Days Left in Barcelona: 0
So...Mom successfully freaked me out about missing my flight. Thank you for that. Can't sleep for the life of me nor can I think of anything that's right to say now that I'm really actually leaving Barcelona. It's my birthday here - I'm 21. :) My heads all jumbled with birthday parties, funfetti cupcakes and Austin.
Once I'm home, I'll give my blog a proper send-off. For now, I'll just say that I love you all from Spain.
Besos y Abrazos
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
My Barcelona Lifesaver
Ever since that first night in the orientation hotel when we didn't know that our "queen" bed was actually two twin beds pushed together, Rebecca and I were perfect roommates. I want to give CEA a high five for how well their roommate matching software works. It's like magic. To the left is our wedding announcement photo - Enjoy!
I know she's going to read this, so I can't say anything mean about her (ha) but I wouldn't even be able to. Time and again, we have laughed ourselves through awkward situations and cried ourselves through miserable ones. We have spent the wee hours of the morning dancing in discotecas and pushed our beds together to watch a movie on our computers. We have spent days just the two of us, with no realization that other people in Barcelona even exist. To steal that line from that movie that I can't remember the name of or the real line, but... Barcelona would not have been the same without you. I would not have been the same without you.
Becks, my fox, meet me in Vegas, I'll tame you. I've gotta feeling, baby are you down down down, take me or leave me. <3 Te amo. Tu eres muy bonita y un pedazo de mi corazón estará siempre con usted y Barcelona.
Besos y Abrazos
Down the Rabbit Hole
Days left in Barcelona: ONE!!!!! :)
Here I am sitting at my computer, bags packed, struggling for words to describe the time I spent in Amsterdam. What was supposed to be 15 of our friends spending the weekend there turned into Rebecca and I, alone, stranded for nearly a week.
Before detailing the hilarity of this adventure, I would first like to defend Amsterdam. There is so much more to the city than the red-light district. The city somehow strikes a balance between being innappropriate yet charming. Never before have I been somewhere that accomplishes that. Sitting outside a cafe drinking a beer along the canals, you easily forget what kind of scandal is waiting around the corner. Plus, they have bagels there and of course, MariJuana is legal. Just kidding, Mom. Though that's obviously a really interesting part of the culture, too.
The first night we stayed in the Flying Pig hostel downtown, just a five minute walk from the middle of red-light. The people staying there were a quirky crew and we quickly assembled a gang of misfits - British furniture designer, U.S. student, 30 year old Asian, kid named Antonio, etc. In the first three nights, we stayed in three different hostels: The Flying Pig Downtown, StayOkay Vondelpark, and The Flying Pig Uptown, ultimately spending our days stranded at the Flying Pig Downtown where their moto is "Home is in your head." I was intent on ripping down that sign by the end of our stay.
I guess I should touch on the weed culture since I made that awful joke earlier. As a girl who despises anything that has to do with inhaling smoke (Thanks, Dad!), I didn't really enjoy smelling like Marijauna when I went to bed, but it was completely unavoidable. In Amsterdam, "Coffee Shops" don't in fact specialize in coffee, but sell Marijuana over the counter. While someone walking down the street in Barcelona is smoking a cigarette, someone walking down the street in Amsterdam is smoking a joint.
Personally, I preferred riding the bikes we rented down the canal streets and up through the countryside stopping to take a break to look at windmills. Holy heck, Amsterdam people know how to bike!! Their bike lanes and traffic signals are more extensive than the ones for cars. You can imagine me trying to ride a bike AND look at a map at the same time. Let's just say, I'm lucky to be alive... But that could be said for the whole trip haha.
We waited until Sunday morning when our flight was officially cancelled to be pro-active about finding an alternate way back to Barcelona. At the train station, we waited four hours to have the women tell us, "I can't help you. I can get you as far as Paris but then you're on your own." We tried asking if we could go through a city other than Paris, at which point she pulled out a map of Europe and laughed at us. Woa, lady, I know what Europe looks like. Utterly defeated by her rudeness, we set our sights on the bus station hoping for better results. Success!! We jumped at the opportunity for two bus tickets at 80 Euro each. Much cheaper than the train and we were guaranteed to get to Barcelona.
The only downside was having to stay in Amsterdam for another three days, but being the lovely ladies that we are, we took this as a sign that we were meant to have extra days of vacation, which we fully enjoyed. Early wednesday morning we boarded our bus and started the 24 hour ride. Finally, this part of the trip went completely smoothly! Except for that my seat was the only one that didn't recline and we stopped every hour to let the old folks go to the bathroom. Oh, and someone on our bus got arressted for terrorist suscipicions. But, yeah, other than that, totally perfect.
All in all, I am extremely proud of us. It was chaos and we did what we had to do to make it home. Now we can say that when the volcanic ash of 2010 grounded all European flights for four days, we were stranded in Amsterdam. Hey, that's a pretty cool story :)
Besos y Abrazos!
P.S. Towards the end of the trip, we started to look pretty "rugged" so be kind on your judgment of the pictures.
Here I am sitting at my computer, bags packed, struggling for words to describe the time I spent in Amsterdam. What was supposed to be 15 of our friends spending the weekend there turned into Rebecca and I, alone, stranded for nearly a week.
Before detailing the hilarity of this adventure, I would first like to defend Amsterdam. There is so much more to the city than the red-light district. The city somehow strikes a balance between being innappropriate yet charming. Never before have I been somewhere that accomplishes that. Sitting outside a cafe drinking a beer along the canals, you easily forget what kind of scandal is waiting around the corner. Plus, they have bagels there and of course, MariJuana is legal. Just kidding, Mom. Though that's obviously a really interesting part of the culture, too.
The first night we stayed in the Flying Pig hostel downtown, just a five minute walk from the middle of red-light. The people staying there were a quirky crew and we quickly assembled a gang of misfits - British furniture designer, U.S. student, 30 year old Asian, kid named Antonio, etc. In the first three nights, we stayed in three different hostels: The Flying Pig Downtown, StayOkay Vondelpark, and The Flying Pig Uptown, ultimately spending our days stranded at the Flying Pig Downtown where their moto is "Home is in your head." I was intent on ripping down that sign by the end of our stay.
I guess I should touch on the weed culture since I made that awful joke earlier. As a girl who despises anything that has to do with inhaling smoke (Thanks, Dad!), I didn't really enjoy smelling like Marijauna when I went to bed, but it was completely unavoidable. In Amsterdam, "Coffee Shops" don't in fact specialize in coffee, but sell Marijuana over the counter. While someone walking down the street in Barcelona is smoking a cigarette, someone walking down the street in Amsterdam is smoking a joint.
Personally, I preferred riding the bikes we rented down the canal streets and up through the countryside stopping to take a break to look at windmills. Holy heck, Amsterdam people know how to bike!! Their bike lanes and traffic signals are more extensive than the ones for cars. You can imagine me trying to ride a bike AND look at a map at the same time. Let's just say, I'm lucky to be alive... But that could be said for the whole trip haha.
We waited until Sunday morning when our flight was officially cancelled to be pro-active about finding an alternate way back to Barcelona. At the train station, we waited four hours to have the women tell us, "I can't help you. I can get you as far as Paris but then you're on your own." We tried asking if we could go through a city other than Paris, at which point she pulled out a map of Europe and laughed at us. Woa, lady, I know what Europe looks like. Utterly defeated by her rudeness, we set our sights on the bus station hoping for better results. Success!! We jumped at the opportunity for two bus tickets at 80 Euro each. Much cheaper than the train and we were guaranteed to get to Barcelona.
The only downside was having to stay in Amsterdam for another three days, but being the lovely ladies that we are, we took this as a sign that we were meant to have extra days of vacation, which we fully enjoyed. Early wednesday morning we boarded our bus and started the 24 hour ride. Finally, this part of the trip went completely smoothly! Except for that my seat was the only one that didn't recline and we stopped every hour to let the old folks go to the bathroom. Oh, and someone on our bus got arressted for terrorist suscipicions. But, yeah, other than that, totally perfect.
All in all, I am extremely proud of us. It was chaos and we did what we had to do to make it home. Now we can say that when the volcanic ash of 2010 grounded all European flights for four days, we were stranded in Amsterdam. Hey, that's a pretty cool story :)
Besos y Abrazos!
P.S. Towards the end of the trip, we started to look pretty "rugged" so be kind on your judgment of the pictures.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
European Vacation
Days left in Barcelona: 2-ish
Yet again, I prove how unreliable a blogger I am. Maybe 2 posts a day?? Oops. I'm not sure that I was thinking very realistically. When I haven't been studying for finals and doing powerpoints for presentations, I've been trying to catch as much sun as possible and go to all my favorite places in Barcelona.
Topic of this blog post: Mom, Dad, and Bridgie hit Barcelona. Oh man, where do I start? At the beginning, right. Read with caution: I think this one is gonna be a doozy
Due to unforseeable and unfortunate events, we spent our first day of their vacation in the police station, calling major credit card companies, and driving up and down the ramp at the rental car station. At the time, I remember thinking, "Oh, wow, I forgot what it was like to travel with my family." Now, I wish that I could do that trip 10 times over.
After our rocky start, we finally got in the car to start the adventure through the French Riviera. With the help of the Garmin GPS system, which I lovingly dubbed "The Gremlin" because I could never remember the real name, we made it to our destination of Nice, France - of course, not without a couple of bumps along the way.
