mis primeros dias en granada

hola mis amigos! It's been a whirlwind of a few days but Ella and I are safely and happily in Granada. We got here two days ago but it actually feels like 5. We flew from Barcelona on Wednesday which was actually the quickest flight ever it was silly. The airport process was longer than the flight time. Then we were picked up by a CEA representative and brought to our homestay. Our madre is Lola and and our padre is Jesus and we have an older hermana Carmen. The best part by far is the dog named Bimbo though (pronounced "beembo") He looks like a mix between a german shepherd and a chihuahua. I don't really know how that works out and I don't ever want to but somehow it made a really cute dog. Bimbo and I are besties and now he jumps up on me when I get in the house.

Bimbo (see what I'm saying???)

Ella and I ate lunch with our host family that afternoon before unpacking. We have our own room right as you walk in the house so we never disturb them when we come home which is good. Only one bathroom though for everyone. Kind of awk but we've managed. So how the meals work here is we wake up in the morning and have like a piece of toast and yogurt and then their biggest meal is lunch. Everyone comes home for lunch and all the shops around close up for 4 hours. It's a real life siesta no joke. We sit down con la familia and eat a huge meal and watch the news and chat for like two hours. The food is so rich I'm still getting used to it. Lola doesn't force food on us and we don't have to finish but since Big Ray never let us leave the table until we were done as kids I have a weird complex that I have to finish everything and its really screwing with my stomach (also trying to explain this to my padres in spanish was dumb they looked at me like I had 14 heads). The parents basically only address Ella and I think they think I may be retarded. We're only speaking in Spanish in the house and honestly even writing in this now I keep catching myself writing in Spanish. So, Ella talks to the padres and then every once in a while they ask if I understand which a little over half the time I do. Lola is an awesome cook and its weird having someone prepare every meal for you and clean up after you but they insist on it. We've only eaten dinner here once and they don't eat with us cause idk I think they just don't eat dinner and are locos but we don't eat dinner until around 9 or 10.

The first night we got here we used whatsapp and facebook to get in touch with other Tulane people and it was pretty complicated cause once we left the house and didn't have wifi we just had to hope we got to the right place and we would find our friends. Having our first time exploring the city be at night was not a good idea. Ella and I got incredibly lost but were too embarrassed/nervous to pull out a map. So we walked until we found the main streets and finally made it to the Plaza de Toro where we were meeting everyone for tapas. Ella and I were the first to get there so of course we were freaking out thinking we were in the wrong place. We sat outside near the sidewalk so if anyone walked by we'd see them. On the menu it had the wine price as 12 euros so we asked our waiter how much the bottle was and when he said he'd have to look it up we assumed it was 12 euros for the glass and he came out with these tiny glasses and we were like shit we picked the most expensive place in Granada but we can't leave cause we won't find everyone etc etc. In Granada at almost every tapas place before midnight or so when you order a glass of wine, you get a free tapa. so with every glass of wine we have we get una tapa gratis. literally a hungry american college student's dream (...my dream). So finally Becca and Rachel got there, who had also gotten lost, and Ella and I insisted on getting the check cause of our crazy expensive glasses of wine. We get the check...... the glasses of wine were 2 euros and we're retarded. The bottle was 12 (wine is cheaper than water here its crazy) and so naturally we stayed and ordered more.

The boys arrived a little later and it was cool cause I didn't know a fair amount of the Tulane kids on this trip before getting here. Dash, Sam, and Harry had been at this tapas place earlier in the day and made friends with the waiter Rueben so Rueben served us bottle after bottle. There was 9 of us and we just sat and chatted for so long over some vino it was great. Then out of nowhere Rueben just brings us free tequila shots. We're not sure why or how this happened but it turned into that kind of night. After nice tequila shots (disclaimer they don't have bad bar liquor here really, so instead of drinking pepe lopez he gave us chilled jimador.....wut?) more wine, and then some other sugary shot Rueben fed us, we decided we had to go out and party with Rueben. We gave him 11 extra euro for his service and we literally had to force him to take it. cmon Rueben 18 free shots deserves a simple 11 euro. But no from there he led us to some other bar and used the 11 euro to buy us all more drinks. Rueben was loco but muy divertido and told us of some other club to go to called Mae West. At this point we were all pretty loopy, most of us were a little jetlagged and delusional, and loving on Rueben so we were very much inclined to go clubbing con el. We got there and it was pretty empty (everywheres been pretty empty cause this is their summer vacation from like everything, work school etc the spaniards are the chillest of bros around). but it was really fun we drank and danced a bunch (disclaimer: spaniards hate it when you dance on tables, chairs, any raised surface I've gotten yelled at some many times. stupid americana). Come 4:30 am all the jetlagged homies were zombies and we all decided to call it a night and sleep.

