And so it goes...
I began this trip (if you would call it that) with the intention of intensely blogging daily...
What happened instead?
I sent this link to 50 people and semi, sort of, maybe, kind of, completely did not write in it. I'm truely sorry to disappoint my fans, who have probably now lost all hope of reading about my European adventures, but on the bright side, I'm finally getting my act together.
Somehow (as you may have figured out by now), I arrived safely in Madrid. By the fifty-ninth flight of stairs and secret passage ways I took to baggage claim, I lost track of the entire process that was to occur that day. Did I go through customs? Pick up my bags? Where was my purse, VISA, umbrella (Chicago), books, computer, mind, food (was I allowed to bring food into the new country?), mind...?! To make matters worse, I unexpectedly waited thirty minutes for my bags to decide to *not* show up. A security guard came up to me, asked about my condition (insanity+no clothes, and I mean no clothes to wear for the next 6 months, because there were in my baggage... I was indeed wearing clothes at the time, in case you were wondering), and explained how to claim my luggage/see where it was.
In approximately (give or take) 7.3 minutes, the same guard found me (20 feet away from my previous position) aimlessly staring into space (in the middle of the airport). I found myself being personally escorted to Lost and Found services, where the attendent assured me that a) my luggage would come in the next few days (and that they would be personally delivered... probably because of my celebrity status) and that b) I definitely needed to practice my Spanish (thanks).
I proceeded to stare at the taxis for as long as I possibly could, before jumping into one that had absolutely no idea how to find my casa and attempted to persuade me that perhaps I lived at a different address. Thankfully my ability to say no is improving, as well as his ability to plug an address into a GPS (we can't all be dance majors). I arrived at the apartment, relied upon a 90 year old woman to a) help me find the secret hidden elevator, and b) assist in my usage of it. (I am convinced that they loooovvee to hide things here... for example: toilet paper, my bed, and random seafood in your meals).
I was incredibly nervous for my homestay because on my preference sheet, and I quote, mentioned that "... there are few things I dislike, mostly because I think you choose whether or not to enjoy yourself in a given situation." Needless to say, I recieved my homestay address within two days (with this secret fear that they put me with the scariest mujer). Fortunately, I was greeted with besos, carrot-orange jam (highly recommended and I'm not usually the biggest fan of the color)and two lovely lady room-mates (Chris, pillow fights have not happened yet, but I'll be sure to keep you posted).
(I apologize for the length this may reach, by the way...)
I finished Wednesday with General Orientation, a spectacular dinner (our Señora is an INCREDIBLE cook... sorry Mom...) journaling/emailing and some much needed time in bed.
Thursday we found ourselves near Sol, and I bought a purse (I know you're really excited to hear this news). Petty theft is a HUGE problem in Madrid, so they recommend buying a particular bolso. Anyway, Sol-->Orientation (Academics and Embassy briefing... Embassy guys, pardon the language, kind of gilipollas...)-->Principe Pío. We bought cell phones (I already have 20 contacts, kind of a big deal... Including, myself, the US Embassy, 911, and the Program Director... Pretty popular.) Another delicious dinner, and out for the evening.
Here's where the night gets interesting (¿sí?) We (a bunch of randos and I...orrr some Americanos de mi programa) met at Sol in an attempt to find a low-key cheap bar. After asking a few randoms on the street (for real this time), we ended up going to this bar with a theme everyone can't help but love: owls. I'm a firm believer that every bar in Spain has a wealth of display cases that make absolutely no sense. The bartender graced us with some free honey rum (scarily delicious) and we graced him with our presence until bar close. Upon some *obviously* very careful decision making, we ended up at a Gay Discoteca. We made some moves to Shakira (I as usual, mostly just made a fool out of myself) and found ourselves winning hats while walking and meeting some crazies (at least one had a rat-tail!) at the bus stop. Unlike true Madrileños, we got home slighty early (5:30 am).
Friday, we had the remarkable opportunity to take a perfectly leveled group picture in front of the metal barred, graffiti ridden front area of the University. After we had another Orientation (Housing, yahooo) and Courtney and I found ourselves so starved that we settled for Oktober Fest at Principe Pío. If you come to Madrid, please please PLEASE promise me that you will never be desperate enough to eat at said restaurant. Our evening was however, eventually salvaged by Señora's cooking and Cafe Nuncía's chocolate nata.
Saturday, we went with the Program to Toledo. While the weather was a bit on the chilly side (I'm obviously acclimating myself quite quickly), and the group was a bit too large for one tour guide, the city was absolutely fascinating. I almost felt like I was on a movie set... a little hard to believe that not only have people actually lived there for centuries, but they still live there ahora. We had the opportunity to view (and learn approximately 5 hours worth of information about) la Santa Iglesia Catedral Primera, la Iglesia de Santo Tomé, el Puente de San Martín, el Museo Sefardí, and más o menos 50 more places that at this point, all blend together.
