Barcelona: Toes in the Sand, Head Under Water.

Jazmin Lopez is a student at Arizona State University and an ISA Featured Blogger. Jazmin is currently studying abroad in Barcelona on a Fall 2 program.

I have been in Barcelona for a little over a week and I keep thinking to myself “too bad this is just a vacation.”  I catch myself, kick my head, and realize that the studying has JUST STARTED and the friendships keep growing.  Classes are long and full of information, my classmates are SO DIVERSE, and the professors are VERY sarcastic, much to my liking.  My homestay parents are AMAZING, since they are so kind, clean, and are always hurrying us out the door to experience Barcelona and all it has to offer.  The people in my program continually surprise me, with their suggestions as to where to go and what to do on the weekends, which make my inner traveler thrive!  But enough about how I feel; I’m sure you’re all more interested to know where I’ve been and what I’ve seen so far!

There are so many things that come to mind since I first arrived in Barcelona, Spain last Sunday, September 2, 2012.  We went on a panoramic tour of the city, stopping in a beautiful park with Gaudi’s mosaic masterpieces.  For a man from back in time, his thoughts were highly innovative and futuristic.  There are pillars that hold a part of the park up that do not only provide support, but are a means to recycle rain water as it soaks the ground it holds up!  I will be going back soon, to have a more personalized and un-timed tour, so expect some pictures!  Meanwhile, I leave you with a picture of one of his buildings, La Pedrera.

The reason why you see La Pedrera from so far away, surrounded by a multitude of civilians holding Catalonian flags of independence and of the Catalonian descent is because I took it while I was a part of the yearly September 11 display of Catalonian pride and manifestation against the Spanish government’s rules.  They are OH-SO-PROUD of their heritage, what they provide to the Spanish economy, and so much more!  It was honestly the most peaceful movement of self-empowerment I have even been in since 2007 in Arizona with the Immigrant Walk.

But in the end, nothing compares to the beach, with its breeze, sand, cold water, and interesting people!  I have been a total of 4 times to the beach in the past week and a half- which is normal, I hear.  For me it has started to seems like an addiction- an addiction I seriously do not mind!  But then again, I feel I should be more addicted to sun screen based on the dark tan I’ve managed to acquire!

That’s about all I have so far- not a lot of insight, but I’m juts getting warmed up!  See you later!