la costa brava

We left early Saturday morning to travel from Barcelona to the Costa Brava ("brave coast") in the north of Spain. First we took a bus ride to the Dalí museum in Figueres. Here we saw several permanent art exhibitions. My personal favorite was a the Mae West room. This surreal area made up the image of Mae West's face throughout a series of objects placed throughout the room. In order to see that the sofa made lips, two pictures hung on the wall made eyes, and drapes made of hair were supposed to frame her head, we had to climb up steps to get to the top of the room- kind of like a treehouse. Then, when you looked down, you saw that it made Mae West's face. Many of the rest of Dalí's work was dark (Holocaust related or Christ related). It was all very beautiful though and the layout of the museum itself was an art exhibition.

Unfortunately, the weather did not hold up as we planned. As we traveled further and further north it began to rain. We stopped in the town of l'Escala for lunch and to siesta (hopefully on the beach) but it was 50 degrees and pouring! We did visit an anchovy factory though, and tried anchovies along with a traditional Catalan wine. To drink the wine you put the small glass spout close to your mouth and then pull it away quickly as you pour, making a stream of wine that is supposed to go down your throat. This was fun even though a lot of us got wine on our shirts.

That evening we drove to Roses to spend the night. Monjira and I walked along the beach, all bundled up in as many layers as we could. We found a really nice restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean and sat on the beach with a heater plugged in next to our table to keep us warm. Here we ordered paella and a salad to share and watched the sun set. All of the food was delicious! The best part of the meal, however, were our conversations with the waiters. When we arrived we spoke in Spanish to get seated, etc. The waiter immediately asked us if we were from France. We said, no, we're from America. To our surprise he told us that they don't see many Americans in Roses- its more common for British, French and German tourists. We carried on a conversation with him and found out he was from Bolivia. His name was Saul. Saul had many questions for us about what we were studying, what it was like in America, and what we were doing in Spain. I think he was fascinated to meet American girls. We asked him a lot about Spain and Boliva, too. After dinner he and another waiter with whom we'd been chatting asked to take a picture with us! We took a few and then they found another waiter to come out from the back to take a picture of all 4 of us! It was so funny and all the other tourists in the restaurant were staring! Saul and his friend invited Monj and I to come to the discoteca (a Spanish club) in Roses later that night. He said that he and his friends like to go when they get off work at 12.

Since we had been invited (BY LOCALS!!) to a discoteca we decided we just couldn't let the opportunity pass us by. We were so proud of our Spanish skills and the fact that they didn't immediately assume that we were American. Later on we went to the discoteca and danced for awhile. The crowd there was mostly middle aged locals but we were also pretty early for the evening scene... Here in Spain most clubs etc. don't get started until after 1 am. We couldn't stay that long, though. We waited for our new friends and when they didn't show up and we got too tired, we left. We stopped by the restaurant on our way home and saw them still there. They hadn't gone to the disco yet. We waved goodbye to each other and that night Monj and I went to bed glowing, proud of our little adventure.

tranquila- keep calm

What a whirlwind the first 48 hours in Barcelona has been! It is amazing how long it feels like we've already been here. When we arrived our program leaders basically handed us a map with three dots: one where our apartamiento (homestay) is located, one at the ISA offices, and another at a central Barcelona plaza. After that they might as well have said, "bye, have a ball!" and let us run free. We've been finding our way around ever since. I have found this to be the best way of getting to know the city. While it sounds (and definitely is) intimidating, it is also great. Everyone on our program (about 50 of us) have already gotten lost at least once and somehow we find our way again. Monj and I are lucky. Our homestay is located in a central neighborhood- within walking distance of everything! Others on our program have already learned the metro system well, as they are located in farther neighborhoods and cannot walk to everything. The streets here are in typical European style: beautiful, old and filled with swaying trees. Cars honk and the city is always bustling. I marvel at everything I see- a regular tourist.

The pace of life here will take some getting used to. I feel like the locals are on a permanent "staycation." Our señora (housemom Tina) keeps telling us to "tranquila" which means "keep calm." I think she is used to us anxious Americans in her home and we can tell by her small chuckles that our antics provide her entertainment. The Spanish lifestyle is restful. Banks and other businesses are open from 8am-2pm and then they close! Everyone goes home for lunch at 2 and then takes a siesta and rests. Our classes will be assured to be done by 2 every day! Then we have free time to go to the beaches (which are GORGEOUS!) or see a cultural/historical site. I think I can get used to this!! Americans are so consumed with getting everything done immediately or RIGHT when they need it. This is in stark contrast to the Spanish lifestyle. If its past 2pm in the afternoon and you need money exchanged, too bad you'll have to wait until tomorrow. Nearly everything has that lackadaisical feel to it.

