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Published: March 9th 2008
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yah!
This basically sums up the sentiment in the region. The last organized military attempt at independence was in the 1930s. Franco squashed that. LIVING in BARCELONA
**Note** If this is the first post you are reading...wait! I'd recommend starting at the beginning, the post dated July 2007 in Mauritania. The story reads better in chronological order!
Highlights so far: reuniting with my macbook, playing competitive volleyball again, discovering the "ethnic" part of town with cheap-er beer and delicious falafal sandwiches, bike commuting in BCN and surroundings, my inner brunette surfacing, the espresso machine in the kitchen of the apartment I live in, introducing brownies and pancakes to my host family, studying French with a French girl in exchange for English conversation
Poopy so far: missing friends etc. in the States, VISA complications, ironing sheets (pointless, right?), being told at age 24 that I need to make my bed and straighten my room as an example to the children (an example of how I do these things for them everyday?..I don't quite follow the logic of that statement...and it's MY personal space yo!)
Things I find strange so far: everyone here LOVES pan and tomate (squish tomato guts onto bread and top with oil - then throw out the tomato), the kids pour the milk and THEN the cereal, all the kids hang
one of the kids
Me and Joan, the littlest of the kiddies in the family. He's pretty entertaining and is learning English like a fiend. I learned two things recently: the MacBook Photobooth has universal appeal and all children think nose picking photos are hilarious. out in front of school afterschool and eat snacks/sandwiches/etc., the strollers are super high tech and have mini sleeping bag type apparatus for the babes (why don't we have these cool European strollers?), the pillowcases are open on both sides, more that I can't recall just now.
CATALONIA Technically part of Spain, this autonomous region has a fiercely independent mentality and is very proud of its language, history of revolts, and culture. This is NOT the land of bull fighting and flamenco. I am currently living with a very Catalan family close to the city center in Barcelona. I eat traditional Catalan food, eavesdrop on Catalan conversations (it sounds like Italian with French verbs so I can understand most of the simple conversation), and hear a lot about how hard working and awesome the Catalan people are in comparison to the rest of Spain. I've been “working” (for room/board/pocket money) for almost 2 months and my life here is starting to take shape. It's not technically work (even though I iron, put away dishes, teach English to children and make beds) because I am not on a work permit. I'm doing a cultural exchange as a tourist. Kapeesh?
Upon arrive, I immediately tackled Objective number 1: find a cheap, functional, big used bike. I found the Craigslist equivalent (Loquo) and an Argentine who was looking to sell a mountain bike. Bike commuting in Barcleona makes me immensely happy. The drivers here are much chiller than in Mpls....ie no dodging coins, mean-spirited heckling or getting egged (yes, happened winter 2007 on my way to work). Ok, so a taxi did kind of bump slash hit me the other night (breaking my light...boo) but other than that it's been lovely. The neighborhood where I live is 15 by bike to the city center (in little traffic...more during the early part of the day). The area is well-connected to the city center by metro and bus, but it takes longer, costs money, and on the weekends or evenings, it involves waiting. I've treasured my late night (early morning) rides home from the disco in the vacant city streets. The folding bikes are super popular here as most people don't have a garage to store a normal bike. They look snazzy but not the most efficient nor hearty. I even found the bike commuter scene already when I stopped by a DIY workshop 45 min ride from my house. It's a bunch of biker guys from a few different countries, who spend Fri and Sat evening helping people fix their bikes. There are tons of neighborhood kids running about and getting all dirty building bikes.
Objective 2: find a volleyball club team to play with. My host mum called the voley federation, who said, a good team is practicing in 2 hours in a gym
across the street from the apartment. Go and try out. I did and now I practice with them 2x a week. Yay for playing competitive vball again. I don't play in the games as the season ends in March and it's not worth it to pay. If I come back next year, I really hope to play (practice/games) with a team! The kiddies are also sporty (hockey, ice skating, and soccer) and we all play for the same club: Barça.
Objective 3: alter appearance to fit in better on the street. I got “the” haircut that all the girls have and have become a
morena (ie brunette). I found a training school so I got a good deal. I also rock the excessive eyeliner when going out and of course, the scarfs always. I love when people are unsure about my nationality and guess many many countries before they finally resort to a unconvinced...
americana? Yesterday I got Italian?!? Never in my life has that happened.
Objective 4: find a way to supplement "pocket money" income. The world trip depleted my savings and Sallie Mae still wants her payments so I've acquired a wee under the table job promoting for a bar-lounge. It's fun as I like talking to random people and painting my face now and again. I've gotten pretty good at convincing drunk foreigners to go into a overpriced bar. I don't know if I would call this a lifeskill. So far, I've met some fun and strange coworkers through this extracurricular (ok, i know I'm misusing that word) activity.
My schedule allows ample time to explore the city by bike, study Spanish and French, and write a crazy huge blog, apparently. We'll see if I keep it up or just let it be as is. You tell me. If I haven't heard from you in a while, write me an email. If you've made it through this whole blog, I am impressed! At times, I miss being back in the States, but I am truly enjoying this world adventure, and especially living in Spain, speaking Spanish like a pro, and thinking about where and what I want to do next.
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