We all had our "jobs". Dad drove. I worked the Gremlin. Mom read guide books and looked at maps. Jet read books, slept, and took pictures - I would have traded with her in a heartbeat. Navigating the way wasn't the easiest job. At one point, Mom handed me a map to consult. It wasn't a map, it was a lifesize poster. When unfolded, I couldn't even see the road. On the way we stopped in Arles, a beautiful French town complete with Roman ruins. Other towns/country we visted were Monaco, Lourmarin, Bonnieux, Lacoste, and L'Isle Sur le Sorgue. The towns atop cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean charmed me. The hike up wouldn't thrill me on a daily basis, but I wouldn't mind sitting on a bench up there all day looking out at the ocean. The hilltowns of France were equally charming. We all caught ourselves saying, "Wow, I hadn't realized how beautiful the south of France was." To which Mom respond, "Didn't any of you look at the links I sent you or do any research?" I did the most out of the three of us and that's really not saying much. I actually think Austin knew more about the places we were going than I did - go figure. Dad saved his research for on sight. I think he now knows more about the structure of Roman ruins than we could have ever imagined. He's got an eye for that kind of stuff and he also spent a lot of time walking around the outerwalls of the towns. One time, I was a great daughter and walked to the top of Lacoste to see the Marquis de Sade's castle. Totally creepy but worth the trip.
We ate at some delicious French cafes courtesy of Rick Steves's advice. He really knows his stuff. Though, again it proved difficult to try and order things in French. Mom picked up pretty quickly, remembering how to count to two and what the names for different foods were. We also ate at a few not so good places which I blame on my constant cravings for American food. Mom rolled her eyes, and in retrospect I should have to, when I suggested going to a Buffalo grille. It was...odd. They served us popcorn as an appetizer. Laughable though to consider that's what they think of American food. There were also pictures of Native Americans adorning the walls. Wow. Speaking of wow, had the BEST gelato of my life in Nice. Score 2 for Rick Steves!!
After a beautiful 5 days in the South of France, we came back to Barcelona to enjoy my city for a few days. I gave them a personal tour of MY Barcelona, which was a lot of walking and ultimately resulted in an exhausted family. Dad made fun of me for taking them to the same restaurants that I took Megan and the girls to, but hey, stick with what you know is good, right? We also did a bus tour of the city which made me realize just how little I get to see of Barcelona on a daily basis. I felt a bit embarrassed not to be able to answer their questions - What's this? What's that? Um...I stay in the same 30 minute walking zone all the time.
All in all, it was an absolutely amazing trip. After the fears of them not being able to come due to British Airways strikes, I felt very lucky to have them here. Hugging me goodbye, Mom said, "I feel like a bad parent leaving you in this big city all by yourself." To which I laughed, because I had been in this "big, scary" city for nearly 3 months. I came back to my room feeling more homesick than I have my whole 106 days here. Now here I am, being able to say that I go home the day after tomorrow. Time really really does fly.
I got the backpack back from lost and found. It is currently haphazardly packed away in my suitcase. I had to ductape it to get it to fit... So thanks for that, Mom, it actually did come in handy.
P.S. Pictures to follow.
Besos y Abrazos <3
Yet again, I prove how unreliable a blogger I am. Maybe 2 posts a day?? Oops. I'm not sure that I was thinking very realistically. When I haven't been studying for finals and doing powerpoints for presentations, I've been trying to catch as much sun as possible and go to all my favorite places in Barcelona.
Topic of this blog post: Mom, Dad, and Bridgie hit Barcelona. Oh man, where do I start? At the beginning, right. Read with caution: I think this one is gonna be a doozy
Due to unforseeable and unfortunate events, we spent our first day of their vacation in the police station, calling major credit card companies, and driving up and down the ramp at the rental car station. At the time, I remember thinking, "Oh, wow, I forgot what it was like to travel with my family." Now, I wish that I could do that trip 10 times over.
After our rocky start, we finally got in the car to start the adventure through the French Riviera. With the help of the Garmin GPS system, which I lovingly dubbed "The Gremlin" because I could never remember the real name, we made it to our destination of Nice, France - of course, not without a couple of bumps along the way.
We all had our "jobs". Dad drove. I worked the Gremlin. Mom read guide books and looked at maps. Jet read books, slept, and took pictures - I would have traded with her in a heartbeat. Navigating the way wasn't the easiest job. At one point, Mom handed me a map to consult. It wasn't a map, it was a lifesize poster. When unfolded, I couldn't even see the road. On the way we stopped in Arles, a beautiful French town complete with Roman ruins. Other towns/country we visted were Monaco, Lourmarin, Bonnieux, Lacoste, and L'Isle Sur le Sorgue. The towns atop cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean charmed me. The hike up wouldn't thrill me on a daily basis, but I wouldn't mind sitting on a bench up there all day looking out at the ocean. The hilltowns of France were equally charming. We all caught ourselves saying, "Wow, I hadn't realized how beautiful the south of France was." To which Mom respond, "Didn't any of you look at the links I sent you or do any research?" I did the most out of the three of us and that's really not saying much. I actually think Austin knew more about the places we were going than I did - go figure. Dad saved his research for on sight. I think he now knows more about the structure of Roman ruins than we could have ever imagined. He's got an eye for that kind of stuff and he also spent a lot of time walking around the outerwalls of the towns. One time, I was a great daughter and walked to the top of Lacoste to see the Marquis de Sade's castle. Totally creepy but worth the trip.
We ate at some delicious French cafes courtesy of Rick Steves's advice. He really knows his stuff. Though, again it proved difficult to try and order things in French. Mom picked up pretty quickly, remembering how to count to two and what the names for different foods were. We also ate at a few not so good places which I blame on my constant cravings for American food. Mom rolled her eyes, and in retrospect I should have to, when I suggested going to a Buffalo grille. It was...odd. They served us popcorn as an appetizer. Laughable though to consider that's what they think of American food. There were also pictures of Native Americans adorning the walls. Wow. Speaking of wow, had the BEST gelato of my life in Nice. Score 2 for Rick Steves!!
After a beautiful 5 days in the South of France, we came back to Barcelona to enjoy my city for a few days. I gave them a personal tour of MY Barcelona, which was a lot of walking and ultimately resulted in an exhausted family. Dad made fun of me for taking them to the same restaurants that I took Megan and the girls to, but hey, stick with what you know is good, right? We also did a bus tour of the city which made me realize just how little I get to see of Barcelona on a daily basis. I felt a bit embarrassed not to be able to answer their questions - What's this? What's that? Um...I stay in the same 30 minute walking zone all the time.
All in all, it was an absolutely amazing trip. After the fears of them not being able to come due to British Airways strikes, I felt very lucky to have them here. Hugging me goodbye, Mom said, "I feel like a bad parent leaving you in this big city all by yourself." To which I laughed, because I had been in this "big, scary" city for nearly 3 months. I came back to my room feeling more homesick than I have my whole 106 days here. Now here I am, being able to say that I go home the day after tomorrow. Time really really does fly.
I got the backpack back from lost and found. It is currently haphazardly packed away in my suitcase. I had to ductape it to get it to fit... So thanks for that, Mom, it actually did come in handy.
P.S. Pictures to follow.
Besos y Abrazos <3
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Je T'aime Paris!
Days left in Barcelona: Still 5
Okay, this one has been a long time coming. Even though it was only a little more than a month ago that I was there, it feels like forever ago. I had always heard mixed reviews about Paris. People either said they loved it or that it was overrated. I loved it. I would never want to live there, but a weekend visit was absolute perfection.
Four things I will always remember about Paris:
There's a beautiful historical building on every corner.
I could eat a crepe every day of my life.
Never before have I felt like such a minority.
It has rightfully earned the reputation of being the most romantic city in Europe.
Paris, like most European cities, puts American history to shame. The Louvre, Versailles, Notre Dame - they all make you question how it is possible that human hands could build these absolutely amazing works of art. I do admit that I had a couple of Davinci Code moments where I could picture myself sneaking around the city searching for ancient secrets. Austin, if we make it on The Amazing Race, my dreams might just come true.
Holy heck. I hate Spanish food. On a bright note, though, had I been studying in France, I probably would have gained 20 pounds. And after freshman year, that NEVER needs to happen again. It did prove quite the challenge trying to order this delicious food, though. My french could use some work.
Maybe call me naive, but in my mind, I pictured French people walking around in fur coats walking Dalmations. They are all supposed to be really well-dressed, ridiculously good-looking, a little bit snobby, and be smoking those really long cigarettes and drinking coffee in outdoor cafes, right? Um...no. Well, at least not completely. I hadn't realized how diverse Paris was - a European megacenter of Africa, Asia, the Middle East. My friend Desiree that I was traveling with is Persian. 9 out of 10 times I sat down on a Metro, I was the only freckled white girl on it. It was, well, really enlightening. If any experience has humbled me and made me realize just how big the world is, it might be those moments sitting on the metro.
I'm not sure what they put in their water, but there are people in love EVERYWHERE. And it's not obnoxious like in Barcelona where you see 14 year olds making out on the street corners. In Paris, couples are holding hands, staring at eachother and acting like nothing else in the world exists. I found myself creepily taking pictures of couples because they were just so in love. I think that something about the Seine and the Eiffel Tower sparkling at night makes people go crazy.
Besos y Abrazos <3
Okay, this one has been a long time coming. Even though it was only a little more than a month ago that I was there, it feels like forever ago. I had always heard mixed reviews about Paris. People either said they loved it or that it was overrated. I loved it. I would never want to live there, but a weekend visit was absolute perfection.
Four things I will always remember about Paris:
There's a beautiful historical building on every corner.
I could eat a crepe every day of my life.
Never before have I felt like such a minority.
It has rightfully earned the reputation of being the most romantic city in Europe.
Paris, like most European cities, puts American history to shame. The Louvre, Versailles, Notre Dame - they all make you question how it is possible that human hands could build these absolutely amazing works of art. I do admit that I had a couple of Davinci Code moments where I could picture myself sneaking around the city searching for ancient secrets. Austin, if we make it on The Amazing Race, my dreams might just come true.
Holy heck. I hate Spanish food. On a bright note, though, had I been studying in France, I probably would have gained 20 pounds. And after freshman year, that NEVER needs to happen again. It did prove quite the challenge trying to order this delicious food, though. My french could use some work.
