Faith. 36/84.

I just got in from small group and I am pooped. Tonight we had the second discussion for our Alpha Group. The study asks the question who is God. We had a really good discussion after the DVD about Jesus and if we thought he was a great person, an evil person, or if he really was God in human form. The thing that kept pressing at me throughout our time was that the one thing that keeps me going is my faith. In the end, that's all you really have anyways, right?

Having lived out of state and out of the country, I can tell you, hands down, that living out of the country is so much harder than living out of state. If you are in a different town than your family, it's okay because you still are in a semi-close place to them. You can pick up the phone and call them, if anything really bad happens or if you hit a low point, you can always hop in the car and go home. You still have a sense of security. But moving out of the country is entirely different. You cannot simply hop on a plane and go home. (Nor can you afford it!) You basically have to start over from scratch. New language, new customs, new way of life. You have no one to lean on. So what kept me going those first few days? My faith in God.

Although I never hope to live by myself in the desert for forty days, I can somewhat relate to what Jesus went through in the wilderness. Yes, I have food to eat, I can shower, and I don't have to eat bugs. However, we were both on our own, with no one to turn to. So in our times of need, we prayed. This entire move has not only strengthened me as a person, but also my faith. It's amazing how much you learn by yourself once you step away from your "normal" life. I've been blessed to do it twice already. And each time, I continually learn more and more about myself.

In other news, I sold my life to the devil today. Oops, I mean MTV. The 2010 MTV Europe Music Awards are in Madrid in November. I saw that they were looking for people to work with them for five days. They needed people who speak both English and Spanish. I sent my resume to the girl last week, and she called me yesterday. She emailed me today to let me know that I will be officially working with them! I will be a runner/whatever else they decide to have me do. They are going to be recruiting people to come to the show, having contests for free tickets, etc. I will also be running around the city, trying to pick things up for them as well. Then on the day of the show, I will be on-site. The MTV lady said I would be escorting people on the red carpet, to their seats, and to VIP. This is so exciting for me! I will have contacts at MTV Europe and who knows who else! Oh, and the money they are paying me to work for them will cover about 70% of my plane ticket to come back to Madrid after Christmas. So that right there is worth it for me!

God is continually blessing me in ways that I never imagined would happen. I am so glad that tomorrow is Friday. I am going to meet someone from church tomorrow who is a Spanish teacher and she is going to help me with my writing! After that, I will come home and be in the bed early! I cannot wait to sleep in on Saturday. Although, I have an essay to write this weekend that is due on Monday. And I have to start studying for mid-terms that are this coming week and the next week. Crazy to think that it's already time for those. Which means I'm closer to coming home for the holidays :)

Speaking of the holidays, I found out yesterday that we have classes at school (work) the morning of the 23rd. Too bad I had bought my return trip to come home on the 23rd. I spoke with my boss this morning and she told me not to worry at all. I kept apologizing and she said it was nothing. She went on to tell me that she, along with everyone else at the school loves me. She said I'm so likeable and that they are so happy with me being at the school, not only with my teaching, but also with me as a person. That made me feel so good!

Oh, and just in case no one knew, the Reds won the NL Central Division :) hehehe. Had to rub it in :)

Quote of the Day: "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." -Aesop

My Boring Life 35/85.

You may want to stop reading my blog. I'm serious. Not because I'm going to offend anyone by going on rants and raves. But because my life is getting pretty boring. I wake up, I go to work. I come home for lunch, I go to class. I have meetings/small group. I come home, eat dinner, study, blog, and go to sleep. Really, that is all. But for all two of you who read this regularly (one being my mother), here you go.

Spain was on strike today. It was the first general strike in eight years. Everyone was fretting about how it was going to be hard to make it in to work, but the people I know that took public transport had the easiest time today. The government workers/laborers were protesting against more budget cuts, a decrease in pension pay, and an increase on the retirement age. I stayed in my own little neighborhood today, but there was a huge protest going on in the center of town. I heard that the police were there full force. One of my professors had to walk from his house, to the university and it took him over an hour. Even some media outlets were shut down. Airline companies even had to cancel flights because the air traffic controllers also went on strike. I went online to read the national newspaper. The main picture was of a man who had welts on his back, standing opposite a row of fully armed policemen. Oh, and he was flipping them off. I just read online that 95,000 people participated in the march today. Amazing.

We were talking in poli sci class today how this would never happen in the United States. This strike was throughout the entire country, not just Madrid. I think it would be impossible to organize a country-wide protest back home. I mean, think about it. I don't know if you realize what happened today in Spain. 70% of all workers throughout Spain went on strike today. SEVENTY percent. Crazy. I have to stand back and applaud their unity. I mean, these people live in the country that has the highest unemployment rate in all of Europe (a staggering 20%), where the prices of food, gas, electricity, and water continually increase, and that has major separation issues. (The communities - which are similar to U.S. states - of Cataluna, Pais Vasco, and Galicia want to break off from Spain and form their own individual countries.) Even in Barcelona, which is an epicenter of anti-Spanish identity, had 75,000 people show up for a protest today. And yet, millions of Spaniards found something today that they could agree on. It blows my mind.

I have to applaud their work today. Unfortunately, nothing is going to come out of this. The government will more than likely carry on with their plans and tomorrow, everyone will be back at work. With the economy beyond a crisis, they can't afford to go two days without pay. But the principle of the strike was amazing. Unfortunately, I was not on strike today and neither were any of my teachers.

