First day of the ILP

Today we started up with the Intensive Language Program at the University of Barcelona. The campus is so beautiful. The main building is so old, it feels like you are in a museum, and the courtyard is beautiful. We had classes in a newer building just through a corridor from this courtyard. Each day we have one hour of culture, one hour of grammar, one hour of catalan, and one hours of conversation. All of the professors are really personable and helpful. The classes are offered at this time exclusively for our group, so one we are split up into different groups for the different classes, there were only 5-7 students per section, which is really nice. Catalan is crazy, but step by step, I think I will get the hang of it. The professor is quite a character, and these classes are taught in a very informal and unthreatening setting. We have take home work right away, in my culture class we are comparing the four languages of Spain by reading various poems written in each. We are also learning about Spain's history from the Civil War onwards, Franco, and modern day. The grammar teacher is really young and asked us to find a popular Spanish musical group to share tomorrow, while in conversation we are responsible for leading a discussion about some topic of debate within the next few days.
I am getting used to walking everywhere, today we bought cheap cell phones for the year, and little things we forgot to pack. We went to THREE giant Corte Ingles stores today, which for those who have never heard of it, it is THE Spanish mega store, with like 10 floors, selling anything and everything you can possibly imagine. We went to two in the Plaza Catalunya which we totally bombarded with tourists coming from La Rambla, and it was miserable trying to get around anywhere. Although at this point I am still a tourist, I can't wait for tourist season to be over, and get a real feel for the city minus the craze and chaos that accompanies any regular task around town. We are starting to look for apartments now, and I had an appointment to look at one today, but after a long metro ride to the correct stop, I got out and really wasn't attracted to the neighborhood at all, and it was far from the University, so I decided to cancel instead. There are a few though that I have contacted the owners, and am planning to go check out. One is really close to the Arc de Triunfo and has a rooftop terrace with a table and chairs and trees on top, it looks so cool, and has an amazing view, so I think I will se it on Thursday. All in all, I am trying to get settled with school and the living situation, and feeling like I have a much better idea of the city everyday.