Scotland, Here I Come

August 14, 2012

Tomorrow, I head out for Scotland.  Why Scotland, you might ask?  Well, the reason is simple:  In order to enroll in Catalan classes for the summer, I had to study on my passport alone.  As the Catalan classes are offered through the government and not through ESADE (my grad school), they were not eligible to be covered under the duration of my visa.  Ergo, I was issued a student visa which begins on August 15^th.  This means that I must leave the Schengen region of Europe (the UK and Ireland are not part of this region) and re-enter after the 15^th of August on my Spanish student visa (instead of on my passport as a tourist – as I have been for the past month or so).

After searching for flights, I found a reasonable flight to Glasgow and away I go.  See you when I get back =)

Columbia College Comes to Barcelona

August 5, 2012

This weekend, I had a visitor from Columbia College: Kate Shugar, a former classmate in the French program at Columbia College.  She arrived late on Saturday night to the Sants train station and we headed home to eat a pizza and have girl talk until the wee hours of the morning.  It was SO great to have someone from home here in Barcelona with me. 

The next day, we headed off to explore the city.  We visited the Sagrada Familia, the Park Guell, the Gothic neighborhood, and walked along the beach, of course.  Later that night, we went to the Magic Fountain which was amazing, as always.

The following day, we went to Sitges (a town about an hour’s drive from Barcelona).  I don’t know if I’ve told y’all yet, but I’m absolutely IN LOVE with Sitges.  It is one of the most beautiful cities in Catalunya (in my opinion, at least).  It has old narrow, windy streets; white buildings with blue shutters; the Mediterranean Sea; tons of excitement; and small-town charm.  Kate was completely enamored with Sitges as well and after spending the afternoon playing in the surf, perusing the streets of the city, and having an AMAZING dinner at a hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant in the city center, we finally headed back to Barcelona.

On the final day of Kate’s visit, we walked up and down the Ramblas de Catalunya and visited the beach boardwalk of Barceloneta one final time.  As Kate boarded her train that afternoon, I was sad to see her go, but extremely thrilled that I was able to share the magic and wonder of my new home with a fellow Columbia College woman =)

My Somewhat Absentee Host Counselor - Rotary Surely is Different Here in Spain

August 2, 2012

Well some of you might be wondering why I haven’t written anything about my experiences in Rotary since my arrival in Barcelona.  All that I can say is that Rotary surely is different here in Spain.  Back home, when you contact a Rotary person, they will contact you constantly to check up on you, include you in events, get you to speak at their club, etc.  Here in Spain, that is NOT the case (at least not in my experiences thus far).  I was first assigned a district Rotary counselor who is in charge of all 5 scholars currently studying in Barcelona.  She told me that if I needed anything, she was here for me but that we would wait to get together until all 5 of us had arrived here in Barcelona.   I was then assigned a Rotary counselor from my local club shortly before arriving and when I contacted him, I did not hear back from him for over a week.  When I finally did, I had already been in Barcelona for a few days and he wrote to inform me that he had injured his shoulder playing football and was going through some corrective surgeries and rehabilitation therapy.  He said that he would let me know when he was back in operation.  This came about two days before August when he then told me that he was feeling better, but would be on vacation the entire month of August.  I guess we’ll see what happens in September as I’m anxious to get involved, meet the members of my host club, and get started with my presentations.

I’ll keep y’all posted.  


UPDATE:  I have finally made contact with my host counselor and he is back in Barcelona for good.  We have plans to meet up next Thursday to talk about how I can get involved in his club and what they're doing here in Barcelona.

I also have a meeting with my district counselor on Sunday night so things are looking up =)

The Magic Fountain and a Harley Davidson Surprise

July 22, 2012

Well, today is the day that I finally go to the Magic Fountain with a picnic dinner and enjoy the entire 3 hours spectacle uninterrupted.  Javi and I decide to head out early to get good seats (the show starts at 9, but it’s always packed by 7:30 or 8 so if you want a good seat, you have to get there early).  We arrive at around 5 or so to walk around the palace and gardens at the top of the fountain.  When we arrive, much to our surprise, we find a Harley Davidson convention and exposition being hosted on Mont Juic (where the Magic Fountain is).  We spent the afternoon visiting the different motorcycle stands and taking funny photos (there are several stations where you can get your picture made sitting the various motorcycles).

