If you love me at all, please watch this video. I just saw it and had to share. It gets really good around the 1:55 mark. Oh my.
9.11.2008
Oh, Spain...
...why must you celebrate holidays when it's inconvenient for me?!
Anna and I need to go to IKEA. Actually, I really need to get to IKEA, and Anna just wants to tag along.
Our trip to IKEA was all for naught. I know that the Spanish take their holidays and rest very seriously, but I never thought that an establishment as large as IKEA would be affected by this. I was wrong. VERY wrong. We even called to make sure! After switching trains in Placa Catalunya and then riding to the next to last stop on the L1, we talked to several unknowledgable (word or not?) people to find the location of this beloved store. How could anyone miss that they have an IKEA in their neighborhood. Are they blind? We finally figured out that bus 79 would take us there. I never saw the parking lot, but both the driver and Anna confirmed that the store we all know and love was closed.
So, maybe tomorrow I will be able to replace the pot with the handle that hangs down at a 45 degree angle. Maybe tomorrow I can get a mirror for my room so that Anna doesn't have to wait on me to get ready. Maybe tomorrow I will get my rug and start feeling comfortable walking around my room without shoes. Maybe tomorrow I'll have plastic containers so we can start keeping leftovers. Maybe, just maybe...
Anna and I need to go to IKEA. Actually, I really need to get to IKEA, and Anna just wants to tag along.
Our trip to IKEA was all for naught. I know that the Spanish take their holidays and rest very seriously, but I never thought that an establishment as large as IKEA would be affected by this. I was wrong. VERY wrong. We even called to make sure! After switching trains in Placa Catalunya and then riding to the next to last stop on the L1, we talked to several unknowledgable (word or not?) people to find the location of this beloved store. How could anyone miss that they have an IKEA in their neighborhood. Are they blind? We finally figured out that bus 79 would take us there. I never saw the parking lot, but both the driver and Anna confirmed that the store we all know and love was closed.
So, maybe tomorrow I will be able to replace the pot with the handle that hangs down at a 45 degree angle. Maybe tomorrow I can get a mirror for my room so that Anna doesn't have to wait on me to get ready. Maybe tomorrow I will get my rug and start feeling comfortable walking around my room without shoes. Maybe tomorrow I'll have plastic containers so we can start keeping leftovers. Maybe, just maybe...
Just a little addition...
So, I asked you to comment in the last post, but I realize that not everyone knows how to do that. Here are your detailed instructions.
1. At the bottom of each post there is a place that says "0 comments" or "1 comment"... you get the picture. Click there.
2. There's a huge box on the right. Type there.
3. All done!
:)
1. At the bottom of each post there is a place that says "0 comments" or "1 comment"... you get the picture. Click there.
2. There's a huge box on the right. Type there.
3. All done!
:)
9.10.2008
Forgive me.
I keep apologizing to the 7 of you that read my blog. I really am sorry that I'm not updating daily, but I really don't think it's something that I should keep apologizing for. Moving to a foreign country is pretty time consuming, and I think you all understand.
My situation has changed a little in the past few days. I've moved into the apartment that I will be living in for this semester. My roommate is Anna from Romania. She's very nice and we get along well. Right now it's just the two of us, but we know that we'll have at least one more roommate. She will move in at the end of September. Just picture the apartment that Mom, Dad, Grandmomma, and I stayed in. It's not like that AT ALL. It's quite old, a little run down, and only students have been living in it for the past several years. My room has one small window that looks into a dark alley. Needless to say, I don't open it. I have a pretty good bit of storage for clothes, but other than the armoire, only a bed and a very small shelf fit in the room. It's very tiny! However, we have a good sized kitchen, living room, and dining room. Anna scrubbed and disinfected the whole apartment from top to bottom before I arrived and it's very clean. She even cleaned the outside shutters!
