Home Sweet Home--Here I Come!

Well, in 45 minutes I will be leaving my piso and setting off for the Madrid Barajas Airport. My flight leaves at 12:45, with layovers in Frankfurt, Germany and Chicago. I'm bound to arrive in Minneapolis at 11:12pm tonight! A long day of traveling-and I can't believe this time has actually arrived. And although this morning has been filled with tears, I know I'll have tears of happiness once I'm home and back in the embrace of my family.

This semester abroad has been a learning experience. I have enjoyed every minute of it. I never felt lost or afraid of being

in Madrid, and for this I am proud of myself. I guess I am an independent person after all! Choosing to be abroad in Madrid was the best decision. I loved being in Europe and having the opportunity to explore all of Spain. I don't even have words to describe the happiness and satisfaction I have felt while studying and traveling abroad. It has opened my eyes to new worlds, and made me more accepting of cultures across the nations. I hope to return to Europe to study/work sometime in the near future!

Things I will miss: Juan Ramón, my portero (doorman); public transportation; walking for hours in a beautiful city; the Spanish language; traveling throughout Spain/Europe; cheap wine; the Rastro; Coca Cola Light Tomate Frito; being constantly surprised...and much more.

Things I will not miss: the smell of Spain (quite awful); people without manners; the sound of the Spanish ambulances; dirty kitchen in our piso; having the entire city shut down on Sundays; Spanish food (and its lack of flavor/appeal).

Things I look forward to: FAMILY; my bed; strawberry waffles; Diet Coke; good food; working out/running/any form of exercise; good service; nice people; driving; volunteering; beautifying my Grandma's garden; going on the lake (there's no water in Madrid!). Summer 2010 should be pretty wonderful!

Now that this experience is winding down (literally, by the minute!) I am reflecting on what I would like to get out of this upcoming summer in Minnesota. I will not be working, and after a semester of doing things entirely for myself, I am ready to give back. I look forward to volunteering

with the developmentally disabled at Hammer, I am excited to spend lots of time with my Grandpa, and I am planning to give as much of my time to others as I can. I also just want to enjoy being back with my family--I've missed 5 months of my two nieces growing up, and I know they have changed so much~I can't wait to hold them in my arms!! And although I have so much more I'd like to say, I'm getting ready to hop on the Metro of Madrid one last time...hasta luego España! Here I come Minnesota!

Last European Travels

Although I can say I am ecstatic about not stepping foot on an airplane until June 23rd (heading back home), I must admit I am sad that my travels through Europe are coming to an end. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to see several other countries and even other cities in Spain, but I still feel jealous of the other students who have seen way more of Europe than I have. There are so many different countries, cities, landscapes and cultures to see in Europe, so I have decided I must return as soon as I can to continue exploring. I feel quite at ease here in Europe and I surprisingly enjoy the sense of independence that being here brings me. Don't misread this: I am incredibly excited to get HOME! And there will always be only one place to call home...and boy, do I miss it!

Having traveled to Amsterdam this past weekend, I have never looked forward to

a good night's sleep in my own bed so much. Not my Spanish bed, but my real bed. Amsterdam caught me by surprise. It was quite different from what I have always imagined. The streets are lined with the most adorable buildings ever. I guess it looked so...Dutch. It was amazing to be outside of Spain again, seeing the way in which other countries have constructed unique cultures and cities. As Madrid focuses on traditional Spanish food, family and resting at home, Amsterdam did not appear to have any sort of traditional food, nor many families, and absolutely no rest at home. But this is only through the eyes of an absolute tourist--only my initial impression from what I saw!

Sonya and I spent two full days exploring the city. We had no particular plan nor method to where we went, but we saw what we saw, and it was great fun. Our trip revolved around having very little sleep (early flight to Amsterdam on Friday, no

hostel on Saturday night--stayed up until our early flight Sunday). We found a nice park to nap in between excursions. We lived out of our purses for the weekend, wearing the same outfit our entire trip, and getting by with as little as possible. Overall it was a fun, crazy experience...which led to spending all day Sunday catching up on sleep.

After catching up on sleep, I started gathering my things to head to Seville, Spain on the midnight bus on Monday. Alex and I decided we wouldn't be able to live with ourselves if we left Spain after an entire semester without seeing the all-too-traditional city of Seville! We had hoped to get some sleep on our six-hour bus ride, but we were mistaken. We arrived at 6 a.m. and tried to sleep while sitting up in the chairs in the bus station--since nothing was open yet in the city. By 8 a.m. we wandered out to find a bite to eat, and navigated our way to our hostel. It was a great hostel with the most friendly staff!! And luckily we both slept like rocks for a couple hours to gain enough energy to go out sightseeing!

