I severely miss kraft mac and cheese, as well as annie’s shells with cheese, and home-made velveeta macaroni elbow noodles as well. I also crave buffalo chicken wraps, the ones I took for granted so many times in lower. I want something cheesy or something buffalo-y or even a bacon (real bacon, not ham), egg, and cheese on a wonderful everything bagel from bagel train. how come these things arent universal? no wonder everyone in spain is skinny.
Tomorrow I depart for portugal at 6:50am, so tonight should be an early night.. even though I took a nap from 5-6:30? oops. Ive had my first two days of class which involved Economia Espanola in English. The class is supposed to be completely in English but the professor throws in some spanglish OFTEN and all the readings are in spanish? what kind of school are they running here? I have FOUR HOURS of JUST THIS CLASS every week… which is NOT okay. The teacher seemed alright at first as he told us this class is useless because this is the last year they are going to teach it, professors are subjective and opinionated, anything we learn now will probably be null and void by june, and that whatever he says in class probably wont be on the final exam. the only material gauranteed on the final is on the “Bible” (everyone uses the word Bible as the source of important info here… interesante), and on the “bible” are time amounts each professor is supposed to spend on a topic as well as readings (that again, i cant read). At least attendance is only mandatory every other Wednesday, but I’ll prob be there anyway.
Scott visited for a couple of days. Although he was here 3 nights, I did not see him during the day at all because of his group trips to Reina Sophia, Toledo, Segovia, etc. I did go to El Prado with him, and a look at 500 naked statues never hurt anyones eyes. I think I liked the artword in the Reina Sophia better… these ones were normal and had actual people in them. But Scott and I did get to walk around Madrid in the rain for 3 nights straight, hit up some good food places, chug down mad cervezas, cheap wine, and boxed Sangria (botellon!!!!!!!!!!! i love to botellon!!!!!!!!! aka drink anything cheap&alcoholic in the streets and on the metro). We also made it to the TGI Friday’s happy hour for a little bit, and I am now a fan of their long island iced-teas. however, after Fridays we went to a place across the street and had a half chicken, fries, and a salad, and it was DEEEEELISH. Later we finally met up with the group at a “Flamenco” bar (after more walking/getting lost in the streets on a rainy night) which turned out not to be a flamenco bar at all. We got some cervezas, watched the pregnant man, the good singer, and the guitarist yell it out and perform for a bit (i liked it, strange as it was) and then we peaced so that scott would have a good night’s sleep before his flight to LONDON! mad jealous.
SOOOOO another important adventure occured today at Carlos when Lauren and I needed to print our plane tickets. We went in several different buildings, proved to several different people we cant speak Spanish, and left on the train with a significantly higher amount of “printing” vocabulary. impresionas y imprimir y mucho mas.
ive decided i like Jodi Picoult as an author. Ive also decided I am going to learn more vocabulary, because as wrong as grammar can be, its the words that are important.
Some random tidbits to know:
- Thomas is the OWNER of “Bar and Restaurant” which is actually called “Da’Thomas,” we’re sillies.
-You cant have guests in your spanish homes, pretty much at all. wtf is up with that?
- Spanish people dont wait for you to get off the bus/metro before they board. They shove their way on and you better hope you have time to get off.
- Spanish prostitutes stand in the street in not nearly as provocative clothing, and regular spanish women dont wear heels before 10pm? So if youre a little Irish girl waiting for a friend in the street, but youre dressed up for the night (patent leather shoes and all)… expect creepy old men to ask you questions.
- Spain’s got rain.
- Every store in Madrid is specialized… it took me 2 1/2 weeks to buy contact solution, and I had to do so at an eyeglass store.
- They obviously use mayonaise in everything, and not butter. Except in their tuna, or on their sandwiches. How did this HAPPEN?! AND AND IF YOU ORDER A MIXED VEGETABLE SANDWICH AT YOUR SCHOOL YOU GET LETTUCE, TOMATO, AND TUNA WITH AN EGG ON TOP! andd they dont believe in coffee to go, eating or drinking in class, using computers in class (ordenadors? not computadoras…), or having other exams besides final exams at the end of the semester.
- I recently decided im being stupid about not speaking spanish, being afraid, bailing out and refusing. I am here, dude-man, and I am staying. So I am going to try… soon.
For now, I will go eat, pack, shower, sleep, plane, and Portugal. I hope when I return Winnie and Boo are still alive!
ugh, i really miss buffchick wraps. send me one in the mail? or Fins!
