Megan Briggs

The news

Kristina and I lucked out with our "hostel" reservations here in Split, Croatia--the landlord made a mistake and reserved us an entire flat to ourselves, with two beds, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a balcony all to ourselves. And the big bonuses...air conditioning and a TV! We finally got to watch the news and be aware of what is going on in the world--convenient timing since the main story we heard about was that Radovan Karadzic was finally captured after 13 years in hiding.

He will face charges of genocide committed during the Bosnian War, most horrifically the slaughter of almost 8000 Muslim boys and men in the town of Srebrenica in 1995 and the shelling of Sarajevo.

It's really such a mind-boggling coincidence that I was just in Sarajevo! I always knew that there had been a lot of conflict in the Balkan region, but I was really too young during the war to remember any of it clearly. Now it's like history is happening right in front of my eyes, right in the country I just left on a long bus ride.

But where are the cucumbers?

In Istanbul we had breakfast included at our hostel, and it consisted of the following: bread with butter, cheese spread, and/or jam; cucumbers, tomatoes, and black olives; hardboiled eggs; and tea. This was different from our norm, because I've never really had those vegetables included in my breakfast. Then, here in Sarajevo, our hotel has served us all kinds of new breakfast things, like really strong cheese, noodle soup, or savory herbal tea.

Kristina and I talked about how something as seemingly insignificant as breakfast could really contribute to culture shock. When I lived in Madrid and did my own shopping, I could still have just what I liked for breakfast, and for lunch and dinner, too. But it must be kind of tough for international students at Wellesley, or at any university or environment where food is controlled, to walk down to the cafeteria craving their typical breakfast that their moms always served them, only to be disappointed, wondering where the cucumbers are. We worry a lot about how the really big things might affect us, but I think it's the little things. I never really gave much thought to breakfast until it was changed.

I've also been thinking about the warnings I've gotten about "reverse cultural shock" and the transition back to living in the US. I never really worried about it as I was preparing to move to Spain (I had enough to worry about), but now it's starting to seem a little intimidating to go back. In some ways, when I think about transitioning from living independently in a foreign country back to living the dorm life, I can't help but feel like it might be a step backward in some ways. But there are a lot of ways that I can make it a step forward, too, like remembering all the things I learned and all the ways I grew and changed in Spain. And appreciating the availability of yogurt at breakfast!

Where cultures and seas collide

Hello from beautiful Istanbul! What an amazing, enchanting city this is--and with such kind people. In our cheap hostel, we can see the Blue Mosque from our balcony and hear the call to prayer five times a day. From the terrace where we have breakfast, the Blue Mosque faces the green seas that are such an important part of the city.

I didn't realize how much I missed the sea in Madrid until I came here and could see it and go swimming! We went to the beach and dipped in the Black Sea, and the next day we took a ferry out to an island and swam in the Sea of Marmara. The ferries run like commuter trains and don't cost much more than a dollar! It also amazes me that one side of the city is Europe and the other side of Asia. The mixing of cultures is really impressive.

Even though it seems a little roundabout (and maybe I'm overthinking it), I think going to Wellesley truly opened up the world to me. Most of the wonderful experiences I'm having can be traced back to the fact that I go there. And not just logistics, like the fact that I studied abroad in Madrid and became friends with a guy from Turkey who also studied at my university--it's the mindset, too, that we are strong women who can do anything. I grew a lot moving away from my home state. Then I grew a whole lot more when I decided to volunteer with Global Learning in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Mexico (it really was some global learning, right?). I never would have worked for this organization if I hadn't heard about it at Wellesley, and then I might not have realized how independent I am capable of being. And then I might not be in Istanbul right now, and I certainly wouldn't be here with my lovely friend Kristina, whom I met on move-in day first year.

Kristina came up with a new tourism slogan for Istanbul that we both like. Istanbul: where cultures and seas collide :)

(s)wellesley

I’ve been spending a lot of time, especially very recently, thinking about how un-ready I am to leave Spain. It’s true. I’m not ready for this year to be over, even though it already is, technically speaking.