We visited the cathedral, which was very impressive, as are most cathedrals...but the outside is what caught my attention the most. It was very beautiful, and we were able to climb up the Giralda Tower (bell tower) as well. There were great views of Seville from the top--well worth the climb. We also ventured off to the Alcázares, which reminded me very much of the Alhambra of Granada. Magnificent gardens, beautiful architecture, and lots of different things to see. Afterwards we

ventured a little ways from the center of the city to Plaza de España, where several scenes of Star Wars were filmed (or so I heard). It was very big and marvelous, although under construction. We spent a good part of our afternoon exploring these main sites, and we were thrilled to be in Seville at last! We spent the rest of our time in the city exploring the small streets of Barrio Santa Cruz, eating tapas, drinking sangria, and reveling in good company. Alex and I enjoyed the warm, sunny weather--but were thankful for a breeze. It was about 90 degrees on our first day there! We both loved Seville and all that it had to offer. It was a no-stress trip and proved to be well worth the miserable bus rides.

After returning to Madrid, I am in much need of rest. I am done traveling Europe (for now) and plan on spending my last two weeks taking in all that I can from Madrid. It is bittersweet to think of my return to the States. I love being in Europe, but more than anything, I look forward to seeing my family.

A Taste of Africa

After spending several weeks in Spain without traveling, I ventured off to another continent to get a taste of something entirely original and new--Africa. On Friday afternoon I left with my friend Alistair and headed to Tangier, Morocco, a port city right near the Strait of Gibraltar. We arrived in Africa to an entirely new scene and new culture: clothing, religion, food, architecture. A magnificent way to explore a new world and see something outside of Europe. We arrived to our hotel, Dar Jameel Guesthouse, and took in the absolute beauty that we found there. Everything was incredibly breathtaking. The inside looked like the Alhambra in Granada--patterned ceilings painted with pastel colors. It was the most impressive hotel I have ever seen during my time abroad--and our room was equally beautiful and spacious.

We spent plenty of time exploring the medina or old city. Lots of new things to see in the shops--slippers and sandals, tea kettles, leather bags, and a lot of other items that you don't find in Spain. We also went down to the beach--a surprisingly large, nice beach.

The sand was the finest and softest sand I have ever seen, another reason to love this city! The beach scene in Morocco was quite distinct--nobody in bathing suits, and not a single woman showing

any skin. There were some boys in the water, with regular bathing suits--but women do not wear bathing suits or bikinis or anything of the sort. There were many large groups of boys playing soccer in the sand, which looked like lots of fun. We ended up having dinner with an abundance of food. Salad, fish (entire body fried, including eyes), red spice sauce, bread, fries, kebabs. We enjoyed the new taste of food in Africa, and cleaned our plates. Later in the evening we ventured out for the traditional mint tea. I have never had something so delicious and refreshing. I look forward to trying it out once I arrive home--hopefully the mint in our garden will make just as great of tea!

On Saturday, Alistair and I headed to the airport to pick Sonya up. Straight away we went to the caves of Hercules, where legend says Hercules rested and punched the rock, forming the Strait of Gibraltar.

We had a tour guide and he told us stories about how men made the rocks to resemble Africa (seen backwards from inside cave, correct shape of Africa from the sea). It was interesting to say the least, with a beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean. After the caves, we headed towards Cap Spartel--a point with an excellent view. On our way there we stopped alongside the road and Sonya and I rode camels! It was quite funny and entertaining, and I think we are both glad that we gave it a shot, although we got ripped off a bit. That happened in most situations because they knew we were tourists so they charged us more...

I was thankful to have

the opportunity to swim in the Mediterranean Sea--considering that I love to swim, especially in new places! Even though I wore shorts and a t-shirt over my bathing suit, I still had groups of people staring, because it isn't often that they see girls on the beach going for a swim. I, however, was covering up and not going to let the opportunity to swim slip by! It was lovely and I hope I have the chance to do it again. For dinner Saturday night we ended up eating at a random hotel. Delicious food. Bean soup, a sweet pastry filled with chicken (sweet & savory combo, surprisingly wonderful), and couscous with chicken and vegetables. It was all quite fabulous. We never had a single bad experience with food in Tangier. It was a refreshing change from Spain--I actually preferred the African cuisine over the Spanish one. More mint tea, then off to get some rest after a long day in the sun!

Sunday morning we feasted on our great breakfast at the hotel again, served in generous portions. We had freshly squeezed orange juice, mint tea, chewy crepes, warm bread with cheese and jam, and melon. We ate like kings while in Morocco--and it was the most marvelous and relaxing weekend ever!

I could go on and on about it, as I enjoyed it that much! I had been

worried initially about visiting just Tangier, as it is a small port city, with little tourist attraction. Other cities such as Casablanca or Marrakech are supposed to be more extravagant, but Tangier was incredible. And now I can say that I have been on three of the seven continents. Hopefully I'll have a chance to return to Morocco, as it was an impressive culture and beautiful country.

Now I have just over 3 weeks to spend in Madrid. I go to Amsterdam this weekend, and am planning to make it to Seville at some point before leaving for the States. I am now finished with classes and Reunidas exams, so I have time to explore and enjoy my hometown here in Spain. One trabajo final and exam left, but not until the 17th of June--so it's time to relax and enjoy the end of my abroad experience!! Bittersweet. I am excited to get home, and will be thrilled to see family! But I also know it'll be hard leaving Europe...it has been quite the journey!

