I guess I should start by saying that I am alive! And once again have internet access. It´s been awhile since I have written, and that is only because I have been going non-stop living the life of a spanish college student. I had a great weekend staying in Madrid and I'll try to catch you up on the details since I last wrote. Forgive me for making you worry.
"IF YOU DON'T CUT US, WE'LL CUT YOU"
That is what my toenails said to me. And they weren't playing around. All the walking and lack of time to care for my feet has me looking pretty rough. The girl next to me in class actually looked on my feet and said, "Are you gonna get those things fixed?" I agreed there was a problem. So last Thursday as my classmates left Madrid for Paris, Rome, Ibeza, and other destinations for their free travel weekend, I started my holiday off with a visit to the nail salon. They had a special offer for a manicure/pedicure combination that amounted to the price I would pay for my toes alone in the states. The poor lady that had to touch my feet! From the night before, my toes had blisters all over them and just looked disgusting. (Is this not what you wanted to know about my time in Madrid?) Anyway, it was a neat experience. Everything is a neat experience! Having a stranger perform spa services when you can't speak the language is truly interesting. Nonetheless, I was pleased and my feet feel so much healthier and prettier. The girl next to me in class agrees.
So I started my free weekend off well. Then, Molly, Kristen, and I mapped out how we would spend our free time in Madrid over the next 3 days. We had a great plan and were very much excited about saving money and really getting to see the city we walk to class in every day.
From our meeting, we went home, enjoyed a siesta. I had a 9pm date with a 601 number, which made me even more thankful for the free time. Then, I met Molly, Kristen, and several other students in our program at a metro stop to visit one of the more popular student clubs in Madrid, JOY. It was a lot of fun! We got to know some local students here, which is always great because not only do they help us with Spanish, but they also know their way around the city and where the best places to eat are. I think everyone had a great time that night. For me, it was the first time I went out by myself. While I missed Jordan and Tori (who were in Paris for the weekend), it made Madrid feel more like home to navigate it by myself. (But I am glad my goofy roommates have returned as we lay in our room laughing (at) with each other right now.) JOY was a lot of fun. All the touristy clubs play American music and everyone is a foreigner. We made friends from the US, Ireland, Dubai, France, Argentina, Puerto Rico, and Spaniards from outside of Madrid.
WELCOME NEW ROOMMATES...
Another exciting part of the past week has been the addition of two new roommates. Teresa's home is very large, so we still have extra bedrooms. The new girls are both from San Diego
State, Martha and Lorraine. Both born in the states, but Martha's parents are from Mexico and Lorraine's from Puerto Rico, therefore both girls speak great Spanish. They are incredibly sweet. The five of us (Jordan, Tori, Lorraine, Martha, and I) all went out together to a club called "Orange Cafe" one night last week. It was incredibly crowded and Jordan and I wore uncomfortable shoes, therefore it was a short night out. Nevertheless, it was still fun to get to know Martha and Lorraine. Dinner is one of my favorite parts of the day now because we all sit down together and have great conversation... in both Spanish and English. Marta and Lorraine told me that I could hold my own for a Gringa!
ALL THE WAY FROM ALCALA...
I can not tell you how much it meant to me that Melissa Lang came from Alcala (just a 30 minute train ride) to Madrid this weekend to hang out. Her mother had just gotten to Spain for a 2 week visit. They have a lot of time and want to see more of Madrid and me staying in town for the weekend made it the perfect time to catch up. We spent time in the park with Molly and Kristen and other friends, visited the incredibly gigantic Madrid book festival. (It last through next Tuesday so I will surely return and buy some children's books and cook books... something with pictures! I saw some social theory books that I want, but I think the better idea would be to buy it them English.) We window shopped a little bit, and then Melissa and her mom, Mrs. Carol, came to my place to meet Teresa. She is so welcoming of guests! Muhlang (what we call Melissa Lang) agreed that this apartment is one of the nicest she has seen in Spain! Her and her mom returned the next day for a serious shopping day. I bought a few precious things that I really really like. Even after shopping, I spent less money than I would have if I had left Madrid.
