What Joy of Joys!

Beauty of beauties! Ah the city and feeling alive in it for the first time since I have arrived. Feeling so much a part of the wonder of it all. Of the awe-inspiring, breathless beauty of God. Loving these moments in a way I have never felt, save for on stage and in love with JT.

And in such a different way. Solitary and stronger than I knew I was! Seeing shifts occur in me. Becoming more independent and yet more dependent and trusting of Him. Being brought to tears. Appreciation the ease of conversations and the challenge of a new tongue. Appreciating finding wonderful little nooks in crannies inside of this huge, daunting world. Walking down the streets, looking up. Surrounded.

Last night, the punk concert, rocking out and nearly moshing. Laura's sister on the keyboard, bring the keys to life with a pursed look of determined self-assuredness that I envy in most Spanish women I see... The goofiness of the night, the abandon. Soberly enjoying -- vividness and youth!

And then today. Walking to Placa Espanya. Seeing Barcelona for the first time. The strength. Her beauty. Her uniqueness. The Caixa Forum. Maternitats. Women in shambles, holding together themselves, then:

"this is a series which has shown me that, evn in the most terrible situations, there always exists something higher than us, something whose beauty can move us."

Being shaken by those words, having them come alive. Feeling them around me and inside me.

Does that make sense?

And then onto women in another way: Alphonse Mucha. How beautiful! How stunning! How intricate! How ethereal!

The represenation and obssesion with grace. Drawing away with crowns with two new friends. Moved again! Unbelievably shaken and light...

Then grace and god, oddly seeing less divine in these than the other too, but lovely nonetheless.

Still tasting Bali Tea (I only wanted to taste rose petals, to say I had tasted them -- who new that vanilla, black tea and rose petals could taste like heaven!) And salmon. Splurging a bit because the exhibit was free, and because I wanted to taste rose petals, as I have said and explained previously.

Conversations and heart to hearts. Finding a place where I don't feel awkward. Determined to explore more gems of Barcelona like this!

Walking to Canuda. Asking for directions. Watching the debates. Registering to vote a third time. Engaged and alive. In Barcelona (One of Zapatero's cities, Dear McCain...). Twenty! Gearing up for my first vote. The world at my fingertips. Bending its self towards me with welcoming open arms.

Fantastic.

And shouts from outside, navigating the metro seamlessly. Conversing along the way -- in castalleno. In english.

And little cats who are too scared to come close, but who you extend food to anyway. Leaving it a safe distance away...Their decision.

In love. With all of this. With my youth. With You. With you. With life. And beauty. And friendships. And crayons. And sunny days with a cool breeze. And democrats abroad who still love their country so.

What Joy of Joys!

Un mundo diferente...

Es difícil explicar sobre las diferencias entre la cultura de España y EEUU. Vale? Hay muchas cosas no entiendo y muchas otras cosas de la historia y lengua y gobierno de España solamente se un poco sobre...

(It is dificult to explain about the difference between the culture of Spain and the US. Yes? There are many things I do not understrand and many other things of the history and language and government that of Spain that I only know a little about.)

Cataluña es un lugar interesante. Este semana es un semana importante, pienso: La Merce Festival es 24 de Septiembre. Hay fiestas y otras cosas todos los días de la esta semana.

(Cataluyna is an interesting place. This week is an imporant week, I think: The Merce Festival is the 24th of September. There are many parties and other things every day of this week.)

También, espero que es posible encontrar personas y no necesito beber alcohol. La lengua es una problema por yo, porque en un otra lengua es IMPOSIBLE comunicar tu misma, vale? Yo entiendo NUNCA y siento tanta todo el tiempo, vale? Ay. Siento si estoy tanta!

(Also, I hope that it is possible to meet people and not need to drink alcohol. The language is a problem for me, because in another language it is IMPOSSIBLE to communicate yourself, yes? I understand nothing and feel dumb all of the time, yes? Ay. I feel like I am an idiot.)

Pero, anoche fue "hazed"a mejores, pero -- ESTOY VEINTE ANOS. Pero, es un cosa buena que incluido yo en el evento. Si? Pero, estoy cansada y nerviosa y quiero amigos pero es difícil para mi...

(But, last night we were "hazed" with everyone but I am 20 years old. But it is a good thing that they included me in the even. Yes? But, I am tired and nervous and want firends, but it is difficult for me.)

Un noche muy difícil.

(A very difficult night)

Siento Yeshua en todas las cosas hizo.

(I feel Yeshua in all things I do.)

El es en todo yo veo.

(He is in all things I see.)

Es la cosa de paz y contento en mi corazón.

(He is the thing of peace and calm in my heart.)

I miss JT.

I miss home embodied in people. I miss eloquency. A command of culture and words. I miss certain foods.

Pero, estoy feliz aqui. Me gusta que estoy nerviosa y yo estoy experiencado un cultural nuevo para mi, si? Es una cosa importante a mi vida en general...

(But, I am happy here. I like that I am nervous and i am experiencencing a new culture for me, yes? It is a very imporatant thing in my life in general.)

Pero.

(But.)

Te quiero y hasta luego.

(I love you and will see you later.)

Yours as always,

Janelle

Un dia fantastica.

Hoy fue a la Barria Gótica con Kapita. Hay un área muy interesante y lo tiene muchas tiendas por todo puedas quieres. Estamos explorando muchas carrers y compre regalos por muchas personas y tenia un almuerza muy bien y barrata.