Time Warp...

It's been a while since my last post, but I have to admit that after Mom left Madrid I've been occupied with many things, both good and bad. One weekend this month I went on an excursion with students from the WIP program to Extremadura, the western region of Spain bordering Portugal. We stopped in 3 different cities (Mérida, Cáceres, Trujillo) and spent the night in Cáceres. The architecture and vibe of this region was totally different than that in any other part of Spain that I have visited thus far. All brick buildings, scattered across green, rolling countryside. It was a breathtaking side of Spain I had not yet seen, but I wish we would've had more free time to roam the cities & discover things on our own--we were stuck with our tour guide Pablo the entire weekend. Bummer!! But overall I am satisfied that I took part in the excursion--I never would've known what I was missing out on!

Upon returning to Madrid I was lucky enough to be in the pleasant company of Mom's long-time friend Laurel and her husband Frank. They came over to see my piso, and then we ventured off for some drinks and tapas, a typical Madrileño tradition.

I ended up having a lovely time visiting with Laurel & Frank, who shared stories of their many great adventures. I also tried raw oysters for my first (perhaps last) time. Never hurts to try something new! We also enjoyed the sweet, sweet chocolate con churros at Chocolatería San Gines~if it sounds familiar, it's because I have mentioned it before...it's that good!

Last weekend Sonya and I traveled to Mallorca, a Balearic Island off of the southeastern coast of Spain. We had

the most incredible

weather, sunny sunny sunny and warm!! It was a fabulous way to wind down and relax. We decided to do next to nothing--just laid on the sandy beach and feasted. I even took a dip in the Mediterranean Sea, which was a dream come true. The water was so blue and clear! It was a fabulous weekend away with my best friend!!

My agenda for the next month is looking pretty hectic. I have final exams coming up in a couple weeks, along with "trabajos finales"...10 page papers that I must write for each class in addition to our final exam. I'm going to miss my Literatura Española class the most--my professor Sonia has the most energy I've ever seen in a professor. She has a passion for literature and loves her job--plus, she had been a student herself at the Universidad de Complutense, so she relates to us students very well! The books we have read have been great and I can actually comprehend what I've been reading...and my professor does a great job at helping us to really think about the book and how we interpret it. After all, literature can be interpreted in different ways by all readers.

I'm not planning to travel around the country or continent for the month of May since my school work is keeping

me so busy, but I'm thinking about what kind of traveling I'd like to do in June once I only have to focus on work for 2 class--Amsterdam? Canary Islands? I'm ready to get out on the beach again, instead of doing the days packed with sight-seeing. But first things first, I must get through the month of May. My two favorite boys from home, Turkbas and Andrew, are coming to stay with Sonya and me from May 17-June 4--so we'll also be busy having a blast with them!! It will be the best way to end a fantastic semester abroad!! And I am officially booked to head home on June 23rd...51 days away--how time flies!! See ya'll soon!

MOM IN MADRID ♥

As soon as I hopped off the Metro from the Barajas Airport in Madrid, I headed over to the precious Conde Duque Hotel, where my mother was patiently waiting for my return to Spain! It was a fantastic feeling to be in the comfort of my mom's arms again! And I knew we were about to start out on a great adventure...

On Mom's first night in Madrid she treated Sonya and me

to an authentic Flamenco show. I had not been to one yet, and we definitely picked the right venue: the Cardamomo. The dancers were magnificent, and their talent was unbelievable! It

was a fun night and a great way to say "Bienvenidos a Madrid"...(WELCOME TO MADRID). The dancing was intense and really displayed the passion of the Spanish people.

The next morning Mom and I took the teleférico, or cable car, to Casa del Campo, where we went to see the Parque Zoológico (ZOO). It started as a beautiful, warm day. We enjoyed all of the fun animals and the atmosphere at the Madrid Zoo. We concluded that we liked it much more than any zoo we had been to before! It was very awesome. And luckily, there were baby

animals scattered all over the zoo-from a tiny baboon, to a rhino, to a little mountain goat, which was very enjoyable. By the end of our time at the park, we were thoroughly fascinated. As it started to rain we thought it would be the ideal time to head back home. What started as rain turned into a downpour. If only you could see the unmarked, gravel paths we had to climb uphill in order to find the teleférico station...and if only you could have seen us by the end of that journey ;-)

On Easter Sunday, Mom and I went to the Rastro--the famous flea market in Madrid. Streets are lined with booths selling anything you could imagine--and we both found some things to take home! We also toured the La Latina neighborhood and stopped at the incredible Basilica San Francisco to witness part of a Spanish church service. Very fascinating and such a beautiful and intricate basilica! The next few days consisted of lots of shopping around (Mom

loved all the shoe stores, as you'll see by her purchases)...and enjoying the perfect sunny weather. Monday night Mom and I went on a tapas tour. Our tour guide James made the night very fun and interesting-as did our companions Stewart, Herbert, Alex, and Lauren. We tried everything from great red wine, to octopus with potatoes, to blood sausage (black pudding), tripe, and many other adventurous food choices. It was a fun night of trying things that I would never dare trying on my own!!

