Closing Thoughts

It has been about four months since my last post. I've written and deleted several posts since I left Europe a couple of months ago, and I am still struggling to find the words to express how deeply my experience abroad has affected me.

After school ended, I said goodbye to my host family, my new friends, the teachers at my school, and the wonderful students... who, at the beginning, had me ripping my hair out in frustration.  At the end, I was fighting back tears (unsuccessfully) because the thought of leaving them made me so sad.  I had a few blissful days of relaxation, a quick trip to Tarragona while I waited for Zlati to arrive, and then our wild adventures through Barcelona, Vienna, Sofia, and Melnik began. I stayed behind after he left and traveled to Plovdiv and London.  Then, I finally made the journey home.

When I first moved abroad, the transition was a challenge.  I missed my family and friends back home, and I had to adjust my lifestyle, my way of communicating, my diet.... everything changed, and it was not easy.  In January, there were nights when I came home from school exhausted, and I was ready to pack everything up and head back home.

But I gave it a chance, and things started becoming really amazing.  I remember that moment around the end of March when I suddenly realized that I had started picking up some Spanish.... that time when I received terrible news about a friend back home and the teachers were hugging me and bringing me hot chocolate.... when I took my host brother to the park to play soccer and we had so much fun we almost didn't make it home on time for dinner.... when my host family took me to a BBQ in the mountains to try the famous Catalonian calcots.... when I went out with my amigas and we danced, sang, explored, stayed in strange hostels, took the demon train to exciting destinations, and ate tapas and bikinis... the moment I tasted paella, sangria, and tortilla.

Now I am back home, and although one of my TESOL classes covered "reverse culture shock," it wasn't enough to prepare me for how completely overwhelming it is.  I am beyond happy to be near my family again.  I also have some friends here who made such huge efforts to stay in touch while I was abroad, and when I came back our friendships had gotten even stronger. One other nice thing about coming home was the comfort I felt in being in a familiar environment.

Still, a huge piece of my heart is back in Barcelona. I grew accustomed to waking up every day at 9:00, making the quick walk to school, teaching, siesta-ing (but really I used that time to eat and get work done), teaching some more, walking to the plaza after school to meet my host family, taking a coffee with their friends, working on lesson plans/studying/playing with the kids, enjoying a relaxing dinner, and eventually climbing into bed to watch "Mentes Criminales" before drifting off to sleep. Then I would wake up and repeat, but each day was different because the kids at school kept things interesting.  They all thought of me as the mystical American teacher from the strange town called Atlanta.... what they didn't know was that they were my teachers, too.  Every day at school was a thrill, and weekends were blissful as well.

So readjusting to life in my hometown has certainly been a bigger challenge than I originally expected.  One thing I do know, though, is that no matter what happens in the future, I am fortunate that I had this experience.  It will benefit me in many ways down the road, and I certainly recommend living abroad to everyone who gets the chance.  It will change you, and I mean that in a good way.

I do not know what the next step is, but I am working hard to find a job teaching or advising international students because I really enjoy making a contribution to students' education and being around different cultures. When I teach ESOL, I feel fulfilled and refreshed because I know that I have done my best to teach my students something new, and most days I end up learning something from them too!  So, I know the right job is out there... perhaps in Atlanta, Barcelona, Santiago, or Tokyo.  Only time will tell.  At the moment, I am hard at work trying to find the right fit and enjoying my time with my family; they are the ones who encouraged me to follow my dreams, and they are the ones who welcomed me back with open arms and hearts.  :)

Cultural Differences

A few cultural differences, if you´re interested

The ones I like...

*People here don´t own guns. There are pretty major restrictions on owning a gun, so unless you are a policeperson or a hunter, it will be difficult to get your hands on one.  Not that people here even WANT them in their homes.  Love it.

*People have two last names.  I just think it is cool.  For example: Pablo Molinero Fernández. The first surname (Molinero) comes from the father´s side, and the second surname (Fernández) comes from the mother´s side.  When people get married, they typically don´t change their name.... but when they have a child, he or she acquires the first surname from the father and the mother (example:If José Lopez Garcia marries María Reyes Cruz, and they have a child called Tomás, his full name will be Tomás Lopez Reyes.)

*SO MUCH TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.  They really value this, and I think the work life balance here is more my style.  People are not nearly as stressed, and they get to hang out with loved ones nonstop.

*SIESTAS all the time

*Futbol is REALLY important here.  I am still not really a sports person, but I do enjoy the energy that comes from these popular matches.

*The kids tend to be really active and in shape.  Yes, most of them have phones and ipads and other forms of technology, but they don´t always have to be using them.  At school, they play on the playground often for more than an hour.  After school, many children play outside for up to two hours every day after school.  I am talking nonstop running around and playing futbol.  

*Festivals, holidays, and celebrations such as Sant Jordi, Sant Joan, and Carnaval.

The ones I don´t like...

*They don´t care about germs.  To an extent, I respect this.  Less worrying means less stress means a longer life.  However people here are sick a LOT. Maybe I am biased because I work around children a lot.  It is just that some of the schools don´t even keep soap in the bathroom (Not mine, my school is ON TOP of things thank goodness.  Shout out to Teresa, the nun who keeps everything running smoothly at my school!).  But I have heard stories. 

