Aquí

After two planes, two days of travel(technically), and moving through 3 different language zones, I am finally here (Aquí) in the wonderful BARCELONA!!!

The first plane was 8 hours and in that period we were given a snack, dinner, quick 4hours for a nap (or bedtime I guess), then it was breakfast and time to go. Needless to say my sense of time is completely thrown off by that! We arrived in Paris at Charles De Gualle Airport which looks like it could be the site of the Olympics. Clearly the largest airport I have ever been in would be the one where no one spoke a lick of English....Fortunately on this flight I found two other students studying at IES this semester. Orientation was a quick 20 minuet “don’t get anything stolen until the real orientation Wednesday….you can catch a cab downstairs” and off I went.

Nerve wracking doesn’t describe the feeling of going up to the door of the house you are supposed to live in with a complete stranger for four months. However, the smile, hug and amount of effort I could tell the woman put into making it comfortable put me at ease. After spending 4 hours catching up on sleep we decided to venture out…7’oclock on a Monday and the streets are livelier than Kentucky during the Derby. Yet, everyone moves slow...strolling the street, taking in the warm 60 degree weather and the old buildings around them. I can already tell people take time to savor food, company, and the world around them here; a lifestyle I look forward to quickly adapting to!

After our walk, we came back to the house, where I had a minor melt-down after noticing incense, hookah, and other asthma-enemies around the house. However, after talking to Carmen (my house mother), I think this is going to be a wonderful and fulfilling experience…plus who doesn’t love two FREE meals a day and laundry once a week??? Hopefully, this house works out for the best and the past synergetic fumes don’t get me feeling bad. Either way, for now I’m taking it like the Barcelonans do…one slow and enjoyable moment at a time.

PS…see my facebook. I posted a cool video of my flight into Barcelona. You can’t imagine 3 million people until you look outside a plane window and realize you can’t even see the whole area at once

Besos