While I was in class, Mom was feeling adventurous and conquered many missions all by herself. She was so good at navigating and finding cool new places! She introduced me to a coffee shop, some clothing stores, and a bread shop, none of which I had previous knowledge of-but all of which are right in my neighborhood. (Thanks Mom!) One morning we took the Madrid Vision bus around the city and saw sites from the top of the big red bus. We also went to the convent where nuns sell sweets.

It was not easy to find, but when we did finally figure it out it was very rewarding! We got a generous bag of lemon cookies from the monjas--who are not allowed to see you. The cookies came on a turn table in the wall, which was pretty sweet.

Other highlights of the week with my Mom included bringing her to Chocolatería San Gines--the renowned locale for churros con chocolate, which we both enjoyed. We also soaked up the sun and rented a row-boat at El Parque de Buen Retiro (a huge, fabulous park). We were also able to spend time at the famous Prado Museum, in which we were able to find several pieces of

art that interested us. I also had the privilege of showing my Mom how my friends and I like to spend our Wednesday afternoons-cheap drinks and sandwiches at Cien Montaditos! EuroMania! We hit all of the biggest sites in Madrid and just enjoyed spending time with each other.

I feel so fortunate that Mom was able to visit--all of my friends were jealous and I feel pretty lucky to have had time to spend with her. It had been a long time since I had patted her face...and it was great to see her. Now I am anxiously waiting to return home to see the rest of the family! I can't believe I'll be back in Minnesota in just 75 days...time sure has flown!

Venice and Paris, Oh My!!

I have recently returned from my first European adventure outside of Spain. A taste of something new...which started in Venice, Italy. So far I would say that Venice is my second favorite city in Europe after Madrid. We got lucky to have sunshine all day, every day. It was the perfect opportunity to indulge in wine and Italian food alongside the canals. Venice was a very, very lovely city, with plenty of beautiful stuff to see, but peaceful and relaxing at the same time. There were touristy things, but nothing as big and well-known as in other places. Sonya, Alex and I planned to just see where the day led us--our hopes were to avoid stress and hard core planning while in Venice, as we had just finished mid-term exams in Madrid.

Everything in Venice is picturesque. The buildings are all precious, with window boxes and flowers, and beautiful colors everywhere. I can't forget to mention the glistening blue water that surrounds the city. We were even lucky enough to enjoy the perfect gondola ride! An experience that everyone must have at least once! It was peaceful and beautiful and it took us through back canals that you can't see from any other place in Venice other than a boat. It was the best way to start off a European spring break!

After 4 days, we headed to Paris, France. Unfortunately, we had 3 very cold, very rainy days, which kind of put a damper on the whole walking-in-strange-territory-without understanding the-language thing. We got lost...frequently. We got directions...that usually led us to a place other than where we intended to go...but we tried to find things we liked every time we ended up somewhere unfamiliar. We did get to see all of the biggest sites: Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Catacombes. It was all very grand, and I would love to return to Paris some day to have more time to explore and I'd hope for better weather for getting lost too!

While we were in Paris, we stayed with one of Alex's friends from Wisconsin, to avoid the troublesome hostel experience. Maddy and her roommates were all so nice and generous & made our stay very pleasant. They took us out to a fun fondue restaurant, where we were able to indulge in wine from baby bottles...very strange, but lots of fun! They also showed us the best places to get both savory & sweet crepes--a heaven-sent gift! We went nuts on crepes while in Paris. Well...pretty much anywhere we can get our hands on them. The 4 days in Paris were filled with ups and downs, as we were absolutely worn out by the end of the week. We were all looking forward to reminiscing about our Semana Santa from the comfort of our home in Madrid!

And as soon as I returned to Madrid, I had something to look forward to--my Mom!! In Madrid! I feel incredibly lucky to have my mom visit me in Spain, and I'll include a separate entry about all of our adventures together...

In the Land of Gaudi...

Well....where to begin. I spent last weekend in Barcelona, and it didn't exactly live up to its reputation. It was beautiful, don't get me wrong, but the culture was entirely different from that of the rest of Spain. It was very touristy--nobody spoke Spanish. The official language in Barcelona is Catalán, which has a French influence and is not recognizable by Spanish-speakers. And they are not willing to go out of their way to speak to you in Spanish even if you speak to them in Spanish--they are far too proud of their own little culture-bubble. So even though we wanted to practice our Spanish skills, we were better off speaking in English everywhere we went.

It just wasn't the same compared to my hometown, Madrid.

However, there were several fabulous things to see in Barcelona. First of all, it is the home of the famous modernist Gaudi. Many very interesting, awesome buildings, parks, and monuments designed by Gaudi captured our interest. Curvy, colorful structures and lots of intricate details. Very interesting to say the least. We went inside the Casa Mila (Pedrera), visited Park Güell, and saw Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló from the outside. We also spent a while at the beach, although very chilly once the sun hid behind the clouds! But I still loved being there to see it. If only it had been warm enough to swim!