los hombres de Tulane

the next day was filled with boring orientations and tours and none of us were feeling too hot so it made it worse. It was nice to get our bearings of the city in daylight though. Its unbelievably beautiful and Ella and I are so close to the city center, a beautiful park, a nice river, and other kids in homestays. We went out for tapas again after dinner con la familia. This tapas place was not as great as the times we shared with our amigo Rueben. We had to leave at like 1 which was awkward timing cause no one goes to the clubs until 2. So naturally instead of walking around and waiting it out we were the first ones in and probably some of the last out too. This club was called Camborio and Brandon and Adams host brothers told us to go there. It overlooks the Alhambra the view is actually amazing, literally breathtaking. A ton of Tulane kids went as well as other people on the program. We hung out with a lot of Spaniards which was cool. A lot of people don't speak English which forces us to use Spanish and I really like it. Also when I'm drunk I'm so much better I think I'm so cool. I was talking to one guy who would speak to me in English and I would talk back to him in Spanish cause we both wanted to practice and we would correct each other and it was interesting having one fluid conversation in two languages. The people here are so friendly and willing to work with us on the Spanish its awesome. Also it helps having cool 16 and 18 year old Spaniards bring you to clubs and introduce you to their friends (it makes me feel ancient.... and also a little washed up these young spanish girls are hot i can't lie). We were having way too much fun and Ella suggested watching the sunrise at the Alhambra and at the time we thought it was a great idea. Then we remembered we had orientation at 10 am and the sun doesnt rise til like 8. We left at 6 am I think (no concept of time anymore idk) walked halfway cabbed halfway parted ways with people being like oh see ya in a few hours at orientation jajaja.

Ella and I set four alarms and I put my phone on the other side of the room so I would have to wake up and get it. We woke up at noon in a panic, confused as to why we slept through four alarms and found my cell phone under my pillow and hers turned off in our desk drawer? It was fine though because once we showed up to orientation we got all the info everyone else got in 4 hours in ten minutes so it was nice. They had to take our pictures for our IDs and I'll be sure to post a picture of what a disaster I looked like. Stupid americana. Ella and I just booked a romantic getaway for her birthday in December in Rome, so excited! We have like 5 days there to travel around Italy too because we have a long weekend that weekend and I'm quite excited. Tomorrow we're going on a tour of la Alhambra and after the view from last night I am ecstatic. We have to be up and at our meeting point at 8:30 am though so needless to say we won't have ourselves a night like the last. Tonight I'll only have a few glasses of wine and enjoy the free tapas con el vino y mis amigos. This post is long and not that great but its still the first couple days, more shenanigans to come. Adios

ella jill barcelona

saludos de Espana! I am writing from Susie's house in Sant Boi right now in her living room overlooking a beautiful terrace. I arrived yesterday but it actually seems like 4 days ago at this point. I went to the airport in Boston on Sunday and said a sad goodbye to my parents and obviously coped with a meal from burger king. It only seemed fitting my last meal be fast food in the US. Little did I know US fast food has infiltrated almost all European cities anyway. Oh well still worth it. I remembered I had melotonin in my backpack at the beginning of my flight so with that and a glass of wine I passed right out. They gave us dinner and then breakfast before we landed in Madrid to get our eating schedules on track. Honestly it just upset my stomach more than anything. I was super excited to land in Madrid and it was a little complicated to get to my next terminal but luckily everything here was labeled in English. The whole plane ride I kept trying to think in Spanish and translate what they were saying in Spanish in my head before they did it for me but all of that didn't really matter. I may as well have "Yo soy americana" tatooed on my forehead. 

I realized how blatantly american I was before I left, but it became even more obvious to me once I got here. Boarding my plane in Madrid to Barcelona the flight attendant greeted everyone that walked on the flight by saying "hola, buenos dias" but when I walked by he said "hello good morning." Even if I didn't speak Spanish I think I would be able to understand the basics if I'm traveling within Spain. I got off the plane in Barcelona and was feeling a little delusional but right when I walked out of baggage claim Susie and Ella were there to greet me. It was almost too easy. Susie's mom picked us up and we were right on our way back. Susie had a whole day planned for us and I had slept on the plane and didn't want to skip a beat so after lugging all my suitcases up 4 stories we went right out to Barcelona (I showered first though guys aren't you proud?)

Susie, Ella, and I went to a coffee shop in her town of Sant Boi and then Susie showed us how to get around on the  train to get to Barcelona (Sant Boi is a little town maybe 20 minutes outside Barcelona by train but incredibly easy to navigate). We did a lot of walking and started by seeing some of Gaudi's buildings like Casa Batllo and La Perdera. I had learned about these in my Spanish culture class but it was crazy to see them in real life. We walked down La Rambla and went to the Sant Josep market as well as seeing the Plaza de Catalunya and la Barcaloneta. 

