Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Highlights of Week 2

Midway through another week of orientation classes and all is going splendidly.

Yesterday we had another Catalan-filled morning. Now I can conjugate very simple words and tell time. But even when it comes to reading clocks, the Catalan have their own special way of doing things. 2:15 is not a quarter past two, but rather a quarter to three (2:45 would be three quarters to three).

Following class, we headed on a walking tour of Gracía, arguably one of the nicest neighborhoods in the city. Outside of the original Roman walls, Gracía is filled with slightly wider streets and pretty open squares. The plaças are home to much of the city’s nightlife, though I have to say there is a large contrast between how they look at 2 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Rather than return to the local-filled bars in Gracía last night, we opted to go the slightly more American route. Barcelona is filled with study abroad students and as a result, there are a series of club promoters appealing just to this large contingent of college-aged Americans. They send constant updates of where that night’s big party will be, and all you have to do is saunter up to the bouncer and say, “Somos amigos de Kyke.” The whole scene is kind of bizarre, and not something I plan to replicate all too frequently, but it was fun.

This morning contained another 5-hour marathon of history and culture — today’s lesson focused on the history of Catalonia, followed by a look at songs from the region. Paige was going to live blog the event, but lost stamina after the first entry.

Though it’s easy to think — at least for now — that we’re basically on vacation, I do have a fair amount of homework. But alas, don’t cry for me: I just wrote a Spanish composition while tanning poolside at the Residencia.

And as a side note, publication has begun at The Brown Daily Herald. Click here to read up on what I would be doing right now were I not lying on a plastic chaise lounge in Barcelona.


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