Watkins is Very, Very Grateful

I’ve always had so many things in my life to be grateful for, but this semester I’ve realized just how blessed I actually am. It’s not something I talk about often, because it feels like bragging, but I truly am so very, very grateful for all the things happening in my life and the people that have made them happen.

I’m grateful for my new host family. They are absolutely wonderful people, and extraordinarily welcoming. They opened their family up to me right off the bat with a welcome party, which was so special. I have a real mattress, she loves cooking vegetarian food, and I get to listen to church bells as I fall asleep at night. I love that we have deep conversations about life while I’m getting ready in the morning. She’s so hospitable that she has already offered to let me stay here when I come back to Sevilla this January, which means that I don’t need to be worried about finding a hotel or hostel during the holidays here. I’m grateful that she sees me as part of the family, and that I’ll be able to see her grandkids choir concert in the big cathedral. (PS. My host mom came in while I was writing this and crying a bit, and hugged me. It was cute.)

I’m grateful that I’m having all of these wonderful adventures. Every experience I have teaches me more about myself as a person, and where I want to go from here. I’m really experiencing the world, not just seeing it.

I’m grateful that my concussion was only a temporary road bump, and that my knee hasn’t acted out too badly since I've’ve been here. My health is something I really cherish, especially after experiencing what it’s like to not be able to count on it.

I’m grateful that I was able to get the loans I needed to come abroad, and that I’m in the position where travelling is a possibility for me.

But mostly, I’m grateful to be surrounded by angels. There are so many people in my life that I wouldn't be able to have done this without. I didn’t want to post the thank-yous I wrote to my parents because they felt too personal, but please know that I sent them thank-yous too.

To my friends here in Sevilla: I’m so glad I have you in my life. This experience would be impossible if I didn’t have such a strong network of people surrounding me, looking out for me, caring about me. You guys make every day better.

To Holy Cross: Thank you for starting me young. My roots are with you guys in Redmond, and I’m so glad I’ve grown up with you. You raised me, supported me through everything, and helped me form a faith that is more a part of me than my limbs are. I’m so grateful for the mission trips, pilgrimages, volunteer outings and more that taught me that there’s so much to see in the world, and so many ways to help, not only abroad, but in my backyard as well.

To the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia: Thank you so much for the HYC system, and everything that came along with it. I met my best friends there, and gained a huge support network that’s always there for me (and I’m always there for them). I have a huge family because of you, including so many incredible, strong, inspiring people to look up to and influence my decisions. I’m the person I am today because of your influence. Thank you for taking me to Israel, for really opening my eyes to other cultures and religions. That trip has influenced my outlook on life and is one of the lenses I use to make decisions and analyze new experiences.

To the lovely people at the Newman: Thank you all for inviting me to Mexico last spring and reminding me how much I love working abroad and volunteering. That trip reminded me why I study Spanish, and why it’s worth all the long hours. It reminded me how easy it is to truly connect with people if you’re just willing to listen. Thank you for welcoming me into your community and teaching me about Catholicism so patiently and without judgment. I go to mass every Sunday here, and understand (mostly;)) everything that’s happening, which is really special to me. Because of the things you taught me I’m able to connect with people more easily and gain a deeper understanding of Spanish culture.

To my high school Spanish teacher, Mrs. Shadley: Thank you for never giving up on me, even when I didn’t want to be there. Gracias por nunca me deja por imposible, aún a veces no quería estar allí.

To Profesora Carbajal: Thank you for making me love Spanish. Your love of Spanish is obvious and infectious, and the things I learned from you have been essential here in Sevilla. I mean, it’s no Carbajalandia, but most of the same rules apply. Thank you for telling me it was possible, that I could do this semester, and for your help in preparing. You’ve really influenced how I want to live my life, and I appreciate it. Gracias por me daba una pasión por Español. Tú amor por la lengua es obvio y contagioso, y las cosas que aprendí son esencial aquí en Sevilla. Pues, no es Carbajalandia, pero la mayoridad de las leyes todavía están aplicables. Gracias por me dijo que esta experiencia estaba posible y por su ayuda con las preparaciones. Ha influenciado la manera en que quiero vivir mi vida y lo aprecio mucho.

To my friends back home: You all have been so sweet, I really can’t say thank you enough. The letters, facebook messages, and snapchats, all of it makes me feel so at home. I was so worried before I left that you would forget about me, learn to get on with life without me and when I got home, there wouldn’t be a place for me anymore. It sounds stupid now, but those thoughts wiggle themselves in your head and then you can’t get rid of them. I love you all so very, very much, and can’t wait to see you in a couple of months. Start working on your arm strength now, because when I get back all of the hugging will happen. If your arms fall off, at least I warned you.