Last night brought us to another bar (Star Studio), which was some odd combination of an Irish and Goth theme. I can only hope that not only will mullets make their way back to the states, but that the trench coat, fish net, white painted face, bright red lipstick look will as well. While avoiding the dark side, I met some Italian and Spanish muchachos who helped me pratice my Español, which was really nice because I feel like I'm constantly speaking Spanish with Program participants).
Today (perhaps your attention span is slowly dwindling... I can assure you that mine is as well... but, to keep you intrigued with what's to come...: Animal Parade).
So today, animal Parade? Es la verdad. Our Señora informed us that there was a parade occuring near el Sol (cerca de la Iglesia de Santa Antón) that was not to be missed! Pet owners were to come to this event with their animals of all shapes and sizes (including but not limited to: dogs, cats, tucans, other birds, snakes, rabbits and fish) and walk them around the area. We arrived with high expectations, and learned that not only were the animals recieving some blessed, but also were given cookies accompanied with some rules about not actually eating them for a year. (You may also have to bury part of the cookie, un-demonize another, didn't particularly follow all of it). Regardless, the animals in Madrid (especcially dogs) quite possibly possess the link between apes and humans in the sequence of evolution. No only are they well dressed (rain coats and sweaters were the theme for today), but well trained. Many will wait outside stores for their owners, and today's parade presented my first experience with a leesh in Madrid.
Courtney and I ate at an amazing restaurant-Laterar con r aproximante, enjoyed a pitcher of sangria, some mushroom crepes, raw salmon, cream cheese and bread, and mushroom gouda quesadillas. We got lost a block away from our house, met our Señora's adorable grandson Pablo, and I was finally able to unpack my bags.
For now, I'll name the trip so far, so good. I'm obviously missing home (or at least, the people at home...). SKYPE has helped a lot, as have emails... I would like to bring to your attention at this time however, that I am indeed accepting all emails at this time as well.
As it's nearing 3am, my eyes are feeling heavier and heavier.
Tomorow's blog?
Interesting observations.
Be prepared.
Buenas noches.
I began this trip (if you would call it that) with the intention of intensely blogging daily...
What happened instead?
I sent this link to 50 people and semi, sort of, maybe, kind of, completely did not write in it. I'm truely sorry to disappoint my fans, who have probably now lost all hope of reading about my European adventures, but on the bright side, I'm finally getting my act together.
Somehow (as you may have figured out by now), I arrived safely in Madrid. By the fifty-ninth flight of stairs and secret passage ways I took to baggage claim, I lost track of the entire process that was to occur that day. Did I go through customs? Pick up my bags? Where was my purse, VISA, umbrella (Chicago), books, computer, mind, food (was I allowed to bring food into the new country?), mind...?! To make matters worse, I unexpectedly waited thirty minutes for my bags to decide to *not* show up. A security guard came up to me, asked about my condition (insanity+no clothes, and I mean no clothes to wear for the next 6 months, because there were in my baggage... I was indeed wearing clothes at the time, in case you were wondering), and explained how to claim my luggage/see where it was.
In approximately (give or take) 7.3 minutes, the same guard found me (20 feet away from my previous position) aimlessly staring into space (in the middle of the airport). I found myself being personally escorted to Lost and Found services, where the attendent assured me that a) my luggage would come in the next few days (and that they would be personally delivered... probably because of my celebrity status) and that b) I definitely needed to practice my Spanish (thanks).
I proceeded to stare at the taxis for as long as I possibly could, before jumping into one that had absolutely no idea how to find my casa and attempted to persuade me that perhaps I lived at a different address. Thankfully my ability to say no is improving, as well as his ability to plug an address into a GPS (we can't all be dance majors). I arrived at the apartment, relied upon a 90 year old woman to a) help me find the secret hidden elevator, and b) assist in my usage of it. (I am convinced that they loooovvee to hide things here... for example: toilet paper, my bed, and random seafood in your meals).
I was incredibly nervous for my homestay because on my preference sheet, and I quote, mentioned that "... there are few things I dislike, mostly because I think you choose whether or not to enjoy yourself in a given situation." Needless to say, I recieved my homestay address within two days (with this secret fear that they put me with the scariest mujer). Fortunately, I was greeted with besos, carrot-orange jam (highly recommended and I'm not usually the biggest fan of the color)and two lovely lady room-mates (Chris, pillow fights have not happened yet, but I'll be sure to keep you posted).
