Despedidas y el próximo capítulo!

Casi no tengo palabras otra vez. What a whirlwind the past week has been! I feel like my trip to Barcelona ended as quick as it started, and it's hard to believe that already two months have come and gone. Last week I said my goodbyes to different people almost every night, and then capped off the weekend by crossing an additional item off my bucket list: hot air ballooning! As I'm sitting here in NJ (with 70 degree weather today mind you!) I can't help but feel a tremendous sense of gratefulness for this experience. I was overwhelmed by the generosity of people during the past week between friends and coworkers. It was somewhat sad to say my goodbyes, but nonetheless I don't doubt that like Buenos Aires, I will be returning to Barcelona muy pronto! Barcelona is such a great city with a vibrant culture and wonderful people!

Força Barça! Visca Catalunya!

Wow, time flies when you're having fun! Queda muy poco tiempo! I can't believe I am leaving Barcelona tomorrow!!!

I've done so many cool things the past couple of weeks, I don't even know where to begin. For the purpose of keeping my readers entertained (as if they're ever NOT entertained!) I'll keep this post short and sweet. I can't make any promises for the one after that though :-)

Parlez-vous anglais?

I had a very cool experience in France last weekend. Glad I can officially "check" France off my list of countries in Europe to visit, but we'll say I'm "unofficially" checking it off because I still have to go back! Normally when I visit a country I am a typical tourist. That's not to say that I don't try to blend in because I try very hard to appear as a native (although the blonde hair doesn't usually help me... in Spanish countries that is!). However, you can normally find me taking pictures every 15 seconds and lurking around tourist shops buying postcards, magnets, and flags to add to my collections. I usually pick the most obvious destinations with the most tourist attractions, but I decided it was time for a change this time!

VAGA GENERAL

A day to remember

Today is a special day and one that I will always hold near and dear to my heart.

IVA = no bueno

Before I go into my economic rant, first things first: the important subject of this post.

Qui no s’arrisca no pisca

¡Hola a todos! I've officially finished week two of being a working woman in Barcelona. So exciting!! I'll tell you all about it in a second, but first I wanted to mention something that I forgot to put in my previous post!

One week down (más o menos)

So this whole week has really been go-go-go nonstop for me. At times, I feel like I've been running around like a mad woman trying to do all of these different things. My list is way too long for a two month span. It's funny actually because all summer I literally did NOTHING, except the obvious studying of course. But it's nice to have a change here and to be constantly busy doing new things!

Last Sunday night was the big game! Barça vs Real Madrid!!!

Gracia, your typical neighborhood

Today was another fun day of exploring, this time in a totally different barrio of the city. Barcelona has many different barrios similar to any other city. I live in Gracia, which is a more quaint, non-central, and non-turisty area. Before today, I hadn't really seen the real Gracia, but after getting to know my surroundings a bit better today I can say that I'm definitely glad I chose to live in Gracia because I love it.

Oh street signs, where art thou?

Greetings from España!! The last couple of days have been pretty eventful and uneventful at the same time. It didn't take me that long to adjust to the time zone, although I did sleep until 11 am this morning by accident. I've been walking around A LOT since I got here, and my feet hurt soooo bad but ni importa!

Everything has worked out great with my apartment, although actually arriving here was an interesting experience. We're in a good location about 4 blocks from the metro. I'm also within walking distance to where I have to go for work everyday so that is a major plus. I have 3 roommates, all of whom are studying here. Two of them are from Spain, and the other is from Japan. I haven't really spoken too much to the one from Japan because she mainly keeps to herself, but I have gotten to know the other two pretty well and they are super nice! One is from outside of Madrid and the other from Zaragoza. I enjoy having them around, and it's been great practice for my Spanish!

Yesterday was the first day that I actually went out exploring my surroundings. I live about 6 blocks away from La Sagrada Familia, which is a major tourist spot here.

Gone international, otra vez

As I'm sitting here writing this, it dawned on me that the title of this blog is no longer fitting. It must be my eye for detail (thank you CPA exam for all the practice). Kathy Goes Global, Part 2. We're not exactly on part 2 anymore; more like part 4 or 5! But make no mistake, I'm going global otra vez!

Drumroll......

BARCELONA BOUND!!

Back in action!

Well, it will come as no surprise to many of you that my aventuras (adventures) abroad have brought me an incredible new experience.  I returned yesterday morning, super early might I add, from an amazing one-week vacation and certainly one of the most unique trips I have ever taken.  I know you're all dying to hear about it... I was dying to write about it in the midst of everything!

I found out awhile ago that one of my friends, Bri, was going to be volunteering in Guatemala for the months to come.  I immediately thought: 1. wow, that is really cool & 2. when can I come visit??!  It's funny how things work out sometimes.  Bri and I first met while studying in Buenos Aires together almost 2 years ago.  Sidenote- can you believe that come this June it will be 2 YEARS since I went to Argentina?  Anyway, this was not the first time that I decided to take a little impromptu vacation to visit Bri.  Last year I spent a nice little weekend at ASU (Arizona State University for those of you who aren't familiar with this absolutely wonderful place- shout out to my fellow pitchforkers!), but this is besides the point.  Long story short, Bri is from Wyoming and a couple from her hometown formed a nonprofit organization some time ago that runs primarily in Guatemala.  After graduation Bri decided to take the leap and head to Guatemala as a part of this organization and spend her time volunteering and teaching English in a school in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala.  She has been living and teaching there since January of 2012.  If you'd like to read about what she's been up to, click here!