Busy Week!

Me at Columbus' Tomb....or maybe not since they're not actually sure if he's in there but let's charge you $8 to see it anyways :)

Hey Peeps!

Well, the good news is the Euro to Dollar rate dropped to from $1.54 to 1Euro to $1.48 to 1Euro. Bad news is my plan to become a Coyote Feo dancer to pay my rent is scratched. Due to these turbulent economic times, I will however keep practicing in my room ...just in case.

Exams are this week, which is why I'm writing my blog. Anything to keep from reading about another freaking Spanish king. Seriously, if you're all named Carlos and Felipe I WILL NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT YOU! But, at least I have a 50/50 chance of getting the questions right on the exam by picking one of two names regardless of the century. I've had numerous "study groups" with my friends which usually end up with us just giving up, downing loaves of bread, red wine, and olive oil, and teaching each other all the funny Spanish words we learned that week. I think my roommates think I've become a recluse which is easier than trying to explain I'm only in my room so much because I have the reading level of a third grader and it takes me days to figure out who ACTAULLY won the Thirty Years War. I asked tonight who won a battle and when my roomie replied France, I was surprised to find France was even in the war! I didn't let her know that and represented the USA by saying "oh, of course." Go me!

I kind of messed up my foot while running. Haven't run in almost three weeks now so my marathon plans might be scratched. Went to the free hospital (ghhhettttooo) and they wrapped it in a soft cast, said it might be a tendon and I need an MRI and maybe some sweet crutches. I x-ed THAT idea as soon as I remembered that they don't have crutches in Spain. They all use those little Tiny Tim sticks and hobble around throwing their sticks AND legs everywhere....right, that will NOT be happening. Worse, since no female in this country, maybe continent, is athletic, it will be assumed I fell off the bus or got my American foot caught in a McDonald's deep fat fryer since no other injury is possible in Spain....hence the sticks. I'll keep you updated on THAT situation.

Besides that, life is going great :) Can't wait for some post-exam freedom and new classes. Hope you're all doing well...it's 60 degrees here right now and it's 6am....just wanted to rub that in. Much love!

Mucho que????????

Spain's culture is weird. I tried to convince myself it was "different" and "unique" but today I have finally reached the conclusion it's just odd.

My roommates had a play today that they were all staring in so I wished them "good luck" and then quickly corrected myself to say "break a leg Turns out they are both wrong in Spain. I am supposed to say "lots of s***". Amazingly, this did not surprise me at all. I had just finished reading a magazine that listed the best erotic shops amongst the best restaurants in Madrid. Really? This got me thinking about why I think this country is weird.

-everything closes and life stops between 2pm and 5pm so people can nap.
-There are more legs of ham in stores than there are people.
-People drink more olive oil than water.
-Dog poop is never picked up; apparently it is easier to clean your shoes every night than bend over to pick it up.
- the same teacher who yelled at me for using my PDA to text in class (turned out to be my English/Spanish pocket dictionary) answered her cell phone 5 minutes later.
-50 degrees or below mandates than every Spaniard must complain about the weather and no one understands what I mean by "sunburn".
-the post office workers are NICE!
-Smoking in front of a NO SMOKING sign does not draw attention...neither does lighting up in class.
-McDonald's asked me if I wanted a beer with my Happy Meal.


I could come up with a million more but basically I have learned to go with the flow and never be surprised. Still 8 more hours left before bed...I'm sure lots won't surprise me in between then.

Lo que todos queremos es mas tiempo....

Hey All-

Well what a weekend it was :) My cousin, Jenny, and her husband, Jeff, arrived in Madrid Friday morning and did we ever get a lot done in a few days. We started off by heading the Hard Rock Cafe where Jeff added to his Hard Rock collection. It was amazing for me to have some "real" food for once. Not that I need anymore American food as Jenny and Jeff brought the wonderful goodness that is Sam's Club to Spain: giant Chex Mix, giant Honey Nut Cheerios, and giant maple syrup. We also went to Retiro park on Friday and a Flamenco Show at night.....I was more tired than they were and I wasn't even jet-lagged :) Saturday meant a trip to the Royal Palace, the city center, a wine bar for tapas, and a great day seeing all the tourist spots we could. We hit up the Prado and Reina Sofia to see some amazing art (as well the the President of Peru!) on Sunday after El Rastro (giant flea market). It was so much fun seeing my own city as a tourist and I had an even better time seeing Jenny and Jeff. They are just such great examples and I am lucky to call them my family! A highlight: I managed to learn a lot about wine from the Goforths...port wine, legs, letting it breathe, surface area, etc. Before this weekend my knowledge revolved around who sold the cheapest box :) Hopefully they're caught up on their rest by now...it was a busy weekend.

I was also glad they were here to talk to (in English mind you) as the news about my former coach/teacher surfaced. Pretty tough to handle for everyone who knew him and I hope that by the Grace of God his family can get through this. Thanks for everyone who sent a note or checked in; it really means a lot to have so much love in my life during the tough times.

