This evening I walked around by myself for over an hour, just listening to my music and seeing more of the city. The sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky, and I stumbled upon some of the most gorgeous architecture I have seen yet (within walking distance from my apartment).
I cried.
I cried tears of happiness...tears of feeling so full that something just had to be released, or I felt like I would burst.
God is so good. This morning I sat in a little cafe reading my Bible before church. I was at church from 11:30 to 1:30 and then the 20s and 30s group traveled to Les Planes (the pastors' house) for a BBQ and fellowship time. The house is GORGEOUS...built about 100 years ago out in the countryside of Barcelona. There were about 40 people there and everyone was so nice and so easy to talk to. We had burgers, chips, and cake! I laughed and felt like myself for the first time in awhile. I didn't leave until after 5:00pm.
God has bought me here to Barcelona to change me and mold me into who he wants me to be. God is teaching me how to be more confident with who I am and how to live out a life of faith even when everything seems uncomfortable and unfamiliar. And thankfully, God has led me to a church that reminds me that I am not alone. Worship and fellowship are two things that I simply cannot live without and expect to be happy. God knows what I need and God provides :) Each and every day is full of more blessings than I have allowed myself to notice lately. Now I feel like I am ready to be completely open and let everything just rush in...
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Life is good in Barcelona
Hola! Yesterday was La Merce, a huge holiday in Catalonia, particularly in Barcelona. Yesterday was also the best day I have spent here by far. It was the first day that I went to bed thinking 'I am so glad I am in Spain rather than anywhere else right now.' Definitely a nice feeling :)
The festivities actually began about a week ago. Since La Merce was on a Wednesday this year, they just devoted an entire week to partying (as is the Spanish way). Last week Aubrey and I went down to Portal de la Pau near the harbor
and saw part of the Gigantes parade. It's hard to describe, but basically it's a these giant 8-10 foot statues of figures that parade down the street. At first we just thought that they were stationery, but people are inside them and make the walk and dance. There was also lots of random music and stuff to accompany them. Then, that night, I went with some people from ICB (International Church of Barcelona) to see some other festivities. We went to see the Correfoc, which is by far the strangest thing I have ever experienced. Thousands of people were crowded in this square, and there is a parade of figures spewing fireworks while people cover up their bodies and run through it...there is NO way we could get away with this in the United States. It was quite an experience, even with my slight phobia of fire! Afterward, we walked down to the beach and watched fireworks there. I had never watched fireworks on the beach, so it was a new experience for me.
Then yesterday was another day full of festival activities. I met Aubrey, Krisi, and Brett near Place Jaume I to see the Castellers. Check the link below for more pictures, but basically, these people build huge human towers in the middle of a massive crowd. It was ridiculous, and also another totally unique experience. Make sure to see the pictures and video!
The four of us went to Montjuic and walked around after that, where we went to the MNAC museum (Art museum) for a few minutes and then to the Botanic Gardens for free since it was a holiday. That night, I met up with the ICB group for the finale of La Merce. In Placa de Espanya (near Montjuic), they had a performance called "Pyromusical". It was a massive music, firework, fountain light light show. I have seen a lot of fireworks in my lifetime, but this was honestly the best I have ever seen (sorry Disney, you can't even compete!). The fireworks were synched with the music and the fountain lights, and it lasted a full 45 minutes. Afterward, everyone had sparklers and the entire crowd of THOUSANDS of people all lit them at once. This was the true Barcelona experience...this was a day that I will never forget.
LA MERCE PICTURES- click here!