But mostly, I want to thank my family, for always supporting me and helping me follow my dreams. All my cousins, grandparents, everybody. You always have my back, and I’m so glad I got to grow up with a support network as strong as I did.

Everyone, thank you for being in my life. I thank the Lord every day for you, and hope you realize how special you are to me. Every single one of you has made me who I am today, and I wanted you to know that. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, eat some cranberries for me.

Lots of love, Katie

Watkins With A Backpack

Confession: I used to be a chronic over-packer. (Hey Nate, remember that time I brought like 3 bags for 3 weeks in Israel? Thanks for carrying those around for me.) But since then I've left my suitcase days behind me, and I'm heads over heels in love with my backpack!! I honestly wish I'd made the switch earlier. Traveling with only what you can carry on your back feels so freeing, try it once and you'll be hooked!

Here's the top 5 reasons I love travelling with a backpack:

1. I've been forced into nearly neurotic levels of chaotic organization. With a backpack, there's a pocket for everything, and everything stays in its pocket. I feel a bit like one of those crazy old ladies that has a never-ending handbag!

2. The community is great! Backpackers are some of the friendliest people I've ever met. There's a sense of understanding, and I've never felt like help is far away. I always offer directions, and when I'm out of Sevilla , people do the same for me. Which is awesome, because I spend a lot of time being lost.

3. Getting places is less stressful. When you only travel with what you can carry there's less overhead to keep track of. I don't have to wait for checked bags to get unloaded, I don't accidentally take out people's ankles on the metro, I don't need to pay baggage fees. I can also run to catch planes, trains, buses, etc. You name it, I've been late for it and arrived just in time thanks to my trusty backpack.

4. Stairs, man. Stairs.

5. My priorities have changed. It's not like I used to buy a TON of stuff while traveling, but definitely more than I needed. With only 38 liters to hold everything in, my purchases mean a lot more to me. I also know what's necessary more now than I used to (I haven't used a heat appliance on my hair since August!). When I get home a lot of what I have is going to goodwill- I just don't need it.

Meet my backpack! The Gregory Jade 38

1. Floating Lid: I love having a floating lid because it means my pack is a bit expandable. It's also awesome because I can use it to strap down a bulky winter coat without having to find room for it inside by bag. This one doesn't disconnect all the way, but that just means one less thing for me to lose!

2. Easy Access Pocket: This pocket is perfect for stashing maps and travel guides. Because it's flat and square, nothing gets smooshed!

3. Rain Cover: Whoops, am I letting my PNW show again? Necessary item.

4. Shoe Compartment: I believe this is actually for a sleeping bag, but it's so convenient for keeping my shoes separate from my stuff in their own waterproof section!

5. Front AND Top Loading: This was one of my requirements when looking for a backpack. It's so much easier to find things when you don't have to pull everything out of the top to get to your hoodie jammed in the bottom!

6. Adjustable sides: When my pack is less full, I can shorten those straps so nothing is bouncing around. They're also useful for hanging particularly muddy shoes or a cardigan from. (Not at the same time, obviously.)

7. Big Water Pockets: This was another of my requirements. I'm a stickler for reusable bottles, so I needed lots of space for them! These ones are just big enough to hold the big 2L bottles that are so common here.

8. Hip pockets: This is where I store my CPR kit and Chapstick. Both vital for life and should always be within reach.

What you can't see:
9. The Suspended Back Panel: wicks sweat and keeps cool air flowing over your back. Sounds gross, but carrying a backpack can get sweaty!

10. It's The Perfect Size: It fits exactly within the Ryanair carry-on restrictions, which is the strictest airline when it comes to carry-ons. I have exactly the space I need, and no extra. It also hits my back and hips in just the right spots and isn't too tall for my torso, which was important to me.

11. Extra Padded Straps: I'm kind of a wimp, so having a little extra cushion is super nice.

12. Integrated Camel Back Pouch: I actually took out the water skin. I use this pocket to hold everything that needs keeping flat and secure against my back, such as; art, delicate souvenirs, or my laptop (when I'm travelling with it).

The short of it is: try out a backpack. Or even a smaller carry-on. It's not as scary as you might think, and you could discover a whole new flavor of travel that you really love!

