Making New Friends, but Keeping the Old. 6/114

I'm having internet problems tonight, so I this blog may not be posted until in the morning. I'm typing fast....

Today was a very busy one indeed. And I burned all the calories I needed to burn before 9 am! So, I have learned the hard way that it is no bueno when the escalators in the metro are sin servicio (out of service). Thus, you have to walk up the monsterous steps, one at a time. One has two options when the escalators are broke. You can climb the escalators, or you can climb the stairs. There are more stairs (in my case, four flights for one escalator) and the escalator looks like the easy way out. Read my blog: (since you can't read my lips) DON'T DO IT!!!! After the tenth step on the escalator (that are easily a foot in height, each) your calves will be burning in places that you didn't know could burn. So, I took the stair option, but it's never a good thing when you have to walk five flights of steps and break out in a cold sweat before you've had time to have your coffee. I've been working out for the past two months,  but still, my body was pulsating in parts where I'm sure one's body should not pulsate. I should have been done with walking for the day, but I am determined to not gain any weight. I would actually be happy to lose some pounds. I went back to Sol's house this morning to take the girls to school. It was at her metro station that my morning workout occured. I showed them how to take the metro and how to take the correct exit. Naturally, by the time we returned to the site of the funeral of my calf muscles thirty minutes later, the escalator was working. Insert dropped jaw here. I dropped them off, and then found myself navigating through the neighborhood. I had a meeting with the principal at the school where I'll be working, and I had to find my way there. Last night, I logged onto google maps and wrote down directions to the best of my ability. To my surprise, they were perfect! However, I was 25 minutes early for my meeting! That is a new PR for me!!!! I met the principal and another teacher. They were both very nice and I spoke to them in Spanish :)

After I left school, I had several hours to kill until the girls finished with orientation. I walked to a busy street and sat down at an outdoor cafe. I bought a newspaper and sat on the sidewalk eating my bread with tomates, drinking my coffee, and reading the paper. I felt very Julia Roberts a la Eat, Pray, Love. There was a cool breeze this morning and the weather felt wonderful. I'm so glad I took advantage of it. while I was sitting at the cafe, two cars got in a slight bumper to bumper collision. It was funny watching them argue. I later found out from Sol, that last week, two men got into an argument after a collision, and one man pulled out a pistol and killed the other man. (Note to self: I will NEVER drive in Spain....) But one thing I noticed in Spain, is how many people don't work! Yes, I sat at a sidewalk table for an hour and a half because I had nothing to do, but I have a job! Spain has a high unemployment rate and also, most people are just now returning back to the city after a month-long vacation. But still, it seemed like all of Madrid was out today. And they call Americans lazy! It has been my belief that us Americans are: over-worked, over-stressed, and under-paid. You would be surprised to see how relaxed the people in Spain are. Maybe that's why I love it so much here. I don't feel any stress at all. (Ask me again here in a few weeks....)

On a positive note, I opened up a checking account in Spain. ALL BY MYSELF. And I did it all in Spanish! My banker's name was Emiliano, and he was absolutely wonderful. I kept asking him all these questions, because I wanted to make sure I wouldn't be charged any fees. I was in the bank for an hour. I also had to sign my life away, or so it seemed. Emiliano printed off page, after page, after page. I'm not even sure what the pages are for. I just knew to file them away in the expanding file folder my mother made me bring with me. Which, I have to admit has been a great thing to have! Emiliano has to have the best job in all of Spain - the banks are only open from 8:30 until 2:30, Monday through Friday. I could definitely live with a six hour work day. I really did feel sorry for the guy, though. I know how I am and I know how high-maintenanced I can be. Correction: how high-maintenanced I am. I have to go back tomorrow and give him my telephone number, because as of this afternoon, I have joined the cell phone world once more. Have any of you heard of google chat? Well now, you can make phone calls to any number int he US or Canada, FOR FREE! I talked to my family and a few friends tonight and it was my new favorite thing!

After I bought my cell phone and books from school, I walked back to Sol's with the three girls, to show them the street way. I'm such a good tour guide, maybe I should try to get hired on by a company and give tours! On the way back, we saw ANOTHER small wreck and again, the two men were arguing. It was in almost the exact same spot as the first one I saw this morning. Same street and everything. I guess I bring luck to these Spanish men :) I have met some people who are here in Madrid at SLU. Of course, I've been showing the three girls around who are staying with Sol. It's funny because, they actually think that my Spanish is good. HA! I also met a girl named Emily, today at school. She is a transfer student like me and also will be here for at least two years. We are both studying political science as well. Today was her birthday, so after she got off work, we met up in Sol (not Sol the person; Puerta de Sol - the Times Square of Madrid) and walked around. We later went to a restaurant for tapas. My friend, Paige, is going to be extremely jealous when she reads this blog, because I took them to our favorite restaurant in Madrid, Lateral.

