Going home

A group of expat parents were getting together to set up a project for the younger kids at school and put out a request for help.  I could have stayed home and puttered around, but I have been trying to push myself a little bit, and I am so glad I did.

I took the train a few stops and one parent picked me up in her mid-sized SUV.  A car! I didn't even know I missed one.  I don't miss one when they need parking, but they are nice for getting from one place to another, especially uphill.  Plus, there was no worry about parking because we parked in her garage!

Part of Bellaterra, not far from David's workplace

It was not really like the part of Claremont where we live, but more like Claraboya, the homes in the hills.  It was still an odd sensation to look out the window and see someone else's backyard and not another apartment building.

We sat around the dining room table and assembled pieces of the project and chatted about the school, language acquisition, and the usual things.  It was so familiar, so soothing! The fact that everyone else there could speak at least three languages fluently was humbling, but otherwise it was so familiar.

Even though I am very happy where we live I admit to being a little jealous of the house, the car, and the neighborhood.

And even though I have never seriously wanted a La Creuset Dutch oven

I really liked the coffee set we used.

Now I have to decide how much to get involved.  I am considering running a used-book sale as a fundraiser.  It is a bit daunting, but it may happen.  I'll keep you posted.

Outing

The parents' group at school suggested a time and place for people to gather for coffee.  It didn't conflict with Castilian class so I found my way there.

I seldom buy coffee at a shop in the USA (pronounced in class like ooh sah - to rhyme with moose -ah), but I knew I didn't want a teeny-tiny cup

like the scene from Muppets Most Wanted, in which the Sam, the Bald Eagle has an American cup of coffee and the French Interpol agent has a European cup.

It turned out I could order a cafe americano, but that means it comes with milk.  Oh, well.
It also came with free water - so adorable!

As a tour guide once said, coffee in, coffee out.  But what do you do if there are no symbols and not even an entire word?  Good thing I have been working ahead in class!

 In Castilian the bathroom options were hombre and mujer

and if it had been in Catalan it would have been home and dona,