But I decided it’s time to think about all the things I’m looking forward to, too. I feel so lucky to have lots of places that I consider “home,” and Wellesley is an important one of them. It will be strange to be a SENIOR next year—I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that idea. But it’s also a very exciting idea!

I think I’m most excited about my Wellesley classes (the true nerd in me emerges…). Studying in Spain has given me more perspective and helped me realize how much I truly appreciate small class sizes and my wonderful, thoughtful, dynamic professors. I learned a lot here in Madrid, but I think at Wellesley my classes are more demanding throughout the semester, so I end up giving more, and then I end up getting more back.

I’m also looking forward to returning to some of my activities on campus, as well as starting a new one. I’ll be back at my two jobs, off campus as a receptionist and on campus at the Board of Admission. I also volunteer with the Board of Admission, and this year I’ll help coordinate lots of activities for prospective students. The newest addition to my busy schedule is my position as a First-Year Mentor, or FYM at our acronym-crazed campus. Every first-year student gets placed into a group of 15 peers, who are led through orientation by their junior or senior FYM. I think it’s such a great program that gives first years yet another resource to help them transition to Wellesley.

Something else I missed was seeing the seasons change. It’s such a treat because I’ve really only done it twice (my beach town in California doesn’t really have four seasons). The fall foliage, the winter wonderland, and the happy springtime are such highlights of Wellesley and of Boston. I can’t wait to spend more time in Boston as well, though I’m wondering how it will compare to the nocturnal lifestyle I’ve come to love in Madrid. Next year, I’ll have to start thinking about getting back to campus on the bus at the same time when I would start thinking about going out here in Madrid!

Most of all, though, I’ve missed my friends—my sisters. I’ll be living in the same residence hall where I lived my first year—the residence hall where I met my best friends, where I navigated my way through my first move-in day, my first first day of class, my first finals week. Lots of firsts, and now, appropriately, lots of lasts.

My last day in Madrid

My dad has been in Madrid this week, which has been really fun, but I also felt bad because I had my finals and was a little sleep-deprived and stressed (actually, a lot). I forced him to be very independent and go by himself to lots of museums and other sights, but he was up for the challenge and got to see a lot of the fabulous city that has been my home.

Tomorrow we are leaving for Barcelona with Kristina, my friend from Wellesley. We can’t wait to see the ocean and the Gaudí architecture, among many other things. I think there is a little bit of a rivalry between Madrid and Barcelona, so, though maybe I’m a little biased simply because I’ve had more time to fall in love with Madrid, I’m looking forward to seeing what the other side has to offer.

Today we had a wonderful (and exhausting) day. I think I discovered my new favorite museum in Madrid, the Sorolla Museum, which was made up of his works and his private collection in his own house. I loved his taste almost as much as his own artwork. Lots of people had told me I would love this museum, and they were right on! I highly recommend the museum if you’re ever in the city. And completely unrelated, Spain won the Eurocup! How exciting! The city is going crazy...

In case I don’t have computer access in Barcelona, I’ll try to write and post some photos when I’m back in Madrid next week. Then it’s off on the summer journey with Kristina, which I can’t wait to tell you all about.

Is anyone else traveling in Europe this summer? Any other exciting plans? Any suggestions for my travels? I remember that my last summer before going to Wellesley I was extremely nervous about what the upcoming year would hold for me. I stayed at home and made the most of the last times my high school friends and I would all have together. Live it up, seniors!

Done and DONE!

I just got back home from taking my LAST FINAL EXAM IN SPAIN!!!!!

On the upside, the semester is finally over :D

On the downside, the semester is already over :/

Madrid roommates past and present

In the back: Elodie and Pedro.
Next row: Loubna, Charlotte, Diana, Paul, and Jesús.
On the couch: Luís, me, and Jean-Loup.

Nuestra cena de familia

So who’s following the Eurocup?

