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
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
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!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
