Maybe one day

Maybe one day I'll look back and laugh. However, today is not that day. I have long been anticipating this day. The day when I would leave BCN and head to the city people have raved about: Prague. I knew I had a long day of traveling ahead of me, but there was a light at the end of the tunnel: Kath, Jo, and Colleen, all waiting for me in the land of Czechs.

I felt pretty darn confident when walking out of my apartment in Barcelona for the last time and catching the metro to Pl. Catalunya where I would hop on an Aerobus. Everything was going well until my flight out of BCN kept being delayed and then delayed again. They said it was because of the big storm in Madrid, where I would find my connecting flight to Prague. They said the flight would only take an hour. WRONG. So when I finally arrived in Madrid, I scrambled to find T1 where I would check-in for my next flight. After 7 moving-walkways, 1 bus ride, and some slight jogging, I found the Wizz Air check-in. As I approached, the single man standing behind the counter eyed me suspiciously.

"¿Que?," he asked with a lovely frown on his face.
"Pues, yo necesito coger mi vuelto a las 3:05"
"Ai, no. La puerta está cerrada."
"¿Cómo? ¿Está cerrada ahora? Pero, es 2:35."
"Si y estás tarde. Lo siento."

Lo siento my ass. Pardon the language, but at that moment it took all my strength not to break down in tears. After about three plus hours of talking to airport personnel, I got myself another flight to Prague. For tomorrow morning. That leaves me in Madrid for the night, just hanging out, in my hotel on the highway, eating chips and a Twix for dinner. If it weren't for the Skype calls I was able to make to my parents and Johanna, I would've been doomed. Not only did I need to get in contact with them, but they calmed me down. I can tell you one thing: I will be in Prague tomorrow, happy as can be. As for now, I have a book and the Spanish Disney channel to entertain me. So maybe one day I'll look back and laugh.  Maybe one day I'll find the humor in all of this. Maybe.

La despedida

Here it is. The post I have long dreaded; the one that turned my stomach this morning and makes things feel all too final. All day, hell, all week and even before that I have thought about my last Barcelona post. As I roamed the city today, for one last time, I had to stop myself when I felt tears welling. I kept my sunglasses on and put one foot in front of the other, not having any destination in mind, just walking. I shoved my ipod deep down into my purse and simply listened to the noises around me. I walked past my school, under the Arc de Triomf, toward Parc Ciutadella where I found a sunny spot in the grass. I stared up at the incredibly blue sky and started to reach for my camera, then hesitated. No pictures. I would remember this image on my own: the clouds that looked like puffs from an old man's pipe, the palms of trees swaying in the light breeze, and the blindingly bright sun.  Next, I headed to the Borne and Gothic areas, up La Rambla, and into La Boqueria market for my last chocolate treat. I made my way through the always crowded Rambla up to Plaza Catalunya where I stopped to write my last postcards from Spain. It reminded me of a day during my first week here - I sat by the fountains in Pl. Catalunya and felt completely overwhelmed by the great city that Barcelona is. Now, I see Barcelona in a completely different light. I see it as a place where I expanded my view of the world; where I practiced and stumbled over my Spanish; where I played in the sun and felt the chill of the Mediterranean Sea; where I gained a new appreciation for food; where I made a home for myself; and most importantly, where I grew up. 


Sometimes I forget about how nervous I was to study abroad for a semester. I feared leaving behind everything that was familiar and venturing to an entirely new place. And now, I can't imagine if I had not gone through this experience. It would not have been the same without my Barcelona family: Anjali and Mercedes. I mean it when I say that I lucked out with my homestay placement. Not only is Mercedes a truly sweet woman who constantly reminded us how much she enjoyed our company, but she is a phenomenal chef. La cena was our time. During our last dinner, we chatted away in spanish on a variety of topics, coming to a slight pause when our departure was mentioned. I will forever miss these dinners and the prelude of photo-taking by Anjali every night, without fail. 406 Balmes became my home away from home. Plaza Catalunya became a spot on my regular path to school. Barrio Gotico became my walking ground. La Rambla became my enemy, for its crowds, and my love for its vibrance. El Borne became my go-to venue for food and drinks. Barcelona became my city. So, to say goodbye is difficult. 


