Hemos graduado! [We've graduated!]

Hello blog readers!

Today we had our graduation from the University of Valladolid.  It was a very bittersweet time for all of us students, because I know I won't see many of them for a long time (if again).

I met some great students from Pennsylvania, Brazil, and Japan, and it was sure hard to see us all part ways.  "We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere".   I'll never forget the people I've met this semester.  :)

 

Anyway, we had our reception in the Palacio de Santa Cruz, in Valladolid, in a room called the aula triste.  Room of sorrows.  I guess it was appropriately named!

We had the ceremony at 12:30, where we were given our diplomas from the course one by one, and afterwards we had a reception in the gardens with our professors and our fellow students.  It was a really nice end to our time here in Valladolid, but it wasn't complete without a few tears shed!

 This is the reception - complete with some Spanish wine, and of course, some Spanish cuisine.  We've all had a wonderful semester, and it was a great time celebrating our graduation with all of our friends and professors. 

 Speaking of professors, this is Agustín (the man in the suit, the other guy is Jacob, a friend of mine).  He was my professor for my Culture class as well as my speaking emphasis class.  The first day I walked into that class, I literally thought I would hate it.  I was shy and afraid to make mistakes speaking in Spanish, but Agustín successfully broke me of my fear, and it soon became my favorite class of the semester. 

 Oh Nathalie - she's from Indiana University of Pennsylvania - and she was in my classes this semester with me.  I wouldn't have made it through the semester without making funny faces at her across the room!

Upon leaving today, she told me that she will miss me, and that we HAVE to stay in touch (which we will) and then she told me that she can tell I will do great things in life. that's when the tears came!

Leaving is hard - we've built such a great network of friends here, but we all know we're going back home to our lives, but now we've been changed, even if just slightly, into a different version of ourselves.  We've all had an affect on each other, and I for one am going to bring that into whatever I do in my future.

   

This is the room that our graduation was held in - our professors are sitting on the top row on the left, and the rest of the room was filled with the students.  I don't know how many there were, but it had to be over 100! 

 Here's a photo of the gardens where our reception was held!  It was a beautiful day, and a beautiful area! 

And finally, a photo of the students from UW-Stevens Point who successfully made it this semester abroad!  We did it!  We cannot believe how fast the time went, but we've made some great friendships, and even better memories!  :)  Love you guys!  

And with that, we ended our day with some frozen yogurt from the newly opened Smooy store, and we all went home to pack our suitcases.  

And my suitcase is calling my name..."Erin, come pack me!!" so I'm off to finish working on that for the night. 

besos y abrazos,

Erin