BIENVENIDOS!!

I have ARRIVED! After switching planes and sitting at gates three different times in Chicago (an 8 hour delay) and missing my connecting flight to Barcelona, I have safely reached my destination! The first two days were filled with orientation and a lot of information. The city is very large, a little overwhelming to learn quickly, but I think I have mastered the metro system already.
We arrived just as they were about to celebrate a very important holiday here. "Dia de los Reyes Magos (Day of the Holy Kings)". It is somewhat like Christmas, the children get gifts and it very common to eat "Feliz Tortel de Reyes (King Cake)", which my senora's mother brought over on Tuesday for the celebration. On Monday, the eve of Dia de los Reyes, we attended the parade. The entire city was out for this and it was a lot of fun. The Spanish are very passionate about their holidays, history and family. Sad to say, but something that has become quite different in the United States. As well as, the Spanish work to live, not live to work.
The second night we also met our host families and moved in. My senora is a single lady, Elisabeth, she likes to be called Eli. She knows little English, but there has not been a large communication barrier. I have my own room, but I do have a roommate, Lisa, from Long Island, New York. She goes to Indiana University and is studying accounting. We live in a small but cute apartment in the north west part of the city in a busy shopping area.
In my pictures you can see I have become very close with a few girls. The one with long blond hair is from the University of Minnesota, and, surprisingly, we have never met. Her name is Rachel, and she is from Tomahawk, WI (which I hear is right next to Rhinelander). The the short haired blond is Jody. She attends the University of Connecticut, and is from Rhode Island. And Erin, the curly haired girl is from Toronto, and goes to Bradeis in Boston. There are about 90 students in my specific program, Business and Culture. I have started my Spanish class and one business course at the local business college, ESCI, Escola Superior de Comerc Internacional.

A few observations my friends and I have made about the Spanish is this...

1. Their food is somewhat very salty and they like to use oil a lot. Pan, bread, is served with everything.
2. Because you cannot drink water from the tap, you have to pay for it everywhere.
2. The typical meals of the Spanish include a light breakfast in the morning, and a snack a little later. Around 1:00 or 2:00 they eat lunch. Many of the stores close and they spend at least an hour eating and socializing. Lunch is their largest meal of the day. Eli makes our dinner around 8:30, which is a lighter meal, and for dessert we usually have fruit.
3. Everyone says Europeans are "skinny". This is because they walk EVERYWHERE!
4. This is gross, but they do not wash their hands. In a few public restrooms we have noticed women (numerous) just walk out after using the bathroom. They also do not put the seat down???
5. They are very open and okay with PDA (Public Displays of Affection).
6. And finally, they like to stare. Obviously, they can tell we are Americans, but they are in no way discrete when staring at us.

The weather has not been the greatest lately. Cold and rainy, some parts of Spain have snow as well. My senora tells me that this weather is uncommon. Hopefully it will get better soon. Overall I am having a wonderful time and I love it here!

As soon as I figure out how to do a slide show I will upload more pictures. If you have Skype, look me up under katie.anderson11 and we can chat! Miss you all lots! Xoxo! Hasta luego!