I don't know why it is, but I have had two migraines since arriving in Madrid. On the subway, I was clammy and felt nauseaus. And of course, this had to be the night that the metro wanted to be slow. It seemed like forever until I got home. This may be TMI for some of you, but I swear, I did not know that my feet could perspire so much. I've sweated so much today, I think my pinky toe lost a pound. And that was just on the left foot. At least. On top of that, the sweat made my foot slide in my flip flop and I rubbed a blister on my right foot. I was so mad. I went into Corte Ingles and bought a pack of band-aids. The stupid things didn't even work. They were cheap. And they were supposed to be waterproof and in my opinion, sweat is a form of water. So, yeah, I wasn't too happy. The band-aids had a life span of fifty steps. After the second time, I was over it! Katie, one of the girls who is living with Sol, was making fun of me, calling me an old woman, because I was fanning myself with the albanico (fan) that Sol gave me. The first time I came to Spain, Sol told me that there are two things that a Spanish woman needs in the summer: an albanico and a bottle of water. And I have both and am proud of it!

Although I am glad that I am making new friends, I am making sure that I retain close relationships with the ones I have at home. I am so glad to have such wonderful friends and family that I will get to see in 114 days!!!!

Quote of the Day: "The most valuable things in life are not measured in monetary terms. The really important things are not houses and lands, stocks and bonds, automobiles and real state, but friendships, trust, confidence, empathy, mercy, love and faith." -Bertrand Russell

Candace (one of Sol's girls), Emily, and I in Puerta de Sol

Home Sweet Home. 5/115

Although Louisville is home to me, there is one place in Madrid that I call home. Two summers ago, I lived with a woman named Soledad (Sol, for short) and her daughter, also named Sol. She has been a host mother to American students for the past eight years and with the arrival of three new girls today, she has hosted 43! For two and a half months, she was the closest thing I had to family. The two of us became very close, especially during the last six weeks, when I was the only girl living at the house. We stayed up late, talking in Spanish, and watched Pasapalabra, my favorite Spanish TV program, every night at 8 pm. Over these past two years we have kept in touch, through email. Every few months I have called her, mainly on important days like when Barack Obama was inaugurated as president (I discovered on my first trip that Sol, like the majority of Spain, are huge admirers of Barack!), on Mother's Day, and when Spain won the World Cup. Sometimes I would just call to say hello. I really do consider her my other mother, because this is the woman who took care of me for a whole summer. We met as strangers, but said good-bye as family. I was supposed to live wth her originally, but many of you know that my journey to Spain has been a game of "I'm going, I'm not going, oh wait, I think I am going," and the university placed three girls with her during one of my "I'm not going" phases. Sol just arrived back in Madrid last night, so today was the first day I had the opportunity to visit her.

I was so excited when I called her this morning and told her I was on my way. I was even more giddy when I walked into the apartment building. When I rang the doorbell and heard her footsteps coming towards the door, I could hardly contain myself. We both kind of squealed and then embraced in a long hug. Tears were shed on both ends. It was one of those moments where you cannot put a price on its worth. In the living room, she gave me another hug, and then again when we sat on the couch. She said she couldn't believe that I was back again, and neither could I. I believe I am only the second girl that has lived with her that has come back to Spain, although I could be wrong.

We sat on the couch and caught up. I asked her about the new girls and we were laughing hysterically as she tried to learn and pronounce their names correctly. I was so relieved that I was able to carry on a conversation with her in Spanish, without making many mistakes. I had been so upset the other day, thinking I had forgotten everything I had worked so hard to learn. She made fun of me, because the last time we talked, my Spanish was absolutely horrible. In Sol's words, it was fatal! She and I then ate lunch - Sol is the best cook in all of Madrid. She had prepared a pasta, similar to lasagna, salad, bread, and we had tinto verano, a traditional summer beverage in Spain.

Shortly after that, the girls woke up from naps and I introduced myself to them. They are all students at Saint Louis University in the states. (SLU has a campus in Madrid, and that is where I am taking classes. Many students from the St. Louis campus spend a semester in Madrid.) I also feel so old! They are 19, 20, and 21. We sat around the table, eating polos (popsicles). They were eager to ask questions and I was glad to offer my help. I also did a lot of translating between Sol and the girls, which boosted my confidence even more.  I took them on a walk around the neighborhood, pointing things out like Estadio Bernabeu, where Real Madrid plays, the metro station, the store that stays open late, etc, etc. They kept telling me how glad that were that I came over. I explained that I was nervous and scared my first few days in Madrid (okay, maybe my first two weeks!) and I didn't want them to feel so overwhelmed and that I was here to help out whenever. Tomorrow I am returning to Sol's and will show them how to take the metro to school. Sol has a phobia of being underground in the metro, so I told her I would take them so she didn't have to make the trip. After we got back in the house, Sol had fixed dinner. I shouldn't have been hungry, having only ate a few hours prior, but somehow the smell of Spanish tortilla and a tomato salad, awakened my senses and I suddenly had an appetite! The funny thing is, the first time I was at Sol's, she prepared so much food for us and I actually lost weight! I remember one day in particular, when Jessie (one of my roommates) and I were eating lunch at the house. Sol had prepared chicken that was lightly fried in aceite (olive oil). Although it was just the two of us, she had cooked something like 8 pieces. Jessie and I were ready to stop after piece two, but Sol kept filling our plates and saying that we had to be hungry!

