I know I'm in Barcelona when I wake up at ten o'clock and think it is early.
I know I'm in Barcelona when I walk outside and receive stares from the locals because I'm a lot taller than everyone else.
I know I'm in Barcelona when I walk on the side of the street and see the same homeless man passed out on the bench outside of an apartment store that reads, "en tempo de recesio', ten k consrver," which translates from Catalan to, "in times of recession, use your money wisely."
I know I'm in Barcelona when I walk down into the subway and see the same elderly man in front of the ticket booth dressed in a sports jumpsuit, asking me something in Catalan with a metro ticket in his hand.
I know I'm in Barcelona when I swipe my semester metro pass through the machine and walk downstairs to see my other elderly friend dressed in an old looking suit, singing opera out of tune every morning on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays before class.
Barcelona is so much more than Passeig de Gracia.
Its so much more than the fashionable stores our mothers love shopping in.
Spain is obviously going through a tough time in their history as almost 20 percent of their population in unemployed.
At the same time, this has been my home for almost three months. I'm used to the same things others would be appalled by.
I've had the most amazing time here and I look forward to making the best out of the remaining three weeks I have left.
I think I could see myself living here after college if the opportunity presented itself.
Until next time guys, Jgendy.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Trip up north
Just wanted to give yall an update on my life at this point. I'm leaving san sebastian on the way back to vitoria (ill write a blog entry). I had the most delicious flounder caught off the northern coast of spain. it was big enough for the two of us. Zack and I had an incredible two days, as we have hung out with the kids I met this summer and have taken a short trip to another city for the day. The sun is setting in beautiful basque country. Fronm my window, I look out onto the green, sheep-filled hinterland mountains. New york simply does not compare.
I know I have said thanks before for this trip and opportunity in my life. But, sometimes when you're listening to a little Bruce Springstein in a foreign country, tipsey off a little homemade house white wine, do you realize how amazing of an experience this is.
Zack and I met this Spanish woman on the way here on the bus. We asked her to verify our diestination going to San Sebastian because our ticket read "Dostian"...evidently that means San Sebastian in Euskera (Basque).
We wound up talking the rest of the ride about Spanish and American differences...we discussed university majors and studies, college sports, and other interesting topics. She offered to show us around the city from a local perspective and we definitely capitalized on that opportunity. When she left us, we took photos together... when I get home I'll forward her a picture I took on my camera.
My friend Jon Pereda waits for us at the bus station in Vitoria. His sister, whom I met this summer, invited us to dinner with her husand and child at their house. Obvously, ill take a free meal when I can. Thank God I ate a fat Flounder because otherwise I don't think she would invite me over again.
Afterwards, we are going to meet up with the girls I also hung out with this summer and together we'll go to this discoteca "Cool." (The local hotspot)
...A little snippet of my life on this wonderful Saturday abroad. To repeat myself, thanks for everything yall have given me. I truly do appreciate ever moment.
Say hi to Lexi. I saw a beautiful standard poodle last night.
Love, Jeffrey
I know I have said thanks before for this trip and opportunity in my life. But, sometimes when you're listening to a little Bruce Springstein in a foreign country, tipsey off a little homemade house white wine, do you realize how amazing of an experience this is.
Zack and I met this Spanish woman on the way here on the bus. We asked her to verify our diestination going to San Sebastian because our ticket read "Dostian"...evidently that means San Sebastian in Euskera (Basque).
We wound up talking the rest of the ride about Spanish and American differences...we discussed university majors and studies, college sports, and other interesting topics. She offered to show us around the city from a local perspective and we definitely capitalized on that opportunity. When she left us, we took photos together... when I get home I'll forward her a picture I took on my camera.
My friend Jon Pereda waits for us at the bus station in Vitoria. His sister, whom I met this summer, invited us to dinner with her husand and child at their house. Obvously, ill take a free meal when I can. Thank God I ate a fat Flounder because otherwise I don't think she would invite me over again.
