Barcelona Tiene Mi Corazon!

I want to make a list of all the things I've learned thus far. Not just about the beautiful sights, or the textbook stuff from class, but in two and a half weeks, I have learned about a completely different culture and realized that there is more to life than the everyday hustle and bustle that everyone just hurries to get through. My greatest hope, and something I have tried to carry out, is to embrace each moment and each day here with an open mind and positive outlook. I can't imagine being anywhere else right now...
Ok, so its been a few days since I've written and we've actually done a lot (hopefully I can remember it all). Sunday was a nice quiet day of trying to plan trips with the girls and hanging out. However, we get sidetracked very easily and end up chatting about nonsense for hours! My roomies and I decided to take advantage of the gorgeous Sunday afternoon (its finally getting a little warmer... I hate the cold!). So we bought a baguette, some cheese and a bottle of wine, picked a beautiful park and decided to just have a little picnic. Everything is closed on Sundays, so we found an open market and then took the metro to the park. It was lovely!!! We just sat on the grass in this beautiful park, one that Jordan pointed out to us on our bike tour, and ate, drank and people watched. It was so relaxing and it was nice to take an hour to just sit and relax in this wonderful park. We decided that we were going to make this a weekly thing, and pick a different spot each Sunday. That night we got home and just hung out... nothing too crazy.
Monday we had school... all day... and went to our gym straight from class. We are legitimately OBSESSED with our gym... its incredible. We took a toning class... in Spanish of course... and it was quite a workout and a fun experience. The last fifteen minutes of the class was dedicated to this new dance called 'zumba' and I was a little nervous to attempt it... but it ended up being SO much fun and we are going to try to take some 'zumba' classes soon. That night, we came home and cooked a delicious dinner. Noelle made a spinach salad, and she even made her own dressing, Ashley grilled chicken (finally, some good chicken!) and I made brown rice and grilled vegetables with teryaki sauce. It was one of the best dinners yet!
Tuesday we had class in the morning and then went to the gym again. We went out to Plaza Catalunya to visit our GSE office and go walk around the town. I got starbucks and was in absolute heaven. Don't get me wrong... I love my cafe con leches, but starbucks is my true love. We hung out with Jordan, Julia and Paola for quite a while... we couldn't ask for better advisers... and then went home and got ready for the night.
It was our friend Hilary's 21st birthday, so we went to dinner at this really nice restaurant called 'Diez' for dinner. It was fun to be with all our friends, but the metro closes at midnight and doesnt open until 5 a.m. (it was like 1 at this point) and the boys were the only ones who knew how to get home on the night bus, so the 8 of us from our apartment ventured home. We couldn't believe it, but the gelato place was still open on La Rambla and we all got crepes and gelato... mmmm!
Wednesday was another long day of classes, but luckily I was able to drop a class because I was taking more units than i needed... and I hated my marketing class and loved all my other ones... so I was relieved. Our classes are really easy... but at the same time very interesting. We met our Spanish teacher for the first time that day because she has been sick. We were all nervous to meet her because we knew we would be spending 4 hours a day with this woman and were crossing our fingers that she would be nice. She is the cutest thing ever! She is young and so sweet! She is so determined to help us learn Spanish fluently and is very motivating. I love Spanish so much... I don't mind that I sit in class for 8 hours a week learning it because when I leave the classroom I actually use it!!! I can't believe how much better I speak (my accent still needs some work) in only 2 weeks.
My friend Lisa, who I feel like I have known for years, asked if I wanted to go on a double date last night with this guy Dean and his friend. I was completely up for it... but a little nervous. I went over to her house and we hung out with people from our program that live by her and then met up with the boys. The guy I was set up with happened to be someone I already knew, and was definitely not into, because they are the two guys who ran the 'pub crawl' we did last week. It was kind of funny actually, but we just went to have fun so its not like I was disappointed (I still have 3 and a half months to find the love of my life right?). The boys are from Canada and Whales, England and are a lot of fun because they know all the great places to go in the city. We went to a couple different bars and clubs and I met a lot of really cool people. We went to this one bar that had the entire wall covered in probably 1000 different shots... and you literally just pick one that sounds good (no descriptions, just names) and get it. We tried a couple different things that were good.
I love going out here and just talking to people from different countries and I tend to kind of interrogate them because I am so intrigued by their different lifestyles and countries. I met this really really cute boy named Bruno (haha) from Brazil. We talked for sooo long and he was sooo cute... and Brazilian!!! Every night here is such an experience. I love going places and not knowing every person there (like in San Diego and Valencia) and actually getting to know people and making friends.
So we just went home to Lisa's and I slept there. We went and got coffee this morning and then I took the metro home. There is so much I feel like I'm leaving out in these journals. Just like the things I see everyday... like how all the elderly people just sit in parks and play bocci ball, or how both moms and dads walk their children to school in the morning. I go crazy over the kids here... they are adorable!!! I miss babysitting! Also, everyone is always so laid back. They take their time with everything (a meal that would take 30 minutes at home takes about an hour and a half here) and they are very very family oriented, which I think is great.
I'm sooo excited for this weekend... we are going sightseeing tomorrow and taking a day trip to Tarragona on Saturday with the group. I need to go to the doctor because I have a really really bad ear infection that is so painful and is not getting better. I wouldn't say I'm homesick at all... but I do miss my family. Skype is the best thing ever though... being able to see everyone makes being away a lot easier. It is also great and comforting to have my close friends here with me.
I am going to get postcards to send out to everyone very soon... so leave comments with your addresses por favor! Oh and also, check out the pictures I uploaded... I think they are in the toolbar on the right!
Todo mi amor y hasta el proximo tiempo! (all my love and until next time!)