Sabadoooo!

Hola!
Que the fucking pasa? Sitting in Stefs amaaaazing flat. I love this apartment so much I could cry. It is very arty with high cealings and gaaah the outdoor bit is like this little jungle. We are now heading to a house party. Never been to one in Barca before, so shall be interesting. Theeeen, tomorrow, Sam arrives.

Better not be hungover, but this red wine tastes pretty damn good... And oh, so did our food. Love the sea food in this city. It is not like the one you get in Tescos, let us put it that way!

Hairy

I've been to Spanish hairdressers twice in my life. On both occasions I've ended up in tears.

Actually, it's been the same problem in England. What is it with hairdressers these days trying to make your hair look so FLAT and thin!? My hair is thick, and I like it like that. But appearently thick hair is a big no-no. This always happens. I go there and they cut it, and it looks fine, then, just when you think it it's all done they take a knife out and before you know it half of your hair is gone!!!

WHYYYYYYYYY?!?!

Oh! Again!

Blargh. I am ill. In a weird way. As in sudden tiredness so strong that I have to fall asleep straight away, or else my head starts hurting. But I will wait it out a bit, until eight at least so that I can have a good night's sleep.

In the meantime, I suppose I could blog. It's a warm day here in Barcelona, just like most days. The sky is clear from clouds and as we are heading towards August it is getting hotter by every second. I'm spending most afternoons on the beach, or in one of the parks among guitarplayers, circus artists and reaggeboys. Last weekend was messy and it's ALMOST like I wonder if alcohol can be the reason for me feeling shit, three days after standing in Teraza night club, dancing like a maniac. But no, no one can have a hangover for that long, not even me.

Sam is coming here on Sunday. Saying I'm excited just isn't enough. It's been over a month since he drove me to the airport, since he hugged me goodbye saying everything would be alright. I was so nervous about coming here. Today it makes me giggle thinking about it. Life here is very simple, tranquil, easy and welcoming. I know I will miss it once I'm back home.

However, I've decided to leave Barcelona three weeks earlier than planned as I've realised I need to see my family this summer. I can't let a whole year run pass without being home, I simply can't. In addition I don't really have enough money to stay. Also, I've booked another work placement. This time at a newspaper in Sweden. I need to get as much experience as possible before graduating next year. I'm terrified not to get a job. Like, really terrified. Times are tough but I've decided to work against the odds, making sure I will have something waiting for me next summer.

OH! Blog! Hi!

Ok, I know it is time.

In fact, I've known it has been TIME for quite a while now. My promise of keeping a Barcelona blog this summer was... Well, STUPID. You see, I spend every day in front of a computer, writing. One of the last things I want to do when coming back home in the evenings is to jump straight to my laptop, writing about what an amazing time I'm having. I know I should as I've always enjoyed bragging reflecting on my life. But no. It just won't happen.

But every now and then, like now, as I am sitting here on the balcony, having the flat to myself for once, listening to Caisa´s great music, I feel like writing SOMETHING. As if I need some kind of evidence once I'm back in Carlisle, a proof that I actually was here. That I worked, ate, slept - LIVED in Barcelona.

I'm not even a month in but already it feels like I've been here forever. But it also feels like arrived yesterday. No day is the same, even though they might look it. Work 10-16 in the weeks. Party in the weekends. Days on the beach. I'm already sick of my way to work, the street I'm walking to the beach, the road to the supermarket. But is a good sickness, the kind of sickness you only feel once you are comfortable and settled in a place.

At the same time I keep discovering new things; New streets. New beaches. New corners. New cubblestones. New horizons, but most of them within myself.

Travelling is to grow wiser.

Three best friends and the city

To have Cissi, Jess and Steve here makes the city even more beautiful and for the first time since I arrived I can relax. Being alone makes you tense in a way, but once knowing they had landed in Barcelona a much needed calm filled my body.

Now we are heading to the beach.

RIP MJ

It's crazy how tired you get from sitting in front of a computer a whole day, I've a complete new respect for people working in an office!

It's all going pretty well and I'm soon finished for today.

Just wanted to shuffle in a little RIP Michael Jackson.

It's so weird.

But just like I told my workmate Julia - in a way it feels like he has been dead for a very long time. I never booked a ticket for any of his London concerts this summer, even though I wanted to. I was just afraid it would be too sad watching a fifty year old Michael.

Maybe it is a good thing, in a way, that we never saw him like that.

I'm happy to remember him as our King of Pop.

Rest in peace, Michael Jackson.

Connected to... Valencia?!

Time to explain into more detail what I'm actually going to be doing here in Barcelona. I didn't know myself until today - my first proper day at the Go and Connect.

Basically, Go and Connect is a company with the idea to get people connected to the city they have just moved to. Well, people who have been living here for years still read it as well as people who are just here for a weekend - there is suppose to be something for everyone in the magazines and online.

The magazines come out once a month; there is Barcelona Connect and Valencia Connect. Four people are paid full time and five of us are interns, all from different parts of the world: Italy, Portugal, US, England and me - Sweden. We are also doing completely different things for the company; advertising, administration, the web, IT etc.

I'm going to be editor's asisstent for Valencia Connect which is really cool, although slightly bizarre as I've never actually been to Valencia. My lack of Spanish will also make the research somewhat difficult but I'm determined to do a good job and make it work.

Nothing is impossible.

On a complete different note; Tomorrow is the day! Jess, Cissi and Steve arrive Barcelona around 8ish and I can't wait to see them. It's been more than a year since we last saw each other all at the same time. To have a whole week together is UNREAL. And I need it so badly.

