#itsthe011son

Happy New Year!

This year I have 3 resolutions:

1. Never eat at the same restaurant twice
2. Enjoy my last semester in college! (AKA Don't freak out about MBA classes)
3. Be featured in Late Night with Jimmy Fallon's #latenighthashtag segment

So far, I've hit 2 of the 3. Ryan and I have eaten at Mario Batali's Eataly. Definitely worth the trip, though I'm not sure I'll be back before I start making a 6-figure salary. Tonight we're doing a beer and burger tasting at RARE Bar & Grill. And then comes my favorite time of year: NYC RESTAURANT WEEK! I chose the uber historical Russian Tea Room and Ryan's pick is Bar Basque. (Somebody wants to get back to Spain, eh?)

And I recently skipped a Marketing Research class to go to a taping of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon with Ryan - we had to go on Thursday for ?uestlove's "Remix the Clips." The show was such a treat! Jimmy is positively dreamy, Higgins is delightful, and The Roots rock my soul. The show featured The Donald and Bobby Moynihan as guests, though The Celebrity Apprentice stars Nene Leakes and Lil Jon made appearances as well. Late Night with Jimmy Falon (swoon!) was the perfect medicine for my debilitating sinus infection. Wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Do I look excited to meet Jimmy or what? (41:48)

The #latenighthashtag feature will come as soon as I have a moment of divine comedic genius. Follow me @Jilliebean1018.

In other news, I joined Ryan and his dad's fam in the Poconos at Great Wolf Lodge for some swimming and snowmobiling. (Yes, it can happen.) It's always so nice to get off campus, especially to operate motorized snow vehicles.

That's all for now. But feel free to check out my boyfriend's blog when you're done lusting after mine: http://latenightdoneright.com #shamelessplug

<3

The Reincarnation of This Here Blog

Perhaps it's ego-centrism, but I've felt something missing in these last 6 months of bloglessness. Thus, it is today that I take up my proverbial pen and write again, if only because I anticipate eating more great food and seeing more fabulous things and participating in more photo-worthy events. I'm a second-semester senior, dammit. Big things are on the horizon. Yikes.

In the meantime, here's what you've missed:

Ryan and I spent a day at Coney Island to enjoy some ridiculously hot sun and the Siren Music Festival.

We made it to Foodswings in Brooklyn a few times this summer, which specializes in vegan diner food. Below, a Southern Fried "Chicken" Wing with a wooden "bone" for added effect.

Then school started, as did themed Senior Nights. For "TV characters," I indulged the couple mentality and went as Olive Oyl to Ryan's Popeye.

October was the world's longest month with 5 jam-packed weekends in which I made time for apple-picking with Ryan, meeting the family in Cincinnati for Mama's 80th birthday and a Bengals game, seeing The Great Pumpkin at the Botans, and then heading to DC to promote LNDR at the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear.

As the homework piled on, I only made time for one stupendous excursion to Williamsburg with my roomies for some thrift-shopping. And then the parents and I joined with my brother via Skype for the first annual Switzer Skypesgiving. (Mom forgot to actually purchase Brett's tickets, so he was left stranded at the airport and sentenced to a ready-made Thanksgiving dinner from Kroger and a holiday away from home. He's here for Christmas, though, and his law school exams didn't suffer from any Thanksgiving diversion.

And, finally, just before I bid adieu to my social life and hello to exam hell, Ryan and I made a trip up to Boston to visit our besties at Emerson.

All of this, plus a full course load, the beginning of my honors thesis, and a 3-day/week internship at VINTUS made for a busy semester, so I hope you can understand my blogging absence.

But no more excuses. I promise that I'm back for good. The posts might not be as long or romantic as those from abroad, but they won't be boring. Stay tuned as my life turns into a whirlwind of MBA classes, the GBHP Thesis, resumes, job searches, apartment hunts, and hopefully a half-marathon or something to keep me sane and focused.

Until then, happy holidays to you and yours. Here's hoping that you and I both get everything on our lists. Cheers!

<3

Footloose and Fancy-Free

Happy 4th of July!

After 5 days of tour-giving in the hot sun, I was begging for a long weekend full of fun in the sun. Well be careful what you wish for because my feet are still a little swollen from 3 days of nonstop walking and sunning.

On Saturday, Ryan and I met up with his family at his grandparents' cottage in the Hamptons. We chilled poolside with the cousins and had a little BBQ action and chocolate icing fight before heading home and hitting the hay early in anticipation of the day to come.

