As much as I would like to write a lot or wait until I have more to say, I am so excited about my day that I have to share it with you all :)

After basically 2 months of attempting to find a club that I can sail at, I finally got an appointment at Port Olimpic, it is not the main port in Barcelona, but I would say that it is the 2nd largest next to Port Vell. Anyway, I had my activities coordinator contact about 3 different clubs and finally we found one called Centre Municpal de Vela, the public club (meaning much cheaper than private!). They would not return her phone calls and so finally I had one of my friends, Meri, call them. I think it is somewhat funny beause Meri is Catalan and she got an appointment for me right away. It turned out that I could only get an individual/private lesson for the first time, but I was willing to take something over nothing!!

Today I walked to the port around 1:00. It is about a 15 min walk from my school's campus (so close!). It was a beautiful day and I was so excited on my way there. It was intimidating when I first went in, and I think I psyched myself out even more because I don't know spanish very well, let alone sailing terms in spanish!

The people were nice, but vague, so while I waited for my instructor to arrive, I kind of just walked around. Finally, my instructor arrived. His name is Ricardo and he says he has been sailing for around 7 years. I told him from the beginning that he could speak in spanish which may have been a bad idea!

Anyway, we got the boat (the rigging was already done!), which he said the name in Spanish and I didn't recognize the name (sorry!). It was so similiar to a 420 though, and from looking online I think it more resembles what I've seen to be called a vanguard 15. Anyway, it was familiar enough for me!

So we launched the boat (fighting the waves, reminded me a lot of Northwestern!) and made it out easily. Unlike sailing in Madison, I was the skipper this time! I was actually quite surprised at home much I learned this past semester just from crewing. I have maybe skippered about 10 times before and so obviously I have limited experience! But I was doing really well and Ricardo was helping me a lot. It was really hard to understand him and so I think after awhile he started to say things in English to me. I felt bad, but I think it is so hard to be taught sailing in spanish! Anyway, it was blowing a decent amount (not sure how many knots) but I was up and out of the boat for most of the time. It felt so great to sail again, especially in such nice weather (about 60 degrees). I even got to try a espinaquer (spinnaker) which I have never done before! The view from the bright blue sea to Barcelona coastline was so unbelievable. The whole time I couldn't believe what was happening, I was so happy to be out there.

While we were sailing, Ricardo asked me if I would like to go with him and about 15 other people out on a boat tomorrow around 3:00. I was so surprised that I was being invited to go and I said yes right away! He said he was unsure if they would have 15 people, but if less people showed up than I was very welcome to join them. So there could be a chance that I go tomorrow and cannot even go with them, but if I am able to, I will be so happy. Tomorrow after my Spanish exam, I am also going to an Estrella Damm tour (a beer brewed in Barcelona) with my International Management class. I also got invited to go to Pineda del Mar with Eva, my intercambio partner. She invited me to go with her to see a lighthouse and to see the beach with her and her friends. Sunday I am going to Sitges with that Voluntaire Linguistic group for a Carnaval festival!

There are so many things to look forward to and I had such an amazing day. It's days like this that I feel so lucky and so thankful for this opportunity. Thinking of all of the things I have done so far and all of the things I have waiting for me in the next couple of months is so exciting.

After my weekend, I will write more! I had to tell of my sailing experience, but more is to come! Besos!

Amyx, Amanda, Mandy