Hola! Last night in Barcellona, this month has FLOWN.
I'm very happy with my level of Spanish, it's enough for me to have decent conversations. Actually, I fear it's better than my French, which I've been studying for the past three years. I would have REALLY liked to stay a bit longer to get more fluent though. My big fear came true, French has almost entirely slipped out of my brain in the last four weeks. The course has also made me get to know a few people from Eastern European countries, of which I hadn't met anyone before.
I spent five lovely days in Mallorca. Visited the island a fair bit, beached, visited the charming capital Palma, siesta-ed, enjoyed the numerous free chupitos offered by clubs near my hostel.
In Barcelona, I also caught up with Tom again (we've now caught up in 4 countries together!) and my friend Alizee from Oz and her friend Anne-Marie. We went to watch a 1960 French film open-air film with Spanish subtitles, interesting. To ensure I didn't miss out on enjoying Barcelona, I rode my bike for numerous hours around the city, exploring its most unusual quartiers and sometimes snacking on churros whilst riding.
I also visited a lovely nearby beach town (and gay holiday destination), Sitges, the Casa Battlo, and finally the Sagrada Familia, which was totally worth it.
The last night, my flatmates cooked me dinner and we enjoyed some last times together... packing my suitcase again was a bit sad, but less than when leaving Milan.
I haven't posted any photos on the blog, but there are some wonderful ones on my facebook page which might be worth a look - the link is in a previous blog post.
Tomorrow I'll be back in Conegliano, my parents are waiting for me! After seven months it'll surely be nice to see them, get spoilt and most of all RELAX. Oh, and I'm REALLY looking forward to a decent pizza and gelato, of which I've been deprived for a whole month.
Hasta luego ;)
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Holaaaa...
before I run off for a few days to the island of Mallorca with no net, I'd better briefly update about Barcelona :)
Things are going just as well as I expected here. I'm enjoying the beach, the Spanish nightlife, the uncountable places to eat around the city, have made friends with a group of interesting people, have ridden a bicycle with no breaks, managed to survive a whole week without a map, and after two weeks advanced to the most advanced Spanish class my school has! I do wish I could stay a bit longer... there are so many things to do here.
Then again, I'm looking forward to seeing mother and father in 3D version after 7 months.
That's all I think! Sorry :p
Hasta luego... when I return from my island getaway ;)
before I run off for a few days to the island of Mallorca with no net, I'd better briefly update about Barcelona :)
Things are going just as well as I expected here. I'm enjoying the beach, the Spanish nightlife, the uncountable places to eat around the city, have made friends with a group of interesting people, have ridden a bicycle with no breaks, managed to survive a whole week without a map, and after two weeks advanced to the most advanced Spanish class my school has! I do wish I could stay a bit longer... there are so many things to do here.
Then again, I'm looking forward to seeing mother and father in 3D version after 7 months.
That's all I think! Sorry :p
Hasta luego... when I return from my island getaway ;)
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
hola...
I'm not going to write much, because during this month I'm trying to use as lease English (or any language other than Spanish, for that matter) as possible.
Barcellona is great. I'm living with a Spanish chica and two chicos, who are all very relaxed and friendly. My room is cosy and lovely, as is the flat, so I'm happy with the housing solution I found. I've also adapted to Spanish times again like in Valencia... finishing lunches at 4pm, and dinners at 11pm ;)
Every (week) morning, from 9am to 1pm, I go to a Spanish school with 8 other students in the class. I'm learning a lot obviously and it's a nice way to meet other people; I find however they move a bit slowly through the content so I'm investing in some private lessons a few times a week.
I'm very pleasantly surprised at how much I can understand and make my way through long conversations. It definately is confusing as I expected, in the sense that when you're talking Spanish (half guessed based on Italian) to a Frenchie, in the company of English speakers... it's common to not notice the change in languages, or respond to someone in another language! Very interesting and fun.
Also, I've had Mary over lately, she's "couch-surfing" with me for 6 days. We had a fun weekend which included some beaching, a very relaxed pool barbecue with about 20 people at a beach town just out of Barça, and a massive free music festival at the Montjuic park, situated on a small hill in the city along with a castle, museum and other charming things.
Y ahora me voy, hasta luego :)
Barcellona is great. I'm living with a Spanish chica and two chicos, who are all very relaxed and friendly. My room is cosy and lovely, as is the flat, so I'm happy with the housing solution I found. I've also adapted to Spanish times again like in Valencia... finishing lunches at 4pm, and dinners at 11pm ;)
Every (week) morning, from 9am to 1pm, I go to a Spanish school with 8 other students in the class. I'm learning a lot obviously and it's a nice way to meet other people; I find however they move a bit slowly through the content so I'm investing in some private lessons a few times a week.
I'm very pleasantly surprised at how much I can understand and make my way through long conversations. It definately is confusing as I expected, in the sense that when you're talking Spanish (half guessed based on Italian) to a Frenchie, in the company of English speakers... it's common to not notice the change in languages, or respond to someone in another language! Very interesting and fun.
Also, I've had Mary over lately, she's "couch-surfing" with me for 6 days. We had a fun weekend which included some beaching, a very relaxed pool barbecue with about 20 people at a beach town just out of Barça, and a massive free music festival at the Montjuic park, situated on a small hill in the city along with a castle, museum and other charming things.