The 4th of July is a tough time for New Yorkers, since everyone wants to get out of the city, but there's not much else to do outside of the city if you don't have transportation, a destination, and/or lots of money to spend acquiring the first two. So Ryan, Jack and I met up with our friend Matt at Governor's Island for a free concert by She & Him with Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward. Perhaps we were a little overzealous in catching the 10am ferry over for the 4pm concert. But we didn't have to wait in line for any wristbands and we found a nice tree in the picnic area of the island under which we ate our gyros and napped. 6 hours later, we bumped into Jake, Eileen and Jim just as the concert was starting. After a full set, we caught a ferry back to the city, where we ate sushi (yet another very American meal on Independence Day) at my new fave spot Sushi-a-Go-Go, and then chased the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show on the west side. Completely pooped and a little dehydrated, I slept on the subway as Ryan and Jack kept an eye out for the Fordham Rd. stop. One gypsy cab ride later, I konked out until 11AM the next day.


Matt, Ryan, Jack


Couple Pic in front of Lady Liberty


The Beach @ Governor's Island


Jake, Eileen, Jim

Governor's Island left us all seeing mirages, so Monday Ryan, Jack and I made our way to Ryan's dad's public pool on Long Island, complete with two diving boards and a water slide. I hadn't been on a water slide since childhood summers at Hurricane Harbor, so shooting out into the chilly water like a cannon ball was a thrilling and welcome experience. We spent hours reading, lounging, swimming, floating, diving, and joking around before we ended the day at Press 195, a gourmet-style panini, salad, and beer garden with locations in Queens and Brooklyn. I got the 27: Grilled chicken smothered in BBQ sauce, onions, smoked gouda, jalapenos, and tomato. Then I called it an early night yet again to get ready for a short work week. Now, on the hottest day of the year so far with a high of 101, I've got to give a campus tour to 100 prospective students and their families. At least July is the start of 4-day work weeks - Fridays free!!

That's all for now. Thanks for reading, and let freedom ring!

Snug as a June Bug

A few brief updates about my last summer vacation in NYC, post-Barcelona:

Sex and the City 2 was absurd, as expected. Thankfully, Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte delivered their usual charming performances. Otherwise, the movie's over-the-top antics and borderline tacky fashion choices would have been unbearable.

Next, Ryan and I went to see Galactic at Brooklyn Bowl, a eco-conscious bowling alley catered by Blue Ribbon Restaurants, before meeting up with Mom and Dad the next morning for a weekend of shopping in the city. Hummus Place, Tino's and the Park Side Restaurant in Queens made it on the rents' whirlwind culinary tour - Mom caught it all on her new Flip Video Camcorder - before I kissed them goodbye until October.

Other highlights for this month include a 5-course dinner and wine-tasting at PUBLIC, the June 15 Yankees-Phillies game at the new stadium, and hopefully a day-trip to Coney Island this weekend, weather-permitting.





Needless to say, I haven't had much reverse culture shock, except that I do miss the people I met while abroad. And I miss Organic. A lot.

<3

Closing Anecdotes

I'm all packed up now and just waiting for my 7:30am cab ride to the airport tomorrow morning. Of course, my last couple of hours coincidentally wrapped up my time in Barcelona perfectly. So here ya go:

Just after THE FINAL ESPIN CLASS, I ducked down into the basement to grab a water bottle from the vending machine when I saw one of my dear friends from the "21 Dias" post. He was playing ping-pong with a guy I'd never seen before, and I couldn't hear what they were saying, but my friend was gesturing in my general direction when the other guy asked me, "Es una mentira?"

Well I didn't know what they had been talking about, but I assumed Chuck Norris. So I said yes I knew Chuck Norris and then proceeded to answer the rest of his questions. Yes I am from Texas. Yes he is my neighbor. Yes I've spoken to him before. Yes I've seen him filming "Walker Texas Ranger." No I cannot get him to meet you. I never knew Chuck Norris would contribute so much to my popularity in my Spanish residencia.

Then I joined my roommate Carla and my friend Sandra for dinner. I had something nondescript - pasta, veggies, salad - and we gabbed about New York and Barcelona and the latest residencia gossip. As we were cleaning up our plates and getting ready to leave, I busted out of the caf with a dessert plate of none other than... apple pie.

Obviously I made the girls try this most American dessert ever and a residencia cafeteria first and told them all about Thanksgiving and pies and how unbelievably perfect it was that for THE FINAL MEAL before my return to America, I could enjoy a taste of home.

Then, as we left the cafeteria to head back to our rooms, Sandra looked up at a suddenly cloudy and ominous sky and said, "Ay! Te vas y el cielo llora!"

Indeed, it looks as though Barcelona is mourning my departure, as I do my best to bid a dry goodbye as well. I just hope Barcelona can dry its tears and buck up before my flight tomorrow, because that cannot happen.

<3

Sun Salutation

OKAY. Okay. I know. I'm sorry.

Ugh. The truth is, I've been avoiding this post, the final post, because I find myself unexpectedly emotionally and psychologically unprepared to leave. A short 5 months after I began, just as I've found my niche, adopted the language, formed true friendships, and built up one hell of a tan, I have to leave without knowing for certain if and when I'll return. The funniest part is that I've been so vocal about my excitement to return home. I believe the word - my friends Sidney and Deidre know it well - is "bittersweet." I've fallen in love with more than one home and can't see myself leaving either one.

