nevertheless, I think about what would be different everyday if I had chosen differently and I still think about doing military and school at the same time. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.
Hello Alana,
ReplyDeleteWow, you're brave. Spending three weeks out of your senior year and then going to the military soon after is going to keep you on your toes. It sounds like you'll have an interesting last year as a student! I'm jealous you're in Spain; I've heard Seville is beautiful. Stay safe while you're over there.
Hi Alana! I hope that you are doing well during these crazy times especially since you were abroad! I have never been able to leave the country myself and was planning on going to Europe this summer but I don't think that will be happening anymore. Good luck the rest of this semester!
ReplyDeleteHi Alana,
ReplyDeleteI am super jealous! I have always wanted to study abroad, but I imagine there are definitely some challenges that come with it. I am kind of a homebody and I would miss my family and routine life back home too much for me to survive that long abroad. Also congrats on all your accomplishments with the ROTC seems like you are really doing a great job and rising up the ranks!