Xoxo, Katie

Watkins is in Fez, Chaouen, Tangier and Tarifa

If you’re reading these in order, we left off with Lunch on Saturday. If you’re not reading these in order, catch up here:

http://whereintheworldiswatkins.blogspot.com.es/2013/11/watkins-is-in-morocco.html

http://whereintheworldiswatkins.blogspot.com.es/2013/11/watkins-is-in-tangier-meknes-and-fez.html

Day 2, Part 2: Fez

After lunch it was back out to explore the city (Without siesta! Shocking! Actually though, the Spaniards on our trip complained.) of Fez. Our first stop was an artisan metal-working shop. The precision with which these men work is astounding. They make intricate geometric designs entirely from memory. There were beautiful platters, elephants, tea sets, genie lamps, and more. At one point, the lights went out and it was actually pretty scary. I hadn't realized until that moment that we were in an underground cave. The men that ran the shop assured us that it was normal, but it felt like the beginning of a Scooby-Doo episode; when the lights go out there are five, but when they come back on someone has disappeared into a revolving wall. Kayla and I linked elbows and held onto our purses until a couple of the guys we were travelling with found us with their cell phone lights. We left pretty darn quickly after that, but everyone was fine and had everything.

Aladdin Lamp! Taken during the
blackout.

Elephant!! If she hadn't been ridiculously expensive she
she would be coming to live with my other elephant since
they were the exact same size.

Treasures everywhere! It felt like Ariel's grotto down there!

Step 1: Throw the clay and make a base

Next on the agenda was a pottery studio that specialized in mosaics. They walked us through the whole process; from throwing the clay to store-ready. There were really cute kittens.

Step 2:  Make a thing and separate it from the base to dry

Step 3: Double fire- the bottom kiln is for the first
firing, the upper one is for the second

Step 4: breaking the fired ceramic pieces into
the shapes you want

Step 5: laying the tiles face-down in the design

Steps 6 and 7: cover with cement, let harden, then when dry,
flip and clean it up

Final products!

Kitten in a fountain!!

more finished mosaics

Hand painted designs done between firings

There are a lot of cats and doorways in this blog...

Unfortunately by the end of that tour it was already sunset so we had to go back to the hotel. How weird that felt in comparison to Spain, where 80% of life happens after dark! Since we had opted out of the dinner show we fended for ourselves at dinner time. We had an interesting experience trying to find someplace that had women there- I was definitely glad to have some company! We spent the rest of the night in the hotel room enjoying Thé Menthe (the best tea EVER! Think sweet tea made with mint.) and books.

Day 3: Chaouen and Tangier

Sunday was another day dominated by long stretches on the tour bus, but I think it was still my favorite day. The scenery was amazing!!

The view coming around the bend above Chaouen

 Chaouen was my favorite city in Morocco by far- there were so many more women and children around, and it felt a lot safer. It also felt cleaner and the people seemed nicer. Another reason I loved Chaouen was that the whole city was washed in shades of blue. It actually reminded me a lot of Greece. We walked all around the hilly little city with our guide, and then got to take a couple hours to explore by ourselves. Kayla and I literally took off running so we could get the most out of our time. No lunch for us, too much to explore! We discovered spice shops, bakeries, and more, and the more I saw, the more I fell in love. At one point I saw a little boy taking bread out of a stone oven and I followed him to his parents’ bakery so I could buy still steaming Moroccan flat bread. (I guess you can call me Aladdin; always one jump ahead of the breadline;)) Another interesting thing about Chaouen is that tons of people speak Spanish there, yet until 1920, it was prohibited to enter the holy city on a hill.

 

Kitties e'erywhere :)

Community bread oven building- you could feel the heat
coming out of it in waves!

street artist painting the doorways and vibrant colors of Chaouen

"The boutique of Aladdin's Grandma", an adorable spice shop!

Inside Grandma's

dyes for clothing, cosmetics, food, etc

There's so much geologic history in Morocco
that they practically give this stuff away

Homeward ferry

After re-convening at the bus we drove for another three hours or so until we reached the ferry in Tangier. We had to get there a couple hours early since the customs coming back into Spain were so much stricter than those leaving, but it still wasn't long until we jumped back into the modern world of Sevilla. Hasta luego Chaouen, te echo de menos. 

Watkins is in Tangier, Meknes, and Fez

This weekend, I checked another continent off my list! I'm by no means done with Africa, but getting that stamp in my passport sure feels good! Now I just need to get to South America (shouldn't be too hard, especially with my Spanish) and Antarctica (basically impossible unless you're a scientist).