Maybe call me naive, but in my mind, I pictured French people walking around in fur coats walking Dalmations. They are all supposed to be really well-dressed, ridiculously good-looking, a little bit snobby, and be smoking those really long cigarettes and drinking coffee in outdoor cafes, right? Um...no. Well, at least not completely. I hadn't realized how diverse Paris was - a European megacenter of Africa, Asia, the Middle East. My friend Desiree that I was traveling with is Persian. 9 out of 10 times I sat down on a Metro, I was the only freckled white girl on it. It was, well, really enlightening. If any experience has humbled me and made me realize just how big the world is, it might be those moments sitting on the metro.
I'm not sure what they put in their water, but there are people in love EVERYWHERE. And it's not obnoxious like in Barcelona where you see 14 year olds making out on the street corners. In Paris, couples are holding hands, staring at eachother and acting like nothing else in the world exists. I found myself creepily taking pictures of couples because they were just so in love. I think that something about the Seine and the Eiffel Tower sparkling at night makes people go crazy.
Besos y Abrazos <3
Wrapping it Up
Day: I have completely lost count.
But for the remainder of my time it will now read as...
Days Left in Barcelona: 5
So it's been a month since I last wrote anything in my blog. Over the past three months I have really come to appreciate people who are able to keep up with their adventures on the internet. My mom told me that I shouldn't leave my blog unfinished, and she's completely right. As out of order and random it may be, it is the closest you'll get to my thoughts throughout this time. So, for your reading pleasure, you'll get a blog post a day (maybe even 2) until I'm on a plane heading for America. It is beautiful and sunny outside, but school plays this mean trick on you called final exams and presentations the last week here. Since I'm already confined to my computer, I will be sure to find breaks to show my bloggie a little attention...starting in about a half hour after I jam out to wedding songs and drink a bit of champagne.
BESOS Y ABRAZOS!!!
But for the remainder of my time it will now read as...
Days Left in Barcelona: 5
So it's been a month since I last wrote anything in my blog. Over the past three months I have really come to appreciate people who are able to keep up with their adventures on the internet. My mom told me that I shouldn't leave my blog unfinished, and she's completely right. As out of order and random it may be, it is the closest you'll get to my thoughts throughout this time. So, for your reading pleasure, you'll get a blog post a day (maybe even 2) until I'm on a plane heading for America. It is beautiful and sunny outside, but school plays this mean trick on you called final exams and presentations the last week here. Since I'm already confined to my computer, I will be sure to find breaks to show my bloggie a little attention...starting in about a half hour after I jam out to wedding songs and drink a bit of champagne.
BESOS Y ABRAZOS!!!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The Rest is Sand :)
In case you didn't know the reference...
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in
front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and started to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured it into the
jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full... The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life...
The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health,
friends, and favorite passions. Things that if everything else was lost
and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.
'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, You will never have room for the things that are important to you.
So...
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the dripping tap.
'Take care of the golf balls first -- The things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked'. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in
front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and started to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured it into the
jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full... The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life...
The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health,
friends, and favorite passions. Things that if everything else was lost
and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.
'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, You will never have room for the things that are important to you.
So...
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the dripping tap.
'Take care of the golf balls first -- The things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked'. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'
Reverse Culture Shock
Day 71
My roommate Rebecca, our friend Emily, and I went out for a delicious Chinese dinner last night. I have never eaten so much food at one meal. They had the best Sangria I have tasted in Barcelona, go figure!
On our way back on the metro, the topic of reverse culture shock came up. We all agreed that when we first arrived in Barcelona, we were taken aback by how different it was from home. But, now, after being here for almost three months, it doesn't seem that different anymore.
The things we complain about on a daily basis that we'll actually miss when we're gone...
Pace of life: Everything here is slow. Slow, slow, slow! If you have an appointment with someone, don't be surprised if they show up a half an hour late. Leave your house 10 minutes earlier than you normally would, because you have to dodge in and out of slow walking people on the metro. Allow 1 hour for lunch and 3 hours for dinner. I find myself getting impatient with the lack of urgency.
When I get home: STOP RUSHING ME!! There are plenty of hours in the day, and days in the week. Please, slow life down.
The Food: Blegh. I'm hungry. Sea creatures seem to accidentally show up in a lot of the food here. I want a burger.
When I get home: Holy heck, that's a lot of food. You could feed the hungry of the world with the food I'm going to waste.
Service: Yet again, slow and oftentimes...lacking. Servers here aren't working for tips, so they have no incentive for going above and beyond the basics of their job. Sorry, I don't want to pay for that coke that you never actually brought me, even though I asked you 3 times.
When I get home: Could you stop asking me every 5 minutes if I need anything else? If I need anything else, I will ask. I'm a big girl. Also, I'd really like to enjoy this dinner without feeling rushed out the door.
The Metro: It's dirty. It's crowded. It's hot. Crazies live there.
When I get home: I have to get in my car to drive somewhere, burn my butt and hands from the Arizona heat, park, AND walk to my ultimate destination? Yikes!
Language: It takes mental effort to listen to and speak Spanish. If someone is having a direct conversation with me, I'm able to understand, but otherwise, I'm walking around a world filled with just noise. Talk about a headache!
When I get home: Shoot, you can understand everything I am saying, and vice versa. I am accidentally easedropping on your conversation, instead of being able to zone out to la la land. This is exhausting.
This reads as a lot of whining. But, I think my ultimate point is...the grass isn't always greener on the other side. I love being able to accomplish a lot in a small amount of time, but I also love living without a schedule. Having a car makes me feel more self sufficient. Walking is good exercise. I am an American and darn proud of it. But, if I could take one thing away from this experience and from Barcelona, it's to relax. To appreciate the things that really matter, and the people you love, Cause the rest is just sand...yeah? :) <3
Besos y Abrazos!
My roommate Rebecca, our friend Emily, and I went out for a delicious Chinese dinner last night. I have never eaten so much food at one meal. They had the best Sangria I have tasted in Barcelona, go figure!
On our way back on the metro, the topic of reverse culture shock came up. We all agreed that when we first arrived in Barcelona, we were taken aback by how different it was from home. But, now, after being here for almost three months, it doesn't seem that different anymore.
The things we complain about on a daily basis that we'll actually miss when we're gone...
Pace of life: Everything here is slow. Slow, slow, slow! If you have an appointment with someone, don't be surprised if they show up a half an hour late. Leave your house 10 minutes earlier than you normally would, because you have to dodge in and out of slow walking people on the metro. Allow 1 hour for lunch and 3 hours for dinner. I find myself getting impatient with the lack of urgency.
When I get home: STOP RUSHING ME!! There are plenty of hours in the day, and days in the week. Please, slow life down.
The Food: Blegh. I'm hungry. Sea creatures seem to accidentally show up in a lot of the food here. I want a burger.
When I get home: Holy heck, that's a lot of food. You could feed the hungry of the world with the food I'm going to waste.
Service: Yet again, slow and oftentimes...lacking. Servers here aren't working for tips, so they have no incentive for going above and beyond the basics of their job. Sorry, I don't want to pay for that coke that you never actually brought me, even though I asked you 3 times.
When I get home: Could you stop asking me every 5 minutes if I need anything else? If I need anything else, I will ask. I'm a big girl. Also, I'd really like to enjoy this dinner without feeling rushed out the door.
The Metro: It's dirty. It's crowded. It's hot. Crazies live there.
When I get home: I have to get in my car to drive somewhere, burn my butt and hands from the Arizona heat, park, AND walk to my ultimate destination? Yikes!
Language: It takes mental effort to listen to and speak Spanish. If someone is having a direct conversation with me, I'm able to understand, but otherwise, I'm walking around a world filled with just noise. Talk about a headache!
When I get home: Shoot, you can understand everything I am saying, and vice versa. I am accidentally easedropping on your conversation, instead of being able to zone out to la la land. This is exhausting.
This reads as a lot of whining. But, I think my ultimate point is...the grass isn't always greener on the other side. I love being able to accomplish a lot in a small amount of time, but I also love living without a schedule. Having a car makes me feel more self sufficient. Walking is good exercise. I am an American and darn proud of it. But, if I could take one thing away from this experience and from Barcelona, it's to relax. To appreciate the things that really matter, and the people you love, Cause the rest is just sand...yeah? :) <3
Besos y Abrazos!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Erin Go Bragh
St. Patrick's Day has always held an important place in my heart. In gradeschool, we would sing Irish songs during the week. I have a beautiful voice, contrary to popular belief and could spread Irish cheer with a single high note from "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling." Alright, maybe not, but I was always the go to girl when a song had a line containing Colleen in it. "Ah, Colleen, do you know what they mean by your name?" Why, yes, in fact, my name means girl. Then the boys would call me girl for the next three weeks. At least they didn't know that literally translated, Colleen Maguire means girl of pale color.
Throughout the day, I would get excited seeing someone in green, but then realized they were probably just wearing green. During a 2 hour long coloring session, I tried to explain to my kids that in America, you're supposed to wear green on St.Patrick's Day, and if you don't, people are allowed to pinch you. "Queeeeee? Los Americanos son ridiculosos!" :)
Happy Irish Day!!!
Besos y Abrazos
Throughout the day, I would get excited seeing someone in green, but then realized they were probably just wearing green. During a 2 hour long coloring session, I tried to explain to my kids that in America, you're supposed to wear green on St.Patrick's Day, and if you don't, people are allowed to pinch you. "Queeeeee? Los Americanos son ridiculosos!" :)
Happy Irish Day!!!
Besos y Abrazos
Enjoy the Snow! jaja
Or so my Spanish friend, Marga said last Monday when it started snowing in Barcelona. I woke up Monday morning thinking it was an ordinary first day of the week, but oh no, it was definitely not. Normally, I get up before the sun rises and embark on my journey to class. But there was no way I was bundling up to head outside in a snowstorm. I had not signed on for THAT! While I was safe in my room, the little kids at the school below my window were running around the playground with their shirts off. Never seen snow, huh? I think, "Global warming, you jerk." They couldn't have been more thrilled. Oh, the joys of being a kid.