The best part of Barcelona was the Mercat Boquería--a market that sells flowers,

animals (ducks, gerbils, birds, turtles, bunnies...the works), and lots of fresh fish, fruit, pastries, and smoothies! Basically a dream come true. It was the most colorful and beautiful market ever!! We bought these yummy smoothies for only 1 Euro! We also visited the Picasso Museum which was pretty neat...although I'm not an art fanatic I can still appreciate the variety of work that Picasso did. I never knew that he dabbled in so many areas-painting, drawing, ceramics and more. Very strange...

Overall, we walked around a lot, until my feet were sore and blistered (yum?) and ate. A lot. Especially gelatto. I would be lying if I said I ate gelatto less than 3 times that weekend. And now I only look forward to more real Italian gelatto starting tomorrow in Venice, Italy!! My companions (Sonya and Alex) and I are sleeping at the airport tonight-to catch our early flight-so that we can save more euros for food while in Italy and France. Typical us.

Oh, one more thing! I failed to mention the all-you-can-eat sushi buffet. Unlimited sushi, fried foods, and desserts came around past our table on a conveyer belt. It was lots of fun and I've never done anything like it before! But I also felt ill every time I thought about it afterwards...

And as you can see, no matter how chubby I feel I still try to fit into small spaces and act silly! Just livin' it up in Spain! Now off to Venice and Paris for a week...and my MOM will be waiting for me in Madrid upon my return!

Tapas--¡Gratis!

Last weekend I traveled via bus to GRANADA, SPAIN with my friends Alex, Breanne, and Sonya. Even though we arrived late on Friday night, we decided to venture out into the streets to find somewhere to get some drinks and tapas. In case you haven't heard--Granada is known for servings FREE tapas (tasty appetizers of sorts) with the purchase of every drink! This is a wonderful change from anywhere you find in Madrid, because it makes it so much cheaper! Plus everything in Granada already costs much less than it does in Madrid. Upon arriving, I noted that Granada was a very cute and nice city, but I also immediately became very grateful to be studying in Madrid. Even though I had yet to explore the depths of Granada, I had a feeling that Madrid is the right place for me because the city is so much bigger and more lively...and there are many more opportunities for exploration! This feeling of appreciation made the experience even better because I knew I would be happy to return "home".

We woke up extra early on Saturday morning to make the trek to La Alhambra, the ancient Moorish palaces that draw so many people to Granada. We waited in line to make sure that we could get tickets, since they only sell a certain amount per day. That afternoon we were lucky enough to have 80-degree weather and sun--the perfect day for exploring and enjoying such beautiful sites, such as El Palacio Nazaries, Alcazaba, Charles V's Palace, and the Generalife Gardens. I truly wish everyone could have the opportunity to see all that La Alhambra has to offer. The architecture and detail is stunning, and the views of the city equally breathtaking. It definitely lives up to the expectations that I had before arriving in Granada! We spent 4 hours walking around, taking in the "8th Wonder of the World".

In addition to La Alhambra, we were able to see many other historical sites. We visited the incredibly detailed cathedral, which was such an impressive thing to see. The amount of time, effort, and artistic ability it takes to design and create such a monumental building is hard to imagine. But it makes sense that it is so extravagent since Spain has such a strong history of Catholicism. Another really incredible experience that we had was visiting El Capillo Real--where King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel, two crucially important people in the history of uniting Spain--are buried. The mausoleum was amazing, and we were actually able to down stairs and see the actual caskets of these legendary heroes of Spain. It was so fascinating to be so close to these real pieces of history. Knowing that at one point, these people who were buried just feet away from us, were alive and changing history was quite the experience!

In addition to visiting these many sites, we had plenty of time for eating. Tapas, pastries, churros con chocolate, frozen yogurt, candy, buffet-style lunch...all quite enjoyable, but we also were in dire need of cleansing our systems upon returning to Madrid. We also browsed the many colorful, chaotic shops that lined the streets. I ended up purchasing lots of jewelery--not the highest quality, but still appreciable. I love rings, and ended up buying 4. Along with earrings and a bracelet. And an adorable keychain. Oh, and a school bag which I have come to love and use every day as a large, hippie-like purse.

A few more things about Granada: Gypsies approach you in the street and offer you a sprig of rosemary, which is a "gift"...but then they take your hand and try to read it and then charge you money. Very sneaky, but luckily I avoided this by telling them no before it was too late! Unfortunately, my friend Alex got tricked into getting her boots shined by a random man, who had seemed friendly and helpful. People have a way of making you think you're getting something for free, but really think they can charge you--and it is harder than you think to get out of the situation! So it was a tragic event, because this man wanted to shine Alex's boots "for the boys in town"...and then ended up asking for 9 euro. For a boot shine. Sorry Alex! But you know it was also kind of funny...Another one of the highlights of Granada is that there are orange trees everywhere. They are just like, you know, regular trees in this city! For some reason I thought that was so fascinating, but I guess there are lots of places that have citrus fruit growing on every street. I thought it was beautiful and superb--and I would now love to have my own orange tree at home.