When we tire of the noisy motorcycles, it is almost time to go grab seats, so we make our way to the grassy area by the Magic Fountain, lay down our blanket, and people watch until the show starts.  I have found that it is impossible for the Spanish to eat dinner while the sun is still shining (thus why the eat dinner so late at night – usually around 9 or 10 pm).    I never get tired of people watching here in Barcelona (especially at the Magic Fountain).  There are people from what seems like every country in the world, speaking every language imaginable and I absolutely LOVE it.

Soon enough, it is time for the show to start; and time for DINNER =)  The spectacle is even more beautiful than I remembered and I sing along with the music and dance with the children nearby.  The Magic Fountain is, by far, the BEST FREE entertainment in Barcelona.  I pledge to come at least once a month for the duration of my studies (it’s important to be reminded of the beauty and magic of Barcelona).

Finally Getting Around to Exploring

July 20, 2012

So, I recently realized that I’ve been so caught up in my Catalan classes that I haven’t even had the chance to visit Barcelona since my arrival.  So, today is the day!!! 

On my agenda for the day: 

The Park Putget (it’s right in front of my house and I should be ashamed for not having taken the time to visit it yet).

The Park Guell (also only about a 10 minute walk from my house; again, I should be flogged for having waited so long to visit it again).

THE PARK PUTGET:

Well, after climbing up a mountain of what seemed like never-ending winding and curving paths, I finally reached the top of the park above my new home.  It is absolutely AMAZING!!!!  You can see the entire city (the Park Guell, the Sagrada Familia, the Torre Agbar, and best of all, the sea =) ).

I can’t believe that this gem was right in front of me the entire time and I failed to visit it.  This will definitely be my new hang out spot.  It will be perfect for taking notes and relaxing after a hard day of classes in the fall.

THE PARK GUELL:

Otherwise known as the Gaudi Park, it’s an amazing display of mosaic lined benches ceilings, and best of all, the wall of mosaic creatures (most famous is the salamander).  Although it’s only a 10 minute walk from my house, I had to climb up the stairs of death (there is usually an escalator, but of course, it was broken today when I decided to go visit) and felt like I had run a marathon when I finally reached the top.  This is one of the most amazing parks I’ve ever seen.  I can’t wait to come back at sunset one day…I bet it’s absolutely gorgeous.

Santi's Birthday in Salou

July 13, 2012

Today is Santiago’s birthday and the Martinez family has invited me along with them to Salou for the day to celebrate.  I am SUPER excited to spend time with them and honored to be included on this special day.  We head out along the coast line to the south of Barcelona and it is extremely beautiful.  A little over an hour later, we arrive in Salou where we then spend the next thirty minutes trying to find parking.  Santiago races to an open spot and manages to squeeze their tiny European model into a parking space better suited for a motorcycle.

OBSERVATION:  Europeans are the best drivers that I’ve ever seen.  They drive extremely defensively and quickly, but they rarely have an accident.  The best of all is watching them park a car.  It is customary here to parallel park by bumping into the car both in front of and behind you in order to find just the right position in a parking spot.  After being here for two weeks, I finally understand what the big white and yellow buoy-like contraptions are on many car bumpers here in the city.

Once in Salou, we  first walk along the beach a bit (there is a lovely boardwalk that follows the entire coastline of Salou) until Teresa declares the perfect spot on the beach.  The formula for Teresa’s perfect beach spot is as follows:  Find a shower station;  look in front of said shower station; approach the beach and proceed all the way to the edge of the water; look for small children and innocent by-standers who are not fully occupying their space on the beach; insert beach mats and direct Santiago to put up the umbrella.  At this point, a discussion will usually break out about how Teresa can’t conduct herself in this manner and that we will block other peoples’ sun if we put the umbrella up where she instructed.  Teresa’s reply is always the same:  “The beach is free.  I have just as much of a right to put my umbrella here as anyone else”.  The discussion always ends the same:  Teresa gets her way and people gradually move farther and farther away from our beach area. 