That said, I've compiled a list of the Top 10 things I will miss most about Barcelona as well as the Top 10 things I'm most looking forward to returning to in NYC:

I Will Miss Most:
1. My new friends
2. BBQs at Eddie, Tom, Chris, and Pawel's apartment on the terrace that faces East.
3. Organic
4. Espinning
5. Traveling to new places
6. Lays' "Receta de Campesina" Chips
7. Having nothing to do
8. Way too many holidays
9. Heart health
10. Freedom from technology

I'm Most Looking Forward To:
1. My old friends
2. Laying out on Eddie's Parade
3. Hummus Place
4. Runs in Central Park
5. Exploring more of my own city
6. Cheez-Its, or crackers in general
7. Being productive
8. Sunday hours of operation
9. Lung/sinus health
10. Blackberry

So yeah. That's about all she wrote. I'm not sure whether or not I'll keep this blog up when I get back to the States, but I do promise to write a follow-up post to let you know how the reverse culture shock is going. Though with my already-packed planner full of concerts, dinners, Yankees games, movies, museums, and other cultural excursions, it'll take a lot to shake this city girl.

Thanks for reading this semester and helping me through.

Y te echo de menos, Barcelona. I'll be back soon.

<3

El Capital

And in my last weekend getaway before I head home to the U.S. of A. I traversed not one but two of Spain's autonomous communities: Madrid and Castilla-La Mancha, this time with two of my besties from high school, Courtney and David, and a new friend, Danny.

The first stop was Madrid, Spain's capital and home to FC Barcelona's biggest national rival: Real Madrid. Moreover, Madrid is usually considered the alternative to Barcelona in most study abroad programs. You either loyal to Madrid or Barcelona but never both, as each city offers something remarkably different. Thus, armed with itineraries from a few friends who studied abroad in Madrid, I opened my heart and mind and gave Madrid my best shot.

Upon arriving, Danny and I met Courtney and David at the hostel before we headed out to Palacio Real and the Sabatini Gardens. Well I suppose the bad weather is partially to blame, but I can't say I was blown away. A gray building against gray skies doesn't make for exceptional pictures. The armory was perhaps the most exciting part, if only because we each picked out our army's armor. (Basically, the boys compared swords and cannons while Courtney and I compared the aesthetic merit of each breast plate.) Then we hit up Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor, both of which were alive and bustling despite the rain. Afterwards, we ran, not walked, to the one and only El Tigre, a legit SRO tapas bar that boasts super sized mojitos and tinto de verano, which consists of wine and lemonade. I was happy to be able to show Courtney and David what tapas were really all about - we had pan de tomate, manchego, tortillas (potato omelettes), and croquettes. Fueron deliciosos!



The next day we greeted bright skies with a smile and headed straight to el Parque del Retiro. I have to admit, this park has a lot over other parks I've seen while here. For starters, it's more manicured than my mother's fingernails. On top of that, it has a lake that offers boat rides for 4.50 € per boat. I'm not sure why, but Courtney and I somehow ended up in the front of the boat with the oars, making the first half of our 45 minutes at sea more like a game of bumper boats than an easy coast along still waters. Once the boys took over, we made it back safely to shore.



After that, the storm clouds came just in time for our super tour of the museum trifecta: Reina Sofia, Thyssen and Prado. While the Prado was a thrill if only because of Mr. Long's HAM (History of Art & Music) class sophomore year of high school, I found myself more fond of modern art in the Reina Sofia. After 5 months traveling Spain, forgive me if I've grown tired of religious subjects. The crowning glory of the afternoon, of course, was that thanks to a little forethought, we entered 2 of the Big 3 for free! And the Thyssen is never free, so I basically scored an A+ on the budget scorecard of life.

On Sunday, we hit up the Rastro flea market, where David bought a Texas flag belt buckle, and then Danny and I bid farewell before heading to the Renfe train station, where Courtney and David headed to Cordoba and Danny and I bought tickets to Toledo.

For me, Toledo was a vision of old Spain: narrow cobblestone streets, grand cathedrals, and vast landscapes of bridges, rivers, and castles. Danny's a photography connoisseur, so it was fun to just wander and take pictures, though we did make a point to hit up the must-sees and to eat marzipan, a confection indigenous to the region. It basically tasted like sugar and almonds, so I obviously loved it.





Back in Madrid and having little else to do on Monday but roam a few gardens, Danny and I headed to the airport early in hopes of nabbing an earlier flight on Vueling. No Ryanair-esque problems there; we made it back before dark!

All in all, it was a beautiful, stress-free weekend with lovely company. Arriving home to Barcelona didn't exactly make me nostalgic for hostels and Starbucks wifi, but I will miss spending time with people discovering that little ball we call the world. Oh, and for those of you who sing Madrid's praises, my heart's still in Barcelona. Lest we forget it's got a beach, Messi and that little home away from home I call Organic.

<3