This afternoon after class, I met with two different families. I am going to teach English to their kids, who also happen to be my students. It will be nice to earn some extra money, especially since I just found out today that my paycheck from the school will be less than I had anticipated....So, I will be teaching English Mondays-Wednesdays, going to my small group on Thursdays, and resting on Fridays. Oh, and studying on Saturdays and Sundays! Told you my life is going to be boring.

I really love the family I am staying with. I enjoy eating dinner with them every night. The good thing is, since I am so close to everything, I can come home and eat lunch everyday. That's a huge expense cut out as well!

Oh, I bought a plane ticket today. I am going to be spending my 25th birthday in Italy! I will be flying in/out of Milan and taking the train down to Ancona. My home church has missionaries that we have sponsored for ten years there, so I will get to see the church! I am then going to head back north and go visit another one of the missionaries who lives in Verona. I am also going to take a day trip to Venice! I'm so excited!

Going to sleep. Yet another boring day for me tomorrow :)

Quote of the Day: "Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great." -Kenny Rogers

Finally Settled 34/86.

Yes, I know I'm up late. I just finished unpacking everything and setting up my room. It's nice to finally be able to have things how I want them. I bought some hangers and a few little boxes to put things up. I need like two more boxes to put my school supplies in and then another one for miscellaneous stuff. Other than that, I'm all set. I even arranged my closet according to color - it made me feel at home. I already love being here. And that's not just because I'm so close to work and school. I really enjoy being a part of this family. They are absolutely wonderful!

I discovered a new store today, called Carrefour. It's a French-based store. It is the closest thing to a Target I have seen. I bought my hangers and also a blow dryer there. The blow dryer has a Spanish plug - just another subtle reminder of my move and that I am really here to stay for awhile! I then bought some plastic picture frames and a laundry hamper from the Chino store. Unfortunately, the frames are too small, so I am hoping I can take them back tomorrow and exchange them. I want some pictures of my family in my room!

Someone else called me today about teaching English to their kids - who are also students of mine. I'm going to have to start turning people down. I have decided to only go to one small group for right now, so that will free up another night. The only problem is that I don't get out of school until 6:45 and most people want the classes earlier. Can't believe I am getting more calls!

I slept great last night. My new bed is small, yet comfortable. I think this is the most comfortable bed I've slept in here in Spain! It was so nice to wake up at 8:00, hit the snooze button until 8:20 and still make it to work by 8:50. I love it!

Tomorrow should be quite interesting. All of the government/community/city workers are going on strike. Which means things like public transportation and offices will not have any workers. Things are going to be a mess with the buses and metros out. Thank goodness I've already moved - otherwise it would have been quite difficult to make it in the city! It should be quite interesting. I've heard that everyone will be driving in and the roads will be packed. I wish we could go on strike too. I think some of the professors at the university have canceled classes since a lot of people won't have a way in. How nice. I wish they were my professors!

I'm pretty sure I have something smart, witty, or funny to share with you, but I really can't think of anything. Need to go to sleep. More tomorrow.

Quote of the Day: "Be the change you want to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi

Jesus is ALWAYS Watching....34/86.

Okay, this blog is going to be really short. I'm so tired, my feet are killing me, and I don't feel good. So yes, you could say I'm not in the best of moods....So, here we go. ready, set go!

I only went to work for an hour today - I taught my first class and then left. Now, I kinda wished I wouldn't have gone in at all. I wasn't feeling good, my throat was killing me, and I had a headache. Kids are never a good thing in that equation. I had to leave because at noon, I had my appointment at the police station to apply for my residency card. Yes people, I can't be here illegally. They fingerprinted me, took two of my carnet sized photos (European passport size - smaller than ours!) even though they told me to bring three, and I was on my way. Spain does everything in threes....Even with my visa, I had to have three copies, even though they only kept two. That's a tree killer! I was so tempted to go home (oh wait, at this point I didn't have a home. Err, I mean Amy's flat) and crawl back in the bed. I was miserable. But, mid-terms start next week so I figured the timing would be bad. I sucked it up and stayed.

I moved after school was over. It was pretty easy. The cab only cost ten euros and thankfully all of my luggage fit in one car! Elio, the dad, was home to help me get my stuff in and on the elevator. I still have not unpacked - everything is staring at me. I went out tonight with some friends for school for a birthday. It was fun and it was nice to be able to go out for once. This was the first time that I did something after school/work. Ahh, how glad I am to be back in the city!

Last night, I was talking with Amy's roommate, Laura, who is an auxiliar - an English teacher assistant. We were talking about teaching and how our English language skills are awful now. Basically, we talk in English with a Spanish accent and talk in Spanish with an English accent. Not good! People don't understand how difficult it is to teach kids a different language. No wonder I'm so mentally drained by the end of the day!

Today on my way to school, I followed one of my students because I had never walked this way to school before. I discovered a little shortcut through the park I wrote about a few weeks ago. The one with the driving range and fountains. It was nice to get a change of scenery. I'm really going to like living over here. The weird thing is though, all my students live in this neighborhood too, so I always see them out.

Oh, speaking of seeing people, I forgot to tell you all that yesterday, when we were at the Iglesia Saint Tome, which is where he original El Greco painting was, there was this couple who decided to "hide" behind a column and make out. In the church. I mean, did they really think that no one was going to see them? I wanted to tell them that, "Jesus is always watching you, even when you're kissing behind a column." Did they really think that hiding out of sight of the altar was helping? Just saying.