Afterwards, we are going to meet up with the girls I also hung out with this summer and together we'll go to this discoteca "Cool." (The local hotspot)
...A little snippet of my life on this wonderful Saturday abroad. To repeat myself, thanks for everything yall have given me. I truly do appreciate ever moment.
Say hi to Lexi. I saw a beautiful standard poodle last night.
Love, Jeffrey
Thursday, November 18, 2010
UPF versus UDL
Just got back from a two hour bus ride to the western part of Catalunia. The team was legitimately awful. We won by 30 points....I think the final score was around 102-68. I had 13 points with one three pointer. Our two best players each scored 30 a piece and they made it look easy.
Their stadium was actually pretty cool. It holds about 1,000 for the club team.
My friend Uri and I. He plays the point...quick, agile, controls the ball well and has a nice shot. I'd say he is just under 6 feet....back up point guard.
Julian on the right is the other American on the team. He plays a decent amount....I'd say around 6'3, controls the ball well, not a good shot, can't post but sneakily finds ways to drop two or three buckets a game.
Me in action...lookin good
Me and our best player. He's about 6'2, lightning quick, amazing shot, great passer, and handles the ball very well under pressure. He played on the same team as Ricky Rubio up until two or three years ago. I believe he's in the 3rd or 4th club league....4 leagues below the ACB (Spain's NBA). One of the most talented players I've seen in the league. He dropped 30 plus today.
URi and I on the bus
Small actiona shot. They were awful...like really bad. I'd compare their team to a poor team in FAA or Ivy league in Alex and my high school leagues.
Today was awesome though because got to skip class for a justified absence, and they paid for our lunch. the team request: McDonalds.
If we win our next game in two weekends, we advance to the championship of Catalunya....only the top 4 teams out of 8 go to nationals. Unfortunately, I won't be here because it takes place in January, but hopefully they'll do well granted we win next week. They regionals take place in Gerona and the school pays for a trip there just an hour north of Barcelona.
I'm learning a lot new vocabulary from hanging around the guys.....and I'm also picking up on some Catalan, but I'd say I could understood maybe 20% of their conversations.
Only 30 days today left until the end of the semester. Ill keep up with some new blog stuff this week.
Uncle Jimmy is here on a business trip so I'm taking him out tonight for some good food and perhaps a bar after....let me restate that. Jimmy is taking me out financially. We went to this place two nights ago called "La Cervesería Catalana" and it was sooo good. Perhaps, my favorite restaurant in Barcelona. People say they make the best tappas. We sipped on sangria and talked to the couple next to us from Holland, currently living in France. Hearing about their lifestyle was interesting in comparison to ours. They do a lot of traveling and "tienen ganas" (have desires) to live in California next year.
Until next time, Adieu (catalan's "adios")
Their stadium was actually pretty cool. It holds about 1,000 for the club team.
My friend Uri and I. He plays the point...quick, agile, controls the ball well and has a nice shot. I'd say he is just under 6 feet....back up point guard.
Julian on the right is the other American on the team. He plays a decent amount....I'd say around 6'3, controls the ball well, not a good shot, can't post but sneakily finds ways to drop two or three buckets a game.
Today was awesome though because got to skip class for a justified absence, and they paid for our lunch. the team request: McDonalds.
If we win our next game in two weekends, we advance to the championship of Catalunya....only the top 4 teams out of 8 go to nationals. Unfortunately, I won't be here because it takes place in January, but hopefully they'll do well granted we win next week. They regionals take place in Gerona and the school pays for a trip there just an hour north of Barcelona.
I'm learning a lot new vocabulary from hanging around the guys.....and I'm also picking up on some Catalan, but I'd say I could understood maybe 20% of their conversations.
Only 30 days today left until the end of the semester. Ill keep up with some new blog stuff this week.