Little Sol (the daughter) arrived home around 8. Sol told me to hide on a spot on the wall and she came over and blocked me. Sol the daughter, didn't even look my way. She went straight over and met the new girls. It was only after she sat down that she got a hint and asked, "is that all the girls?" I then popped out and I had another hug fest. She was so excited to see me, her hermanita (little sister). Vicky, Sol's other daughter and my other "sister" also called the house to talk to me. I cannot wait to see her again and meet Santiago, her son.

The timing of my visit to my "home" was just what I needed and the timing was impeccable. The first few days are always the roughest to me. Although I know Elena and the kids, I still feel like a stranger in the house, because I have never lived with them before. It's a bit uncomfortable, but I know that feeling will go away. It's also been different adjusting to living in a house with small children, who at the beginning, burst in your room at any given time. I'm sure it's quite a change for them also. I have to admit, I was getting tired of having the same routine - waking up, eating breakfast, passing the day at the pool. I don't think I could have taken another day of it! Spending the day with Sol was perfect. There is nothing like the comfort of being with your Mother. Since my real mother is not here, my other mother works just as well. Sol has that maternal instinct and I feel it when I'm in her presence. Today was such a great day for me. Sol, the daughter, also commented that my Spanish is still very good after two years. And people are right - home is such a sweet place. And it's always good to know that no matter where you are, there are still people at home (in my case, in two countries) that love you and are there for you no matter what.

Quote of the Day: "Love is a great beautifier"- Louisa May Alcott

RHOM Update: For those of you who are following this real-live soap opera, I really don't have anything to report. Last night, they stayed out well past ten o'clock. We could hear them cackling and gossipping during dinner. The doctor was at the pool yesterday and he spent his time running and jumping into the pool, trying to impress a group of kids, ranging from 0-7. Whatever makes you feel good about yourself, I guess! The more I look at him, the more I have to agree with Elena. He really is unattractive. Oh, and I've decided who Big Bertha reminds me of. Remember the movie The Parent Trap? The original one with Hayley Mills? (I'm pretty sure that's her name.) Well, there was the one lady on there who was named Vicky. You know, the father's girlfriend. She seemed like such a dragon lady to me. The kind of person who thinks she is better than you and seems much older than what she really is. This belief was confirmed when she reappeared in the remake of the film with Lindsay Lohan. She talked down to the girls at the pool saying, "But you can call me Vicky" in that voice that seemed to really be saying, "I don't like you but I'm going to act like I like you". That's who Big Bertha reminds me of. So I guess let's call her Vicky, shall we?

Eating, Swimming, and Skyping. 4/116

The title of today's blog pretty much sums up how I've spent my time in Madrid so far. Sounds boring, huh? are you sure that you still want to read about it?! Today, Elena got called in to work, so I stayed at home with the kids. We woke up late - around 10:30 or 11. By the time we finished up breakfast, it was almost noon, so we went outside and went swimming. Shortly thereafter, the RHOM's started trickling outside, one-by-one and the alcohol followed right after the circle of lawn chairs was formed. We swam for a few hours and then went back inside to, yep you guessed it, to eat! I fixed hamburgers (in a skillet - grills are uncommon here), and we had leftover pasta/green beans, plus tomatoes and olives. For dessert it was fruit once again. I forgot to mention that after breakfast, I stuck a load of laundry in. After I cleaned up the kitchen, I went downstairs and took the clothes out of the washer and hung them up to dry. Yes, people in Spain hang their clothes outside. The funny thing is, most people own dryers, but choose to be eco-friendly, and don't use the dryers when the weather is appropriate. It reminds me of my great-grandmother, Mamaw. I remember visiting her during the summers and when it was hot and dry outside, we would take the clothes from the washer, put them in the laundry basket, head out into the garage, grab the cloth bag full of clothespins, and proceed to the wires that were hanging behind the house. I had so much fun, taking the clothes off the line, and hanging the wet ones up to dry. She too, had a dryer, but it was only used when it was too cold outside. I used to think that she lined dried her clothes because she was old, but now I am so proud that my great-grandmother was such a "green" person fifteen years ago. She was ahead of the times! I know she is smiling down on me from heaven and she has every right to, since she was the one who taught me how to dry my clothes this way. I don't think it's crazy at all. It's very nostalgic to me.

After round 2 of swimming, we came inside. The kids and myself have spent so many hours at the pool this week, all of us are a few shades darker. We all rested and then we walked to a park that is a short walk from the house. This park was so beautiful. Elena told me that a count or some other kind of dignitary used to own the land. The grounds are full of different buildings - a boathouse, a building that was used solely for dances, a house - and a pond, a stream, and several gazebos, benches, and foot bridges. I can't wait to go back with my camera! Elena and I talk mainly in Spanish. She is helping me get back in the groove of speaking Spanish. I can already tell a difference in the few days I've been here. I am using the correct tenses when talking, which was a huge problem for me at first. I still have to think in my head what I want to say, but I know that in just a few weeks, that will no longer be an issue.

Dinner was delicious - Elena sauteed tomatoes, onions, and tuna in a pan. This was only my second time having a filet of tuna and not eating it out of the can. I had a Skype date with my parents. Mimi, unfortunately couldnt make it because she wasn't feeling well, but Mom called her on speakerphone and we talked. I was also surprised to see my Uncle Bart on the video camera. Skype is wonderful. I really feel that I'm talking to them and that we're in the same room.

