8. Lost in translation

A month in a University with extraordinary rules, endless ventures of tourism and some amazing cava.

Firstly, I can't even comprehend the fact I have been here for a month and a half, time has flown by. However I feel like my language  of Spanish has improved, with a bit of Catalan, French and German thrown in there.
I have learnt a lot in the past month about rules and regulations here. Mainly that you can leave a lecture when you want for the loo but if you are five minutes late, there is no entering the class, or all hell breaks lose. Also, I have been bombarded by work, I am yet to have a day where I have completed everything.

I have also realized that concepts can get quickly lost in translation, and part of becoming fluent in a language is experiencing the awkward moments. The word 'awkward' also does not exist in Spanish and I am yet to find anything sufficient to put across my feeling of these moments, so I just stand there looking at the floor.
 For example, I was at my aunties the other day and when I was leaving they said '¿Tienes su movile?´ which i translate to do you have your aunties mobile, in which I responded, no ofcourse I don't I just have my own in my bag. In the end I realised they meant did I have her number in my phone.
And then an example with someone from my own country. I told my friend I was going to a tandem, and she instantly assumed I meant I was riding on a tandem bike, instead of a tandem exchange where people converse in different languages. Therefore, confusion can occur in your maternal language as well as your foreign language.


Also to update my tourism diary, I am happy to say, I am starting to feel like a citizen here, although I still love exploring new places.
The other weekend me and my friends travelled to Zaragoza, which is about four hours away from Barcelona. We went when 'La fiesta del Pilar' was happening; the busiest weekend of the year. However, it made it that much better, we ate churros, watched many spectacles and explore the beautiful city.
I have now also seen the amazing Magical fountains of Monjuic, what a spectacle! I was actually shocked at how grand it is, and how I could stand there for an hour watching water and lights. But it was simply amazing.

 I have also ventured around town, into La Boqueria, where I want to buy every kind of fruit, meat and fish, don't go there when you are hungry as you will end up buying everything, just like I did.


The highlight of my week was 'La champaneria' A little place near la Barcenoleta where you get can a glass of cava for one euro and an array of tapas, without breaking the bank. Also to top it all off, you have a bit  of that pure Spanish culture as there are no seats, so everyone stands round the bar, drinking and munching away, what a great ambience.


"Barcelona is a very old city in which you can feel the weight of history; it is haunted by history. You cannot walk around it without perceiving it" -Carlos Ruiz Zafron