on the home stretch

It has come down to one of my final days here in Barcelona. As excited as I am to see my family and friends I already feel nostalgic for the wonderful summer I had here. I still cannot fathom how fast these (almost) two months flew by.

As my classmates and I prepare our last dinner together, a pot luck to be more specific, memories from this summer are already taking center stage in my mind.

Last night a few friends and I walked to the Gothic Quarter to seek out a salsa bar that we had heard of from some other acquaintances. Apparently, salsa lessons went from 11-12 and the bar in the place would open soon after. Of course we all jumped on the salsa bandwagon, eager to involve ourselves in something very Spanish.

As we made our way down there, we learned that the salsa lessons had been, in fact, an hour earlier therefore we had unfortunately missed the opportunity. Down the road was a hole-in-the- wall bar with live music until 3. A few of us were intrigued, so we entered.

The first performance, to me, lacked the entertainment I had been looking for. It consisted of a few guys from the UK who played guitar and saxophone and sang more American alternative music. The vocals and tune in general were quite catchy, but the guitar talent was lacking. To my other friends, he was amazing. Having a few friends as extremely talented musicians, I hold high standards for guitar players. An extremely personal and biased opinion, but regardless it was very fun to see someone live. I give much credit to anyone who can preform well in front of masses of people.

The next few performances were much better. A few guys played guitar and sang Spanish raggae and alternative music. I really enjoyed this. I finally felt like I was in Spain. No more American music existing in the atmosphere. Amazing.

We had to leave early due to a final exam in the morning, and as we walked out we were harassed by a group of guys who were scolding us for leaving before the music ended.

"Why are you leaving? This is authentic Spanish music you're missing out on!" he exclaimed.

As I justified myself with a pathetic excuse of "exam manana" (exam tomorrow) he shook his head in disgust, appauled that we would miss out on the next few performances.

For some final suggestions, I highly, highly recommend seeking out hole in the wall places that reside in less touristic areas. Being in a city where tourists are so prevalent, it is extremely easy to become caught up in it. Yes, it is in your comfort zone, but no it will not give you the study abroad experience you are looking for.

The point of studying abroad is to act and feel as though you are in a foreign culture. To me,the clubs and tourist activity is extremely enjoyable at times, but it will only get you so far in terms of enhancing the cultural immersion one always hopes to experience in a foreign country.

Seek out the underground bars. Take a stroll to the gothic quarter. There's a whole different life over there. It strays away from the tourist pull that exists in La Ramblas and around the beach. It feels... real. It feels like a true experience.

Take some salsa lessons, listen to music where you can't understand the lyrics, spend some time with genuine spanish people. Use that broken up spanish to the best of your ability! That will make your trip one hundred and fifty percent worth it.

If there is one thing I have learned in Barcelona, it is that it is all about stepping out of your comfort area, and it is all about seeking out the opportunity to do so. Especially in such a touristic city.

Missing you already, Spain.

Viva Espana!

Congratulations to my temporary home for defeating the Netherlands in the World Cup final game. Being their first world cup victory, it was naturally an extremely exciting time for all Espana fans.

As Iniesta found the net in the last minutes of overtime, the entire crowd accompanying me at George Payne's bar went wild with excitement. The last minutes ticked down to zero and the energy in the atmosphere only grew stronger. There was a prevailing sense of community at that moment which I had hoped to feel at such a time. Having felt out of place the first few times I went out with my American friends to watch the games, receiving glares of intense patriotism from inhabitants of Barcelona, none of that nonsense seemed to matter anymore. The bar blasted songs to make it feel like a night club while flashes of red and yellow jerseys lit up the atmosphere as we all jumped up and down to the music. Spanish flags were waving in the air.

"I've got a feeling, woo-woo, that tonight's gonna be a good good night" sang the black eyed peas.

And such a good night it was. Fireworks lit up the streets, flags continued to wave, and mass crowds of people of all kind filled up Las Ramblas and la playa(or in english, the mediterranean).

One of my guy friends and I took a walk to the beach and sat with a group of Spainards playing guitar by the water. Their aloofness was nonexistent. Genuinely great vibes. Everyone was extremely ecstatic of Spain's victory. The community I had been searching for was there. Even if just for the night it didn't matter. It was priceless.

It's interesting to me how these types of major events can create such strong ties for a nation. In Amsterdam, I was talking with my waitress who was from South Africa. She was explaining to us how there has developed a national sense of community and perpetual friendliness that was previously extremely nonexistent in Johannesburg.

