A few select pictures

Our school recently had a Study Abroad picture contest. There were four categories, which I cannot remember, and you could submit pictures to each one. There'd be a winner in each category and the prize was $50. You could only win one category at most.

So I compiled a ton of pictures from my study abroad experience, but I didn't enter the contest. Why? Because this semester is so unbelievably busy that it's ridiculous.

Here are some pictures I just love, some are repeats, but it's really the creme de la creme of the photos I have from my whole semester, which is a LOT.

A boy (or girl?) whistling to the tunes played during the parade on San Sebastian Day.

A child dressed as a leprechaun for the parade.

A group of girls in costume for the parade, banging barrels to the beat.

A young boy in a chef hat, blue and white (San Sebastian's colors) carrying a drum to play along with the La Tamborrada.

Overlooking the water in Lisboa, Portugal, from the castle entrance.

Raquel, Natalia and Ana sitting by the water in Barcelona.

Me and the lizard fountain in Parc Guell in Barcelona.

Cool rock archways in Parc Guell, Barcelona.

Weird Samurai man in Parc Guell, Barcelona. I watch him with a smile as he does some sword moves.

More kids from the parade from San Sebastian Day.

Entraince of Parc Guell, this man poses for pictures dressed as the famous lizard fountain.

Palm trees in a park in Barcelona

Obama's face...in a window of a sushi restaurant...in Barcelona...

Sleeping/laughing in the sun on the dock in Barcelona.

Raquel, Me and Ana in front of the water in Barcelona.

A view of Toledo, Spain as we drive towards it during the Madrid Tour.

The creek/river in Toledo as we drive over a bridge.

I just love how European I look right here, don't you? This is at Palacio Royal in Madrid.

View of Madrid as we drive from the airport to our hotel.

Raquel, Ana, Natalia and I scream as we are eaten by a shark in Barcelona

Fishies in the Aquarium in Lisboa, Portugal.

Interesting graffiti in Porto, Portugal.

Giant cider barrels in San Sebastian

View from the 2nd bridge with Ana, walking home one night from the bars.

Toledo? Ohio?! In Toledo, Spain.

Natalie, Me, May and Cassi in a garden in Sevilla.

The beautiful beach in Lagos (and the first time we saw great weather during spring break)

In the same garden as the previous group shot, in Sevilla, with May, Natalie, Mary Kate and myself.

View of Lisboa, Portugal from the castle rooftop.

Alex (or Mary Kate?), Natalie and Cassi in awe at Lisboa's aquarium.

Cassi, Becky, Megan and Annette walking in the fog on our 3 hour hike in Burgos.

I just love these pictures.

The pics from Toledo and Madrid are from the Madrid tour, the Barcelona pics are obviously from when we went to Barcelona over Valentine's day weekend, San Sebastian day was January 20th (some USAC students wore aprons for the celebration, but wrote "Obama" in big letters, too, as it was his inauguration that day), the Lagos, Sevilla, Porto and Lisboa pics are from Spring Break (Holy week) and Burgos pics are from the week after that, for our overnight trip with USAC.

Today is a Good Day

Today when I woke up, I somehow felt like death (maybe it was the semi-cold I have? Or maybe the fact that I went to bed at 3am...and had to wake up at 9:30?) But, I think the day really turned around when I stepped out of the house this morning.

• As I crossed the street to catch the bus to class, it was just rounding the corner. I ran for a block to the stop and ACTUALLY CAUGHT IT! Normally efforts that require physical activity are unrewarding to me, but alas!
  



• Spanish Track today had a quiz, but after it we had a chance to self-grade to get a rough idea of what we would get on the test. of the 100 sentences that had 2 blanks to fill for each, I only got 4 fill-ins wrong! That's gonna be an A on my first test in Spain!




• We got to watch a movie after our test!




• After my Track Class, I got out just in time to walk across the street and Angela, Natalia, Ana and I waited only 30 seconds until the bus came.




• Back in El Centro, I was able to get cash to pay the month's rent, and therefore didn't have to make an extra trip. PS: Carrying a wad of 400 euros is very intimidating and you become extra cautious of people...




• I briefly went shopping with Angela, and I got a small over the shoulder purse for going out. It is purple and adorable! And it was on REBAJAS (sale) for 5.99 euros.




• The aforementioned purse, at the register, rang up to be only 3.99 euros!!!

• By the time we left the store, siesta was over and the pharmacy was open so I had a chance to stop by there and get another task done: buying cold medicine. (more about this excursion later!)




• The woman at the pharmacy said my Spanish was great.




• Today was beautiful weather, a solid 58 degrees or so, and while it was cloudy, it was not very windy and much nicer compared to days past. Also, I got home with perfect timing, because 10 minutes after I stepped foot in the house, it rained! But I just missed it!




• When I got home, I was able to enjoy a lovely snack of Tostadas and Nutella, but the Tostadas are NOT Mexican tostadas...they are more like the things Bruschetta is served on here in the US. This is what Spanish tostadas look like, they are crispy like crackers:

• I had a chance to update my blog!



• I have very little homework!