I'm going to sleep. It will be so nice to wake up at eight instead of seven. I could do a happy dance. Except I have to room to do so because my suitcases are sleeping next to me on the floor :)

Quote of the Day: "If you want your dreams to come true, don't over sleep." -Yiddish Proverb

Hello, Fall??!! 33/87.

I think I told you all this the other day, but I think fall is here. That is, until I read the ten-day forecast and saw where it's supposed to be a high of eighty one day this week. So is fall here or is summer still hanging around? Whatever it is, I can tell you this, my body is not liking it, at all. This morning, my sore throat was more sore than before. And to top it off, I woke up so exhausted. Had I not already paid for my train ticket, I would have gone back to sleep, no questions asked. All day today, I've been alternating between my throat medicine and Halls cough drops. (Which apparently, they sell in the candy aisles here.) As I am typing this, I am drinking a cup of tea. I took Mom's magic remedy - a combination of over-the-counter medicine. And no, I'm not going to share it with you :) That's what makes it magic, duh.

Our train ride to Toledo was only thirty minutes long. When we got to the train station, we decided to postpone our trip home by one hour, so we could have a little more time to do things. Toledo is a fairly large town, and things are spread out. On top of it all, Toledo is built on top of a hill, so you can imagine what the streets are like. It's safe to say that I definitely got my exercise in for the day. As soon as we arrived to the center plaza, I walked into a cafe where I'd eaten before. I have been craving Matzapan, and Toledo is the best place to get it from. I probably consumed about 800 calories and 300% of my daily sugar intake within five minutes, but it was so worth it.

We spent the day visiting different places. Toledo is a city that is the confluence of the Christian, Muslim, and Jewish faiths in Spain. The city has cathedrals, mosques, and synagogues and all three types are beautiful to see. To top it off, the famous Spanish painter, El Greco lived in Toledo, and one of his most famous paintings, the Burial of the Count of Orgaz is inside of a church.

It was really nice to get out of Madrid for the day. Yes, Madrid is my current home, but every once in awhile, you have the urge to get out of the busy city and go see a different part of Spain. The weather was absolutely perfect today and it was spent with new friends.

We ended the day sitting at a bar/cafe that had the best view of Toledo. I have always said that Toledo is one of my favorite places in Spain. The panoramic view that you get from this particular part of town is so breathtaking.

I cannot believe that my weekend is already over :( I feel like I have been moving non-stop. Tomorrow I have my appointment at the police station to apply for my residency card. Having this card will make life a lot easier for me! It will also allow me to get in free to some museums and other points of interest, for free! Gotta love the free stuff.

So, the funny thing is, I took tons of goofy pictures at this viewpoint. Some of you may know that I definitely have a wild and crazy side to me. (Although really, I don't consider Running with the Bulls crazy....) Anyways, the pictures were mainly to get on Mom's nerves. she is such a Mom when it comes to my picture taking urges. We were at Niagara Falls, and I really wanted to sit on this ledge to take a picture, so it would have the wow effect. That party pooper wouldn't let me do it. So, without killing myself, I'm going to try and take some really neat pictures this year. Speaking of Mom, let me clarify, the bar that I mentioned earlier needs to be called a cafe. I can't have all you people thinking I go to bars on a daily basis! The thing is, every place that serves any type of beverage is just about called a bar. It's the same thing as a cafe. So if I call it a bar, realize it's a Spanish thing and not a "Sarah is turning into a drinker" thing!!!! But, back to the pictures, I hope you all enjoy them - they are on my facebook page!

Okay, I have to go to sleep. I need my eight hours of beauty rest :) How else am I going to be able to keep you all entertained?!

Quote of the Day: "But I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things." -Vincent Van Gogh





Ha, Ha, Ha. But not really. 32/88.

Okay, so before forget, I need to talk about something I omitted the other day. I was so embarrassed. There is nothing more embarrassing than busting in on someone using the bathroom. But, it is far more embarrassing to bust in on someone using the bathroom who speaks Spanish and you are so stunned that nineteen years worth of Spanish lessons goes completely out your brain and the only thing that comes out of your mouth is, "Perdona." True life story. This happened to me on Thursday at school. I waltzed in the bathroom like I owned the place. Technically, it wasn't my fault that the door wasn't shut completely. But still. You all know that I am not a fan of public displays of affection and this was definitely one public display I could have gone without seeing. Just saying....

I have been told be several of you all that you found the situation yesterday with my flat quite amusing. A hee, hee, hee. My own mother told me that she loved my blog from yesterday. How can she love it knowing her daughter is sleeping on someone's couch??!! :) I'm glad I served as your entertainment for the day. This time yesterday I was a nervous wreck and believe me, I was not laughing!

I woke up this morning with a sore throat. I slept with my fan on and I'm sure that had something to do with it. I even slept underneath the covers last night. This morning I had to walk to the pharmacy and buy some throat drops. These have a bit of medicine in them, so I can only take them every 2 hours, even though my throat screams at me to give it one every ten minutes. I think fall has officially arrived in Madrid. To those of you at home complaining about the near 100 degree temperatures, let me remind you that I suffered through that heat WITHOUT AIR-CONDITIONING. Now if any of you want to turn off your AC and sleep through one night, I will be amazed. Better yet, try it through half of the night and tell me how it works out for you! These past few days I've had to wear both a sweater and a scarf. I love scarves - they are such a great accessory and you can wear them year round!

