January 21, 2009
Today is Wednesday and I had a Spanish quiz. WOO-WEE was that thing long. Truth be told, it wasn’t easy either. I think I probably got a B plus though. I can’t complain because I didn’t really study for it. Last night, we all went to a café to use their internet access. We all had our laptops, microphone, ipods, EVERYTHING. Everybody was looking at us, but we didn’t really care. The cashier asked me to help him with English so I told him the name of some food items on the menu. O yeah, yesterday I watched the inauguration on CNN.com which was good enough. Hannah watched it too which was cool because she voted for McCain and all. We both thought it was really good. Okay so here’s the deal..I’m going to volunteer 4 hours a week at an organization (if I pass the interview process). There are so many interesting ones, but here are my top 3 in no particular order.
1. Hospital Sant Joan Deu- I work with sick kids at the hospital. There parents don’t have time to be with them all day so I would have to sit with them and distract them from their illness and just keep them company. I would read them books, take them to the hospital library, paint, draw, etc.
2. Casal d’Infants del Raval- I would work with underprivileged children by helping them with homework, dance lessons, and artwork. The children in this program belong to different ethnic backgrounds and I think a lot of them are immigrants.
3. Sisal- If I work with this organization, I work solely with senior citizens in Barcelona. Their project is called ‘A granddaughter/grandson for a grandmother/grandfather’. My job is to help my senior citizen with daily life which includes keeping them company, taking them for a stroll, helping them buy groceries, going to the pharmacy to pick up their prescriptions, and playing the occasional games of dominoes or cards. The idea is to make the senior citizens feel as if they have a granddaughter. (I guess they’re all pretty lonely)
What do y’all think I should do?
Adios
Hasta luego
Friday, January 23, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
I'm Back
January 18, 2009
Today is Saturday January the 18th. Well…it is 5:47 in the morning so I guess technically its Sunday. Jeanne,Breese,Nona, Hannah and I just got back from club Elefante. It was so much fun and the girls got free champagne with entrance. We danced all night, and saw a lot of Americans. I even met a cute boy from Dartmouth (smile). Anyway, I haven’t been able to blog because our internet has been down. In a nutshell, I’ve gone to class, explored our neighborhood, and went grocery shopping. We have been having so much fun, but sleeping very late too. Tomorrow Jeanne leaves and Nona etc. start class on Monday. Barcelona gets better everyday. I will write more as more comes. Adeo!
Today is Saturday January the 18th. Well…it is 5:47 in the morning so I guess technically its Sunday. Jeanne,Breese,Nona, Hannah and I just got back from club Elefante. It was so much fun and the girls got free champagne with entrance. We danced all night, and saw a lot of Americans. I even met a cute boy from Dartmouth (smile). Anyway, I haven’t been able to blog because our internet has been down. In a nutshell, I’ve gone to class, explored our neighborhood, and went grocery shopping. We have been having so much fun, but sleeping very late too. Tomorrow Jeanne leaves and Nona etc. start class on Monday. Barcelona gets better everyday. I will write more as more comes. Adeo!
Monday, January 12, 2009
My friends came!
January 12, 2009
Finally!!! Nona, Breese, and Hannah arrived in Barcelona. I had my first day of class today which went well. I rode the metro and listened to my ipod and had spanish class for two and a half hours... Howeer, after that I sprinted to the metro to meet my friends. I found out their room number and I was ecstatic to see them!!!!! They don't move in until Wednesday, but might consider moving in early. Tonight, Jeanne and I went to club Apollo with some spanish boys, Alex, Ramon, y Guillermo. Guillermo went to Emory for a semester so Jeanne knew him and it was great. He lives walking distance from me so it will be nice to know a local around my age. His house is very nice and he gave us good ham. haha. No, really ham straight from the leg. It's a delicacy. It is 5 am here and I have class tomorrow. Dios Mio!
Adeo,
Robin B.
Finally!!! Nona, Breese, and Hannah arrived in Barcelona. I had my first day of class today which went well. I rode the metro and listened to my ipod and had spanish class for two and a half hours... Howeer, after that I sprinted to the metro to meet my friends. I found out their room number and I was ecstatic to see them!!!!! They don't move in until Wednesday, but might consider moving in early. Tonight, Jeanne and I went to club Apollo with some spanish boys, Alex, Ramon, y Guillermo. Guillermo went to Emory for a semester so Jeanne knew him and it was great. He lives walking distance from me so it will be nice to know a local around my age. His house is very nice and he gave us good ham. haha. No, really ham straight from the leg. It's a delicacy. It is 5 am here and I have class tomorrow. Dios Mio!
