Barcelona is beautiful! It was intimidating to come on this trip not knowing anyone, but have thoroughly enjoyed this past week. I am living with 3 roommates in an actual Barcelonian apartment and have been getting to know our little neighborhood. Everything is a bit different here than in Texas, we have been indulging in pastries and gelato often, taking mid-day “siestas,” and eating dinner after 8. I have visited Montserrat, played beach volleyball, explored Mont Juic, kayaked in Costa Brava, and visited the port. Grocery shopping is different here. There are a few bigger grocery stores, but most people shop at stores that specialize in one thing. There are fruit, pastry, and meat shops scattered around each neighborhood, most seem to be locally owned. There are so many incredible options for restaurants and coffee shops.
Barcelona is going through a heat wave right now, and my apartment does not have working AC, so getting used to the heat has taken some time. I think the heat has been the biggest shock of this trip. Here we hang our laundry to dry, carry fans with us wherever we go, and take the metro and busses to get around town. Our trip leaders preach safety and awareness, as pickpocketing here runs rampant, but overall I have felt very safe. Overall, the people of Barcelona have been kind and patient. Most people I have interacted with speak enough English that we can understand each other, but when that’s not the case Google Translate has been a godsend. I am very excited to explore more of Barcelona and Catalonia with my classmates. There is so much history here; so much to do and see. From this trip, I hope to gain a better understanding of the culture here and enjoy the experience of being a resident here.