The festivities actually began about a week ago. Since La Merce was on a Wednesday this year, they just devoted an entire week to partying (as is the Spanish way). Last week Aubrey and I went down to Portal de la Pau near the harbor
and saw part of the Gigantes parade. It's hard to describe, but basically it's a these giant 8-10 foot statues of figures that parade down the street. At first we just thought that they were stationery, but people are inside them and make the walk and dance. There was also lots of random music and stuff to accompany them. Then, that night, I went with some people from ICB (International Church of Barcelona) to see some other festivities. We went to see the Correfoc, which is by far the strangest thing I have ever experienced. Thousands of people were crowded in this square, and there is a parade of figures spewing fireworks while people cover up their bodies and run through it...there is NO way we could get away with this in the United States. It was quite an experience, even with my slight phobia of fire! Afterward, we walked down to the beach and watched fireworks there. I had never watched fireworks on the beach, so it was a new experience for me.Then yesterday was another day full of festival activities. I met Aubrey, Krisi, and Brett near Place Jaume I to see the Castellers. Check the link below for more pictures, but basically, these people build huge human towers in the middle of a massive crowd. It was ridiculous, and also another totally unique experience. Make sure to see the pictures and video!
The four of us went to Montjuic and walked around after that, where we went to the MNAC museum (Art museum) for a few minutes and then to the Botanic Gardens for free since it was a holiday. That night, I met up with the ICB group for the finale of La Merce. In Placa de Espanya (near Montjuic), they had a performance called "Pyromusical". It was a massive music, firework, fountain light light show. I have seen a lot of fireworks in my lifetime, but this was honestly the best I have ever seen (sorry Disney, you can't even compete!). The fireworks were synched with the music and the fountain lights, and it lasted a full 45 minutes. Afterward, everyone had sparklers and the entire crowd of THOUSANDS of people all lit them at once. This was the true Barcelona experience...this was a day that I will never forget.
LA MERCE PICTURES- click here!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Estoy solo mucho
"The self-focused quality of emerging adulthood makes it arguably the freest time of life, at least in terms of freedom from social obligations and expectations. However, the flip side of this freedom is that emerging adults spend a considerable amount of time alone during these self-focused years. According to time-use studies across the life span, emerging adults aged 19 to 29 spend more of their leisure time alone than any other persons, except the elderly, and more of their time in productive activities alone than any other age group under 40." (Emerging Adulthood: Understanding the New Way of Coming of Age, by Jeffrey Jensen Arnett).
This passage struck me because it seems particularly relevant to my time in Barcelona so far. I have found myself with an abundance of time on my hands, and often no one but myself is around to spend it with. I have been very surprised by how strange and unsettling this seems. Anyone who knows me, best friends and acquaintances alike, would almost definitely classify me as an introvert when given the option between that an extrovert. I have always needed time to myself and have always been good at entertaining myself. I enjoy my quiet morning routine of a good cup of coffee and Good Morning America; I can spend hours going for walks and runs alone; and some days there is nothing better than spending an afternoon in a coffee shop with a book to keep me company. I know how to be alone.
Yet being in Barcelona has made me realize even more (I have started noticing this in the past year or so) that I am much more extroverted than most would think. Meyers-Briggs (Ann, if you're reading this I know you are rolling your eyes right now!) defines extroversion-introversion by how you get your energy, from within or outside yourself. The past couple of years, I find myself more and more drawn to others' company. Not necessarily a big group or a loud place, but the human desire for connection and relationship. I need to be around people a good amount in order to feel satisfied.
I have been blessed to have always been surrounded by so many wonderful people in my life, and so right now I am feeling that void more than ever. It's not to say that I don't spend a fair share of time with people here, because that's not true. But I don't have the comfort of someone I can count on to be there all the time, someone who understands me and who can be there during the daily activities of life for companionship. It's a very different experience for sure...
This passage struck me because it seems particularly relevant to my time in Barcelona so far. I have found myself with an abundance of time on my hands, and often no one but myself is around to spend it with. I have been very surprised by how strange and unsettling this seems. Anyone who knows me, best friends and acquaintances alike, would almost definitely classify me as an introvert when given the option between that an extrovert. I have always needed time to myself and have always been good at entertaining myself. I enjoy my quiet morning routine of a good cup of coffee and Good Morning America; I can spend hours going for walks and runs alone; and some days there is nothing better than spending an afternoon in a coffee shop with a book to keep me company. I know how to be alone.
