Short

Wow, MIA completely....Haven't forgotten about you; it's just that life has been a little busy with holidays, travel,  and what not. And in most cases when I really want to sit down and write, I never have the time. So be patient! :) I hope everyone is getting ready for Christmas and you haven't been consumed by crazy shopping. I did less of it this year and my focus is to concentrate on family and relationships. Why?! Maybe because I haven't spent these holidays at home since 2000.....Maybe it's a ton of other things which make me re-evaluate everything.
Expect a holiday blog which I have been thinking about for a while but time seems to be flying and never enough. Kisses to all!!!

Exams

It's exam week. You'd think it's easier -- just hand out the exam, they do it for 1.5hr and you just chill. Well, not really. The kids are still a disaster; the teens do not stop talking and complaining and then on top of that you have to check tons of papers....And I'm officially the bad guy. Or a very bad person like one of my teens told me. Because I gave them a long and hard exam and I didn't help them and I didn't let them change the writing topic.....

On the other hand, I'm getting better at psychology and people. With one of my teen classes I wanted to do a writing as well. But the exam was kinda long so I told them not to worry about the writing. When I saw that they were doing really well with the time, I told them that whoever did the writing gets extra points. Everyone wrote an essay! :) They felt great about it and I got what I wanted in the end.

You'd think I'm a horrible person. But just come and see the teens....No studying, no motivation, stupid mistakes. I mean -- are we here to study or what?! :) Next week is only movies so that will make them very happy. Me too as I really don't feel like working....Any ideas for good Christmas movies for teens (no violence, sex and so on)?!?!

Days are flying so fast. Next Friday and I'm going home! First holidays in BG since 2000! Now that sounds prehistoric.....Trying not to eat too much because I know what will happen in BG and I still want to be able to get into my clothes. I have been trying to eat much less because since my bro came and started cooking I came to a point where it was getting hard to get into my stuff...Sad....But life is about enjoying, right?!?! :):):):)

BCN stuff

What an interesting night I had last night! After nights like this I feel lucky and happy that I'm in BCN. You meet all kinds of people. Some more eccentric and crazy than others but we are all different and that makes it interesting, right?!

Meetup groups -- very diverse (well sometimes you just meet a bunch of Americans which makes me feel at home :) and sometimes they can surprise you. A conversation last night later in the night:

Catalan woman (lived for many yrs in USA, in her late 40s/early 50s): How do you know you are in love?
Italian guy: I go out with a person for a while, there is no physical contact at all, one night I dream about kissing her and when I wake up I know I'm in love..
Catalan woman: This is great!!! Wonderful!! Let me shake your hand.
Me: Sounds great but I believed in it when I was 15. Grow up.
Catalan woman: Girl, you are still young but be careful not to become a lemon. Believe.

At which point the conversation moves into the direction of how fast people fall in love, relationships, Americans, Catalan and European people to the point where she tells us that every person has an animal (some 2). She knows this from a shaman and her animal is a dolphin. After some time and more wine she agrees to tell me (and ruin it for me because I'm supposed to find out by myself) what animal I am. Panther. Excuse me?!?! Me?!!? Then she says: This is your second animal. Go find your first.

When she leaves, a Catalan guy starts a conversation with me. The conversation feels like an FBI interrogation. Where are you from, how long have you been here, why did you leave the USA, why did you go there, did you stay legally, what are you doing here, do you want to go back to BG, do you have bfriend, have you met a Spanish woman in DC that I know, you should meet this gorgeous BG girl here and I'm sure you will click and so forth. After the first questions I'm a little pissed -- what the hell is this and who the hell are you?! But then I decide to play the game and actually have fun. The hilarious thing is that he is very serious :). Then I interrogate him and he seems taken aback.

The night finishes with the Italian guy telling me that I have a hole or void in me and my life because I can't remember what I wanted to be when I was a child. I have no dreams. Do you remember what you wanted to be when you were like 10?! Anyway, I met some other people too but the conversation with them was in the norms so it is not making the cut here in the blog. :)

Back

On my way to work

Wow, sorry guys and girls but I have been hibernating lately. I thought I'd write more during my 5 days of no work but I actually got into a very lazy and at the end melancholic kinda mood which was not inspiring at all. I guess I got into one of my post US moments which do not make me feel very happy and positive. But they come and then go :).