Adeo,
Robin B.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
La Sagrada Familia
January 11,2009
Today Jeanne and I woke up at 3 p.m...yes 3! I had my curtains close and we slept like babies. After getting some fruit for breakfast (or lunch rather) we took the metro to La Sagrada Familia which is a Roman Catholic church under construction and it began in 1882. I had to do a project on it once, but it is absolutely GORGEOUS in person. After this we got some snacks and headed home. At home we usually talk,talk,talk and read our maps. We have so much fun together. We were never that close growing up, but we have become great friends here and we have alot in common! I was even kind enough to let her borrow some pajamas (the poor thing only has like one pair ) because she is back-packing through Europe. Here I am thinking I took to little and she looked at my little closet like it was Beyonce's wardrobe. We were going to go to a quaint restaurant in Las Ramblas, but a boy-Max- from our group invited us over for dinner. Chinese food and wine for 5 euro at his place. His apartment is in an amazing location and it is very cozy. Everyone was glad to meet Jeanne and we had a ball. I asked Max all about the Gaza riots because he is a walking CNN station. No, really, he is the smartest 20 year old I have ever met. He goes to Berkely (as did both his parents) and he has been ALL OVER the world including Israel 3 times. He told me about Hamas and how they are a terrorist group, but they control everything and they do alot for their people. He also said that Israel appears to be bombing schools on purpose, but really Hamas, strategically, keeps all of their weapons in the basement of schools so in order for Israel to defend itself they have no choice but to destroy their weapons, but in doing so they kill civilians. He also said that before Israel bombs schools, they tell Hamas to evacuate the children..but Hamas never does. He is very smart, but he clearly knows this. I ask him alot about everything..and he loves to tell me. We will play into eachother well because I ask alot of questions and he has alot of answers. Now, Jeanne and I are ready for bed because we both start class tommorow! I am going to have a spanish partner where I help them with English and vice versa. I am also going to volunteer to teach english at the ymca. There is sooo much I want to do! Jeanne is signed up to move into her homestay but may end up staying with me because she doesn't know that much spanish. Today, she called her host family and she kept saying " yo arriba tommorow" which means "I up tomorrow". I kept correcting her and it was hilarious. I think she will be fine, but she is a little worried about communicating with them! Tomorrow, Hannah,Nona, and Breese(my roomates) will arrive! I can't wait!!! I absolutely love it here.
Adeo,
Robin B.
Today Jeanne and I woke up at 3 p.m...yes 3! I had my curtains close and we slept like babies. After getting some fruit for breakfast (or lunch rather) we took the metro to La Sagrada Familia which is a Roman Catholic church under construction and it began in 1882. I had to do a project on it once, but it is absolutely GORGEOUS in person. After this we got some snacks and headed home. At home we usually talk,talk,talk and read our maps. We have so much fun together. We were never that close growing up, but we have become great friends here and we have alot in common! I was even kind enough to let her borrow some pajamas (the poor thing only has like one pair ) because she is back-packing through Europe. Here I am thinking I took to little and she looked at my little closet like it was Beyonce's wardrobe. We were going to go to a quaint restaurant in Las Ramblas, but a boy-Max- from our group invited us over for dinner. Chinese food and wine for 5 euro at his place. His apartment is in an amazing location and it is very cozy. Everyone was glad to meet Jeanne and we had a ball. I asked Max all about the Gaza riots because he is a walking CNN station. No, really, he is the smartest 20 year old I have ever met. He goes to Berkely (as did both his parents) and he has been ALL OVER the world including Israel 3 times. He told me about Hamas and how they are a terrorist group, but they control everything and they do alot for their people. He also said that Israel appears to be bombing schools on purpose, but really Hamas, strategically, keeps all of their weapons in the basement of schools so in order for Israel to defend itself they have no choice but to destroy their weapons, but in doing so they kill civilians. He also said that before Israel bombs schools, they tell Hamas to evacuate the children..but Hamas never does. He is very smart, but he clearly knows this. I ask him alot about everything..and he loves to tell me. We will play into eachother well because I ask alot of questions and he has alot of answers. Now, Jeanne and I are ready for bed because we both start class tommorow! I am going to have a spanish partner where I help them with English and vice versa. I am also going to volunteer to teach english at the ymca. There is sooo much I want to do! Jeanne is signed up to move into her homestay but may end up staying with me because she doesn't know that much spanish. Today, she called her host family and she kept saying " yo arriba tommorow" which means "I up tomorrow". I kept correcting her and it was hilarious. I think she will be fine, but she is a little worried about communicating with them! Tomorrow, Hannah,Nona, and Breese(my roomates) will arrive! I can't wait!!! I absolutely love it here.