On a completely unrelated side-note, I have officially mastered "surfing" the metro. In the early morning when I have to take the metro to my 9 am class, it is overcrowded and almost impossible to get a hand on one of the poles. Lucky for me, with some practice, I now know the exact curves and turns of the metro. It's all about the shuffling of the feet and keeping your equilibrium low haha. Now, being the nerd I am, it's kind of a game - to see if I can make it to class without bumping into someone. Look Mom, no hands!! :)
P.S. I got tired of the polka dots.
Besos y Abrazos
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Megan in Barcelona
Day 65
Two weeks ago, today, I was waiting at the airport for Megan and company. It ended up being quite the hassle getting myself to the airport via walking, metro, and train. It ended up being even more difficult trying to find Megan at our designated meeting spot and time. You forget how dependent you are on cell phones!! Getting a big hug from Megs made it all worthwhile.
Thursday: The ladies were tired after their around the world travel day, so they checked into their hotel and took a bit of time to get clean. We decided that since the weather was so beautiful, we should take advantage and be outside. We walked to Las Ramblas, grabbed some lunch, and continued to walk down Las Ramblas towards the ocean. Taking a break, we grabbed a seat at an outside cafe to enjoy some Sangria. A street performer grabbed our attention by attaching a leash to a mans backpack and walking him like a dog. He also karate chopped an asian man, fist pumped a black man, and mocked everyone that walked past him. Totally not okay, but pretty hilarious. He had our table laughing the entire time. We walked along the ocean for a while, then headed back towards the hotel. Split up to meet for dinner later. I took them to my favorite Mexican restaurant "Rosa Negra". I didn't think they would be ready for typical mediterranean food quite yet. Enjoyed some margaritas, delicious food and good company - called it a night "early" at 1 am.
Friday: Day trip to Montserrat :) Megan McGovern really knew her stuff, guide book in hand. Thank goodness, because my knowledge ends once we leave the city. We took the train and got up at the wrong stop, because we accidentally listened to this little old man who was convinced he knew where we were going. I think collectively, we decided it probably wasn't wise to follow advise in a different language. It was another beautiful day! I'm so so happy that the weather cooperated for their visit. It proves very challenging to motivate yourself to sightsee when it's raining. We took some pictures, climbed some mountains, ate some chocolate la la la dee da. When we got back to the city, we took a nap, planning to meet in a few hours. We went to a restaurant nearby recommended by the hotel. It turned out to be this little Spanish restaurant with a drag show upstairs...um? There was also this quite attractive, talented magician who did tricks for us at our table. After dinner, I took them to my favorite bar, "La Oveja Negra". I was convinced I was going to get them to meet some Spanish boys, and sure enough, our table was eventually overcrowded with language barriers. For the most part, they spoke decent English, but every so often, I'd get looked to for translation. At one point, I accidentally told them that Jenna sold drugs, instead of pharmaceuticals. Oops! haha :)
Saturday: I woke up and met with the Megans to explore more of city. We walked north towards La Sagrada Familia, did a bit of tourist shopping, and continued walking with our sights set on Parc Guell. My apologies, I had not realized that meant walking around the world!! The walking we did that day could make up for a month's worth of being lazy. We stopped for sustenance: water and a chocolate croissant. haha And finally made it to the top of the city! The sun was shining, so we sat on a bench, overlooking Barcelona. We had planned to meet the Jennas at champagneria, but it was packed, like a normal Saturday afternoon, so we hopped over to my favorite kebab place instead. The joy of carved meat and special sauces charmed the girls just as it had me. I got to steal Megan away for a little sister time. I think we talked for maybe 15 minutes, then took a nap. Not surprising. At night, the ladies got pizza from my boys across the street. They were thrilled to have more pretty American girls in their pizzeria. Jumped in a cab to Pippermints, where the drinks are bigger than your head. Megan and I welcomed the challenge trying to drink one together. We completed it just before closing time. The night was still young, by Barcelona standards, so we got in a cab headed towards the Spanish hotspot "Razmattaz". It's a discoteca with four different floors, each playing a different kind of music. It was certainly different being there with the Megans and Jennas than my usual group of friends.
Sunday/Monday: The ladies took a little day trip to Valencia. I had to stay home to take a midterm...and experience SNOW?!! More on that crazy weather to come.
Monday night: Megan and company got back in time to go back to the pizzeria for round two of dinner and go out with my friends. We went to Loco Lunes at Otto Zutz. I had shown them a club overpowered by natives, and now I wanted to show them one overpowered by students studying abroad. A foolproof way to tell which kind your at is the dancing. Americans prefer more skin to skin contact while dancing. Personally, I'd love it if we all danced more like the Spanish: in our own little personal space bubbles. After we had gotten our fill of people-watching we had to search far and wide for a cab. I was in comfy shoes, so I found myself running down the streets trying to hail one driving past.
Tuesday: I had to go to class boooo, but I met up with the girls at Champagneria for some lunch and in between class refreshment. After class, I got more Megan time, which I always love. We met up with Megan, Jenna, and Jenna later for some more toursit shopping and dinner near La Sagrada Familia. Had to say goodbye to Megs that night, since we both had early mornings, but I knew I'd see her in 6 weeks, which is practically right around the corner.
I LOVE YOU MEGORA! Thank you for being in Barca with me!
Besos y Abrazos <3 Glen :)
Two weeks ago, today, I was waiting at the airport for Megan and company. It ended up being quite the hassle getting myself to the airport via walking, metro, and train. It ended up being even more difficult trying to find Megan at our designated meeting spot and time. You forget how dependent you are on cell phones!! Getting a big hug from Megs made it all worthwhile.
Thursday: The ladies were tired after their around the world travel day, so they checked into their hotel and took a bit of time to get clean. We decided that since the weather was so beautiful, we should take advantage and be outside. We walked to Las Ramblas, grabbed some lunch, and continued to walk down Las Ramblas towards the ocean. Taking a break, we grabbed a seat at an outside cafe to enjoy some Sangria. A street performer grabbed our attention by attaching a leash to a mans backpack and walking him like a dog. He also karate chopped an asian man, fist pumped a black man, and mocked everyone that walked past him. Totally not okay, but pretty hilarious. He had our table laughing the entire time. We walked along the ocean for a while, then headed back towards the hotel. Split up to meet for dinner later. I took them to my favorite Mexican restaurant "Rosa Negra". I didn't think they would be ready for typical mediterranean food quite yet. Enjoyed some margaritas, delicious food and good company - called it a night "early" at 1 am.
Friday: Day trip to Montserrat :) Megan McGovern really knew her stuff, guide book in hand. Thank goodness, because my knowledge ends once we leave the city. We took the train and got up at the wrong stop, because we accidentally listened to this little old man who was convinced he knew where we were going. I think collectively, we decided it probably wasn't wise to follow advise in a different language. It was another beautiful day! I'm so so happy that the weather cooperated for their visit. It proves very challenging to motivate yourself to sightsee when it's raining. We took some pictures, climbed some mountains, ate some chocolate la la la dee da. When we got back to the city, we took a nap, planning to meet in a few hours. We went to a restaurant nearby recommended by the hotel. It turned out to be this little Spanish restaurant with a drag show upstairs...um? There was also this quite attractive, talented magician who did tricks for us at our table. After dinner, I took them to my favorite bar, "La Oveja Negra". I was convinced I was going to get them to meet some Spanish boys, and sure enough, our table was eventually overcrowded with language barriers. For the most part, they spoke decent English, but every so often, I'd get looked to for translation. At one point, I accidentally told them that Jenna sold drugs, instead of pharmaceuticals. Oops! haha :)
Saturday: I woke up and met with the Megans to explore more of city. We walked north towards La Sagrada Familia, did a bit of tourist shopping, and continued walking with our sights set on Parc Guell. My apologies, I had not realized that meant walking around the world!! The walking we did that day could make up for a month's worth of being lazy. We stopped for sustenance: water and a chocolate croissant. haha And finally made it to the top of the city! The sun was shining, so we sat on a bench, overlooking Barcelona. We had planned to meet the Jennas at champagneria, but it was packed, like a normal Saturday afternoon, so we hopped over to my favorite kebab place instead. The joy of carved meat and special sauces charmed the girls just as it had me. I got to steal Megan away for a little sister time. I think we talked for maybe 15 minutes, then took a nap. Not surprising. At night, the ladies got pizza from my boys across the street. They were thrilled to have more pretty American girls in their pizzeria. Jumped in a cab to Pippermints, where the drinks are bigger than your head. Megan and I welcomed the challenge trying to drink one together. We completed it just before closing time. The night was still young, by Barcelona standards, so we got in a cab headed towards the Spanish hotspot "Razmattaz". It's a discoteca with four different floors, each playing a different kind of music. It was certainly different being there with the Megans and Jennas than my usual group of friends.
Sunday/Monday: The ladies took a little day trip to Valencia. I had to stay home to take a midterm...and experience SNOW?!! More on that crazy weather to come.
Monday night: Megan and company got back in time to go back to the pizzeria for round two of dinner and go out with my friends. We went to Loco Lunes at Otto Zutz. I had shown them a club overpowered by natives, and now I wanted to show them one overpowered by students studying abroad. A foolproof way to tell which kind your at is the dancing. Americans prefer more skin to skin contact while dancing. Personally, I'd love it if we all danced more like the Spanish: in our own little personal space bubbles. After we had gotten our fill of people-watching we had to search far and wide for a cab. I was in comfy shoes, so I found myself running down the streets trying to hail one driving past.
Tuesday: I had to go to class boooo, but I met up with the girls at Champagneria for some lunch and in between class refreshment. After class, I got more Megan time, which I always love. We met up with Megan, Jenna, and Jenna later for some more toursit shopping and dinner near La Sagrada Familia. Had to say goodbye to Megs that night, since we both had early mornings, but I knew I'd see her in 6 weeks, which is practically right around the corner.
I LOVE YOU MEGORA! Thank you for being in Barca with me!
Besos y Abrazos <3 Glen :)
Monday, March 15, 2010
Catching up...
