the early cessation of classes left me with a rare and very unexpected opportunity – to go anywhere i wanted! but it had to be the cheapest place to get to. and it had to be warm. and starbucks to study in and subway restaurants to eat at were a priority. for reasons less self-centered than these i really wanted to get into gaza, but alas the only possible way to do that was to feign a career as a journalist, which was a little risky. not too concerned about personal safety, just more, you know, getting deported or something silly. someone i know may or may not have found a way, proving that anything is possible. but this time i made the easier decision and decided to fly to barcelona, spain for a week, before heading to america. got there via kyiv, ukraine, where i spent a night. it was a really nice week in barcelona. i stayed in a rather luxurious art-deco hostel where i slept in a lot and hung out with some random new friends from germany and holland and even america! it was just really great to finally be able to speak english to some new people who weren’t medical students, as much as i love my fellow medical students. studied a bit, though not as much as i should have. multiple three hour runs along the beach which were glorious. some museums and free walking tours and gaudi’s art all over the place. it was an interesting time to be there as the region, catalonia, had a big election in which a majority demonstrated their desire to secede from spain.
it was an excellent unexpected week!
