Dont let anyone ever tell you its hard to learn English. The more Spanish classes I take, the more I realize that English is actually a really simple language. Spanish has feminine and masculine and so many exceptions to both. Spanish has verb congugations that boggle my mind…a different verb for present, past, future, conditional, etc…and different endings for me, you, he/she/you (polite), we, you guys (for lack of a better phrase) and they. It makes English look really simple. And actually…everyone here (no matter where they are from all the other students speak English) admits English is easy to learn (hard to master).
But anyway, yo aprendo mucho. (Im learning a lot.)
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Things in Barcelona are grand. The weather is warming up, the sun is out, and Im settling in. Finally adjusted my body clock so Im not tired all the time…despite getting up at 7:30 for class. (not that early…but it is vacation)
This weekend everybody from school, about 10 girls, went out. Theres a cheap bar that serves 1 drinks from 8-9, 2 from 9-10, and 3 from 10-11. Definitely a deal…but it meant there were a lot of drunk people in our group. We all had a good time.
Saturday, my roommates and I were quite lazy (and a bit hungover). We went shopping, watched bad Spanish TV and cooked dinner in the apt. Not too exciting but watching TV is really helping my Spanish. I can understand significantly more then I could when I arrived, and my speaking is getting better as well.
Sunday was a HUGE football (soccer) game. Bara vs. Real Madrid. I gotta tell all the Americans out there that are frowning at the idea of watching football that this was a match that could inspire you to love the game! Every bar in the city was packed. (Were talking Yanks/Red Sox rivarly here.) Bara lost 2-4, sadly, but the game was riviting. There was lots of rough play, bad calls, penalty kicks and injuries, along with a score higher then most matches. I even learned a bit more about the rules.
I saw the game at a bar in the Barri Gotic and there was a healthy mix of Barcelona and Madrid fans…lots of screaming, yelling and song singing. In general, it was a blast.
During the game I met a few Spaniards and practiced my conversation skills, which was great. Back in class on Monday my teacher, Tere, said she noticed a definite improvement in my Spanish. Yay! She also said shed give me some extra practice excercises, a) because I asked b) because I need them. (I dont know the past tense, and you can imagine this makes conversation a bit difficult at times!)
Yesterday I went with Katarina (who moved out of our apt. because her room was the size of a breadbox) to Montjuic, a hill/park that overlooks the city. The Olympics were held here and theres tons of beautiful gardens, paths and monuments, along with the Olympic stadium. We walked, and climbed, for hours…up and down hundreds of stairs. We saw some gorgeous views of the city. (Again, I have photos, but still in search of a wireless connection…the only ones in the city seem to be in expensive hotels) It was a beautiful day and we had a great time!

The one bad note of late is my roommate. You guys would laugh if you met her. Shes a really sweet girl but about as girly-girl as you get…not usually the type I hang out with. She brought 2 suitcases the size of small cars and takes forever to get ready…high maintenence.
Anyway, shes absolutely, miserably homesick and crys everyday, several times a day. Shes just 18 and her father sent her on this trip (to Milan, Barcelona and England, each for a month) so that she could learn to be more independant…but its not working…at all. She wants someone with her every second…and since Katarina moved out, that means me…which drives me a bit crazy.
Shes so sweet and were all trying to tell her shes been given a great oppurtunity to see the world and learn about different places, and about herself, but all she wants is to go home. She skipped class yesterday and left after the first class today, and Im starting to think that going home really is the best option for her. Its sad, but theres really nothing I can do for her. Shes sad, so she wants me to be sad too. Its all a bit draining.
The director of the school spoke with her today before she left and said she will speak more with her tomorrow, so I guess Ill see what happens. In the mean time, Im making the best of the situation.
Okay…gotta run. The school shows movies every Tuesday in Spanish, so Im off to watch La Playa (The Beach…haha). At least the dialogue is easy
Cheers everyone…missing you guys…