La situación de los estudiantes indocumentados

LA INTRODUCCIÓN

Somos Dejza Brower y Rebecca Dooley y asistimos a la Universidad de George Mason. Estudiamos las relaciones internacionales, el gobierno y el español. Estamos interesados en las políticas de la nueva administración y también de la inmigración. Mason es una universidad muy diversa y, por lo tanto, la inmigración es un tema relevante en nuestro campus.

La inmigración ha sido un tema en las políticas por un tiempo. Sin embargo, la elección de Donald Trump y los republicanos en el Congreso crearon más tensión sobre este tema. La posición de Trump sobre la inmigración es más extrema que la de Obama y otros presidentes en el pasado reciente. Así que, decidimos a explorar el tema de la inmigración y los posibles efectos en los estudiantes de George Mason.

DACA Y TRUMP, por Rebecca 

Durante el mes pasado, Trump escribió tres órdenes ejecutivas sobre la inmigración. La que recibió mucha atención es la prohibición de viajar. Esta orden prohibió viaje desde siete países en el Medio Oriente. Había mucha conmoción y protestas. La segunda orden autoriza la construcción de la muralla que Trump usó como un argumento fuerte durante su campaña. Finalmente, la tercera orden amplía las categorías de inmigrantes en las prioridades de deportación. Creo que esta orden debería recibir más atención porque hay implicaciones muy serias para muchas personas. Ahora, no hay clases que son exentas de deportación, como en el pasado.

En 2012, Obama introdujo DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals/ Acción Diferida). Esta legislación protege las personas, que tienen 15-30 años al tiempo de su aplicación, que llegaron a los Estados Unidos durante su juventud (no por su propia elección) de deportación. También, DACA les dan permisos de trabajo que son válidos por dos años. Cada de dos años, el receptor de DACA puede aplicar por renovación en el programa.

Aunque Trump no ha atacado DACA específicamente, algunos grupos activistas está advirtiendo los inmigrantes sobre este programa. Tienen miedo que la administración vaya a usar la información de los inmigrantes en DACA para deportarlos. DACA no puede evitar la deportación de una persona que es un criminal condenado o que es una amenaza a la seguridad nacional. Sin embargo, las reglas nuevas de Trump dicen que alguien que es acusado de un crimen, no es necesariamente culpable, pueden ser deportado.

Ya vimos algunos efectos de la orden de Trump, como más detenciones. Por ejemplo, en Seattle, ICE detuvo Daniel Ramirez Medina porque tiene un tatuaje que los oficiales pensaba que fue una marca de una pandilla. Ramirez tiene 23 años y está protegido con DACA. Tiene permiso para vivir y trabajar en los Estados Unidos. Los oficiales entraron a su casa porque estaban buscando su padre, pero detuvieron Ramirez cuando vieron su tatuaje. El congresista de California, Tony Cárdenas, dijo que es común por la policía ver un latino y le pregunta: “¿De qué pandilla eres un miembro?” Es una forma de discriminación dentro del sistema. En este caso, es probable que Daniel vaya a ser deportado porque es acusado como un miembro de una pandilla, aunque no hay un juicio para probar la acusación.

Una historia similar es con Jesús Alonzo Arreola Robles en California. Arreola Robles llegó a los Estados Unidos cuando tenía 18 meses y este país es su hogar. Ahora, Arreola Robles tiene 22 años y en febrero él fue detenido en ruta 94, una milla de la frontera mexicana. La policía pensaba que Arreola Robles estaba tratando de contrabandear una persona en los Estados Unidos. Entonces, Arreola Robles fue procesado por deportación. ICE lo mudó a Georgia y no permitió que Arreola Robles contactara con su abogado. Por un tiempo, su abogado no podía encontrar Arreola Robles en el sistema y no sabía dónde estuvo.

Según The Economist, soló personas que no están autorizados, están dentro de 100 millas de la frontera y estaban en los Estados Unidos por menos de 14 días, pueden ser deportados sin una audiencia en la corte. Por eso, en este caso, Alonso tiene los derechos de debido proceso, un abogado y un juicio.

Entrevista de Henry Lopez, por Rebecca 

Entrevisté a mi amigo, Henry, sobre las políticas de inmigración en nuestro país. Él llegó a los Estados Unidos cuando tenía cuatro años. Henry puede vivir en los Estados Unidos con DACA. Está interesado en las políticas y es muy informado porque las cosas que están ocurriendo son relevantes a su vida.

Obama ha advertido a Trump que no ponga en peligro DACA. También, dijo que sí Trump hace algo contra los DREAMers, Obama va a hablar públicamente sobre el tema, una acción rara de un antiguo presidente. En tu opinión, ¿cuando debería Obama hablar? 

“Creo que el anterior presidente Obama debe de mantenerse informado sobre las acciones de la administración pero creo que ahora no es el momento en que él debe de hablar sobre cada tema que él no esté de acuerdo con el presidente. En ocasiones en donde Trump firma acciones ejecutivas que son completamente extremas, como la accione ejecutiva que previene inmigrantes a algunos países de entrar a los Estados Unidos, son tan extremos que necesitamos la voz de cada líder en rechazarlo.

