Sept. 17

So I'm learning more and more about the comunidad autonomia Catalonia from my Image of Barca class. Today we learned about 9 centuries of history in an hour and a half.. talk about dense material. It was tough to keep up! I'm too lazy to write out my notes again but if you're interested in reading about Catalan history then I'm posting my notes so you can try and piece together what happened from my sporadic and not-so-detailed notes - I'll apologize in advance!! This wednesday we'll be taking a tour of the Cuitadella and Born barrios, with pictures to follow soon after. 

There was "La Huelga" today; the public transportation (bus, metro train) went on strike today, so everything was delayed and very unreliable. It was definitely the fullest I've ever seen a metro and it was not a fun thing to be a part of! Luckily the day is over and things will go back to normal tomorrow :) 

The other night Ruby and I found ourselves with no dinner plans so we went to Plaça Catalunya and got a fancy dinner together. This is us enjoying some Sangria!

Mi barrio

Lately i've been going on walks aroung my neighborhood. I didn't realize how much I actually live around! There's a beautiful church by my apartment, many many stores, and plazas full of people selling antiques, flowers, etc. Despite all the hills and the hot sun, it's fun to walk around and try and get more familiar with my surroundings. I've been going to the coffee shop right next to my apartment building and getting my cafe con leche :) its only 1,40€ here, practically the only thing that's cheaper here than in the US. At first I was really overwhelmed at how your had to go to a different store for pharmacy items, shower items, food items, etc., but I'm finally getting a hold of that and learning where the best stores are. 

Two days ago on Sept. 11 it was La Diada here in Catalonia. Catalonia is an "autonomia," or what we could compare to a province. This day in history is the day Catalonia lost siege to Spain. Catalonia very much wants to separate from Spain, so every year they have a city wide demonstration through the streets. My roommates and I went and it was crazy! We were amongst 1.5 million barcelonians in this demonstration!!! It was really awesome to be a part of it. They were singing and chanting in unison, almost making me feel like i didn't belong, which obviously we didn't. What else was cool was it was an all ages event. Entire families were together, grandfathers chanting outside their window with kids on their fathers backs, even young people my age all with Catalonian flags worn as capes across their backs. When we went to take the metro home it was packed! Shoulder to shoulder scuffling from one side of the metro to the other - it was so uncomfortably hot next to all those people. I was very glad to be home. It was kind of spooky thinking if something went wrong my roommates and I would be in the middle of chaos not knowing what to do. But everything was fine and it was a great event to be a part of.

Every day from 2-5 all the stores except for the cafés close for lunch and a nap  (almuerzo y siesta). It's taking some getting used to working my food and clothing shopping around this schedule. This habit of Spain is still very strange to me, but I think I like the idea. While most people on the streets are very hustle and bustle getting from one place to the next, they at least stop and eat with their friends and or family and get a nice nap! Something I think my father would enjoy :) 

Today

Everything here is so beautiful and different. It's overwhelming taking the bus to the beach and seeing all these shops and sights that i need to go to. I wouldn't say that I miss home; I'm actually quite enjoying myself here. However, I do wish my family and friends were here with me. Im getting along well with other people in my abroad program and we've had a great time going out and getting around together. My roommates are super great and fun. It's a bit difficult getting in with the locals because so far, they don't seem to like Americans at all. However, it is just the end of peak season here and by now I'm sure the locals are sick of everyone and anyone that aren't from around here.

I've been around mostly touristy parts of Barcelona lately, so I'm excited to explore places more off the beaten path. We went to the beach yesterday and that was pretty fun. Super crowded! Quite a few topless women, and many many couples. Barcelona must be quite the romantic city; there's couples all over each other everywhere! Next time we're going to take a train up the coast to find a quieter beach rather than the one where everyone goes to. The water is lovely though, I swam in it yesterday and can't wait to get in again. The cool water and the humidity is really calming.

We went to this cute little bar last night and there was a guy playing guitar in the back of the room. he was playing contemporary Spanish songs and everyone there was singing along. I think it must have been mostly locals, I enjoyed it. Everyday I'm overwhelmed at how beautiful everything is, Barcelona takes aesthetics very seriously here. I don't think I'll ever make it somewhere that has beautiful architecture everywhere I turn as much as here.

I really miss home cooking though. I'm looking up recipes where I can find ingredients here and cook. Maybe mashed potatoes, or creamy potato and ham soup... I'm not sure! My host mom's food is pretty good, mostly her idea of american food I think.

