Oh, wait, this isn't vacation....

Yes, the honeymoon stage is over and I am in class, 14 whole hours a week! But, I'll start with last weekend. Saturday I walked around on my own getting a solid mastry of all the winding streets, which are a bit more like alleyways. Found some cute window shopping areas near where were our group had chocolate and churros (I still dream about it). On Sunday we walked around an area called Barceloneta, which goes down towards the water and had some promising looking hotels. Very cute, and seemingly quieter. As you can see in the picture we didn't really have any idea where we were going. We went to the history museum... didn't go in though, but scoped out the area. Then we caught a wiff of something, something glorious. It was like when you're at the carnival and you can smell the fried dough, but you don;t know where the heck it is; we followed the smell. This might be my favorite activity in Barcelona so far. We encountered one of the worst street performers, and thus, perhaps one of the most entertaining because of this. He stood on stilts but just did the same thing over and over and when he did do risky things he almost always came close to not being able to pull through; the split was the best. There were also some great stalls with handmade things, and then we found the smell. It was candied nuts. But it was amazing, like a mollasses and brown sugar and maple syrup and amazing. I ate one of my friends, I'll save my own four euro purchase for a special treat day. I also found something very similar at the market i went to yesterday, more later. 

That Monday marked the beginning of the rest of classes. I know have Spanish class Monday to Thursday 11-12:30 instead of everyday for two and a half hours. On Tuesday and Thursday I have Arte y Artistas and then Comparative European Politics from 3-7 (two hours each). Both of these professors are amazing. Unfortunately, I am not signed up for either of them, but I wont have any trouble getting into the politics one and I am still hopeful about the art one, he seems a little too cooky for some peoples taste. He starts the class off with painting on the projector and music, and e sit and take it all in. This past class it was the Ladies of Avignon, by Picasso (to the left).Then we acted it out to see what was really going on, because it was a very controversial painting. Then he will go in and compare to like painting of the time, and before, is influences, etc. Very interesting. 

BC gave us a pamphlet with the stages of our adjustment to studying abroad, with a honeymoon stage and a stage where everything is frustrating, because small things can be hard to do, like call family, find stamps, open jars of zauerkraut. I'm handling it pretty well, despite my lack of patience, and fully enjoy when i get those things accomplished. On Thursday I sad in a cafe/restaurant next door for a about two hours writing letters ( but pretend to be surprised when you get them) and reading, drinking a cup of a coffee. It was perfect. The picture below is when, after thirty minutes of trying, I successsfully open my friend's huge jar of sauerkraut. It really was incredibly exciting, and surprisingly delicious ( I was rewarded with a bite of her dinner). On thursday we also had another cultural outing, on BC! It was to this cute area to have patatas bravas. And my end of the table was clearly the fatty end. We cleared off three rounds of bravas... meaning three plates three times between five girls. Granted they were small plates. So patatas bravas are potatoes, like homefries?, chucnks of potatoe cooked on a frying pan with some oil, then with this magical sauce. The sauce can be too spicey for me sometimes, it is usually an oily, spicey kind of ketchup taste, but better than that (It is hard to decribe) Sometimes the sauce is thick, but this one was thin, oily, and delicius. They also have patatas alioli, which is the same potatoes but in a garlic and mayo sauce. You can order them mixta- which is both sauces The trick, for me, is for them not to put too much on it. Once I order alioli, the first bite was great, but as I went on I wanted to die. So fuerte (strong). Regardless, they were absolutely delcious, so sis, get ready for a metro ride to get them. Look how good they look, and how much I like them!

Yesterday I went for a loooong walk. Started out with a girl Sydney here who wanted to check out a hostel close by for her friends, but i didn't feel like looking at any more after so we went our separate ways. I wents swervy turvery towards la rambla -a main road and a touristy area, but there are still natives there- and walked around, with the intention of buying stamps, but nowhere was open ( at four)....siesta time. I ended up going to the main market in Barcelona, Mercat Boqueria, Grammy would go crazy. I went to a market before this here, but this was certainly better and bigger. Fresh, fresh, fresh...everywhere. I ordered some meat from the carniceria (butcher/meat stall) some more chorizo iberico and a nice ham...not the nicest becausethe nicest is wicked expensive, so I succesfully mentioned the name in spanish and asked him to recommend me a comparable quality ham for less. YAYYYY i speak spanish. Needless to say, both are delicious. I walked around a bit more, found some candied nuts like I had seen a week before ( they weren't warm but they looked just as delicious). I also walked by a frut stand that was selling fresh cups of juice...about 16 ounces....for a euro, I got strawberry. It was soooo good. So fresh, nothing added to it. Gah! Delicious, and that was my snack for the walk home.