This past week was pretty easy. Okay, it was VERY easy! We don't have classes on Fridays and today is a national holiday. So, we had a 3 day orientation. Anna and I celebrated yesterday by doing a little shopping... but mostly window shopping. I did have a finance class on Monday. The professor is really nice, and he knows the subject very well. I think it will be a good class. Our classes only meet once a week, but they meet for 2 hours at a time with no break. I know that doesn't seem very long, but I get SO antsy! I was alternating between fidgeting and dozing off by the time 45 minutes had passed. Yesterday, all of the new students and exchange students met on the school's patio for tango and tapas. Instructors will be at the school every Friday for anyone that wants to learn how to tango. It was fun to watch! :)
I'm still getting to know people, but it's hard. This week I've just been with the 1BBA (same as our freshmen) students, and while I've gotten to know a few of them, it's hard to share in their enthusiasm. I've already been through the "I'm living on my own for the first time and can stay out all night" phase. I rarely even stay awake into the wee hours of the morning to study. Maybe I'm just an abnormal college student, but I'm okay with just going out to eat and then going home. I don't want to go out to clubs that don't even open until midnight or 1. I want to be wearing my pajamas by that time. I really have loved college, but I'm getting to the point where I'm very okay with moving on to another phase. I don't plan to include long nights of drunkenness in that phase. So, while the people in the school are all very nice (and I really hope that I will make friends), I'll probably start reaching out to other parts of the community for companionship too.
I still haven't been able to visit a church. I'm torn between a solid church that conducts services in Catalan/Spanish or a not-so-solid church that conducts services in English. Both have their benefits. I would like to know your opinion.
Anna and I are about to make a visit to Ikea, but I'm going to leave you with a few pictures!
The Schells after the dinner and Flamenco show.
The musicians and a dancer. Mom bought a dress exactly like that the very next day. :)
These guys play in random places around the city center, and they are SO GOOD! It's a treat to stumble upon them.
Some sailboats and Reverie. I considered buying this one, but I decided that it probably wasn't big enough for all of my needs...
Please (please!) comment so I know who is reading! I hope you all are doing well! Off to Ikea...
My situation has changed a little in the past few days. I've moved into the apartment that I will be living in for this semester. My roommate is Anna from Romania. She's very nice and we get along well. Right now it's just the two of us, but we know that we'll have at least one more roommate. She will move in at the end of September. Just picture the apartment that Mom, Dad, Grandmomma, and I stayed in. It's not like that AT ALL. It's quite old, a little run down, and only students have been living in it for the past several years. My room has one small window that looks into a dark alley. Needless to say, I don't open it. I have a pretty good bit of storage for clothes, but other than the armoire, only a bed and a very small shelf fit in the room. It's very tiny! However, we have a good sized kitchen, living room, and dining room. Anna scrubbed and disinfected the whole apartment from top to bottom before I arrived and it's very clean. She even cleaned the outside shutters!
This past week was pretty easy. Okay, it was VERY easy! We don't have classes on Fridays and today is a national holiday. So, we had a 3 day orientation. Anna and I celebrated yesterday by doing a little shopping... but mostly window shopping. I did have a finance class on Monday. The professor is really nice, and he knows the subject very well. I think it will be a good class. Our classes only meet once a week, but they meet for 2 hours at a time with no break. I know that doesn't seem very long, but I get SO antsy! I was alternating between fidgeting and dozing off by the time 45 minutes had passed. Yesterday, all of the new students and exchange students met on the school's patio for tango and tapas. Instructors will be at the school every Friday for anyone that wants to learn how to tango. It was fun to watch! :)
I'm still getting to know people, but it's hard. This week I've just been with the 1BBA (same as our freshmen) students, and while I've gotten to know a few of them, it's hard to share in their enthusiasm. I've already been through the "I'm living on my own for the first time and can stay out all night" phase. I rarely even stay awake into the wee hours of the morning to study. Maybe I'm just an abnormal college student, but I'm okay with just going out to eat and then going home. I don't want to go out to clubs that don't even open until midnight or 1. I want to be wearing my pajamas by that time. I really have loved college, but I'm getting to the point where I'm very okay with moving on to another phase. I don't plan to include long nights of drunkenness in that phase. So, while the people in the school are all very nice (and I really hope that I will make friends), I'll probably start reaching out to other parts of the community for companionship too.
I still haven't been able to visit a church. I'm torn between a solid church that conducts services in Catalan/Spanish or a not-so-solid church that conducts services in English. Both have their benefits. I would like to know your opinion.
Anna and I are about to make a visit to Ikea, but I'm going to leave you with a few pictures!
The Schells after the dinner and Flamenco show.
The musicians and a dancer. Mom bought a dress exactly like that the very next day. :)
These guys play in random places around the city center, and they are SO GOOD! It's a treat to stumble upon them. 
Some sailboats and Reverie. I considered buying this one, but I decided that it probably wasn't big enough for all of my needs...Please (please!) comment so I know who is reading! I hope you all are doing well! Off to Ikea...