There's not much more to say because there's too much to say. That may not make much sense, but to me it is perfectly sensible. The four months I spent here cannot be summed up. They cannot be told in just one story because it is a chain of stories, of places, and of people. 


As I end this adventure, I begin a new one tomorrow...a trip to three countries with three of my favorite people in the world. ¡Venga! Because the biggest adventure is the one I'll be taking on May 16th, back home to the States. 

Hasta luego, Barcelona. Te echaré de menos.

Last week lineup

So this is what finals week feels like...sitting inside, working on my Media and Politics study guide while it's 68 degrees and sunny. Every now and then, I glance up from my Mac and look out the window, tempted to grab my towel and rush up to the rooftop. However, I'm halfway through my review and insist on finishing it (after a blogging break, of course).

Monday, monday, monday. You know how Mondays are pretty much the worst day of the week? Well, I had two papers and two exams due this past Monday, which made for a late Sunday night. I couldn't have been antsier during my last class where I basically just had to show up and turn in my final assignments.  The bright side was that I got to see my ever-so handsome and witty teacher, Xavi, one last time. And guess what? He hugged me! My schoolgirl crush peaked at that moment. Filled with elation, I joined Anjali for a last tapas meal at La Boqueria market where we enjoyed patatas bravas and chorizo with our Estrellas. We then made our way home and I took a siesta so I could be revived for my first and last Loco Lunes at Apollo. The club was better than expected, especially when Maddie and I were asked to come to the VIP section. We danced our butts off and left a little bit sweatier than when we entered. However, there was a great loss that night: Maddie's camera. And it was her camera that just so happened to be the one that held all the super cool photos of us dancing on stage next to the hipster DJ, the vast and crowded floor of people rockin' to the music, and our smiling faces on our last night out. At least I captured these gems...

Tuesday was a beach day. Maddie and I were in need of some sun and wanted to sweat out any liquids left in our bodies from the previous night. On our way to the beach, we stopped at one of the many markets to grab some provisions: water and chips. And these weren't just any chips. With some encouragement, Maddie purchased a bag of cheeseburger flavored Lays. Now, stay with me on this. THEY WERE GREAT! It was like a teeny little cheeseburger in your mouth - ketchup, pickles, and all. Go ahead, judge us, but these things were delicious. I suggest you run to you your local grocery market now to stock up since they're limited edition. After a solid 4 hours in the sun, we packed up and headed home. Lucky us because a thunderstorm began just 5 minutes after I walked into my apartment. The rain continued into the nighttime, when FCBarça played their ultimate rival, Real Madrid, to see who would go onto the championship. Barça defended their home turf with a final 1-1 score, which was then combined with their 2-0 score from last week's game in Madrid. Ya know what that means...we're headed to the championship baby! 

Wednesday or, Hump Day, as I like to call it. I was 'up and at it' early to meet two of my friends, Christina and Nicole for a coffee date. We met at the ever popular Plaza Catalunya and sauntered up Rambla Catalunya to a cafe I had been a few times before with the lovely Deniz. We sat there, like true Barcelonians, sipping on our cafés con leche, while happily chatting away. Even after finishing our coffee and croissants, we continued sharing stories and feelings about our families, returning to the U.S., and being seniors. It was a great last coffee date with the girls and I hope to keep in touch with them once we return back to our accustomed lives. 

So here I sit, writing about Russian politics, wishing I was outside. One more final and I will be done with study abroad and done with my Junior Year (sigh). 

Six Things

Despite it being my finals week, I was able to get myself out of the apartment for my last weekend in Barcelona. Lately, I haven't been able to help but feel sentimental for a city I still live in. Everything I have grown accustomed to in Barcelona is about to end. Six days. That's it. However, the light at the end of the tunnel is that I go from Barcelona to Prague where my sister, Johanna, and Colleen will be waiting. And yet, I can't shake the inkling of sadness that pops up, reminding me exactly how much I am going to miss beautiful Barcelona. So, here are six things that I love about BCN. One for each day.

{ A refreshing Damm Lemon cerveza }

{ The view from my little window I look out everyday }

{ Mercedes' cooking }

{ My metro stop }

{ Afternoons in the park }

{The beach}