Now its Saturday, supposedly it is going to rain, we'll see. I am still on a mission for stamps, and hopefully the little stores won't be closed! Perhaps a coffee is in the cards, too    :)

Besos Y amor!!!!

You won't get my money, bitch

So one of my friends got her wallet take, I just wanted to show you the methods I was executing against this and other crimes.

So, here I have my little running wrist wallet. Not as sexy as I could be. So people generally think i have horrible fashion sense, or I am a huge nerd. Both good things. So you wont kidnap me or think I have money or know where it is. Also, note the dorky pose!

A personal favorite of mine. This is an aggressive stance, not only will i notice the first moment the purse has a tug, but people will probably not want to appraoch me anyway. For any reason.

My least favorite method, because it is kind of by accident look like a homeless man.

Okay, Okay ...I'm back

So another week down!

This past weekend we went to the aquarium, and it was pretty great. I wouldn't say t was much better than Boston's, but there were a few things that stuck   out. Their octopuses were amazing.They had three, one was actually moving! The other two were resting, eating each other, or being slutty, we weren't able to figure it out. Ill have to google it. Next they had a really nice 'underwater' passage. It was pretty long and the sting rays and sharks and bigggggg fish would come up to it. Then at the end, the penguins (as usual) were pretty cool. Also, there was this area for kids kind of and there was a sting ray tank. You could stand on steps on t

he edge to look in and crawl underneath-I had to pretty much lay down-and they would swim right over you, really close. Julio and I took a really long walk to the aquarium because we though we were going to get there way before, we were late. 

And look, wez scared of sharks! 

Saturday night we went to this really famous/popular club called razzmtazz. They have like five different dance floors with different music and one main one. I felt okay about it, probably because I refused to by pricey drinks. It was still very cool, even if it wasn't my scene. What was more my scene was when we dicovered this 'secret bar', so to speak, you go to this flat and press the buzzer-no name on it- and go inside and they actually id there. Inside there is a room with a pool table, a lounge room, and the room with the bar. V cool, all international people, and a much chiller scene. Sunday we did a g-l-o-r-i-o-u-s walk on the beach, it was so nice. Who knew they had a lot of sea glass! I think i was the only one excited about it. We walked for a good many hours. Molly, Simone, Sydney, and I walked for about an hour hen SImone and Sydney got some lunch and Molly and I took a nap on the beaches chairs, then walked all the way down to the point and back. Found a great place with individual pizzas on focaccias.. they had salads and great coffee and cappuccinos, too. You could even get the cofee to go, a rarity here except at the university. 

We also went to a bar call Obama Bar, for the inauguration. It was quite an experience because everybody had different political stances, some were crying some stony faced.Sam and I had a cerveza and tuned it out. It was still pretty cool. The food there was also delicous, what I stole off of people plates. 

Tomorrow I have my first quiz and then we are going to go to a nice fresh market to practice some Spanish, even though I hav beento the super market a few times now. Friday in class we are watching a movie in Spanish in class before our classes go from 2 1/2 hours to 1 1/2 hours. Simone is looking into a wine trip for us this weekend, we found one by bike! But we can't figure out how expensive it is yet. We'll see. 

LOVE

One week down

So, as of around eight this morning, I have been here for a week. 

The new development is that class has started, part way atleast. For the first two full weeks we just have intensive spanish. Class five days a week for two and a half hours (12:30-3) and then it becomes one hour Monday to Thursday (1-2). Some people are annoyed by the repetition, I think it's great. I am already far more comfortable speaking in Spanish, maybe I don't write poetry, but I certainly and more confident. I was placed in the upper level of intermediate, there really isnt that much different but for the test we had verbal and written exam and I think it is for things like if you did pretty well on one and almost well on the other, that kind of thing. I have about to worksheets to do every night which isn't bad, and I am find verbs that I had forgotten how to do a form of. There are about fourteen people in the class and ten of them are from the same study abroad progam and the four, well, aren't. The other three are very chill, so that's good too. The professor is also super fun and nice, but too lax, which is good too (I do want to get better). We had to buy one book so far for class, a workbook, cheaper than spanish class at home atleast! I think it was about 20 euro. 

