A Day In The Life

       A day in the life.  This week has been the ultimate definition of that phrase.  A couple weeks ago, my roommate and I found this little café that's half a block form our home stay called Molika Cafe.  Our host mom actually recommended it to us as well, and goes there often to buy bread and baked goods.  Elicia and I have been going there to study because there is free wifi and the atmosphere is perfect.  There are little tables with pillows, and large wooden table in the middle, baked goods that are homemade fresh every day, and amazing coffee.
     Last Wednesday was the Barca vs. Madrid game in the King's Cup.  We met up with some friends at a restaurant that had a huge T.V. Everyone in the restaurant was glued to the game, and took forever to buy a drink because the employees were so distracted trying to keep up with the game.  At halftime, Elicia and I had to run home for dinner (because we eat so super late), and then we watched the rest at home.  It was so fun to get so involved.  They ended up tying 1-1 but it was an amazing game.
     Thursday, the weather was so beautiful.  It was almost 70 degrees, sunny, and not a cloud in the sky.  After classes, I went to Parc de la Ciutadella to practice violin while my roommate read for homework.  ( I made sure to ask my host brother before I left if I would get arrested or not haha).  While I was playing, two policemen rode up on the motorcycles.  I thought I was about to get in trouble, but instead they complimented me on my playing and one of them told me that he used to play violin too.  Then they drove away, but came back and idled a few feet away kind of listening.  Then they drove away again.  Five minutes later, they rode back up and the one officer pulled out his iPhone to show me pictures of his violin! He told he played for five years in middle school, his violin was from Italy, and he loved hearing violin music. We laughed so hard after they left! :D
     I have really enjoyed getting to know my host siblings.  Gonzalo is fun to tease like a little brother.  He thinks I am crazy and he told his mom that I scare him.  :P Paola is super fun and out-going.  Friday she went running with me! I came out of my room dressed in my running clothes, and she got all excited and asked to run with me.
      To top it all off, I finally made it to church.  The worship service was awesome, and the message was on Jonah and the speaker talked about how we try to "hide from God" by filling our lives with good stuff.  We may miss God's call by purposefully leaving our current circumstances and any reminders of God's will, or by simply not taking the time to include God in our decision making.  There were quite a few people form the U.S. there, as well as people form France, Spain, and Nigeria. There is a young adult group that meets on Thursday evenings that I want to check out sometime as well.  After church, Elicia and I walked to the beach, ate gelato and crepes, and sat in Plaza Catalunya in the sunshine.