Since Elena had to work today, I didn't get to go play putt-putt with the church that I am trying to get involved with. An American friend from two years ago attended a church called Oasis Madrid (for those of you who want to look it up!), so I joined their email list. Once a month, they have a social outing. It was probably a good thing that I didn't go, however. The putt-putt place is right next to a shopping center and the least thing I need to do right now is to discover another mall....Anyways, I spoke with the woman who was coordinating the event and she and I are going to meet Monday. I'm so excited! Since I am here for at least the next year, I find it very important that I get involved and have a life here in Madrid. I am looking forward to meeting new people and making friends.

Tomorrow I am going to visit Sol, whom I say is my Spanish mother. I lived with her the last time I was here and I love her to death. I will be moving back  in with her in January. She is so excited to see me! And I can't wait to see what she is cooking for lunch tomorrow!

Oh, I slept with my little fan on last night and it makes such a huge difference! I slept great last night and stayed cool all night!

Mom has started counting down the days until I am home for Christmas. We have 116 days to go. I will start a running count on the blog! The first number in the title is how many days I've been here, the second number is how many days are left until I fly home for Christmas! Hard to believe that when I come back home, it will be winter!

Quote of the Day: To the world you may be only one person, but to one person you may be the world.

The Real Housewives of Madrid

I have found my way to fortune, or so I hope. I am a junkie when it comes to the Real Housewives franchise, produced by Bravo. I am completely bummed that I am missing the New Jersey reunion show and am trying to figure out how I'm going to watch it over here. (Sidenote: anyone know where I can watch full episodes of Grey's online? ABC won't let people outside the U.S. watch them. What Debbie Downers they are :( I would greatly appreciate the help!) I have decided that Bravo needs to branch out into the international market and start a series in Madrid. And I know where they can find some people....

Where I'm living in Madrid is right on the edge of the city. In the "burbs", there are more chalets (what we would call townhouses) than in the city, simply because there is more room and a lack of demand for high-rise apartment buildings. A benefit to staying away from downtown - most of the complexes out this way have swimming pools. And let me tell you, after spending thirty minutes in the pits of the earth, A.K.A. the metro, the only thing you want to do is jump in the pool. (For those of you who didn't believe me in yesterday's blog when I said the metro line I take most frequently is at the center of the earth, I beg to differ. Today while in transit, I had to transfer lines. I had to take 5 huge escalators - each one is equal to two regular sized escalators - in order to reach the level of the line I needed to switchover to!) Everyday, around 5:00, a group of women converge at the pool, kids in tow, and proceed to gossip. Today they kicked off the weekend with cigarettes, beers, and potato chips. Wouldn't be my pick, but hey, whatever floats your boat, right?

Elena has filled me in on each woman. There is a woman named Julie* (names have been changed to protect identity) who has a daughter that is less than one. Yesterday, Elena said that the little girl looks exactly like the father, and that it was a shame, because the father is feo (ugly). I've seen him for myself and he's really not good-looking at all. But, he is a gynecologist who has been married three times, and according to Elena, this probably won't be his last marriage. He spends ten days in Madrid and then twenty days in the UK. The reason for going back and forth is so he can perform certain practices that are illegal in Spain, in the UK and vice versa. Anything to make more money, huh? Honestly, he seems overly cocky and kind of sleazy. There is also another woman and I can't recall her name, but she looks old enough to be someone's grandmother. We're going to call her Big Bertha. She seems to be the ringleader of the group and apparently, is the one who does the most talking and thinks she knows everything about everybody. If anyone has a better nickname for her, please contact management immediately! Then there are several other minions who clamor to B.B. and company. Elena calls them "The Housewives" because all they do is "stay at home and spend the entire day at the pool". Must be nice. Yes, I spent 6 hours at the pool yesterday, and 5 more today, but after Wednesday, I will be a busy bee. I'm going to call them RHOM (Real Housewives of Madrid). Stay tuned to this saga, I know I will have more to share.

There are also two new families who have just moved in within the past few weeks. One family is a Cuban father, a Dutch mother, and their son, Martin. Then, there is another family that has a Guatemalan mother, Suzanna, a Swiss father, and two kids, Diego and Valeria. It makes me sick that these families are multi-lingual. Martin is fluent in Spanish and Dutch. His mother, Janine, speaks both languages as well. Suzanna's husband is a Swiss diplomat who is fluent in German, Italian, French, and Spanish. (Switzerland has three official languages.) Suzanna speaks English, so I'm pretty sure the husband speaks that also. The kids are spoken to in Spanish and Italian at home, and then are attending a French school in the fall. I am insanely jealous of them all! And here I am, trying to get back in the groove of Spanish. It is so impressive that these children are being raised multi-lingual. I mean, no wonder the guy is a diplomat - how many companies are going to turn you down when you tell them you're fluent in five languages?! I want to be like him when I grow up....

I spent my morning walking down to the tobacco store to purchase my metro pass. Is it me or does it make sense that the only place you can buy your metro pass at is the tobacco store? Especially since the entire network of transportation in Madrid is smoke-free? What torture! I also walked into a bank to inquire about opening an account there. I am finding out that I really can't do anything here until I get my student residency card. And who knows how long that will take!