Day 63
It's been an exciting, crazy, busy couple of weeks. Midterms ran straight into Megan and her friends visiting, which in turn ran straight into a 6 am flight to Paris. I am now back, semi-rejuvenated, and ready to share my adventures with you all...tomorrow morning. :)
As for right now, I'm exhausted. Bona ni!
Besos y Abrazos
It's been an exciting, crazy, busy couple of weeks. Midterms ran straight into Megan and her friends visiting, which in turn ran straight into a 6 am flight to Paris. I am now back, semi-rejuvenated, and ready to share my adventures with you all...tomorrow morning. :)
As for right now, I'm exhausted. Bona ni!
Besos y Abrazos
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Rain, Rain, Go Away!
MEGAN COMES TOMORROW!! And the other Megan, and the Jennas, too! Woohoo, I'm so excited! She's bringing me mac and cheese and peanut butter... not to be eaten together :)
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
There's more to life than...
Going to class and going to bars.
Day 49 (By a couple minutes....)
Mom, you've been known to say that I march by the beat of my own drum. Okay, I know that when I was younger that just meant I was a brat, but now it has to mean because I'm quirky. And yes, Bridget, that is just a fancy way of saying weird. My point is: I'm not your average study abroad student who decides to come to Barcelona. I'm not a party animal. I love meeting new people, I love dancing, but I don't want to go out every night, nor would I survive the aftermath of doing so.
Before coming here, I knew that I wanted to do something besides the typical study abroad activities. It only took me a month to get connected with the local YMCA and now I volunteer every Tuesday night for a couple hours. It's one of my favorite parts of the week, well, besides seeing Austin's smiling face.
The first 10 minutes of my first night were extremely awkward. It was like the first day of school when you're trying to profile which kids you want to be friends with. I saw a table with a girl about 10 years old doing math homework. I jumped at that opportunity, because Math is the universal language right?? Uh...not when the kids have to translate from Catalan to Spanish, and then I'm trying to translate from Spanish to English. Yikes! I sat down and asked her if she needed any help. To which she responded, "Como te llamas?" "Colleen." "Queeeeeeeee?" Colleen never goes over well with the Spanish. I asked her what her name was and she said Ashley. Hmmm....ironic. She was doing 6 times tables. Only a week later, she comes into the classroom and gives me a big hug, my little "chica bonita".
When people ask me what I want to do when I "grow up", I say non-profit PR. And I do, I really do. I loved it this summer during my internship, but secretly I know eventually I need to be a teacher. (Aunt Kathy shout out! <3) I could listen to you tell stories about your students forever - how amazing it is to watch a little kid understand something, to see that smile stretch across their face, and to realize that you helped teach them that. Wowza. It doesn't get much better than that.
Besos y Abrazos <3
Day 49 (By a couple minutes....)
Mom, you've been known to say that I march by the beat of my own drum. Okay, I know that when I was younger that just meant I was a brat, but now it has to mean because I'm quirky. And yes, Bridget, that is just a fancy way of saying weird. My point is: I'm not your average study abroad student who decides to come to Barcelona. I'm not a party animal. I love meeting new people, I love dancing, but I don't want to go out every night, nor would I survive the aftermath of doing so.
Before coming here, I knew that I wanted to do something besides the typical study abroad activities. It only took me a month to get connected with the local YMCA and now I volunteer every Tuesday night for a couple hours. It's one of my favorite parts of the week, well, besides seeing Austin's smiling face.
The first 10 minutes of my first night were extremely awkward. It was like the first day of school when you're trying to profile which kids you want to be friends with. I saw a table with a girl about 10 years old doing math homework. I jumped at that opportunity, because Math is the universal language right?? Uh...not when the kids have to translate from Catalan to Spanish, and then I'm trying to translate from Spanish to English. Yikes! I sat down and asked her if she needed any help. To which she responded, "Como te llamas?" "Colleen." "Queeeeeeeee?" Colleen never goes over well with the Spanish. I asked her what her name was and she said Ashley. Hmmm....ironic. She was doing 6 times tables. Only a week later, she comes into the classroom and gives me a big hug, my little "chica bonita".
When people ask me what I want to do when I "grow up", I say non-profit PR. And I do, I really do. I loved it this summer during my internship, but secretly I know eventually I need to be a teacher. (Aunt Kathy shout out! <3) I could listen to you tell stories about your students forever - how amazing it is to watch a little kid understand something, to see that smile stretch across their face, and to realize that you helped teach them that. Wowza. It doesn't get much better than that.
Besos y Abrazos <3
Madrid
Day 48This past weekend, CEA organized a trip to Madrid. Bright and early friday morning we had to wake up to catch the metro to the train station. Needless to say, going to the traditional weekly Thursday night Paella feast was not a good idea. After grabbing a quality American breakfast of McDonald's at the train station, we boarded the train to Madrid.
If you have the time when traveling around Europe, I highly recommend taking the train. You get to see so much more of the country than you would if you were flying. Granted, I slept most of the way there so I saw none of the countryside, but if I had, I'm assuming I could say it was really beautiful.
Getting off the train, we took buses to our hotel, Hotel Gaudi, a beautiful hotel right in the middle of the city, on Calle de Gran Via, only a 5 minute walk from the most recognizable sights. Friday we managed to grab some lunch and make our way over to the Palacio and neighboring Cathedral. It always amazes me that people actually lived in these places. Does anyone really need a separate room for getting dressed, for eating, for sleeping, for reading, for entertaining guests, for not speaking with your wife?? I guess, only if you're a king. The Cathedral was equally as amazing. Yet again, I find myself able to sit in a church for hours just thinking. Later in the evening after a quick nap, a bunch of us enjoyed a traditional Spanish dinner. By which I mean...it lasted three hours.
The next day we didn't do much of anything because it was pouring outside. It is really difficult to motivate yourself to walk around and see the city when you don't own an umbrella. We salvaged our day by going to a famous tapas bar called El Tigre. You pay 3 euro for a beer, and they give you a plate of free tapas. A place like this would make bank in the U.S., especially if they were handing out free in-n-out burgers. Mmmmm! Called it a night early because Sunday was supposed to be sunny.
Woke up Sunday morning and went to the famous flea market in Madrid, "El Rastro." Streets and streets of Spanish people making up prices for absolute junk. But every now and again, you'll stumble upon a treasure. Walked across the city, taking in the beautiful buildings, and spent the next couple hours walking around the huge park in the city center. I could have spent all day there listening to New Orleans style music and watching little kids play. Had to make the journey back to Barcelona in the late afternoon.
My overall thoughts of Madrid... When choosing to study abroad, people had suggested Barcelona over Madrid, saying that Madrid would feel more like an American city. They were right. It reminded me a lot of a Chicago meets Washington D.C., but landlocked. This was nice for a weekend, because it made me feel a little bit closer to home, but I don't think my experience would be as rich had I chosen to be there for four months. Though, it was extremely nice being able to read everything!! If only Barcelona signs were written in Spanish.
Besos y Abrazos!!
Monday, February 22, 2010
When in Spain...
...Do as the Spaniards do?
Day 41
This past weekend, most, no all, of our friends were traveling - Pisa, Paris, Switzerland, Portugal, you name it. My roommate Rebecca and I had tried time and again to plan a trip for this weekend too, but with no success. I thought it would be easy. It's not. Mom, bless you for planning so many family trips, you're truly magical.
So when none of the people you hang out with are home, what do you do? Well, you go shopping, and you stare out the window begging the weather to stop raining. You also go on dinner adventures with a 25 year old Restaurant Marketing Manager named Jordi. Haha here goes the story...
A couple of weeks ago Rebecca had a random encounter in a discoteca with a Barcelona native that she had met while he studied abroad at the College of Charleston. Since then, said Barcelona native, Jordi, had been quite persistent in his efforts to hang out with her. Jordi invited us out for some drinks at one of the restaurants he works for. He pulled up outside of our residencia in a tiny gray car blasting techno music. Oh wait, did I mention he's a DJ? :) He proceeded to greet us with the traditional cheek kiss kiss. Helloooooo Europe!!!!! He walked through the restaurant, "Fishop" as people greeted him left and right, while Rebecca and I awkwardly looked at eachother thinking, "What are we doing here??" He ordered for us, first long island iced teas, and then sunrises. My life savings could not have even begun to pay for those drinks. Thank goodness they were FOR FREE!!! After we had worn out our welcome, he took us to a discoteca where yet again we got in for free... I think he might be kinda famous. He drove us home and invited us back to the restaurant the next night.
The next night started out with the same greeting, car ride and techno music. It was followed by a sushi dinner. It's times like this I really wish I wasn't a picky eater. I know tons of people who would have loved to be in my seat. Once dinner started to wrap up, he set up his DJ equipment and a steady stream of friends and family began to pour in. Rebecca and I sat there feeling a bit as though we were interrupting a family reunion. Eventually, his sister approached us and helped us join in on the fun. They were the cutest Spanish family. I don't think I'd ever see my parents dancing in a bar until 3 am.
All in all, the adventure was super interesting - to be taken places by someone who has spent their lives in Barcelona and calls it home, rather than just a place to party for a semester. Also, to get a feeling of family, when we both miss ours so much. So, thank you DJ Jordi for your tour of Barcelona.
Besos y Abrazos!
Day 41
This past weekend, most, no all, of our friends were traveling - Pisa, Paris, Switzerland, Portugal, you name it. My roommate Rebecca and I had tried time and again to plan a trip for this weekend too, but with no success. I thought it would be easy. It's not. Mom, bless you for planning so many family trips, you're truly magical.
So when none of the people you hang out with are home, what do you do? Well, you go shopping, and you stare out the window begging the weather to stop raining. You also go on dinner adventures with a 25 year old Restaurant Marketing Manager named Jordi. Haha here goes the story...