I also found a euro store (dollar store equivalent) every thing for a euro or less so I was able to get some stuff for my kitchen so the sister won't have to eat of the floor like I was doing (just kidding mom, xx). I also found out that part of the program BC has organized is that we get room cleaning, HOLAAAAAA! and the lady that does is very nice with a heavy, raspy smoker's voice. I think she loved that I spoke to her in Spanish, she was a bit surprised, so she got me a pillow....a clean fluffly one (those are rare here). My room feels quite homey and i get on quite well with the girl Sidney in one of the pictures and the girl from London across the hall, but I also don't really have any problems with anyone on the trip! Let's see....so the other people Ive met make me feel quite international. One of my friends from class is from Canada, and Im buddies with a fellow from Spain, but I don't thing from Barcelona (he doesn't really ahve the same accent) and a guy from Toulouse, France. One of the girls in my clas (well a few are, but the one I like) is from Chicago and has a brother in Iowa City and one in Boston MY TWO FAVORITE PLACES. 

Yesterday we went on a walking tour of the Barrio Gotic (gothic area) which goes all the way back to when the Romans occupied the area that's now barcelona. A  good amount of the old wal stil stands, some of it is in private residences, so you can't see it. We also saw an olf roman temple...FROM THE FIRST CENTURY AD, can you believe that, how cool is that? Mmm then after Patricia left us a few of us walked around for a bit because I had seen a cheap boot store, but none of them fit my inordinantly muscular calves...then another girl bought the boots I loved, skank! But i'd rather her have them than no one. So, I think that's it for now. Not sure what I am up to tonight but I feel good about a class of wine at the tapas bar around the corner, Look at me! ;)

besas! 

Ok, Im working on the formatting

The first one is part of the mosaic on the ceiling at Parc Guell by Gaudi.

The second is a picture of Sydney, Bridgit, and I on the beautiful bridge at Parc Guell, also with a great view.

The next is a larger view of Gaudi's ceiling.

The fourth is a picture of the main staircase/entrance to the parc Guell where one of the girls got whistled at to get down because she was standing on a bench.DANGER!

The mozaic lizard is actually Gaudi's famous dragon in the parc, very cool.

The there is that beautiful view from the Parc Guell, we took it from a open space verlooking the city surrounded by a mosaic bench

An Irish Pub With Irish People

Well, today is my first day of classes! But I'll start with yesterday.

We continued our bus tour on the red route, which up to the region alta (alta because it is a higher up near the mountains and the people have a higher standard of living). The tour also went out, to the south I think it would be, to the main university in Barcelona and we also saw the huge stadium for futbol. It holds 100,000 people. I'll also attach a picture from this, they are crazy about the Barc (what the call the barcelona futbol team for short). My  favorite place that we went was Parc Guell, by Gaudi. It is named after his primary patron and is b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l. The mosaic work, which is everywhere is great to look at far away and upclose. There is a lso a great view of the city. Its actually the same view as the one I have at the top of the blog, but the ones I took aren't quite so colorful. We walked around la ramblas, too, after the bus trip and got a quick lunch. We have come to love the long lunch because we end up talking for two hours anyway. After some more walking around we went back to a small cafe we had passed ( we were going to get lunch there since it was the cheapest but it was clealry popular with the locals, and thus a little overwhelming for us). Anywho, this place was have a special on chocolate and churros, probably the only time I'll get its filling and rich, but DELICIOUS. The churros aren't like you get at disney or wherever, they are more like that shape, long, but like fried dough. And the chocolate, like hot chocolate, is more like a cup of melted chocolate with a lil' bit o hot chocolate flavoring. Its delicious, sinfully delicious. Eventually we got back after trying to go to a euro store, like a dollar store, but it was closed that late (5 ish) on a Sunday. I relaxed, tidied my room, and made dinner (tuna, can you believe it). A few of us went out to a pub around eight for a bit. Its this Irish pub close by, and its great. There is kareoke(spelling?) on sundays and it was very entertaining. We also met some fun people including some french guys but they spoke spanish better than english. What interesting: they don't like Paris, or parisians and don't like that that is what represents France because they aren't welcoming or friendly. Interesting. They tried to talk politics a little but we didnt really go there because I don't know enough and things could get lost in translation. 

