La Sagrada Familia, El Arte, y La Suiza

I know I haven't posted a blog in a while... Here are some things that have been on my mind..

Part 1

People with their dogs walk by. The park is an interesting place. It lies in the middle of La Sagrada Familia, Dominoes Pizza, KFC, and tourist shops. In the mornings you see grandfathers playing cards, gambling, and tossing balls in the sand. People with their dogs walk by. You hear laughing and barking. During the day, you see tourists clicking away, saying "smile" in French, German, and Japanese. une, zwei, san, smile! click. another memory. By night, you see more locals, friends and lovers, drunk, smoking, and/or content with life. People with their dogs walk by. The only constant are the benches that surround the lake. These benches have hidden storybooks, buried for who knows how long. These benches listen to people of all walks of life, day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. I wonder if most of the stories are about Gaudi's Sagrada Familia, since it lies in front, engulfing most of the view. Unlike the benches, this piece of art is actually always-changing. Every time I glance at the giant sand castle, I see something different, and I fall i love with Gaudi all over again. I can't wait to see the inside of it - my mind will be blown all over again, seguramente. La reflexión de la sagrada familia en el lado, en la noche - es magnífico. It kind of reminds me of the reflection of Founder's Hall in Soka's Peace Lake - but that's in a whole different world altogether.

P.S. I was able to see what the inside of the sagrada familia looked like, as it was displayed on giant screens on the streets- the Pope came to my neighborhood this Sunday :) I saw him - yes, in the popemobile.


Part 2

“El ritmo del dibujo”

Ay que me gustan las siestas. Taking a nap actually extends my day. Los lunes. Tengo clase de dibujo desde las cinco a las nueve de la noche. After a 45 minute commute, four hours in an art class can get a bit boring, especially if the professor tends to switch from Castellano to Catalán from time to time. I can pretty much understand everything the professor says, but after a couple hours of listening, I get a headache – another spanish invasión in my mind. Pero está bien, I am learning. I’m glad that I am taking this class as an audit., and not for a grade… life drawing just isn’t my thing. Although, most of the other 40 students in the class do have talent. The professor is chotto crazy, but he’s full of life. He tells us to draw with rhythm – “dibujo sin ritmo – no es bueno. Dibuja con música, literatura, cine!”


Part 3

I went to Switzerland last weekend to visit mi familia. I had a wonderful time! The Mirzas really spoiled me. I want to go back. It was the first time I saw an actual fall – the leaves were Golden crisp, red wine, and fresh green. Geneva is beautiful. The bright colors were inspirational. Four days was too short of a time. It was different listening to French because I was still in Spanish mode. Now I want to learn French too. I think I am obsessed with learning languages now – it’s a craving that I have. I was also able to go intro France, as the border was walking distance away – so now I can say that I have been to France as well. The view from Divonne, France is breath taking, with the beautiful Geneva lake in the distance, and Mont Blanc. Switzerland really is something – I know I will be going back at some point in my life.
The day after I got back – midterms. Joy! I studied, ate, and slept all week. I got a bit homesick. 8 weeks left until I am back in Cali! I left home 10 weeks ago – time is flying.