It's only 2 weeks until I go home and I can't wait! It will be my first Christmas/B-Day/New Year in BG since 2000......Wow! Writing it makes it seem so far away.....Ages! So I'm looking forward to spending time with family (and a few friends), eating, drinking and basically not doing anything. Being spoiled by parents is the best! :) I will miss my friends in the USA and remember all the holidays we've spent together....Hopefully will see some of you in 2011.

We had some holidays in BCN as some of you know and it's been pretty nice. I have to say that now I'm so used to having at least one holiday during the month that my February calendar is not making me very happy....There are no days off in February....I guess we will have to live with it somehow.

One of BCN's landmarks

These are some pics that I took on my way to work and have been wanting to post them but it was never the right time. So here they are now. The last pics are from an office landmark building in BCN which is close to my in-company business ENG lessons. I walk by it every day and finally got some pics. Not sure what it looks like to people but it is kinda like the Monument in DC a bit. Don't know what's up with these huge straight buildings....Anyway, more post coming soon as I have things to tell you and pics to post so stay tuned! No more hibernating!

P.S. Alex, I have been consciously avoiding your remarks but promise that I'm back :).

Winter

Beautiful view 

It's getting cold in BCN...I've stared wearing my coat and winter jacket. And a scarf! You definitely need it hear. It is windy and combine that with low temperatures....you get the point. Yet on a sunny Sunday day there is nothing better than walking on the beach! :)

I went to see the Museum of Catalonia and these pics are all taken from there. Actually didn't really pay to see the exhibitions but went on the rooftop terrace and the view was gorgeous....I love BCN!!!!

This is how Sagrada Familia should look when it is done. One day.....

The museum (which is on my list of places to visit on the first Sunday of the month -- free entrance) has a pretty nice model of Sagrada Familia and had to take some pics. It will be amazing once it is finished which, if you ask locals, will never be done. How can you build this for such a long time?! I understand it is funded by donations and this slows the process but with the modern technology wouldn't it take less time and wouldn't Spain put some money into it?! It's also another story that the high speed train, which apparently will be going right under it, might shake the foundations badly and....who knows.

The sea....

Then it was time for a walk on the beach which brings me so much positive energy........As a person who grew up by the sea I can't help but love BCN for giving me this too! I really missed it in DC but have found my place here. The waves were strong and huge (unfortunately iPhone pics do not really portray that very well) and I could have just sat there gazing for hours. The cod wind made me run for hot tea after some time though. 

Sundays like this (or any day for that matter) make me fall in love with the city even more........BTW, today is rainy, cold and dark. Not a fav day in BCN.......

Thanksgiving in BCN

Big bird :)

First of all -- Happy Birthday, Gale!!!!!!!!! :)
Been behind with the post but it's been a little busy these past days with different activities and even though the blog was on my mind, I couldn't really find the time to sit down and write. Plus even if I have some time I have to be in a special mindset to write....:)

Table is set

So we celebrated Thanksgiving in BCN! I love this holiday and I think that wherever I am I will try to celebrate it. Especially when you have some good friends to share the spirit of Thanksgiving with.....I am thankful this year for: friends -- new and old and future ones. Without you many things wouldn't be the same!!! My family -- even though we have our occasional fights and differences, I'm so glad to be closer to you and to be able to share experiences and time together. The opportunity to be here in BCN. I'm thankful for the way all circumstances took me here and the opportunities that the city presented to me.

British pudding....Yummy! 

Everyone cooked a dish and we had so much food that it was had to even breathe...I did the turkey (as a specialist :) and think the result was pretty good. The mashed potatoes, green beans, gravy, sweet potato thing (sorry can never remember the name of it), roasted peppers, pudding, desserts, great company -- everything was wonderful!

Mmmmmmm

Our plates were so full but we kept adding from all the dishes and then ate it all. Of course when food stays on the table you can't really stop eating. Also it doesn't help much when you are wearing jeans (a little tight because I have to admit that I've gained some pounds and nothing fits quite it should)....

Ready turkey! :)

Here is the biiiig bird!!!!!!! It was 15 lbs -- a lot of left overs. I have to admit that doing the turkey here is very very different from doing the bird in the USA. In USA you go to the store, get the bird, get the huge pan, come home and just wash it, take out the little plastic bag from inside with the extras, the bird's legs are tied with a string and then you put it in the oven. BCN -- have to find a big enough turkey, go home and start taking out feathers from the bird which takes a while, have to wash it a lot, the pan is not big enough and then it doesn't quite fit in the oven.....Anyway, you take it as an experience! :)

Full table

Carving the turkey....

