Autumn is Coming!

I am sitting on my couch in my room looking out across the balcony. It is definitely fall. Although within the city we lack the beautiful mix of reds and oranges and yellows of the trees I am used to at home, the leaves are slowly but surely turning to brown. Right outside of my window there is a long strip of trees (they are the same ones that are in Central Park in Davis, but I don't know the name) that line the bike path below my building and are tall enough to surpass me on the fourth floor. Soon I will look outside to see bare branches, and although this somewhat alters the scene, it also brings a sense of comfort and familiarity within the changing of seasons. With this great view and big doors to the outside, I have been hoping for a huge storm, to be able to open up my room completely and see the rain pouring down while drinking hot cocoa. But, it has been consistently quite hot, around 80 degrees, and muggy as well. On the days that are overcast, I am hoping that with the clouds come cooler temperatures, so I leave my apartment with a cozy scarf and sweater, only to be sweating bullets before I'm halfway to the door.
I am so content in my new home. I just learned we have a roof-top terrace that was just redesigned that we all have access to, and the girls said they are going to show me all around later.They have been amazing, so friendly and open and cheerful. Last night we sat around for a bit talking before I went out, and it was so interesting because around the table we had an Italian, a Brazilian, an American, a Swede, and a Spaniard all speaking Spanish as our common language. I love that no matter where you are here, you cannot escape this incredible blend of cultures. Although it seems to be the cause of a strong underlying tension presently in Barcelona, with immigration and tourism comparatively new, the mix is something beautiful, and provides for the most unpredictable and sometime incomprehensible yet unmistakably unique experiences.
Yesterday was Catherine's 20th birthday, and to celebrate we packed a picnic of olives, brie, gouda, and goat cheese, a french baguette and a bottle of Rosé to enjoy in the Parc Cuitadella. We sat right by the magnificent fountain for hours, slowly enjoying our mini-feast and soaking up the surroundings. We then wandered into the greenhouse within the park which is unlike the tradition form in that it is constructed with wooden slats. It was small, but peaceful and tranquil. After going home for a siesta, we met up again and toasted to the birthday girl out on the balcony before heading out.
Today we are going to cook some "comfort food" for dinner at Claire's apartment, and we were thinking home-made mac and cheese, but more creative. And tomorrow we are heading out bright and early for a long day spent outside of Barcelona in the beautiful town of Girona. I will take lots of pictures for my next post.
Last week I signed up for a linguistic exchange with other University of Barcelona students who speak Catalan. I didn't know what to expect but met at the time of the appointment right outside of the University. Two girls approached me and asked me if I was Meghan, and after introductions we made our way to a little bar down the street. The two girls are both aiming to be Catalan-English translators in the future, and I wanted to learn (at least) conversational Catalan, so for the next hour and a half we sat around over hot chocolate and switched back and forth between the two languages, while talking about all sorts of things. I really had no clue what the program was going to be set up like, but the three of us will be meeting up every Wednesday evening during the year for an hour or two, sometimes going to cafes, maybe sometimes to a show, or movie, or museum, as ways to just get conversation going, and mutually teach one-another. I am really excited to have this immediate connection to students here, and a group of people who are interested in helping and teaching their fellow students. The group is about 50-60 students, and meet every weekend for various activities organized by the school, in addition to the individual meetings.
Work has been a lot of fun, I am becoming very fond of the three kids that I tutor. Eduard is 7, Roger is 11, and Marc is 14, and they all have such distinct, but delightful personalities. I really enjoy being in the family setting twice a week too, while I am teaching in their rooms I hear their Mom and Dad talking, while she cooks dinner, and the boys practice their instruments or study while I switch between the three.  I'm not going to lie though, it's also really nice just to be getting paid in the same currency that I am spending. The exchange rate is doing none of us any favors, and is getting increasingly worse. Dollar needs to step up its game.
Classes have been very mellow, as I expect they will continue. The only major assignment I will have this semester is a 20 page paper that satisfies both of my Anthropology classes. However, their are basically no guidelines, so I can start whenever I want, and will aim to be done before coming home for Christmas Break, so finals week really means nothing when I get back to Barcelona. There is a yoga studio one floor down from me that I think I will try out this week, and I am considering checking out a Catalan internship. The girls I was talking to said that there are a lot of internships available to those who want to learn the language by working at whatever kind of job a couple of hours a week (volunteering), simply for the experience and to be surrounded by Catalan. It would be zero-commitment, and it might be fun to jump right into the flow of things.
Okay well this post has no photos, but I feel like they have become gradually more about pictures than content, so I thought I would take a post of just writing to catch up. I will post again soon after my trip to Girona! I love and miss you guys! Love, Megs