It has been a lonely week.

But I can't complain, really.

Ay ay ay!

Oh wow. Full moon party in Thailand is nothing compared to Barcelonas San Juan! Have had a great night. When standing there, dancing on the beach with my new friends, I looked up at the firework in the sky feeling nothing but insanely proud of myself. I made it! I'm here!

By five o'clock I decided to leave and walked all the way home by myself, smiling.

This city is breath taking. And MY GOD I feel alive.

San Juan

So it is midsummer, San Juan, here in Spain today. What that means I'm not quite sure of, other than it's said to be FIESTA big time. I'm going down to beach Marbella with Caisa and Alejandro, where some of their friends will be. Also Moises from the flat is going to be there with about 30 people from all sorts of places in the world. Very international appearently. I hope they speak English as I NEED to make some new friends tonight. I know it sounds rather desperate, but hey - I am.

Hasta luego!!

Connected

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If it wasn't for the fact that I've just woken up from a very early siesta, feeling all doozy, I'd probably be too excited to write. But, tired as I am, here we go.

I'VE BEEN TO THE MAGAZINE. Well, not really been been, more like popping by saying hi to the editor Fransesca (who seems lovely). The office is placed in Placa Urquina, only a ten minutes walk from my flat. The working hours will be 10-4 which means I'm able to get a barjob on the side of the magazine, yipiee!

Before meeting Fransesca I spent the morning sorting my NIE number out. You need it if you are going to work in Spain. Getting one is a procedure involving forms and photocopies of passport etc - and to start queing at 8 am outside the police station. I walked there this morning (I'm against taking the subway for several reasons: 1. I'm saving money 2. I want to get a grip of the geography of Barcelona - Moses map is still my BF 3. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE SUBWAY. There you. Confession made).

Also, I enjoy walking a lot, especially in this stunning city.

It really grows on me, day by day I love this city more and more. And I keep smiling to myself, knowing that if someone would be with me I'd be jumping up and down in excitment.

Good thing Jess, Cissi and Steve are coming in THREE DAYS then.

Man, we are gonna jump.

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Living on the financial edge

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Ok, ok. Fair enough, I've never been good with money. But Oh.My.God I got shock when logging on to my bank account.

700 euros.

And tomorrow I am paying rent and deposit, which is 750 euros.

Thank God for a mum who had not put my birthday money into my account yet. Still though, it won't last long. I need a job. Like I REALLY need a job.

But even if I get a job... It takes a month for the money to reach my account...

On the 29th there are some people who are going to discuss whether to give me a grant or not.

Please God, I've been good this year.

Beach me

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I think it has finally, sort of, sank in.

Spending day three on the beach with my mp3-player and a book was pretty much all I needed to feel like myself again (although I certainly don´t LOOK like myself anymore. I am a SHRIMP. And where the hell are all gentlemen when you need suncream on your back?! If I get skin cancer I'm totally blaming all men).

After beach I went to sit down in the shadow at a cafe reading The Daily Mail (you need to keep up to date with Brown´s latest fuck ups).

Then my friends I WENT TO THE LIBRARY, which is like some kind of heavenly building where it´s all shiny and quiet and peaceful. Not that I could borrow any books as they are all in Spanish but still, a very refreshing place in contrast to the lively street full of bongo drums and party animals. Good thing it's only one minute from my flat!

Sunday night was however so much better than the weekend. I actually had a really good sleep my last night on the couch.

I now have my own room, which is a BLESS and also helps feeling a tiny bit more at home.

By the end of this adventure I will love this place, it wasn´t until today I realised exactly how much.

Hasta luego!

And oh, Ive just got myself a spanish SIM card, which I FYI managed to buy in Spanish (spanglish?).

¡Salut!

She has arrived

Hello dear Internet, so the flight landed safely (although thunderstorm) and I´ve now started my new life at the very heart of Barcelona.

It´s 1.30 pm and I am sat in an internet cafe at some street I will probably know the name of in a few weeks. So far everything is very comfusing and getting lost in this city will happen to me at least a hundred times - no doubt. Today I´ve treated my flatmate Moses map like some kind of diamond.

I am sweating my ass off, which you do a lot in Barcelona, but this time more than ever as I´ve just been walking all the way to Parc Guiell. Yes, by myself. Here is where I was sitting, watching the view of Barcelona.

I´ve always been intrigued what it would be like to go on a holiday on my own so now I've done something touristy to see what it feels like. Well, guess what? It´s BORING.

Not that I didn´t enjoy my walk but not to have someone to talk with in a city where everyone walk in big groups or hand in hand makes you feel very lonely. I´ve only been here two days though so I can´t really expect to have ten best friends already. I´m sure everything will be fine soon.

God, there are so many thoughts in my head that I don´t quite know where to start with this blog. I´ve got a column to write for the Cumberland News but I just can´t get my head around it...

Tomorrow is the Day when I´m sorting all my papers and stuff, then on TUESDAY I´m going to the MAGAZINE. I´m really looking forward to this, I can´t wait to meet some more people.

Caisa and Alejandro that I live with are really sweet, and so is Rosanna and Moses. So far I´ve stayed on their couch as Caisas brother and his wife are here visiting, staying in the room that will become mine on Monday.

Right, time is up, gonna walk home. Should eat something. You forget to eat in this heat. I will come back thin as Posh spice with an amazing tan.

Suddenly, when thinking about that, I don´t mind feeling a bit lonely, ha.

Can´t wait til Jess Cissi and Steve are here next week. And then Sam, who FYI is the most awesome boyfriend in the world.

Just thought I would let you know.

Adios!