I went out with a few friends from outside Madrid that evening to experience the real Madrid lifestyle, away from just tourists clubs. It was really interesting and enjoyable. I was glad that Lorraine and Martha went with me to share the experience. But unfortunately, Saturday while I was shopping, I began to feel a cold coming on. All Saturday night, my voice weakened by the moment. It's hard enough to communicate in Spanish in a loud club when you are tired and not a native speaker, but imagine being hoarse! I endured, only to sleep all day Sunday. I did not even get dressed! I had planned to join some girls in my program at the end of my metro line to church with one of the guys from Madrid, but cancelled because I didn't feel like moving from my bed. I was pathetic. Today in class, as a result of my nasty cough and wheezing voice, my teacher asked me why I even bothered coming to school. I took the hint and went home from class early. I took another dose of Tylenol cold/flu and slept from 12 to 5. I woke up and felt much better. I finally have energy tonight. Don't worry, Mom and Dad.
ONLY 20 MORE DAYS....
I can't believe what little time I have left in this amazing country. There is still so much that I want to do! This week, I will try to accomplish a few of those things including visiting Melissa Lang in Alcala to see her city, going to a true Flamenco show, and visiting the Madrid zoo and aquarium. Thursday is a holiday in the city so we do not have class. We are thinking of making that the zoo day. Ah! It is difficult to decide when next week I really will not have many opportunities left. This weekend we are traveling with the program to Sevilla and Cordoba. I anticipate that it will be a very busy, exhausting weekend. Those are two different huge cities to try and see in only one day. The bus ride is 8 hours so that pretty much takes our entire day on Friday and Sunday. Next week we have an extra hour of class everyday, take our final exam and fly out on Friday! The end feels so near and I am not ready for it. I am ready to see you all, but oh my goodness, I love Spain!
I promise to write everyday from here on out, even just to say hello. Thank you again for thinking of me. I have taken hundreds of pictures and look forward to sharing them with you along with all of the stories left off of the blog.
My Spanish is really rockin!
Peace be with you...
Oh, and enjoy this sideways video of my morning metro rides! See Jordan put a coin in his cup, as is custom for all street entertainers, and notice the old lady's terribly bored face to the right.
"IF YOU DON'T CUT US, WE'LL CUT YOU"
That is what my toenails said to me. And they weren't playing around. All the walking and lack of time to care for my feet has me looking pretty rough. The girl next to me in class actually looked on my feet and said, "Are you gonna get those things fixed?" I agreed there was a problem. So last Thursday as my classmates left Madrid for Paris, Rome, Ibeza, and other destinations for their free travel weekend, I started my holiday off with a visit to the nail salon. They had a special offer for a manicure/pedicure combination that amounted to the price I would pay for my toes alone in the states. The poor lady that had to touch my feet! From the night before, my toes had blisters all over them and just looked disgusting. (Is this not what you wanted to know about my time in Madrid?) Anyway, it was a neat experience. Everything is a neat experience! Having a stranger perform spa services when you can't speak the language is truly interesting. Nonetheless, I was pleased and my feet feel so much healthier and prettier. The girl next to me in class agrees.
So I started my free weekend off well. Then, Molly, Kristen, and I mapped out how we would spend our free time in Madrid over the next 3 days. We had a great plan and were very much excited about saving money and really getting to see the city we walk to class in every day.
From our meeting, we went home, enjoyed a siesta. I had a 9pm date with a 601 number, which made me even more thankful for the free time. Then, I met Molly, Kristen, and several other students in our program at a metro stop to visit one of the more popular student clubs in Madrid, JOY. It was a lot of fun! We got to know some local students here, which is always great because not only do they help us with Spanish, but they also know their way around the city and where the best places to eat are. I think everyone had a great time that night. For me, it was the first time I went out by myself. While I missed Jordan and Tori (who were in Paris for the weekend), it made Madrid feel more like home to navigate it by myself. (But I am glad my goofy roommates have returned as we lay in our room laughing (at) with each other right now.) JOY was a lot of fun. All the touristy clubs play American music and everyone is a foreigner. We made friends from the US, Ireland, Dubai, France, Argentina, Puerto Rico, and Spaniards from outside of Madrid.WELCOME NEW ROOMMATES...