En el tema de inmigración, creo que lo que ha dicho la administración sobre no eliminar el programa DACA para los DREAMers es una buena señal que las cosas no van a empeorar para los recipientes del programa. El problema es en la manera en que la administración ha definido a quien debe ICE deportar. La administración ha dicho que van a deportar solo criminales, pero como han definido que es ser criminal, cualquier persona que ha hecho algo tan pequeño como manejar sin licencia, están en peligro en ser deportados. En esta situación creo que necesitamos voces de todos lados en rechazar estas medidas y acciones.”

¿Es la retórica de la administración perjudicial para todos los latinos? (no sólo los indocumentados)

“La retórica que el presidente tenía durante la campana creo que era bien perjudicial en contra de los latinos. Pero creo que ya que es presidente, él y su administración no necesitan tener una retórica prejudicial porque tienen el poder en firmar acciones en que reflejan esos pensamientos prejudiciales. La administración está gobernando en una manera en que ellos no necesitan ser prejudicial sino solamente necesitan hablar y actuar en una manera en que promociona acciones y pensamientos prejudiciales en los votantes.”

¿Hay algo que los estadounidenses pueden hacer para cambiar la conversación?

“Enfocar en las elecciones en 2018 y 2020. Toda la plática en las redes sociales es buena y necesaria, pero creo que al final del día, la única manera en que los demócratas y personas que no apoyan el presidente puedan ver cambio, es si cambian los representantes en este gobierno y esto va a ser posible en 2018.”

DREAMers, por Dezja Brower

Los DREAMers son un grupo nacional de las inmigrantes sin documentación quienes cumplen los requisitos para obtener el estado de DACA y sus aliados. El nombre del grupo está basado en el nombre del Acta Sueño (Desarrollo, alivio, y educación por menores extranjeros.)

Un grupo de estudiantes de la Universidad de George Mason fundó la organización de los “Mason DREAMers” en 2011. Esa organización acoge paneles de la acción estudiantil, entrenamientos de los aliados, eventos del compromiso de la comunidad y eventos de conversación entre de los estudiantes y el público también. Mientras que ese grupo es un grupo, ese grupo se consiste de estudiantes, como nosotros, quienes merecen igual tratamiento de nuestros.

Entrevista de Ana Tobar, por Dejza

Ana Tobar es una estudiante de cuarto año en la Universidad de George Mason estudiando ambos Asuntos Mundiales y Comunicación nació en El Salvador, pero es de Haymarket, Virginia. En la Universidad de George Mason, ella sirve como la presidenta interior de MASON DREAMers y también como aliado a muchas comunidades. De hecho, ella es la ganadora del premio “Aliado del Año” determinado por la Oficina de la diversidad, inclusión y educación multicultural. Ana ha acordado a participar en una entrevista con nosotros para hablar de los asuntos que afectan hoy la población de estudiantes sin documentación.

¿Cuándo llegó a los Estados Unidos?

“Hace dos años que recibí ciudadanía de los Estados Unidos, pero me mudé cuando tenía cuatro años”.

¿Cómo ha sido tu experiencia en los Estados Unidos? ¿En las escuelas? ¿Con sus amigos?

“Esa es la única experiencia que había tenido, no hay ninguna cosa a que puedo compararlo. Mi padre se movió aquí un año antes de nosotros con una autorización de trabajo. Mi familia y yo veníamos a los Estados Unidos para visitar a Él. Mientras que visitábamos, un terremoto grave golpeó en El Salvador. Ocurrió el 13 de enero 2001 y destruyó nuestra casa. No teníamos ningún lugar para volver. Debajo la administración de Bush, nos permitieron quedar en los Estados Unidos con condición protegido temporal. Tuvimos que renovar este estado, con los precios, cada dos años. Finalmente, el empleador de mi padre nos ofreció un patrocinio para la residencia permanente y después de dos años más, ganamos toda mi familia, la ciudadanía.

Crecí en un vecindario predominantemente blanco. Nunca conectaba con la comunidad latina hasta venía a Mason. Tenía vergüenza de ser la primera generación de estudiante colegio en mi familia—de ser latina porque nadie cerca de mi fue ni la primera generación ni latina.  En Mason, siento apoyada y educada de los asuntos latinos y de la inmigración. Ahora soy orgullosa de mi comunidad y la comunidad de dónde provenía. Nunca tenía miedo de la deportación, pero es una parte muy traumática de ser un niño o estudiante sin documentación.”

¿Ha cambiado tu experiencia y tus sentimientos de seguridad debajo esa administración?

“Para mí no, pero mis amigos sí, porque nosotros no tenemos una idea segura de que hará esa administración. Ellos dijeron que planea proteger la gente, y no honró su prometido. Ellos dijeron que planea proteger la DACA, pero nunca sabe nadie si esa es la verdad.”

¿Tiene Ud. algo comentario que quiere dar a la audiencia?

“Es importante educar tú mismo en las políticas de la inmigración y saber lo que ocurre siempre con los asuntos para actuar en lo que sabes.”

