No matter how hard you try...you will always be an American.

Pues, I got to Barcelona on Tuesday (6/9) and went to Hotel Barcelona (original I know) and met my group! There are some really cool people within it which is awesome, everyone is different but we all mix very well. We stayed in the hotel for the next 2 nights exploring the city and just getting to know each other in general. Barcelona is AMAZING! It is so pretty and there is so much culture in everything, it truly is amazing. We moved into my apartment (roommates for future resident are Kayleigh, Averi and eventually Stephanie who will be moving in in a week or two) a couple days ago and it is soo nice. Way nicer than I was expecting. And we feel very safe don't worry! Once we got settled into our apartment, Kayleigh, Averi, and I ventured to the grocery store. What an experience. We got there about 30 minutes to closing, a guy was on our tail the entire time starring us down and who knew that the country who has yet to have dryers as an every day appliance required you to buy grocery bags?? Well we did not. Not until we stood there for a good 30 seconds and I finally asked "quiero bolsas por favor..." with which the lovelyyyy catalan check-out returned with a stare-down and the annoucement that it will cost us 3 cent euros. A learning experience-we went back today and had much better luck. Oh also great sidenote...it is considered rude to ask for tap water here so everywhere you go you pay 1.5 euros (at least) for "bottled" water. Nevermind the fact that water costs .65 cent euros at the grocery store for 10 times the amount OR the fact that at the restaurants just take the empty glass bottles and fill them up with tap water behind the bar when you ask for "una mas" (eye-witness accounts numerous times don't worry). Cool I know. Anyways, everything else is great. Although my feet have become thumb from the pain of walking around everywhere. Tomorrow we are going to the beach for the first time to lay out and swim! It should be a lot of fun.

FYI-all the playing ends soon. We take our placement tests on Monday and classes start Tuesday. 4 and a half straight hours of Spanish every morning. Get excited.

Love and miss you all!

Lillian