After that, I went to Puerta del Sol, which is in the center of the city, literally. It is also at the center of Spain, and there is even a plaque in the ground that recognizes this. I was surprised at how easily I navigated my way through the streets. I stopped by a Corte Ingles. The one in Sol is so big, they need two buildings to house them in. Oh and by the way, I counted seven floors in each building. The only item I bought was a small fan that sits on a table. It only cost nine euros, but it is worth a million dollars to me right now. That fan is on full blast as we speak. I have woke up during the past two nights in cold sweat, gasping for air, because the heat is so suffocating. I think I have found my solution.

Elena is on-call this weekend, but she is almost positive that she will have to go in since it's the weekend. If she does, I will be staying at home with the kids. I guess we'll be spending more time at the pool with the RHOM group.

Oh, and if anyone has Skype, please let me know. Skype has quickly become my new best friend. I can't let all of you forget my beautiful face - it would be murder to do so! Also, if anyone is interested in having my address to send care packages, I will be more than happy to pass that along :)

Quote of the Day: "The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning." -Ivy Baker Priest

Sarah and The Giant Chicken

First off, I'm excited that I have followers and people commenting now. And no, it's not just my mother. Really means a lot that you guys are seriously interested in reading about my life. Either you love me that much or you don't really have a life :) I'd like to think that it's the first statement and not that latter.

Today I conquered a chicken. A whole chicken. Okay, mabe I'm exaggerating, but that's what I feel has happened today. Now go back in and substitute the word consumed for the word conquered. Yep, I'm pretty sure I ate an entire chicken. IN ONE DAY....For dinner tonight, Elena roasted a chicken in the oven. The portion she gave me was huge - I told her I eat the pechuga (breast) of the chicken when she asked me what part I preferred. That pechuga had to be at least a DD in size. I'm just saying....That was on top of the chicken kebab I ate today. But it was so worth it. Kebabs in Europe are different than what we call kabobs. Its a sandwich with meat, lettuce, tomato, onion, and a sauce. I've been dying to have one ever since I left Madrid the first time. Our two-year separation was hard on both parties, but the wait was sooooo worth it :) We didn't start eating dinner until 10:45 pm. Which actually, is a normal time for dinner in Spain. Lunch is usually around 2:30 or 3:00. Speaking of food, I also sucked down two peaches today. Wish you could have had one!

I stayed busy today. Finally woke up this morning and got out of the bed a little after 10 am. Had another wonderful breakfast of toasted bread, tomatoes, and olive oil. (You have got to try it sometime!) I took the metro to school. First mistake of the day: bought the wrong type of metro pass. I needed the 10 trip ticket, but paid for the 10 trip ticket that includes trips to the outskirts of the city, which added six euros onto my transaction. So here I am, sitting in the bed, looking at the metro map, trying to decide if any stop on those metro lines fancy me, just so I can get the full use out of the pass. Needless to say, I'm not successful at this point.

I took care of some business at school and then walked upstairs and two of my professors from 2008 were working! They were so happy to see me and we sat and talked for 30 minutes, just like old friends. The professors here are so transparent - not like the ones in the states. Maybe that's why it's taken me so long to finish school - because I hate the structure and atmosphere of American universities! After that, I left and attempted to go buy my abono (metro pass). But the place was closed. They only stay open till 1:00 ish. How I would kill to have a job where I only have to work for four hours! I am trying again tomorrow.

I then went to heaven, oops, I mean Corte Ingles. In your mind, imagine Target, Kroger, Walgreens, Macy's, Best Buy, and Dick's Sporting Goods and you have Corte Ingles. I'm so serious. They have everything under one roof - one stop shopping. Although the mannequins were calling my name, I resisted their peer pressure and hurried downstairs to the Walgreens section of the store. I needed to pick up some items and that's where I think I made mistake #2 of the day. I was looking for toothpaste and I think I bought (accidentally, of course) a tube of toothpaste for dentures. The thing was seven euros. Then in the grocery store, I saw Colgate and bought a box for 3 euros. I was too embarrased to ask Elena tonight if I had done the unthinkable. What in the world would I need stuff for dentures? Of course, now I'm laughing at myself, but how stupid was that?! I also picked up some laundry detergent so I can wash my clothes and an 8-pack of Fanta Limon Zero. I decided to go ahead and be a good girl and buy the zero version. And they are just as wonderful as the real thing! I have my secret stash in the closet and as I type, I am fighting the urge to guzzle one down before I go to sleep. I did learn that it is extremely hard to take a 30 minute metro ride while carrying laundry detergent, cans of fanta, and two other bags. By the time arrived home, my arms were killing me and I was sweating like a pig. I felt like I had walked through Madrid carrying weights - oh wait, I did do that! Next time I need to buy some things, I will bring my backpack. Ahh, the little lessons we take for granted :) I ended my afternoon by swimming laps in the pool and then I dozed off while lying on my towel. The kids came home and we swam until 8:30. To have a pool in Madrid is a luxury, because it is so hot outside. It doesn't help that the metro line I frequently take is at "the center of the Earth", according to many people I know. Spend five minutes down there in the pits and you will sweat off a pound. I am willing to bet on this!