*People here are extremely direct and honest.  There´s no beating around the bush.  They won´t consider it an insult, it´s just the way things are here.  I have to admit that this was one of the hardest things to get used to.  In my time here, I have received a lot of comments about my appearence and myself in general.  I have been asked if I was pregnant, told I have a belly, told that I am extremely white (don´t care about that one actually), etc.  However I have also been told that I am guapa and that I am an amazing artist.  I spoke to a woman who lives in my town about this, and she said that people are honest because if they don´t speak the truth, others will consider them to be fake.  I get that.  If I ask you directly if I look fat, I am not going to get mad at an (politely worded) honest answer.  The thing I don´t like is when people just feel the need to reveal their opinion without you even asking.  This is just my personal opinion that I am revealing without you even asking.  So I have learned to live with it, and when I DO receive a compliment, I really appreciate it because I know for sure that it is genuine. ;)

Hitchhiking at Montserrat

Yesterday was an adventure.  Anna and I decided to go to Montserrat, a famous mountain/monastery about 40 minutes north of where I live now.

We got off to a slightly rough start because Anna temporarily does not have a phone and we missed each other on the train initially, but all was well in the end and we found each other.  We then took the cable car up the mountain (it´s 7 euros one way or 10 euros for round trip, so not too bad).  It was a five minute ride, and very smooth... although if you are afraid of heights I would not recommend it.

We proceeded to walk around a nicely groomed village, with flowers and attractive architecture, and of course a good amount of tourists.  We found the monastery, but I do not have photographic evidence of its magnificence because you could not use your camera inside.  We also stood in line to see the Mare de Déu de Montserrat, aka the Black Virgin of Montserrat.  I´m not a particularly religious person so I do not know a whole lot about it, but it seemed to be a really big deal.

Below: I´m posing for a photo with the mountain behind me and the Monastery in front of me.  I thought the views were breathtaking.

After that, we grabbed dinner and decided to take a nice leisurely walk down the mountain. I heard there were trails back to the main train station and that it would take a solid hour an a half.  Instead of researching it ahead of time, I thought we would just follow the signs.  Thing is, there were no signs that pointed toward a train station.  So we took a random trail.  At first, our spirits were high!  The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, a cool breeze was keeping us energized.  But after about 45 minutes of trekking in no particular direction and noticing that the decline had suddenly become an incline, we started worrying that maybe this was not the route to the bottom. I tried using the GPS on my phone, and it only showed roads, not trails.  We asked a kind looking jogger (the only person we saw in the span of about an hour) for directions, and he said something in Catalan and pointed in 4 different directions.... so that unfortunately did not help.

At this point, we were worried that it might get dark before we could reach the bottom.  We did not want to fall off the mountain or be eaten by any exotic Spanish animals, so we back tracked, and mannnn was it steep going back.  I have been eating so much bread and olive oil and not really exercising, so the fact that I was gasping for air after that mini hike was a clear indication that I need to get back at it.

We went to the information desk, but it was closed.  In fact, the whole place had suddenly become a ghost town.  We just wanted to know how to get to the bottom, whether it was on foot, by bus, or any other means of transportation.  Finally, I saw a family wearing rock climbing gear approaching.  The last time I asked for directions in Spanish, it did not go well (the jogger on the mountain).  This time I screamed, ¨HABLAS INGLES!?!?¨to the girl.  She said no, but her dad spoke a little.  After a very confusing conversation in Spengalan (Spanish/English/Catalan), Anna and I realized he was offering us a ride to the train station.  My heart was racing.  On the one hand, I was thrilled to have a quick, effortless option to get down that massive mountain.  On the other hand, I had never in my life accepted a ride from a stranger.  I was nervous, but I figured since it was a family, I would go for it and put my trust in them.

It ended up going amazingly well!  The kids were so nice, asking us where we were from and trying to speak English with us.  They offered us cherries and walnuts, and when we arrived at the station they waited to make sure we got on the train.  It´s always a huge risk getting a ride from someone you don´t know, but I have to say that most of the people I have met in Spain have been really kind to me, and these people are no exception.  I will probably never see them again, but I hope they realized how much we appreciated them taking a few moments out of their day to help us out!

El Teatro, 100 Montaditos, Sugar, y Nit Bus

Yesterday the 6th graders put on a play at the local theater (by local I mean it was a one minute walk from the school). I expected something very casual, but it was so professional!  The costumes, the make up, the lighting, the music, the sound effects, the FOG MACHINE! And they were really into it, smiling big.  Even though it was, of course, entirely in Catalan, I found myself on the edge of my seat the entire time, brimming with pride as I watched my students act their hearts out.

Last night, I ventured into Barcelona for one last night of dancing with my ladies and our Colombian friends.  What can I say about last night? It doesn´t matter where you are in the world as long as you have people by your side who will make you laugh and have fun.

Here are my reviews of the places we visited last night:

*100 Montaditos (4/5 stars): A restaurant in the heart of Barcelona, right in Placa Catalunya. They have a menu consisting of.... you guessed it.... 100 mini sandwiches ranging from 1 to 2 euros.  Salads are about 3 euros, and drinks range from 1 to 3 euros.  Super cheap, definitely tasty.  My only criticism would be that they kind of skimp on the sandwich fillings (but who can complain at that price?) AND they forgot one of our sandwiches.  But we ordered a lot.

*Sugar (4/5 stars): A bar near Placa Reial.  Really tiny, but we got there just in time to grab seats and reasonably priced, tasty cocktails.  The music was... interesting.  Not bad, not the best.  No creepers, so that was a plus. We had a nice time there.  I would recommend it.