A couple of weeks ago Rebecca had a random encounter in a discoteca with a Barcelona native that she had met while he studied abroad at the College of Charleston. Since then, said Barcelona native, Jordi, had been quite persistent in his efforts to hang out with her. Jordi invited us out for some drinks at one of the restaurants he works for. He pulled up outside of our residencia in a tiny gray car blasting techno music. Oh wait, did I mention he's a DJ? :) He proceeded to greet us with the traditional cheek kiss kiss. Helloooooo Europe!!!!! He walked through the restaurant, "Fishop" as people greeted him left and right, while Rebecca and I awkwardly looked at eachother thinking, "What are we doing here??" He ordered for us, first long island iced teas, and then sunrises. My life savings could not have even begun to pay for those drinks. Thank goodness they were FOR FREE!!! After we had worn out our welcome, he took us to a discoteca where yet again we got in for free... I think he might be kinda famous. He drove us home and invited us back to the restaurant the next night.
The next night started out with the same greeting, car ride and techno music. It was followed by a sushi dinner. It's times like this I really wish I wasn't a picky eater. I know tons of people who would have loved to be in my seat. Once dinner started to wrap up, he set up his DJ equipment and a steady stream of friends and family began to pour in. Rebecca and I sat there feeling a bit as though we were interrupting a family reunion. Eventually, his sister approached us and helped us join in on the fun. They were the cutest Spanish family. I don't think I'd ever see my parents dancing in a bar until 3 am.
All in all, the adventure was super interesting - to be taken places by someone who has spent their lives in Barcelona and calls it home, rather than just a place to party for a semester. Also, to get a feeling of family, when we both miss ours so much. So, thank you DJ Jordi for your tour of Barcelona.
Besos y Abrazos!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Trips and Visitors
Day 37
Uh, day 37? How did that happen? Up until now, I've been enjoying what Barcelona has to offer and haven't made it out of the city besides the day trip to Sitges. Soon enough, travel time and special visitors kick into high gear. I'm hoping the weather is sunny and beautiful in Barcelona this weekend so I can relax and lay outside. Because then my weekends become....Madrid, Visitors/Valencia, Paris, San Sebastian, Visitors/French Riviera, Rome, Amsterdam, Last weekend in Barcelona, HOME!!!!!! Yikes. Time sure flies.
Special annoucement: IN 2 WEEKS FROM TODAY, MEGAN WILL BE HERE!!!! I hope the Megans and Jennas are ready for their Barcelona adventure, because I know I sure am. I think I'm most looking forward to a little bit of home. I wouldn't say that I am homesick, but there are definitely points where you realize you rely and depend on people you really barely know. The people I have met here are all awesome and wonderful, but having my sister in Barcelona will be amazing. And I guess I don't mind that her three crazy friends are tagging along... haha :) just kidding.
By the way, Megan, if you read this, please remind me to ask you to bring me some spiderman mac and cheese, oh and also more peanutbutter.
For your enjoyment, I have included a picture of me playing on the beach at Carnaval in Sitges. Some girl said to me, "What are you... like an 80's ballerina who also plays soccer?" Yeah, sure!! Gotta love a good shwishie shwoshie skirt :)
Besos y Abrazos!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
I LOVE the nightlife!!
I thought it only right that I write this post when I return from the clubs at 4 o clock in the morning on a Wednesday night when I have class tomorrow at noon. Yippee.
First, I just told Austin this story: it's a good indication of my mastery of Spanish, and also, my general love life in Barcelona. At the clubs tonight, I randomly just ended up with a red heart balloon tied to my wrist. A Spanish boy came up to me, and took the balloon, and I looked at him with a sad face and said "oh, tu tienes mi corazon" (you have my heart) "pero un hombre en america todavia tiene mi corazon para siempre" (but a guy in america already has my heart forever). He handed back my balloon, smiled and said, "este hombre tiene muy suerte" (this boy is very lucky). He smiled and walked away, and this made me smile. I'm the lucky one.
So, hola Barcelona! Bienvenidos to going out at 1 o clock in the morning and coming home at 6. Ugh!! It didn't take very long to realize that no nightlife in Barcelona exists before 12 at night. This is not very convenient when the metro closes at 12 on week nights. But, luckily, it stays open until 2 on fridays and all night on saturdays! Typically, we will go to a bar around 12, stay there for a couple hours, and then decide whether or not we're up for dancing at a club for three hours.
A couple of my favorite places are Chupitos (the Spanish word for shots), where you look at a board of 500 different shots and choose one, having no idea what is in it. It's quite the adventure. Some boys once told my roommate and I to try "el ultimo" - bad idea. It ended up being a combination of rum, vodka, and tequila. It was the most awful thing I have ever tasted. Some of our favorite "chupitos" are the boy scout, which includes roasting marshmellows over open flame to use as chasers, and the "rusio" which has whipped cream and m&ms on it that you get to drink out of a straw.
Other popular places in Barcelona are Peppermints, where you pay 50 euro for the biggest drink you've ever seen. Also, la oveja negra, "the black sheep", which if you can conjur an image of the movie beer fest, is pretty much the exact same thing.
Okay, I'm sleepy. And I actually do need to go to class in 5 hours. More later.
Besos y Abrazos!
First, I just told Austin this story: it's a good indication of my mastery of Spanish, and also, my general love life in Barcelona. At the clubs tonight, I randomly just ended up with a red heart balloon tied to my wrist. A Spanish boy came up to me, and took the balloon, and I looked at him with a sad face and said "oh, tu tienes mi corazon" (you have my heart) "pero un hombre en america todavia tiene mi corazon para siempre" (but a guy in america already has my heart forever). He handed back my balloon, smiled and said, "este hombre tiene muy suerte" (this boy is very lucky). He smiled and walked away, and this made me smile. I'm the lucky one.
So, hola Barcelona! Bienvenidos to going out at 1 o clock in the morning and coming home at 6. Ugh!! It didn't take very long to realize that no nightlife in Barcelona exists before 12 at night. This is not very convenient when the metro closes at 12 on week nights. But, luckily, it stays open until 2 on fridays and all night on saturdays! Typically, we will go to a bar around 12, stay there for a couple hours, and then decide whether or not we're up for dancing at a club for three hours.
A couple of my favorite places are Chupitos (the Spanish word for shots), where you look at a board of 500 different shots and choose one, having no idea what is in it. It's quite the adventure. Some boys once told my roommate and I to try "el ultimo" - bad idea. It ended up being a combination of rum, vodka, and tequila. It was the most awful thing I have ever tasted. Some of our favorite "chupitos" are the boy scout, which includes roasting marshmellows over open flame to use as chasers, and the "rusio" which has whipped cream and m&ms on it that you get to drink out of a straw.
Other popular places in Barcelona are Peppermints, where you pay 50 euro for the biggest drink you've ever seen. Also, la oveja negra, "the black sheep", which if you can conjur an image of the movie beer fest, is pretty much the exact same thing.
Okay, I'm sleepy. And I actually do need to go to class in 5 hours. More later.
Besos y Abrazos!
Best Boyfriend Status
I LOVE AUSTIN!!! He's my best friend and the coolest kid I know. I'm the luckiest girl in the whole wide world. Wahoo.But seriously, I really really do.
A couple weeks ago, I got done with class and for no real reason, was overcome by the need for a hug. I knew that nobody in Spain could give me what I wanted, and actually make me feel better. There's only a few people in the whole world who really can. So on the verge of a near homesick mental breakdown, I started walking in no particular direction at all. I strolled around Barcelona for about an hour until I found a church. Having nothing else to do, I went inside and sat down for about a half hour. I sometimes easily forget the affect that a church can have on you. It gave me a perfectly peaceful opportunity to sit and think.
What I walked away with was: this truly is the experience of a lifetime, I am doing things I may never have gotten the chance to do otherwise. I am lucky to be here, but I'll be lucky to go home, too. I cherish this time, but it isn't about escaping from real life like it is for a lot of people. (Family, think Camp Letts times a thousand). A big part of it is learning to appreciate another culture, and in the process holding on to all of the things you love about home. Like Riley, and my family, my friends, and Austin - the people you take with you on every adventure, even if they're not actually walking beside you.
Besos y Abrazos
So Marks a Month
Day 29
Four weeks ago, today, I was spending my first night in Barcelona. So, in honor of my first month abroad, I'm going to share some random thoughts.
Spanish men are ruthless. The other day, while walking to class, I had a man lean into my face and say "Hola preciosa." Ew. They won't hesitate to ask you to the discoteca, even if they're 40 years old. Also, even if they're walking arm and arm with their girlfriend/wife, they will still whistle at you.
I love kebabs. I have no idea what's in them, and I don't want to know. You can't really go wrong with a tortilla wrapped around meat and vegetables and doused in special sauce. The meat spins around and cooks, and they scrape it off. Yet again, I don't know what the meat is, because they just call it "carne". But Mmmmm delicious!!
My new German friends are super duper awesome. For my 2 classes that I take at the business university of Barcelona, I am in project groups with some German boys. The other day in class, I started talking about Spiderman Kraft Mac and Cheese, and how badly I was craving it. They later googled it to see what the fuss was about. They were pleased to see that "kids love the fun shapes," but were quite skeptical of the "cheese flavored powder." Haha, Megan I told them you would bring them some when you visit. They also told me they would buy a grill and cook me American hamburgers and hotdogs. They showed me this and said it's what German people think of Americans... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANTDkfkoBaI. No worries, I'm helping the American image one German friend at a time.... by bribing them with artificial mac and cheese.
I had my first experience with Paella last Thursday. I decided to be adventurous and go with my friends to an all you can eat paella experience. The meal consisted of salad, mussels in tomato sauce, calamari, and paella. All of which I tried, putting my anti-seafood background aside. I was fine until the paella came out. No one told me there were going to be sea urchines with claws sitting on my plate staring with their buggy eyes. I was not ready to eat Sebastian's cousin. They did give us all you can drink wine and shots, so all in all, I might consider doing it again, but I'd definitely order a fattie steak.
P.S. Everyone has a dog here. Everyone but me.
Besos y Abrazos!
Four weeks ago, today, I was spending my first night in Barcelona. So, in honor of my first month abroad, I'm going to share some random thoughts.