The eating pattern seems exotic to Monj and I, too. We have a light breakfast around 8/9am and then a heavier lunch at 2. Dinner (la cena) is served at 9pm. Our housemom doesn't eat with us but our "suite mates" (other ISA girls) who live next door and eat every meal with us. We are already becoming fast friends seeing as we have to find our way around the city using a map and teamwork, laughing at our silly Spanish skills.

So far we have been on a bus tour yesterday (which frankly most of the kids slept through but Monj and I tried to fight the jet-lag and stay attentive) and a "gothic tour"- my personal fave- of the city. The gothic tour was on foot  and we saw BEAUTIFUL, old churches as well as the city center where the government offices are located. Our tour guide spoke English which I approved of because I understood every little story and detail about the history- partially my reason for going on this trip! I think the old Roman pillars were my favorite part. I will attach a picture below. These were miraculously saved because through the 1800's people built their homes around them and preserved them. Then, during the modernist architecture period, they realized the significance of them and built a muesum-type structure (half inside, half outside) around them to protect them. Seriously beautiful.

Another highlight of the trip was our visit to Las Ramblas and la boquería (the market). Las Ramblas is the main street of Barcelona: slightly touristy but very delightful. It is filled with vendors, people speaking 100 languages, famous shopping stores and beautiful hotels and apartments. The market (pictured below) has everything from meat to veggies to candies. They service the locals (who shop for food nearly every single day) as well as tourists who just want to see how beautifully food can be displayed. I couldn't stop smiling the whole time.

Culturally, we are still in shock. I think this may last awhile. First of all, people here STARE. They are used to tourists, I am sure of that, but nonetheless they just STARE with a blank expression. We have been told this is the normal way of things and to just stare right back. We have been trying to dish it right back but for some reason I always break into a smile. This is very American and we have been advised against this. Smiling at people as you pass them on the street is not the European way apparently. Furthermore, everything is different. I know this sounds cliche but it could not be more true. The shower, the pace of life, the elevator (small and lurchy up eight floors), the way EVERYONE smokes non-stop, the drinking age (wink) and how SMALL everything is (kitchen, dining table, dishwasher, our bedroom, etc.). But the weather is amazing- dry and warm and sunny- and the food could not taste better!

inspiration for a journey

I am leaving in the morning for Spain. On this eve of great adventure I hope that I can live every day from here forward to the absolute fullest and take in Spain before it becomes just a distant memory. All I can think of is the inspiration I have found through several ways in the past week or so about living life to the fullest and making an adventure of every single day. It was wonderful to visit with my sister this past weekend in D.C. and watch her graduate from graduate school and thus move on to the "real world." It really put in perspective for me how short and fleeting not only youth and college/school are, but also life itself. Everything moves by in such a blur, suddenly you realize something is over before you feel it has even begun.

Below I share a post my friend Alix put on Facebook. It resonates with me and gives me an intense sense of relaxation and perspective not only on this grand journey I am about to partake in, but also on life.

"45 Lessons Life Taught Me"- Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short – enjoy it.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry, God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

We're so lucky

How many people, in the prime of their life, get to say they traveled abroad with their best friend? Since we met each other as freshman Spanish students in Mabel's Español 294 class (the best teacher EVER) Monj and I knew that we wanted to study abroad together. We spent hours talking to the international studies office, visiting academic counselors and searching our calendars for the best times and programs. We filled out paperwork and applications and finally made it into a summer 2013 Barcelona program! Now, as we stand several days away, we are scrambling to get our light, summer clothes packed and to square away final details. It feels like a dream come true.

We cannot WAIT to meet our homestay host, Florentina. We've read that she's a fantastic cook, lives in a beautiful neighborhood in central Barce and loves having international students all the time. The pictures we have seen of her open, well-lit flat seem inviting and cozy. A lot of the other students on our program are staying in homestays, too and we can see from our forms that they're from universities all over the country!

So it appears that everything is under control. In fact, everything is better than under control. Monj and I (or "la pareja" as Mabel calls us) are so blessed and lucky to be embarking on this journey together. We meet in NYC's JFK airport in a few short days! Not a lot or people can say that they traveled with their best friend to Spain for a summer when they were 20. Now HERE'S an adventure waiting to unfold...