Anyways, I must conclude this post by saying that our weekend in Granada was a huge success, but it feels great to be back home in Madrid! Especially after receiving news that my mother's trip to Madrid has been finalized! So exciting!! See you soon Mom!

The Iceberg

Last week we had a cross-culture workshop, in which we talked about culture shock and other issues that may arise when studying abroad. It was most interesting, and the woman who spoke to us, Claire, was very funny and made it a worthwhile experience for all of us. She explained several models for understanding cross-culture differences. The most interesting to me was The Iceberg.

The Iceberg has two components: those that are above the surface, and those below the surface. Above the surface are the things that you notice on an obvious level: that teenagers are expressing their affection very publicly; they have very unique senses of style; family relationships are very tight-knit; stores are closed for siesta from 2-4. And then there are the explanations which lie below the surface: after the fall of Franco, many things have changed in Spain. People have more freedom to publicly express feelings, without getting thrown into jail or being punished. Spaniards prefer a sense of community over individualism, and actions in this sense are judged in a very different way here. Eating at your desk in the US means that you are working hard and saving time by multi-tasking...eating at your desk in Spain makes people feel bad for you because you don't have time to relax and spend with your family and friends. Just think about the iceberg! There is always an explanation for things that you don't understand on the surface.

We also talked about the possibility of culture shock, and I admit that I had been worried about feeling afraid or frustrated when I cannot understand what is going on around me in a new country. But after nearly 6 weeks (wow, time flies!) I have not experienced any discomfort being here in Madrid. I feel completely at home, and love most things about this city. Well, here are some of my likes and dislikes:

Like: McDonald's McFlurries are much better here--they use hot fudge! I'm bringing this idea back to the states...

Dislike: The bathrooms are almost all disgusting. Unless you are in a nice piso or a very fancy building, the toilets are dirty, there is never toilet paper, only cold water runs in the faucets, and there is never a way to dry your cold, wet hands. Most unpleasant experience.

Like: You can get beer anywhere, at any time of day, even the school cafeteria. Even McDonald's serves beer...so as you can see, McDonald's of Spain is superior to that of the states--I always thought Mickey D's was an American thing...but the Spaniards have really got it down...

Dislike: People here naturally stare at you for longer amounts of time. You know...that once-over, full-body inspection that often times leaves you feeling a little like your personal space was invaded. But the plus side of this is that I think you are allowed to stare back--or at least I do.

Like: The Metro system! A fun, miraculous invention. Whoever thought up moving tubes underground is a genius. Even after 6 weeks I am still so impressed with the Metro system and the public transportation in general, and I'm pretty sure that Madrid must have the most efficient ways of getting all over the city. It is a wonderful change from driving long distances in the suburbs of Minnesota in order to find things to do.

Dislike: (Some) People have little to zero sense of personal space, and think they have the right to invade your space. The personal bubble is smaller here, but don't worry, we were told we are allowed to take a step back if we feel immensely uncomfortable. And there are many people on the streets who think being weird and creepy is acceptable.

Like: EVERYTHING ELSE! I love being surrounded by culture. Real culture! I didn't realize how much culture could exist in one city until I left the Midwest! (No offense to the states...) But Madrid is just an intriguing, beautiful city. I couldn't have picked a better place to study! It has many things to offer--and the latest, favorite place is El Parque de Buen Retiro.

This is the Palacio de Cristal at El Retiro--absolutely breathtaking! As are all of the sights in this enormous park! I now know where I will spend a lot of time. There are lots of things to see, and many directions that the park can take you in. It is a wonderful place. There is even a little "lake", and you can rent row boats to take out~I plan to do this at least one time. And I highly encourage you all to come visit me in Spain to see the beauty for yourselves!!

Until next time :-)

Home Sweet Home

It has officially been one week in my new piso! In case you're unsure of this so-called piso, let me explain: there are no houses in Madrid. Every family lives in an apartment, some bigger than others, some nicer than others. And typically children, or rather adults, live at home with their parents until the age of 40. But some people say that there are Spaniards who really brave the world and leave home by age 28. Imagine that!

Anyways, I found my piso compartido, which is basically a floor that you share with other residents, with much luck, and love it thus far. I'm glad to call it home for many reasons...

a) In total there are 8 tías (girls) living here...Jessica from Colombia, Bárbara from Brazil, Nadia from México (who now needs a roomie), and then there are my friends Alex and Breanne from UW-Madison. And Sonya, my other half, will be moving in at the beginning of March. And I, of course, am the 8th resident here. And this is great because the other international students are wonderful, helpful, funny, and refreshing. And my friends from my program are loveable and comforting. Basically the best. Obviously we speak in spanish with our international roomies, and we attempt to speak spanish most of the time that we are together at home...I've been trying to push it lately because I feel lame when I speak in english! I hope to eventually eliminate english from my life in Spain...


b) Sonya and I did indeed push our beds together, creating a more spacious place to convene. This is a great aspect of this piso because it reminds me of home. As strange as it sounds, my friends and I like to just hang out on my bed at home, because it is big and comfy...and although this bed is less comfortable, well, we still like to hang out here! We don't have a living room in this piso, just our bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a kitchen--and in international student housing like this, the kitchen is the typical place to convene. But as you can imagine, our bed is far more popular. Plus we have the biggest bedroom since it's a double, so there is room for all of our friends to hang out here!