Para la siguientes dos preguntas, yo resumí las respuestas de Ana de un evento en campus sobre DREAMers y la inmigración.

¿Qué trabajo está haciendo Ana con esta situación importante en los Estados Unidos hoy?

De su posición con los Mason DREAMers, Ana ha hecho seguro que ella está educado sobre los asuntos y que ella tiene la habilidad a educar otras personas quienes le admiran para información y dirección. La organización de los Mason DREAMers también, una vez más, acoge talleres para la facultad y los estudiantes. En eses talleres, participantes pueden aprender sobre los asuntos y cómo ser aliados eficaces contra las políticas que amenazan a los estudiantes sin documentación.

¿Cómo podemos ayudar a las personas sin documentación todos los ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos?

Ana misma es un ciudadana de los Estados Unidos. Ella cree que la cosa más importante que nosotros pueden hacer para ayudar los estudiantes de DACA es ser defensores de sus derechos y ser un voz para ellos cuando ellos no pueden ser su propio voz. Ella mencionó que muchas personas sin documentación son asustadas de defender sus derechos por miedo de la deportación y crímenes de odio.

Para más información sobre los detalles de DACA y cómo las políticas afectan los estudiantes de DACA y las personas con estado DACA quienes ya no son estudiantes, puedes visitar: https://www.facebook.com/iir.gmu/videos/743904505765193/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE

LA CONCLUSIÓN

Cómo puedes ver, la situación de los estudiantes sin documentación en los Estados Unidos y en la Universidad de George Mason es muy compleja. Ellos no son sólo cómo se representan en los medios o por las personas contra inmigración y la DACA. Ellos son nuestros amigos, nuestras colegas, y a veces, ellos son nuestros aliados por nuestros asuntos. Nosotros debemos preocuparnos con sus luchas. Los estudiantes de George Mason que tienen preocupaciones o que quieren más información, pueden contactar Ana Tobar y los Mason DREAMers. Es importante que los estudiantes de GMU sean educados. Las acciones de nuestro gobierno afectan muchos aspectos de la vida.

 

 

I AM (STER) DAM glad we came!

A week off from school before exams? It’s every study abroad student’s dream, except maybe mine. I was absolutely swamped. With 6 final papers (2 assigned last minute) and 6 exams, I was spending every waking minute in the library and turning down every social opportunity.

Luckily though, I had booked my trip to Amsterdam back in October, so there was no getting out of this one. I was so excited to meet up with my friend, Kerry, from Cranford. She spent the semester in Jordan studying abroad, so we had not seen each other since August.

We me at the airport and managed to get on the right train to the center of Amsterdam. Our hostel was only supposed to be a 10 minute walk from the train station…easy enough, right? Nope. Google maps failed us completely.

An hour later, we made it to the hostel! Mission accomplished. Next, we needed dinner, and we picked a winner. We sat and drank and chatted over some delicious Mexican food—between Kerry’s adventures in the Middle East and my travels in Europe, we had a ton to catch up on. We ended our night by walking around the city and admiring all of the beautiful Christmas lights.

The next day was cloudy, but luckily not too cold (by Amsterdam standards). We took a canal tour through the city. Amsterdam has more than 100 kilometers of canals, lined with around 2,5000 houseboats. A houseboat seemed like a cool way to live, until our tour guide mentioned that if you live in a houseboat, you open yourself up to being photographed at any moment by tourists…even at 7am in your pajamas!

We then headed to the Anne Frank House Museum, which I think has come to be one of my favorite memories from my entire semester abroad. The first section of the museum was just a few empty rooms with videos…so I started wondering what all the hype was about. But then, we reached the bookcase. The bookcase was a section of the wall that was moveable—it hid the entrance to the part of house where the Frank family hid. The moment I touched the original bookcase that Miep Gies moved each day to get to the Franks, was the moment everything became real.

The Frank family left Germany after the Nazi Party won the elections in 1933. Otto Frank set up a business in Amsterdam, and he moved his family there. On her 13^th birthday, Anne Frank received a diary, what would ultimately become the most important thing she owned. A month later, the family went into hiding in a secluded part of Otto’s office building.

I walked through the rooms where the Franks hid for two years, and still couldn’t imagine what their life had been like. Imagine not being able to go for a walk for two years, not being able to feel the sun on your face, eat your favorite meal, or see your friends…all because of one fascist, racist person who somehow managed to poison the minds of millions while so much of the world stood by as guilty bystanders or, maybe even worse, in utter ignorance.

At the end of the museum, there was a video of celebrities talking how they were inspired by Anne Frank’s story. The most moving quote came from actress Emma Thompson: “All of her would haves are our possibilities.” Let that sink in. We will return to this later.

Day 3 began at the A’DAM Lookout, an observation deck with a panoramic view of the city. Kerry and I took a thrilling ride on Europe’s highest swing “Over the Edge.” Next we hit the bar with a view for some afternoon wine. Hey, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere, right?! You can’t go to Amsterdam and not visit the Heineken Experience, so that’s exactly what we did. A tour, a movie with moving seats, and three beers later, it had been a great day. We ended the night with a yummy dinner, Mexican again, and just like that, our last night in Amsterdam was over. What amazing trip with one of my best friends!