We had to have a guy (American) cut the bird so great job, Ryan! :) Got home in the early morning hours, completely stuffed and comatose! What a great night with friends! :):):) Thank you, guys! BTW, we have a follower #22.....;)

How to boil an egg

Any suggestions?! My cooking skills (or lack of such) continue to amaze me.....Yes, people are usually amazed at other people; I'm often amazed at myself. Go figure.

It turns out that I can't cook a soft-boiled egg....Yeah. Hard-boiled, almost hard-boiled -- you name it, I can do it. But soft boiled with the running yolk -- no success. Most of you know how limited my cooking skills are (with the exception of "banitsa" I can't really do much more) but now are probably even more "impressed".

I really wanted a soft-boiled egg. I guess I'm always scared that the white (I love how ENG just calls it "the white" stuff of the egg..) will be undercooked so I leave them an extra minute or so. Enough to make them close to hard. I even googled how to cook soft-bolied eggs....(yes, thank you Google).

http://www.helpwithcooking.com/egg-guide/how-to-boil-egg.html

To my credit (if I can get any for not knowing how to boil an egg at 31..), it turns out that it is much harder to do the soft-boiled egg than the hard one. Well it completely makes sense of course but it sounds different coming from a cooking website :).

Maybe next time I will try the tactics they describe. If I really have the patience to try and learn how to do it. It's all about desire and I have none for cooking. Sometimes when I see my bro cooking I really think that something is wrong with me. I can get so lazy and lack any desire to cook food that I'd rather not eat than prepare a meal. It's good that this doesn't happen often otherwise I will be starving myself.

OK, I ate my 2 almost hard-boiled eggs and was somewhat happy. :) Off to lesson preparation now.

Why I love BCN

It's been almost 4 months since I came to BCN and during this time I've had many ups and downs. It's actually been pretty much all the time like an emotional roller coaster. Leaving behind 9 years of my life (which was a roller coaster in many ways too) in the USA was/is easier said than done. Actually it wasn't so easy to say it. People literally looked at as if I was crazy when I told them about my choice.

Anyway, BCN has been wonderful in many ways. People ask me all the time if I like it and I answer "Yes, I love it!". And then I start thinking why?! What is it that I love about that city? Why do I feel so much at home? Why is that the only thing I miss from the USA are my friends?

Beauty
BCN is a beautiful city! Everywhere you go you see it around you -- buildings on the streets, balconies, parks, street art, lamp posts, signs, trees. Sometimes when I have time to stroll around I walk with my eyes up and I have to remember to look down because I will either bump into someone or step on something.....It continues to amaze me. I discover new things every day even on the streets I walk regularly. I don't know when you get tired of this.....

Atmosphere

BCN is full of life. It's not only the tourists but also the hundreds international people who live here -- some more permanently, others -- temporary. Any time you go out, you can see that everyone is enjoying living in the city and the atmosphere is lively, noisy and many times in the city center -- dirty. It has such a positive and energetic vibe that you cannot not fall in love with it.

People

BCN attracts international people and you can socialize with people from around the world, exchange ideas and cultural experiences. The locals can be a different story. It's great to be with open people who love to have good times and are not afraid to meet new and different cultures. Many locals (not all, because I've have met some wonderful locals) seem the opposite. They are closed and don't really let internationals get closer to them. Which is too bad really but the city offers numerous possibilities.

Sunny days

The weather here is amazing! It has rained a few times since I got here and it the summer (even now) it was a downpour every time but there is so much rain as in USA or BG for example. And the sun!!!!! :) I love it! Most days are sunny and having tea on my rooftop terrace is an experience that I can hardly trade for anything else right now. Getting colder at the end of November but I hear that the temperature rarely gets below zero in the winter. Can definitely live at a place like this ;).

OK, will stop the list here for now and will continue again another time because this post will be too long otherwise.....Besos to all!!!!!!!! Oh I almost forgot! We have follower number 21!!!! :):):) Yeay!!!!