*BLVD Barcelona (3/5 stars): A nightclub on Las Ramblas. I have been there before.  There is decent music for dancing.... hip hop, pop, and house music.  It´s a lot of fun, and if you get on the guestlist, you get in for free and they give you a free drink.  That´s nice.  The bartenders are also nice.  They will hunt for toilet paper for you when the lavabos have run out.  The only thing is that it is so touristy.  I don´t think any locals go there.  Not that that is a problem, but I am just saying that you could easily step inside and think that you´re in the good old USA.

*Nit Bus (5/5 stars): Why yes, I am reviewing the autobus! I didn´t want to get a hostel, so I decided to catch the Nit Bus back to my town.  It comes only once a night, at exactly 3:07 am.  So you´d better be ready!  I was so relieved to have this option.  Hostels are a great option if you want to stay in the city, but if you want to get back home without paying an arm and a leg, this is great.  I only wish I had known about it sooner.  It was three euros, and less than thirty minutes after departing from Catalunya, I was back in my town.  The bus was clean, quick, and I didn´t spot any creepers. Win.

So if you are visiting Barcelona and need ideas for food, drinks, dancing, or transportation, I´ve got your back. ;)

Here vs. Home

For the last few weeks I have been obsessing about the end of the program.  One minute I am so happy that I will soon be seeing Atlanta friends and family, and the next I am fighting back tears because I will miss it here so so much.

Things I am going to miss:

*my students. Sometimes they drive me crazy but I might cry on the last day of school.
*My host family.  They have given me endless support and have really accepted me into their lives.
*Mis amigas, Katelyn, Kirsty, and Anna!  I will miss dancing with them to Uptown Funk, having travel buddies, getting into the most awkward situations, laughing until I cry, watching Barça matches, exploring Barcelona, discovering delicious restaurants, and being able to share this unique experience with them. Oh my madre mia, I am going to miss them
*being able to walk everywhere or take the train/bus/tram/metro.
*fresh bread every day. Fresh everything all the time. Sure they have a ton of food with preservatives here, but natural food is widely available and it isn´t outrageously expensive.
*hearing Spanish all the time. I want to say that I won´t get lazy when I go home, but being surrounded by the language makes it so much easier
*Tapas, sangria, spanish tortillas, paella, calçots with romanesco sauce, and pan con tomate
*The lifestyle.  Shops are closed on Sundays.  People actually spend a TON of time with their friends and family.  What a concept! ;)
*The super late sunset.  Barcelona is further north than Atlanta, so it doesn´t get dark until about 10:00 here.  Love it.
*So many beautiful beaches just a stone´s throw away.
*The architecture
*Watching futbol with people who actually care about futbol (okay well I have a few friends in the states who care, but I mean the whole city just goes CRAZY about it).
*Hilarious misunderstandings due to the language barrier.


Things I am looking forward to:
*seeing my loved ones back home.  I have MISSED them so much!
*Being healthy again (hopefully).  Currently I am suffering from yet another illness.  It won´t stop.
*Summer thunderstorms (weird I know but I kinda love Atlanta summer weather)
*Being back in my apartment with Zlati, and having a flexible schedule for my personal life.  I need to slow down for a bit after this.
*Familiarity: there´s no place like home, and the comfort you find there.
*Netflix
*No language barrier... Of course I love hearing Spanish all the time, but life is certainly easier when you can understand every word.
*Having weekends where I just chill or have people over.  Even though the lifestyle here is laid back, I haven´t been very relaxed because every day I try to do and see as much as humanly possible.
*The future.  No matter where I end up next year, I know that this experience has not only been a ton of fun, but it has opened a lot of doors for future jobs.  I am feeling a lot more confident about finding jobs in my field of interest now.  The future is bright!

Munich, Passau, Sitges, and MORE.

Activities as of late:

*I have been cheering on my host family as they lead their active lives, participating in 5Ks and padel tournaments. Yay for them! I have been trying to exercise but it has been pretty sporadic.

*A few weeks ago I explored Parc del Laberint d´Horta with Anna (free on Sundays!).  It was a really nice under the radar place that isn´t overrun with tourists.  We also ate Mexican food at Rosa Negra, and it was quite delicious.

*For a few days, the weather here was abnormal.  It became unusually hot (90F or 32.2C to be exact).  So that week I learned to appreciate having air conditioning in every building back in Georgia because the schools here do NOT have it.  I swear that week everyone was getting sick and in a bad mood because the school felt like a sauna.

*I helped the kids in P3 make candy and strawberry jam that they later sold to raise money for school supplies.  That was fun but also a little stressful.  Imagine watching twenty something three year olds brandishing knives as they clumsily attempt to cut strawberries into tiny pieces.  Thankfully no one was injured in the process!

*I explored the small beach town, Sitges, with Kirsty and Katelyn.  It´s a really cute town about an hour from my house.  I had to take a different train and almost missed it but I used my minimal Spanish skills to ask for directions.  Whew.  See silly ladies in Sitges below.