“All of her would haves are our possibilities.”

Anne Frank wanted to be a journalist. I’ve been seriously considering journalism, as I have come to really like writing. Maybe that’s one of her would haves that can become my possibility.

I know Anne Frank wanted to change the world. She wanted to make people kinder, spread love, and demolish hate. I hope those would haves become our realities. Here’s to a brighter, better, and kinder 2017. Make it happen, it’s on us now.

Firenze

Florence is a city filled with so much history, beauty, art, architecture, and culture… but most importantly, it was filled with my family at Thanksgiving!

I was STILL sick from my Prague trip, but I arrived in Italy ready for good food, wine, and of course, people. My trip to Italy was by far the most frustrating experience I’ve had traveling in Europe. Pretty much everything that could have gone wrong, did go wrong. BUT I made it, and met my aunt, uncle, and cousins at Piazzale Michelangelo just in time for the sunset. My first impression of Florence was this beautiful view of the entire city. We had a wonderful dinner (pumpkin ravioli!) and great conversations.

We started the next day bright and early, heading to the Duomo. Unfortunately, tickets were sold out to climb the Duomo, but we did climb the Bell Tower, which was still breathtaking. The staircase was treacherous and tiring, but we somehow we made it to the top, and when we did, the view was worth every huff, puff, and drop of sweat.

We waked back down and entered the cathedral where we saw the dome from the bottom. I was thankful to have my camera to take some pictures and zoom in to see the detail of the beautiful artwork. The cathedral was constructed from 1296-1436; however, it was built on the site of an ancient 5^th century structure. Despite the large number of tourists, I could sense the holiness of this place, especially while standing at the alter, under the dome.

Next stop: Baptistery of Saint John. The building rendered me speechless. It is one of the oldest buildings in Florence, constructed between 1059-1128. The gold ceilings and beautiful frescos were truly incredible.

I think my favorite part of the day was when we reached a bridge and saw the pure blue sky and white clouds reflected on the water. I could have stayed on that bridge forever.

It was a quick trip but a very meaningful one. I am looking forward to returning to Italy—to Rome next time—when my finals are over.

Special shout out to my cousin, Heather, who studied in Florence this semester and served as our official tour guide!

Praha!

“Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.” –John Lennon

Leading up to my trip to Prague, I was feeling very discouraged. I was drowning in schoolwork and coming down with a bad cold. I seriously considered skipping the trip, but I knew my best friend and cousin, who I was meeting in Prague, would not be pleased with me. And, I am SO glad I decided to go!

I had to leave my apartment at 6:45am, and for the first time in Madrid, I saw the sun rise while on the train to the airport. I think it was a sign that I made the right decision to follow through with the weekend in Prague.

I made it to my hostel in Prague and found my best friend waiting for me. I have met some great people here in Madrid, but nothing compares to spending time with an old friend. Of course, the first thought on our minds: “FOOD!” We met my cousin Heather and her friend for burritos, and I think they were good but I wolfed it down far too fast to taste it.

Next stop: the John Lennon Wall. The wall got its name because the first thing ever painted on the wall was John Lennon’s face and some song lyrics following his assassination in 1980. Because Western images and symbols were banned at this time in Czechoslovakia by the Communist regime, the artwork was seen as a rebellion and was removed. However, that one painting was enough to start a trend—the wall became a place for anti-communism proclamations. After the fall of communism, the wall transformed into a place for social activism and artistic expression. You will not see the same façade two days in a row because there is always someone painting something new. Naturally, my favorite was “Love Trump’s Hate.”

We then continued exploring the city, walking over the Charles Bridge into the Old Town. We saw the Astronomical Clock and the little show that happens at the top of the hour. The clock was installed in 1410 in the Old Town Hall and is the oldest astronomical clock still operating.

We had a traditional Prague meal of beef with bread dumplings and potatoes, and of course a Czech beer. Charly and I headed back to hostel early, tired after a day of travailing. Classic Charly and Rebecca move: we didn’t actually go to bed early but instead spent hours talking and catching up about our experiences abroad. Did you really have a slumber party with your best friend if you didn’t talk all night?

The next morning we were up and out fairly early. Our first stop was the Prague Castle. We were quite confused when we arrived and it was not a castle like we pictured in our minds (you know, that medieval Cinderella type). Instead, the Prague Castle is more of a complex of different buildings, creating a village within the city. Dating back to the 9^th century, the Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world. My favorite part was the gothic Cathedral of St. Vitus. The site of St. Vitus has been home to cathedrals since 910, and St. Vitus was constructed beginning in 1344. Just as it was almost finished in the 1500s, it was severely damaged by a fire. It was not until the 1860s that renovations and plans to complete the cathedral began. The cathedral was finally finished in 1929, 600 years after it was begun.

In one afternoon we ate some amazing sushi (apparently Prague is known for having the best sushi in Europe), I had a great latte, and we shared a heavenly fondue platter. Every bite and calorie was completely worth it. That night we both ordered Czech goulash in bread bowls. Needless to say, it was a great food day.