This morning, Al from the church picked me up and I came to Amy's flat. I stayed up and left around 12:15. I had to meet with the family who was looking for a native English speaker to live with them. Although many of you chuckled at my fiasco yesterday, you will be sad to know that you won't be getting any more laughs of the day from me. (Unless I accidentally give up my room again.) The family and I came to an agreement - I am going to rent the extra room from them and therefore won't have any child-taking responsibilities. The only thing they ask of me is to speak in English with the kids! I'm so relieved to have this chapter (hopefully) closesd. Their flat is a five minute walk to the school and a 10-15 minute walk to the university. I am free to come and go as I please. This will also now allow me to travel on the weekends! The price is the same as the other room I was going to rent, but the good news is I don't have to buy groceries nor pay for utilities! So actually this is going to save me around 150 euros per month! Plus, I will still be able to teach English, so I will be making extra money! God has such a sense of humor, even though it blindsided me yesterday.

Amy and I walked down the street to an Italian restaurant that has take-out. I bought her a calzone - it was the least I could do since I sprung this whole, "I need to stay on your couch" thing last night. I actually ordered a lasagna and it was so good! I then typed up a paper that is due Monday, because I didn't want to wait until the last minute like I did last week. Tonight at the flat, we had our monthly "Seminar Saturday" series. The topic was "Lasting Relationships" and I really learned a lot. I met several new people who just moved here/came back to Madrid from the states. A group of us went out to dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. I met one woman, Adriana, who is a private Spanish teacher. She, another girl from the church, and myself are going to meet Friday for lunch and she is also going to help us with our Spanish homework! This will be wonderful practice for me.

In just a short amount of time, I feel as though I have already gained new friends/support systems here in Madrid. The church has been such a wonderful place for me. Besides Amy, someone else from our church offered to let me stay at their flat temporarily. Another one of my former professors told me I could stay at her house if I needed to. It is so amazing to feel such an outpouring of love from people. It's the next best thing to being at home :) But, I also truly feel that I have a home here in Madrid as well.

I'm getting up early in the morning for Toledo. I am meeting one of the new girls from tonight at the train station at 8:45 so I can help her get her ticket. The train leaves at 9:20 on the dot. Trains here are extremely punctual. The last time I was here, I almost missed a train because I was arguing with the bank teller inside the station and had to run to catch the train. It was an awful experience that I'd rather not re-live.

Thanks for all of your prayers/thoughts as I was looking for a new place to stay. And, to those of you who laughed at the situation, thank you as well, because every once in awhile, we need that subtle reminder that we have not lost our sanity.

Quote of the Day: "What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy." -Ursula K. LeGuin

Losing My Mind. 31/89

I made quite easily, my biggest mistake since I arrived in Madrid. I gave my room in the flat away. Yep, you read that right. I was all set to move in tomorrow morning. I packed up my room tonight. (Sidenote, packing round two was MUCH easier than the first go round.) This afternoon, I called the flat because I needed to make sure that it was okay to come at 9 am instead of 11 am. (A complete stranger from the church, whom I’ve never met, had graciously offered to drive me into town!) Miriam answered the phone and I soon found out that this entire thing had turned into a disaster.

Earlier this week, I received an email from someone. To be honest, I half read it because as soon as I saw who it was from, I realized it was from the girl who lived in another flat I looked at on Sunday. I told her that I had already found another apartment and didn’t need to rent the room that was available. Turns out, this email was from Miriam. The other girl’s name was also Miriam. So basically, I told the person that I was planning to move in with that I no longer needed to move in with them, when I really did need to move in with them. This wave of panic came over me as I was talking on the phone with her. They re-posted their ad and have already found another girl to rent the room….(insert cricket noises here.)

Thankfully, I’m not going to be homeless in the morning. My friend, Amy from church, had previously said that if push came to shove, I could stay with her temporarily. Well, I’ve been pushed AND shoved with this whole, “Finding a flat” thing. I have to admit, I’m quite tired of it! Is this my “Welcome to the Real World of being an adult” party that only days ago I wondered when it was going to happen? I cannot believe what I did. Of course the email was in Spanish, but it didn’t even occur to me that this was THE Miriam and not the other one. I had only received emails from Cristina, the other girl, so that’s why it didn’t click that it was the other girl living in the flat. I was so excited about moving in with them. Yes, I was a tad bit worried about living on such a tight budget, but I was looking for families to teach private English lessons to on the side and today I was successful with that! More on that later. Why is it that I’ve had no problems with comprehending Spanish until now? And to top it off, it was the worst thing to misunderstand!....

I understand that everything happens for a reason. Obviously, there is a reason why I goofed up and told these girls that I didn’t need the room. To make it worse, I really needed/wanted to talk to my Mommy and the internet in house isn’t working today. My poor parents. They have been worried sick with this whole thing and it’s been quite the rollercoaster for them. I feel so bad because I know they are worrying and to make matters worse, we’re separated by this huge ocean, so there’s really nothing they can do 

I called this family from school that was looking for a native speaker to live with them. I’m going to visit them and see their flat tomorrow. I’m sure the mother thinks I’m crazy. I told her on Monday I was looking for a room, only to tell her on Tuesday that I no longer needed it. And here I am on Friday, asking about it again. And let’s not forget that I told the girls who I was going to live with that I didn’t need a room when I really did need it. I’m losing my mind….They always say it’s the first to go. Well, I think mine is beyond gone.

