las primeras...

Barcelona....population 1.6 million...official languages: Spanish and Catalan...needless to say, this is going to be quite the change.  so here I am, sitting at my desk, in my home four thousand miles away from home, finally starting this blog that my mom is making me do...so. it's been 2...or 3? days since I left the states to embark on this grand adventure in Spain, and since then my head hasn't stopped spinning. it started with the plane ride from Hartford to Newark. I know statistics say it is much safer to fly than to drive, but trust me, after that ride, I do not agree.  I never thought that an hour ride could make you want to jump out the window of the plane...without a parachute...but this one succeeded in doing just that. so after we landed, Andrea and i promptly bolted off the plane in search of gingerale...after spending a couple hours in Newark, we boarded the next flight, exhausted and ready for a nice long nap on the plane. approximately 6 hours and 36 minutes later, we arrived at el aeropuerto de Barcelona, with about 30 minutes of sleep and 6 bags of luggage between the two of us.  more waiting, awkward first encounters with some other kids from our group, a bus ride, and finally we were at el Hotel de Havana (yes, I really am in Barcelona).  So, yesterday, Monday, was a day of orientation, more or less.  Orientation to the program, to each other and to the city.  And by the end of the day I was beyond exhausted. I had seen only a little bit of the city, but enough to be totally confused, spoke a lot of spanish...actually listened to a lot of spanish and prayed that I wouldn't have to respond, and ate an early dinner...at 8:30.  As soon as my head hit the pillow I was asleep.  Today, Tuesday, was more laid back, and much easier to handle after a good night's sleep.  We got a tour of the Universitat de Barcelona, where most of us will be studying (pictures to post soon), did a little more orientation stuff and met our home stay families...for which I was, and still am, pretty nervous.  Luckily, Maria and her son, Fran, are very nice and I really like them a lot, butttt they speak no english...I guess that will help me stick to my contract of speaking only Spanish while I am here. Bueno, I have probably written too much for one post, so I will say Buenas Noches and hasta manana (or whenever I have time to post again!) :) missing everyone back home.  love to all!