Uncle Jimmy is here on a business trip so I'm taking him out tonight for some good food and perhaps a bar after....let me restate that. Jimmy is taking me out financially. We went to this place two nights ago called "La Cervesería Catalana" and it was sooo good. Perhaps, my favorite restaurant in Barcelona. People say they make the best tappas. We sipped on sangria and talked to the couple next to us from Holland, currently living in France. Hearing about their lifestyle was interesting in comparison to ours. They do a lot of traveling and "tienen ganas" (have desires) to live in California next year.
Until next time, Adieu (catalan's "adios")
Sunday, November 14, 2010
FC Barcelona versus VIllareal
I was fortunate enough to go to another FC Barcelona game last night with some of the students in my dorm. The 95,000 person stadium was completely sold out. I didn´t see an empty seat. The level of competition was beyond better this time than that of the previous game I attended. For 90 minutes the stadium rumbled with Spanish cheers.
Both teams were fighting for second place in the league. Barcelona simply outplayed Villareal. They won every ball and distributed their possessions nicely. The 23 year old Messi scored twice...he is unreal. I would compare him to the Steve Nash of soccer because he is so smooth, has fantastic touch and sees the field better than anybody.
Luckily, nobody tried to pickpocket me last night because I was not in the mood. My hands were parked in both pockets every second I was underground. It is truly such a shame to have to constantly be on alert.
I´m currently reading a 350 page book for my Literature class called "El fin de la Guerra Fría" so I aplogize for such a short blog.
My uncle jimmy is coming in two days. Can´t wait to tear it up with him
Thursday, November 11, 2010
FC Barcelona
Last night we went to the FC Barcelona game against some random sub-division team from one of the Spanish colonies in Morocco. It was so much fun and a blast...except for one blemish of the night, but I´ll get to that later... I saw Messi score a goal, and several other spectacular players on the Barcelona team. Definitely very cool. They won 6-1 and coasted through a sweet win, and my first real European soccer game.
They don´t serve alcohol at the soccer games because people would literally kill each other. Instead, you have a couple drinks before the game at the local bars around the stadium. I unfortunately did not hang around the stadium, but rather had dinner with my friend Alexa, her mother, and the rest of our friends.
Anyway, a scary moment. I walk onto the metro with both of hands in both of my pockets as usual...just to be safe...I felt a hand trying to slide itself into my left pocket. I grabbed the guys hand with my right hand and said, (as a heads up...I said a lot worse things then Im about to quote myself saying, but for the circumstances of a PG rated blog, Ill keep it classy) "Sir, what do you think you are doing?" To which he replied, ·"Como?" I said back, "I just took your hand out of my pocket. Who do you think you are?" (Again, I was not this calm). He responded, "No, No. soy innocente. innocente."
Angrier....I said, "Its people like you who make these subways dangerous.....(I pushed him because he moved in front of me) "You better watch you back and get off at the next stop". As I made a scene in the middle of the metro, a few other English-speaking people overheard me yelling and asked if i had just caught this guy trying to pickpocket me....I briefly explained the situation and half the metro car applauded. The little 5 foot 3 Spanish man and his accomplice ran off at the following station...
Not that I think I´m that big of a guy, but why in the world would a 5'3 little weak Spanish man try to steal from me, who´se a solid foot taller than him.
My adrenaline rush didn´t seize until about an hour later...I shook during the beginning of the game because I was this close to clocking him in the jaw. Had Alexas mother not been there, I think I would have reacted differently. But in retrospect, I think I handled it appropriately. On a comic note, I was apologizing to Alexa´s mother for using expletives as I screamed at this guy...she reassured me if that had happened to her she would have caused even more of a scene.
On another notes, check out some pics from the game
They don´t serve alcohol at the soccer games because people would literally kill each other. Instead, you have a couple drinks before the game at the local bars around the stadium. I unfortunately did not hang around the stadium, but rather had dinner with my friend Alexa, her mother, and the rest of our friends.