This type of entertainment has the ability to create such beneficial changes in a country and that is a beautiful thing to me. I could sense it even in Spain, where after they defeated the Netherlands they were extremely tolerant of anyone..... even us "stupido americanos".

So, on that note, cheers to Spain. Cheers to good vibes. Cheers to "viva espana". I can still hear the horns blowing, I can still hear the fireworks set off. No one's done celebrating. Not for a while.

11 days left now. In awe of time's ability to cruise.

The Dam

It's 7:19 pm and the sun is still beaming like it's noon... it won't set for another few hours now...that's how it works here in Spain. The days seem to go on forever. It's been a wonderful weekend. I spent a few days in Amsterdam, Netherlands with a few of my classmates/friends and experienced the life of the city. Canal tours, Ann Frank's house, and exploration of famous landmarks portraying their culture was a part of a wonderful experience. A few of my friends and I stayed in a hostel in a small room with seven other strangers. It was hotter than the Arizona desert because of the lack of air conditioning or fans, a dirty bathroom was shared between the ten of us and ten small beds were squeezed into a room no bigger than my hotel room here at the Citadines in Barcelona.

At first I was extremely shocked and uncomfortable. My best friend and I shared the same feeling when walking into a room full of nomadic guys aged anywhere from twenty to thirty. The thought of sharing a bedroom with these strangers definitely made for a significant amount of apprehension. Sure enough, though, we got through it and it ended up being just the experience that I needed. It's not imperative to live in your full comfort zone all of the time. I am so used to such a zone, living in very affluent and sheltered areas at home, at school in Boston, and even here in Las Ramblas, Barcelona. Being pushed out of your comfort area is the most amazing part of being nomadic. And that is just how I felt this weekend.

Being away also made Barcelona feel like home. At times when I was feeling a bit uncomfortable, I felt nostalgic for the life I left in Spain. This was a surprise to me because it took me a while to get comfortable here in Spain, especially with the sense of American hatred I had felt by the locals. Sure enough, Spain has become something familiar, and it felt very close to the way my home does when I am away for a long period of time. It was an exciting feeling for me because I am becoming genuinely attached to the city. It's crazy how fast you can feel another place is equivalent to home.

It's quite a shame that I only have about 2 and a half weeks left... time is flying faster these days. I've known this for a while and my experience in Spain justifies my theory.

I suggest traveling to different places to anyone who studies for a long period of time in Europe. It is a beautiful feeling experiencing different languages, culture, and customs within a two hour plane ride away from Spain. I am not used to this feeling in the states. If i fly two to three hours I can land somewhere in Georgia or Florida, where languages and where customs (although a bit different) are extremely similar to mine. It is a great feeling here. You'll learn to, naturally, prefer some countries over another, as I did Spain over Amsterdam, but having the chance to live in it, even just for a few days, is truly an extraordinary opportunity.

For you, Pop.

You're always with me, pop pop. I can feel it.

It has been a little more than a month since you left us yet I walk the streets of Barcelona, sit by the mediterranean, hike to the highest peak in the city and I can still sense your presence everywhere.

You are as infinite as the sky and the mediterranean sea seem to be.

Always wearing your birth stone around my neck.

Love you forever.

"One Green Salad with Ham and Cheese"

What an eventful weekend it has been here in Barcelona.

Friday ended just as any other friday would in this chaotic city. Lunch, late dinner, parties until the morning.

After my last class on Friday, I went with a few friends to a small cafe across the road from campus. It is here where I order my new favorite post-class lunch: A big green salad with rolled up ham and cheese. One of my friends/classmates is much more fluent than I am in Spanish and therefore had made friends with the two waitresses before introducing me to the cafe. As they enhance his spanish, he attempts to teach them common and relative phrases in English. "Hi, how are you doing?" and "Thank you" are two that I had heard him teach one of the waitresses at first. It baffled me how difficult it was for this woman to process, in my opinion, such simple sentences.

I then realized how difficult it has been, for me, to remember simple phrases such as asking the meaning of menu items, asking for the check, etc. I remembered how rewarding it was to be able to communicate in another language successfully. Such simple english phrases, to me, were very difficult for this woman to retain.

After placing our order in the kitchen, the waitress walked back into the dining area and yelled

"One green salad with Ham and Cheese", simultaneously wearing a large smile and giving us the thumbs up sign. She had successfully placed an order to the kitchen in English.

