The Rain in Spain.

Hello, all! It's the weekend again, yay! Here's a picture of me and fellow CEA students in the Hispanic Studies program, the night we went out for Tapas together. Classes are great. I'm pretty genuinely interested in all of them, both my two language classes, art history, and Spanish society. I am learning so much good stuff!

I'm about to head out to an Intercambio, or language exchange. It's pretty neat, actually. A group of people, usually students, get together in a restaurant or bar to practice Spanish and English. It's a great way to meet Spaniards and learn about the language and culture!

Tomorrow I get to go to the Prado Museum, yay! Free guided tour with my art class. Pretty sweet.
Apparently Spain is having the wettest, coldest winter in decades. Awesome. I hope we don't dissolve in the rain! Happily, I did see the sun yesterday. It cheered me right up. More rain today tho, ick. O spring, come quickly and do not delay! Here's a pic of flowers around one of the pretty little Mediterranean houses I walk by on my way to school.

In other news, my cell phone decided to heal itself. I'm no longer disconnected from the world. And I have free incoming calls, so please do make use of it :-) Let me know if you want my number.

Enjoying another lazy madrileña weekend (which starts Thursday at lunchtime, actually). I've been kinda boring this week. The weather has been foul and I've been tired, so haven't gone out much. I really don't have much to say. But!
-I have now seen an Andorran license place. Check that off the bucket list ;-)
-Finally, I have figured out the short cut from the metro to my campus and reduced the walking time from 15 to 10 minutes. Pat on the back, self. But some days I just take the scenic route through the park anyway :-)
-I just realized this is the first time in my life I've ever had my own bathroom. Kinda weird.
-Spanish olive oil is magical. I could eat it for the rest of my life. And the bread is rockin.

Language... Earlier this week I had a lot of trouble speaking. Sometimes Mari Carmen would just say, "I don't know what you're saying." Just a weird little phase, I guess. Then things improved and now I can even understand most of what I hear on crazy Spanish TV shows or when I talk to people on the street. I'm learning a TON. It's just taking a little while for my mouth to catch up. But my profes have been soo encouraging (and all-around great). Yesterday, one even told me I was pretty much fluent. Yay! Flattery works on me, people.

Here's a side view of the National Museum of Natural Science. It's about a 5 min walk from my building. Wasn't too exciting inside. Not very many exhibits, mostly some rooms of stuffed rodents and frogs in jars and that kinda thing. I actually think the "educational garden" was more interesting (hence the flowers). But, oh well, there's about 20 other museums to explore while I'm here!
Hasta luego...

Second week... getting the hang of things.

Here's a pic for ya of Mari Carmen, my lovely hostess who shares her apartment with me. She cooks my food, does the laundry and dishes, and is also interesting to talk to. We watch Spanish game shows together. It's a pretty sweet deal.

My two grammar classes on Monday/Wednesday were a bit easy, so I asked to be bumped up to the higher level, a pretty challenging one for me. But hey, Í´m here to learn as much as possible!

So now on Monday/Wedn I have advanced language class from 10-11:20, then sociedad española from 1:10-2:30. Tho that means I still have to get up at 7:45... Commuting takes a long time. Then I´ll home for lunch by 3, I guess.

And Tuesday/Thurs is the same. An awesome art history class 10-11:20, then an interesting linguistics class from 11:40-1. Not a bad schedule at all. Fridays are reserved for excursions. This week: to the Prado museum for the first time!!! My art class includes 5 free guided tours this semester... love it.

In other news, it´s hovering right at freezing and snowing like crazy! They normally don´t get snow here... ppl freaking out. But mainly that just means I will continue to wear my coat pretty much at all times, and still be cold. There´s a radiator in my room, so that´s fine, but not in the halls or bathroom. No heat at all. Seriously. And as long as I´m whining, I´ll mention that yes, I am hungry right now. As always. Time for third breakfast (second breakfast was an orange an hour ago)! Two hours till lunch...

I love the Metro. I know my way around all three stops near my apartment and I don´t get lost anymore (usually, ha). Soon I will figure out the bus system! Adiossss

Hardwired.

Last evening I bravely ventured forth into the maze known as El Corte Inglés (the only department store they have here) and had to ask six employees and wander through three different buildings before obtaining THE GOLDEN CORD OF ETHERNET for a mere €7.90. So this morning I have internet in my apartment FINALLY.

I love Fridays, officially. No class! It's like a bonus Saturday! I slept in till 9:30 (so pleasant) and made breakfast, which is always the same, every day. My host-mom says I'm supposed to eat cookies and little crackers of pre-toasted toast. Topping choices: strawberry jelly and margarine (basically a tub of hydrogenated oil with some yellow coloring. ew.) I sometimes add the peanut butter I brought into the mix for variety (natural pb, but what's the point if I have to eat margarine??? Working against myself). But oh well, it's actually kinda tasty. And I eat a midmorning snack to help tide me over till lunch, every day at 2:30. They don't call it lunch (almuerzo). Just "food" (comida). It's that important. And always tasty.


I'm exploring the city bit by bit, taking it in slow. It's pretty fantastic. I love it here. Today going to Sol, the center of downtown, to meet a Dutch friend for lunch. Should be fun!

This is the view of my street from our private terrace at night. Kinda awesome. I can't wait till the weather warms up (it's freaking freezing. No really, Spain is having a winter weather crisis) because I will definitely be living out here.