Tuesday is the Independence day of Catalonia so there will be demonstrations and lots of activities in the city centers. Everyone has their Catalan flags hanging outside their windows! Very patriotic.

Eventually I hope to make it down to Seville, Costa Brava, and maybe San Sebastian. I have to get organized though if i'm going to make it happen. Yessenia and I just booked our trip to Ibiza Sep 20 though and like 15 other people we know are going. I can't wait!! It's a beeeauuutiful island known to have amazing clubs and great small towns everywhere.

Until then, we have school off Monday and Tuesday then it'll just be mostly school until Ibiza and lots of sightseeing. Adios

Me gusta mis clases!

So I'm taking three classes: a four hour intensive Spanish class Mondays and Wednesdays then the Image of Barcelona in Literature in the afternoon. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I don't have class til 545 pm and it's International Marketing Strategies. They're taught in english so that's good. The Spanish class is waaaay longer than what I'm used to so that's kind of lame. My international marketing seems not too difficult, except the professor is Spanish so she seems to have a difficult time asking the class questions in a way that we understand then our replies she doesn't always understand. She knows english, but just communicates differently. I'm kinda nervous because of that, but it shouldn't be too much of a crutch. I think my favorite class will be the image of barcelona in literature. The professor is young. She's excited and has a good energy with the class. I'm excited to learn the side of Barcelona that might not be seen by the traveler's eye, but through some readings, movies, poetry, etc.

I will now be posting some pictures to appease my mother... enjoy!

This is the Gothic Cathedral by Plaça Catalunya 

View of Barcelona and Montjuic, where the Olympic Stadium is located

My friend Gabby and I at the old Roman city, Tarragona, just south of Barcelona

My roomies, Ruby, Yessenia, and I in Tarragona!

What is the "City Hall" of Catalonia. The flag on the left is the flag of Catalonia, the middle is Spain, and the right is Barcelona's flag. The Gold background represents Wilfred I the Hairy's (Count of Barcelona) golden shield with king Charles the Bald's four fingers drenched with blood from Count's battle wounds. 

The equivalent of the White House of Catalonia

This old church has quite an interesting story. During WWII, this church served as a refugee area and was also a school for small children. During warfare, a direct hit dropped right above the church, causing all the children and a few adults out into the plaza, where another bomb dropped directly in the center, killing 48 children. It's quite the sad story. The poor quality on the side of the church is due to shrapnel from the bomb. They decided to leave the Church as is, in honor of the event. Next door to this church is a school now for elementary students. Kind of eerie. 

First day of School!

Hola!

Today was my first day of school. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have International Marketing Strategies from 545-725, my only class these days. It's taught in english luckily! The professor is Spanish though, so even though she can speak english she has a difficult time getting across to the class what she's asking and thinking and vice versa. The UAB program I am in is completely for study abroad students. So there are no locals in my classes. Some are from Canada, Maine, Boston, Brussels, and my roommate is in there too. The class is about 20 people. From looking at class today I can tell I'm going to learn a lot, I'll just have to make sure to listen intently. From orientation, it seemed like the professors are mean, scary, cold teachers who expect the best and are not eager to form a relationship with their students but my professor today was very personable and I can tell it will be a good semester with her. Tomorrow I have a 4 hour Spanish class and then from 340-520 or so, The Image of Barcelona in Literature. We'll have to see how this class is! I'm kinda anxious.

Coming up this weekend we have a 5 day weekend pretty much. No classes on Friday, then Monday and Tuesday we have off because Sep. 11 is like Independence day here. I was going to go to Ibiza but Yessenia's cousin is going at a later day so we'll be joining him then. So I'll have to come up with something to do this weekend! The weekend of my birthday we're going to Amsterdam! Oct 31 is a Wed, then Nov 1 we have school off then Friday is off so it'll be a nice little break.

Where I live is quite condensed with people and this is by far the loudest place i've ever lived. Just bought ear plugs though :) My room is the coolest and the only one with a balcony, even if it's just to the other side of a building. I can smell what me neighbors cook and it's satisfyingly distracting. My host mom is no Marisa, but she cooks well enough to get by.

The other day we grabbed lunch at this place in Placa Catalunya and it was sooo good! Chase and I (my new friend from the program) shared Parmesan Mushroom Ham Risotto, it was to die for. Then just a simple pasta bolognese since we were needing some comfort food. We also shared some Sangria and it was all around just an enjoyable lunch. I'm kinda digging this whole slower paced day the Spanish tend to live. One-Two hour lunches, sit down morning coffees, etc. Except we're supposed to nap during the day to help with the late dinner and staying up late but I'm still adjusting to that. I just seem to sleep reeeeally late and stay up late.

