I figured that while I'm here I should probably post a few tips, places, etc. that I've figured out. Then, when people are searching Google for things to do in Barcelona they might benefit from this tourist's thoughts.
Because I was packing for a 117 day trip, I needed to only take the basics. That meant that several books didn't make the cut and I was left with my Bible and two "Christian living" type books. Now, these are definitely good reads, but sometimes I want to read but not really have to think about what I'm reading. The books I brought definitely require an active mind to read. So, after searching Google and an English magazine here, I found the used English bookstore Hiberian books. There are a few others, but I chose this one based on its proximity to my apartment.
Hiberian, located at Carrer de Montseny 17, looks small but, aren't looks usually deceiving? A lot of the books are very old (I had never heard of most of the classics), but I was able to find a few newer fictions that suited my needs. Overall, I think the newer books outnumber the obscure classics. The subject matters range from cooking to politics to sci-fi to feminism and the prices are EXCELLENT!!! Also, all of the books are in very good condition. I bought a paperback and a large hardback for the grand total of 9.85 euros! A few weeks ago I looked at the small selection of English books in a large chain here and all of the prices exceeded 17 euros... paperback too. And considering I found the UK edition several magazines today (finally!) that all cost 8 euros or more, I think Hiberian will definitely be getting my business again.
9.29.2008
Forever.
Friends, I am happy to say that the sickness has passed! The doctor gave me a few meds, an anti-stringent diet (?), and told me that my body reacts to fevers in strange ways. This achy pain that I get every few months is my body's way of fighting off fever, but sometimes it reacts more strongly than other times... hence the anti-stringent diet. Sadly, I got sick during the week of La Merce and only got to see 3 of the big events. I wish I could have seen more, but it was much better that I stayed close to my bed, which is close to the bathroom if you get my drift. Sorry, but I just like to keep it real.
There's a lot to update you guys on.
For organizational purposes, this post will be bulleted.
* Last Friday kicked of La Merce. If you forgot (or if I forgot to tell you), La Merce is the festival that celebrates Barcelona and the Roman Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Mercy. Each city has a patron saint, and Barcelona's is Mare de Deu de la Merce. Friday's festivities included a parade of sorts. I say "of sorts" because I'm not really sure it can be categorized as a parade. The name Correfoc, literally "fire run," should give you an example of what we experienced. Community groups dress up as devils and demons and run through the streets wielding fireworks, flame throwers, and even dragon-like contraptions that blow fire. I really don't know how to explain it, but that's probably because I don't even know the purpose of it.
This is in the middle of an explosion. As you can tell from that girl's face, people weren't that concerned about being burned.
I think something crazy happened behind me right when this picture was taken...
* The next day I woke up and headed to Placa Sant Jaume to see the Castellers de Barcelona. This is the most traditionally "Spanish" part of the festival. Essentially teams from different community groups create towers of people and a small child climbs to the top. Unfortunately I was feeling quite sickly by this point, and I only stayed long enough to see one tower completed. I wish I could have stayed longer. It was really cool! If only I were a little taller... I had to take all of these with the camera held above my head, so I'm sorry that they're not very good... or straight.
This team didn't make it. They started climbing down after this.
These guys were the first to build a complete tower. You can kind of see the child on top in the last picture. The little bugger was so fast I couldn't get her holding her arm up in victory.
*I went to the International Church of Barcelona again this past Sunday. This time I chose to go to the later service, and it proved to be an excellent decision as there were many more people my age attending. The 20s/30s group had a cookout after church and I got to go and be a part of that. It was held in Les Planes which is more than gorgeous! It's an area in Barcelona, but outside of the hustle and bustle of the city. The church owns a house there where people are constantly meeting for church/prayer/gatherings/etc. It also has several rooms for people to stay in when they are visiting. The pastor of ICB and his wife live in the little apartment upstairs.
The large building in front is the Les Planes metro stop building. The whiteish/yellowish (it's yellow in real life) house to the left is the house ICB owns.
It was good to be able to meet and spend time with other Christians my age. I've definitely missed that since I've been here. Hopefully, I'll get to know them more as the semester goes on. I've decided to join a small group with them, and that starts Wednesday night. I pray that it will be a good time of growth and fellowship.
*I've written this post over the course of a few days because the internet here is less than stellar. Less than stellar internet = hard to upload photos. So, I've kind of forgotten all that I wanted to share. I have a few more pictures from a parade, and will share them when I get them on my computer. Here are a few random pictures for you.
El Corte Ingles- my one-stop peanut butter shop! Seriously, it's the only place I've found in this city that has peanut butter.
**The title of this post has nothing to do with the content. It's just my current favorite song by Ben Harper. If you want to make me happy "forever" you could send me some Ben Harper music :) Please enjoy this youtube video.
There's a lot to update you guys on.