Spanish men are ruthless. The other day, while walking to class, I had a man lean into my face and say "Hola preciosa." Ew. They won't hesitate to ask you to the discoteca, even if they're 40 years old. Also, even if they're walking arm and arm with their girlfriend/wife, they will still whistle at you.
I love kebabs. I have no idea what's in them, and I don't want to know. You can't really go wrong with a tortilla wrapped around meat and vegetables and doused in special sauce. The meat spins around and cooks, and they scrape it off. Yet again, I don't know what the meat is, because they just call it "carne". But Mmmmm delicious!!
My new German friends are super duper awesome. For my 2 classes that I take at the business university of Barcelona, I am in project groups with some German boys. The other day in class, I started talking about Spiderman Kraft Mac and Cheese, and how badly I was craving it. They later googled it to see what the fuss was about. They were pleased to see that "kids love the fun shapes," but were quite skeptical of the "cheese flavored powder." Haha, Megan I told them you would bring them some when you visit. They also told me they would buy a grill and cook me American hamburgers and hotdogs. They showed me this and said it's what German people think of Americans... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANTDkfkoBaI. No worries, I'm helping the American image one German friend at a time.... by bribing them with artificial mac and cheese.
I had my first experience with Paella last Thursday. I decided to be adventurous and go with my friends to an all you can eat paella experience. The meal consisted of salad, mussels in tomato sauce, calamari, and paella. All of which I tried, putting my anti-seafood background aside. I was fine until the paella came out. No one told me there were going to be sea urchines with claws sitting on my plate staring with their buggy eyes. I was not ready to eat Sebastian's cousin. They did give us all you can drink wine and shots, so all in all, I might consider doing it again, but I'd definitely order a fattie steak.
P.S. Everyone has a dog here. Everyone but me.
Besos y Abrazos!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Spain Makes People Look Good.
I'm considering quitting school and modeling for tourist brochures... because, frankly, this place is so beautiful, it even makes me look relatively good-looking after sleeping for only 3 hours.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
I call this..."Stairway to Heaven"
Day 18
Day trip to Montserrat, a feast of "Calcotada" and Sitges.
Went to bed at 5 in the morning (new post on Barcelona night life to follow!) and had to wake up at 8 for an excursion to the mountain monastery of Montserrat and the ocean town of Sitges.
It was definitely nice to get away from the city for a day. Montserrat was beautiful - tucked away on the side of a mountain. I always thought that monks weren't allowed contact with people. I found it kind of interesting that their lifestyle was on display for tourists. They even had a basketball court outside their living quarters, so I'm guessing they play some pretty mad hoops. There were also people selling cheese. Random. I didn't eat any because cheese gives me the creeps. (And reference picture to the right haha). Now that I think about it, I wish I knew what the significance of this scuplture was because now all I have to say about it is...I wanted to climb this pile of blocks all the way to the top, but everyone got nervous saying it was too high and I could get hurt. I got a little annoyed, because I obviously knew I could climb to the top, but since they're new friends, I had to pretend to be appreciative of their concern. Austin, if you had been there, you would have been all encouraging and probably laughed when I got stuck at the top. We'll have to go back one day so I can stand at the top wearing a cape billowing in the wind like a superhero. Yup. :)
Part two of the journey was a meal of "Calcotada". What exactly is that, you ask? Yikes a bees, it was the most ridiculous meal I have ever eaten. It was something straight off the food network or travel channel. Apparently, it's a big spanish tradition. Calcot is a spring onion that is grown locally and is then cooked on open flame to serve. It's impossible to eat this and not end up being covered in ashes - hilarious. The look of horror on the boys faces when they thought this was the only part of our meal for the day made me laugh out loud. The calcot was then followed by grilled peppers, bread, grilled eggplant, grilled artichoke, salad, sausage, french fries, and ice cream. Quite honestly, I think they only threw the fries in the mix because we're American. I didn't see any other table being served french fries. I didn't complain mmmm potatoes!!!!
Once the food coma set in, we headed off to the ocean town of Sitges, about 45 minutes outside Barcelona. We walked along the beach, joined some little kids in a game of futbol, and played with the dogs - uhhhh, BEST DAY EVER.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Oh, the places you'll go...
Day 8
No discredit to the University of Arizona, but I have a sneaky feeling that I will learn more this semester than I have in all my other semesters of college combined. So that's good news, Mom. Our money is being well spent.
One of the main reasons I always insisted on studying abroad was that I knew, as everyone had told me, that it was a once in a lifetime experience. It's truly a chance to take a peek into a different culture, a different world, but not quite from a visitor's perspective nor a native's. The other times I have visited Europe, I felt like a spectator. This time, I feel like the people of Barcelona are letting me in on a little secret.
As I look out my bedroom window at the city of Barcelona, I can see the crane hanging over La Sagrada Familia, a crane that has been building Guadi's unfinished cathedral for over a hundred years. I can also hear the sounds of Spanish children playing futbol during recess at the school next door. These are the things that strike me when I take a moment to breathe and look around - and I've barely even seen more than the Barcelona that's in my backyard. Sure, I sometimes feel panic setting in when I am crammed on the Metro trying to find my way to school or the medical clinic. But, it's these times of near panic that make me realize the other stuff I am learning, perhaps the more important stuff.
In addition to being immersed in a city exploding with a culture and history that make Arizona's look like a baby, I am learning a lot about myself that I didn't know. When I have no other option, I actually can speak a lot more Spanish than I thought. At my doctor's appointment, he was supposed to speak English, but barely did. When he said, in fragmented English, that my Spanish was very good, I probably beamed from ear to ear. I also have Dad's military background to thank for a natural sense of direction. Never before have I felt this independent and self-sufficient. There are people here to help, but if you want something - you need to find your own way. Good life lesson.
I guess since I'm actually here to study, I might as well mention something about that, too. I can't wait to see what my classes have to teach me. My econ teacher is brilliant. One of those rarities who speaks about 8 different languages, each with the accent of a Spanish Sean Connery. My Communication and Global Competence teacher is insistent on creating scenarios throughout the semester that "pop our bubble" and force us out of our comfort zone. And the other three classes are equally as interesting and thought-provoking.
One last quick note: I miss home - a lot. But even though I think of certain people constantly :) I know that this truly is... a once in a lifetime experience, one that will make me way cooler than I already am. haha
Besos y Abrazos <3
No discredit to the University of Arizona, but I have a sneaky feeling that I will learn more this semester than I have in all my other semesters of college combined. So that's good news, Mom. Our money is being well spent.
One of the main reasons I always insisted on studying abroad was that I knew, as everyone had told me, that it was a once in a lifetime experience. It's truly a chance to take a peek into a different culture, a different world, but not quite from a visitor's perspective nor a native's. The other times I have visited Europe, I felt like a spectator. This time, I feel like the people of Barcelona are letting me in on a little secret.
As I look out my bedroom window at the city of Barcelona, I can see the crane hanging over La Sagrada Familia, a crane that has been building Guadi's unfinished cathedral for over a hundred years. I can also hear the sounds of Spanish children playing futbol during recess at the school next door. These are the things that strike me when I take a moment to breathe and look around - and I've barely even seen more than the Barcelona that's in my backyard. Sure, I sometimes feel panic setting in when I am crammed on the Metro trying to find my way to school or the medical clinic. But, it's these times of near panic that make me realize the other stuff I am learning, perhaps the more important stuff.
In addition to being immersed in a city exploding with a culture and history that make Arizona's look like a baby, I am learning a lot about myself that I didn't know. When I have no other option, I actually can speak a lot more Spanish than I thought. At my doctor's appointment, he was supposed to speak English, but barely did. When he said, in fragmented English, that my Spanish was very good, I probably beamed from ear to ear. I also have Dad's military background to thank for a natural sense of direction. Never before have I felt this independent and self-sufficient. There are people here to help, but if you want something - you need to find your own way. Good life lesson.
I guess since I'm actually here to study, I might as well mention something about that, too. I can't wait to see what my classes have to teach me. My econ teacher is brilliant. One of those rarities who speaks about 8 different languages, each with the accent of a Spanish Sean Connery. My Communication and Global Competence teacher is insistent on creating scenarios throughout the semester that "pop our bubble" and force us out of our comfort zone. And the other three classes are equally as interesting and thought-provoking.
One last quick note: I miss home - a lot. But even though I think of certain people constantly :) I know that this truly is... a once in a lifetime experience, one that will make me way cooler than I already am. haha
Besos y Abrazos <3
Monday, January 18, 2010
Discombobulated - funny word!
I can see myself this semester lacking any direction for a lot of these blog posts. My thoughts come out all jumbled, because that's how I feel walking around the streets of Barcelona - jumbled and unorganized. I apologize in advance that a lot of these will seem...well, random and awkward.
For example, yesterday I had to find my way to a specific Pharmacy that was recommended by my study abroad program for having pharmacists who speak English. I am having a skin infection issue on my chin, which personally I think is karma for never having acne problems in the past. If you can imagine me walking through the rain, miserable, hungry, itchy chin, trying my best not to stick out as an American - you can surely imagine a pitiful site. There is no possible way for Americans to blend in. We are awkward. I finally find the Pharmacy in question and what a surprise - nobody speaks English.
Okay, I have taken Spanish for a VERY long time. But when I open my mouth and start talking in what seems to me is respectable Spanish, they look at me like I am an alien. "Lo siento, no soy un alien, soy de America." I'm getting the impression that the two might as well be the same thing. After quite the struggle, I finally convince her to give me some antibiotics. I come to find out later that this is now illegal in Spain - oops!
So, the language barrier is still a problem, but at least I'm starting to feel like I know my way around. So far, I can find the 6 or so places I need on a daily basis - the pizza place across the street, my metro stop, the pharmacy, both of the campuses I study at, and the big department store. Oh, and let's not forget the closest McDonald's, Burger King, and KFC. These are a fail safe if I can't find alternative nourishment.