9.06.2008
I have no title.
I know it has been quite some time since I updated everyone on life in Spain. It has be fairly busy and exciting over the past few days! I'm now in my apartment, have met my roommate and some fellow students, and I'm in the middle of orientation! I can't remember where I left off last, so I'll just start at Thursday :) Prepare yourself for another disconnected post.
Thursday was a very very good day. Mom, Dad, and I spent some QT together around Barcelona. We didn't have any plans except to just hang out. We didn't know if it would be our last last time to hang out as our little family of 3. So, we spent a lot of time walking around the 5th Ave. of Barcelona. We went into shop after shop, and then we walked out of shop after shop. Passeig de Gracia is where Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Carolina Herrera, etc. are all located. Thus, our trips were just in and out :) Then, we headed back to the apartment to get ready for the flamenco show. Flamenco dancing is not really part of the culture in this part of Spain, but there is a restaurant that does shows for tourists like us. It was so much fun! We had a 4 course meal and a show and the food was actually really good! I expected it to be less than spectacular considering it was a touristy place. I was surprised. The stars of the night were definitely the dancers and musicians. The dance looks like just a bunch of stomping, but every move has a meaning and it's all very choreographed. And it's HARD WORK! I think I have found my calling. It doesn't matter that the rhythm in my head doesn't translate to my limbs.
Friday (yesterday) I met the KEI people at my school to start a little orientation. I've found out that orientation according to KEI/ESEI means, "we'll just kind of get together and loosely stick to the schedule and you don't really have to be here if you don't want to be." We had lunch together and moved our luggage into our apartments. That. was. it. But it was good because I got to spend the evening with my parents again! We bought a few more things for my room before they left me for the night.
Today we signed some papers and had a little tour before having another afternoon off, so I got to see my parents and grandmother a lot again today! It really has been a blessing that I've been able to spend these last couple of days with them before they leave (tomorrow).
I still think I'm better at vacationing in Europe than I am living in Europe. We'll see in a couple of weeks.
Here are some of my observations for the day:
1. All showers should come equipped with a fixed shower head. Last night I had my first experience with a shower using only a handheld shower head. There is a clip to hang it above your head, but it doesn't work. I figured out that I can hold the thing between my knees while I'm washing my hair and it won't spray everything in the bathroom. I figured this out only after I had tried many other things and sprayed everything in the bathroom.
2. Clothing labels are wrong. In most of the stores they list sizing for several countries on the tag. Either we have a big problem with vanity sizing in the U.S. or the Europeans have no clue what they're talking about.
3. Flamenco dancing is really cool. Really.
I have another list to add today. If you would, please pray for these things for me:
1. That my actions, speech, and treatment of relationships here would be glorifying to the Lord and an example to believers and non-believers alike.
2. That I would not be so guarded as to not build real relationships.
3. That I find a church SOON. I won't be able to visit any tomorrow, but I've been in contact with someone here that has pointed me towards a few churches.
4. The services in the aforementioned churches are in Catalan. Yikes! I want to go to these churches anyway because of their reputation for preaching the Gospel. Pray with me that the language barrier would 1) be overcome quickly 2) be a help in forming a relationships with the people there.
I hope everything is going well in Alabama and beyond! I pray for you!
Oh, and, WAR EAGLE!!!!
Thursday was a very very good day. Mom, Dad, and I spent some QT together around Barcelona. We didn't have any plans except to just hang out. We didn't know if it would be our last last time to hang out as our little family of 3. So, we spent a lot of time walking around the 5th Ave. of Barcelona. We went into shop after shop, and then we walked out of shop after shop. Passeig de Gracia is where Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Carolina Herrera, etc. are all located. Thus, our trips were just in and out :) Then, we headed back to the apartment to get ready for the flamenco show. Flamenco dancing is not really part of the culture in this part of Spain, but there is a restaurant that does shows for tourists like us. It was so much fun! We had a 4 course meal and a show and the food was actually really good! I expected it to be less than spectacular considering it was a touristy place. I was surprised. The stars of the night were definitely the dancers and musicians. The dance looks like just a bunch of stomping, but every move has a meaning and it's all very choreographed. And it's HARD WORK! I think I have found my calling. It doesn't matter that the rhythm in my head doesn't translate to my limbs.