Y ahora me voy, hasta luego :)
Monday, June 27, 2011
5 days back in Conegliano... before barça =]
After leaving Milan last Wednesday and managing to carry all my stuff back on a train, I spent five days in Conegliano with nonna Gina. It was lovely to go out with a few friends and be surprised about just how many youth reside in this small town! :)
Conegliano is hot, summer is pretty much here.
I also spent a little bit of time "studying" the Spanish pocket dictionary I was given from Barbara, and packing my suitcase for Barcellona!
I'm meeting Agnes, one of my two Spanish roommates, at the train exit from the airport. I'm excited!
Updates soon :)
Conegliano is hot, summer is pretty much here.
I also spent a little bit of time "studying" the Spanish pocket dictionary I was given from Barbara, and packing my suitcase for Barcellona!
I'm meeting Agnes, one of my two Spanish roommates, at the train exit from the airport. I'm excited!
Updates soon :)
Saturday, June 18, 2011
ciao ciao Milano... :(
Nonna Gina... arrivo.
I am soon to sit my fourth and last oral exam which concludes my semester at the Catholic University of Milan.
I will then return to Veneto for five days, before heading to Barcellona for a month of learning Spanish, and a little bit of beach and dancing :)
Looking forward to having MJ come stay with me one week from June 30th... and Alizee and her friend from July 21st!
It does sadden me to leave Milan, a bit more than I first expected actually.
Coming from such a sunny, friendly and clean city like Perth, it's strange how much this smoggy, cold, often snobby city has drawn me in, intrigued me, almost made me fall in love. It's like that attraction towards something you know you shouldn't be attracted to, because you think you deserve better, because that thing doesn't make you feel wanted, maybe it teases you, or plays hard to get. That is Milan, personified. You have to have a strong character to dominate it.
Soooo on the other hand, I've had a lovely time here.
Especially on this street, via Sforza, which is on one of the main canals in Milan and is lined by my favourite bars and clubs.
... and cool people :)
Especially here:
The city looks to pretty at night, and alive.
I've never uploaded pictures of where we live!
So, this is the view from via Solari, our street. In between the two trees is the entrance to our block of apartments which surround an internal courtyard.
And here are some photos of the flat that Stefania (the third housemate) sent me before I'd confirmed moving in here.
And this is a snap of the markets which kept me busy and spending money every Tuesday and Saturday! It's one of the biggest market in Milan and happens to be a block away from our house. Lots of clothes etc but I mainly visited for fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, hams etc. Have made friends with a few of the regular sellers. There I go, turning into my grandmother ;)
I'll miss the majesty of the city centre.
But probably the thing I'll miss most about Milan:
MJ <3
I am soon to sit my fourth and last oral exam which concludes my semester at the Catholic University of Milan.
I will then return to Veneto for five days, before heading to Barcellona for a month of learning Spanish, and a little bit of beach and dancing :)
Looking forward to having MJ come stay with me one week from June 30th... and Alizee and her friend from July 21st!
It does sadden me to leave Milan, a bit more than I first expected actually.
Coming from such a sunny, friendly and clean city like Perth, it's strange how much this smoggy, cold, often snobby city has drawn me in, intrigued me, almost made me fall in love. It's like that attraction towards something you know you shouldn't be attracted to, because you think you deserve better, because that thing doesn't make you feel wanted, maybe it teases you, or plays hard to get. That is Milan, personified. You have to have a strong character to dominate it.
Soooo on the other hand, I've had a lovely time here.
Especially on this street, via Sforza, which is on one of the main canals in Milan and is lined by my favourite bars and clubs.
... and cool people :)
Especially here:
The city looks to pretty at night, and alive.
I've never uploaded pictures of where we live!
So, this is the view from via Solari, our street. In between the two trees is the entrance to our block of apartments which surround an internal courtyard.
And here are some photos of the flat that Stefania (the third housemate) sent me before I'd confirmed moving in here.
And this is a snap of the markets which kept me busy and spending money every Tuesday and Saturday! It's one of the biggest market in Milan and happens to be a block away from our house. Lots of clothes etc but I mainly visited for fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, hams etc. Have made friends with a few of the regular sellers. There I go, turning into my grandmother ;)
I'll miss the majesty of the city centre.
But probably the thing I'll miss most about Milan:
MJ <3
Saturday, June 4, 2011
hair mystery!
What's going on with my hair?
I keep getting called a blonde.
Sure we've had a few weeks of sun in Milan, but I've hardly caught enough to make any sense of how light my hair has become lately.
And so you can see the change... transition photos! This one was taken in Australian winter, 2010.
This second one was in mid-March 2011.
And here are two snaps I got today.
Not sure if there's something in the water here but I think that once exams are over I'm going to dye my hair a light brown, so I have a uniform colour at least. Opinions?
BAH! Mysteries of life.
...
or, petty things we notice when open to any banal distraction after hours of studying.
I keep getting called a blonde.
Sure we've had a few weeks of sun in Milan, but I've hardly caught enough to make any sense of how light my hair has become lately.
And so you can see the change... transition photos! This one was taken in Australian winter, 2010.
This second one was in mid-March 2011.
And here are two snaps I got today.
Not sure if there's something in the water here but I think that once exams are over I'm going to dye my hair a light brown, so I have a uniform colour at least. Opinions?
BAH! Mysteries of life.
...
or, petty things we notice when open to any banal distraction after hours of studying.
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