c) Location, location, location! We live literally 10 steps outside of the San Bernardo Metro stop. It is convenient, and so much closer to the University than my señora's piso was! I no longer have to walk through the park where a homeless man shouted at people and slept under trees and hid items in the bushes. Now I walk out my door, after greeting my loveable, friendly portero (doorman) Juan, see the spouting fountains, and hop down to la línea 4 en route to La Ciudad Universitaria. Plus, our neighborhood is close to all of the "student" neighborhoods, and in walking distance of Sol, the center of Madrid, as well as many other awesome things. You should be jealous about this.

Apart from moving into the new piso, classes have been going well. I still thoroughly enjoy my classes through the Reunidas program, but have been having a hard time figuring out how to get classes I need from Complutense into my schedule. There is a tricky rule about only 5 Reunidas students being enrolled in classes--and we all conveniently need to take the same classes in order to fill credits at our respective universities...and there are 100 Reunidas students. At least. A lottery system will determine our fate as far as deciding who gets to keep the classes that we all need...since I don't have the best luck in the world, you all better keep your fingers crossed for me! I didn't realize I would have to compete with my fellow Wippers (kids in the Wisconsin-Indiana-Purdue program) for both housing and classes! Either way I plan to make the most of my educational experience here in Spain. In addition to classes, I have been given an intercambio. I have yet to meet César, but we just got in contact with each other. An intercambio is a student who is eager to practice language, so we'll spend half of our time together speaking in spanish, half in english. Plus he might show me the "cool" parts of town or neat places to go. It will be an overall helpful experience.
←And this is Edificio B, where I take my classes! Just one building among many here--it is an enormous campus, and I have not yet explored it since I'm always in one building!

If I made it seem like I'm all work and no play...think again! I still have been enjoying nights out with friends. We went to La Champandaz, which looks like a cave, and tried one of their famous drinks--milk with some sort of alcohol..and some other mystery ingredients. Needless to say I will never try it again--although the milk did come out of the ceiling (which was cool), the taste was not desirable. We even left part of that 9.50 euro drink on the table. Unheard of! And on my first night in the piso, my roomies threw a big party which was incredible! I got to meet many people from all over Europe...and actually made it until almost 6am! Which is not an easy feat for someone who loves sleeping as much as I do.

Since I rambled longer than intended, I will spare you for now. But later this week I will fill you in on a few things I learned today in my Cross-Culture Workshop. It left me feeling even better and optimistic about my Spain experience! Talogo (how Spaniards say "hasta luego", meaning until later!)

A Wonderful Weekend

There are many, many things I would love to write about--we'll see how well I can randomly mash the latest happenings into this post...

The latest highlight: Sonya's arrival in Spain! It adds a whole new level of excitement to being in Madrid. I have already made some great friends here--people who I really get along with and love--so everything concerning this aspect is just wonderful! And now my best friend from home is here with me! It is exhilarating. And we had a very fun, interesting weekend here in Madrid. For the first time, I stayed out past 6am, waiting for the Metro to re-open (it closes from 1:30am-6am). I'm not going to lie--it was hard! I was very, very tired..with sore feet, but we were determined to make it all the way til morning so we didn't have to pay for a cab home (I'd rather spend that money on food later...). And it was an eventful night to say the least. Don't worry Mom--all of us girls stayed together & avoided creepers! And best of all, we had a lot of fun and made lots of memories that should last...

After recuperating our bodies on Saturday, we decided to head to the Rastro on Sunday morning, which is the ENORMOUS flea market that expands across so many streets in Madrid that it'd never be possible to see it all in one day! I fell in love with the Rastro--which is a mixed blessing. I know I want to go wander these streets every Sunday--but I also found a ton of great jewelry and clothes, which are going to be hard to resist...and there is literally anything you can imagine. Looking for car parts? Or an old, dusty remote control? Or somebody's used clothes or other junk?? The Rastro is perfect for you! The little side streets have more "junk" (somebody else's treasure?), and it is interesting to see just about everything there. But I mostly enjoyed looking at the uh, regular stuff.
I also had my first IKEA experience ever on Sunday. I've never even been to one in the U.S., and it was fun to see all that they had to offer. Sonya and I are looking for the cheapest bedding options for our piso. Planning to push our beds together so we can buy one set of sheets...innovative, right? I'm just realizing how many things I forgot to factor into my budget. I wish I had more money! But hey, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride...