Anyway, a scary moment. I walk onto the metro with both of hands in both of my pockets as usual...just to be safe...I felt a hand trying to slide itself into my left pocket. I grabbed the guys hand with my right hand and said, (as a heads up...I said a lot worse things then Im about to quote myself saying, but for the circumstances of a PG rated blog, Ill keep it classy) "Sir, what do you think you are doing?" To which he replied, ·"Como?" I said back, "I just took your hand out of my pocket. Who do you think you are?" (Again, I was not this calm). He responded, "No, No. soy innocente. innocente."
Angrier....I said, "Its people like you who make these subways dangerous.....(I pushed him because he moved in front of me) "You better watch you back and get off at the next stop". As I made a scene in the middle of the metro, a few other English-speaking people overheard me yelling and asked if i had just caught this guy trying to pickpocket me....I briefly explained the situation and half the metro car applauded. The little 5 foot 3 Spanish man and his accomplice ran off at the following station...
Not that I think I´m that big of a guy, but why in the world would a 5'3 little weak Spanish man try to steal from me, who´se a solid foot taller than him.
My adrenaline rush didn´t seize until about an hour later...I shook during the beginning of the game because I was this close to clocking him in the jaw. Had Alexas mother not been there, I think I would have reacted differently. But in retrospect, I think I handled it appropriately. On a comic note, I was apologizing to Alexa´s mother for using expletives as I screamed at this guy...she reassured me if that had happened to her she would have caused even more of a scene.
Game versus University of Barcelona
Wow is all I have to say....i thought European basketball was legitimately sub-par in comparison to the United States. In some aspects perhaps this may true, but definitely not in every. In our loss to the University of Barcelona yesterday 69-41, I witnessed the reality of European shooting. Here, players are fundamental and run offense all the way through.
I started my first game for Pomeu Fabra at the 3 position because our best player was ill and could not play. He was also our biggest offensive weapon, so i knew I needed to step it up. Within the first 3 minutes of play, I had 6 points. 2 ten footers, and a back door cut lay up. My coach was beyond ecstatic with me...out of the corner of my eye I saw this little 5'3 Spanish man jumping up and down yelling, "Yeuff, Yeuff" (Translation="Jeff!, Jeff"). Little did he know playing up in a 2-3 zone on defense, lined up against their best player who plays in the ACB (the national league), would cause me fatigue....the 6'5 shooter pulled up from way beyond the arc...way beyond. Continuing my scoring run was almost impossible having to spring back on defense.
I believe the team as a whole shot an efficient 60% from 3-point range. It was absurd. Every bucket went in....Before the end of the half, I had a break away lay up to but put my pt total up to 8 points that game. At this point though, we were not out of it. The difference in score had been as large as 15, but our second line did a great job at coming back and cutting it to three. The half ended and it was a 5 point game.
The third quarter started and they legitimately blew us out of the water. It felt as if they kicked into another gear. I hit a deep three in the last fourth quarter to make myself look good, breaking into double digits for an 11 point finish.
We play our final game of the season next thursday away against another team in Catalunia. If we beat them, then we play the next winner from their bracket, but if we lose, "ya está" as the Spanish people here say....(thats it).
Heres a picture of my buddy Julian and I, the only two Americans on the team.
Despite the poor quality...here´s a pic of University of Barcelon´s team...
I started my first game for Pomeu Fabra at the 3 position because our best player was ill and could not play. He was also our biggest offensive weapon, so i knew I needed to step it up. Within the first 3 minutes of play, I had 6 points. 2 ten footers, and a back door cut lay up. My coach was beyond ecstatic with me...out of the corner of my eye I saw this little 5'3 Spanish man jumping up and down yelling, "Yeuff, Yeuff" (Translation="Jeff!, Jeff"). Little did he know playing up in a 2-3 zone on defense, lined up against their best player who plays in the ACB (the national league), would cause me fatigue....the 6'5 shooter pulled up from way beyond the arc...way beyond. Continuing my scoring run was almost impossible having to spring back on defense.