Another exciting part of the past week has been the addition of two new roommates. Teresa's home is very large, so we still have extra bedrooms. The new girls are both from San Diego
State, Martha and Lorraine. Both born in the states, but Martha's parents are from Mexico and Lorraine's from Puerto Rico, therefore both girls speak great Spanish. They are incredibly sweet. The five of us (Jordan, Tori, Lorraine, Martha, and I) all went out together to a club called "Orange Cafe" one night last week. It was incredibly crowded and Jordan and I wore uncomfortable shoes, therefore it was a short night out. Nevertheless, it was still fun to get to know Martha and Lorraine. Dinner is one of my favorite parts of the day now because we all sit down together and have great conversation... in both Spanish and English. Marta and Lorraine told me that I could hold my own for a Gringa!ALL THE WAY FROM ALCALA...
I can not tell you how much it meant to me that Melissa Lang came from Alcala (just a 30 minute train ride) to Madrid this weekend to hang out. Her mother had just gotten to Spain for a 2 week visit. They have a lot of time and want to see more of Madrid and me staying in town for the weekend made it the perfect time to catch up. We spent time in the park with Molly and Kristen and other friends, visited the incredibly gigantic Madrid book festival. (It last through next Tuesday so I will surely return and buy some children's books and cook books... something with pictures! I saw some social theory books that I want, but I think the better idea would be to buy it them English.) We window shopped a little bit, and then Melissa and her mom, Mrs. Carol, came to my place to meet Teresa. She is so welcoming of guests! Muhlang (what we call Melissa Lang) agreed that this apartment is one of the nicest she has seen in Spain! Her and her mom returned the next day for a serious shopping day. I bought a few precious things that I really really like. Even after shopping, I spent less money than I would have if I had left Madrid.
I went out with a few friends from outside Madrid that evening to experience the real Madrid lifestyle, away from just tourists clubs. It was really interesting and enjoyable. I was glad that Lorraine and Martha went with me to share the experience. But unfortunately, Saturday while I was shopping, I began to feel a cold coming on. All Saturday night, my voice weakened by the moment. It's hard enough to communicate in Spanish in a loud club when you are tired and not a native speaker, but imagine being hoarse! I endured, only to sleep all day Sunday. I did not even get dressed! I had planned to join some girls in my program at the end of my metro line to church with one of the guys from Madrid, but cancelled because I didn't feel like moving from my bed. I was pathetic. Today in class, as a result of my nasty cough and wheezing voice, my teacher asked me why I even bothered coming to school. I took the hint and went home from class early. I took another dose of Tylenol cold/flu and slept from 12 to 5. I woke up and felt much better. I finally have energy tonight. Don't worry, Mom and Dad.
ONLY 20 MORE DAYS....
I can't believe what little time I have left in this amazing country. There is still so much that I want to do! This week, I will try to accomplish a few of those things including visiting Melissa Lang in Alcala to see her city, going to a true Flamenco show, and visiting the Madrid zoo and aquarium. Thursday is a holiday in the city so we do not have class. We are thinking of making that the zoo day. Ah! It is difficult to decide when next week I really will not have many opportunities left. This weekend we are traveling with the program to Sevilla and Cordoba. I anticipate that it will be a very busy, exhausting weekend. Those are two different huge cities to try and see in only one day. The bus ride is 8 hours so that pretty much takes our entire day on Friday and Sunday. Next week we have an extra hour of class everyday, take our final exam and fly out on Friday! The end feels so near and I am not ready for it. I am ready to see you all, but oh my goodness, I love Spain!
I promise to write everyday from here on out, even just to say hello. Thank you again for thinking of me. I have taken hundreds of pictures and look forward to sharing them with you along with all of the stories left off of the blog.
My Spanish is really rockin!
Peace be with you...
Oh, and enjoy this sideways video of my morning metro rides! See Jordan put a coin in his cup, as is custom for all street entertainers, and notice the old lady's terribly bored face to the right.
Can you name the tune?
20 days but stay focused and keepo yo gaurdo upo .REMEMBER BUDDY / KEEP TOUCH/ NATLIE
ReplyDeletedont get too complaciant. How do you say charles dinosaur and mazzio's in spain ?