I inquired about joining a gym today, while I was at school. With all this Fanta Limon I'm drinking and eating dinner at 11:00 at night, I need to keep the weight off somehow.

On a not so good note, I have decided that my spanish skills are HORRENDOUS. I am still confused about which tenses to use in certain situations - for example, in English, we would say, I went to the beach for vacation. But in Spain, depending on the context, you can say it two different ways. I am forgetting words that I should not have forgotten and it's frustrating me. My goal at the beginning of my trip was to speak perfect Spanish, but now I am so discouraged. Elena has been wonderful - she corrects me when I make mistakes. I feel like I need to hire a personal tutor, now. But she keeps telling me that I will remember everything soon enough. I hope that's the case.

As I was walking through Madrid today, it was comforting to be in a place that seemed so familiar. I still remembered my way through metro stations and how to take the correct exit. I knew exactly where to walk in order to get to school, even remembering to avoid a wall that is notorious for being a bathroom for the drunks. I laughed as I saw the same Africans trying to help people park on the street in the same spot they were two years ago, and then get upset when they didn't get a tip. I felt sadness for the Roma woman who sat on the street corner where she sat last time, hands out begging for money. In my old neighborhood, I passed an office supply store and smiled when the same man who works there was outside taking a smoke break. But I also felt the same sense of freedom and happiness that I experienced when I was in Madrid the first time. It was a reminder that Madrid has not changed, but perhaps I have. Yes, some of the metro stations have been remodeled, places of business have moved, but it is still a city that brings me such a sense of relaxation and I have no clue why. However, I do know I have changed - I found myself on Calle Orense and passed all of my favorite stores. I almost gave into temptation, but heard my mom's voice in my head, telling me that I'm here to live, not to shop. I obliged and left!

Tomorrow night, I am cooking dinner! I told Elena I wanted to help out as much as possible. After all, she's graciously allowing me to live with them for free! This weekend she has to work, so I will be staying at home with the kids. Classes and work both start on Wednesday, so I am looking forward to having a few days to relax before the madness begins.

More later.

Laughs of the Day

My room

I forgot to write about this:

Tonight at dinner, I was asking Elena what kind of lentils she put in the soup. I wanted to make lentil soup after Trip #1, but could never find the right kind. Dan, heard me asking the question. His response: the kind you can eat!!!!

It's Official

Well, the big day finally came. (And went!) I am writing this blog from the confines of my own room in Madrid. Which, as I type this, I am now happy to report that I am writing this from my air-conditioned room in Madrid. Hallelujah! For those of you who don't know, I suffered from lack of AC during the summer of 2008 when I was here the first time. That summer, I lost around 7 pounds (which I have since then put back on, added more, lost again, added more, etc, etc.) and I'm fairly certain 6.5 pounds was sweat. 

I'll start from the beginning. I started my day off (Tuesday), by stopping by the school where I always subbed last year, to have breakfast with my dear friend, Jessica. After that, I went home and Mom and I went through a hilarious, yet successful class of Skype101. I am thrilled to tell you that she passed with flying colors :) Then, I decided to take my suitcases to the airport, because Daddy had told me the night before he thought I was overweight. Sure enough, one suitcase was 57 pounds. I got it down to 53 pounds. Who would have thought that a bottle of Clinique Facial Cleanser, a pair of flip flops, and four scarves would have weighed four pounds. Thankfully, the guys at the counter let me check both bags at 53 pounds each. Although, the second guy tried to make me get it at 51, and I pointed out that his co-worker had told me it needed to be at 52 pounds. At least I wasn't traveling with 67 pounds like I did on the way back from Serbia!

I only had one fiasco before I left the house. I couldn't find my glasses. They literally disappeared into thin air. My friend and I both swear up and down that I put the case in my backpack Monday night. No sign of them whatsoever. At least it wasn't my passport. Speaking of which, I almost left that sitting in the scanner of the printer, along with my Visa travel card. That would have been ugly.

Mom, Dad, Mimi, and I went to the airport - sadly, I only had time to have them drop me off at the entrance, because I thought I only had 20 minutes to get through security before I started boarding. Of course, the plane was delayed. My flight to Philly was late, and as a result, I had 25 minutes to de-board the plane, take the shuttle from Terminal F, all the way to Terminal A, then proceed to walk down 20 gates. Oh, and I also had to call Mimi to let her know I made it, and use the bathroom. By the time I reached the gate, they were boarding first-class and my calves were screaming. The flight went well. We left an hour after we were scheduled to depart, but we made it on-time. I guess airline companies factor in time spent on the tarmac into the total flight time. I was unable to fall asleep - I don't know what was wrong with me! The blanket they provided us with wasn't even worth me taking it with me. (Most of you don't know, but I have a thing for walking off with blankets from airline companies when flying international. What I pay for the ticket is more over-entitles me to a blanket. These however were thin and cheap - not even worth my time trying to stuff it in my backpack.