I believe the team as a whole shot an efficient 60% from 3-point range. It was absurd. Every bucket went in....Before the end of the half, I had a break away lay up to but put my pt total up to 8 points that game. At this point though, we were not out of it. The difference in score had been as large as 15, but our second line did a great job at coming back and cutting it to three. The half ended and it was a 5 point game.
The third quarter started and they legitimately blew us out of the water. It felt as if they kicked into another gear. I hit a deep three in the last fourth quarter to make myself look good, breaking into double digits for an 11 point finish.
We play our final game of the season next thursday away against another team in Catalunia. If we beat them, then we play the next winner from their bracket, but if we lose, "ya está" as the Spanish people here say....(thats it).
Despite the poor quality...here´s a pic of University of Barcelon´s team...
Their best players are also currently sitting on the bench...
Monday, November 8, 2010
"Señora, estoy aqui"
Every Wednesday or Monday morning, I fear the cleaning ladies are going to slam on my door. Little do they know the noise resonates throughout my room like an earthquake. I swear one day I´m going to have a heart attack....
As expected, this morning an atomic bomb went off at around 10 am. Clearly disoriented but still cognizant, i screamed back "Señora, estoy aqui, dentro de la habitación." In English...."Lady, I´m here inside the room." I slept for another three minutes.....BOOM!!! BOOM!!! My voice more irritated, "Señora, estoy en la habitación!" I was officially awake...that´s for sure. I got out of bed, stood up, stretched, cracked my back. I´m simply standing in my room, throwing the extra clothes on the floor in the laundry which I havn´t done for about a month now, and my body shakes again. BOOM BOOM BOOM. "Señora, estoy aqui" I guess, that wasn´t good enough for her. She continues to open the door to find me standing there in my underwear. I was about to shower and was in the process of taking them off.....I've never seen a door close quicker than it opened. I guess she hadn't seen a set of 2 pack-abs as nice as mine.
Tomorrow I have an Art and Artists paper due about Joan Miro and one of his works. Then, I have a game against University of Barcelona in the afternoon. Wednesday, I have a class presentation about two Spanish poems written in the 1940s...at least I'm interested in these areas of study, not.
On Sunday, I went to Montserrat this weekend with my friend Alexa's parents, Emily Nikkel and her mother, and Amanda Gadaleta. It was arguably the most beautiful site I've seen in Spain. Millions of years ago, water carved through this 5,000 foot, completey vertical mountain to created some of the most extraordinary images known today. Atop the mountain there is a beautiful monastery on which people make daily religious pilgrimages. Here's a pic.....until next time, peace
As expected, this morning an atomic bomb went off at around 10 am. Clearly disoriented but still cognizant, i screamed back "Señora, estoy aqui, dentro de la habitación." In English...."Lady, I´m here inside the room." I slept for another three minutes.....BOOM!!! BOOM!!! My voice more irritated, "Señora, estoy en la habitación!" I was officially awake...that´s for sure. I got out of bed, stood up, stretched, cracked my back. I´m simply standing in my room, throwing the extra clothes on the floor in the laundry which I havn´t done for about a month now, and my body shakes again. BOOM BOOM BOOM. "Señora, estoy aqui" I guess, that wasn´t good enough for her. She continues to open the door to find me standing there in my underwear. I was about to shower and was in the process of taking them off.....I've never seen a door close quicker than it opened. I guess she hadn't seen a set of 2 pack-abs as nice as mine.
Tomorrow I have an Art and Artists paper due about Joan Miro and one of his works. Then, I have a game against University of Barcelona in the afternoon. Wednesday, I have a class presentation about two Spanish poems written in the 1940s...at least I'm interested in these areas of study, not.
On Sunday, I went to Montserrat this weekend with my friend Alexa's parents, Emily Nikkel and her mother, and Amanda Gadaleta. It was arguably the most beautiful site I've seen in Spain. Millions of years ago, water carved through this 5,000 foot, completey vertical mountain to created some of the most extraordinary images known today. Atop the mountain there is a beautiful monastery on which people make daily religious pilgrimages. Here's a pic.....until next time, peace
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