That's it for now - I start classes tomorrow :)
Besos y Abrazos
For example, yesterday I had to find my way to a specific Pharmacy that was recommended by my study abroad program for having pharmacists who speak English. I am having a skin infection issue on my chin, which personally I think is karma for never having acne problems in the past. If you can imagine me walking through the rain, miserable, hungry, itchy chin, trying my best not to stick out as an American - you can surely imagine a pitiful site. There is no possible way for Americans to blend in. We are awkward. I finally find the Pharmacy in question and what a surprise - nobody speaks English.
Okay, I have taken Spanish for a VERY long time. But when I open my mouth and start talking in what seems to me is respectable Spanish, they look at me like I am an alien. "Lo siento, no soy un alien, soy de America." I'm getting the impression that the two might as well be the same thing. After quite the struggle, I finally convince her to give me some antibiotics. I come to find out later that this is now illegal in Spain - oops!
So, the language barrier is still a problem, but at least I'm starting to feel like I know my way around. So far, I can find the 6 or so places I need on a daily basis - the pizza place across the street, my metro stop, the pharmacy, both of the campuses I study at, and the big department store. Oh, and let's not forget the closest McDonald's, Burger King, and KFC. These are a fail safe if I can't find alternative nourishment.
That's it for now - I start classes tomorrow :)
Besos y Abrazos
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Bonita.
Looking towards the South from Parc Guell. I don't think a city can get much more beautiful than this....Friday, January 15, 2010
My New Home
Day 1 Barcelona, Spain
Arrived at my final destination on Wednesday afternoon. Got my first taste of Barcelona when the buses transporting students from the airport to the hotel were full, and I got elected to be in charge of telling a taxi where to go and paying him with Euros. I met a couple of nice girls and relaxed in my hotel room waiting for my roommate to arrive. She is awesome and we clicked automatically - this really boosts my confidence in the roommate matching software study abroad programs like this use. Had a lovely "American" dinner in the hotel restaurant. They tried really hard to make food that we would recognize, but I don't ever recall potatoes and pasta with french dressing all being served simultaneously. It's the thought that counts, though. I think I'll lose 10 pounds while here - some of the food makes me cringe, and boy, is it expensive!!
Day 2
Woke up to go to breakfast and orientation for classes. It was very boring, and I was getting tired of being cooped up in the hotel. It is ridiculous how rude some of the people in this program are. It's no wonder why so many people hate Americans. Finally out of the hotel - went on a bus tour of the city. Barcelona is breathtaking - a bustling city, nestled between the mountains and the ocean. I can't wait to experience more of their culture, and feel as though I'm not a tourist once I get my bearings in the city. In an attempt to get ourselves on Spanish time, my roommate and I took a "siesta". After waking up and going downstairs, we randomly met some Barcelona handball players (um...what is handball, really?). It wasn't until later that we realized they were kind of famous. Oops. With some CEA people we knew, we went to a late dinner (9:30) and went to a bar. Called it a night early and were back at our hotel by 3:30 (ha!)
Day 3
Just barely woke up in time to make the bus to our residencia. We moved into our residencia, and didn't waste any time trying to look for food and some necessities. We found our way to a Spanish type Macy's and proceeded to try and figure out how to read the labels, sign up for mobile phones, find the bathroom. I never realized just how different Catalan is than the Spanish they teach at home. Becca and I settled for some chips and salsa for lunch and oodles of noodles for dinner. Wooooo spanish food!
Something I've learned: The people of Barcelona take great pride in the fact that they speak Catalan, and that their language is a unique aspect of their culture. If you make an effort to learn phrases in Catalan, for example "Bona Ni" instead of "Buenas Noches", they will appreciate and respect you more as an American in their country.
Arrived at my final destination on Wednesday afternoon. Got my first taste of Barcelona when the buses transporting students from the airport to the hotel were full, and I got elected to be in charge of telling a taxi where to go and paying him with Euros. I met a couple of nice girls and relaxed in my hotel room waiting for my roommate to arrive. She is awesome and we clicked automatically - this really boosts my confidence in the roommate matching software study abroad programs like this use. Had a lovely "American" dinner in the hotel restaurant. They tried really hard to make food that we would recognize, but I don't ever recall potatoes and pasta with french dressing all being served simultaneously. It's the thought that counts, though. I think I'll lose 10 pounds while here - some of the food makes me cringe, and boy, is it expensive!!
Day 2
Woke up to go to breakfast and orientation for classes. It was very boring, and I was getting tired of being cooped up in the hotel. It is ridiculous how rude some of the people in this program are. It's no wonder why so many people hate Americans. Finally out of the hotel - went on a bus tour of the city. Barcelona is breathtaking - a bustling city, nestled between the mountains and the ocean. I can't wait to experience more of their culture, and feel as though I'm not a tourist once I get my bearings in the city. In an attempt to get ourselves on Spanish time, my roommate and I took a "siesta". After waking up and going downstairs, we randomly met some Barcelona handball players (um...what is handball, really?). It wasn't until later that we realized they were kind of famous. Oops. With some CEA people we knew, we went to a late dinner (9:30) and went to a bar. Called it a night early and were back at our hotel by 3:30 (ha!)
Day 3
Just barely woke up in time to make the bus to our residencia. We moved into our residencia, and didn't waste any time trying to look for food and some necessities. We found our way to a Spanish type Macy's and proceeded to try and figure out how to read the labels, sign up for mobile phones, find the bathroom. I never realized just how different Catalan is than the Spanish they teach at home. Becca and I settled for some chips and salsa for lunch and oodles of noodles for dinner. Wooooo spanish food!
Something I've learned: The people of Barcelona take great pride in the fact that they speak Catalan, and that their language is a unique aspect of their culture. If you make an effort to learn phrases in Catalan, for example "Bona Ni" instead of "Buenas Noches", they will appreciate and respect you more as an American in their country.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
La La Limbo Land
Frankfurt, Germany
I'm not here, I'm not there -- I'm in airport limbo. My stomach feels like it's going to eat itself, I have cold sore growths on my chin from stress, my biological clock hates me, my contacts are stuck to my eyeballs, and I feel like I haven't slept in days - all side effects of airport limbo.
I met a military man traveling to Frankfurt returning from the holidays. Dad, you'll be happy to know that I thanked him for his service to our country. I also met a woman traveling for business to Ukraine, and a man traveling to India to visit family that's still there. It really puts into perspective that no matter where you are in the world, it's home to someone - definitely makes the world feel like a much smaller place. You're totally right, Austin, I make friends wherever I go. It's like I have a sign attached to my head that says, "Please, make friends with me." But don't worry Mom, I didn't divulge any specific details of my trip to them, and I'm being very careful.
A couple things about my first European airport experience in 2010. Dear Frankfurt, put more bathrooms in your airport. We need more than 2 stalls per 500 feet. I stood at a vending machine for 5 minutes trying to figure out how to work my Euros - no success. I had to settle for a bottled water rather than a good old coca-cola. I haven't yet adjusted to the time change, but knowing military time has definitely helped me understand more easily.
Okay, that's it for now. Video chatting with Austin :)
Besos y Abrazos <3
I'm not here, I'm not there -- I'm in airport limbo. My stomach feels like it's going to eat itself, I have cold sore growths on my chin from stress, my biological clock hates me, my contacts are stuck to my eyeballs, and I feel like I haven't slept in days - all side effects of airport limbo.
I met a military man traveling to Frankfurt returning from the holidays. Dad, you'll be happy to know that I thanked him for his service to our country. I also met a woman traveling for business to Ukraine, and a man traveling to India to visit family that's still there. It really puts into perspective that no matter where you are in the world, it's home to someone - definitely makes the world feel like a much smaller place. You're totally right, Austin, I make friends wherever I go. It's like I have a sign attached to my head that says, "Please, make friends with me." But don't worry Mom, I didn't divulge any specific details of my trip to them, and I'm being very careful.
A couple things about my first European airport experience in 2010. Dear Frankfurt, put more bathrooms in your airport. We need more than 2 stalls per 500 feet. I stood at a vending machine for 5 minutes trying to figure out how to work my Euros - no success. I had to settle for a bottled water rather than a good old coca-cola. I haven't yet adjusted to the time change, but knowing military time has definitely helped me understand more easily.
Okay, that's it for now. Video chatting with Austin :)
Besos y Abrazos <3
Monday, January 11, 2010
19 hours till Departure
All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go... 'Cause I'm leavvingggggg on a jet plane!! :)
I have the sneakiness of my family and Austin to thank for being completely packed last week. Had I not been encouraged to pack in advance so that I could "relax", I would be stressed right now trying to cram four months of clothing into a suitcase.
It takes a lot to stun me into silence, but when Austin (very smoothly) slid into our table at dinner Friday night, all I could do was smile. For those of you who were in on that surprise, thank you, thank you!! After a wonderful weekend spending time with him and the family, I am still 80% excited, 20% anxious, but ready for my whirlwind Barcelona adventure.
That's where you'll hear from me next - after nearly 24 hours of traveling - across the ocean, almost 6,000 miles away. You'll all be sound asleep when I arrive Wednesday at 2:30 pm Barcelona time, 6:30 am in Phoenix and Tucson. Good Morning!
Besos y abrazos <3
I have the sneakiness of my family and Austin to thank for being completely packed last week. Had I not been encouraged to pack in advance so that I could "relax", I would be stressed right now trying to cram four months of clothing into a suitcase.
It takes a lot to stun me into silence, but when Austin (very smoothly) slid into our table at dinner Friday night, all I could do was smile. For those of you who were in on that surprise, thank you, thank you!! After a wonderful weekend spending time with him and the family, I am still 80% excited, 20% anxious, but ready for my whirlwind Barcelona adventure.
That's where you'll hear from me next - after nearly 24 hours of traveling - across the ocean, almost 6,000 miles away. You'll all be sound asleep when I arrive Wednesday at 2:30 pm Barcelona time, 6:30 am in Phoenix and Tucson. Good Morning!
Besos y abrazos <3
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