We left Sevilla during the peak of Halloween party hours- around 5 am. As Kayla and I walked to the bus stop we were able to enjoy some awesome people watching and mediocre club music. The drunks were weirdly fascinated by our backpacks. By 9 am we were crossing from Tarifa, Spain to Tangier, Morocco on a ferry (ferry boat in Spain!!) and by noon I was riding a camel in Africa.

It's a completely different world over there. For more about my experience with this realization, go read "Watkins is in Moroco":
 http://whereintheworldiswatkins.blogspot.com.es/2013/11/watkins-is-in-morocco.html

Meknes: Day 1

Mosques are a shoe-free environment, so we
walked on little mats around the garden

We started the day with a tour of a beautiful little Mosque called "Bab el Mansur". We weren't allowed in, but we were able to look at their gardens and equivalent of a fellowship hall. The tiling was beautiful! I didn't take many pictures because it felt like an invasion of a sacred place, even though it wasn't during prayer hours.

Across the street from the Mosque was a market place with a street fair happening. Almost entirely men. Tried to see a snake charmer in action, but they brought that thing wayy too close to my face and I was like, NOPE.

That guy in black is holding the snake that made its way
around the circle

I still managed to take a picture of our shower
curtain for my mom. (MOM! I think they stole
your shower curtains!!)

Beautiful Cinderella Carriage selling rides at the fair

After a bit of very closely monitored exploring, we were back on the bus on our way to Fez. We were all so exhausted from all the travel that there was barely energy for dinner before lights out.



Day 2: I'm in Fez now. Fez is cool!

No estamos en Kansas nada mas, Toto! Friday was barely a taste of the culture shock that is Morocco. The first thing we did was wander (with a guide, mom!) through the Medina of Fez. (A Medina is their "old town"). It was so, so drastically different from anything I'd ever seen before, even the market in Jerusalem. There were eggs, produce,  fish and meats all laying out in the hot sun uncovered or refrigerated, but what really got me was the camel head hanging from a hook next to a butcher that was literally butchering a camel. Apparently that's pretty common practice in Morocco because the venders like to "prove" they're actually selling camel.

one of the open air squares

The market was a network of over 9,400 tiny streets, packed with over 83,000 shops and people bartering and trading at the tops of their lungs, yelling conversations from stall to stall. There were donkeys hauling things up and down the streets, and every time one got close there was a relay from person to person, like kids playing kickball in the streets. Then we pressed against the walls or jumped into doorways as they passed.

one of the larger outdoor aisles. That's my guide
for the weekend talking about the foot washing
station

indoor aisle

This is what a political advert in Morocco looks like; each
candidate gets their own square to graffiti with their symbol,
name or slogan. 

Donkey loaded down with cement

The 7 golden doors of Fez. Number 7 got cut off. Sorry bout it.

look at them being all studious!

 We also got to see their oldest university, supposedly the oldest university in the world. It dates back to the 800's (using the Christian calendar), and still functions as a monastery. We couldn't go in, but I creeped on them studying.

We were allowed to go into a little house that had been converted into a guest house however. They told us it was just a modest little place, but it was so cute!

The ceiling of the guest house- inside was like
a jungle! I didn't take pictures since people live
there. Front camera wins ;)

Wedding carriage things- like Cinderella!

Next, we toured various artisan shops. Totally a ploy to get us to buy things, and frankly it took away from my experience. It was like we were being paraded around to all his friends like money machines. But I guess it was a cool way to see how things in Morocco are made. We went to a jewelers, wedding dress makers, a textile shop where they turn cacti into incredibly soft pashminas (Yeah, I bought one. But I bartered my booty off- it was fun, and I got a great deal!)

Wedding dresses- the modest ones

Our guide being adorable

These belts and necklaces are Moroccan
engagement rings. The women use them as life
insurance; Your man left? You'll be okay,
you get to keep the bling.

We also toured a leather factory, which smelled like death. And I mean that literally; they gave us sprigs of mint to hold under our noses and cover up the permeating stench of rotting skin curing in the hot Moroccan sun. Then they tried to sell us leather goods. Not the best marketing strategy I've ever seen.

The curing tanks

I think this dude is mixing up the solution

The process did result in really pretty shoes though...

The spice shop

The last stop of the morning was my personal favorite- An apothecary shop! We were taught about the different uses of various herbs and spices, and how Moroccans use natural remedies.

Then it was time for lunch back at the hotel. What a packed morning! Go read part two of my weekend (The rest of Saturday in Fez, and Sunday) here: