... middle of week 9

I have deleted the last post since it caused some bad responses... so just for those who want to know how the cliffhanger was resolved: yes, my shutters are fixed now, the technician had to come twice, though, because the first time he missed something - has to happen to me, right? ;)
anyway, I won't go into the details of this story... just one thing, directed at the person who left that anonymous comment last time: if you feel like insulting or criticising me, maybe next time you have the courage to leave your name, thanks.

So, just very shortly: my last weekend was good, we went to a friend's birthday party on Friday night and it was very nice- lots of delicious Italian food, interesting conversations, funny situations, lots of laughs... Saturday we took it easy, went to the cinema (we saw an Argentinian movie which was very intense and quite unsettling in a way - "El secreto de sus ojos"), then for dinner and at last to my flat for dessert, seeing that I had the flat to myself. Sunday I had a study afternoon with another friend - she came over, we ate lots of cookies and discussed about different literary periods, their historical contexts and everything - it was extremely interesting and she's a really nice girl, so I'm looking forward to studying some more with her!
Yesterday, I went to the cinema again, watched another Spanish movie, but this time it was just soo strange, almost pornographic... so if you don't like seeing the explicitly physical side of a "menage a trois", don't go watch "Castillos de Carton" ;)

And well, right now I'm getting kind of nervous, my boyfriend is coming to Valencia tomorrow, and I'm so looking forward to it, I can't focus on anything anymore!!! :) which is why I won't write any more now... ;)

Already beginning of week 9 - Part I

Dear all
Sorry for not keeping in touch for such a long time... somehow, time is going by faster and faster, without me doing anything! :P I really need to start making a studying schedule, otherwise I'll keep wasting time on facebook or playing computer games or reading stupid women's magazines instead of spanish literature classics... ;)
The past week was quite nice all in all. That night when we met at 10 to go for dinner, we finally started eating at 11.30, and I got home after 4 - just to find my boyfriend still online on skype ;) this is becoming some very strange kind of custom: meeting in the middle of the night and talking in whispers over skype as not to wake up my flatmates... it's kinda fun - like when you read with a torch under your bed cover as a kid ;)
Last sunday we went to see an art exhibition in the city centre. It was a collection called "Visions of Spain" by the Valencian painter Sorolla, who is a real genius! I hadn't known his work before, but I was really impressed - and I've even hung a poster of one of his paintings (which they gave us for free at the entrance ;)) in my room, because it fascinates me so much! :)
Then on Monday, two friends showed me something that takes place every Monday and is really cool for students: there's a small restaurant that sells cheap drinks (Sangria and similar stuff for only 2 euros a glass) with a free plate of Paella! Of course lots of people know about it, so you have to go there really early and shouldn't bother queueing for a looong time to get your plate, but it was worth it :) might go there again! Good food and good for the wallet :P (I'm not implying that Spain is expensive in general - it totally isn't!!)
During the whole week I had another two problems to deal with: my mobile phone - or rather Vodafone again - started charging me twice the normal price for messages and I wondered why I was running out of money, so I went to the store AGAIN, and they've opened another case for me and told me that it would be solved - of course, until today, nothing has changed and I keep losing a whole lot of money that way... it's just SO annoying!!! But well, we'll see when I have time to go there again... And the other problem was even more interesting: my window shutters somehow broke down - one morning, when I wanted to open them again they just stayed down.... apparently, the straps were torn :P So I told my flatmate, because I had no idea whatsoever how to react or whom to call or whatever. She told me that this is a serious problem, seeing that the owner of the house lives in Madrid and usually, he only comes to Valencia every 3 months or so. And unless he comes to the flat with a technician, nothing will happen. If we call someone ourselves, we will have to pay the bill ourselves as well... great, isn't it?? So we sent the owner an e-mail, saying what happened and asking how we should proceed. That was Monday afternoon, and my flatmate told me that I should not expect any answer soon...
And now, this is the ultimate cliffhanger, seeing that I need to stop writing now and go to class (my favourite time for lectures: 6 to 8 pm... :P)! I'll continue afterwards! :)

End of week 7

Dear all
Week 7 is over, and with it the first half of the first semester, if I'm not mistaken...
Time is beginning to go by fast, and I don't complain - in a way, a part of me is doing a constant countdown till my return to Switzerland... I know this is not how I should be feeling, with everybody always telling you that an Erasmus exchange should be the best year of your life and everything... it's just that so far it has proven to be rather difficult to really arrive here and leave everything behind that is my real life - I can't and don't want to do this! But well... I don't want to bore you with my sad reflections ;)
there are many more positive things to tell: first of all, last weekend: my short trip to Switzerland was just great! It went by sooooo quickly, but I enjoyed it so much to see a lot of my friends, spend time with my boyfriend, sleep in my own bed, eat my mum's food - and I realized that it's these little details that I miss most! I mean, it was clear that I would miss all the people, but I wasn't aware that little things like being able to drink water from the tap, looking at Zurich by night or sitting on the train that goes to my boyfriend's home would make me want to cry once I have them again and know that I have to go away again...
The change of cultures was quite a shock, initially I wasn't aware of all the slight but decisive differences there are! And also the change in temperature was quite extreme: when I left Valencia on Friday it was 28 degrees, we landed in Zurich with 8 degrees, and when I went back to Valencia on Monday it was still 25 degrees- but I soon noticed that here, autumn is (finally!!) coming, too: the sun is still extremely strong and still gives us these amazing temperatures during the day, but as soon as the sun is gone, it's quite fresh, and we have a lot of wind.
Well, not only the change in weather was strange on Monday, it was a crazy day anyway: imagine waking up in your boyfriend's house, having breakfast with him, kissing him goodbye, going to the airport, meeting another friend for coffee, flying two hours, unpacking your suitcase in your strange alternative home and going back to class as if nothing had happened....!!! It's insane, isn't it? It felt like about 2 weeks in just one day! And now, after only 5 days back here, I am well back in my routine and enjoying another weekend in Spain!
Today, I sat on the balcony reading and almost cought a sunburn!! And now I'm waiting for another few hours to go by before I go out for the night (we meet at 10 for dinner, can you imagine? I'm already hungry now and it's only 6.30...!)...

Something completely different: is anyone of you planning to come to Valencia? If so, please let me know at some point soon, seeing that I now have my exam schedules and know when I would have time to play tourist guide ;) For instance, if anyone wants to come end of January, that would be perfect for me, and it's still holiday time in Zurich, so...????