Barcelona!

Laia, Eduard, and I came back to Barcelona around 7:30 today and I'm staying in Laia's apartment in the city for a night before I meet my host family! We had a great time in Coma Ruga relaxing by the pool and on the beach, playing games, and just chilling out for a while. My spanish skills are slowly (VERY slowly) improving, but I guess that will come with time (at least I hope haha). I am so excited but so nervous to start the Trinity program and see if everyone else is better than I am at speaking spanish hahaha. I suppose we shall see!

Anyways, not much to update on today, except that I now have regular access to the internet and will be posting more frequently now!

besos

~Amanda

He Llegado!

I have arrived! It is a beautiful 89º in Barcelona and it couldn’t be more perfect J I made it through both flights and a connection in Dublin and managed to keep my carry-on’s and find my luggage at the end of the road! (I was very proud of myself…so try not to judge my ego-boosting statements too too much haha). Laia and her boyfriend, Eduard, picked me up at the airport and after an epic battle with my 75 lb suitcase (again, no judging…) we were on the road! Laia’s beach house is so precious! It’s beautifully decorated and has great views as well! There’s a pool in the complex and the apartment is about a 10 minute walk from the beach. We managed to lug all of my stuff up stairs (Thank GOD for elevators) and I settled into my temporary home for the next few days J We went to get some fruit at a nearby market and picked up some various lunch items to munch on as well. Then, as every college kid should expect, I took a nap. It was glorious. And rejuvenating. I’m trying really hard to make it to at least 11pm so that I can acclimatize my body to the time change as quickly and painlessly as possible, but I have a feeling it’s going to be a struggle. Another siesta is looking mighty tempting and I’m not sure how much longer I can hold off! But alas, I shall try to stay strong.

Laia and Eduard are being very patient with my terrible Spanish skills and I can’t thank them enough, because it is much more difficult than you would think to just turn on the Spanish switch and start chattin’ it up. But I’m working hard and also trying to give myself a bit of a break as I have only been here for 10 hours so… haha

We’re off to get crepes for dinner in a minute so I should head out but enjoy reading about day 1! Miss everyone already!

~Amanda

And so it begins...

My bag weighs approximately 5000 lbs. I have enough shirts, jeans, shorts, dresses, and shoes to clothe an army. I've checked, rechecked, and triple checked my flight info. And now all there is to do is wait for my 6:20 p.m. flight to Barcelona, Spain! I've got my stock of books and a pack of peanut M&M's for the trip and I'm really hoping I won't get stuck next to a screaming child or a person who doesn't shower for 8 hours. Because I'm pretty sure that would be awful.

The parentals, Nick and I are going into Boston for the day to keep everyone's mind off of the fact that I'm leaving, because being sedentary for too long in my house automatically translates into a waterfall of tears (cough cough mom) and no one wants that! Then I'll get on a plane for Dublin, transfer to a flight to Barcelona and will arrive, tired and gross, in beautiful Catalunya! I'm excited to be reunited with some great friends in the city and spend some time with them before I start the Trinity program on September 2nd!

So this is my farewell to 6 o'clock dinners, giant sodas, peanut butter, and English, because I'm off! :-)

Adios a todos! Muchos besos :-)

Last of the Double Digit Days....

10 days and counting...

Figured I'd start this blog up before I left for Barcelona just to get things rolling! I'll officially be starting my semester abroad in Barcelona on August 27th and hope to fill this blog with all of my European adventures! Keep reading to track my trip!

Bon Voyage...to me? haha y'all come back now :-)