I've had many many classes since I last wrote. I'm getting to the point where it's more of a struggle to want to go to them just because I'm so incredibly exhausted from all the translation. Fortunately (unfortunately?) class attendance is "obligatory" so there's no deciding if I should go or not. But the teachers are fun and each have their own special personalities so it's not the worst thing ever ;P Also they want us to be practicing our Spanish so they ask how are weekends are and get us talking about different things. It's nice because they most of them don't have a specific curriculum to get through so they don't rush through things and if we end up talking about my weekend in Barcelona and the political structure of Spain and Cataluña for 40 of our 60 minutes in class, it's okay (yes that happened today).
Mom and Dad have been here since Tuesday. So, much of this past week has been showing them around. I got to show them the beach and the city center and the Ciudad de las Artes y Ciencias. It's been a fun experience trying to maneuver around this city. I've never driven it, so I've been very little help. But it made me realize how much more Spanish I've learned since I've been here. It doesn't feel like it sometimes because it's a day a time. But I know enough to get us around and to express most of what I'm trying to say when people are patient with me. So that's encouraging.
Then this weekend we went to Barcelona. Oh my. We got there and the only thing in my head was "I'm so fancy". The city felt very English European to me. I've never been to England. But because of the huge amounts of tourists that go there, there was English all around. At most restaurants the servers spoke English (only a little disappointed) and the tours we went on were in English as well.
We went on a walking tour when we first got there with the guy, Reuben from the UK. He was hilarious. I couldn't handle it. I laughed so much more than anyone else (go figure) which I'll never understand. Why don't people just laugh when things are funny?! Anyway, it was super interesting AND exciting for me to hear in English and see in person some of the things that I've been learning about in History.
We also visited the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell which we were there. Both were absolutely beautiful and packed with tourists. Everything in me rebels at the idea of being a tourist. I just want to learn the people and places and cultures. BUT when you only have 2 days, what can you do? It was fun to see everything.
My gosh have I fallen in love with Europe. Wow. I freaking love it here. If I could take all the people I love and miss and bring them here with me, by golly, I would never leave.
We went to Hillsong Barcelona Sunday morning! It was so good! Ugh! Matt Olthoff spoke in English and another guy translated into Spanish which was helpful for my Spanish because I was able to see how he translated specific phrases. Both of them were so passionate and he/they spoke about dreams, which gets me every time. Matt talked about how he was pastoring a mega church in California when he felt God calling him to more. He talked about how Moses held his staff, which represented all that he was (livelihood, protection, provision), in his hand and all it was was a dead piece of wood. But when he let go of that and set it down when God told him to, it became a living, breathing thing. I was so fired up. So good. I can't wait to see what happens when God breathes life into my dreams. I guess I'm seeing it now, being in Spain. The world is at my fingertips.
Tonight Mom and Dad came over for dinner with my host family. My heart is so full. I learned so much about my host family that I didn't know before. And I talked more to them than I have all together before. Usually I talk with Begoña (mom) and sometimes Sofia and Monica, but not usually the guys. And not all together. I love them all so much. It was so fun to have them all together and to be able to translate for them when they wouldn't know how to say things in English. It's nerve wracking to translate from Spanish to English when they understand a little of it because I'm rarely 100% on my understanding of what they're saying and I don't want to get it wrong. But it was good.
I'm so incredibly blessed to live with this family and to have this opportunity.
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