Yet being in Barcelona has made me realize even more (I have started noticing this in the past year or so) that I am much more extroverted than most would think. Meyers-Briggs (Ann, if you're reading this I know you are rolling your eyes right now!) defines extroversion-introversion by how you get your energy, from within or outside yourself. The past couple of years, I find myself more and more drawn to others' company. Not necessarily a big group or a loud place, but the human desire for connection and relationship. I need to be around people a good amount in order to feel satisfied.
I have been blessed to have always been surrounded by so many wonderful people in my life, and so right now I am feeling that void more than ever. It's not to say that I don't spend a fair share of time with people here, because that's not true. But I don't have the comfort of someone I can count on to be there all the time, someone who understands me and who can be there during the daily activities of life for companionship. It's a very different experience for sure...
Saturday, September 20, 2008
NEW ADDRESS
Hey! So for anyone who might want to send me mail in the future, here is my apartment address. Apparently, IES does not want packages sent to them, so anything other than standard envelopes need to be mailed here...
Leslie Lang
Passeig Sant Joan 176, 1º2ª
08037 Barcelona
SPAIN
(Yes for the address, it's a number 1 with a degree symbol and then a number 2 with an "a" subscript)
It's been a good weekend so far. I will update soon!
Leslie Lang
Passeig Sant Joan 176, 1º2ª
08037 Barcelona
SPAIN
(Yes for the address, it's a number 1 with a degree symbol and then a number 2 with an "a" subscript)
It's been a good weekend so far. I will update soon!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Life continues
Hola! By the way, thanks to everyone who is actually reading my blog! Comments are also VERY appreciated!
My first week of classes started today, and I am such a nerd for being sooo ready to begin. It's been nice having a schedule and a routine. The 9:00am classes Monday-Thursday are rough because I've never had class earlier than 9:30 the entire time I've been in college. Plus, the lifestyle here makes me stay up later because we don't even eat dinner until like 9:00 or 9:30. I guess they invented siestas for a reason!
Looking at my calendar, I have exactly 3 months left in Spain. That seems like both a very long and very short time. My 3 months are split up pretty evenly though:
October 3-5 (two weeks from today)~ I signed up to go on the IES trip to Costa Brava.
October 23-29 (3 weeks later)~ VIENNA :-D
November 14-16 (2 weeks after that)~ Possible trip to Granada, Spain with Dannie. We haven't booked anything yet, but we definitely want to go.
December 19 (a month later)~ Fly home. Exams and such also happen that week before.
My Spanish seems to be getting better little by little...we are watching a movie in my Spanish class called "El otro lado de la cama" (The Other Side of the Bed) which is quite hilarious. I would recommend watching it!
I went to a Flamenco show last night, which was really awesome. It's a dance that's very popular in southern Spain, so it was a unique opportunity to see it here. This weekend is also a big fiestival for the patron saint, so there should be lots of activities going on around the city. I'll give you an update soon!
My first week of classes started today, and I am such a nerd for being sooo ready to begin. It's been nice having a schedule and a routine. The 9:00am classes Monday-Thursday are rough because I've never had class earlier than 9:30 the entire time I've been in college. Plus, the lifestyle here makes me stay up later because we don't even eat dinner until like 9:00 or 9:30. I guess they invented siestas for a reason!
Looking at my calendar, I have exactly 3 months left in Spain. That seems like both a very long and very short time. My 3 months are split up pretty evenly though:
October 3-5 (two weeks from today)~ I signed up to go on the IES trip to Costa Brava.
October 23-29 (3 weeks later)~ VIENNA :-D
November 14-16 (2 weeks after that)~ Possible trip to Granada, Spain with Dannie. We haven't booked anything yet, but we definitely want to go.
December 19 (a month later)~ Fly home. Exams and such also happen that week before.