*We had a three day weekend last week, so I flew to Munich and took a train to Passau to visit my good friend Martin and his girlfriend, Chenxin.  Even though I was sick and the weather was pretty dismal, I had a great time exploring big and small towns, looking inside elaborately decprated churches, eating authentic home made Chinese food and having coversations about Brother Orange, and going to a ¨Cuban/German¨bar with decent cocktails and fantastic music.  I had one small challenge during that trip.  I was alone on the train back to Munich to catch my plane back home.... when the train broke down.  I went to the information desk to ask for help and the woman didn´t speak English.  The man who later sold me a sandwich spoke PERFECT English, and he sent me to the bus driver who gave me a few options.  Eventually I decided to just get back on the next train and hope for no more problems.  Then the next train randomly stopped and I thought Ökay, don´t panic.  You´ve got this.  Just ask someone what the heck is going on.¨ So I stood up and yelled to the whole train car full of silent passnegers, ¨DOES ANYONE HERE SPEAK ENGLISH!?¨And not a soul replied.  I whipped out my directions and shoved them in a friendly looking German man´s face.  He shook his head to indicate that I had, in fact, not missed my stop.  One minute later, he and his family started shouting at me in German to let me know that I needed to get off the train. So it goes to show you that no matter where you are in the world and no matter what challenges you are facing during your travels, you can find a way to communicate and get the help you need.  And MOST of the time people are happy to help the crazy lost American.



*In other news, everyone here is still sick.  It´s almost June.  Why are people still so sick?  I really don´t know.  Also, Barça won the kings cup last night.  I watched the match with the host fam.  Normally they dont watch futbol but it was a big match.  I heard many fireworks and drunken fans passing through the streets last night.

Now I only have three weeks of school left.  I can´t believe how quickly the time has passed.  I never expected to have SUCH strong emotions about the end of my time here, either.  One minute I am excited because I will get to do a little bit of travelling and see all of my loved ones back home.  The next minute I am crying because I don´t know when I will see all of my amigos in Barcelona again.  I have developed some amazing friendships here, and it will be hard not to see these people every day.  I am so used to seeing these people every single day.  Now I don´t know when I will see them again. I don´t know if I´ll ever see my students again.  It makes me so emotional to think about these things so I try to focus on th present, but I am not so good at that.  One thing is for sure though: I am SO grateful to have had this experience.  Either way, I will leave with wonderful memories.

Mystery fish, birthdays, dancing, and school

I have really put my heart and soul into my work at school lately.  Being a teacher is incredibly rewarding and frustrating at the same time.  I have moments where I see kids unfairly teasing one another that break my heart.  I have moments when no one is listening.  Moments when I've spent hours on a really awesome PowerPoint and follow up activity, and still no one remembers a single word I've said.  But then, there is that magical 30 minute segment when everyone in my small group pays attention, remembers everything participates enthusiastically, and tells me they had fun learning with me.  And then the next week I see PROGRESS, and my heart soars.

Otherwise, things have been pretty normal. It's starting to warm up here and the weather is just beautiful.  Hardly any rain, and it hovers between the high 50s and high 70s.  Lots of pollen too just like Atlanta.

Last weekend we had an extra day off.  It was my host dad's birthday  last week so on Friday we visited his friends in the countryside and spent the day eating portions of a giant mystery fish (kudos to the chef), potatoes, prawns (I am still not a fan of prawns... something about eating something that still has eyes), and birthday cake. We also drank large quantities of delicious cava.  I never get tired of cava!

I spent Saturday and Sunday in Barcelona with Katelyn and Leah.  We stayed in the HelloBCN Hostel in Poble Sec, a neighborhood in Barcelona.  I would definitely recommend the hostel.  It was cheap, very clean, and had nice amenities.  I also love that area.  It is pretty down to earth and more residential, but still has busy areas with tons of tapas restaurants and bars.  Saturday night we went dancing at Shoko, a beach club in Barceloneta.  We got in for free with the guest list and had a fantastic time.  The only part of the weekend that was slightly awkward was sharing our hostel room with a complete stranger.  I have never done that before and I'm not sure that I would care to do it again in the future.  It was definitely an awkward experience.

Now I am just counting down the days.  I have so many mixed emotions about the fact that school ends in a little over a month, and my time in Europe will end soon after that.  I have established a life here.  It will be hard to leave, but who knows?  I may try to come back. ;)  For now though, I intend to enjoy the time I do have here and I certainly look forward to seeing my loved ones back home as well.

Sant Jordi, Sangria, and Miro

Lately I've been in a whirl wind of lesson plans, Spanish classes, and the usual social plans.  My time here is going by so so quickly.

Here are some highlights as of late...

*We celebrated Sant Jordi on April 23rd, which is a holiday that is centered around a famous story about the patron saint of England (George), who slayed a dragon, saved the princess, and gave her a red rose before they got married.  On this day, girls give boys a book or a piece of poetry, and boys give girls a red rose.  Apparently this part of the tradition ONLY happens in Catalonia, so I am pretty lucky to have experienced it.  My host family very sweetly knocked on my door that morning with a red rose for me, which is one of many kind gestures they've offered to me.

*My friend, Kirsty, and I experienced the Joan Miro museum and had a TON of fun trying to figure out the meaning of his works of art. Turns out he was a pretty talented artist whose style evolved a lot over his lifetime.  I also enjoyed pieces by other contemporary artists, including an interactive piece that played a recording of people singing when you pressed a pedal AND a "mercury fountain."  After that we enjoyed some sangria and tapas.  Sangria is where it's at!

*A friend of mine in Atlanta passed away last week. It was a significant part of my week because even though she and I were not the best of friends, she was a kind and generous person who really inspired me.  I saw her every week at work.  And now she is gone.  I got a lot of support, though.... from people back home and here.  Even though the teachers and I don't talk a lot due to the language barrier, they were all hugging me, buying me hot chocolate, and asking me if I was okay. That really meant a lot.