As simple and easy as it may have primarily seemed to me, I grew a significant amount of respect for this waitress who was, for once, putting in a solid effort to learn OUR language. So often an American will have to conform to the norms of Spanish society in a restaurant while having to deal with rolled eyes and bitter attitudes from waiters/waitresses who remain impatience with our scrappy use of spanish. This particular waitress is one of the few exceptions who is extremely happy to hear us trying to learn her language while in return making an effort to learn a minority language in her city.

It felt extremely relieving to experience such an occurrence that may seem miniscule to any outside party. It's comforting to know that there are locals who genuinely enjoy cultural immersion with American inhabitants.

On to my third week of class. It is unbelievable how fast the six weeks are moving.

buenas noches!

Antonio Gaudi's Park Guell, Barcelona

La Noche de San Juan

"From early morning on June 23 until the sun rises on June 24, many towns in Spain celebrate the longest day of the year and shortest night. Tradition, originating in the pagan rituals of the summer solstice, dictates that great bonfires be built representing the power of the sun and to help it revitalize its energy. People dance and jump around the fires to purify themselves and to protect themselves from the demons'(the night) influence."

This past Thursday was the day of St. John the Baptist, one of the largest celebrations in Spain. Wednesday night consisted of a massive party that occupied the entire strip of beach at the Barcelonete stop on the metro, with an atmosphere full of people, fire, fireworks, liquor, and the like. Although previously warned by our AIFS advisors to stray away from the madness, my classmates and I couldn't bare to miss out on such a festive opportunity.

Cava, the traditional sparkling white wine so prevalent in Spain, is the most consumed beverage on this night. Naturally, my roommate and I jumped on the Cava bandwagon and bought a bottle pre-celebration. After celebrating a bit with our fellow American classmates, we took the adventure down to the beach.

It was just as described by all of my professors. Madness indeed. Fireworks were being blasted off by the minute and restaurants framing the shore turned into mini clubs, the alternative hot spot from the beach. The only disappointment I had was missing out on seeing the correfoc, where groups of Spainards dress as devils and light a parade of fireworks for others to run, dance, or do whatever they please under, while evidently using extreme caution.

So why is this celebration so important? Why is it more significant than just one huge party? And what does John the Baptist represent on such an occasion, you may wonder.... Well, to paraphrase the Universidad Autonoma De Barcelona Newsletter:

"St John the Baptist is known as the Precursor of Christ, rebirth and the light to the world, which explains the link to the solstice. Bonfires were lit to symbolize the light of the World.....

Water also has a special significance in the night of St. John--the Baptist. It represents prosperity, abundance and fertility."

This may explain the importance of a celebration close to the water and the abundance of fire. Although it has a reputation for a night of chaos, everything remains very symbolic.

The most similar celebration I could tie this to in the U.S is our Independence Day. My professors agreed on the similarity. This celebration was a bit different though. It was much more out of control. We were advised to bring nothing else but our metro pass and any amount of euros sufficient enough to get through the night. The amount of theft at this celebration is even worse than it is on a normal day on Las Ramblas,which is still a pretty large amount. Two girls in my group had some of their belongings stolen right out of their lap on this night. This reminded me to be extremely careful with my valuables. For a while, when I began to get comfortable in the Barcelona atmosphere, I became a bit more relaxed about clutching onto my wallet and phone wherever I went. The thefts that happened to my classmates were a huge wake up call for me.

All in all, it was an extremely fascinating night. Although I cut the night a little before sunrise, I still had a fantastic time immersing myself in this country's largest celebration.

The first week came like the morning sun and is now gone with the wind. It surprised me how fast the week went because they live significantly longer days here. A typical day in Barcelona starts around 10 and ends after dinner around 9:30 or 10 p.m... or for the party animals, it can go all night into the early morning. It was difficult for me to become accustomed to the time change. Dozing off in class was a daily routine last week. It wasn't because of boredom for I'm extremely satisfied with both of my professors. I like to blame it on the lingering jet lag that I still can't rid. I haven't done much to help it, though. The first week of excitement being in a marvelous city makes for late nights of exploration. My first week of explorations consisted of the use of the metro in order to travel to places such as the beach and school during the day and spanish restaurants and clubs at night. Yesterday a few friends and I rented bikes for four hours of the day and explored almost the entire city of Barcelona. It's more interesting going on excursions independently from the AIFS program because it is not as scheduled and you are able to fit in everything you would like to see. Not that AIFS excursions are at all negative. They are extremely helpful and convenient, although I have only been on one so far.