My Spanish seems to be getting better little by little...we are watching a movie in my Spanish class called "El otro lado de la cama" (The Other Side of the Bed) which is quite hilarious. I would recommend watching it!
I went to a Flamenco show last night, which was really awesome. It's a dance that's very popular in southern Spain, so it was a unique opportunity to see it here. This weekend is also a big fiestival for the patron saint, so there should be lots of activities going on around the city. I'll give you an update soon!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Barcelona pictures- take 1
Here are the link to my pictures! Please check them out and make comments!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2114152&l=d99a0&id=18307155
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2114152&l=d99a0&id=18307155
Saturday, September 13, 2008
The weekend...well, part of it
It already feels like my weekend should be over even though it just began. Thursday in Barcelona, September 11th, is a holiday called "La Diada." Basically, they celebrate the day that they were defeated by the French army. It's a little weird, but also very nationalistic. Many people in Calalunia, the region where Barcelona is, want to break off from the rest of Spain and be their own country. So, on La Diada, there were a lot of people with their Catalunian flags and talking only in Catalan.
I went with Dannie, Aubrey, and Chrissy. I am really glad that I met Aubrey because even though she's not with IES, she lives really close to me and so we've hung out quite a bit in the past few days. Her senora, Pilar, and Conchita are good friends, which is how we met.
I went out with Chrissy and Aubrey to Placa del Sol on Thursday night to check it out, but it started raining so we didn't stay too long. Friday I went on a walking tour of Montjuic, one of the famous parks here, and then hung out with some girls I met from that. I met Aubrey for coffee and then went to Danielle's for dinner. Her dinner was DELICIOUS and it was nice to get out of the apartment for a meal, too. Afterward, though, they dragged me with them to this bar called Chupitos, and it was so crowded and loud that I didn't stay for long. It took me over an hour to walk/find the night bus home by myself, though, which was definitely not fun. THIS is why I don't go out that much! I just want to be able to sit and chill with people in a place where I can actually hear people talk...
Things are getting better, little by little. I am so ready for classes to start on Monday. I feel so restless right now. I felt like that back at TCU last Spring, and I thought that going abroad would get rid of that feeling, but right now, I still feel like I am just waiting for something to happen...
OH- And I booked a flight to Vienna the other day!!!! :-D From October 23-29, I will be visiting lovely Vienna, and I can't wait! I am going to stay with Pastor Laura from ESUMC. I am so excited to just wander around and see/do all my favorite things, and eat at my favorite pastry shops and cafes! Something to look forward to!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
A Happy List
Things in Barcelona are still REALLY tough right now, but I have decided to at least find one good thing every day that I can appreciate it. Thus...the happy list! I will edit/add on as I feel necessary...
Monday 9/8- Had a European chocolate croissant :) Not the best one I've ever had, but still delicious
Tuesday 9/9- Got to shop at H&M and bought a really cute bag. For those of you who know the amazingness that is H&M, be jealous!
Wednesday 9/10- Had coffee with Melanie and had a great 2 hour long conversation, met Aubrey (another study abroad student from another program) who came over for dinner. We had pizza and beer!
Thursday 9/11- Saw the La Diada festival, a Catalunian festival in Barcelona. Too bad it was all in Catalan and I didn't really know what was going on
Friday 9/12- Met some cool girls today and then also had a delicious dinner at Danielle's apartment.
Saturday 9/13- Went to a Spanish poetry reading, which was pretty unique, and got to hang out with Melanie
Sunday 9/14- Church :) It had been 3 weeks and I was missing it terribly
Monday 9/15- A busy day and classes started...I finally have a routine!
Tuesday 9/16- I went to the beach with Lindsey, and it was so relaxing!