Students

I've officially become the bad teacher in the eyes of my teens (the younger ones). One of the parents apparently complained that some kids were doing school homework in my class (this is a parent of a boy who is definitely a lower level and his ENG is not that good...). First, why does she even care if it is not her son? Second, I'm there and watch them but if they are doing something besides the exercises I can't act like a policeman all the time! Jeez! So some harder measures were introduced including my boss talking to 2 students who disrupt the discipline. And I'm the bad one now. Teenagers. Go figure. Sometimes I wonder if we were like this too......

I have found out that I have some connections in retail stores :). One of my adult students works for Mango (which apparently is a Spanish company, based in BCN) and can get me discounts :):)). Another student has his own business -- a bunch of stores Jack&Jones. Wasn't familiar with the brand but it seems to be big here so some more discounts coming my way!!!!

Another adult student from my conversation classes seems to have taken a liking to me (I've started using some strange ENG which is what happens when you teach..lol)....His conversational ENG is really bad and it is a struggle to communicate. Last week he sent me an email talking about his weekend plans and at the end if I want to join him.....How about no, thanks?!?! On top of that he signs up for all my half-an-hour revision/conversation gaps between classes.

We've celebrated 2 birthdays in my girls' group (6-7-year olds) and have made beautiful crowns for these birthday princesses :). Kids love to cut, color, glue and of course make a big mess.... Plus one of the moms gave me some chocolate :). They seem to be learning (which surprises me considering all the chaos in the classroom) but that's great!

These are all the updates from school. Other updates -- not much really. Weather here has been pretty nice even though the past few days got colder. I haven't put a winter coat yet. :) Can't wait for the beginning of December when we get some days off! And then of course a long vacation.

Hiking and more

Top of the mountain :)

What a nice weekend!!! My weekends have turned into busy days with pretty much no time for weekly lesson planning, sitting behind the computer and even a book.......But don't get me wrong -- am NOT complaining! :) I've signed up to a few too many social networking websites and get messages from here and there even one from a fellow Bulgarian living in Berlin :). Just the city I've been thinking about visiting and there you go! Now I know someone there.....

Climbing rocks

The hike on Saturday started with a very very wake up (7am!) which is unheard of here, especially on a Saturday. But you don't want to miss such a beautiful day! The meeting place was conveniently close to me. A few Spanish people and internationals from all over the world, including an American couple from Cali (my "wow" city area), a German, Austrian, British, Iranian, Argentinian and Polish ;). Doesn't get more diverse. Seriously. And they all (except the Americans) speak Spanish......And English too but it's not like I get the Spanish jokes. Not yet.

It was extremely windy (hence my hair...)

So we were a really nice group of people who, unfortunately, had to get into 2 cars as the third car driver failed to show up. Not a big problem for 4 girls to sit in the back for a little over an hour.....Once we got there we started climbing the mountain. At first it was a regular hike through the woods. Pretty steep at a fast pace but am happy to report that was able to keep up most of the time with the first group. The rest of the time was in the middle group. After half an hour we reached some very steep and dangerous rocks and ... up we went! Cool, even though at some places (there was no way I could take pics as I had to figure out a way how to get up a perfectly smooth rock....) it looked impossible to go up. On one side there was the rock which seemed too tall and smooth; on the other side there was the deep nothing. Choice? Rocks....

The top!

Even though I was prepared (more or less) for a hike -- like had good boots, layers, some snacks -- I didn't really think to cut my nails and climbing rocks with nails....If you want to do it, better don't! :) Reaching the top was exhausting but so worth it! After a little break we went down (or I should say we almost ran down) and had reservations at a lovely restaurant. Very well deserved lunch!

The lovely restaurant

Beautiful forest

Didn't really get to see the fall leaves as they were all on the ground (it's November, right?) but the forest was lovely. On the side we were climbing it was pretty bare but on the side of the restaurant -- completely different. Meditereanean trees and everything was green! Were back in BCN around 6pm and it was a lovely day. Maybe would have been better without our Spanish guide who wanted to make a very clear point how fit he was and had to almost run the whole time but unfortunately for him there were no girls who thought he was impressive....

The cultural center

Sunday was a culture day with a friend. Saw the World Press Photo Exhibit, listened to some awesome street band and bought 2 CDs, ate free chestnuts (hit here in BCN at this time) and drank some wine, listened to an Italian opera singer on the street and drank some great Moroccan tea at a very nice and cosy place. 