Having to wake up for class at 7 am, our days become even longer than most of those living here. When walking to the open air market at 8:00 for breakfast there is not a peep on the street beside my fellow classmates and the exception of road workers and those opening the markets.

Something I have continued to notice is that small sense of irritation that Barcelona inhabitants take with Americans, especially us students trying to communicate in our extremely broken up Spanish. I became a bit annoyed at the fact that some of the cafe baristas and waiters would speak back to us in English instead of enhancing our Barcelona experience by helping us learn the language. The lack of patience is evident in some people which is frustrating because I feel that my money is wasted by speaking english when coming to study spanish. The point of living in another country is to become accustomed to their language so being shut down from using it isn't the best feeling. Albeit there are others (specifically at the university) that refuse to speak to us in English so that we will practice our spanish. And as difficult as I first thought it was to communicate this way, I am so glad some people push me to take the less convenient route. At the end of the day I feel more rewarded having used my AIFS spanish education.

Tonight is a great opportunity to immerse in the culture of Barcelona. It is the world cup game. Spain vs. Honduras. What a lively night it will be. Classmates and I have gone and bought Spain jerseys and are extremely excited to go out to bars and cheer on our temporary home country. It will be interesting to see how the locals react to such a plan.

Wish us luck!

From the London Bridge to Ramblas

I am finally settled in my flat in the Ramblas of Barcelona. It has been an extremely long four days but exciting nonetheless.

Starting off in London, I was somehow brought back to the familiarity of an online virtual environment that I had studied in my Media Theory class last semester named SecondLife. Through this virtual environment, one can create human avatars and transport themselves into different worlds with the click of a button.

I was humored when first arriving in London because similar to Second Life, I had transported (not as easily) from one world to another within six hours. I spent almost a full day at my home in the United States, unconsciously immersing myself in a culture I am so accustomed to by everyday activities such as eating, interacting, and shopping. What makes it such an unconscious act is being set in such a routine that I don't think twice about the little details of the culture surrounding me.

At 7:30 pm, I boarded a plane at the JFK airport and flew off to London. After six hours, I entered a world five hours ahead of my home city and full of people who act, speak, dress, and live in, literally, extremely foreign ways.

It's extremely easy to sense the intense patriotism that exists in these countries. As Americans, us students stick out like sore thumbs when traveling in large groups of people, all speaking loud in excitement about our first few nights in a foreign country. Glare after glare, I realized that the inhabitants of London and Barcelona take offense to such "obnoxious" ways.

Regardless of the negatives, there are a significant amount of residents that are extremely willing to help us when in need and are excited and respectful of the fact that American students are so interested in immersing in their culture.

The food in Barcelona has been wonderful so far. London had very similar pub-like food that is so prevalent in America so I was not able to sense much of difference. Although some restaurant menus in Barcelona at first had seemed seem a bit Americanized, groups of us make sure to seek out the authentic hole-in-the wall restaurants that surround Las Ramblas. For example, tonight we ate at a small restaurant residing on the mediterranean where "futbol" fans got loud and rowdy while watching the Italy vs. Paraguay game. I sat there and took in the full atmosphere and excitment while eating tapas and drinking sangria, the typical hispanic food and drink.

I find it extremely interesting to eat at the restaurants that force you to speak the language and try different types of food than what you may be used to. Settling for the places that are the most convenient negates the purpose of the study abroad experience. I'm not going to lie and say its an easy task to take the challenge, but once you stray further from your comfort zone it becomes a lot more exciting to involve yourself in a culture extremely unfamiliar to your own.

Frightful Nightmares

It was as hazy of a day as it was a dream and I was driving with my mother, sister and brother in the car to a little coffee shop before heading off to the airport. We find a parking spot and hop out of the car when I notice that my full suitcase was missing along with my most vital medication. We're thirty minutes from my house and have only two hours to drive to JFK airport in New York (which from my home is an hour away) and check in before my flight. My mother, so angry at my irresponsibility, refuses to turn back around and pick up my belongings. Consequently my life that has been packed away for Barcelona will not be coming along for the plane ride. As I sit at the coffee table while my mother stands in line, I decide to make a quick ride back to my house before she notices I'm gone. As I spark the ignition and head back to my home, my dream diminishes into something unremembered.