For organizational purposes, this post will be bulleted.
* Last Friday kicked of La Merce. If you forgot (or if I forgot to tell you), La Merce is the festival that celebrates Barcelona and the Roman Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Mercy. Each city has a patron saint, and Barcelona's is Mare de Deu de la Merce. Friday's festivities included a parade of sorts. I say "of sorts" because I'm not really sure it can be categorized as a parade. The name Correfoc, literally "fire run," should give you an example of what we experienced. Community groups dress up as devils and demons and run through the streets wielding fireworks, flame throwers, and even dragon-like contraptions that blow fire. I really don't know how to explain it, but that's probably because I don't even know the purpose of it.
This is in the middle of an explosion. As you can tell from that girl's face, people weren't that concerned about being burned.
I think something crazy happened behind me right when this picture was taken...* The next day I woke up and headed to Placa Sant Jaume to see the Castellers de Barcelona. This is the most traditionally "Spanish" part of the festival. Essentially teams from different community groups create towers of people and a small child climbs to the top. Unfortunately I was feeling quite sickly by this point, and I only stayed long enough to see one tower completed. I wish I could have stayed longer. It was really cool! If only I were a little taller... I had to take all of these with the camera held above my head, so I'm sorry that they're not very good... or straight.
This team didn't make it. They started climbing down after this.
These guys were the first to build a complete tower. You can kind of see the child on top in the last picture. The little bugger was so fast I couldn't get her holding her arm up in victory.
*I went to the International Church of Barcelona again this past Sunday. This time I chose to go to the later service, and it proved to be an excellent decision as there were many more people my age attending. The 20s/30s group had a cookout after church and I got to go and be a part of that. It was held in Les Planes which is more than gorgeous! It's an area in Barcelona, but outside of the hustle and bustle of the city. The church owns a house there where people are constantly meeting for church/prayer/gatherings/etc. It also has several rooms for people to stay in when they are visiting. The pastor of ICB and his wife live in the little apartment upstairs.
The large building in front is the Les Planes metro stop building. The whiteish/yellowish (it's yellow in real life) house to the left is the house ICB owns. It was good to be able to meet and spend time with other Christians my age. I've definitely missed that since I've been here. Hopefully, I'll get to know them more as the semester goes on. I've decided to join a small group with them, and that starts Wednesday night. I pray that it will be a good time of growth and fellowship.
*I've written this post over the course of a few days because the internet here is less than stellar. Less than stellar internet = hard to upload photos. So, I've kind of forgotten all that I wanted to share. I have a few more pictures from a parade, and will share them when I get them on my computer. Here are a few random pictures for you.
El Corte Ingles- my one-stop peanut butter shop! Seriously, it's the only place I've found in this city that has peanut butter. 
**The title of this post has nothing to do with the content. It's just my current favorite song by Ben Harper. If you want to make me happy "forever" you could send me some Ben Harper music :) Please enjoy this youtube video.
9.28.2008
Send Me Mail!!!
Okay, here's the deal. I want mail, and I'm not even going to try to be nice about it.
Caroline Schell
Carrer d'Aribau, 322 1-1
08006 Barcelona
Spain
My nice little door lady will hand it to me when I walk through the front door :)
**New post coming as soon as Blogger starts uploading pictures again...
Caroline Schell
Carrer d'Aribau, 322 1-1
08006 Barcelona
Spain
My nice little door lady will hand it to me when I walk through the front door :)
**New post coming as soon as Blogger starts uploading pictures again...
9.22.2008
I want my mommy!
I really did want to load some pictures on my computer today, but I haven't even gotten out of my pajamas. Yesterday I mentioned that I felt a little sick. Well, things progressed last night and it's safe to say that I feel like crap. Joel and I tried to diagnose everything last night, but we had no luck. I have an appointment with a doctor at 9:30 tonight. Yes, that is very late. No, I couldn't care less at this point. I just want to feel better.
I'm not going to lie, I really want my mom right now. I rarely get sick, but when I do I want her with me. Anna is being sweet tonight and accompanying me to the doctor.
I've never been sick in a foreign country before! Please pray that this doctor can give me some excellent meds tonight.
I'm not going to lie, I really want my mom right now. I rarely get sick, but when I do I want her with me. Anna is being sweet tonight and accompanying me to the doctor.
I've never been sick in a foreign country before! Please pray that this doctor can give me some excellent meds tonight.
9.21.2008
I'm still here...
Hi loved ones. Sorry for the lack of entertaining updates lately. Until last night nothing very exciting has happened. The Merce festival started yesterday, and I've attended 2 of the events. They were fun and I will write more about them later (with pictures!) However, Spain has caught up with me and I think my body is rejecting itself. When I get more energy I'll load the pictures from my camera. Until then, I'll leave you with some that other people have taken... it's much easier :)
(L-R) Marina, Christina, Aleksandra, Severina, Cheng, Chenell, Porschia, and I at a "back-to-school" barbecue at the school.