Moving on to other things, because I’m getting frustrated. A few days ago, Griselda, who is the head of the primary school and technically my boss, approached me and asked if I would mind working with a girl in one of the third grade classes who speaks fluent English. I assume that the lessons are too easy for her. So for two hours a week, she and I are going to meet and just talk. Today was our first day together. Come to find out, she and her sister are adopted from China! They spent six months in Boston, so that’s why her English is wonderful. The mother also speaks very good English as well. She also has a sister who is another student of mine. I met their mother after school today and ended up giving her my phone number/email. I had asked her if she knew of anyone looking for an English teacher. When I had the flat, I realized that I needed to make some side money from teaching English in order to pay for groceries, bills, etc. The mother works very fast! This afternoon, I received a call from one of the mom’s at school. I teach both of her sons. I am going to meet her hopefully tomorrow and it looks like I will be teaching the boys on Mondays and Wednesdays! Elena thinks I am going to end up turning people down, because I will be in high demand! Next week the kids are having exams in English, so after the results are sent home, lots of parents will probably realize their kids need private lessons. It is so easy for Americans to get jobs here teaching English!

I really do love my students and I’m pretty sure they love me too. Everytime they see me, they always run up to me or yell my name in the hallway. It makes me smile. Today, one of the girls even gave me a silly band. (Here they are called Magic Bands!) It is in the shape of a high heeled shoe – how perfect for me!

Eat, Pray, Love came out tonight in Spain. I think I may go and see it tomorrow night. I was planning on walking across the street to the movie theatre to see it, but oh wait, I forgot I can’t now. Because that movie theatre is across the street from what was supposed to be my new home. Ugh. Madre Mia!!!! I’m really looking forward to Toledo on Sunday. It will be a nice getaway. I cannot WAIT to eat some matzapan either! Toledo is famous for it.

I’m going to sleep now. I was planning on doing some homework, but I’m too tired and the guy from church is picking me up at 8:30 in the morning!!!!

Quote of the Day: "This too shall pass."

Top Ten List. 30/90

Well, it's hard to believe that I have been here in Madrid for one month. These past two weeks have flown by with work and school consuming my everyday life. During this past month, I have realized a lot of things. So, I am going to pay homage to David Letterman and share my Top Ten List of what I've learned so far. Here they are in no particular order:
10. Wearing flip flops in Madrid during the month of August guarantees you will have blisters that never seem to die.
9. I know more about Eastern European politics than I do Asian politics. (Does anyone else find that rather amusing?)
8. It is impossible to find fresh corn-on-the-cob and corn meal in Spain. It is also possible to eat virtually anything you want and to drink all the Fanta Limon you ever dreamt of and still not gain any weight. (Insert walking regimen here.)
7. It seems that all of Spain has named their child(ren) either Ana, Maria, Marta, Ignacio, Javier, Jorge, or Luis.
6. Speaking less English causes you to speak grammatically incorrect English.
5. Line 7, heading in the direction of Pitts, is the hottest (literally and figuratively speaking) place to be apparently in all of Madrid, at 8:40 in the morning.
4. Soap that is made by a lady in a village iin Guadalajara, Spain who makes it out of grease and fat, among other things, is the best agent for getting stains out of clothing. It takes out EVERYTHING.
3. You can call any number in the U.S. or Canada for free, if you have a Gmail account.
2. I can't believe how many people really want to take the time to read this blog. Am I really that fascinating of a person?
1. I miss my family and friends more than anything, but am so lucky to have such a supportive system!

Let me tell you how hard it was to narrow that list down to ten things. Believe me, I could have gone on forever. Let me also add as an addendum to number 6 - it also causes you to forget how to spell words correctly.

Today I also realized that there is someone in Madrid who sweats more than I do. And this person is Spanish! It's actually my spanish professor. Poor thing, I don't know if he gets excited about teaching us or what, but five minutes into class this man is sweating through his clothes. Literally. I looked up today and all you could see were circles of sweat on his back, bleeding through his shirt. He was bleeding sweat as much as the papers I write for him bleed red ink. I wrote another composition today in red ink - hoping my reverse psychology trick works. The sad thing is, I'm doing reverse psychology on myself. Is that bad?

Sherry Troutman wins the prize for being the first person to send me a care package! It was so exciting to receive something at school today! The most fun part was sitting on my bed and dumping everything out of it when I got home tonight. I was like a kid on Christmas! Thanks again!

I went to another small group tonight. My Thursday night group is an Alpha Group. This study is really big in the UK and it's on a DVD. It's perfect for both Christians and non, because it forces you to question, "What is God and who is he?" Such a profound question, yet one that a lot of times gets overlooked. Warren and Karen (the hosts) had an awesome dinner for us with lots of veggies. The best part was the stuffing that Warren made. This meal was the closest thing I had to an American meal and it was so good! Tonight's group was comprised of me, the token American, Simon, a guy from North Ireland, Freda and Rebecca, twin sisters from Sweden, Hilda who is from Norway, and Warren and Karen who are from the UK. Afterwards, I talked with Karen and it seemed like she and I both came to Spain for the same reason - we had no reason NOT to come here. She's been here for over ten years and now considers Madrid to be her home. It was kind of like talking to myself in a mirror. Glad to know I'm not the only person who got an insane notion to pack up and move to a different country independently....

Good news! I have someone with a car who is going to help me move on Saturday! I have never met him yet, but he goes to the church and actually lives close to where I am staying now. Warren spoke with him and said that he could help me. How kind of this complete stranger to help me move!