Other than that, I have talked to so many people that have been nothing but loving and supportive right now. My parents are amazing and I thank them so much for always wanting what is best for me. My friends from home, school, Vienna, etc. have also been wonderful by making me feel better and not so alone in how I am feeling. I also have been spending a lot of time just reading through the Psalms and gaining strength knowing that God has led me here for a reason. It might be a super challenging, difficult, and lonely time right now, but God is with me here. I know God has so much to teach me, and maybe being alone right now will help me to hear God's voice.
Off to mi clase de espanol....God help me!
Monday 9/8- Had a European chocolate croissant :) Not the best one I've ever had, but still delicious
Tuesday 9/9- Got to shop at H&M and bought a really cute bag. For those of you who know the amazingness that is H&M, be jealous!
Wednesday 9/10- Had coffee with Melanie and had a great 2 hour long conversation, met Aubrey (another study abroad student from another program) who came over for dinner. We had pizza and beer!
Thursday 9/11- Saw the La Diada festival, a Catalunian festival in Barcelona. Too bad it was all in Catalan and I didn't really know what was going on
Friday 9/12- Met some cool girls today and then also had a delicious dinner at Danielle's apartment.
Saturday 9/13- Went to a Spanish poetry reading, which was pretty unique, and got to hang out with Melanie
Sunday 9/14- Church :) It had been 3 weeks and I was missing it terribly
Monday 9/15- A busy day and classes started...I finally have a routine!
Tuesday 9/16- I went to the beach with Lindsey, and it was so relaxing!
Other than that, I have talked to so many people that have been nothing but loving and supportive right now. My parents are amazing and I thank them so much for always wanting what is best for me. My friends from home, school, Vienna, etc. have also been wonderful by making me feel better and not so alone in how I am feeling. I also have been spending a lot of time just reading through the Psalms and gaining strength knowing that God has led me here for a reason. It might be a super challenging, difficult, and lonely time right now, but God is with me here. I know God has so much to teach me, and maybe being alone right now will help me to hear God's voice.
Off to mi clase de espanol....God help me!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
A new day...
My dad sent me an email today that only said "No blog update since the 1st?!" So, if people actually read this thing, here's an update!
The past couple days have been really difficult to get adjusted. This program is about 3 times at big as Vienna, and so I feel very lost right now. There are at least 70 students here from Santa Clara and a ton from Wake Forest, too, so I feel like so many people already know a ton of people here and only want to hang out with people from their own school. Also, so many people just seem to be in Barcelona to party every night. That's not me...I am starting to worry that maybe this isn't the right place for me...
Lexi, my roommate, got really homesick yesterday, and hearing her talk made my feelings surface. It doesn't seem to matter that I have already done this once...it all seems so different and I just feel very alone and lost right now. Our wonderful Senora, however, spent about 2 hours talking to Lexi and I last night to make us feel better. I just hope that things get better.
Today was interesting. I went to my first Spanish class today, and I feel WAY overwhelmed. I don't think I'm in the right level at all. I could only understand about 50% of what the professor was saying, and I don't feel comfortable with that. I talked to him afterward, and he said to wait a few more days and see how it goes. Then, I can switch if I still feel uncomfortable.
After I left IES, I didn't have any plans and didn't really want to go home yet, so I just wandered around the city. This guy from a restaurant beckoned me over and started talking to me. He told me to come in and sit down, and then he proceeded to bring me a cafe con leche, some nuts, and a glass of water. He's from Barcelona, but he spoke to me in English and knows like 8 languages. His name is Ben. Then after that, he asked me if I wanted to run some errands around the city with him. Normally, I would have been really weary of this, but he seems like a very genuine guy. We wandered around for a little bit, and then I headed home around 7:30. He gave me his phone number and told me to come back to the restaurant soon and bring my friends. For some reason, this experience made me feel a lot better. I wouldn't exactly call him a friend yet or anything, but it was someone to talk to and to experience the city with. Plus, I was going outside the "American bubble" and meeting local people. That's all for now. We leave for orientation in Valencia tomorrow, which I am hoping will make some of these worries and anxieties go away. It's still all in Spanish though (ahhh!), but at least it will be a time to make some friends. I'll write when I get back!