*School is good.  Still learning how to be a teacher.... I am getting to know the kids and their personalities a lot better now so I am trying to cater to their specific needs.  Teaching is a big challenge but I really want to help the kids learn English so I am spending a lot of time outside of school and at lunch trying to think creatively and make lesson plans that will spark an interest in English. :)  It is hard work, but it is totally worth it is you are making a difference in even one person's education.

Spring Break and More...

It is getting more and more difficult to update my blog, partly because as I age my memory gets worse and I forget to.... but also because life in Spain is not all siestas and afternoon coffees.  I've become very busy!

But I'd like to do a quick recap of spring break, which was last week and the most rejuvenating and awesome experience ever.  For five days, mi amiga, Katelyn, and I travelled through France, Monaco, and Italy.  It was bliss.

Day one:
We awoke at the crack of dawn to catch the earliest (and cheapest flight). THe flight was short, and we arrived in sunny Nice in the late morning.  After checking into the AMAZING Victoria House Hostel, we grabbed an expensive lunch at Bistrot de l'Opera.  My omelette was 10 euros. It was good, though. Then we walked to the top of Parc de la Colline du Chanteau.  What gorgeous views it had!  There were panoramic views of Nice, waterfalls, gardens, parks, trails, and a very interesting Jewish cemetery.  I would highly recommend this place, and it is easy to get to.  That night, we hung out with the international travellers in the hostel and played a game of jenga.

Day two:
Katelyn and I took the bus to Monaco.  I do not regret going because I can check another country off of my list, but I have to say that the atmosphere is a little uncomfortable there.  Everyone is just so filthy rich!  And you have to be rich to live there because everything is so expensive.  But we had a nice walk through the city and got to see the Monte Carlo casino.  That night, we partied with more hostel friends at Wayne's Bar in Nice.  There was live music, beer and wine, and table dancing. What more could you want?

Day three:
Speculoos and Ferrero Rocher ice cream.  Relaxing on the rocky beach. Flower market and a strange old French man who asked us for a rendez vous  after we told him we didn't want to buy his paintings. Dinner from the supermarket to save money, and then a night on the beach with hostel friends.  It was a day to relax.

Day four:
Katelyn, our new friend Patrick, and I boarded a rickety old train to Italia! She and I were headed to Ventimiglia, and he was transferring to another train from that station.  Ventimiglia was quiet, beautiful, inexpensive, and there were like zero tourists... which is probably why people were staring at us.  We had nocciola and panna cotta gelato, pasta, and wine.... then headed back for a night of frisbee on the beach with the hostel crowd.

Day five:
We took a walk by the harbour and just took our time strolling around.  We enjoyed croque monsieurs and crepes, said good bye to our new friends at the hostel, and were on our way.

It was wonderful to see three new cities, explore different areas, get a lot of walking in, eat a ton, and just relax.  It was also great to laugh a lot and be silly.  I always have had a great time bonding with the people in my town, but with the language barrier, joking around is not the same.  Katelyn and I were absolutely ridiculous together, and I look forward to our future adventures.

Other things I have done recently:
*I went on a day trip to Lloret De Mar with the host family for Easter.  It was wonderful and gorgeous.
*I witnessed an interesting Easter procession that included people dressed in robes and hats that resembled the KKK but apparently this tradition started well before the KKK even existed.  Too bad it will always be associated with that.
*I went on a tour of the Simon Coll Chocolate Factory and ate chocolate filled with cava (a type of alcohol).
*I went to a festival in my town today with my host family.  We ate tapas, shopped at the booths, and watched performances on the street.  A great weekend.

This week will be busy, but I'll post again soon for my two loyal readers. ;)

An Emotional Week in Spain

This week, we've had some bad news in Barcelona.  There was a plane crash.  The plane left Barcelona yesterday morning, and it was on its way to Dusseldorf.  Somewhere in southern France, it went down.  I still don't know the cause of the crash, but I feel very emotional about it.

Several of the people I know here had friends or co-workers who were on that plane.  It's quite a tragedy.  The people here have really been affected by it.

It's also a reminder to never stop living your life.  Spring break is next week and a lot of people now seem afraid to fly.  By no means am I the most relaxed person in the world, but I don't want to miss out an any opportunities because I am afraid.  I'm still planning on travelling and living life to the fullest.  It's also a reminder to always be there for people.  I see so much selfishness in this world, and it really disgusts me when there are so many people in need or in pain. We have to enjoy our own lives, of course, but personally I cannot enjoy my life if I see others suffering.  Even if you're just doing something small here and there, show your loved ones that you care about them.  Show them that every day.

In other news, I'll be travelling to France next week.  More on that later, but I am very excited.  Also, I am working hard in my Spanish class, and I think I am seeing some progress which is absolutely thrilling to me.  It's strange how I am slowly acquiring more and more vocabulary, and every day I understand more bits and pieces of the conversations I hear.  I still cannot express myself very well at all, but the fact that I'm definitely learning is really encouraging.

Ahora, buenas noches porque estoy cansada.

Frustrated....

So they say that in your first year of teaching young children, you will get sick a lot.  That is not an exaggeration.  In fact, they should make it sound even more dramatic so that you are fully prepared for what you will have to endure.