So here I am waiting for class to start at 12:30. The university is very close so I don't have to leave until say 12:15, earlier today though so I can find the room. The room numbers are extremelly weird... 20.049...what does that mean? We'll find out. I plan on making it to this euro store today so I can get some plates/cups/bowls for my room and see what else I can find and Sam wants to find boots. YAY bargain hunting! 

xoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxo   (the picture above is what all the buildings look like for the most part, the streets are narrower)

My Room :)

This is the beach right near the old Olympic village and where we had lunch.

The party don't stop till eight in the mooohnin'

It really doesn't. But I won't go there yet. That picture is my extremelly strong espresso that deepened my voice and put hair on my chest..and back probably.

Yesterday was an eventful, if trying, day. We found out out Spanish clas placement around 12:30 and had a little orientation. When I say little, I mean little...they described the website for 20 minutes then said that the locals won't go to class but we have to. I would go as it is, but he was very weird about it, kind of felt like I was in high school. 

Next we had lunch at very nice restaurant, BC was paying. I don't know how much it was really because Patricia, our guide/host/whatever, payed it. It was called bestial, which is beastial but also like 'awesome'. There is sand in the double paned windows and the tables and chairs are chunky wood and everything else is white and black. The course started off with bread then as part of the special menu you choose essentially an appetizer and entree. I had anchovy and artichoke pizza then beef, the butt part/tailbone. The beef just melted off the bone, it wasd-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s. 

Then we decided to go get our spanish phones, there are towo good places aside from the companies themselves: Corte Ingles and Fnac. Corte is the huge department store with every single thing and fnac is a huge electronics department store. They were both in Placa Catalunya, the center of the city, so it worked out. In the end it proved extremelly difficult to do this in a large group, as I thought, but I managed not to stab anyone (or vise versa). When i got back I just relaxed and went to the supermarket to get some more fruit (clementines and kiwis) , I also drink an excessive amount of oj here. Im basiacally a fruit eater. I also got cava wine, which is like their fake champagne....like Andre....and just as cheap if not more. 

Eventually we all pulled ourselves together and went out, four of us (Me, Sam, Julio, and Syndey) walked there its veryy close. Others keep taking when their tired.......pannnnsssiiieeeeesss. We did see one transvestite prostitute, maybe two, one was in a very nice plaid skirt. We got in and luckily had these passes that you in free that night, YAY. It was not full...and this was at 1 0'clock, but it got verrrry full later, crazy nightowls. We all took pretty good care of each other, the Spanish guys weren't as forward as we all expected, and it helps that I dance like my cat on catnip, I think that really kept them away. We finally went home at, I think, around five....my brother can tell you because I talked to him online. I had a glorious night's sleep on my foam mattress, I like to pretend it's memory foam. I also had a glorious shower, and by glorious I am talking about how each room has its own water heater thats lasts for about seven minutes, and longer if you turn it off while you shampoo, condition, and what not. Okay, we are gonna leave soon to go on our free bus tours!!! yayyyy

Adios

Another Day, Another Trip to the Grocery Store

Today started of with a Spanish proficiency exam at 10 a.m.- luckily, I woke up, unluckily for my neighbors, they did not. Luckily they had me!!!!! So that was about an hour and I did pretty well, which is fine, I would rather not be in the advanzed program as it is. Also, the dorm people finally met the home stay people, including my good friend, Sam(antha). 

Sam and I went for n adventure to Corte Ingles, basically a HUGE department store with everything you'll ever need. Even though it isnt wicked cheep I found a purse for 50% off (Spain is having a lot of sales! and no, I'm not taking advvantage of them :)  ). Anyway, its a pretty sweet purse and pretty pick-pocket-proof. And we found it no problem, almost. Turning onto one main road we went right instead of left, but with my inconspicuous maps we were able to right ourselves without being to obvious touristy. We were able to relax for a little while before an orientation meeting at 3:30, answered a lot of silly, but important questions. Then we went for a psuedo walking tour of the borne area ( if you walk out my building its to the right one block or so). That was nice, it is a beautiful medieval area and we went into a cathedral too. The cathedral was built fairly quickly, for a cathedral atleast (80 years) so it is simple....but b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l. It is called something del mar, built whent he ports were a a very significant things for the city, I think the 1400s (mar means ocean). 

