In case you saw that story, which has been mysteriously absent from all US news media I could find, I'm okay. Somehow almost 30 people decided it was a really good idea to run across some train tracks in front of a speeding train, 13 people died, and they actually had to use forensic evidence to find the remains of one of the bodies. Everyone here is pretty shaken up about it and CIEE called all of us to make sure that we were still alive and now everyone is obsessed with train safety, which is probably a good thing.
I didn't get run over by a train, so my San Juan was really great! We hung out and drank wine on the beach and watched fireworks. It was insane how many little kids were around in the wee hours of the morning, setting off firecrackers and sparklers and just running around. We all ended up leaving before everyone ran into the ocean, but I'm okay with that. I think 4:30 was a respectable time to get home.
This is why we decided to go home. We were all a little sleepy. Incidentally the girl who's sitting up isn't on our program, she's a random Spanish girl who told us in confused English that she wanted to go to America and "fix the cows, I'm studying to be vet, vet to be vet, for animals."
A lot of people took advantage of the long weekend to travel so classes on Friday were pretty empty. My Spanish class combined with the intermediate class because there were only four of us total, and we watched Volver, which I loved. I was the only person in art history, so my professor told me a little bit about Modernisme and then we walked around the Parc de la Ciutadella and she told me about buildings and statues. It was amazing.
One of the first works Gaudí ever did!
This is Alicia, my art history professor. She's Andorran and adorable and she knows everything.
Spain won against Chile in the world cup game! But there wasn't as much celebration here as you would think. This is why:
Graffiti on the wall by the Dalí museum. The Catalan flag with the Cuban blue triangle and star is an extremist symbol. I'm not really clear on why this sentiment is expressed in English, but it sums up the argument nicely.
To do this weekend: short essay on Spanglish, 500 words of a research paper (ie figure out what to write about for a research paper!), some grammar exercises, watch the USA game in a stereotypically American bar, and shopping shopping shopping. For one thing, Matt and Miriam have birthdays! And I really want a cookbook.
On Sunday: bullfighting? I'm super torn but it's a typically Spanish experience that I feel like I should have. I'm still on the fence.
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