(Today I went to the Gothic Neighborhood with Kapy. It is a very interesting area and it has many stores for anythign you could want. We explored many streets and I bought gifts for many people and had a cheap, good lunch.)

El catedral es ... hermoso hermoso. Y el central gobierno de Barcelona es alli. Entiendo mas sobre Barcelona y Cataluyna ahora. Es una cosa muy compleja y la historia de la ciudad es increible. Yo vi cosas de el century 1 y 2. Muchas cosas son antiguas y bonitas y intersantes. Y la Barria Gotica tiene muchas cosas modernas tambien...Quiero ir con JT y Jozanne. Hay muchas lugares en Barcelona son "super cool".

(The cathedral is beautiful beautiful. And the central goverment of Barcleona is there. I understand more about Barcelona and Cataluyna now. It is a complicated thing and the history of the city is incredible. I saw things from the 1st and 2nd century. Many things are old and pretty and interesting. And the Gothic Neighborhood has many things modern as well. I want to go with JT and Jozanne. There are many places in Barcelona that are super cool.)


Y Andres, Kapita y yo fueron mirar una pelicula en espanol (Che). Es muy dificil para entender la pelicula. Necesito pensar el todo tiempo y por el fin: estoy muy cansada. Pineso que en mas mesas, voy a entender mas.

(And Andrew and I went to see a movie in Spanish (Che). It is very difficult to understand the film. I need to think the whole time and by the end: I am very tired. I think that in a more months, I am going to understand more.)


Anoche, fue al club y bar con mi RA, Laura y tenia un tiempo fantástico. Cuando llegáramos al club de Jazz, la cantadora fue cantando "Hallejuah" y lo era un momento perfecto. Los amigos de Laura son super cool. Y me gusta ir lugares pequenos y hablar mas con personas.

(Last night, I went to the club and bar with my RA, Laura, and I had a fantastic time. When we arrived at the club, the singer was singing Hallejuah and it was a perfect moment. Laura's firends are super cool. And I like to go to small place and to speak more.)

Pero, lo era divertido explorar la ciudad y adjustar mas a la vida aqui. Me encanta Barcelona y todo sobre la vida vivida.

(But, it is very fun to explore the city and adjust more to life here. I love Barcelona and everything about the vivid life.)

Visitame!

(Visit me!)

Te Quiero y Ciao,

(I love you and Bye)

Jza

La Sagrada Famila

The most beautiful thing I have seen in art. I want to encompass the feeling of breathlessness and awe. Of seeing something in being created that will change peoples life for the better for so many years to come...but I can't...I don't have the palabras.

but in the end I have had a beautiful day and I feel blessed beyond belief in every single way a person could be blessed. Yeshua es una cosa compleja and when I see him, everywhere, here...I am awestruck by His beauty and what He has done for us. What a wonderfully beautiful world.

I don't know...What I am trying to say is WOW.

There are no words...

Wow.

-Janelle

Valencia y Peñíscola

Ay! Valencia y Peñíscola son lugares muy singular y bonitas. Amé el mar y los castillos! Era un viaje fantástico!

(Valencia and Peniscola are places very singular and pretty. I loved the ocean and the castles. It was a fantastic trip.)

Tenía la opportunidad encotrar muchas estudiantes: algunos eran muy intelligentes y divertidos...pero algunos eran borrachos.

(I had the opportunity to meet many students: some were intelligent and fun and some were drunk.)

We paddled out into the Meditarraean and it was beautiful. I met some awesome new people and ate paella (overpriced paella but paella) and goodness gracious I keep trying to remind myself where I am and I keep pinching because it is so different...and new and exciting...and despite the difficulties I keep trying to thank God for the opportunity to see his beauty in new wonderful breathtaking ways!

I also loved the aquarium and the lovely archictecture oh goodness I can't put it into words.

But I am in no mood to write about the beauty of these places.

I will try later.

Love,

Janelle

Un díá en mi vida aqui...

Levanto muy temprano porque hay muchos niños en mi apartamento en un guardería aqui. Hace muy calor, pero no es malo.

(I wake up very early because there are many children in my apartment in daycare here. It is very hot, but it is not bad.)

Hoy Kapy y yo eramos tarde a nuestra clase despues de tomamos el metro. (¡¿Estoy una muchacha de la ciudad, no?!)

(Today Kapy and I were late to our class after we took the metro (I am a city woman, no?)

Despues del clase (nuestra profesora y estudiantes son muy simpaticas), Kapy y yo exploramos la Plaza Catalunya y comimos en un restaurante de comida rapida. ¡La Plaza Catalunya tiene muchas tiendas y personas del todo mundo! Nos encontramos un chico nueva de Universitat American en DC. Él es intelligente.

(after the class (our professor and students are nice), Kapy and I explored the Catalan Plaza (?) and we ate in a restaurant with fast food. The Catalan Plaza has many stores and people from the whole world. We met a new guy from American University in DC. He is very smart.

Now to some English:

I am enjoying the city despite being discombulated most of time. I spend so much more time quiet and looking. Trying to soak it in and internalize everything. I regret not having a homestay and pray that when the time comes to reevaluate my living situation they will let me change into a casa. Pienso que es más apropiado para mi y mis metas de mi viaje. Most of the time I find myself feeling (as usual) out of place with the American students. They're isn't a niche for me here quite yet, but I hope I find one soon. I much prefer a bottle of wine with dinner and a relaxed night to parties and packed clubs, which make me very uncomfortable.

This weekend is Valencia. Which I feel I will enjoy.

Well,

Enough rambling.

Adeu!

Jza

(After clss,