Kelsey in Barcelona

Hey everyone,
Sorry It took me so long to write another entry (I know that for most of you this is the one thing that you have been waiting for all day, haha). Everything here is so busy. There are about 60 Americans in my Business and Culture program, so someone always has a new activity. On Saturday we went to Montserrat, which is an old monestary that has been up there since 1025 (the building was rebuilt in 1800´s after Napoleon burnt it down). The monestary was amazing, no surface was without adornment in gold or mosaic or murals, all of it so detailed that I can´t imagine how long it took to create. But the coolest part was a hike that we took up the mountain. Now this is no ordinary mountain, not only is it pretty much straight up but it also has unique open faces that have worn away over the years and are now smooth. I don´t have the pictures with me now, but I will upload them later. But anyway the hike was awesome because around every corner there was another great veiw of the countryside, or of a hidden part of the mountain. By the time we turned back down we could see all of Barcelona and the Mediteranian (an hour away by train).
We went to Parc Guell yesterday afternoon, which is a public park in Barcelona (one of the only ones) that was designed by Gaudi. If you don´t know who he is google it, because his stuff is very cool and extremly unusual. From the top of the park we could see Barcelona, it is not as far away as Mountserrat so we could even see some of the larger streets and the landmarks that we were familar with.
Classes are interesting so far. I love my spanish class because we only have about 10 people in it, so it is more of a conversation than a lecture. I am also taking an International Strategy class in English but with a bunch of spanish and international students. So far the content it is intersting, and it is also cool to be exposed to the different perspectives that the international students (and the american students from other schools) have about the topics we are discussing.
Love to All
Kelsey

Posted by Kelsey Seppa at 2:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My first classes started today. I had spanish in the morning, which is pretty much like the other spanish classes I have taken, except there are only 10 people in it. I have another class tonight from 8 to 9.15, which seems late to me, but I guess it is pretty normal for them. Although I will be late for dinner on monday nights because of it. My family eats between 9 and 9.30 every night. And you absolutely cannot find food here for lunch before 1pm. It is kind of weird, and I feel like I am hungry all the time, but I suppose I will get used to it after a while.
I also get very tired here. Some of it I am sure is jet lag, but I think it is because I am walking so much more. Plus there are so many new things to take in that every day feels like two days combined, I feel like the things that I did this morning I actually did two days ago. I guess I should be glad, I´m sure by the end of the trip my days will be going way to quickly.
In Barcelona people celebrate christmas until january 6th, which is supposedly the day that the three kings arrived in bethlehem to give jesus his gifts. So most kids only get a few presents from santa, but get most of their presents from the three kings on the morning of the 7th. We went to see the parade throught the center of the city, which was very cool. There are huge lit up floats, one that blew glitter into the sky every couple of minutes. There were also giant dragonflies and a huge shooting star made out of lights. Because of the holiday, all of the stores have huge sales this week (like our week after christmas sales) but they are even better, with most clothing marked down by 50%. I went shopping today with some of my friends and bought a light jacket (the coat I brought is waaaay to warm for here).
My friends and I are begining to plan our first weekend trip out of spain. We are thinking the weekend after this coming one, but we aren´t sure where to go yet. Airfare isn´t too bad as long as you find the cheap companies, and we plan on learning to travel without spending much money.
Kelsey

Posted by Kelsey Seppa at 6:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So I have been in orientation for the past couple of days. It has been pretty crazy. I have met a ton of U.S. students from all over the country. There are a bunch from private schools in the New England, and they were amazed that this program costs less than their normal tution...lol.

The city is amazing, it is different than anything else I have ever seen. I feel like all I am doing is looking up all day because the buildings are so pretty. They are all similar to each other in stlye, but none are similar to any building I have ever seen in a city. There is no grass, no parks, and barely any open space, but there are tons of trees.

I live with a single mother and her 13 yr old daughter in an apartment that is 125yrs old! My room is pretty big, the ceilings are very very high, and all of the floors have this amazing mosaic tile designs. I haven´t had much time to talk to them yet, orientation has taken up so much of my time, but tomorrow I will hopefully get a chance to talk to them more. The senora speaks some english, so we can somewhat communicate, but it is definatly weird to live with people who you cannot have a whole converstaion with.

Well out for tapas (appetizers) with friends!

Love Kelsey

Posted by Kelsey Seppa at 8:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Last night I finally arrived in Barcelona around 7pm, but it was about an hour and half until I finally arrived at my very posh hotel room. A bell hop brought up all of my bags and basically explained where everything was in the hotel. My room is very nice, smaller than the average American hotel room, but infinitely more classy. The entire bathroom is made of marble and glass, and the bedroom has a flat screen TV and a stereo system. However, by the time I got here I was way too tired to enjoy much else than the shower and the bed!
I will spending another night here, but not in the same room. This morning I join the rest of the students in my program for orientation which lasts the next few days.
And for anyone who is wondering the Stockholm airport is amazingly cool, no grey carpet or walls like our airports. It is made of solid glass and nice wood floors, I defiantly recommend it if anyone is every planning on touring the coolest airports ever.
Love Kelsey

Posted by Kelsey Seppa at 9:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)