The next morning we waked by the Vltava River and explored the Jewish Quarter, Josefov. Josefov dates back to the 13^th century when Jewish people were ordered to leave their homes and settle in one area. The neighborhood grew as more exiled Jews began coming from across Europe. The area’s six synagogues, the Ceremonial Hall, and the cemetery all survived Hitler’s regime because he declared Josefov a “Museum of an Extinct Race.”

We then stumbled across this huge candy shop, so obviously we went in and discovered they had a museum with chocolate tastings and praline-making demonstrations. I’m still dreaming about that chocolate.

It was time to say goodbye to Charly, but I still had a few hours to kill before my flight, so I ventured over to the Old Tower of the Charles Bridge. Climbing the tower was the perfect way to end my weekend in Prague. I got to see the entire city and was left with that final image of beauty in my mind.

I had a comical taxi ride to the airport. Even though I told him I did not speak Czech, the driver talked the entire time and at one point showed me pictures of his “women” with their pet cat. He also blasted some Czech screamo music and was an enthusiastic steering wheel drummer. Due to bad weather in Madrid, my flight was delayed, and I could feel myself getting sicker by the minute (whatever I was coming down with before I arrived in Prague was getting worse). I missed my train from the Madrid airport and was forced to take an expensive taxi ride back to my apartment. I arrived home feeling very sick, frustrated, and exhausted. I was feeling a little discouraged by all of this and worried about my week to come with schoolwork, but of course my brilliant mother shined some wisdom down on me all the way from NJ reminding me how important it is to take care of myself first, and that I will get the work done, because I always do. “Rebecca, everything will be fine.” And she was right, moms are always right.

“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope some day you will join us, and the world will live as one.” –John Lennon

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Not being home for my favorite holiday is/was a little weird. I’m having major FOMO seeing all my friends and family home together (and seeing pictures of the delicious food!!! *sigh*). However, I feel lucky to have spent Thanksgiving evening with some cool people here in Madrid. We showed a few Europeans what it’s all about!

Being on my own in Madrid, especially this past week, I had some extra time to reflect the things I am most thankful for this year.

First of all, I am beyond grateful to be abroad this semester—I cannot describe how thankful I am for this experience. I still have a month left and am not quite ready to reflect about my experience as a whole, but I absolutely have to say a HUGE thank you to my parents for allowing me to have this opportunity. Thank you for taking my crying phone calls and for always knowing just what to say to keep me going. Also, thank you both so much for visiting me in Madrid! I hope you enjoyed your time here as much as I did. (Ryan, wish you could have been here too!)

You know the cliché phrase “Distance makes the heart grow fonder”—well it’s so true. I have some truly amazing people in my corner, and I’m not sure where I would be without them to help me walk through this life. (Ok, so I can guess where I would be: face-flat on the floor, probably). As Jamie Tworkowski says, “People need other people,” and being away from all “my people” this semester has reminded me how true this is.

To my friends from Jersey: There’s something to be said about getting out of our hometowns, going to college, traveling the world, BUT there’s also nothing like coming home to you all each and every time. Cranford is where I feel most like myself, most comfortable, and there’s no doubt it is because I am surrounded by my favorite people. Thank you all for sticking by my side for so long. You have given me more than I can ever return XO

GMU peeps: Just because I’m a Jersey girl at heart does not mean Virginia doesn’t hold a piece of my heart—because it does. You are all some of the smartest and kindest people I have ever encountered, and you accept me and my craziness on a daily basis (even when I’m bugging out over school). You have challenged me to think differently, inspired me to have bigger dreams, and most importantly, you tolerate my Beyonce karaoke 😉

Fam: Whether it is a gathering of the Dooley clan or the Wieczoreks, I can always count on my family to make me laugh so hard that I cry and to tell one too many embarrassing stories (and they wonder why I don’t bring friends around…). I feel like I spent more time than usual with many of you this summer, and for that, I am very thankful. Many of you have given me life advice I will never forget, and all of you have shaped some part of who I am through the experiences we have shared together. See you all at Christmas!

Beauty in Granada

It’s easy to get caught up in the “study abroad culture”—seeing how many countries you can visit in one semester—that it’s possible to miss the beauty that’s right in your backyard.

Okay, so Granada is not my backyard, but just a 4-hour bus ride away and still in Spain. Granada is the capital city of the province Andalusia in the south of Spain, sitting at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Granada has been populated since at least 5500 BC and had both Roman and Visigoth inhabitants. In 711, the Muslims (Moors) famously conquered Spain; they gained control of Granada with the help of the Jewish community in the area. As the Spanish began their reconquest, Muslims took refuge in Granada for hundreds of years. The Catholic Kings completed the reconquest in 1492, finally capturing Granada.

Today, Moorish culture (Mudéjar) continues to permeate the city. After the reconquest, Muslims were forced to convert to Catholicism, becoming Moriscos (Catholics with Moor decent). Most of the synagogues were either made into Catholic churches or completely destroyed. However, now, Granada is a city where the three cultures and religions thrive both independently and intertwined with each other.