Casa Batllo by Gaudi

After that we were starving and stopped at this all you can eat sushi place which literally had a conveyer belt of asian food (actually my dream come true I was in heaven). it was 10,50 euro each and I would say we definitely ate our moneys worth. After that I had a growing concern about being able to go to the bathroom in Spain. At this point I had eaten burger king, two airline meals, some coffee, and a heaping amount of Asian food and not gone to the bathroom. Also toilets are different here so that was concern in the small apartment were staying in. This is a little graphic if you're uncomfortable with poop talk I won't give you the details but I figured it out (thanks random shop bathroom at la sagrada familia), we'll see how it works out in the homestay though that could be a different story.

After the sushi place we went to the beach for a little and walked around the ports a little more but at that point we were reaching late afternoon and Ella and I were becoming pretty delusional. Susie took us home and we were literally the walking dead through Sant Boi until we reached her bed and we siesta-ed like we never have before. We woke up again around 8:30 and both showered again cause we were super sweaty from walking around all afternoon (that's two showers in one day, count it go jdr). Susie's mom Doris (Ella's Dad's college friend who he actually went abroad with, thats the connection here) made us a lovely dinner that she called "pica pica" which is a cold dinner because it was too hot to actually cook a big meal. We had cheese, bread, salad, olives, carrots, and tortilla de patatas accompanied by a delicious bubbly rose wine. We ate out on the terrace with Doris and Susie's brother Alex and it was very nice. They are such an incredibly friendly family we're so lucky to have stayed with them.

After dinner, which was from around 9:30-11 we got ready to go out "clubbing." I liked eating so late and going out late, there was no rush or anything and it was so relaxed. Only intimidating part was that trains in Barcelona stop running at midnight and don't start again til 5:30 am so we knew we were gearing up for a big night. It was nice to have locals showing us around cause had Ella and I tried to brace a Barcelona club solo it would have been a joke. Susie's boyfriend Josep picked us up at Susie's and actually drove us in to Barcelona so we didn't have to take the train. It was so nice we got a nice little driving tour and got to see the Olympic stadium, the FC Barcelona stadium, Susie's university and the theatre street. It was a great little ride but even the radio was filled with American music. Once we got to the club we met up with Susie's brother and his friends and Susie got us all in for free and got us free drinks, the benefits of being with real life barcelonites. There weren't a lot of people there at first and it was literally a real live discoteca with strobe lights and I was far too sober to be eurojill. Luckily if Lee Anglin and I learned anything this summer, as long as there is a place to dance I really do not care about being drunk and this place was playing music straight off a Now 11 CD and I was digging it. Ella and I jammed to tunes ranging from Gold digger, to the black eyed peas, to big poppa. After a little while they took us to this club called Apolo that is apparently very big on Mondays. We walked there and talked about the boys impressions of Americans, which of course was that they're all fat. They also said that I scream American where at least Ella could pass for Australian or something. So basically no one will address us in Spanish as long as Ella's with me, sorry el.

We got to the club and from the minute we got in the line it felt like the boys were our protectors to weird Spanish men lurking around. This club was awesome it was all rock n roll music and just fun dancing and atmosphere, not what I expected out of clubbing but once again the benefits of going out with locals. We stayed out real late and danced our little butts off. It was so fun and I was so glad to go out with people who could show us around our first night. By the time we made it back to bed it was 6:30 am and Susie was actually going to leave for the airport to go to California in an hour. Ella and I went straight to bed and slept til 2 in the afternoon.

eurojill and susie hit da club, like some linebockaaaahs (disclaimer: who is that man?)

Today Ella and I obviously woke up super late, but it was no big thing cause this is Spain and they aren't go go going all the time. We ate lunch for breakfast and socialized with Susie's parents. Susie's Dad, Diego, is from Spain and gave us some nice tips and history lessons over breakfast/lunch whatever it was. He really injured his back and is in a lot of pain I feel bad, but even after all that he was so pleasant and willing to tell us all about Spain. We had a glass of this delicious red wine (I don't drink red wine and I loved it, when in Spain ay?) and ate cheese cause Diego said we had to try it and they went together. It was a balanced breakfast. After about an hour and a half or so Ella and I motivated to explore the city all on our own. I kept saying Ella Jill Barcelona (pronounced elja hill barcelona) to channel the Woody Allen movie Vicky Christina Barcelona cause we're just that cultured (jk not me). We showered again and I used my iPhone and a map of the metro that Susie left us to plan out places we wanted to see with the rest of our day.

