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!

Don't cry for me Argentina, the truth is I never left you

Wow. Where to start? Because I've been all over the place the past few weeks! I've taken 14 flights in the past month and a half. That has to be like a world record or something. I spent 2 weeks vacationing with my parents from the 5 month vacation I've been on since June. I live the hard life. We had a really great time, and luckily everything worked out while we were down there. A great end to a great 5 months. I'm now back in Jersey, getting accustomed to my normal slash will-never-be-as-exciting-as-my-South-American-life life at home. Back to the norm, I even got a welcome home, first snow of the year on Thanksgiving! It's kind of weird not talking to people in Spanish or joking around with Spanglish all the time like I'm used to. Missing BsAs, but very happy to be home! Pues, asi es la vida.

Argentina, nunca te voy a olvidar. NUNCA.

Otra vez no tengo palabras. Podría empezar a describir los últimos meses (Ha pasado 5 meses! No lo puedo creer!), pero no podría aguantarlo en este momento porque me pone muy triste. Tampoco no quiero irme de Argentina (pues en realidad, no quiero irme de suramérica), pero he tomado en cuenta que con el fin de cualquier cosa empieza otra cosa. Gracias a Dios por darme esa oportunidad porque nunca la voy a olvidar. Era la experiencia más increíble de mi vida y voy a extrañar mucho este país y todos que conocí acá (amigos, porteños, ISA, y especialmente mi mamá) como no creerías! Hay que aprovechar los últimos días!! Aquí está una lista de mis memorias favoritas.

From the tropics to the tundra

COOLEST WEEK OF MY LIFE. I even sat in class for two days and I can still make that statement. So let me explain :-)

Bolivia = otro mundo. No joke.

Three things before I really go into detail about anything.

1. This past week has been almost indescribable. To the point where, I don't even know how to write about it in this blog. With this being said, I just want to thank God that I was able to have this experience in Bolivia because I will definitely NEVER EVER forget about it. With Him, nothing is impossible!