On the way back we stopped at the supermarket, AND I ORDERED FROM THE DELI ALL BY MYSELF!!!!! Well, I did ask our host lady what would be a good ammount, since they have different measurements. I asked for choriza iberico, its delicious. Essentially, it is a sausage that doesnt really need to be refrigerated a lot (cured?). I also got milk, orange juice, tuna, mayo, cheese, the bread cracker chip things ( like bagel chips, or maybe better said toast thats cold), water, dijon mustard, rice, cherry tomatoes, and SOY SAUCE!!! Pretty successful, no? More than I ate at BC. So now im chillling in my room and for some reason my cheeks are bright red, cold to warm maybe. What makes it better was that they were this red when I knocked on the wrong door about an hour ago. I was like "oh, evryone should try chorizo! So ill bring it to molly". lo and behold, molly lives in 130, not 135 (across the hall). She didnt answer (obviously) so I walked down the hall a little ways to the next persons room, but before i could get there the door opened, out pops a Spanish man/boy. He just mimes knocked and says something and I awkwardly say"Emmmmm puuuueeertaaaaaa innccorrrrectttaaa" he responds in english "No problem", with a smile. And i swlowly back up, making a weird gesture with my hand, maybe I tried to wave I dunno "looooo siiieeeennnttooo". All my words realy were that drawn out, but they were nice, it was a room full of them, awesome. So here we are just  had a light dinner with some fanta. Sticking around here tonight to get a good sleep since we don't have to do anything until 12:30 tomorrow, a meeting at the university and then lunch...on BC yayyyyyyy.

Hasta luego queridos!

GET ME OUTTA HERE!!!

Just kidding!

So, today is day one, or maybe if you take into account travel time, day 1 1/2?

The flights went well, super well. I did have a bit of a scare when  I was board the flight from New York to Barcelona. I get in line and when the man scans my ticket it says see attendant. Oh noooo, bad things. But it was good, I was upgraded to Business Class for some mysterious reason. And it was glorious. I had a three course (small though) dinner and a desert option and a glass of red wine. The tv was the best part. HBO, TV series, and pretty much all the good new movie releases; I was tempted to stay awake the whole time just so i could watch more movies for "Free" but I crashed.

The BC contact, Patricia, met me rightoutside the gate and got me into a taxi. EVen then there were no issues, the taxi driver was very nice, and no Dad he didn't jip me. But then I got to the dorm and it started to go downhill. This could be a good thing security wise but all the doors are locked so you have to have a key or know a code to get in, non of which I had.Gradually, I worked my way in when students left. Then I discovered that it was too early for their office hours. A lady in a white outfit that spoke no english appeared, I dont think she was an angel, and gave me my key. After three hours of starving and freezing I was able to get my internet to work. The other issues was the lack of humans and lack of toilet paper, I dont think I have ever held it for so long. And I dont think I have ever loved Dunkin Donuts so mch as when I found those napkins in my purse. 

Final redemtion came when I ran out my door after hearing english, that's when i met my neighbors and found the other BC kids. There are three BC girls right around me and a girl from london, too. The rest of the BC people are on the same florr but in a hallway around the corner. 

My computer served as the communal internet for a few hours since no one else could figure it out. I have to give Jen credit for my knowledge of IP addresses. Then, Finally, I found someone that worked here, and they came to my room as promised, but three hours later. Very nice, maybe a bit distracted. I also finally got my blankets and the heat is working. yayyy, no hypothermia!! 

Also no starving! A supermarket is real close, as in you walkdown the street and turn, and it isn't a long street. So don't worry my usual laziness wont prevent me from eating. So, I made my first grocery store purchase: bread, butter, babyfood applesauce, apples, lemon fanta and toilet paper, for just over 8.50 euro. WHen I was checking out the chashier kept trying to say something to me...... "mummble mummble" "Oh it isn't enought money?" " mummmble mummble" (points at friends) " Ohhh, haha, okay" (awkward laugh)--it was great. 

So now Im settled hoping to figure out how to upload these photos and wait for Patricia to come back and tell us some orientation stuff.

Hasta Luego Queridos