I'm totally bummed that I will be missing the season premiere of Grey's tonight. This is the first time in five years that I will have missed it. Very depressing. But tomorrow, my friend Leigh-Ann and I are going to get together and watch it online! So if you tell me what happens, it's not going to be pretty for you. Just saying :)

Quote of the Day: "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." -Les Brown

What's Your Name Again? 29/91.

I don't think I've been in the bed this early since I've arrived in Madrid....I am extra tired today. I talked with Mom and Dad last night and didn't go to bed until after one. Woke back up at seven thirty, so I was a little sleep deprived. On top of that, I had three straight lecture classes today, so that will kill even the most intelligent brain. I was planning on getting a head start on homework for next week, but I'm too tired to function. I'm really bummed that my sister's field hockey game is going to be streamed live tonight. Too bad it doesn't start until 1 A.M. Madrid time. I am going to set my alarm. I figure I can sleep for three hours, (which means I need to finish my blog in the next ten minutes) wake up and watch the game (or at least part of it), and then go back to sleep for another four and a half. Ask me tomorrow if that actually happens :)

I am really good with learning and remembering people's names. Or at least I thought I was. Out of the 400+ kids I have, I'm pretty sure I could only recognize twenty of them (if that) by face and name. Pretty sad. But I do love it when they run up to me in the hallway or when they actually speak to me out in public. Today on my way to the metro station from the university, one of the kids yelled my name and waved. So sad that I couldn't acknowledge him by name. I was halfway down the block anyways. I just saw a kid in khaki shorts, so I knew it was one of my students. I waved and said, "Hola!" That's always a safe choice....I feel bad always asking them to tell me their name again....

Last night, I got asked for directions, twice. Within a span of thirty minutes. I love when that happens. I guess that means I walk around like I live here :) The first person who asked me ended up being this guy who is here from China. He was going to look at the same apartment I looked at the other night. I figured it out when he said he was looking for an apartment. I warned him that is was awful. It was funny though, because I saw him pass by a few other people before stopping me. I guess it's because I'm Asian. That cracked me up. What cracked me up even more was we were talking to each other in Spanish. I used to think I was the only Asian who spoke Spanish. Here, I'm one of several thousand! We ended up exchanging phone numbers. (No, not in that way, people!) Offered to help him with the apartment search, since I just got through it myself.

I am enjoying some of my classes, disliking some others. I really enjoy my two poli sci classes with the new professor from the UK. Today in class we had a great discussion on Rousseau and his theory on social contracts. Learned a lot. It's a very small class, so we have productive discussions. It's nice not to be lectured at all the time. He said that after our final (we have to turn in a paper) that we could all go out for a coffee. Until we found out that the final doesn't start until 3:30 pm. So a coffee isn't appropriate at 3:30 in the afternoon. Think we'll be going somewhere else....Yes, professors can fraternize with their students here. I must say I love the informal setting of the school system here at both the universities and the grade schools. Hearing the kids call me Sarah instead of Ms. Trainor doesn't make me feel as old!

I had no clue people are so fascinated with people from the south. Not that I claim to be from the south, but I guess to a lot of people, I do have an accent. Even though I vehemently deny it! At least they say it's subtle. Is that a compliment? At school, some new friends were asking if I knew how to fry chicken and then the same thing happened at bible study. Funny how fried chicken is in high demand here. Maybe I could make some side money and charge per plate?! Jordan, my small group leader from church has already started calling me the Southern Belle! Kinda funny.

Anyways, I have well surpassed my deadline of ten o'clock. I still need to finish Spanish homework for tomorrow. Oh, remember how I blogged about having a bleeding paper in Spanish class from all the red marks my professor wrote on it? Well, I pulled a trick and wrote my last composition in red ink. He had to use a blue pen to make the corrections. Either I really improved my writing this time around, or changes in blue don't seem nearly as bad as red ink. Yes, I'm brilliant, I know.

Only two more days of taking the metro so early! Hip, hip, hooray!

Quote of the Day: "Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.." -Lucille Ball

Live on purpose. 28/92

If I had to offer one piece of advice to you today, it would be to live your life as if it were on purpose. I mean, shouldn't we all have something that we want to get out of life? Whether it be to have a nice job and be successful. Or to have a family and raise kids. Do we go through life only wishing for that one thing? Or do we plan our lives with the end goal in mind?

Tonight, I had had my first small group meeting with church. I absolutely loved it. We mainly talked and ate (hey, that's the Spanish way of life!), but we also had a few minutes of seriousness. The one thing that stuck out in my mind was that each of us ended up in Madrid for a reason and that it should be our goal to be a positive light in our environment. So, yes, I am living on purpose. There is clearly a reason why God worked out this amazing plan for me to come here. It has been too good to be true - it's not purely coincidence that I have a job, am going to school, and am living my dream. All of this happened for a reason. The least I can do to reciprocate what has been given to me is to try and live how we are told to live. We all wrote our names on a post-it and stuck it on the area of the city where we spend most of our time. It was really neat to see how everyone was spread out. If each of us could be a positive influence on just one person, what an awesome thing that would be!


I have started to make friends and I am so glad. The group that I joined is mainly comprised of young adults. Some of the people are from the states, some from the UK, and my friend Leigh-Ann (from North Ireland) is also in the group with me. I met a girl, Clare-Ann, who is from South Korea. She just moved here and will be here for the next year as well. We have already talked about getting together and eating some Korean food! YES!!!! I think a group of us will be traveling to Toledo this weekend, for the day. The funny thing is, we all said that we have been looking for a group of people to hang out with and that we all wanted the group to come from a church. Yet another example of how God puts everything together.