I went through customs without a hitch, and Elena, Luna, and Dan were waiting for me at the terminal exit. I cannot believe how big the kids have gotten. Elena explained to me that they were playing a game everytime the door opened, to see if it was me. A woman even came over to us and said, "Ahh, Sarah esta aqui!" Luna just turned seven and Dan is four. Luna has barely let me out of her sight since we got out of the van. Dan is full of energy, and like any four-year-old boy, he is quite the mischief :) There is also a housekeeper, Isabel, who I remembered from my first trip. She has two daughters, ages 25 and 26, and she wants me to meet them.

The food is amazing, just like I remembered. After we left the airport, we stopped at a bakery and got a loaf of bread and some croissants. I promise these croissants were on steroids. And to top it off, they had just a hint of a buttery-ish drizzle. When I saw it, all I could think of was, "How many calories are in this thing?" But it was worth every single bite. After that, Elena had me try a "Mediterranean breakfast" - toasted pan (bread), with sliced tomatoes and olive oil. I was in heaven. For dinner, we ate lentil soup and salmon. And I've already guzzled down two cans of Fanta Limon. I figure I'll give myself two weeks to drink all the Fanta Limon I want before I switch over to the diet kind. After all, I have been depriving myself for two whole years.

I unpacked after a short nap. Dan and Luna both commented on how many pairs of shoes I brought, which wasn't that many! If they could only see my closet at home! Dan said, "Sarah, tienes milliones de zapatos!" - you have a million shoes!I already have realized how much I miss the shower at home. I have a bathroom to myself, but it is just a standing-room only shower - no tub and no shower curtain. Just the shower head that you have to hold while you're taking your shower. Tomorrow is going to be a hot day - 37 degrees celsius, which is 100 degrees farenheit.

Elena is already talking about going up to their vacation home in Cantabria in October, and then possibly taking a trip to London in November. I am so excited!

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers as I left for my journey. It is so unreal to me that I am back in Madrid. I know today's blog entry was kinda boring. But I'm glad that the few of you who are reading this, care enough about me to want to read boring blogs, about my life in Madrid.

Hasta luego,

Sarah

This is what my closet looks like. I know my poor clothes were ready to get out of those suffocating space bags!

Change I Can Believe In....

In the past, I have always been the one to procrastinate. Always. Just ask anyone in my family. I'm always the last one to wake up, the last one to go to sleep. The last one to arrive at places. I'm notorious in my family for being late. Every time we go out of town, I always pack the night before. I'm known to throw stuff in my suitcase and we're walking out the door.

I surprised even myself by wanting to pack in advance for the big move. Maybe it was because I knew I wouldn't have much time after getting back in town from taking Hellen to school. Or maybe it's because the last time I went out of the country, I had an awful experience with luggage. (See the previous blog, "Does life have a weight value?") Or maybe it's because I'm tired of always over-packing and forgetting things. Either way, I am packed and ready to move to Spain, a whole week early. My suitcases are right at 47 pounds each. All that's left is to do some last minute laundry when we get home from Massachusetts and pack my carry-on. I'm cringing at the thought of leaving all of my beloved shoes at home. I did manage to pack one pair of heels. Just one. Depressing. But the fact that I'm packed and ready to go so early, is so amazing....

This trip signals the beginning of the new me. Yes, this past year has been my best year in terms of growing, maturing, and learning to love myself. I am completely different than I was a year ago. The stress I dealt with from my former job is long gone and I was able to use all of my newly-freed time to get to know myself and others better. But I've also decided that I'm tired of always being late for things. Although I still agree with what Julie Andrews said in Princess Diaries 2, "A Queen is never late. Everyone else is simply early," I figured a Queen is never supposed to miss out on the fun. I mean, how are we supposed to experience life to the fullest if we are always running, trying to catch up to everyone else?

Spanish History 101

Okay, so my apologies for not writing this blog at the very beginning. Yesterday, I went to lunch with my two teachers from elementary school (I was lucky to have two in five years!), my elementary school computer teacher, and my elementary school principal. During our conversation, someone asked me about Spain and Madrid. So today's blog is going to be my attempt to give a brief history lesson.

Spain is the world's 51st-largest country. Slightly smaller than France, but larger than California. It borders France and Andorra to the northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the northwest, Portugal to the West, Gilbraltar and Morocco to the south and the Mediterranean Sea to the east. Madrid has a Continental Mediterranean climate - an odd mix of cold, but mostly dry winters, and hot, dry summers. Because of it's inland location and altitute, there isn't much of an influence from the oceans on Madrid's weather.

Spain is a country that is rich in history. The Moors had a huge influence in southern Spain, something you will find evident is towns like Cordoba. Perhaps the epitome of the Moorish influence in Spain would be the Alhambra, a sprawling palace that sits high in the mountains of Granada. There are also signs of Roman architecture in Spain. Several Roman theatres have been excavated in towns like Zaragoza and Merida.

For centuries, Spain was one of the most powerful empires in the world. After all, it was King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel that sent Christopher Columbus on his journey in which he accidentally discovered the New World. Because of its position in between the Atlantic Ocean, Strait of Gilbraltar, and the Mediterranean, Spain was a naturally heavy-fortified country. No wonder the 1588 defeat of the Spanish Armada was such a turning point in history.

