Looking back: Frankfurt and Madrid

Before I begin this "looking back" of sorts, I have a brief story.

Tonight I went to help out at my old high school as a referee in a dodgeball tournament. This is about the last thing I'd ever imagine myself doing on a Thursday night, but it turned out to be quite an experience. It was the first time I had come into contact with high school kids in a long time. Having recently returned from Spain, the night truly put the changes in my life into perspective. I looked back on how trivial my four years in high school now appeared, how all the complaints I had and problems I faced then were nothing compared to the challenges I've met over the last few months.

I saw these kids so naive and hoped that some day they too would see the world through different eyes. I'm not trying to be elitist here, but nothing from high school compares even remotely with the kind of soul searching and cultural learning that I had in Spain. I saw that I had come so far, yet like these kids, still have a ways to go. I could appreciate even more the opportunities I've had in college, as well as the opportunities that lie ahead.

Speaking of opportunities, I thoroughly enjoyed the time I had in Madrid. While Frankfurt had some interesting sights, there wasn't much to do. In Madrid, I saw the palace where General Francisco Franco lived. After studying his life and his regime for three months, it was incredibly fulfilling to see it all in real life. I found myself clinging to every detail that the tour guide told us and imagining what we learned about in class happening right in front of me, in the exact room where it happened. It's just one of the beauties of studying abroad, learning about the culture, society and politics in class, and then going out and seeing it, even living it.

So here is the second round of photos. Below are two videos of Frankfurt, one of the skyscrapers at night (don't bother with sound) and the other of a flea market the next day. Enjoy.