I have to admit that I’m not. I’m not a big fan of a soccer, but I seem to be alone in that opinion here in Spain. Well, in all of Europe, for that matter. I think that in all major cities in Europe, and maybe in small cities too, they set up giant outdoor screens for the fans to watch all together.

When I was in Prague, the Czech Republic played (and, unfortunately, lost). Old Town Plaza was crazy—not only was it crowded, but drinking in public is legal there, so the crowd was quite lively. It was quite the cultural experience. On the left are my friends watching, and on the right is the big screen.

I have a feeling that Plaza de Colón, here in Madrid, must be even crazier. It’s a very social, out-in-the-streets, open culture. And they love soccer. I missed going out for the last Spain game (tragic) because I had my final the next morning (okay, maybe the soccer would have been better…), but my roommates went and had a blast.

Tonight instead of going to Colón, we’re having a “cena de familia” (family dinner). It often turns out that we all eat dinner together, but it’s usually a coincidence after we’ve each done our own cooking (or some kind of food preparation that resembles cooking). So we joke about how we’re a family, and about who the parents and kids are.

But tonight we actually planned! Paul and I just finished making some tapas so they’ll be ready when the others get home (does that make us the housewives???), and Loubna is making a quiche later on. For dessert, fruit salad and cheesecake!

I really have come to think of my apartment as my home and my roommates as my funny little family. Even though we didn’t plan it as such, it kind of feels like a “cena de despedida” (goodbye dinner), which is pretty sad. I’ll really miss them.

Photos from my trip

Checkpoint Charlie, one of the checkpoints to pass between East and West Berlin:

Kate enjoying falafal (one of our favorite cheap meals):

At the East Side Gallery, the longest stretch of the Berlin Wall still standing. When the wall fell, a bunch of artists painted the east side, where for almost 30 years no one had been able to get within yards because it was so guarded (to prevent anyone from escaping to the west). Behind us is a painting of the Brandenburg Gate:

In Prague, the Old Town Square, during the Eurocup:

The Charles Bridge:

Anika, me, Kate, and Monica cooling off with some gelato (the other two girls were Kate's friends from her program in Austria, and we were lucky enough to see them in Prague):

Back in Madrid

My Friday the 13th was only unlucky because I had to go back to reality (in other words: exams). My travels back to Madrid went very smoothly.

And I had such a wonderful week in Berlin and Prague with Kate, one of my best friends from high school. She had been in Austria for a seminar, where she stayed at the palace that was the set for The Sound of Music. Then she came to Madrid, and afterward we went together to Berlin and Prague, two cities I’ve been dying to visit.

In Berlin we learned all about the Berlin Wall, of course, which we saw remnants of in different places around the city. We took an amazing free walking tour that taught us a lot of history that we (disgracefully) didn’t know very well. I also loved the museums. Though I know it’s certainly a stereotype, Germany does seem a lot better organized and more efficient than Spain, which—I can't lie—was kind of a relief.

Prague was so beautiful, and I especially enjoyed wandering around the Prague Castle and going to the Kafka museum. I’ve read some of his things for classes this year and in past years, but the museum helped me learn a lot more. We made a friend in our hostel who toured around with us as well, and the weather was much cooler, which made walking around more bearable.

While we were waiting for my train back to Berlin (to catch my flight back to Madrid), Kate and I reflected a little by doing a fun and silly activity, “Roses and Thorns,” which I did a lot with Global Learning, the non-profit organization I volunteer with. Basically, roses are highlights (of the day, the week, whatever) and thorns are things that weren’t so good.

Kate and I agreed wholeheartedly that the only thorn was our overnight bus between Berlin and Prague, when we had to try to sleep sitting up for only about four hours, and then had a bit of a zombie morning.

My rose was, on top of all the good things that come from seeing new places and meeting new people, having Kate in Madrid when I also had my Wellesley friend Kristina and my new Madrid friends all together in one place at one time. It was like all my different worlds finally crossed, and I felt so lucky to have so many wonderful people with me.

Photos are coming soon, once I upload them!