Now let's fast foward to present-day Spain. After being ruled for hundreds of years by various monarchs, Francisco Franco began his dictatorship in 1936. Spain broke out in Civil War for the next three years and saw over half a million of its citizens killed. In fact, Madrid was the first European country to be bombed by aircraft. Following Franco's death in 1975, King Juan Carlos I, Franco's hand-picked successor became the leader of Spain. However, unlike his predecesor, Juan Carlos embraced democracy. Since 1978, Spain is comprised of autonomous communities. Spain's national government is very similar to the American government. Think of the autonomous communities as states - each with a separate leader, governing body, and rules. Spain is led by a Prime Minister. However, it is the virtually powerless King who is considered the most important person in all of Spain who acts as head of state in interactions with other leaders. You won't find Jose Luis Zapatero, the prime minister at the White House. Confused? Remember that it was the King and Queen that Michelle and Sasha Obama visited on their trip to Spain, not the prime minister. But once again, know that the King has no power. The power lies in the Spanish National Assembly. To further complicate matters, autonomous communities such as Cataluna, Basque, and Galicia have their own regional languages and would like to separate themselves from Spain and form their own country.

This is Spanish history in a nutshell. I will try and post a blog on Madrid later.

Does life have a weight value?

Apparently mine does. And it only weighs 100 pounds. I'm not lying. I finally started packing for Spain yesterday. Albeit, I only have a week to have everything packed nice and tight in my new suitcases, but at least I'm giving myself a week instead of the two days I allowed myself the last time I went to Spain. And that time, I overpacked. Or was it that I bought too many souvenirs? I can't remember. Maybe it was a deadly combination of the two. Regardless, Daddy was NOT happy about shelling out 60 Euros (100 USD back in 2008) to buy another suitcase to schlep through customs (he got stuck with it, because I had already maxed out my two bag limit - yes, this was pre-luggage fee days. God, I miss those days. That is valuable spending money that I have to waste on checking luggage. And no, it is impossible for me to pack things into a little carry-on, so don't ask!) This leads me to another question, "Do clothing purchases in another country count as souvenirs or as a necessity for the trip?" I keep advocating for the latter, but I am outnumbered 50 to 1 by family members. I mean, after all, shopping is an investment. To quote my icon/alter ego, Carrie Bradshaw, (JKBO is my other icon and I truly feel that she would wholeheartedly agree with this quote,) "I like my money where I can see it - in my closet." So really, all of the shoes/purses/clothes I have purchased overseas are really going to pay off in the future....Right??!!

But in all seriousness, I have learned my lesson about packing for trips. I had a nightmarish experience in Belgrade. Of course, my suitcase weighed 50 pounds pre-departure and by Day 2, I had already stacked up quite a few purchases. Running down cobblestone streets with a 55 pound suitcase and a 30 pound duffle bag, while trying not to miss your bus at the bus station is not exactly my idea of a good time. But since every day is a fashion show in my humble opinion, the beauty is worth the pain. And this painful experience taught me the importance of buying spinner luggage, which I went out and bought the week after my return from Serbia. Not to mention that on the way back to the U.S. my suitcase weighed 67 pounds. I am forever in debt to Yvonne, who works at the Delta ticket counter at Washington-Dulles airport. That sweet lady (after some coaxing on my part) ignored the fact that my bag was 17 pound overweight and only let me pay the $25 to check my bag.  Regardless, I will only be packing absolute necessities for this trip. After all, I am limited to 100 pounds between my two suitcases. So people have asked me, "How in the world do you pack for an indefinite move to Spain?!"

Enter space bags. Ever seen those infomercials that talk about the latest, greatest lifesaver to the human race? As a self-confessed shopaholic, (I really want to say recovering shopaholic, but then I would be breaking rule #1 of shopaholics anonymous....) I constantly run into the problem of overpacking. I mean, I never know when I'm going to need my red peep-toe pumps, instead of my red-peep toe wedges. That's a nightmare. So in my perfect world (because I am perfect,) I would pack both! But of course, that's not possible. I cringe at the thought of leaving the majority of my beloved shoe collection at home. My mother doesn't think it reasonable for me to run through the streets of Madrid in blue suede, 4-inch stilettos. Anyways, getting back to the subject at hand, space bags. Those things truly work! Who would have ever thought that a plastic bag could hold 15 cardigans (yes, I'm taking 15 cardigans....they're so practical!) so tightly? I would marry the inventor of the space bag! They're going to be rich and I need a rich spouse to fund my extravagant, high-maintenanced lifestyle....

Anyways, the entire purpose of my rant and rave tonight revolves around the title of tonight's blog. Does our life have a weight value? Essentially, my entire new life in Madrid, will only be valued at 100 pounds. (Plus the 35 pounds I anticipate my carry-on to weigh....full of shoes, of course!) Kinda hard to fathom when you think about it. Why do we always put a value on things?

20 days and counting

20 days. A lot can happen in 20 days. Well, actually, a lot can happen in a day. After all, it only took one day and one job offer for my life to change. My time at home is winding down. I have so much to do....finish work, hang out with friends and family, get last minute things, and pack. What an evil four letter word :) I finished my math class today at school. What a huge relief! That class made my summer a nightmare! I am going to be a busy bee over these next few weeks. So I ask this question. What would you do if you had a deadline of 20 days? 10 days? 1 day?