I’m here, I’m here! After planning, packing, and some more packing, the time has finally come — and what a week it has been! I willingly admit that I have had the worst luck in the world (which you will come to find is not unusual for me).
I first arrived at the airport, only to find that both bags were nearly 10 LBS over the weight limit. After re-arranging my bags and making some “hard” decisions, they were down to 50 LBS each (although I still had to pay for an extra bag). Ugh.
Once in Barcelona, my good friend Haley & I grabbed a cab to our home stays. After the cab driver dropped her off, it was my turn, and just two blocks later he pulled over and helped me to the door with my bags. I soon realized after he left that he dropped me off at the WRONG house. How? I’m not quite sure, after I specifically showed him the address on a piece of paper I was given and repeated it multiple times. After several attempts to buzz myself in, I decided to hit a different button, and thankfully, it worked. I entered the dark, narrow hallway of an apartment building and went to the nearest door, where a girl in her 20’s answered—denying me entrance or any kind of knowledge as to where I was supposed to go. I thanked her anyway and began to walk away (nearly about to pass out at this point). Shortly after, she yelled for me to come back, and was pushing a baby stroller out into the hallway as a gesture that it was safe. I returned to her door, where a man in his 40s (possibly her father) was standing. He took my paper with the address and somehow understood what had happened. He helped me with my bags, called a taxi, and sent me to the correct address. I don’t think they will ever know how much I appreciate what they did for me, and I will always regret not retrieving their original address to return some kind of thank-you.
As I write this, I am currently at my home stay, in my 2’4 quaint room, which I absolutely LOVE. I am living with a roommate (who also has her own room), my home stay mom, Rose, and her cousin, Rosa. (Both appear to be roughly in their late-sixties.) Rose speaks absolutely no English, which is exactly what I had hoped for, and she cooks like any top chef would. Rosa, who speaks perfect English and will not let us speak any, is like a tutor. She explains what Rose is saying and coaches us on how to respond. Together, they are a hoot.
This past week was orientation for IES, as we figured out where our classes were and what opportunities were available for us. Orientation also consisted of a short lecture on pick-pocketing, which is a HUGE problem here, and has already happened to multiple people in our program, including myself. I am now ID-less (no worries, I still have my passport) and Ray-Ban-less, BUT there is always a bright side. I went to a BARCA game on Wednesday night and had front-row seats and a wonderful time. Unfortunately I did not get to meet Cristiano Ronaldo because they were playing Cordoba, but that doesn’t mean I have lost hope.
I have joined a running club that will allow me to sightsee, all while getting a workout in, and I am working for Apartment Barcelona through a marketing internship, which I had an interview for on Friday and begin tomorrow (EEK!). It’s about a 35 minute-walk for me to class, which most people would hate, but I know I will thoroughly enjoy considering my surroundings. I will provide pictures as soon as I have time to explore my town (this coming weekend).
This past weekend, our Spanish section went to Tarragona, a city located in the south of Catalonia. We visited the Monastery of Poblet, as well as the Ancient Remains and the Tarragona Cathedral. The Cathedral was stunning, and overlooking the Ancient Remains was breathtaking.
Unfortunately, this picture does no justice.
We also visited Colla Vella, where we learned about building “Castillas,” and got to build a mini one ourselves. Every two years, the town of Tarragona has a festival that consists of building these Castillas and competing for the best-built Castilla. Here is a link to a video for further explanation of this emotional hobby:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIIzGnoYUtc
^Our mini Castilla.
One fact: It is considered disrespectful to wear only socks in the house. Needless to say, I will be buying slippers tomorrow. For now, I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow, as I start my Internship from 9 am – 1 pm and have class at 2:05. Off to bed I go!
Saludas!
-Becky
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Well, here it is….my first blog EVER. Hola, todos! I’m Becky and I’ll be blogging while in Barcelona, Spain, throughout the months of January-early May. I hope you enjoy hearing about my endless journeys just as much as I enjoy sharing them. 5 Random & Brief Facts: 1. My last name is extremely hard to sound out, until it is pronounced for you……Eischeid, (pronounced eye-shy-ed). 2. I’m a magazine junkie, and when I was in 10th grade I began to collect every Teen Vogue magazine that came in the mail (I have about 60 editions, dating back to August 2008). 3. I have four dogs, and I would probably have eight if I didn’t live with my parents. 4. I love all food, but have yet to acquire a liking for seafood and anything raw (such as raw octopus). 5. If I’m not going to class, then it is likely that I will be wearing heels. I am 5’2 and secretly wish I were 5’6. First and foremost, a little introduction: I was born in Summit, NJ, and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. And yes, I am both a Steelers AND Pirates fan. I’m now 20-years-old and will be graduating next spring from PSU with a major in Media Studies, International Communications, along with minors in International Studies, Spanish and Business. Most recently, I’ve survived my fifth semester at PSU–and although finals week was long and dreadful (there’s always a bright side..) it’s over! It’s the start of Christmas break now, and I’m beginning to sink into the relaxation stage. And even though things may seem like they are winding down…….they really aren’t. In about two weeks from now, on January 6th, I will be boarding a plane from Pittsburgh, to JFK, to Barcelona!?? Is this real life? I guess I can’t be too sure until I am on the 8-hour flight to Barcelona, reading endless amounts of magazines —including STAR and PEOPLE—while watching movies and indulging in airplane food. After all, it will be four months until I will be able to eat like an American again. Although, I must admit I am extremely excited to eat healthy and lightly. I am even more anxious to think that the next time I am at The Pennsylvania State University I will be a senior. Surreal. I visited Spain last spring break–not even a year ago. I went with my Spanish class and my Spanish professors, who live in a small town in Southern Spain during the summer months. We visited multiple areas (mainly in Andaluc�a), from Madrid to Granada to Seville and even Cordoba. I knew I had to come back because there was still so much to do, see and learn. Overall, my take of the sovereign state: Beautiful (with cobblestone streets nearly everywhere, exquisite architecture and art), along with delicious **and healthy** food. In High School, I went on a 10-day-excursion to Costa Rica with a group of students and two teachers–not nearly as ‘big of a deal’ as my anticipated 4.5 months of semester studies will be. And to this day, I can confidently admit that it was the best time of my life. From zip lining and horseback riding throughout the rainforests, to sunbathing on the beach and meeting people from different ethnic backgrounds and cultures–all of which was an unforgettable experience. I am told that studying abroad will provide me with an even greater thrill and richer experience. I never imagined the day that I would be studying in a foreign country for nearly five months. This truly is a dream come true. That being said, until the week of January 11th, Hasta Pr�ximo Tiempo y Feliz Navidad!