Okay, so I've never done anything interesting enough in my life to
write about in the past but I think now is about time. I have been in Spain for
nearly 2 weeks now for my 6 month placement and I thought it was about time I
wrote some of it down.
Firstly, why am I here?
I have to admit I have asked myself that
question more than a couple of times, and if I'm honest I am still trying to
work out why I am here! So a few reasons I could come up with are:
To 'become' Spanish - No! (Although I have
been reminded by my friends a few times not to come back Spanish and I ensure
you that I like tea and cake too much for that to happen, and otherwise cafe
con leche will continue to ruin my sleeping habits)
To learn to speak Spanish - I hope so. But
it is so hard being English and working (and living) with other students who
are trying to improve their English. I have been told lots of times already I
'speak such perfect English', but I then have to remind them that it is the
only language I can speak so they are already well ahead of me. And also anyone
who knows me will understand how untrue this is, and will appreciate I'm
avoiding having to say the word microwave at all costs. It is also tricky when
a lot of the people I will be working with aren't Spanish either so it is as
unnatural to them to speak in Spanish as it is in English. But I am trying, and
I hope just being surrounded by it on a day to day basis will at least help me
learn a little more than I know now!
To do Chemistry - I guess at the end of
the day this is really why I am here. I am just starting the final year of my
degree and the first 6 months require me to complete a research placement and a
dissertation. So, I think I am going to have to knuckle down and do some pretty
hardcore research and lots of work to have it all done before I go home for
Christmas.
But I think after some reflection what I
really want to do is eat some amazing food whilst I am here so that when I go
back home I can wow everyone with some dishes I have learnt to cook. The fresh
produce here, such as the fruit and veg is amazing, and it’s so easily
available. I barely have to walk 5 mins to end up with a number of fruit shops,
bakeries and supermarkets to choose from which is great. I have also had the
chance to try some food from around the world already which I had never tried
before, including Chinese, Romanian and Catalan dishes.
I am also learning to be a bit more
independent whilst I am here. Basically, I knew no one when I got of that plane
and this has been the hardest thing for me. I keep asking myself "How can
I enjoy such an amazing opportunity when I have no friends to share it
with?" I am not on a classic Erasmus scheme in which there are other
students in the same situation as me who have time to travel and explore with
me. I am also not living in halls with other students around so classic student
activities such as nights out and drinking aren't a weekly occurrence. But I
think in the long run this will be better for me. I am going to learn to say
yes to things maybe I wouldn't have in England, such as seeing a film at the
cinema in Spanish (at least I don't think it was in Catalan - but that is a
whole new post!) and casually ending up on the edge of Barcelona's gay pride by
accident.
I will keep this blog updates - I promise.
And I hope to fill it with everything I do, lots of things I eat and generally
keep an online record for myself (selfish I know).
P.S. I REPEAT THAT ALL FRIENDS WHO
WANT TO VISIT ARE MORE THAN WELCOME (I've got a comfy sofa you are more than
welcome to kip on for a few nights and flights to Barca are pretty
cheap!)