Upon arriving in Granada, I walked around the Arab stores and markets (bought some cool pants!). I entered a tea shop and thought I went to heaven. The sweet smells and endless supply of tea was enough to make me want to stay there all afternoon.

After finally deciding on my purchases, I went on a walking tour of the Albaicín, the oldest part of the city with heavy Muslim influence. We saw the old city gates and walls, as well as the picturesque white houses.

We ended the night with a Flamenco show in the Sacramonte neighborhood. Sacramonte is located on a hill and is known as the old neighborhood of the Romani, who settled in Granada after the conquest of the city. The show was intimate and the venue’s decorations really set the scene.

On Sunday, we visited the Alhambra, which is the most famous site in Granada. The Alhambra started as a small fortress in the 9^th century and gradually grew through the 15^th century. It served as the palace for the Muslim Sultan until the Spanish reconquest when it became a palace for King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella (the Catholic Kings).

It is difficult to put the Alhambra into words. The Mudéjar architecture is intricate and beautiful. It was hard to capture the beauty via photograph. The rooms were small and many were dark, but it is a place that will forever be ingrained in my memory.

The gardens of the Alhambra were seemingly endless. They were breath taking and so colorful.

I climbed to the top of one of the towers where I saw one of the most beautiful sights of my life: the Sierra Nevada Mountains covered in snow in the distance contrasted by the palm trees right below me. I posted this caption on Instagram:

“Adjust your ~altitude~ I can’t stop thinking about how humbling this view was. I felt so small, but not in a bad way. It’s a big world- the people, the places, the beauty, the pain… maybe our own problems are not so huge after all.”

As so much of our country is in turmoil, it is so important to keep perspective in mind. I am hurting too. I am scared—for my future and for the future of those I love, but I have to have hope that we will be okay. It’s all we’ve got left. God’s hands create beautiful things, and I know we are all in his hands.

Keep your head up, continue getting up each morning and conquer each day. Together, as women, as Millennials, as minorities, as Americans, we can do big things.

XOXO

“Strut like you mean it!” (in Barcelona)

*if you appreciate my Cheetah Girls reference, you’re welcome*

Hello beautiful people!!!

Between midterms and following the election news, I have been super busy lately! Now that it’s just a waiting game, I thought it would be a great time to distract myself and update my blog.

I recently had a four-day weekend, and so I spent it in the beautiful city of Barcelona. This trip was extra special because I spent it with my cousin, Heather, and got to see a friend from high school! I was so amazed by Barcelona’s beauty, culture, and diversity. Four days was not enough!

On Friday, we started our trip with a walking tour of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, an interesting neighborhood with a mix of medieval and 19^th/20^th century architecture. One highlight was the Barcelona Cathedral (Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia). It was constructed from the 13^th to 15^th centuries, with a new neo-Gothic façade built in the 19^th century. Eulalia of Barcelona is the co-patron saint of the city and was a martyr during 4^th century Roman times. I returned to this Cathedral on Monday night to go inside, and after only 15 minutes, there was an announcement that mass was about to begin so visitors should either leave or stay for the mass. By this point, at the end of my trip, I was exhausted, my feet hurt, and I had not yet seen the whole cathedral. Being the eve of a holy day of obligation, I decided to rest my feet and sit down for mass. I am so glad I did. It was my first mass all in Spanish, and I think I understood the majority of it, which is a success in my book!

After the Gothic Quarter, we walked down to the Port Vell and saw the beautiful Mediterranean.

Finally, I laid eyes on the highly anticipated Sagrada Familia by Gaudí. The outside of the cathedral is intricate, unique, and massive. I am glad I did not know much about this cathedral beforehand because it made entering it that much more breath taking (tears may have been shed…). Unintentionally buying my ticket for late afternoon when the sun was low enough in the sky to directly enter the multitude of stained glass windows was, I’m convinced, a gift from the big man upstairs.

Saturday was Park Güell day! If you Google Barcelona, you are likely seeing pictures of this park, designed by Gaudí, famous for its mosaics. I spent hours here, completely in awe of all the mosaics and the views of the city form the park. The park was originally intended to be part of a commercial housing development, but that failed, and instead it became the famous public park. Park Güell was beautiful, relaxing, and so picturesque. It was definitely one of my favorite parts of Barcelona.

Sundays are lazy days in Barcelona, or so it seems. Many stores are closed, and we found ourselves wandering unsure of what to do. Heather and I had brunch at a well-known restaurant called Brunch&Cake (shoutout to that quinoa burger). Sunday night I met up with a friend from high school, Claire. We ate at a great restaurant, Cervecería Catalana, where we devoured delicious tapas and enjoyed some fabulous sangria. After dinner, we headed to the Bunkers of Carmel for a view of the city. I had been sick throughout this trip, and so picture this: me walking up a huge hill while congested and without my inhaler. Yeah, no bueno. BUT the view was worth every wheezing breath.

I spent my last day in Barcelona walking in and out of more stores than I could count in the city center. Barcelona is the place to go if you like fashion and shopping!