It goes to show that I'm still a bit more nervous than I previously thought. My excitement for this trip has skyrocketed significantly in the last two days mostly because I have become much more physically prepared for my trip so I have not paid any mind to any lingering apprehension. Having all of my stuff packed up already, the last thing I must remember is to not leave anything behind. My subconscious made that clear through my horrific dream last night. I begin to write down a check list of everything vital that I must have not only packed but also not left behind after the car is filled and ready to head southbound to New York.

"Two more days"... I have found my mind repeating the phrase over and over this morning.

Reality hits.

My AIFS itinerary has finally arrived. There is no excuse for procrastination anymore.

pack. pack. pack.

I continue to live in the mindset that I have more time in Boston than I actually do. The days are creeping up on me faster and faster and I am becoming more aware how far behind I really am. Juggling work, sleep, and my last days of spending time with the friends I am leaving behind has left me with little time for preparation.

I will soon enter an entity very foreign to mine. I realize this. But I still keep my mind almost completely in the present.

I am beginning to realize how difficult it is to prepare for such a major step in my life.

This is not a vacation, I tell myself.

This. is. major.

This is going to be one of the best experiences of your life and you have done little to begin preparing.

You better begin soon..

So writing today is probably a positive thing. As I walk back and forth from the computer to the other side of my room, typing down more thoughts that come to mind, I find myself beginning to take out my suitcase, open my closet, and think.

look, think. prepare.

until next time.

Barcelona-bound blues?

As I sit in the kitchen of my little Boston pad, I anticipate the major travels I am about to pursue. As excited as I am to be involved in such an exhilarating experience, I can't help but feel apprehensive. New language? New culture? New means of living? When have I ever experienced more than a week of vacation in a foreign country? I am going to be living it now-and living it is exciting and difficult at the same time. For so long I have completely and utterly looked forward to everything that is AIFS in Barcelona, but a small part of me is starting to realize that I need to increase my mental preparation.

Although I am extremely excited to immerse myself in the lively culture of Barcelona, I have begun to focus on all of the safety precautions that I must adhere to. I attended a four hour pre-departure meeting at my school and could not help but express to my parents that I thought the orientation was not imperative for my trip preparation. I was confident that I could figure it all out for myself. In retrospect, many of the points made at that session made me cognizant of the precautions which should be taken. As exciting as this experience will be, I had not considered certain situations which could be dangerous . For example, it has been drilled in my head that pick- pocketing is a major issue (as would be the case in many other major cities.) Clearly American in appearnce, I will already be considered an easy target for criminals who are seeking valuables from unsuspecting tourists. Hearing repeatedly that this could be a major problem, I will continue to use precaution in order to avoid these situations. I also plan to share my knowledge with others, especially those who are traveling with me.

School is another factor that has caused me a similar amount of apprehension. Having had a rigorous schedule this past spring, I looked forward to having a significant amount of time away from the mounds of work. I have recently learned that I will be in class approximately six hours a day in Barcelona. Although I realize that school is a significant part of my travel to Barcelona, I sometimes worry that I will not be able to prepare myself this soon following the end of last semester. On the other hand, having been in work mode for such an extended period of time might make it easier to manage my studies as well as my travel experience. I have become a bona fide expert at balancing my time after this spring semester and I hope that this experience will help with my summer abroad at a foreign University and city.

Other than safety and educational issues, I am somewhat nervous to leave my friends, and especially my family members. When my grandfather passed away two weeks ago, I have felt the need to grasp onto the people close to me. Such a devastating occurrence has helped to bring my family even closer. Living in a foreign country for six weeks may make for a more difficult experience at this point in time. Although my home right now is Boston rather than my hometown in Connecticut, I know that I am able to take a train or bus to see my family anytime I feel the need. I fear that being so far away might make me regret that I cannot be there for my mother, grandmother and all my other family members during this difficult time. I also realize, however, that all of my loved ones, especially my grandfather, would never want me to stop living and would never want me to give up such an amazing opportunity to experience a different culture. They are as excited for this trip as I am.

The first few weeks of summer have started out hectically and emotionally, and I have certainly had my share of stress, but I cannot wait to fly off into the wonderful city of Barcelona. I have yet to begin the physical preparation but day-by-day my mental preparation continues to grow which, to me is a huge relief