Since early February, I have not quite felt like my normal self.  I started off with a one week cold.  After that, I came down with a throat infection and some nasty side effects from the antibiotics, another cold, possibly bronchitis, and now what I am guessing is conjunctivitis

Anyway, I hate to post something negative, but I'm starting to feel upset.  This is really taking away from my experience here.  Don't get me wrong. So far I have packed a lot of wonderful things into my short time living here. I have seen beautiful sites, worked in a great school with fun kids, met amazing and helpful teachers, friends, etc.... but feeling sick ALL the time and just powering through every day is becoming a struggle.

Here's hoping my immune system will kick in soon.  I read online that some teachers never get used to it and they are just sick their whole lives.  I am going to assume that those people are exceptions to the rule.

On the bright side, I had a fantastic time when my parents visited last weekend, I am looking forward to an amazing spring break trip in a little over a week, and I am connecting a little more with the teachers at my school as I become more comfortable speaking Spanglish!

Advice and an update: my family came to visit!

I cannot believe how slammed I have been!

I haven't written sick I was sick in February.

Since then, I've:

*caught another cold
*seen the fountains at Placa Enspanya, and visited Park Guell (AMAZING AND MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE) and Sagrada Familia
*walked down Las Ramblas more than a few times
*gotten lost in the middle of the night in downtown Barcelona because the more I age, the more directionally challenged I become
*gone dancing at Boulevard Barcelona (free entry and a free drink plus an awesome night with other CAPS ladies)
*received a wonderful visit from my parents who flew all the way from Atlanta to see me
*been working HARD in my Spanish class and at school (lesson prep etc)

Now I am looking forward to Spring Break travels in a few weeks!
Hopefully I will be better about updating the blog.  I mostly write in here so I can remember this part of my life when I am old and forgetful.  Oh wait, I am already forgetful.

*RANDOM INSIDER TIP OF THE WEEK*
Do not tip in Europe!  Or at least in Spain!  It is so incredibly difficult not to because it's ingrained in my brain that I MUST do it, but really it is not expected here.  They will react with utter shock if you do so.  I mean you will make someone's day if you do tip so you can if you want, but it is not required.

An Illness Abroad

It's been a while since my last post because I am finally energetic enough to write something now.  My immune system is sure getting a work out while I am here!

One week ago, I was ecstatic because it was the beginning of carnival in Barcelona.  One of the other CAs (Katelyn), and I met at Placa Catalunya in Barcelona in search of some carnival festivities.  We didn't come across anything other than a few people dressed in costumes, but we had fun just walking the streets of amazing Barca.  All day long, though, my throat was giving me trouble.  I ignored it because I had been sick the previous week, and I thought that I could not possibly be sick again.

Oh how wrong I was.  The very next morning, I woke up with a fever and tonsils the size of golf balls with white spots all over them and a severe pain in my throat... plus muscle aches and fatigue.  My host family called my Spanish insurance company, and they cleared me to visit a private hospital in Barcelona (since regular doctors aren't available on Sundays).

When we arrived, they took down my info, we waited for twenty minutes, and then they called me back to the examination room.... alone.  Immediately people started asking questions in Spanish, and I told them I didn't understand a word they were saying.  So they let me bring Sonia in to translate.  After a quick look, a doctor prescribed a very strong dose of an antibiotic because my infection was so severe.

For one week, I have stayed in the house recovering. Yesterday, I went back to the hospital for a check up and to look into some unpleasant side effects I'd been experiencing from the medicine, and I had a completely different experience.  Sonia and I waited for more than 2 hours even though there was no one in the waiting room.  Then I had the most terrifying doctor in my entire life give me some extremely questionable advice.  I'd rather not post the full story here, but if you know me.... ask because it is a pretty good one.

In the end, I learned that experiences with doctors here vary a lot.  THere are public and private hospitals.  Both are good, but you use one or the other depending on your insurance.  Sometimes the wait can be hours long and sometimes you wait a few moments.  Sometimes the doctors are incredibly well educated and even better than in the states, and some are total quacks.  Of course this can happen anywhere in the world, but these are just my observations and personal experiences.

I am happy to report that I am finally feeling better and my last dose of antibiotics is for tomorrow afternoon.  I am ready to get back to school and back to a life of exploring!

It's Not the Taste... It's the Consistency!

A few days ago, I experienced my first meal that included snails.  I have to say, my host dad can COOK.  Everything he makes tastes fantastic.  So, when he offered me a snail, shell and all, I said why not?  I am in Spain.  This time of my life is all about new experiences.

My review: interesting.  Again, the man can cook.  So the TASTE was pretty decent.  It was salty but in a good way.  Very light.  Not like chicken or beef.  I can't really compare the taste to anything.  However, there isn't really anything you can do about the texture.

If you have seen Zombieland, you probably remember Woody Harrelson saying, "I hate coconut.  Not the taste, the consistency."  I feel that way about coconuts too, and I have similar feelings about snails.  VERY tough.  I chewed on one solitary snail for a good ten minutes. So, I am glad I tried it but I'm not sure I'll be dining on snails too often in the future.
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Another thing I'd like to bring up is olive oil.  Here, if a household doesn't store vast quantities of olive oil, the family must not be from Spain.  The amount of olive oil consumed here is ASTOUNDING.  I am totally for it, and hey.... it's healthier than butter.  Every salad, every vegetable, cheese, meat (including chicken nuggets), and every single piece of bread is completely drenched from all of the oil than has been poured on top of it.  I am not sure how much olive oil you should ingest every day.  All I know is that, here, it's easy to have about half a bottle a day.  I'm okay with it.  I LOVE olive oil.
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One more food related subject.  Spaniards are really talented at peeling fruit with knives.  I've always used a peeler.  Here, they peel all fruit with knives.  Including bananas.  I just peel my bananas with my hands.  I don't know if it is easier or more polite to peel a banana with a knife, but everyone here does it, and they do it gracefully.  At lunch today, I was the only one who peeled mine with my hands, and I felt as clumsy as a monkey. It's just very interesting to me. Not really sure if anyone else thinks about such things as often as I do or if anyone cares how I peel bananas.... but it's just something I noticed!