They warned us in orientation how much harder each day will be. Because here, I think okay. I need q tips, lotion, ear plugs, and a towel. Where to go? Well here there are pharmacies, markets, super markets, and department stores. In the pharmacy will be the ear plugs and maybe q tips, but towel probably department store, and lotion only a perfumeria. There are little stores for everything and no "Wal Mart" equivalents. So that will take some getting used to. They drink their coffees in the morning in the cafe, not to go. It's been so hectic here I haven't had a single coffee in almost a week! But there's a cute cafe right below my apartment so I plan on getting pretty conformable down there.

That's all for now, adios!

Orientation & Tarragona, Spain

Yesterday was orientation at 945 in Plaça Catalunya. We talked about getting out of your comfort zone, adjusting to Spain's culture and tradition, and how to get around, order, tip, etc. We went over the master schedule of activities this semester. We're taking a salsa class! And, I'm sure my mother will be quite please, a cooking class too! Elena, one of the group coordinators talked about all of Barcelona's "Quarters" kind of like neighborhoods in SF, North Beach, Chinatown, etc. but these ones seem to be bigger. We'll travel to each one for a day drip during this semester.

After, we went on a walking tour of the Plaça just to show us around that area a little bit. We went on a hike on one of the two main mountain in Barcelona and ate lunch in this VERY steep, little mountain town. We had a traditional Catalan meal. I got lost on the metro that evening and barely made dinner on time, but now I know where I'm going! Yessenia, Ruby & I and two other students in the program went out last night to Port Olimpio to the bars kinda by the beach. I've become friends with one of the guys that sells roses! Not necessarily friends, but now everytime he sees me he gives me a free rose.

Today we went to Tarragona, Spain. It's like an old Roman ruled city with many remains still there. We could either take the tour in Spanish or in English, and Yessenia recommended Spanish to help me learn. I did pick up some vocabulary but learned very little about Tarragona! However it's very beautiful and i've posted many pictures on my facebook. After we went to the beach for a little bit. We're going to go swimming tomorrow! It's our first free day so we're excited to go out tonight and sleep in.

Tonight we're going to one of the 'nicest' clubs in Barcelona, just off the beach.

The last two days, for lunch, we've had el menú del día. It's the big lunch, with two good course sizes and dessert. We had salad with tuna, then lamb, and pork sausage with potatoes with a garlic aioli and these bean things. It was good! They toast sourdough bread then get roasted garlic and rub it onto the bread, then rub and squeeze half a tomato, then olive oil, then salt! It's delicious. I rubbed too much garlic on my because I was having too much fun actually seeing the sourdough grate off the garlic! haha. We then had cake, and got a little demonstration on porro, which is poring out the red wine out of a spicket from the decanter! It was very fun we all tried it.

Then for lunch today in Tarragona I had gazpacho, which was very interesting. I've never had cold soup before, and it was so tangy! But kind of weird. Don't know that I would order it again. Then, paella, with shrimp [two different kinds - Elena even knew which one was which and the names of the shrimp!], mussels, and squid. I sucked the brains out of one of the shrimps, not sure I'd do that again either but it was interesting! My lola would be proud.

Some of the guys and girls in the program seem homesick and have culture shock. I'm not feeling either luckily, however I think having two other roommates and getting along with both of them is helping. One girl is alone in a homestay but it's a full family with two little boys, so I think that sounds fun too. I'm enjoying taking the metro everywhere, taking my time with my two hour lunches (we'll see how long that lasts) and the Barcelona night life. The people are nice, and willing to help with directions and talk slowly with me :) Seems like i've been here for a week, not just three days.

Tonight, ironically, mi señora is making paella, so I'll get to compare hers to the restaurants I ate today. Tonight is Eli and Emily's last night in town so it will be fun to go out with them and my roomies! Tomorrow we get to relax, and go to the beach.

Monday we have orientation at the UAB where we'll be taking classes then taking a tour of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. Tuesday, classes start!


Mi señora is very sweet. She cooks well and doesn't mind what we do she just seems happy to have us. She really lit up with a smile when I gave her her host gift!

The days have been so busy and filled with activities I don't know how I'm still functioning!

Adios