Friday (yesterday) I met the KEI people at my school to start a little orientation. I've found out that orientation according to KEI/ESEI means, "we'll just kind of get together and loosely stick to the schedule and you don't really have to be here if you don't want to be." We had lunch together and moved our luggage into our apartments. That. was. it. But it was good because I got to spend the evening with my parents again! We bought a few more things for my room before they left me for the night.
Today we signed some papers and had a little tour before having another afternoon off, so I got to see my parents and grandmother a lot again today! It really has been a blessing that I've been able to spend these last couple of days with them before they leave (tomorrow).
I still think I'm better at vacationing in Europe than I am living in Europe. We'll see in a couple of weeks.
Here are some of my observations for the day:
1. All showers should come equipped with a fixed shower head. Last night I had my first experience with a shower using only a handheld shower head. There is a clip to hang it above your head, but it doesn't work. I figured out that I can hold the thing between my knees while I'm washing my hair and it won't spray everything in the bathroom. I figured this out only after I had tried many other things and sprayed everything in the bathroom.
2. Clothing labels are wrong. In most of the stores they list sizing for several countries on the tag. Either we have a big problem with vanity sizing in the U.S. or the Europeans have no clue what they're talking about.
3. Flamenco dancing is really cool. Really.
I have another list to add today. If you would, please pray for these things for me:
1. That my actions, speech, and treatment of relationships here would be glorifying to the Lord and an example to believers and non-believers alike.
2. That I would not be so guarded as to not build real relationships.
3. That I find a church SOON. I won't be able to visit any tomorrow, but I've been in contact with someone here that has pointed me towards a few churches.
4. The services in the aforementioned churches are in Catalan. Yikes! I want to go to these churches anyway because of their reputation for preaching the Gospel. Pray with me that the language barrier would 1) be overcome quickly 2) be a help in forming a relationships with the people there.
I hope everything is going well in Alabama and beyond! I pray for you!
Oh, and, WAR EAGLE!!!!
9.04.2008
Today my mom, Lyna', is going to be a guest blogger. Please welcome her!
Well, I must begin by informing all who read this that I am definitely a novice blogger - actually, I haven't reached novice level yet since this is a first for me. As you can tell from Caroline's blog, our family is in Spain and we are having a wonderful time. We've been here almost two weeks and I do believe our confused American faces are becoming a little less conspicuous. The city is very large and spread out, but we've pretty well mastered the major areas, the metro, and yes, even grocery shopping.
Since Caroline has titled her blog "I've been thinking", and since I am her "guest blogger", I will go with that theme...
I've been thinking:
1) I will add living in a foreign country for a few months (only) to my bucket list.
2) God has created an amazing world - we are so fortunate to get to see this part of it.
3) Making family vacation memories like these are priceless.
4) I love America - even more from across the Atlantic.
5) I will miss Caroline while she is studying abroad, but I am very thankful for her to have this opportunity.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we travel as we are doing for all of you at home. Also, please keep in touch with Caroline over the next few months so she will have a little bit of home here with her in Spain.
Adios!
Lyna'
Well, I must begin by informing all who read this that I am definitely a novice blogger - actually, I haven't reached novice level yet since this is a first for me. As you can tell from Caroline's blog, our family is in Spain and we are having a wonderful time. We've been here almost two weeks and I do believe our confused American faces are becoming a little less conspicuous. The city is very large and spread out, but we've pretty well mastered the major areas, the metro, and yes, even grocery shopping.
Since Caroline has titled her blog "I've been thinking", and since I am her "guest blogger", I will go with that theme...
I've been thinking:
1) I will add living in a foreign country for a few months (only) to my bucket list.
2) God has created an amazing world - we are so fortunate to get to see this part of it.
3) Making family vacation memories like these are priceless.
4) I love America - even more from across the Atlantic.
5) I will miss Caroline while she is studying abroad, but I am very thankful for her to have this opportunity.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we travel as we are doing for all of you at home. Also, please keep in touch with Caroline over the next few months so she will have a little bit of home here with her in Spain.
Adios!
Lyna'
9.03.2008
Sorry for the delay.
Hello family and friends! I'm sorry that I haven't posted anything lately. I've thought about it, but we've been busy and that means that I've been to lazy to write anything at night. I have a feeling that this might be heavy on the pictures, but that's okay. I think you'll enjoy that more anyway :) We've visited Montjuic, Sitges, Montserrat, the Torres winery, and various other places since you last heard from us. Everything is still as beautiful and exciting as it was when arrived.
Now to some pictures...