On another note, I started my Reunidas classes last week. These classes are taught in spanish by spanish professors, but there are only students from study abroad programs--from different universities all over the United States. First of all, there is Dialectología--study of dialects...I think that it will actually be interesting, as long as I can stay awake for it. 8:30 feels much earlier here...And then I have my Composición class, which is just as it sounds--writing! And I am oddly very, very excited for this class because we get to write a descriptive, narrative, expository, and journalism paper--I'm leaving something out, but not sure what. And also personal stories. I just love to write in Spanish, so it should be really wonderful. And surprisingly I tested into the "higher level" class with all of the year-long students. There are only 4 of us "new arrival" students in this section, so I'm excited about that! And my professor seems pretty cool. And then there is my Literatura Española class. If it weren't for my professor, I'd be much less excited. I'm not crazy about lit classes! But my professor is young, and she absolutely loves what she does, so it will make the whole experience a lot better for all of us students. I got really excited to have a professor who outwardly expresses her passion for what she teaches, so I'm hoping to get a lot out of this class. I start my 2 Complutense courses within the next two weeks (classes with all of the real Spaniards--much more difícil!)

I must say that waking up at 6:45am in order to transport myself to class on time is not pleasant. Four days per week! Especially since the sun is still not up until I'm already at the university...but don't worry: on my way to and from class, or rather on my way to and from anywhere, I am greeted by a massive amount of babies and dogs. Two trends here that do not involve sagging-crotch pants, face piercings, or rat-tails/mullets. But yes, the latter are just as common...I'll try to capture some of the latest Spanish trends in some photos to share.

And as I continue to explore the city, I will share my experiences and thoughts. This is my last week living with my señora, so soon you'll be hearing about my piso experience! Hasta luego :-)

Three Weeks and Counting...

After a wonderful, fulfilling weekend in Cuenca, Spain, I have returned to the real world. Only the funny thing is--I'm in Madrid! It is far better than returning to the "real world".

My 3-day weekend get-away to Cuenca was better than I imagined. We spent two nights in a surprisingly clean/nice hostal, sleeping four girls in two twin beds pushed together...and in the other room, four boys, much larger than us, did the same thing. What good sports! Overall, we felt pretty lucky that we got a nice hostal. For a reasonable price!
As usual, we dined out--we even went to a Chinese restaurant. In Spain. If you ever feel that it is a sketchy idea, don't second guess. It is. I enjoyed the rice, which obviously had ham in it, since nearly everything here revolves around jamón. But the chicken--well, one bite was enough to tell I would not further enjoy it. But luckily, we did receive Happy Dent gum, whose strange flavor lasts all of 5 seconds, along with I ♥ NY keychains, and rings with heart-shaped beads. Oh, and free shots. So overall that meal was a success.

Saturday morning we visited La Ciudad Encantada (Enchanted City), where the wind has formed interesting shapes out of rocks..for example, La Cara del Hombre (man's head--seen to the left), the alligator fighting the elephant, ships, etc. Very interesting, and although it was bitterly cold, we all enjoyed the spectacle. Saturday evening we climbed up the mountainside to check out the view. The most worthwhile experience-it was the most incredible view I have ever seen. We stayed until the sun set, and let me tell you, pictures can never describe what I saw last weekend in Cuenca. Photos could never do justice for the beauty that lies in the valley below. I feel very fortunate to have visited this city!

We also visited the Museum of Abstract Art, located in one of these Casas Colgadas--hanging houses. I was personally more interested in the building itself over the art, as well as the god-given views from the windows. I know that my mother would have had the same interest in the intricate details on the doors and windows that seem to be everywhere we go! Mom--I think of you every time!

Anyways, that was quite the tangent, but I had such a lovely weekend in Cuenca that I wanted to share as much as I could. If only you could all come and see for yourself...

More to come on the Madrid experience!

A Few Photos...

This is my "habitación" in Madrid. I live with my Señora, Veronica, and her 7-year old son, Samuel. We each have our own rooms, and in addition there is a kitchen and living room, along with 2 bathrooms. Our piso is very cute and homey.







On our first weekend in Spain, we traveled to Toledo as a group. It is a beautiful city about an hour south of Madrid. There are laws prohibiting the construction of new buildings because they are preserving the original architecture and character of the city, which used to be Spain's capitol once upon a time...


Alex, Breanne, Courtney, and I enjoyed Churros con Chocolate at la Chocolatería de San Gines. Many madrieleños eat churros con chocolate with friends or family...it's just one of those things they do! And for good reason--you don't know what real churros are until you come to Madrid. The chocolate that you dip the churros in tastes similar to hot chocolate, but a little richer, and much thicker...almost like pudding, but better! Trust me on this...

As Alex and I were roaming the city, we discovered this "secret" (it's no secret after all) heaven on earth, called Mercado de San Miguel. It was a Sunday afternoon, so of course it was bustling. We were absolutely astonished when we walked inside this beautifully sculpted building to find candy, ice cream, wine, beer, fish, bread, sushi, books, and absolutely anything else you can imagine. The atmosphere was positively incredible, and all of the treats looked like perfection. We will definitely plan on returning here...


Ahhh, the tapas. Another thing the Madrileños do is go out for tapas and cañas before meals. Tapas are small, delicious food items that come in adorable little portions. Cañas are glasses of beer--what I chose to drink in this picture was much larger than a caña...a jarra! But the montaditos--little sandwiches--were wonderful! And only 1 Euro each on Wednesdays! What you see in this pic cost only 4.60 Euro...Success!