This morning, I went through my usual morning workout. One day, remind me to count how many stairs I walk before 9:00. With a thirty pound backpack on my back, might I add. These past few days the temperature has been in the low 70's. Not looking forward to the weather getting hot again. I'm ready for fall. I mean, I do need to put all sixteen cardigans I packed to use. (Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating, but I really did pack a lot of them! You can wear them in layers....so practical!)

Being the brilliant person I am, I came up with some activities at the eleventh hour for my classes. I love my fifth and sixth grade classes. They are so much fun. I'm trying to bribe them though to speak in English all the time. Still struggling with that one. Especially since they all know I speak Spanish. I'm really enjoying talking with all of the other teachers. They are all so nice to me! I really enjoy the fifteen minutes or so I get to spend with them during our coffee break.

Gosh, it's late. I need to go to bed. Only three more days of my commute and then I can walk to school! Yipee!

Quote of the Day: "Begin each day as if it were on purpose." -Mary Ann Radmacher (what's scary about this is that one of my high school math teachers was named Mary Anne Rademacher. We affectionately called her Rady Paddy....)

This song has been on my mind since church on Saturday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-afZJ9_TIM

Great news! 27/93.

So, I know I've been talking about being stressed lately. To make a long story short, I found out last week that I needed to be out of my current home by the first of October. This entire ordeal has been rather tense, to say the least. I've had to squeeze in appointmets to see apartments in between work and school. Several apartments fell through and the one I viewed tonight was awful.

On Friday, I found out I wasn't selected to be the fourth roommate for an apartment with girls from school and then a few hours later, I received a text from someone saying the apartment I was supposed to look at was no longer available. I even started wondering if I was an undesirable person to live with! I returned to the house down, thinking I was going to be homeless in a matter of days. I went online and looked at a website again and found a listing that had just been posted. It was for a flat within my price range and in my desired neighborhood. I called the number and asked if I could come see the apartment. On my way out, I peeked out the window and noticed a rainbow in the sky. I took a deep breath and smiled. All of a sudden, a wave of calmness came over me and the rainbow told me that everything was going to be okay.

The apartment is a 10-15 minute walk from school and a 15-20 minute walk to my job. I loved the two girls who were looking for the third roommate. But, I had given up hope because they said they would call me in a few days. My thought process (I'm a strong Type-A personality and want answers right away!) told me that if they liked me, they would have offered the room to me on the spot. I later found out that a friend of one of the girl's was looking at the apartment, so I knew it wasn't going to happen.

On Saturday, I think I told you all, I saw another rainbow in Chillaron. To see two rainbows in less than twenty four hours was a sign to me from God. I knew that no matter what, everything was going to work out, even if I had to sleep on the futon at my friend Amy's apartment. (She offered this the other day at lunch.) Yesterday, I had an amazing worship experiencce at church and it was further confirmation that everything was going to be just fine.

Two weeks ago, I encountered a family at the school who recently moved back to Spain after spending a year in South Bend, Indiana. The mother told me if I ever needed anything, to call her. I passed my number along to her son and tonight, she called me. I asked her if she knew anyone renting a room or who needed an English teacher. She said they were looking for someone to live with them who was a native English speaker. They live very close to school. I explained to her my current situation and how it wasn't working out like I thought it would and told her I have a busy schedule and can't be a baby-sitter. She seemed fine with that and I was thinking that I had found a solution to my problems.

But, God had bigger things in mind for me. Tonight, Cristina (one of the girls at the apartment I really liked) called me and said they decided that wanted to ask me to be their roommate! To me, those two rainbows were a sign of the two opportunities I received today. After talking with my parents, grandmother, and Sol (my spanish mother), I've decided to go with my gut and take the apartment. As much as I would love to live rent free, I need my own space and the freedom to make my own schedule. (I haven't had the best of luck with roommates!) But at least here I will have my own room with a door to close if I need some privacy.

I am moving in this Saturday! I am trying to find someone with a car who can help me move so I don't have to take a taxi and spend unnecessary money. The flat is furnished, so the only things I will have to buy are sheets, towels, a laundry hamper, hangers, and food. I will no longer have to take the metro to work and school - I can walk! Also, high rises are everywhere in Madrid since space is limited, but my mother will be happy to know that this flat is on the first (what Americans would consider the second) floor. I'm surprised she didn't even ask me that tonight. Wow, she is really taking this empty-nester/free at last thing seriously lol.

I feel as if a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I am so excited to move. This will only be the second flat I've ever had. (Yes, I've been freeloading off of my parents! And yes, they miss me tremendously. Just ask them!) I'm really happy to have spanish roommates. They don't speak english at all, so I'm looking forward to conversing in only spanish. More importantly, we have extra pull out beds for guests, so now you can come visit me!

Now, this "dream" that I've been living in is really become a reality for me. Looking back, I've realized that God has his hand in this the ENTIRE time. Not that I ever doubted him, but it's still neat to look back at all of his work. I was upset back in May when I decided I couldn't afford moving here. But a six weeks later, God opened windows left and right. And now, here I am, able to not only live here, but to work here! It's amazing. So many of you all have told me that you are so proud of me for going after my dreams, but to quote my mother, I cannot take credit for any of it. It's all God.

Quote of the Day: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." -Eleanor Roosevelt (one of my role models)

Eat, Pray, Work. 26/94.

