so of course a semester can´t be complete without me getting a cold of some sort. i am currently recovering from a really bad cold..it was so bad that i missed two days of class..mind u though i only have certain classes once a week..so i´ve pretty much have only had class twice this week..monday was a holiday here in barcelona so i got the day off..tuesday i started getting sick and only went to spanish class..and yesterday i was dying so i didn´t go to any of my classes..

speaking of classes..i am the only person in my spanish class (for reasons of fluency and such)..i got to go with my professor to a clinic (as part of an outside classroom activity..and my interest in medicine) and it was the most magnificent structure ive seen yet. its an old hospital/clinic that takes up a huge portion of the streets..city blocks are not the same here in barcelona..10 city blocks equal about 2 or 3 barcelona ones..its crazy..

once we were done touring the hospital i went on the metro by myself!! i was so proud of myself for knowing where i was going..everyday i´m feeling like less of a tourist..i actually feel quite at home..its so weird. i still miss everyone back at home..but at the same time im very happy here.

i came back to my apartment around 2pm..and had a delicious sandwich aka bocadillo..it was a baguette (typical bread used to make sandwiches here) rubbed with tomato and topped with sweet ham. it was at my favorite place called bellpan..right down the street from my apartment.

luckily im feeling much better..so much so that there is a person who is weirding me out who is sitting next to me..apparently she is laughing at what someone is typing in a chat room..i was scared at first cuz it seemed as if she was crying. i figured out though that she was laughing after all..strange people i tell u..

so many of u who may know me well..know that i HATE HUGE CROWDS..but i made an exception this weekend..let me tell u about my travels so far...

Friday: I was able to visit the most beautiful place ever..Monserrat..it was amazing..its a monestary high up in the mountains..there is a basilica there and this wonderful boys choir that sing like angels..it was very moving..it was a very different change than being in the city all the time..i got to see the Black Virgin..i dont remember why or how she got her name..but the tour guide told us that it was a miracle story.

Saturday: I decided to venture out into the city in search of La Sagrada Familia..a church that was never finished by Gaudi..well I got really freakin lost and walked for about 2 hours before I found it..then I attempted to find the Arc de Triomph but did not find that or the giant elephant at the Park Ciutadella..i was walking for 5 or 6 hours the whole day..i was very tired and really annoyed..

Sunday: Went to Plaza San Jaume where there were thousands of people gathered to see the Castellers...people who form HUMAN TOWERS..it was crazy..i felt like I was gonna get trampled but it was all worth it cuz I saw some pretty amazing stuff..I also got to see these paper mache giant people..it was pretty cool..I also went to the Picasso museum and found the Arc and the giant elephant!!!

Monday: no school for me!!! YAY!..so I decided to rest.

update: Rubia Gorda is nowhere in sight..I am very disturbed..I have yet to know if she is an imposter or not.. and I also saw a guy go and pick a prostitute up..me Josh and Karrie belive that they go to the Sex Hotel here in Barcelona..also..the homeless man came back..he was sleeping naked in the car and Josh and Karrie took pictures of it...ever since then we haven´t seen him again. I am quite sad...

Currently I am in the internet cafe..and umm this chick is like flirting with the guy..she´s asking where she can see a good movie..and asking him about romantic ones..its pretty funny...

ok off i go..

Ok so first full week in Barcelona..a few interesting things..the prostitutes are plentiful here..apparently Rubia Gorda is the most popular one among all of us. I personally do not prefer blondes..but I think she has lots of character..oh and I really gotta say that I find their method of luring men over amazing..they have this little clicker that makes like a really loud zipper noise..its truly fantastic lmao..if that doesn't get ur attention they whistle at u..

*I had the amazing experience of seeing a homeless man sit in a car that was not his (he got inside via an open window)..he was fully naked smoking a cigarrette..the owner comes out starts yelling at him to get out and the homeless man tells him to wait..finishes smoking, gets dressed again..and attempts to get out through the window again..i saw his entire ass..hair and everything..it was pretty gross..

*Hmm lets see..people will walk incredibly close to you on the street..sometimes they smell..sometimes they don't..what freaks me out is this idea of .2 feet of personal space..not very good.

*Baguettes are really cheap here..i got 2 of them today for 60 cents each..they were amazing!, it seems as if this place has amazing bakeries with delicious little treats.

*I feel that if i dont have a cafe con leche during the day..i feel like im dragging myself and get so tired so quickly.

* I have a nightly routine of looking out my window at about 11pm or so..i do this becuz every nite the equivalent of a sanitation worker in the states comes and uses a gigantic hose to water down the streets. The water pushes all the garbage out and into the sewage thingies..it fascinates me

* The University of Barcelona is the most beautiful thing i've ever seen. There is a beautiful little pond with pretty fish in there. The architecture is fantastic and the surrounding area is incredibly relaxing.

* The convinience of a public phone in front of my apartment building had me very excited..until one brokedown..i now am like a watchdog and run as soon as the other one is free..

* I think that is all for now..ohh.except that European keyboards are annoying and its difficult  to remember where certain keys are..uggh >=0(

so i´ve been in barcelona for half a week and i feel like i´ve been here for a lot longer than 4 days. i´ve been extremely homesick. that doesn´t mix well with being jet lagged...we have a 6 hour difference and its taking its toll on me.

  i moved into my apartment and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it..it is truly amazing and far beyond my expectations (which im proud of bc i usually expect too much from things). the city is amazing, somehow you find yourself getting lost in time.

 so some things i have noticed so far are:

1. apparently when u get into an elevator and wanna go to the 1st floor ur really going to the 2nd floor..the ground floor is floor zero..the 1st floor is the main floor..the 2nd floor is the first..kinda confusing..

2. cafe con leche and a croissant is a staple of Spanish breakfast...cafe con leche is extremely addicting

3. the sidewalks are apparently made of some smoot concrete..this leads to a slip and fall accident after it has rained to easily happen.

4. groceries are really cheap

5. homeless men will enter ur car, get naked and smoke a cigarrette if u leave ur car window open..as was the case last nite as i spoke on the public pay phone...he then proceeded to moon me..

6. chorizo is delicious and comes in cold cuts

7 my new favorite cheese is manchego cheese..its divine

8 chocolate croissants are the BEST!

7. calling cards here suck and will waste ur minutes mercilessly.

8. bowls do not exist here

9. a glass of water is not really full..its like a 4 ounce cup..

10. speaking of water..it tastes really nasty unless u buy a specific brand..otherwise it all tastes really thick..=0X

Stay tuned..more to come!

4 days to go... i can't believe it. my stomach is doing crazy flips. amid the fact that studying abroad is a big adventure to be excited for, i am so scared and nervous. i have no idea what to expect from barcelona. i hear only amazing things; great nightlife, amazing people, beautiful city, great weather...and yet a million thoughts go through my head about what i should expect.

i feel like i did the day i moved into the dorms..only i'll be all the way in SPAIN!!!

packing is pretty crazy..i feel like im always missing something..currently i am organizing my shoes..so many shoes and so little space..what's a girl to do!

:::sigh::: i go through each emotion there is every day..and every day it gets more intense. excited, happy, nervous, scared, sad, homesick!..

until the next blog entry!....