After all that, we visited the grandparents, where a massive four-course dinner was waiting for us. It was quite a shock for me since my dinners back in the Czech Republic are usually very modest😄

In robotics, not much happened today. I ran into some issues with my robot, so we didn’t make much progress. After all that, I really needed to relax, so I headed to the pool and then the sauna. I felt amazing afterward.

For the rest of the class, Toby and I prepared for a presentation we’ll be giving tomorrow about the Czech Republic. During the lunch break, we borrowed a basketball and spent some time shooting hoops. It was a pretty good way to pass the 30-minute break.

In the afternoon, I decided not to do anything special, so I stayed home and played video games with friends from the Czech Republic.

After school, I went to the gym and then for a swim. Afterward, I had my now-traditional sauna session. Even though the pool is relatively close to our house, this whole routine takes up a big chunk of my afternoon, and I didn’t get home until around 7:15 p.m. I didn’t have the energy or desire to play any video games, which I would normally do, so I just chatted with a friend instead. We were trying to organize a team for the traditional floorball tournament that takes place at our school every year. I have to say, it wasn’t easy since we don’t have enough players.

Later in the day, I went to Mataró Park with Matěj and Toby, where they already have the Christmas decorations up. I have to say, I’m really looking forward to Christmas!

In the afternoon, I followed my usual routine—gym, pool, and sauna. For dinner, my host partner and I went to a restaurant where we also met Matěj and his partner. We had an amazing burger, which was absolutely delicious.

In the afternoon, Matěj, Toby, our partners, and their friends went to Barcelona together. Since the Christmas season is starting, the whole city was covered in beautiful lights, which were truly stunning. We took a lovely walk and visited a shopping mall. I really enjoyed it, even though we spent much more time on the train than in Barcelona itself.

I browsed some clothing stores and then visited a game shop, hoping to find something cool. And I did! I bought a Funko POP figure from my favorite TV series, which I’ve wanted for a long time but couldn’t find anywhere in the Czech Republic—it’s simply not sold there.

After that, we stopped for a meal (not sure if it was lunch or dinner—it was 5 PM, and sometimes I eat dinner at that time in the Czech Republic 😄). I ordered some spicy chicken, so I was really surprised when I got a massive portion of chicken schnitzel covered in spicy sauce with chili peppers. I was expecting something much smaller.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt as full as I did today. Honestly, I wasn’t even hungry later in the evening, so I just had a small piece of bread and went to sleep.

In the evening, I had a nice chat with my host family about a variety of topics, such as Christmas traditions in Catalonia versus the Czech Republic, typical weather, and even politics.

Even though it’s already December, the weather here is still beautiful, and being out in the sunshine feels like summer (It’s kind of messing with my brain, and I feel a bit strange when I think about the weather back in the Czech Republic).

In the afternoon, I didn’t do anything—I just wasn’t in the mood for it. I spent the whole day lying in bed and watching TV shows.

I’m also starting to think about what souvenirs I’ll bring back for myself and my loved ones. I have a few ideas, but I’m not sure if they’re good enough yet.

I also got an advent calendar from my host family—I’m so excited for Christmas! 🎄🎅

After school, our host parents picked us up because they needed to collect some boxes from school, and we headed home. One notable thing about today is that the host mom’s brother, who lives in Chile, came to visit. He came because it’s her birthday today, but nobody else in the family knew he would be here. So, when everyone arrived in the evening for the celebration, they were pleasantly surprised to see him.

The party was really big—there were about 15 of us (which was kind of crazy). It was a lot of fun, we had some great conversations, and for the first time in a while, I went to bed relatively early (at midnight).

In the afternoon, I went to Mataró Parc shopping center with my host partner and her friend. I browsed through most of the stores and spotted a few items I might buy as souvenirs to take back to the Czech Republic. The place is enormous, so I didn’t get home until around 7:30 PM. Before dinner, I spent some time relaxing and playing video games with a friend.

I went to bed early tonight since my host family told me we’d be leaving early in the morning for a trip with Matěj’s family.

Afterward, we drove to another spot where we had planned to have a picnic lunch together. However, it started raining, so we got back in the car and headed home. We eventually had lunch in Mataró at Parc Forestal, which offers breathtaking views of the entire city.

In the evening, I attended a mass at the local church. Even though I didn’t understand anything, I found the ceremony very beautiful.

Even though all the tickets to enter the main church were sold out, the security made an exception for us, and I got the chance to attend a mass being held inside. Just like yesterday, I didn’t understand a word, but the atmosphere of the church took my breath away. It was truly charming.

Later in the day, we decorated the Christmas tree. This was something completely new to me since, in the Czech Republic, we usually decorate it on December 23rd. All the festive vibes here are making me even more excited about celebrating Christmas back home in the Czech Republic.

Also, as part of my self-study, I took a practice B1 Deutsches Sprachdiplom Leseverstehen test. I managed to get 23 out of 24 points, which is my new personal best. It’s quite ironic because sometimes I share a room for self-study with German students, but I’m unable to understand a single word they say.

In the afternoon, I made a quick trip to Mataró Parc to grab one last thing. (Well, that was the plan—I ended up buying much more than intended!) Once I got back, I packed my suitcase, and it was a close call. I had to really press down on it to get it to close, so now I can only hope I didn’t break anything inside.

Even though we were on our own at the airport, we managed not to get lost and boarded the correct plane without any trouble. The journey home was faster and calmer than I had expected.

Looking back, I had an absolutely amazing month in Spain. I enjoyed every moment, and I’m pretty sure I’ll come back someday on my own. Their culture and way of life really amazed me, and I’d love to see what it’s like there during the summer when the weather is at its best.

You’ll get to experience all these things (every day was packed with enough experiences to fill a whole paragraph—I was never bored!), and you’ll also get a great chance to relax and enjoy something completely different.