Adeo,
Robin B.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
My apartment
My bed with the polka dots and hannahs
the first two pictures I put up! XOXO
Our patio
Our kitchen
Our eating area More to come..I can't upload them all!
Jeanne comes to town..
January 10
Today was fabulous. Well, last night it rained but kids in my group went to a bar called Chupitos. It was a bar with just shots-175 shots to be exact. They had girl scout cookie, harry potter, bin laden,monica lewisky and many more so you can imagine what type of place this was. After that we tried to go to a club called Catwalk but decided against it. We got home at 4 am and I had to wake up at 9am to meet Jeanne at my apartment. She got a little lost, but when she finally made it I was SO happy. It was so great to see someone from home and I think I talked her head off! She will be abroad for 80 days (wants to stay longer, but there is a minimum if you don't have a visa). She has been to Paris, London, Amsterdam, and now she is in Barcelona and will stay with a family for a week. After that she is going to Madrid, Seville, Italy, Switzerland,Germany, Czecch Republic, and then back to Barcelona( I convinved her). Anyway she rode the train here, stayed in a hostel last night, but was ready to go today! She got 60 euro stolen from her in Amsterdam, but she has a really good attitude about it. In fact, she is paying for her trip over here. Well kind of- Her parents are still paying her car note, and her rent in Miami( no luck with a subletter) and some of her trip, but she is so in love with europe and will want to stay a while. Today we split paella which is a spanish seafood dish and after we had a chocolate waffle. The big event of our day was a protest against the violence in Gaza. At first it was interesting to see how passionate everyone was. I mean this protest was HUGE-singing,posters,cameras. However, it got a little intense and me and Jeanne had to leave! All we wanted was a chocolate waffle and we got caught in the drama. One sign was of the statue of liberty with a cnn tv and in spanish it said "who are the real terrorists?'. Another had an israeli flag +american flag that =nazi. One man held a fake baby doll with fake blood and had his shoe off (wanting to throw it at Bush). Signs in spanish said Bush was an asassin and others had an american fork eating kids. One man explained to me that America likes to just watch things happen and he hated Bush. I am not a Bush fan myself, but these signs were terrible. The spanish people are very nice though, I never felt unsafe, just claustrophobic. I haven't been here long but already love learning how the world works. I would never get to see a protest like that at home (maybe in Ann Arbor), but never Georgia. I guess the Europeans are right because while they were out there protesting violence I was just trying to find a chocolate dessert. It really gave Jeanne and I pause...We need to step up our political game/ world knowledge. It is 10:41 pm here..we are going to go out..