(I apologize for the length this may reach, by the way...)
I finished Wednesday with General Orientation, a spectacular dinner (our Señora is an INCREDIBLE cook... sorry Mom...) journaling/emailing and some much needed time in bed.
Thursday we found ourselves near Sol, and I bought a purse (I know you're really excited to hear this news). Petty theft is a HUGE problem in Madrid, so they recommend buying a particular bolso. Anyway, Sol-->Orientation (Academics and Embassy briefing... Embassy guys, pardon the language, kind of gilipollas...)-->Principe Pío. We bought cell phones (I already have 20 contacts, kind of a big deal... Including, myself, the US Embassy, 911, and the Program Director... Pretty popular.) Another delicious dinner, and out for the evening.
Here's where the night gets interesting (¿sí?) We (a bunch of randos and I...orrr some Americanos de mi programa) met at Sol in an attempt to find a low-key cheap bar. After asking a few randoms on the street (for real this time), we ended up going to this bar with a theme everyone can't help but love: owls. I'm a firm believer that every bar in Spain has a wealth of display cases that make absolutely no sense. The bartender graced us with some free honey rum (scarily delicious) and we graced him with our presence until bar close. Upon some *obviously* very careful decision making, we ended up at a Gay Discoteca. We made some moves to Shakira (I as usual, mostly just made a fool out of myself) and found ourselves winning hats while walking and meeting some crazies (at least one had a rat-tail!) at the bus stop. Unlike true Madrileños, we got home slighty early (5:30 am).
Friday, we had the remarkable opportunity to take a perfectly leveled group picture in front of the metal barred, graffiti ridden front area of the University. After we had another Orientation (Housing, yahooo) and Courtney and I found ourselves so starved that we settled for Oktober Fest at Principe Pío. If you come to Madrid, please please PLEASE promise me that you will never be desperate enough to eat at said restaurant. Our evening was however, eventually salvaged by Señora's cooking and Cafe Nuncía's chocolate nata.
Saturday, we went with the Program to Toledo. While the weather was a bit on the chilly side (I'm obviously acclimating myself quite quickly), and the group was a bit too large for one tour guide, the city was absolutely fascinating. I almost felt like I was on a movie set... a little hard to believe that not only have people actually lived there for centuries, but they still live there ahora. We had the opportunity to view (and learn approximately 5 hours worth of information about) la Santa Iglesia Catedral Primera, la Iglesia de Santo Tomé, el Puente de San Martín, el Museo Sefardí, and más o menos 50 more places that at this point, all blend together.
Last night brought us to another bar (Star Studio), which was some odd combination of an Irish and Goth theme. I can only hope that not only will mullets make their way back to the states, but that the trench coat, fish net, white painted face, bright red lipstick look will as well. While avoiding the dark side, I met some Italian and Spanish muchachos who helped me pratice my Español, which was really nice because I feel like I'm constantly speaking Spanish with Program participants).
Today (perhaps your attention span is slowly dwindling... I can assure you that mine is as well... but, to keep you intrigued with what's to come...: Animal Parade).
So today, animal Parade? Es la verdad. Our Señora informed us that there was a parade occuring near el Sol (cerca de la Iglesia de Santa Antón) that was not to be missed! Pet owners were to come to this event with their animals of all shapes and sizes (including but not limited to: dogs, cats, tucans, other birds, snakes, rabbits and fish) and walk them around the area. We arrived with high expectations, and learned that not only were the animals recieving some blessed, but also were given cookies accompanied with some rules about not actually eating them for a year. (You may also have to bury part of the cookie, un-demonize another, didn't particularly follow all of it). Regardless, the animals in Madrid (especcially dogs) quite possibly possess the link between apes and humans in the sequence of evolution. No only are they well dressed (rain coats and sweaters were the theme for today), but well trained. Many will wait outside stores for their owners, and today's parade presented my first experience with a leesh in Madrid.
Courtney and I ate at an amazing restaurant-Laterar con r aproximante, enjoyed a pitcher of sangria, some mushroom crepes, raw salmon, cream cheese and bread, and mushroom gouda quesadillas. We got lost a block away from our house, met our Señora's adorable grandson Pablo, and I was finally able to unpack my bags.
For now, I'll name the trip so far, so good. I'm obviously missing home (or at least, the people at home...). SKYPE has helped a lot, as have emails... I would like to bring to your attention at this time however, that I am indeed accepting all emails at this time as well.
As it's nearing 3am, my eyes are feeling heavier and heavier.
Tomorow's blog?
Interesting observations.
Be prepared.
Buenas noches.
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