A lovely weekend which I didn't want to end!!!! But looking forward to next one! And this week is turning to be pretty busy.....:) Stay tuned! Besos, Rxxxx

Another bank post?!

Wow, I can't believe that it's been six days since I wrote my last post.....Time really flies!!!! Weeks are kinda crazy and then weekends are for fun things and relaxation. Still trying to adjust myself to some better schedule where I go to bed before 1am and get up before 11am so that I can have more than 2-3 hours to do things (such as prepare my lessons lol).

Glad to tell you that I got up early the other day, took a bike and rode all the way up to my original bank branch to open a savings account. After waiting for 15 minutes I asked the girl (the same one actually that opened my checking account and speaks a little ENG) for it. Then she said that usually there is a girl who can do that but she is not here now so if I want to come another time and day. After having gotten up earlier than usual and ridden a bike which was pretty exhausting (first it was uphill, then it's not really that easy to ride one in BCN -- on the road you have to be careful about vehicles not hitting you and on the sidewalk you have to be careful not to hit a pedestrian lol) I firmly said no and started explaining that I already tried at the branch which is closer to me and am not moving from here.

Finally she said OK but I had to wait for her colleague about 15 minutes. I sat down patiently. The 15 minutes turned into 25 and finally the colleague came back from somewhere and when I sat across from her, I felt like I had won a million bucks! Then she explained the whole damn thing in Spanish.....She knew some ENG but asked me if I understood a little Spanish and went on and on....Well I had to repeat what I thought she had said in ENG just to make sure. And am still not very sure about the whole savings thing. There is something about taking money out of it 3 times and then it gets cancelled (or the interest you are supposed to earn after 1 year gets cancelled). Don't ask me why they don't have just a regular savings account where you can deposit and withdraw money as you need.....

Anyway, there goes another bank blog..Oh I have to say that I've discovered one positive thing that I like. I had to go and pay the electric bill and gave the slip to the cashier. He said I had to do it at the ATM. So there are these cool ATMs where you can do tons of things -- scan the bar code of your bills and pay directly; put money on your phone; regular ATM functions and many more which I haven't even discovered yet. Cool, right?! :) I love it because that means no waiting in line at the bank.

No pics this time. Haven't taken any recently. Going on a hike on Saturday though so expect some pics! And my hair is growing! Haven't had desire (and money) to cut it since I got here (beg of August) so we will see what I will decide once I go back to Bulgaria in December. Tempted to let it grow, a little frustrated with the way it looks --- hard decisions!

No title

The center of the labyrinth

Friends, I had some time on my hands and played with the blog. I figured that a change from time to time will not be bad at all so let me know if you like or or not. I also wanted to get your opinion on the blog itself, topics, pics -- anything that else you'd like to see more, less of and so forth. So shoot me an email with any suggestions.

It feels like summer in BCN!!! :) I'm loving the weather in November and my rooftop terrace is wonderful! Walks in the city, parks, light clothes -- what is not to love!  I realized I haven't posted any pics from a beautiful park I visited last week -- a real hidden treasure in BCN.

A very old building

It's called Labyrinth Park and is gorgeous! Old buildings, trees, waterfall, river and a labyrinth! It is amazing how many interesting places the city has to offer. Not really a big city but full of attractions, places, bars, parks for everyone. 

The labyrinth

Another gorgeous building with a lake

This week was an interesting teaching week :). I can say that finally I'm getting a hold of my kids -- not just class discipline (that includes: no walking around, no screaming and shouting, no standing on top of chairs and tables, no biting and hitting other kids) but also learning! Getting a little better with my in-company classes too -- after one of the men declared that stuff was too easy, I bumped up things a little and he pronounced me  as "an evil woman". :) He now knows what to wish for next time. One of my privates is an older guy with whom I need tons of patience. Very nice person, good conversations but Present Simple and Continuous are just not his tenses......Patience! My 13-15-year-old teens are devils! Trying different tactics but haven't found the one that actually works with them. Gave a test for my older teens and already had to have separate conversations with 3 of them. Teaching is proving to be quite difficult (not that I thought otherwise but....) only because it involves so much use of brain and concentration that after a few hours you are exhausted. Anyway, still loving it!!!!

People, if you are still reading this and are not signed up to follow me, please click on the button! And leave a comment. One word will do! Thanks!!!!! Besos!!!