This post is taken from Amy’s personal blog “Tapas and Test Tubes”. Amy is doing her placement in Barcelona as part of her course; MChem Chemistry with a 6 Month Placement.
I will never get used to everything being shut on a Sunday – what are you meant to do for one whole day of your precious weekend! Well I guess I will have to use it to finally write another blog post! (I didn’t realise how long it had been since the last one)
First a weather update as I can’t seem to escape the news of it being a bit of a heatwave in the UK. It is getting very very hot here now, I think I was treated with a mild welcome when I arrived but it’s bearable! Things here are made for when it is hot so the lab is air conditioned and my flat has shutters to block the sun out but it’s still not easy to escape the heat especially at night. But a cheeky glass of wine before bed generally helps with sleep!
Last weekend didn’t consist of much touristy stuff but I met a few of my housemates friends near the beach, had a drink and was reintroduced to a chicken sandwich. Yes I caved and I do pretty much eat meat when I am offered it here which is quiet often. But I think we all knew (at least I did) that I wouldn’t last so long as being a veggie and wannabe foodie in Spain. I can’t live of eggs you know!
Yesterday I went for the second walking tour offered by the same company as the last one I went on and it was also very interesting. It was all about Gaudí, who if you don’t know is the architect you can’t avoid here in Barca, his buildings and designs are all over the city with every other postcard having his works on and a number of museums dedicated to him. I was a bit skeptical because I’m not that big on my art ect but having a knowledgeable person explain it all to you, especially pointing out what you are looking at, is 100x more interesting. I also was able to chat to some people travelling in the area this time, which was nice as the last tour was mainly older couples.
6 months still sounds like a daunting amount of time to me – but I am breaking it down in my head into smaller manageable segments. And once summer is over I will have to throw myself head first into working, as both me and my PhD supervisor will leave in December so there will be a lot to get done.
I am home in a week and half now (still doesn’t actually seem like I’ll actually be on a flight to the UK anytime soon). I am looking forward to some belated birthday celebrations (hint hint if you thought you could get away with not buying me an extravagant 21st gift) and then a weeks holiday by the beach with my family for lots of food and relaxation. I will try and write another post before then, potentially about the joke of me trying to bake a cake to take to work on Friday. Firstly it’s too hot to really put the oven on so hello late night baking and I don’t have any scales or correct equipment (apart from a mixing bowl and a whisk) so it’s going to contain ALOT of guess work and improvisation! But that’s a skill you learn to acquire in a lab with double the amount of students than usual!
Plus I have also got the bug to do some travelling next summer recently! It would be amazing to visit more of Spain and Europe (I really fancy Italy and central Europe).