“Live for every moment as tomorrow is never promised”

So as many of you know the whole world seems to be at a stand still at the moment. Never in a million years would I have thought I would be in the middle of a country where a huge pandemic outbreak would occur. Barcelona in my eyes has went from a lively city to slowly transitioning into a ghost town. It honest feels weird to be in the middle of such a huge pandemic, especially because it is stemming from Europe itself. Back home we do have lost of cases of course but it does feel like a lot more pressure being in Europe. So far grocery stores have been selling out of lots of food.

Lots of businesses are closing down and people as of yesterday are being advise to stay in their house for the next 15 days as Spain will go into lock down. It has been sad to see all my friends go back to their home state so soon. I have only been here 2 months and I absolutely fell inlove with Barcelona. I will be continuing my blogs with all the other activities I did in Spain and what I learned with each experience. Like this whole trip, I am learning and living through new experiences.

I am learning to be better equipped with all this happening around the world right now. It definitely is something different but I am learning how to be safe and be cautious of the world around me. It really has also helped me realize that life is so crazy! Like It can be the case where I am having the time of my life in Spain and then BOOM! This outbreak happened. Things can switch within days and some things may never be the same. I am not sure if this makes sense but what I am now realizing is that tomorrow is never promised to be the same as today.

I know this may seem cliche and obvious but now that each day is getting worse with this epidemic and things being so uncertain right now. This just helps me appreciate life and small things so much more. Like some of us really take our health for granted and we don’t often realize this until we are ill. We should always give our body the best because it will return the favor when we need it the most. Now that I have to stay in Spain with my host family, this will help me see life in a new light. A different perspective. Help me see that tomorrow can and will be different from today. So how will I choose to live it? (-:

“Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.”

Today I got to be a part of history and I could not be any happier. I got to march with thousands of women today through the streets of Barcelona fighting for women right’s and equality. I found this very interesting to witness as both a Hispanic and a female for two reasons. One being the little jingles that they shout as the women march through the city. Their meanings are actually so powerful, I never knew of these Spanish jingles and I loved them all. My favorite was “sola, borracha, quiero llegar a casa”. This translates to “alone, or intoxicated, I want to make it home safe” I thought this was such a great quote especially now that I am abroad I totally understand how unsafe many women must feel walking around alone. The streets are always so quiet and dark. This obviously can/does happen in the United States but seeing it in another country just makes everything so much more ‘real’. It puts me in awe to see thousands of women across the world still experience what I do back in the states. Feeling unsafe, demanding for equality. I loved being able to see it first hand at today’s march.

Also, I love being able to read all the clever and powerful signs that the women create just for this march. Some are in English but most are in Spanish. I am so grateful that I can understand these powerful signs because they are so clever that it makes me laugh. Others are just so shockingly powerful that it creates a even bigger spark within me to demand for change. Second, just by being a female today reminds me how great it is to be a woman. I saw a sign that said “Whatever you can do, we can do while bleeding”. This was one of my favorite signs that I saw today because it makes total sense but I NEVER saw it in that perspective. I always associate my menstrual cycle with negativity as it being a sucky time of the month. That sign empowered me because it made me realize that it is so true! I remember being in high school and having to do my sport during the hardest times of the months and be expected not to complain about it! and I freaking did it and made it through like a champ!

I really enjoyed being surrounded by other women during this time. I got to even chat with some girls as they showed me their signs. I just felt like an instant connection to all the women there today. I learned a lot today just by being part of this march. I got to see the big differences of women’s march here, compared to back home in the United States. There was definitely way more women in the streets and they were accompanied by families, boyfriends, girlfriends, children, literally everyone supported this movement. There also was a marching band and dancers, it almost felt like a festival. I was honestly not very aware that this was happening here or that is was this popular. I don’t really know what exactly I was expecting but today definitely surpassed any of my expectations. I also saw thousands of people dressed in purple as that is the color of the feminist movement here in Barcelona. Many women went all out in purple outfits, painting their faces, wearing wigs, wtc. It was all so beautiful.

What a great day to be a WOMAN <3. Thank you Barcelona for reminding me of our great power and what I am and many other women are capable of!

“Safety does not come with lucky. It has to be prepared”

As I progress in my semester abroad I have learned some very valuables lessons that I think is extremely vital for other potential study abroad students to know. As a first generation student, to be going abroad to such a far country, many things may not come as first nature to us. I have had to gradually learn a lot about the city and the people to really be able to be aware of my surroundings and how to navigate in such a lively city.

Some of the advice I will say may be pretty obvious but you will be surprised how actually important these small customs are when you arrive in another country. We all know that everything is easier said than done, which is why it is crucial that one is aware that not all people are good people. Of course not all people are bad as well, but it is definitely better to be safe than sorry. Here is some of the advice I have for potential first generation students who are looking forward to studying abroad. These are just Some do’s and don’ts.

Be aware of your surroundings. Especially at night.

Barcelona is such a lively city and especially at night time. That is the time when everyone goes out to the bars and clubs and have a great time. But being from the United States, the locals will for sure be able to tell that you are not from here. Even if you speak Spanish, just by the way you speak and dress they will know that you are not from Spain. This being said, Americans are an easy target for a lot things such as theft or even being ripped off because they know that you will not know the difference. So with this information it is always good to do your research and ask around, maybe your host family of what parts of your area should you not go at night or clubs where many Americans go so that you can stay away from those. Being in a big places where all the Americans go is probably not the best idea just because pick pocketers target those types of places. This is not to say you can’t go and have a good time, you surely can but just be aware and vigilant of the world around you. Researching and gathering information from locals is always a good idea because they have the best knowledge about the area.