And here's a pic from our walking tour of downtown Madrid from Wednesday. This is the famous Plaza Mayor, really near Puerta del Sol. It's really charming. Find the Americans! Oh wait, who could miss it. Happily, no pickpocketing incidents with our group. I'm being careful.

And also having fun :-)

First Week of School at Universidad Nebrija

I'll post more pics soon. (This is me in my building elevator excited about going out for a walk, haha.)

Right now I'm on campus (the only way I get internet, mreh!). I'm still really frustrated about being unable to communicate, gr! There's been lots of hurdles like that, annoying little things that make life way more complicated than necessary (like my metro pass deciding to void itself this morning when I was already late for class, haha!) But mostly I'm having a great experience. And I've consistently met people who are kind, understanding, and helpful.

Classes are great... pretty easy yet interesting. My fave- Art in the Prado Museum! With five guided field trips, woo hoo! Most of my Fridays will be spend on excursions, trips to museums, etc., so I'm pretty excited about that.

Meeting lots of great people! This is gunna be good...






Here's the entrance of my school:


Kinda gorgeous!

My 5th day in Spain (my legs are SO sore!)

Sunday at 7:19pm

¡Hola y saludus a todos! I'm on my iPhone so this will be kinda clipped. Internet still not connected to my mac, grrr. Anyone know any secrets about 128-bit WLAN wireless routers? Anyway.
My group went to Segovia yesterday and I have a TON of pics to post soon! It was an incredible experience. Highlight was climbing up a seemingly endless spiral staircase to the tallest tower of the Alcázar, a medieval fortress/castle/palace. On the roof we could see for miles! Pretty breathtaking in every way.

The Roman Aqueduct


A wall of the cathedral
















And this is me at the top of the Alcázar!

Today I went to an international church that I found via Internet. I am so refreshed and encouraged! The people are super kind and friendly and serious about seeking the Lord. I am on a mission here, ya know. I can't wait to get plugged in.
I am feeling really grateful to everyone who's supported me. Time for some shoutouts for random stuff that is so comforting to me. Pardon my materialism for a moment.
Thanks, Ali, for the earrings, the Indian bangles, and the chapstick with spf! I am wearing them all! The climate here is so dry and sunny I really use the chapstick a tonnn!
Mom: the silk scarf and the jewelry you gave me for Christmas are the bomb. And everyone loves the elephant purse from Thailand. Thanks for the majority of my wardrobe actually.
Dad: the prescriptions. You saved me!
Claire: I use your travel guide all the time. I've read it thru twice, too! Thx!
Chase: the yellow leather gloves come in so HANDY! srsly I've worn them every day. (from last Christmas)
Rachel C: I'm using the journal we got at your house!
Stacia: the red scarf is da bomb
Yani: la biblia bilingüe!!! Es perfecta.
Erin Johnson needs to get a fb. Anyhow, she has been really helpful.
And Dad, the iPhone was the best splurge ever. It's my only means of communication at he moment.
Christina Techentin is la mejor. She is so good to me!
I love everyone, by the way. Yes, if you're reading this, I love you. Family and Union peeps: gosh I miss you. And TSC too.

edit. I'm at school and finally can get on my comp.
Wow, how mushy. Write it off as the euphoria stage of culture shock?

Woah, cool place ya got here!

I staggered out of the Barajas airport at 10 AM local time (4 AM central, ewwww) groggy, tired of walking (it's skimpy on escalators: lots of stairs), and rubbing my cranky eyes. But of course I perked right up when we drove thru the city and arrived at the hotel I'll be staying at for a few days. Madrid is cool!

So today I've been chilling with my new friends from CEA and doing my first explorations of the city! The buildings are gorgeous and studded with balconies (my room, too) and looks like there's lots of interesting stuff to explore.

1st Stereotype: all Madrileños smoke. And probably drink. It's kinda smelly. Also, they take forever to eat lunch.

But, hey, everybody! I speak Spanish! It actually works! Oh-so-many awkward conversations already. And the promise of many more to come...Well, I'm off to take some pictures and leave no one in doubt of my touristy-ness. (Here's a view from the street looking up at my hotel room)

















And here's the view from my hotel room balcony. A cool church with lotsa gilded Catholic stuff in it (yes, I already wandered in).

Gearing up to go!

Passport and visa: check. Stack of euros: check. Suitcases packed, complete with maps and guides to Madrid. iPhone charged and ready with a Spanish language playlist and Daniel by Elton John. Oh yeah.

I think I'm all set! Tomorrow Dad and I will go to the good ol' airport and check in together, because we're actually both flying USAir around the same time. Pretty cool, I think. Then I'm headed to Philadelphia... some time reeeeally early Wednesday morning I'll arrive in Madrid, get picked up by a trusty CEA staff member, and will head to a hotel and orientation. Yay! I just got my schedule for the rest of the week, and I'm moving into a comfy apartment on Friday. And "everything will be fine."

Mostly I'm amazed at how incredibly faithful God is. This has been a two year process of preparations, road blocks, tests of faith, and unexpected successes. The Spanish Consulate changed their policy this November just for students from Tennessee, just in time for me to get my visa. Just the fact that I somehow got enough funds for this trip, even though my Union scholarships don't apply, is evidence of how fully dependent I am on God for everything about this trip. I found out on the day that I had to pay the invoice for this program that I won an essay contest and would have just the right amount of money in my account. Individual professors and Financial Aid peeps pulled just the right strings and made miracles happen (did I mention that Union rocks?). So here I go... Stepping out in trust al más allá... out into the great beyond.