Our first stop was Parc Guell, another Gaudi sight. Also another place I have seen a million times in pictures and studied and analyzed so much it was awesome to see it in person. We climbed uphill a ways to get there and explored for a little bit before we needed to someone to photograph us obviously. We found these other two girls who also wanted their picture taken to it was a nice exchange. They were 19 and best friends from home traveling from Vienna, Austria. They were so cool and friendly and interested in what we were doing and our story, the four of us traveled the rest of the park together and hung out for a little while. It's cool because doing these touristy things I know we're gonna meet a ton of people and these girls made me excited because they were such friendly young Europeans. After Parc Guell we left our new friends for an ice cream and our next Gaudi stop, La Sagrada Familia. We basically just went around and and didn't pay the fee to go inside but took some nice pictures outside and went to little shops nearby. By that time it was close to 8 and we were planning on going to the Picasso Museum but it closed at that time so we just wandered around that area. Ella said it reminded her of a SoHo in New York, me being the Boston townie I am agreed without having any idea what she was talking about. She called me out cause I kept using the adjective "swanky" but that's really what it was. We went into a couple cool shops and walked around the area before settling for a bottle of wine and dinner. We finished and made it home for the midnight train. All around I think Ella and I will be very good at traveling together, not too stressful and instead of going 100 mph trying to do it all we really took it all in. Also she carries a St. Christopher medal for good luck which we all know I need so that will help.

I know we'll be back to Barcelona with other Tulanians at some point this semester because everyone will want to visit here and it's obvious why. It's a beautiful city that is so fun and so laid back. Of course next time around we'll show everyone around like we're the locals and also hit up spots like Chupitos and the Dow Jones. Tomorrow we ship out to Granada and finally get to get settled! We're both very much over living out of our 5 suitcases and ready to meet our new family and dog as well as see other Tulane kids. Adios for now chicitas. Manana el espanol real empieza ay ay ay

Another form of social media to add to my collection: a blog. I got the idea from a few others whose blogs I read while they were abroad. This is mostly for my parents and family and my friends who are bored in class and have no more facebook stalking to do and decide to entertain themselves with this as a last resort. For those of you who knew I was starting a blog you probably knew that I was stressed out about finding a clever name for it. I don't really know if its proper blog etiquette to have the web address and the title be the same but that's just how it is folks. Also I know there's not two l's in "girl" but the title with one l was already taken so take it or leave it.

So why did I choose the most cliche lyrics out of Tom Petty's collection? 1) because Tom Petty is the soundtrack to my life and I'm proud of it and 2) when I think about myself traveling abroad I have come to the sad reality that I will probably stick out like a sore thumb as an American college student. In my 20 years of existence I have traveled outside of the good ol' US of A a combined total of 8 days. Needless to say I have virtually no experience abroad and zero experience abroad on my own. I will be studying in Granada, Spain for the next four months and can only hope that this experience will teach me things that the halls of Medford High or the streets of New Orleans have not.

Although I am incredibly excited to get my European adventures underway, I would be lying if I said I wasn't going to miss summer. This summer was one with many lessons learned, new friends made, and great times had with old friends. Though almost all of us worked close to 70 hours a week, we definitely made time for play. I think I trained myself pretty well for the late nights in Europe with the amount of time I walked home from Kelly J and Kelly A's at 5 in the morning only to get up at 8 am to go work 14 hours straight. I got to see lots of Tulane friends and even got in a trip to New Orleans before I left as well. So all in all a successful summer.

team Europe in pseudo American revolution at olympics party

Tonight I leave for Espana and tomorrow morning I will be there embracing Ella in the Barcelona airport. Her friend Susie is nice enough to pick us up at the airport and let us stay at her house which is incredible. We'll be in Barcelona for a few days going to the beach and apparently going clubbing. I know the thought of me in a club makes a lot of people laugh but we'll see if my new alter ego eurojill can hang with the crazy Spaniards. I got a little practice this summer hanging with the Romanians that work in my restaurant and honestly its a little frightening. We'll see if I can keep up. Speaking of keeping up, my spanish is pretty rusty so that will also be an interesting adjustment. Necesito practicar mi espanol. Thats about all I got right now. 

I can't promise I will be diligent about this but hopefully I can be moderately entertaining and possibly even funny at times. Hopefully there will be a noticeable transition from ignorant American college student to slightly more cultured American college student. Theres a fine line between cultured and pompous douche so hopefully I can see it cause I know if I come back and say stuff like "well when I was in Europe they did this...." Ali and Jamie will not let me hear the end of it. Should be an interesting journey. If I stop writing in this all together, Dad channel your inner Liam Neeson and head over. (JK Dad I'll be safe).

Adios hombres hasta luego