Beware of pick pocketers

A lot of the time students hear about these infamous pick pocketers and think “that can’t happen to me I will feel when something is being taken out of my back pocket, purse, backpack, etc”. Truth is these people are professionals and you will most of the time NOT notice when something is being taken from you. I have already heard so many stories from my fellow classmates of their wallets and even their phones being stolen. It CAN happen. So if you have a backpack make sure you purchase a small lock to lock where your laptop is stored. For a purse just make sure it cannot open that easily. I would suggest a fanny pack or a cross body bag that will stay close to your body. Also Pick pocketers come in all forms. They do not have just one specific look! They may be a couple just “asking for direction” and while you are helping one person the other is stealing from you. Or sometimes they will bump into you in hopes of being able to slip into you pocket and grab something as well. Never put your phone in your back pocket. Always be checking up on you pockets to make sure everything is there.

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Research local restaurants

Very often if you don’t go to local places to eat, you will end up spending a lot of money because of how much they charge “tourists”. Even restaurants (not all) can rip you off in this area because they know that you know nothing about pricing. A euro is worth more than a US dollar so things can add up very quickly without you even realizing it. My recommendation if you are going to Spain is to go during 2-4 which is practically when everyone goes out for lunch. Many places will have a “menu del dia” which is just the menu of the day that usually is very cheap for way more food. You are given a full 3 course meal for a very affordable price.

Have Google Maps open when you’re in a cab

Lastly, when going out to clubs and bars one should be conscious of their surroundings all the way home. First, try your hardest to not go in a cab alone especially after a night of drinking because you don’t want to fall asleep or travel alone. Not saying that cabs aren’t safe, they are, but these are just extra precautions to take into account. Once you are inside and tell the driver where you want to go make sure you pull up google maps because often times the cab driver will take you into different streets just to add more money to your ride. They know you are not very familiar with the streets and let alone the actual routes so they may take a little detour just to make some extra money from you. This is just a little trick to make sure that the driver is not taking advantage of you.

These are just some of my tips and ticks that I have been learning through my stay here. This doe snot make my stay any less than wonderful but it is just different having to adapt to another culture where you should be extra careful. Especially being a foreigner, people will take advantage of the lack of knowledge one holds. So in order to be better prepared I hope you take these tips and implement them into you routine when you study abroad. I hope I helped a little and gave you a small glimpse on what you can expect from studying abroad. I am wishing you a safe and fun trip!

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“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us”

This weekend I attended the carnival in Sitges, Spain and it was one of the best musical festival experiences I have ever had. Upon arrival to Sitges, the streets are filled with thousands of people wearing bright and vibrant colors. Whether that be wearing a costume, makeup, or wigs. The amount of effort that is put in to keep this tradition alive really astonishes me because so much time and effort is put into making this huge extravagant carnival happen for all of it’s community. As I have mentions in previous blog’s, I really enjoy on how intense and passionate the culture is here. It is refreshing to see how thousands of people from all over Spain come together to have a great time. All the people are nice and want you to have a great time as well.

The Sitges carnival history is more than 100 years old and a legend tells that the first time the word “Carnestoltes” was heard was on the notice of a 15th century Sitges jester named Carles de Can Torras. It was because of the illiteracy and dyslexia of the writer of his obituary that instead of putting his name, put Calrestorles. This jester died on Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent. Over time, the imagination of the townspeople caused Carles Torres, whose name was written as Calrestorles, to be remembered as Carnestoltes. Every year the city welcomes almost a quarter of a million visitors of all nationalities that fill the streets wanting fun and disinhibition. This day is said to be the day where everyone is to go wild and have one last night of sins before Ash Wednesday. This is why people are given the opportunity to dress up and transform into anything they desire and just have fun with all the music and food.

I also learned that Sitges,Spain is actually the most populated city for the LGBTQ+ community. The night life is amazing with restaurants and bars with music that make you want to dance! It is incredible to have a town where the LGBTQ+ community can be themselves and really embrace their identity and their loved ones no matter what. Sitges really showed me how welcoming and open minded Spain is to this community and I think it is fantastic.

The best way to describe Carnaval is, imagine it to be like Halloween like in the United States, instead their is no trick or treating. People just dress up in the most clever costumes and hang out at the beach, walk around, go out to eat, grab a drink, etc. This feels like a time for families to gather together and have a great time outside and listen to their favorite music. By the night time the atmosphere changes. The night comes alive and nothing but clubs and bars are open. This is the time where people have the most fun and meet the most people as they celebrate this special weekend.

Lastly, there is a huge parade around this small town that is comprised of around 50 floats that each have different music and dances. Some are small children from local day cares, others are marching bands. Most of them are all children from the local town that help make this day come to life. They spend time learning and memorizing a dance just to perform on this day. They are also all in different costumes which just emphasizes the powerful culture that is within this special weekend.

I really admire the inclusiveness that this parade has and I especially loved to learn of the histories to such big events. Even my host family strongly encouraged me to attend this Carnaval as it is a moment in which you will want to relive all over again.