Padel, etc.

This week, I'm finally starting to feel settled in.  The family had a busy work week so we didn't do much after school, but that gave me time to rest and catch up on lesson plans.

Now I'm sick, so the weekend has been pretty low key as well.  When you work with kids, I suppose it is inevitable.  In the three weeks that I have been at the school, I have been poked in the eye, sneezed on, coughed at, etc every single day in every single class.  I'm actually quite proud that I have been able to put up with it because I honestly have a bit of a phobia when it comes to germs and getting sick.  It's a small price to pay though for the amazing experience I have had so far!

New cultural experience this week:

Padel: I was supposed to play, but since I am sick, I just watched.  It is a very  popular sport here.  It is kind of like a mixture of tennis and raquetball.  It is played on a condensed tennis court that is surrounded by plexiglass walls.  The rackets are different but the rules are more or less the same, with a few differences involving where the ball can go (the wall, the ground, how many times it can bounce, etc).  I honestly don't have a full grasp on it yet but I hope to play soon and understand it fully.  It's a really big thing here.  All of the families seem to play.

padel racket

Not much else is happening this week, but next week is Carnival so that will be fun!

It's Finally Hitting Me: I LIVE IN BARCELONA!

Little things like buying stamps, setting up a bank account, and getting a SIM card are more thrilling than they should be because they all mean one thing: I LIVE HERE!  Maybe not forever, maybe not even for very long, but for about half a year, I'll call Barcelona home.  It is a strange feeling... terrifying and wonderful at the same time.

It's been over a week since the last blog post due to general craziness.  School is from 10-5 every day, followed by errands with the host family or possibly hanging out with their friends and speaking Spengalan (my new name for a combination of English, Spanish, and Catalan) while chilling (literally, as it's quite cold here) at a cafe.

School is a challenge, but a good one.  I find all of the other teachers to be very nice but sometimes I struggle a little bit with the language barrier.  Lunches here are two hours long, and I usually sit there trying to listen the whole time.... but I'm impatient.  I want to know what hilarious jokes they are telling and I want to participate in meetings.  The language barrier makes that impossible at the moment, but we are all learning and the important thing is that everyone is friendly. I think I am very slowly making progress and will be able to communicate more as time goes on.

The kids are adorable.  Of course there's a handful of troublemakers, but most of them will melt your heart.  A three year old named Paula came up to me today and said, quite enthusiastically, "HELLO,
INGLES!" Haha... I like my new nickname.  I am starting to remember some of the students' names, finally.  I've never been good with names, but now that I am seeing them consistently every day on a set schedule, things are starting to click.  I'm starting to feel a bit more settled in.

The weekend was really lovely.  I spent Saturday exploring my town a little more with Anna, another Conversation Assistant, and then we took a train into Barcelona (after I lead us in the wrong direction and wasted a ticket, but hey you live and you learn) and saw the spectacular Plaza de Espana.  It was bitterly cold and windy, so we spent most of the evening at the Centro Comercial Arenas, a.k.a. a nice mall filled with clothing stores, churros/crepes/ice cream/sweets, a museum, a cinema, and restaurants.  At the top level is a fantastic view of Barcelona, and I plan to go back there during the day because I imagine it's even better then.

Sunday was relaxing.  The host family and I went into the city center and saw one of many impressive cathedrals.  It's called Santa Maria del Mar.  Then we
 strolled through the Parc de la Ciutadella, which I really enjoyed.  It was beautiful; I think my favorite part was the Cascada fountains, pictured below.

In other news, my host sister (Claudia), has taken it upon herself to help me learn Spanish.  She is only 10 but she's so focused and dedicated (I've had several exams already).  I'm enjoying it a lot, and I have learned useful words such as goma, lapiz, and pez.

That's all for now.  Just finished la cena and now it's time to plan some lessons and get to bed.

First Week at School

It has been a little over one week since I landed in this wonderful country.  On Monday, I started at my school, La Immaculada.

So much has happened that I will just hit the highlights:

*Each day at school has been fast paced and exciting.  My tutor (she was assigned to me to help me adjust to everything) is extremely nice and helpful.  She helped me set up a bank account, etc.

*The kids.  Wow, the kids!  They range from 3 to 12.  P3, P4, and P5 are the younger kids and then there's 1st through 6th grade.  P3 through P5 students are pretty young and don't speak any English, but they are always very cheerful and they LOVE school.  They actually get really upset when they have to leave.  1st through 5th grade students love me and I guess they think it is pretty exciting that I am from America.  They had a lot of questions with topics ranging from Coca cola, to Santa Claus, to MLK!  The 6th graders are old enough so that they are a little more subdued but they are very smart and their English is at a pretty good level.  Every day when I go to school, I get mobbed with students who want to give me hugs.  Very different from the US!

