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Published: January 16th 2008
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Procrastination always gets the best of me! haha Deberes (homework) is overrated anyway, right? My first few days of school have been pretty easy so far. I have one class that is two and half hours long for the next two weeks and then I will have two more classes for the rest of the sem. I am taking a spanish cinema film studies course and then barcelona history. I am really excited for both of them- they should be interesting. My school is unreal! There is a center area, and then you look up and for four floors you can see into all of the lectures through glass. It was built in 1990 so it's fairly new and all of the students seem so intelligent, which they probably are. It is located about 10 minutes from my place (I lucked out- most students have to take the metro), and located near a super cool park and a million cafes to chill in. I love this city so much! There are cafes on every corner and they are ALWAYS filled with people, just sitting and enjoying life.
I've been trying to think of some differences that I've noticed since arriving
Mi favorito so far
There was tile like this throughout the ENTIRE park! All done by hand. Amazing. between America and here... these might seem dumb, but oh well.
1) Doors are weird here! You push when you're supposed to pull and vice versa. Also, the door handles are located on the wrong side.
2) They don't have salsa or PB.... and if you can find it- it's expensive.
3) People bundle up here like it is freezing! As all of us Minnesotans and Wisconsinites know, 50 degrees is no where near freezing. Haha I have friends from Cali, Texas, and Florida here and they said that they were getting frost bite. NOT POSSIBLE. So, I definitely get some funny looks when I'm walking around in a tank top and they are wearing scarves and winter jackets. Oh well, I'd rather look weird and take advantage of the beautiful weather than bundle up like at home. haha
4) People do NOT wear their gym clothes to the gym and they sure as hell do not leave the gym without showering. That's hard to get used because going to the gym takes like double the time now! Aye de mio!
5) This is probably obvious- but they go on Military time here.
6) In the gyms, there is
not much lifting equipment... definitely not emphasized as much here as in the U.S. But, I was surprised to find how many ppl actually work out because they walk so dang much here! I probably walk 3 hours a day- no joke!
7) They do not wear sweats EVER! Always dressed nicely- even to class. Blah. I wore yoga pants today- not going to try to fit in there.
8) As I mentioned before, going out at 8 or 9 in the states is a joke to them- 2 am is the normal time.
9) They LOVE American music and movies.
10) Dogs are EVERYWHERE! If you don't own a dog, something is wrong with you basically.
11) Coffee here is espresso- no american stuff- they like it strong. realllllly strong.
12) They don't use dryers here... and for one load it costs me 3 euro (that's about 4.50). ridiculous, huh?
13) Hot water, bottled water, printing stuff, computers- all hard to come by without paying BIG money. Interesting how wine can be SO cheap, and water so expensive.
14) They hate George Bush... well I don't know if that's any different from the states. 😉
15) They are SO proud of their history and culture! I love it! America could learn a lot from them.
K, now I need to vent about something. I might have mentioned this earlier, but Americans are so obnoxious here! No wonder other countries think that we are all horrible people! Americans here are generally speaking big Japs (Japanese American Princes/Princesses- for those of you who don't know). They have no desire to learn the language, are LOUD, disrespectful, and get wasted every night. Last night I went to this local bar where I have met most of my local friends and I watched this american guy projectile vomit across the room! unreal! Okay, sorry, I'm done.
Sorry that this is a long post, but I just want to tell you guys my first bit of exciting travel news! This weekend we are going to Citges to check out a vineyard and authentic Catalan culture. The following weekend we are going to Granada and Alicante which I am soooooo pumped about because those were my second and third choices for going abroad. And then the following weekend we are going to Portugal! Eeee! I can't wait! Travel is so cheap, it's great.
Well, I should probably get to this paper ahora, but I am enjoying all of your comments! I don't know how to reply back, otherwise I would- sorry. Throughout this post are pictures from Parc Güell. It is one of Guadi's creations and so beautiful. Obviously the pictures don't do it justice, but it is breathtaking.
Love you all!
Vness
Ps- Barca fútbol won last night- no biggie. :D
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britt
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love it!
i love reading these. it is so fun and i am glad that you are finding time to write them. you should have your mom print them. or i would be willing to too! it sounds like you are absorbing everything so soon! you HAVE to go to La Alhambra in Granada. Its beautiful. And if you can get up on top of the city (weird location and no idea what it is called) you have an awesome view. just a tip. and club diez is a nice club in granada if you want to go out.