The past couple days have been really difficult to get adjusted. This program is about 3 times at big as Vienna, and so I feel very lost right now. There are at least 70 students here from Santa Clara and a ton from Wake Forest, too, so I feel like so many people already know a ton of people here and only want to hang out with people from their own school. Also, so many people just seem to be in Barcelona to party every night. That's not me...I am starting to worry that maybe this isn't the right place for me...
Lexi, my roommate, got really homesick yesterday, and hearing her talk made my feelings surface. It doesn't seem to matter that I have already done this once...it all seems so different and I just feel very alone and lost right now. Our wonderful Senora, however, spent about 2 hours talking to Lexi and I last night to make us feel better. I just hope that things get better.
Today was interesting. I went to my first Spanish class today, and I feel WAY overwhelmed. I don't think I'm in the right level at all. I could only understand about 50% of what the professor was saying, and I don't feel comfortable with that. I talked to him afterward, and he said to wait a few more days and see how it goes. Then, I can switch if I still feel uncomfortable.
After I left IES, I didn't have any plans and didn't really want to go home yet, so I just wandered around the city. This guy from a restaurant beckoned me over and started talking to me. He told me to come in and sit down, and then he proceeded to bring me a cafe con leche, some nuts, and a glass of water. He's from Barcelona, but he spoke to me in English and knows like 8 languages. His name is Ben. Then after that, he asked me if I wanted to run some errands around the city with him. Normally, I would have been really weary of this, but he seems like a very genuine guy. We wandered around for a little bit, and then I headed home around 7:30. He gave me his phone number and told me to come back to the restaurant soon and bring my friends. For some reason, this experience made me feel a lot better. I wouldn't exactly call him a friend yet or anything, but it was someone to talk to and to experience the city with. Plus, I was going outside the "American bubble" and meeting local people. That's all for now. We leave for orientation in Valencia tomorrow, which I am hoping will make some of these worries and anxieties go away. It's still all in Spanish though (ahhh!), but at least it will be a time to make some friends. I'll write when I get back!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Mi primer dia
Hola! I am now writing this from my first day in Barcelona. I am at my new home for the next four months. Lexi, my roommate, doesn't get here until tomorrow, so it is very strange to be here in my apartment with just me, especially after having 5 other roommates in Vienna. BUT...one thing I am going to try very hard to do while in Barcelona is not compare it too much to Vienna. I know that everyone is going to ask me when I get back about which one was better, and I hope I can honestly say that they were both amazing, but too different to even compare. I want to make this a fresh start, a new adventure.
After meeting with the IES staff this morning at the airport, I got into a cab where he literally just dropped me off on the curb with all of my luggage and a name of my senora. It was incredibly nerve-racking! Conchita Mata, my senora, met me with open arms, however. She showed me to mine and Lexi's room...which is definitely small, but at least there's plenty of closet space. The only thing that really concerns me is that there is one small table that is supposed to serve as a desk for both of us. I talked to my senora for awhile in my broken Spanish. She doesn't know hardly any English, so my Spanish skills better improve! I unpacked, took a short nap, and now I am not exactly sure what the rest of the day will have in store. I will update soon, though...hasta luego!
After meeting with the IES staff this morning at the airport, I got into a cab where he literally just dropped me off on the curb with all of my luggage and a name of my senora. It was incredibly nerve-racking! Conchita Mata, my senora, met me with open arms, however. She showed me to mine and Lexi's room...which is definitely small, but at least there's plenty of closet space. The only thing that really concerns me is that there is one small table that is supposed to serve as a desk for both of us. I talked to my senora for awhile in my broken Spanish. She doesn't know hardly any English, so my Spanish skills better improve! I unpacked, took a short nap, and now I am not exactly sure what the rest of the day will have in store. I will update soon, though...hasta luego!
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