La Gran Aventura: octubre 2010

Good morning from Brussels!

I just wanted to post this up saying that I we be taking a break from blog-posting until after Halloween. I - very fortunately - have been experiencing a huge month of traveling. Last weekend I visited Mor in Paris. This weekend UCSB kids are reuniting in Brussels (the beer is as good as they say, no word yet on the waffles...) And this coming Tuesday, I leave uber-early with my Geography class for a 5-day excursion to the Pyrennes mountains in northern Catalonia (near France).\

So, yeah, don't expect a post out of me for a little more than a week...and then expect many posts about the adventures...and more about Barcelona!!

Okay, time to wake up with a waffle, then a beer.

Ryan

When pondering the idea of studying abroad, most students tend to forget about the studying part. And I wouldn't blame them: it's hard to care about class when you have new experiences beckoning you at every corner.

I too may have thought this way at one point, but overcoming those feelings was just a matter of going to class the first week. Now, as my 3rd week of class comes to a close, it's hard to digest everything I've learned so far.

The first couple weeks were hectic. Finding classes and getting acquainted is no small task when you're linguistically handicapped. My school, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), is a Catalan University, so everything - really, everything - is oriented to a language I barely understand and don't speak (yet?).

Language barrier aside, everything at UAB was dandy this week, and I'm darn happy to report that. Between the 40,000 + students, a few new local friends, and a bilingual class schedule - I have classes in Catalan (!!!) and in Spanish - I'm waking up every morning wanting to get on the train to class. Check out what my day looks like!

The day starts. Jolted from my morning espresso, I walk down Carrer de Monseny and head to the closest station of the Ferrocarrils - the commuter train that takes you into the afueras (the suburbs).

It takes about 5 minutes to walk from my door to the station. But first, I duck into Mercat de la Llibertat for a breakfast snack.

Oh yeah! Gracia is both my stop and my neighborhood. Love!

Felt like a nerd taking it, but here's the obligatory train shot. Nice color combo, eh?

The train ride lasts about 30 minutes, covering 20 km through the green foothills above BCN. I arrive and walk out into Plaça Civica, the main quad at Autònoma.

The typical Spanish university does not have a campus. Autònoma, however, does, so my walk continues towards my Facultad.

The Facultad - or Facultat in Catalan - is a foreign concept to most American college students. It's kind of like a hybrid between a college or school and a department. Most of my classes are taught within the Facultad de Filosofia y Letras (Spanish).

Inside the Facultad. This building is an enormous maze: there are many classrooms and hallways and we have our own cafeteria.

Art

Inside my first class of the day. A brisk wind came in through the window, and then I noticed this nice view.

Well, this is a classroom. I don't think the professors were down to have their pictures taken, otherwise there would be more pictures like this ;)


Time for lunch! I opt for the handsomely-priced cortado y bocadillo combo. A Cortado is a shot of espresso with some milk and the bocadillo is clearly a sandwich - this one is ham, and the bread is spread with tomato and olive oil. ¡Qué rico!