Today was fantastic. I went to orientation at the Middlebury school in Spain and got lots of information about registering, the metro, the schedule of what's to come etc. Everyone was really helpful, especially the two madrilenos (guys from Madrid) who helped us out! We went on a walking tour of the center of the city, stopped for lunch and I got to know everyone in the program. All 9 students seem pretty great, and as we are under obligation to speak in Spanish all the time, I feel mine is getting better after just one day! We walked around some more after lunch. I was amazed by how beautiful every building in el centro was. Whether it was a bank or a store or apartments, it was all very extravagant and regal. The neighborhood where I live is mostly just brick buildings so it was a nice change of scenery. We walked to a bar and ordered some cervezas (everyone knows that word) which are served with free tapas (appetizers)! We had 4 plates overflowing with tortilla de patata y jammon con pan y patatas con salsa it was all so delicious, and less than 2 euros a person! So free tapas are officially my new favorite thing. The madrilenos are great. They both attend the university where we will be studying and are very knowledgeable and helpful and kind. Tomorrow they will take us on an excursion to see El Retiro which is a famous park near the center of the city. This weekend we go on a day trip to Segovia which is about an hour and a half north, in the mountains. My host mom Angela told me it's one of her favorite places, so I'm pretty excited.
The host parents are great. I don't see Miguel (Angela's husband) very much but he is very nice and approachable. He is always watching or listening to something...whether it's the portable radio in the shower or tv in the livingroom or kitchen. Angela has been cooking many different things for me to try, to see what I like...so I'm trying to be a little more honest with her (so I'm not stuck drinking leafy green soup all semester). Don't get me wrong, I am very thankful that she is cooking and not me, but I think my taste buds still need to adjust. I noticed something funny. My first morning here I went into my (I say my because I'm the only one using it) bathroom to find that all my little toiletries that I had set nicely on the counter had been put into a box and set on a shelf. My makeup box was closed and my toiletries bag moved. I can just see little Angela coming in and moving things around until she is totally satisfied. It's the norm here with host families I suppose...it's their house and just because it's my room doesn't mean it's my room. I also found the trashcan in my room had been changed and my slippers had been moved from next to the bed to behind the desk in the corner. Every time I enter I find a new little
change. It's quite amusing actually. My first day here she offered to help me move in my things...perhaps I should have taken her up on that so she wouldn't have to make so many changes now ;)
Anyway things here are really great, I just hope it warms up soon! Here's a picture or two of the house and Angela and I.
Hasta Luego!
~Alejandra
Hi kiddo, Sounds great, loved the part about the slippers. Anjela sounds like a neat person, much better than the alternative. Since she has so many bedrooms, do you think she is going to host any other students this semester?
ReplyDelete