I Can Only Do This in Barcelona, I Think

Last Saturday night, a huge bunch of IESE people went to Sutton, a club along Balmes (it is either in L'Exiample or Gracia). Maria, one of our Spanish classmates, negotiated a deal with them so that IESE students can get in free. I'm not the type who'd line up to go into a club or something, but it was fun to cut the line and then not pay the entrance fee of 15 euros. (Not cheap, eh?) Well, it's the first club I've been in where the bouncers wear suits and ties, that much I can say.

We got to the club at around 1:30 or 2am, and as I have learned before, it is quite early to go party in Barcelona, but after a beer and some tequila which were served with ice - weird, I know, no shots allowed for that bar - the crowed slowly thickened, and I think there were more than 50 IESE people partying. I am not sure how much shots I got, but I was giddy when I got to the ladies room, where there was only 1 cubicle for the big club. Naturally, there was a line, and there were 3 Spanish girls in front of me. I don't really know how, but we struck up a conversation and became instant friends. From my blurry memory, I can recall us talking about how one of the girls look like Britney Spears. They waited for me to finish using the bathroom, and asked me to join their group of friends at the other side of the club. And I don't know why, but I did!

So after some dancing with them, I went back to our side of the club, and finally ended the night at 5am. I got up at 2pm the next day and went to the Barcaloneta beach to study Spanish, because, well, we have to make full usage of the last few days of summer, right? Studying Spanish in the beach was surprisingly effective, because conjugating verbs are no fun, and when I'm at home, I usually just make up some excuse not to do it. At the beach, it's just me, the beach, noisy and half-drunk American teenagers, vendors with song and dance numbers, and my verbs. :-)

Spanish Lessons and Cafeteria Obervations

Tonight, I am making a conscious decision not to go out and party... I have realized, after too many late nights, I should not drink anymore.

NOT!

Well, actually, my liver needs a little rest, and it's hard to come home at 5 or 6am, then wake up at 2pm all the time. So I am taking the cue from the bestest flatmate ever, Jose. (Wait, too much ass-kissing?) I am staying home, I am going to write back to people who have emailed me, I am going to iron my clothes, and I am going to rest. And more importantly, I am going to update this blog.

Spanish lessons officially started on August 31. They start at 9:45am to 6:15pm Mondays to Friday and from 9:45am to 2pm on Saturdays. The Spanish lessons themselves are nice, but by the time 6:15pm rolls around, most people are up to their noses in Spanish grammar! I have a loopy teacher who's really funny, some Italian classmates who speak Spanish with an Italian accent (and Italian words squeezed in between their Spanish sentences), as well as classmates who make the craziest comments. That gets me through the day. Wait, that, and cafe con leche served by a Robert de Niro look-a-like.

Speaking of coffee, IESE's cafeteria is really good. (I am speaking in relative terms here.) There's a good salad bar, which I usually get lunch from. They can even custom-make food for you if, say, you are vegetarian, or want grilled something with potatoes. Coffee is what is usual for Spain - cafe con leche, cortado, americano, or solo. No yucky instant coffee!