I was reminded how important it is to research and plan BEFORE my trips. There were a few places in Barcelona I could not see, such as Gaudí’s Casa Batlló, because I did not get tickets in advance, and I’m sure there were others I missed out on simply because I failed to research beforehand. However, I thoroughly enjoyed my trip, and it was made even better by the people I shared it with 🙂

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Hillary Clinton is my #NastyWoman

Moments after Donald Trump insisted, “Nobody has more respect for women than I do,” he interrupted Hillary Clinton, calling her a “nasty woman.” The internet exploded. #NastyWoman was trending overnight on all platforms as women rallied together in support for Hillary and for feminism.

What does the election have to do with my time in Spain? A lot, actually. Let’s cut to the chase: America’s position of prominence in the world order makes what happens in our country very important to the rest of the world. As one of the few American students in my classes, I am asked on a daily basis about the election. Upon sitting down to organize my thoughts so that I could coherently explain my position, I realized that #NastyWoman was calling me to write the post that I’ve had written in my head for quite some time but have been too afraid to share.

#NastyWoman is the ultimate form of solidarity—a concept women are all too familiar with, as it holds the key to their existence, while men may never really understand its necessity. #NastyWoman is for the woman who has been called “bitch” or “bossy” while acting in a role of authority. #NastyWoman is for the woman who speaks up when she is paid only $0.77 for every $1.00 the man sitting at the desk next door receives. #NastyWoman is for the woman who speaks out about her sexual assault and demands justice. I don’t know about you, but I want to be a #NastyWoman.

I like my presidents like I like my woman, nasty. And strong. And smart. And capable. #Debatenight #ImWithHer

— Nasty Natalia Reagan (@natalia13reagan) October 20, 2016

Look, if you've ever been called a "nasty woman" for disagreeing with a man, go vote November 8. #DebateNight

— Jennifer Wright (@JenAshleyWright) October 20, 2016

I'm a #nastywoman. I believe in every woman's right to choose. I believe in healthcare for all. I do not yield to men. #ImWithHer

— Julie (@DailyJulianne) October 20, 2016

What American needs now is a pro-Hillary anthem named "Nasty Woman" by Nicki Minaj.

— Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) October 20, 2016

All of this hype, and Hillary did not even bat an eye at Trump’s comment. What she did do though, was prove her nastiness through her passionate comments regarding a woman’s right to an abortion. Trump stated he will appoint pro-life judges to the Supreme Court, and he anticipates these judges will overturn Roe v. Wade, the legislation that gives women the right to an abortion. Overturning Roe v. Wade would be a huge step backwards in our society. It would be another circumstance in which men and authorities give themselves the right to control women’s bodies.

When late-term abortion was put on the table, we see how ignorant Trump is on the subject. He explains the abortion as such: “You can take the baby and rip the baby out of the womb of the mother just prior to the birth of the baby.” This statement is problematic for so many reasons, and Hillary points out one of them when she says, “using that kind of scare rhetoric is unfortunate.” Not only is Trump’s definition of the abortion completely false (especially because Hillary talks of using the procedure when the health of the mother is at risk), using such harsh words really does scare women who are considering abortions, and it shocks those who also ignorant about abortion into agreeing with his inaccurate explanation.

The ultimate #NastyWoman came out when Hillary Clinton said, “I do not think the United States government should be stepping in and making those most personal of decisions.” *mic drop*

So ultimately, it is not about the actual phrase “nasty woman” because there are more offensive words out there (most not suitable for television, though), but it is about all the phrase represents. Hillary is inviting the nation to have these tough conversations about abortion, equal pay, sexual assault, and sexism in America. Donald Trump is inviting these conversations too, although in a different way—by claiming his privilege allows him to just “grab her pussy”—but he is sparking them nonetheless. The 2016 Presidential Election brought sexism in America to the forefront, making myths out of the ideas that misogyny does not exist and that feminism is dead.

For the first time, we have someone at the podium who truly understands what solidarity means for women. Men can try to speak for women, but real change only comes when women speak as women. That is why it is so important and revolutionary to have a female candidate. When I was younger, I was told I could not be President one day because I am a girl. Now, the door is open for young girls to realistically aspire to the White House.

Ok, ladies, let’s all be #NastyWomen. In the meantime, enjoy this video by my idol, Liz Plank.

Big Tim in Madrid!

That’s right, my dad and his girlfriend flew across the Atlantic to visit Madrid! I had to try really hard to hold back my tears of joy upon seeing them. Having them here for a whole week was just the piece of home I needed. This trip was especially meaningful because Brikely lived here for a few years as a child, and this was her first time back in the city since then. I had a great time playing tour guide and also experiencing new parts of Madrid with them!

Quick visit to Retiro Park

We started our sightseeing at San Gines Chocolateria for churros y chocolate. This was my first stop when I arrived in Madrid, so I thought we should continue the tradition. It was so nice to sit and chat with familiar faces and hear all about what’s going on in the good ol’ NJ. Next, we walked through the city, seeing some of Madrid’s most famous sights like the Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral, and Plaza Mayor. I took them to 100 Montaditos, a restaurant my friends and I frequent, famous for their €1 little sandwiches and beers. We eventually finished the evening at a nice tapas restaurant. And that was just day 1!

