I enjoyed my class today. It is a lot of laughs. The teacher does not speak that much English, so it is hard to understand what is being said. I can sometimes figure it out by their gestures. I hope, with practice, it will all come to me.
After class, Laurie and I went to look for the bookstore. We went to a couple that I heard about. I didn't like them as well as the other one I went to yesterday. We decided to go to that one. We are trying to find information about hiking in northern Spain, Morocco, and Portugal. We found a book that looked like it will be helpful.
We were going to do one of the school's walk that they offer on Wednesdays. It doesn't start until 7:15 pm. I was hoping it would rain because as much as I wanted to go, I also didn't want to go because I was tired and wanted to study.
It did start raining, so I skipped the walk. Instead I went to the cultural class that they offer every week night. It was on Gaudi and it was in Spanish. I really didn't get what the woman was saying. I caught a word here and there, but that was it. Luckily, Antoinella was there. She understands the Spanish language because it is so much like Italian.
The class was one hour. After class I cooked a hamburger with a toasted bun and also a salad. I haven't had a hamburger in a long time.
After I ate I went to my room and studied.
October 16, 2003
I don't know if I am picking up the Spanish by listening. It is very difficult, but I am learning. Speaking isn't as hard if you know the words, but it is a struggle because I have to think so much. Reading and comprehending is much easier, especially since I have a dictionary. I just look up the words I don't know.
After class I laid down awhile. I have been going to bed late. Also at 2:00 am some girls were very loud. They were frightened by something in their room. They got the attendant and he got whatever it was out. I saw him this morning. He said it was a moth. He was very funny telling the story.
I laid down for about an hour and I think I even slept. I got up about 3:30. Laurie and Antoinella and I were going to go to the movies at 4:00. We were going to walk, but it started raining so we took the metro.
October 17, 2003 Happy Birthday Rob!
Another good day at school. I don't know if I am really learning much, but it is fun. We learned how to ask for food at grocery stores and restaurants. I asked the teacher if she would take us to a place to eat. She said she would. Then we can practice.
I didn't do much today after class. It rained off and on. I did go to the cultural class at 7:00. At first I thought there were going to be only four people, but people showed up late. I didn't want a small group. I wanted to hide among the people because I knew I wouldn't understand much.
Most of the young people went out so it is quiet here tonight. I just hope they don't make a lot of noise coming in tonight.
October 18, 2003
Today we were going to go on the day trip offered by the school. It was to Sitges. Antoinella, Laurie and I walked over to the meeting spot for 9:00. There were a couple of people there. The meeting time was to be 9:00. The weather didn't look too good. More people were gathering, but we didn't see a leader. By 9:35 we decided not to wait any longer. We walked back to the school.
Antoinella, Laurie and I walked about half an hour to the movies. Antoinella didn't go into the movies. Laurie and I watched "The Emperor's Club" with Kevin Kline. It was really good. I enjoyed it much more than "Pollock". Since the movie was early we got it at the matinee price which is always nice.
I walked back to the school and I visited with Sandi. She let me use her computer so I could print things out from the computer. She has a laptop and a printer. Her printer was small and fast. It was great that I could use it.
Sandi said she was going to make paella. It is a Spanish dish with rice, chicken, fish, and vegetables. The fish included clams, mussels, and calamari. She was going to make it for a group of people whoever showed. She asked Laurie and me to join them.
It was great. There were about 10-11 people there. The paella was good. I didn't know if I would like it. We didn't eat until 8:30.
We sat around talking. Some people went out right after dinner. I went up to my room about 9:45.
Ocotber 19, 2003
It was a lazy rainy Sunday. I stayed in my room until about 3:45. I was trying to read information about places to go to in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
The rain stopped and Laurie and I decided to go for a walk. It was about 4:30 and we walked for about two hours. We walked down to the beach and along there. There were people wind surfing and surfing. That was about my day. I felt lazy, but it was enjoyable .
October 20, 2003
Finally a sunny day! The sky was so clear and so blue.
Class was good today, but I just wanted to be outside. After class, our class with our teacher, Agnes, went to a restaurant. Agnes said this place had the best patates bravas. We took the subway to get there. Agnes ordered a bunch of items. The items included marinated peppers and tuna, anchovies in oil, sardines, patates bravas, and one other item that I am not sure what it was. Believe it or not, I tasted
