10.23.12

Sunday. It's been a while. I will get better at updating this, I will. The weeks are cruising by and I don't really know why they have to be in such a dang hurry. 

here's a photo of the beach for you. I know it's been cold at home. Just...savor your hot chocolate and imagine the sand in between your toes.

I spent my rainy Friday afternoon in a comfy red armchair at Starbucks (yes, we have those here too, Spanish people like their cliche and overpriced coffee as well, I guess). I have a new friend, Andrew. I think Starbucks is a good place to get to know someone. Maybe it's just the calm vibe of a coffee shop. Andrew is a Canadian college kid, just got shipped over here a few weeks ago, to help teach English for a year at Corazonistas (my school). We got Apple Crumble Lattes, to replace all the apple-picking and apple pies and general apple-heavy feeling of fall back home, and shared a yummy slice of berry cheesecake while talking about what it's been like. This. The whole I'm-a-million-miles-away, don't-understand-much, big-changes kinda thing. It's cool to find someone going through the same things. We had a good time walking down Diagonal in the drizzle, and"preview" shopping at L'Illa, where we surmised that Europeans dress much better than Americans, style-wise. And why are there so many sweaters when it's not even cold? The tissue-soft cardigans are cool, we decided, but the 360 scarves and spiky shirts cross the line. Andrew's a cool guy. We found we really have a lot in common, besides being two blond English-speakers in a sea of dark Spanish and Catalan talkers. Good day.

Last weekend we went go-carting at a track near Pals. We got there just in time to watch a  very intense race of 5 dads, and I realized this wasn't the mediocre can't-surpass-20-mph kind of carting that I'd done at amusement parks, next to the bumper-boats and frog-hop. This was the real deal: smells like diesel, engines roaring, pedal to the metal. It was really a lot of fun. It's a shame that can't really be a career choice. 

Which brings me to the exciting fact that I got my first college acceptance letter! I didn't get to experience the tense letter-ripping moment, did I make it did I make it.... I got it second hand, through my mom, but a momentous thing nonetheless. The University of St. Thomas sent me a purple T-shirt that says "I'm in!" I thought that was a cool way to do it.

I went shopping. European fashion is a lot more... Sophisticated, I think. I kind of like it. Well, they're big into the skinny jeans or "slim fit", and I always told myself, skinny jeans are not for everyone, and if you can't rock it, don't try it... But, what the hey. I even bought a cardigan. We'll see where this takes me. 

Happy birthday to my dad, who helped me over Skype assure Blanca that there was no "monstro" out the window when she couldn't see. I babysat on Saturday night. Spongebob Squarepants has the same annoying laugh in Spanish- gee, who woulda guessed? I want to thank both my sets of grandparents for sending me letters. I love you guys. Those really brighten my day.

It just lightening and thundered out, very briefly. It doesn't storm much here. I think it's a sign for me to go to bed, as tomorrow's Monday. And you know, the dreaded Monday why-do-you-exist feeling exists in different countries too. I know you all know what I'm talking about. Wishing you all a cheery Lunes' (that's Monday) ~

Why it's taking me so long to learn this gol dang language

These are the possible forms of the verb to love, in English.

love, am loving

Loves

Have loved

Used to love

Loved

Had loved

Will love

Would love

Would have loved

Was loving

Will have loved

Love!

 Loving

Do not love!

And these are the possible forms of Amar (to love) in Spanish:

Amo.  amas, amamos,  ameies, amanda, he amado, has amado, ha amado, hemos amado habéis amado, han amado, amaba, amabas, amaba, amábamos, amabais , amaban, amaste,amó, amamos, amasteis , amaron, había amado, habías amado, había amado, habíamos amado, habíais amado, habían amado, amaré, amarás , amará, amaremos, amaréis, amarán, habré amado, habrás amado, habrá amado, habremos amado, habréis amado, habrán amado, amaría, amarías, amaría , amaríamos, amaríais, amarian, habría amado, habrías amado, habría amado, habríamos amado, habríais amado, habrían amado, 

hube amado, hubiste amado, hubo amado, hubimos amado, hubisteis amado, hubieron amado

ames, ame, amemos, améis, amen, haya amado, hayas amado, haya amado, hayamos amado, hayáis amado, hayan amado, amara, amase, amarse, amases, amara, amase, amáramos, amásemos, amarais, amaseis, amaran, amasen.hubiera amado, hubiese amado, hubieras amado, hubieses amado, hubiera amado, hubiese amado , hubiéramos amado, hubiésemos amado, hubierais amado, hubieseis amado, hubieran amado, hubiesen amado.

amare, amares, amare, amáremos, amareis, amaren, hubiere amado, hubieres amado, hubiere amado, hubiéremos amado, hubiereis amado, hubieren amado, ama, ame, amad, amen, no ames, no ame, no améis, no amen, amando, amado.

Well, now you know. I guess I've got to figure those out for every verb... On a brighter note, here are some photos from my weekend in the city!

 I went to my friend's rugby game on Saturday. Man that is a ROUGH sport! It kind of makes our football guys look like wussies. In rugby no one wears pads, and only a few wear helmets. And they never stopped because someone was hurt! Those are Gladiator Men

 This weekend was the festival of Sarria, which is my neighborhood. In Barcelona each neighborhood has their own party. Cool, right? I went out with some friends. There are concerts and fairs in the streets.

 These are my best buds from school, Alex and Santi.

And to top it off I had a little sibling-reunion on Sunday! Skype is so cool. I can chat with my brother in Montana (even if he's upside down its still cool) and my brother at home at the same time. Over and out!