We saw this on our bus tour... there's no escape!!!
This is part of one facade of La Sagrada Familia. It's the minimalist side, and the newer side.
This is only part of the inside of the temple. Apparently the design is supposed to mimic the bones of an animal carcass. You can only walk through about half of it, because they are still building. There's so much scaffolding on the other side that you couldn't see through it!
This is the older facade of La Sagrada Familia. I don't have a good picture of it in daylight, but I think I would still like this one more. It is so so detailed! And it reminds Dad and I of those drippy sandcastles that you make at the beach.
Yesterday we visited Montserrat and the monastery there. I know this doesn't show much, but I don't think it would be possible to capture the whole thing unless I was in a helicopter. It covers the entire mountain and has many different areas. We had the chance to listen to the choir boys sing, and I'm pretty sure it was as close as you can get to what heaven will sound like! I really want to upload the video tomorrow. Please chastise me if I don't get this done.
It was tough, but someone had to do it!
(INTERJECTION: I'm watching the beginning of the Republican National Convention. Am I the only one that is not enjoying this rendition of "America the Beautiful?" Does that make me un-American, Joel?)
That's all I have for photos right now. I put this off and now it's after 1 AM! I promise I will try to do better tomorrow :)
Now for my observations (As you can probably tell, this will become a regular thing):
1. I will never get used to people of Asian descent speaking Catalan as their first language. It's just weird to me!
2. Spanish people are very affectionate. Overly affectionate. So far it hasn't bothered me, but today when I was packed in the hot metro with a migraine and surrounded by couples making out I wanted to kick them all in the pancreas. PDA like that is just gross. Is it too hard to just hold hands?
3. Even the English channels on Spanish TV stink. I've watched more CNN this week than I have all year.
4. Travel guides are WRONG about Spanish attire. They all say that the women dress smartly and modestly. They are all full of lies. Especially about the modesty thing. The 4 Bs are not hidden here!
5. I know already that I'm really going to miss Alabama. I think about it often.
I'm not going to stay up for 3 more hours to hear Sarah Palin's speech. I'm very interested in what she has to say though. I think we can all agree that McCain trumped Obama by picking her! If you watch, please let me know how it goes! I love you all !
Now to some pictures...
We saw this on our bus tour... there's no escape!!!
This is part of one facade of La Sagrada Familia. It's the minimalist side, and the newer side.
This is only part of the inside of the temple. Apparently the design is supposed to mimic the bones of an animal carcass. You can only walk through about half of it, because they are still building. There's so much scaffolding on the other side that you couldn't see through it!
This is the older facade of La Sagrada Familia. I don't have a good picture of it in daylight, but I think I would still like this one more. It is so so detailed! And it reminds Dad and I of those drippy sandcastles that you make at the beach.
Yesterday we visited Montserrat and the monastery there. I know this doesn't show much, but I don't think it would be possible to capture the whole thing unless I was in a helicopter. It covers the entire mountain and has many different areas. We had the chance to listen to the choir boys sing, and I'm pretty sure it was as close as you can get to what heaven will sound like! I really want to upload the video tomorrow. Please chastise me if I don't get this done.
It was tough, but someone had to do it!
(INTERJECTION: I'm watching the beginning of the Republican National Convention. Am I the only one that is not enjoying this rendition of "America the Beautiful?" Does that make me un-American, Joel?)
That's all I have for photos right now. I put this off and now it's after 1 AM! I promise I will try to do better tomorrow :)
Now for my observations (As you can probably tell, this will become a regular thing):
1. I will never get used to people of Asian descent speaking Catalan as their first language. It's just weird to me!
2. Spanish people are very affectionate. Overly affectionate. So far it hasn't bothered me, but today when I was packed in the hot metro with a migraine and surrounded by couples making out I wanted to kick them all in the pancreas. PDA like that is just gross. Is it too hard to just hold hands?
3. Even the English channels on Spanish TV stink. I've watched more CNN this week than I have all year.
4. Travel guides are WRONG about Spanish attire. They all say that the women dress smartly and modestly. They are all full of lies. Especially about the modesty thing. The 4 Bs are not hidden here!
5. I know already that I'm really going to miss Alabama. I think about it often.
I'm not going to stay up for 3 more hours to hear Sarah Palin's speech. I'm very interested in what she has to say though. I think we can all agree that McCain trumped Obama by picking her! If you watch, please let me know how it goes! I love you all !
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