Normal school days

This week had been very different from the first week we arrived. The first week was not normal due to the holiday. I go to school usually from 9-5, except on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. On those three days I arrive at 8 to tutor high school students for the big English exam they need to pass. Every school day differs with schedules. The students, classrooms, and times are different every day of the week. We get an hour and 15 minutes for lunch during the school day. School is my absolute favorite part of this entire trip. I love getting to meet and spend time teaching these kids. They are so loving and passionate about everything. I am going to miss them so much! I also have an amazing teacher who is so kind and gentle. She is an inspiration to me and I am going to miss her as well.

My family

I forgot to tell all of you about the host family I am living with. There are 6 members of the family:
Mother- Victoria
Father- Jose
Daughter- Cristina 17 years old
Daughter- Victoria 12 years old
Daughter- Sophia 9 years old
Son- Jose 20 years old
The family is very active. The daughters all participate in classes of singing and dancing. Sophia plays hockey and tennis. The mothers plays tennis. The father plays tennis and football (soccer). Jose the son takes classes at the university so he is usually only home for dinner. The family stays up late every night watching tv after dinner. Dinner here in Spain usually takes place between 9 and 9:30. I was given a room to myself for the duration of my stay which is always really nice. The family is so kind and try to include me in every thing they do. I tutor two days a week with Victoria and Sophia for an hour each. The family lives in what they call a flat, but it is like an apartment back home. The mother stays at home while the father is a lawyer. So far they have been great about making me feel at home.

Sunday Out!

Today was so much fun even though it rained all day. Merche showed us a beautiful famous cathedral that is still being constructed and the coast. Everything was so beautiful. Then we visited Ramba another spot in Barcelona that had beautiful statues, cafés, and people. We even took a picture with one of those guys that is painted like a statue and stands still until you throw money in his tip jar. It was so funny! I got to eat more gelato, which is always yummy. I eat the lemon flavor every time! When I got home this afternoon I got to play wii with the two youngest girls in my home Victoria and Sophia! It was a blast! Today was a great day!

School days

This week at school has been a blast! With the holiday the students and teachers have been in high spirits! All this week students have been in a competition. Using 4 colors the school was divided into 4 teams. I was on the blue team with my girls class. One day out of the week it is a certain color’s day. Thursday was blue day so we wore a blue shirt and jeans. All week students decorate the school and sing songs down the hall in order to get points. On Friday classes were canceled. Students got to play games, watch movies, and just have fun. I had a blast with my students all week. Students were allowed to tape and staple things on the walls of the school, run down the halls, beat drums through the school, and sing loudly in the halls. I loved every minute of it. The students here are so different, especially the girls. They have no personal space, which I like. These girls love to give hugs and kisses on the cheeks. They did this on my first day of school. I am going to miss all of these students when I am gone.

Weekend

Friday after school we took a trip to the center of the city again with Merche, the mother of a family Shelly is staying with. She showed us beautiful buildings and treated us to our first tapas bar experience. It was delicious! After we were left on our own Shelly and I found a Mcdonalds and treated ourselves to a burger and fries! It tasted like home!

This weekend has been a but disappointing! It rained all day Saturday and it is really cold today. Yesterday I ate the largest lunch I’ve ever had. Lunch is the main meal here in Barcelona. We had fried chicken, rice, bread, fruit, wine, and ice cream. It was really good. After lunch I showed my family Calhoun, Kentucky on google maps, which was nice. It felt good to see home; I was even able to find my house. Last night we walked around in the rain, ate pizza, and ice cream. It was so much fun. We got soaked but it was worth it. Even in the rain Barcelona is beautiful.

Pictures from City Center

City Center

Tonight I had the opportunity to visit the city center. Which is a huge place for eating and shopping. The buildings are absolutely beautiful. I have never seen streets, statues, street lights, or buildings so amazing. My friend and I ate at a small restaurant where I had a delicious pizza and she had some weird seafood dish. She said it was amazing but I draw the line when good still has eyes! We were able to visit different shops and took many pictures. The center is so large we didn’t even get to see half of it! I can’t wait to go back!! We even saw a KFC and McDonalds!!

Second day!

Today was the first day in the school. I had so much fun with my teacher, students, and the staff! They are amazing people who were so kind to allow us this experience. The first night here was awful for me just because of being homesick. Jet lag, the time change, and distance can be overwhelming at first. But after being in the school I am so excited to be here. The school is so different but I absolutely love it!! I am in the ages of 8 and 9 years old. This is the fourth grade. The students are trilingual in Catalan, Spanish, and English. These students are taught art, science, and English. The school is huge! They have a large area for physical education, fitness center, basketball court, indoor swimming pool, and a soccer field. I got lost several times today trying to find the classes. It is also interesting that the students are separated by gender. I have two classes of boys and one class of girls. The way classrooms and halls are managed are completely different. Due to culture these students are just loud and talk all the time. They are such sweet kids though and so smart. I was greeted today with signs of welcome, hugs, and kisses in each cheek. I can’t wait to return tomorrow! I believe my experience at the school will be the best part of this entire trip, even over the traveling.

The days before I leave!!

It is 2 days before I leave for Barcelona! Packing has been crazy and stressful. I can’t wait to be packed and ready to leave. It’s finally starting to sink in that I will gone from home for 4 weeks and living with a new family. I’m going to miss everybody here at home but I’m excited for this great opportunity and experience. Thank you to everyone who made this possible!! Talk to everyone soon!