Hasta luego-Robin
Today was fabulous. Well, last night it rained but kids in my group went to a bar called Chupitos. It was a bar with just shots-175 shots to be exact. They had girl scout cookie, harry potter, bin laden,monica lewisky and many more so you can imagine what type of place this was. After that we tried to go to a club called Catwalk but decided against it. We got home at 4 am and I had to wake up at 9am to meet Jeanne at my apartment. She got a little lost, but when she finally made it I was SO happy. It was so great to see someone from home and I think I talked her head off! She will be abroad for 80 days (wants to stay longer, but there is a minimum if you don't have a visa). She has been to Paris, London, Amsterdam, and now she is in Barcelona and will stay with a family for a week. After that she is going to Madrid, Seville, Italy, Switzerland,Germany, Czecch Republic, and then back to Barcelona( I convinved her). Anyway she rode the train here, stayed in a hostel last night, but was ready to go today! She got 60 euro stolen from her in Amsterdam, but she has a really good attitude about it. In fact, she is paying for her trip over here. Well kind of- Her parents are still paying her car note, and her rent in Miami( no luck with a subletter) and some of her trip, but she is so in love with europe and will want to stay a while. Today we split paella which is a spanish seafood dish and after we had a chocolate waffle. The big event of our day was a protest against the violence in Gaza. At first it was interesting to see how passionate everyone was. I mean this protest was HUGE-singing,posters,cameras. However, it got a little intense and me and Jeanne had to leave! All we wanted was a chocolate waffle and we got caught in the drama. One sign was of the statue of liberty with a cnn tv and in spanish it said "who are the real terrorists?'. Another had an israeli flag +american flag that =nazi. One man held a fake baby doll with fake blood and had his shoe off (wanting to throw it at Bush). Signs in spanish said Bush was an asassin and others had an american fork eating kids. One man explained to me that America likes to just watch things happen and he hated Bush. I am not a Bush fan myself, but these signs were terrible. The spanish people are very nice though, I never felt unsafe, just claustrophobic. I haven't been here long but already love learning how the world works. I would never get to see a protest like that at home (maybe in Ann Arbor), but never Georgia. I guess the Europeans are right because while they were out there protesting violence I was just trying to find a chocolate dessert. It really gave Jeanne and I pause...We need to step up our political game/ world knowledge. It is 10:41 pm here..we are going to go out..
Hasta luego-Robin
Friday, January 9, 2009
Busy, Busy,Busy
January 9, 2009
Today I got to sleep in...well atleast until 11:30. Then I had to go to orientation at Pompeu Fabra, which wasn't really orientation. I ended up placing into advanced spanish classes so I did better than I thought! I start classes on Monday so I will be forced to ride the metro which I have been strategically avoiding. After class, my friends(Katie, Alana,Lisa) and I ran so many errands. We went to exchange money,buy them groceries, buy cellphones(mom: DO NOT freak. I got 'pay as you go' plan and its cheap here. I will need it to call friends here. and for safety). Customer service in Spain is nonexistent. They move really slow, but are nice when they are actually serving you. For lunch I had "menu del dia" which included a coke, a salad, bread and tomato and cheese, sausage with beans, and a little dessert trio..all for 10 euro. I think all my money will go to travelling and metro rides because when my roomates get here we will grocery shop and I won't eat out AS much. I think cereal will do in the morning, I will splurge on lunches, and then dinners will be light tapas and wine.Tonight we are going out, but I don't know what we will be doing. There is soooo much to do here. Tomorrow I will go back to my apartment because my friend, Jeannie Lyons, is staying the night with me. She is from Atlanta (Went to Woodward, we cheered together in middle school, and she was Sandy Creek hc queen). Anyway, now she goes to U. of Miami and is travelling around Europe for the semester. It will be good to visit my place since I darted out of there the first day when I was "devastated". It will be fun to explore my neighborhood. Until tomorrow..
Adeo
Today I got to sleep in...well atleast until 11:30. Then I had to go to orientation at Pompeu Fabra, which wasn't really orientation. I ended up placing into advanced spanish classes so I did better than I thought! I start classes on Monday so I will be forced to ride the metro which I have been strategically avoiding. After class, my friends(Katie, Alana,Lisa) and I ran so many errands. We went to exchange money,buy them groceries, buy cellphones(mom: DO NOT freak. I got 'pay as you go' plan and its cheap here. I will need it to call friends here. and for safety). Customer service in Spain is nonexistent. They move really slow, but are nice when they are actually serving you. For lunch I had "menu del dia" which included a coke, a salad, bread and tomato and cheese, sausage with beans, and a little dessert trio..all for 10 euro. I think all my money will go to travelling and metro rides because when my roomates get here we will grocery shop and I won't eat out AS much. I think cereal will do in the morning, I will splurge on lunches, and then dinners will be light tapas and wine.Tonight we are going out, but I don't know what we will be doing. There is soooo much to do here. Tomorrow I will go back to my apartment because my friend, Jeannie Lyons, is staying the night with me. She is from Atlanta (Went to Woodward, we cheered together in middle school, and she was Sandy Creek hc queen). Anyway, now she goes to U. of Miami and is travelling around Europe for the semester. It will be good to visit my place since I darted out of there the first day when I was "devastated". It will be fun to explore my neighborhood. Until tomorrow..
Adeo
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