Break the Borders

There was an AFS orientation today, where we basically rushed around el Barri Gòtic de Barcelona searching for churches. Except at the end we went up to Montjuïc, which was incredible...I feel like this needs to be illustrated with pictures. But I'm too tired to load mine right now. So. Search google. Then close your eyes and try to imagine something a whole whole lot better than the pictures.

One thing I like about the AFS reunions (other than seeing my besties friendies) is that my friend Lea (pronounced like the princess, okay?) and I always take the bus or the train to Barcelona together. She's from Switzerland, and doesn't speak English particularly well, and I certainly don't speak German or French, so we talk in Català. And I guess I just really love the thought of two people conversing in a language that isn't native to either. I love that we maybe don't know anything about each other's countries or cultures, but we have Spain in common. And I also like how every time we see each other, we're better able to speak. Does that make any sense?

Oh, but I DID go, a while ago, to the Fundació Miró in Barcelona. And saw tons of Miró art, plus some by Alexander Calder (a fountain of mercury!!! Maybe I'm really dorky, but that's so cool!!!) and right now there's also an exposition of Modernitat Americana, so I saw lots of that. Super cool. There was all this incredible black and white photography, and Rita went through it in about two seconds. I could have looked for hours. I think I might be an art freak. But seriously, it was really cool.

Check it, si vos: La Fundació Joan Miró

Die Perruquerra

I went to the Perruqueria a week or two ago (did I mention how many shops end with -ia here? Carnisseria, Perruqueria, Peixateria, Fruiteria, Sabateria...I could go on) for a little trim, and I left with all my hair gone. Those who know me well will verify: sudden changes are, at first, a little bit hard for me (this may be an understatement). So though I managed to smile and nod my head that "Yes! I love that you just chopped off the hair that I've been growing for over a year!" while I was in the shop, once we walked out I began to cry. And Anna just looked at me, put her arm around my shoulders and said, "Yes, it's a big change. But you know what? This entire YEAR is a big change. It's the year of changes, Molly." And somehow, that actually helped a lot.

Though I still had to go through the pain of everyone else I know seeing my hair afterwards...

So anyway. I'm not generally into photographing myself in mirrors, but I figured this could be an exception. Here goes.

The final one is intended to show off what little hair I have in the back. On the plus side, I can now have my very own baby ponytail. I LOVE baby ponytails. Now if only all my hair would fit into it...

Funnily enough, Rachel, she gave me the haircut you've wanted to do for a while now. Short in the back, but longer on the sides. She also, when it was done, suddenly brought up the Reminds me of Christina Ricci! thing. Though this was probably just to make me feel better. Either way, I think you and my perruquerra would have gotten along well. Eh?