With exams coming up I know I better go study so I'm off but will keep you all updated.


Lo que todos queremos es mas tiempo....
Tiempo para ponerte en pie...
Tiempo para madurar...
Tiempo para dejar pasar...
el tiempo.

Nalgas!

Watching the Packer Game...LIVE!


"NALGAS!"

Set the scene: I'm in class with 100 Spaniards and then there's me. I sit in the front row everyday, have not missed class, and have NEVER talked. The class is called "The Latin American Novel" and on a good day, I understand half of what we're talking about. The problem isn't that I don't know the Spanish, the problem is I don't even get what we're talking about in English (existencialism, trancendentalism, whogivesafartism, etc...). However, today was my shining moment. The book we're reading a Puerto Rican novel. Since Puerto Rico is a US territory there are a few words in English in the book. I giggled through every line our teacher read because imagine her trying to get through words like "quiet" and "all"; since two "l"s in a row make the "y" sound in Spanish, she kept saying "ay is kwee-it". Then she kept making policitally incorrect statements/impressions about Chinese and gays and I kept giggling thinking about how she would have just lost her job in the US. She was not amused at my giggles. So when she came to ask the class what the word "nalgas" meant from the book, I knew it was my time to regain some points for Team USA!

Let me explain. Nalgas is a Spanish word, yes, but only used in Latin America so the Spaniards were at a loss. I, however, have mastered all vulgar Mexican Spanish from a young age and knew that nalgas means "butt cheeks".

"Who knows what 'nalgas' means....come on someone has to know?!?!" Silence from the 100 Spaniards. Then the shy little, ghetto-ly dressed American girl in the front row raises her hands. I can literally hear the jaws drop behind me and the teacher looks at me thinking "she must have to go to the bathroom". "I know....it means, well, ummm the cheeks of a butt." (literally translated) The class choked a bit on their laughter thinking I had to be kidding. But to their surprise, I was correct. Butt cheeks...those will be the two words I say all year in the Latin American Novel class but I will be going down in a blaze of glory. Butt cheeks...the day the American knew the Spanish that the Spaniards did not. Today was a good day!

MOM: discovered "Fingers of Chicken" in the grocery store and nearly flipped a lid. I bought all 8 bags of frozen chicken fingers + a jar of honey which may have been overkill but better safe than sorry...rumors of Honey Nut Cheerios in aisle 2 proved untrue. Oh well, I'll take what I can get.

PS: My cousin Jenny and her husband Jeff are coming to visit this weekend and I am more pumped than ever!!!! Such a surprise, they let me know over Christmas and I cannot wait :) It will be a quick trip; I hope they're not too tired with the jet-lag but I'm sure it will be a blast.

Can't be broken!

My last blog I wrote about Katie coming and how it must be in God's plan to have us together, etc, etc. and this weekend that already has proved completely true!

Yesterday I went out with Katie and some of our friends to dinner, but we were exhausted and called it a night around 11pm and then just sat and talked for an hour or so by ourselves. It was so great to have one of those "girl talks" with someone who knows everything about you. Katie and I are pretty positive people, in fact probably the most positive people I know, but this week/ weekend has NOT been good for either one of us in about 1 million ways so there is no one else in this world I'd want here more right now than her. We talked more today, vented about everything from Spain to cellphone contracts to boys and basically came to the conclusion we are going to get through this together....just as we said that, my Kodak digital camera slipped from my hands and fell down the entire flight of winding stairs bouncing off the wall and finally smashing into the door at the end. There were parts everywhere...literally broken apart...and there is no better way to sum up our friendship....OF COURSE THAT WOULD HAPPEN. We both sat on the stairs half laughing and half crying just looking at the mess...so metaphorical it wasn't even funny...but I turned to Katie and said "dude, I've had that camera since the 7th grade and it will never die. I promise you this poop head will work." I've been wanting to get a new camera for years but this one has been to 15 countries, 3 continents, scared by paint and numerous droppings, but I cannot kill it! Looking at the pieces you wouldn't believe me, but the camera does still work!!!! I think it's a sign that WE can't ever be really broken (or Kodak is the Toyota of cameras).

So to celebrate, we went out dancing at an amazing hole in the wall Cuban salsa club AFTER of course watching the Packer game at an Irish pub. We had an absolute blast at the club and even got the DJ to put on a few "American" songs like Usher and Lil Jon. We taught the Spaniards how to really "Get Low" and they taught us all their fancy stepping moves...it was like a scene from a movie, the three American girls pretty much owning a club where people would hollar and yell with every new move. It was just too funny and we met some great people, too. All in all a great night, but I'm knackered and better hit the hay. Will write more later.

Best part of the week: Getting an Inspi(red) card from the German family (who are really Irish)and a Product Red pin (African AIDS charity products). Seriously talk about turing your day around when someone is thinking about you! :) Thanks guys!

I'm alive and I'm free, who wouldn't wanna be me?

Katie and I (and the gang) and the "trouble" we cause!