Ok, so I got talked into going to a club. I say "talked into" because 1) this white girl can't dance and 2) I like to go to bed earlier than 6 AM. We left around 3, but here people don't even start going out until 2. I'm too old for this. What happened to dinner and a movie? Anyway, this is Anna (roommate), Porschia, and I at _______. I cared so little that I don't actually remember the name of it. I do know it was on Lincoln though.
I'm going to go drink some tea and coax my joints into working properly again. Hasta luego!
(L-R) Marina, Christina, Aleksandra, Severina, Cheng, Chenell, Porschia, and I at a "back-to-school" barbecue at the school.
Ok, so I got talked into going to a club. I say "talked into" because 1) this white girl can't dance and 2) I like to go to bed earlier than 6 AM. We left around 3, but here people don't even start going out until 2. I'm too old for this. What happened to dinner and a movie? Anyway, this is Anna (roommate), Porschia, and I at _______. I cared so little that I don't actually remember the name of it. I do know it was on Lincoln though.
I'm going to go drink some tea and coax my joints into working properly again. Hasta luego!
9.16.2008
That American education...
There are a lot of ways that the U.S. trumps the rest of the world in their education system. There are a few ways that it falls short. For example, keeping students informed about world events.
Nothing makes you feel smarter than eating dinner with a Moldavian, a Russian, and a Bulgarian (or maybe a Ukrianian--not sure) that know more about your country's current events than you do.
P.S. All the Europeans I've met so far love Obama. However, they aren't learning about the candidates by themselves. They may know what is going on, but it's only surface level stuff. European media is much MUCH less objective than America media... and that's saying something. So, they take the good and the bad things being said without giving it much thought. That, friends, is not good.
***I found out she is Ukranian. And I thoroughly enjoyed my discussion with them over salad. It was nice. And I finally got some feta cheese.
Nothing makes you feel smarter than eating dinner with a Moldavian, a Russian, and a Bulgarian (or maybe a Ukrianian--not sure) that know more about your country's current events than you do.
P.S. All the Europeans I've met so far love Obama. However, they aren't learning about the candidates by themselves. They may know what is going on, but it's only surface level stuff. European media is much MUCH less objective than America media... and that's saying something. So, they take the good and the bad things being said without giving it much thought. That, friends, is not good.
***I found out she is Ukranian. And I thoroughly enjoyed my discussion with them over salad. It was nice. And I finally got some feta cheese.
9.14.2008
International Church of Barcelona
From the time I found out that I would be spending a semester in Barcelona I knew that I wanted to attend a church while here. This past sunday I visited the International Church of Barcelona. I want to be honest and say that I've been a little skeptical about this church. I learned of it a few months ago, but didn't really want to try it out. Basically, I'm a snob about church a lot of the time (I'm working on that!) However, this is the only church I have found in Barcelona with services in English.
My roommate decided to go with me (praise and prayer are requested! :)), so we got up and attended the 10 AM service. We walked in to smiles and warm welcomes... so far so good! After talking to a few people, the service started. (Mom, we had to stand up and introduce ourselves like in the Swiss church.) It was SO good to be in the company of believers again! Because it was the early service (and the Spanish don't do many things early... or on time, for that matter) there were only about 30-35 people there. Everyone seemed very sincere, and I think they have a fairly active college/career group.
I'm going to visit another church (with services in Catalan/Spanish), but I think that I will end up attending this church. I know that it would be excellent to attend a church that is more "solid," but that isn't beneficial if I can't even speak the language. Also, there's no guarantee that the people attending the church will speak English. At least this way there will be some other students like me, and I'll be able to have a little "English" haven here in Barcelona. Please join me in praying that I will be used for service in this church and that I will find Christian fellowship here.
My roommate decided to go with me (praise and prayer are requested! :)), so we got up and attended the 10 AM service. We walked in to smiles and warm welcomes... so far so good! After talking to a few people, the service started. (Mom, we had to stand up and introduce ourselves like in the Swiss church.) It was SO good to be in the company of believers again! Because it was the early service (and the Spanish don't do many things early... or on time, for that matter) there were only about 30-35 people there. Everyone seemed very sincere, and I think they have a fairly active college/career group.
I'm going to visit another church (with services in Catalan/Spanish), but I think that I will end up attending this church. I know that it would be excellent to attend a church that is more "solid," but that isn't beneficial if I can't even speak the language. Also, there's no guarantee that the people attending the church will speak English. At least this way there will be some other students like me, and I'll be able to have a little "English" haven here in Barcelona. Please join me in praying that I will be used for service in this church and that I will find Christian fellowship here.
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