One highlight of the trip was meeting up with Brikely’s childhood best friend, Ana. Ana and her mother were so kind and very patient as I slowly used my Spanish with them. We shared some coffee and tasty pastries before heading to another great tapas restaurant right beside Plaza Mayor. Man, was their sangria good! Although my dad and I spoke English to each other, it was definitely cool to have a night almost completely in Spanish! You would think I’d have more of those, but most of my friends here do not speak much Spanish, so English is usually the go to language.

Brikely and I made sure to get ice crea after every meal 😉

We took a day trip to Toledo and got a taste of the three cultures: Christian, Jewish, and Islam in the city. We visited a cathedral, synagogue, and mosque all in one day. My favorite was the most famous synagogue (now museum) in Toledo called Santa María Blanca. It was built in 1180 and is arguably the oldest synagogue in Europe. However, it is now owned and preserved by the Catholic Church. The cathedral is truly the epitome of the mixing of the three religions: it was constructed under the Christian Kingdom of Castile by Islamic architects for Jewish use.

Santa María Blanca

Santa María Blanca

On Sunday we visited the famous Madrid flea market El Rastro. This was my first time at the market. It was HUGE! I hunted all morning for “Om” symbol earrings and finally found some at one of the last tables. I walked away a happy camper. We also visited Brikely’s old neighborhood that afternoon, and we even found the apartment her family lived in! That was a special experience. Then we headed to Templo de Debod, but little did we know, the route our GPS took us was all up hill and ended with way too many stairs to count. Just picture this: the three of us sweating, out of breath, no water in sight, almost passed out on a bench. We seriously contemplated a nap in the park at that very moment 😉 We ended the day at Mercado de San Miguel (the best paella I’ve found so far) where we met a nice man from Florida vacationing alone, and we chatted over paella.

Brikely showing off her apartment!

On our final night we walked through the neighborhood of La Latina. We stumbling across a bar called Cava Baja 17, and boy am I glad we did! Best mojito I’ve ever had (and my dad concurred). We had our final dinner at Taberno Lucio, where we shared a great avocado and tomato salad, some traditional Spanish dishes, and a great bottle of red wine.

I am so lucky that my family was able to come visit (many of my friends here were jealous!) Although I was sad to see them go, only about 10 more weeks until I get to see them again. But before that, I have a lot more to do here!

Oktoberfest!

A few weeks ago, I took my first trip outside of Spain to Munich, Germany for Oktoberfest! I met my two friends from Cranford who are also studying abroad in Europe this semester, Charly and Lucy. It was so nice to see a little piece of home, even for just two short days.

Arriving in Munich alone was a little nerve-wracking because I know absolutely no German. At least when I arrived in Madrid, I knew I could get by with my Spanish, but that was not the case in Munich. Luckily, many people do speak English in Germany, and I found a nice cab driver to take me to our Airbnb (man, taxi surcharges from airports suck!). We were all tired after a day of traveling, but we ventured downtown to eat dinner, have some ice cream, walk around a bit, and make sure we knew how to use the public transportation system for the next morning.

*alarm goes off at 4:45am on Saturday morning* Cue the simultaneous groans, but not really BECAUSE IT WAS OKTOBERFEST DAY! We’ve been planning this trip since June. We had to get there by 7am to get in line. The festival opened at 8am, and we had to be close enough to the front so that when we were let in, we could make it to a tent. When they finally did end up letting people in, it was a stampede. I’m not kidding. I was squished, elbowed, and my toes were stepped on far too many times to count. Also, I lost Charly and Lucy for a bit during this time. (Did I mention that Lucy was the only one with a working phone? No? Well, there was that dilemma.) Somehow, we all made it on line for a tent and got in right at 9am.

The line we were in led us to an area on the second floor of a tent, which was pretty cool because we had a great view of the mad rush of people on the first floor. It seemed like we were surrounded by American students who were also studying abroad across Europe. Charly actually ran into someone she knows from home—it’s a small world!

Every two hours they kick you out of the tent and move you on to another section. In total, I think we went to four sections, had one (or two) too many €10 beers, gobbled down a famous Munich soft pretzel, and took about 300 photos. It was a great day.

On Sunday, Charly and I explored Munich a bit. We visited what we thought to be the Central Park of Munich, called the English Garden. We walked around a very nice (more residential) area by the park which we decided must have been like the Upper Easy Side of Munich. Yes, it’s true, we compare everything to New York. We returned downtown and had some ice cream in front of the New Town Hall, a truly gorgeous piece of Gothic architecture.

It eventually came time to part ways. I met some very nice American girls, who are also studying abroad in Madrid, on the plane home. We had a lengthy conversation during our delay. Despite the 90 minute delay, we somehow managed to only land 30 minutes late and I caught the last train home form the airport with about 30 seconds to spare. God was on my side that Sunday night.

While I do wish I had more time to explore the beauty of Munich that weekend, I am so grateful to have been able to see my good friends and experience Oktoberfest—another European adventure I can check off my list!