Freezing-->Sunshine!

Hola a todos!!!! I have arrived in Barcelona!!!! For the first time I feel completely relaxed on this trip. I have so many guesses as to why: a) it is not subzero, raining (yet), or snowing here; b) I am done with my preplanned intraEurope flights; c) I speak the language here!!! (or at least a feeble attempt); d) I'm here for 2+ weeks, entonces, I can just take a deep breath. That said, allow me to tell you about my glorious week. It's so awful, but I just feel like I'm gloating in these updates. I'm just so thankful that so many people supported me to allow this experience to happen and that I'm healthy and young...etc.
ANYWAY, Norway---very well, where shall I begin? I don't even know how to express how wonderful Scott and Jill were to me on me trip there. I felt like part of their family in their cozy flat. 5 people in a 1-ish bedroom flat. I'll be forever indebted! Their home was such a happy environment to pass time. Good laughs, GREAT homemade food (thank you Scott) and baked goods (Jill:)), I was introduce to "Dr. Who" an old sci-fi British comedy (I too was skeptical with the aforementioned description, but it proved hilarious and entertaining), I got to get a goodnight hug every night from Aurora-amazing, and I got to hang out with the coolest and cutest 10-month old in the world (I'm completely unbiased). Scott and I did Norway in a Nutshell (thanks Ann for the suggestion!). For those of you unfamiliar, you take a boat, train and bus through the fjords of Bergen. The boat was the most amazing part. I felt SOO tiny compared to the massive frozen and snowy fjords. The water was completely still and the reflections of the fjords on water actually looked completely fake. The whole area was mystical and for lack of a better word, majestic. It reminded me of Patagonia in Chile, another extreme environment, which, until you see it it's nearly impossible to explain the energy/describe it in words...Because we took the tour in winter, it was practically empty. Scott says that in summer its hard to get photos from the boat without other tourists in them...Hard to imagine on our frigid February experience. We "saw" or were pointed to the oldest Stave church in Norway, built in 1180. yes, 1180!!! It only seats 14. Clearly only heathens and vikings...psh. Just to humor Scott, I composed a haiku on the bus ride home. Please judge:

I am overwhelmed

Stunned with reverence and awe

Fjords of Bergen

Other highlights of Bergen: I ate Reindeer--DELICIOUS, ate shrimp and enjoyed it for the first time in my life (wonders never cease), drank the national liquor (I've already repressed the name, I wouldn't really recommend it) with video game theory scholars (seriously, real job--Kenneth, get on it!), fun fact: on our tour we stopped in Voss, they have the REALLY fancy water and it's sold in the US in cylinder bottles--look into it, and I just generally REALLY enjoyed family. THANK YOU SCOTT AND JILL!

After a long train to Oslo and a grand night of sleeping on the airport bench (I've gotten smarter and remembered my eyemask for darkness this time) and then a bumpy flight...I have arrived in Barcelona! Mayu met me at the airport and took me to tapas with her friend, Juan Pedro. I'm so glad to have him because it makes me speak Spanish, granted it's so weird to see Mayu speaking fluent Spanish. so weird. We had tapas, I ate some sort of long shell fish type of something that I don't know what it's called, but hm. I will just say it was only the result of peer pressure and I probably won't do it again. Then we walked along Las Ramblas to Colon and sat on the dock in the sun. I love it here. I love hearing Spanish and I love the food. It is so wonderful to have friends around the world...I just got back from watching Mayu coach synchro at their Catalunya training center. It is really an amazing lifestyle--athletes live there, go to school there, train there. Jealous. If anyone knows of coaching jobs in spain, please, remember me:) Hope all are well!!! Les extrano!