OBSERVATION:  Here in Spain, the woman is most definitely the boss.  They truly live by the phrase, “If Mama isn’t happy, nobody’s happy”.

After spending a few hours on the beach relaxing by the shore, we decide that it is time to eat lunch (this is customary here in Span at around 2 or 3 in the afternoon – it is now nearly 4).  Although it is Santiago’s birthday, he has been married long enough to know that the best way to choose a restaurant is to send Teresa ahead of him.  Teresa grabs my arm and we head off into the city center where we talk to what seems like hundreds of restaurant promoters before Teresa deems a Japanese steakhouse buffet as the best deal in town.  We sit on the porch and wait for Santi and Javi to arrive.  Once there, I am told that I must eat EVERYTHING today since it is a buffet.  It is a common joke that buffets always make money on me since I can’t eat nine pounds of food in one sitting like the Spaniards seemingly can.

After lunch, we take a walk around the city. It’s really charming, but as the afternoon goes on, it seems to get hotter and hotter in Salou and that’s when Santi decides that it is time for the day’s treat:  An incredible ice cream creation from a little ice cream shop that has been in business for nearly 200 years.

Santiago and Teresa's birthday ice cream creation.  I don't know what's in it, but doesn't it look DELICIOUS?  =) 

Me and Javi's ice cream tower =)  Do you think we can finish it all? 

Of course we can!!!!  And it was FABULOUS!!!!

As we finish our GIANT, INCREDIBLE ice cream creations, the sun begins to set and we walk along the boardwalk until we reach our parking spot.  We arrive just in time as it begins to rain as we near the car.  It pours rain the entire way home and I spend my first rainy night in Barcelona (these are few and far between as Barcelona has over 300 sunny days a year).

Home at Last

July 5, 2012

Well, yesterday afternoon, I went back to my place and signed my first rental contract.  It was such a strange feeling, but SUPER exciting at the same time.  I decided to spend one more night with the Martinez family because we went back to visit the Tieta yesterday after my rental appointment and didn’t get back until late.

Today is the day.  I can’t believe it’s finally here!!!!!  My very own place….and my first night alone.

I round up my stuff and the Martinez’s help me cart it all down the elevator (this only takes a mere 5 trips).  Then, they bring up the car and Santiago (Mr. Martinez) meticulously loads each and every suitcase into the car.  Luckily, it all fits and I’m thrilled.  Next stop: my first place =)

Upon arrival, they help me unload and tell me that we’re going to Mercadona (a Spanish grocery store with SUPER cheap prices).  “You need things now….we have to clean your place, and you need laundry detergent and food to eat”.  So, off we go to Mercadona.

We park and I enter with my newly purchased “European cart” (what they use to cart their groceries around in from the store to their apartments since most people don’t have cars in the city) into the world of Mercadona.  Teresa shows me around and explains to me what each type of detergent does.  They use 5 different things to wash clothes with:  I have a special detergent for black clothes, one for delicates, one for normal things, “bicarbonate” (which I’m pretty sure is just baking soda), and fabric softener go into my cart.  I pick out cereal, fruits, veggies and pastas for my first few days.  Teresa shoves things into my cart behind my back that she thinks I’ll like (including a rabbit – yes, they eat rabbit here).  I quickly put the rabbit and other miscellaneous items back when she is not looking and after nearly an hour in the store, I’m stressed out and ready to pay. 

My heart is pounding and I’m sure that this will cost me nearly 200 Euros (that’s what it would cost at home, at least).  Santiago asks me what’s wrong and I tell him my prediction of the cost of my cargo.  He laughs and says I’m crazy.  Santi and Javi say that it will cost less than 100 Euros.  Teresa says 160.  I approach the cash register with nervous anticipation.

Much to my surprise, my grand total for this cart full of stuff:  65 Euros.

I head home with my purchases, say my goodbyes to the Martinez family, thank them for their generosity, and find myself all alone.

 I made a few changes to the sofa...it really brightens up the place (there's nothing a slipcover and a few throw pillows can't fix).

I clean my new place like a fiend and put everything in its place.  Believe it or not, I fall right to sleep on my first night alone, excited for the adventure ahead of me.