*The Languages.  Spanish, Catalan, English, you never know what the language of the moment will be!  Exciting, slightly stressful, and definitely a learning experience.  I am picking up some Spanish from my host family and (very little amounts of) Catalan from the teachers at the school. Many people in Catalonia want independence from Spain so most people tend to speak Catalan.

*The FOOD.  You have options here.  Of course processed foods are available.  Cheetos are very popular with the kids.  But there's also fresh bread, natural meat, and locally grown fruit everywhere.  Yesterday I ate a large quantity of meat... lamb, pork, and beef with bread, calcot on the side, and mandarin/pineapple for dessert.  I also drank cava (another name for champagne) our of a porrón.  See photo below.  Also, see description of calcots below (stolen from wikipedia).

"Calçots [a type of scallion] are grilled until charred, wrapped in newspaper to steam, then consumed by peeling off the charred skin and dipping the white portion in salvitxada or romesco sauce. The green tops are discarded. The calçots are accompanied by red wine or cava sparkling wine. Pieces of meat and bread slices are roasted in the charcoal after cooking the calçots<sup>."

*The holidays!  People in spain like to have time off and I don't blame them!  This week in my town, we celebrated the Three Kings had had several days off to celebrate Festa Major.  There was a parade for the children and booths all over the town for the entire weekend.  My first week here and I already get extra days off?  OKAY! :)

More later, I've got laundry to do and other such important things.</sup>

Drinking cava out of a porron

Day One in Sant Vicenç

Today was my first full day in Sant Vicenç Dels Hors. After a crazy long day at orientation yesterday and going on 5 hours of sleep in two days, I was ready for some rest.

Thankfully I got just that. I slept in this morning and then my host mom, Sonia, took me with her to run some errands.... all on foot. I LOVE that you can walk to every possible destination around here. We stopped by La Immaculada, the school where I´ll be teaching, then visited the library (which was built over some preserved Roman Ruins about 6 years ago), farmer´s market, supermarket, butcher, and baker.

After we got back, my host dad (Roberto) cooked up some very fresh paella which consisted of rice, vegetables, chicken, and rabbit. It was my first time trying rabbit, and I must say that it was not bad. Kind of chickeny. I felt a little guilty though, seeing as rabbits are pretty common household pets in the USA. The paella as a whole was outstanding.

After a two hour lunch consisting of mouth watering food and conversations about the difference between the government/healthcare in the USA vs. Spain, some family members took a siesta. Roberto, Claudia (host sister), and I played Bananagrams, which was the gift I gave them upon arrival. If you haven´t heard of it, just imagine Scrabble.... but a little different. We played one game in English and one in Spanish!

Then it was time to eat again. We had another delicious meal, but what stood out most was the bread. Apparently this is an exclusively Catalonian tradition: they take a thick, fresh slice of bread and put it on a plate. Next, they slice an equally fresh and juicy tomato in half, then proceed to rub it all over the bread, making one side very moist. Finally, they pour a healthy amount of extra virgin olive oil on top of the tomato layer. Salt on top of that is optional. It was really good, and I intend to bring this tradition back with me to the USA (with an addition of cheese, perhaps).

All in all it was a wonderful day and I got to know my host family. They have been very welcoming. Tomorrow we are off to explore Barcelona, and on Monday I´ll be starting at my new school.

En el aeropuerto

Hola from JFK International Airport! This morning I woke up at the unnatural hour of 6:00 AM, got on an 8:20 flight to JFK, and now I'm powering through a 9 hour layover.  I'm feeling tired but not too bad because I decided to treat myself to a day at the Delta Sky Club, which is actually cheaper than getting a hotel.  They provide a salad/soup buffet (or you can pay extra for a full meal), a bar, comfortable lounge areas, wifi, and SHOWERS.  I haven't actually tried them yet, but the idea of showering and changing into fresh clothes before flight number two is just glorious!

Now that I have had a few hours to myself after the craziness of preparing for this trip, I think everything is finally sinking in.  All of the expected emotions are surfacing.  I am going to be gone for six months!  I said a tearful goodbye to my family and my boyfriend this morning, and I am already missing everyone at home.  At the same time, I am so excited.  I have already e-mailed my tutor and host family, and I know it is hard to tell from an e-mail, but they seem really nice.

T-minus 4ish hours till my flight.  Off to the showers, now!  Adios!

Moving to Spain

¡Hola! This is my first blog post about my trip to Barcelona, Spain!  I have not yet departed, but one week from today I shall be on a plane to BCN, where I will live with a host family while teaching English at a local school.  I am so excited and a little nervous. My Spanish skills are a little lacking. So far I can say things like "No hablo espanol" and "Me gusta la cena." Perhaps that will be useful.... who knows?  I'll learn. ;)

It is amazing how quickly time has passed since I found out I was accepted into the CAPS program (Conversation Assistant Program for Schools).  I was notified of my acceptance on December 4th.  From that day forward, I spent every moment of every day either working or running errands to obtain my visa.  It was costly and time consuming, but in the end it paid off.  I flew down to Miami on Christmas day, had my appointment the following morning, and yesterday the visa arrived.

Some advice regarding visas: get started as EARLY as possible and do not waste a single moment until you have handed off your documents. It can take several weeks for your visa/passport to be mailed back to you.  Each country has different requirements and so does each consulate/embassy, so you must do your research and read carefully.  Make calls and send e-mails.  It pays to ask questions.  I'm pretty sure I ended up getting documents I did not even need, but better safe than sorry.