Dinner Guests

A few random things-

• I think I bought scented tissues today, FML
• My sinus infection is gone.
• I forgot to tell you all that I had a taste of Spanish Flan from an actual restaurant while I was in Tarragona and it's not so bad, actually kind of tasty. Thank you Linda!
• I've been getting my fitness on at the gym a few times a week and let me tell you, I've never seen so much old lady cash and prizes in my life. European locker rooms are interesting places. 
• My post on my trip to Paris is coming shortly... sorry it's taking so long.
• I have switched rooms with Amy, Gina and I are roommates now. Gina and I are close and her and Amy were having problems so rather then Gina move out, I switched. 

Tonight Gina's parents came over for wine and tapas in the salon and then chocolates and cava (a Spanish sparkling wine produced in different parts of Calalonia). I really enjoyed myself, we chatted with Senora, which she dumbed down her spanish a bit thinking Gina's parents might catch a phrase or two, which helped me a lot also. Normally she talks to fast for me to keep up, but tonight I could understand most of what she said and was even helping Gina translate, her parents don't speak any spanish. Senora was really on her game with the giggling, it was very cute and Gina's parents got to see her at her best. She kept serving more wine and more cava and giggling about it. She made a typical tortilla with potato, and another with spinach, melon with ham, pan con tomate, and there were olives, and cheese and crackers, it was all really delicious. 

I think Gina's parents had a good time, they were laughing a lot and the conversation was good. It makes me wish my parents were here. Senora made me promise that my parents would come over when they are here in April, yes mom and dad you are invited to a gathering in the salon also haha. Although conversation might be a little easier since mom speaks spanish.

It was a great night, and when I told Senora I had fun, she hugged and kissed me for what seemed like five minutes, I think she enjoyed herself also. 

At Last, a Few Words on Tarragona

I owe you guys big time, it's been a while since my last post. The delay is mostly due to me not wanting to write about my trip with all of IES to Tarragona. I've been putting off writing down my thoughts on the weekend in my journal even, mainly because I don't want to talk about it anymore...here is what I finally wrote in my journal:

I've been sitting here for five minutes trying to decide what I want to write, strugggggling to put words on paper...how about a list of what I liked...

The beach. Before and after lunch the second day we had some free time at the beach. There is something about the smell of salt in the air that takes me home, it was comforting. When I looked at the ocean and pretended that everything around me wasn't there and that my surroundings were that of home, I felt calm. Because the trip to Tarragona was cold, to busy, full of people constantly complaining, and slightly boring I was sort of homesick. I felt trapped, like the feeling I used to get in high school when I didn't feel well but I would have to sit through class, miserable and unable to leave because I had a test the next block. That trapped feeling made me want to be home, where life would be simpler, no struggle to speak the language, no having to socialize and make new friends, instead just comfortable and relaxed in a familiar place. But now that I am back in Barcelona I don't feel the desire to be home, I find comfort in returning to my room here, free from the grips of the IES Tarragona itinerary.

It is interesting how much easier it is to leave home each time I do it, I'm not talking about going back to school, but when I leave the country. In high school I used to get very homesick when I would travel, it probably had something to do with the fact that I traveled with other families and with school, rarely with my parents. But last summer when I was getting ready to go to Bolsena I was very anxious and nervous about leaving home. It probably had something to do with the lack of information I had about the program, not knowing if my meals were provided, what the living situation would be like, or how hard the course content would be. After boarding the plane and hanging up the phone with my mother I thought to myself, "What the hell am I doing? I must be crazy." Well, if I am crazy I am glad because that was the best time of my life. I learned so much content wise and about myself. The friendships and memories I got form that experience are more than I ever imagined taking home with me.

Since I made it through that, this time when I got on the plane I wasn't nervous, I was anxious though, which probably had more to do with my cancelled flight than anything else. I just wanted to be in Barcelona, I knew what I was doing, where I was going, where my meals would come from, my Senora would cook them, she would do my laundry, clean my room, etc...Things weren't so uncertain and even though the idea of living in a strangers house made me feel a little uncomfortable, I was ready.

It makes me sort of sad though to think leaving gets easier, but I guess there is a difference between going away for a while but still missing those you left behind. Just because it is easier to embrace change and adapt to my new surroundings each time I leave home doesn't mean I don't miss my family and friends any less. I wish for their companionship just as much.

Sunrise from my hotel room balcony

Travel Dates: Update #2

January 28th-30th: IES Study Trip to Tarragona


February 5th-7th: Paris

February 26th-28th: Euskadi (The Basque Country) -- Bilbao, San Sebastian, Hondarribia, Guernica, San Juan de Gaztelugatze & The Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve

March 6th: La Garrotxa's Volcanic Zone Natural Park -- Day Hike through Santa Margarita and Croscat volcanoes, walk through Fageda d'en Jorda & a visit to the Cooperativa La Fageda, a dairy farm, to make yogurt.

March 11th-14th: Glasgow, Scotland & London

March 19th-21st: Amsterdam

March 28th-31st: Morocco