Hey DUDES!

Well, in keeping with my new years resoulution, I'm updating this thing.

As you know, my friend Katie got here on the 5th. Now Katie and I have been best friends since something like the 7th grade. Imagine, your best bud in the world for years and years and suddenly God plops you in not just the same country, but the same city and school?!?! (and we didn't plan it either! honest) The combo has already been unforgettable.

It started about 10 am when I got to the airport to pick up Katie. She has given me the wrong flight number so I couldn't tell if her flight has landed or whatnot. After almost 2 hours I was sure something was wrong so I called her parents to say that her number was wrong and she wasn't there. Good thing I feel comfortable calling their household at 5am US time because we soon figured out her flight was cancelled from Italy. There was no way to figure out what flight she would be on, etc. so I had to wait it out at the airport calling every major airline, etc but to no avail. After a total of nearly 8 hours, I got a call from Katie saying she was in terminal 4 in Madrid....when I finally got there she was nearly in tears (she'd been up 24 hours and paid $100 for her new flight) but it was sooooo good to see her! As I have had a killer high fever the past couple days, we were both pretty out of it but did manage to pull an "us" when the bed we were sitting on came crashing to the floor while we were chatting. We sat there laughing and crying as that was pretty much the way the day had gone for both of us!

She's been at orientation this week but I did bump into her in the hall at school today. Ok, doesn't sound that cool considering we were "locker buddies" in Brookfield but PEOPLE, we're talking about bumping into each other in the 100,000 student Universidad de Complutense de Madrid in SPAIN.......that's pretty amazing! Anyways, it's back to classes today and it was good to see all my other American friends and catch up with them. BUT I do miss my friends back home. I got a package from one of my "real" American friends today who sent me a Christmas box with my favorites: Chex Mix, Andes Candies, and even better a green football t-shirt with my number, 45, on it. Talk about putting a big smile on my face....the same friend who sent me a package in Africa last year so with postage as it is, it was so sweet! Makes me really miss my friends back home!


Hope your 2008 is off to a great start...much love!

2008 is gonna be GREAT!

Christmas Americana with Megan, Maggie, and Ryan

My Irish Christmas with the Devlin Family


Melodie and I in Madrid

Mel, Andrew, and I in Segovia

Hey Folks- Literally. My dad emailed me to tell me to update this since my phone calls home are mostly about my credit card bill, money, or just to inform the fam what country I'll be in for the weekend. This blog was not a good idea, it's WAY more like a chore now, haha.

I'll go fast: I spent Christmas in Scotland/Ireland. I spent two days in Scotland with my friend Megan and her fiance Ryan. We were joined by our friend Maggie who also was a volunteer in Malawi. It was so odd to be together in the first world and do all the things we talked about in Africa. The main event was our Christmas dinner made my Ryan. It was fantastic! Then, Maggie and I took the ferry over to Northern Ireland for Christmas. I stayed with her family and they welcomed me as there own. We stopped at her brother's house in Belfast for a night which was a real trip. The next morning Anne Marie (Maggie's friend) gave us a ride to Cookstown (their home town) where Maggie's family opened their home and hearts to me. Christmas was different but so amazing. I really felt like I was at home listening to stories of the Troubles, being called a Yank, and enjoying all the traditional food of the homeland. It was just lovely. Her whole family (aunts/ uncles) and friends welcomed me as well and I got some AMAZING Christmas gifts from everyone to help me remember my Irish Christmas.

I flew home on the 26th and had an 8 hour layover in Barcelona. I did quick run through of the city hitting up all the tourist spots. I got back to Madrid at 3 am and was back at the airport to pick up my friends Mel and Andrew at 11am.

They flew in from Chicago to come and see me! Actually, Mel is the principal of Nativity Jesuit Middle School and Andrew teaches in California, but I know them both from working at Nativity's summer camp. We had SUCH a great time. They are just wonderful people and it was amazing to start the New Year with them. (Mel of course led us in a 2007 review and 2008 goals/predictions meeting!) We zipped through Spain taking overnight buses to Granada and Sevilla and toured Segovia. Along the way we ended up waiting in line and freezing for 3 hours in the mountains trying to get tickets to the Alhambra in Granada, sharing one bed in Sevilla to save money, and eventually returned for New Years in Madrid. We had so many laughs. We headed to the Puerta del Sol at 10pm but after eating our traditional 12 grapes at midnight for good luck, we had to go to the bathroom soooo bad (maybe it was due to our CruzCampo 40's). It was literally like "Happy New Year....run!!!!" What a great start to 2008. BUUUUUT, the whole holiday season away from home really made me think how great 2008 is going to be....friends from around the world have made my 2007 fantastic and I know that 2008 can only get better with so many people who love me in my life. In fact, on Saturday my best frined since middle school, Katie, gets to Madrid to study for the semester.....oh the stories we'll have to tell. My 2008 blog goal: keep this thing updated so my daddy isn't mad. Feliz Ano!