kings, Kings, and kittens

BE #2

Later January 6

            Finally about to about to go to bed at Jan’s house. It was great to finally see him after Chad and I waited downtown on the curb with all of our luggage for an hour. Many strange looks were thrown our way. It was a strange beginning. Anyway Jan picked is up and took us to a beautiful look out point on the mountains about Barcelona. From there he pointed out some of the key landmarks, for me just to see the tip of he Barcelona stadium was a bit surreal. We followed that by going to his house where I met his family and we celebrated a holiday called “El Dià de los Reyes). Where the “kings” are celebrated. We formerly know them as the 3 wise men. Anyhow, we each got a slice of what was similar to a Bundt cake with frosting in the middle and fruit on top. In the cake was hidden a bean and a figurine king. Whoever gets the slice with the bean has to pay for the cake and the person who gets the king has to wear a crown the rest of the day and gets to keep the figurine. The first round of cake eating was uneventful so we all got another slice. Relief washed over the table as Eloi got the bean in his second peace and we jokingly told him the cake was 75 euro… I don’t think he fell for it. We all kept eating our second slices with a bit more relief until yours truly found the figurine in his slice. I sported the crown with pride and I’m looking forward to celebrating again next year. Maybe with an old fashioned donut or something? Who knows?

Crowned.

           

Early January 7

            I woke up early at my friend Jan’s house and couldn’t go back to bed so I read for an hour or so this morning. It was actually a good little dose of alone time where I got to reconnect with God a bit more than my busy schedules in the past had allowed for me. Barcelona has amazing streets like Santa Barbara and amazing look out spots which show the whole city just as Santa Barbara, there is no denying that they are two completely different places. So even though familiarity can be found, it still isn’t home… a bit saddening that home won’t be found for 4 months no matter how I try to find it…BUT… God prevails….I had a nice piece of  peace this morning as I cracked open my bible. I read some of the passages that I had memorized for extra credit this last semester and it was a bit surreal reading those amongst the Catalan being spoken downstairs. I used to memorize them in the company of my friends in the second floor of the library and now I am sitting across the world in an unknown place reciting those same words. But just knowing that God was the same no matter where I go has been the most comforting thing this trip. The family that I miss is across the world and the friends that I am chatting with this morning are still “with me” but not in the familiar way that I know. The way that God is with me back home is identical to how he interacts with me here and that’s really cool. It is the one thing that is 100% consistent and identical to home. Maybe he is home? Yo no se! (I don’t know)

           

A bit later January 7

          
     Anyway, I am writing this one from my room, finally a little place to relax! All the people met with their host family and others took off on buses to their apartments but there I sat alone with the staff members. However, Josefa Munoz did show up and since we haven’t exchanged a word in English! I tell myself it is because my Spanish is so good but I think it is really due to the fact that she doesn’t speak English. I am actually rather excited because it may be difficult at times, but it will ultimately benefit me much more in the end. Anyway I organized my room and I got my bags sitting under my bed and my dress shirts hanging as I write this with the cat (Momo) snoozing next to me. She is a cute little kitten but can’t be scratched more than 5 seconds before she starts trying to tear your arm apart. I will tame her.

Momo in timeout #tame