Yep, I skipped a blog entry. So sue me. It's not like I have a deadline to meet or anything. Now, if anyone wants to become my agent and find a publisher for me who will agree to financial terms, then I can commit to writing an entry every day. But since Eat, Pray, Love has become a phenonmenon, I guess there is no room for me. And, although I have done more than enough eating and praying, I can guarantee you I'm not looking anywhere near the loving part. So, maybe I should re-title my blog eating and praying???? But then, will people think I am praying for my sinful eating habits? Maybe not a good idea....Don't know about that one, yet. If I had money, it could be called Eating, Praying, and Shopping. Or traveling. But funds are tight, thus there will be none of that. Oh I know, Eating, Praying, and Working. There we go. Those three words pretty much sum up my life right now. Gross. I guess this means I have officially entered the adult world. I entered with bells ringing, but no one is here to acknowledge it. Sad face.

The reason I didn't blog yesterday was because I went on a day trip with Elena and the kids. The kids father lives in what we would call a subdivision, about an hour and fifteen minutes away from the house. It's between two villages called, Sacedon and Pareja. On my first adventure to Spain, I only visited larger towns, so this was my first time seeing a village. I loved it! It was very peaceful and the scenery was beautiful.

The amazing view of Lake Entreenas. This is what I looked at during lunch!

We arrived and first went to a village called Sacedon. These villages are so neat, because everything is built around the church and the town hall. Every village has both, no matter how small they may be. We went back to the house and had lunch with some Romanian neighbors of Richard's. The neighbor, Daniel, has an amazing view of Lake Entreenas (literally meaning between the big rocks). To be only an hour outside of Madrid, it felt so far away. For lunch, we had grilled lamb chops (something I had never had before), salad, french fries, and couscous.

After lunch, we all got back in the car and drove to two different villages, Alique and Chillaron. It was so neat to be able to see villages that were built hundreds of years ago. These towns only have a few hundred residents, mainly people who are retired. The houses are very old and some are poorly built. A lot of them are abandoned because they have collapsed. I also got to see churches that were built in the 16th century!

This church was built in the 16th Century. Chillaron, Spain

One thing that the kids had been looking forward to, was seeing their dog. The funny thing is, they named the dog after me. I have been reassured multiple times that it is a compliment of the highest regards. Well, Sara the dog is wild and jumps on people. She scratched up my legs a few times. But I also must say, she is absolutely brilliant. The dog is bilingual!!!! The first time I was here, I was in awe of how dogs understood Spanish. I guess we only think that people can speak other languages, but animals have minds too. Sara understands both English and Spanish. So cool to think that animals have a smart brain too. But what do you expect. Her name is Sara after all....

Sarah and Sara

I know this is a jaw dropper, but I actually got cold last night. When were outside, visiting with some other neighbors, and I was freezing. Go ahead, close your mouth. It was 69 degrees outside, but that's a thirty degree drop for me. By the time we arrived home last night, I was dead. I checked my email and turned off my light and was fast asleep.

Today, I woke up, ate breakfast and attempted to do some homework. I finished my paper just a few minutes ago. I visited with Sol today. Getting a break from the house was nice and much needed. I also went to church tonight and it was another great worship experience. I am going on a retreat with church at the end of October. And our community groups start this week, so I'm really excited about connecting with a small group of people. I exchanged numbers with a girl named Leigh-Ann. She is here for one year and is from Ireland. My Grandpa Trainor would be proud of me for befriending fellow Irish people :) I think we are going to join the same group, so that will be nice. Things have been quite stressful this week. I have lots of things on my mind. Church was the perfect outlet tonight. Plus, I'm already shocked at how nice and supportive people from the church are.

I can't believe the weekend is over. I have yet to figure out what I'm doing with my classes tomorrow, but I always think of the best things at the last minute, so I'm not worried at all. I'm getting very sleepy. (It's 12:40 and I have to wake up early in the morning.) Hope these aren't too boring for you all. From what I hear, more people than I thought are reading these posts. Hope they're enjoyable for you!

Quote of the Day: "What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us." -Henry David Thoreau (this was actually my senior quote!)

TGIF 24/96.

And the first week of school (work) has come to an end. I honestly can say that I'm nowhere near as tired as I thought I would be. This morning, I ended up on the same metro as one of my students. He waved at me and I ended up meeting his mother and walking with them from the station to school. I really enjoyed all my classes today. I am making seating charts so I can learn who sits where. I am starting to remember a few names, but the test will come next week! After school, a lot of the kids told me bye. When little things happen like that, it's a reminder that I really am here to stay. (For awhile at least.)

Apparently last night there was a huge storm. Me being the hard sleeper that I am, I missed the entire thing. This morning, Isabel asked me if I heard it and her jaw dropped open when I told her I heard nothing. The weather today was cooler than normal. I ended wearing a pair of leggings, flip flops, and a long cardigan. It was perfect for a day like today.

After work, I met my friend Amy, from church. We ate lunch at a crepe restaurant. Oh my goodness, is all I can say. You can order a savory crepe, a sweet crepe, and a drink for a set price. The savory crepe (mine was spinach, onions, cheese, and nuts) was wonderful, but my sweet crepe was BEYOND amazing. It was chocolate on the inside and mint chocolate ice cream on top. It's a good thing I didn't have time to stop for my neopolitana this morning, because I'm pretty sure this crepe had enough calories in itself!

I had two hours to kill after I left Amy's apartment. (Long story - really don't want to get into now. I'll save it for later.) I found the sock store and bought my socks so I can wear my comfortable shoes! I'm really excited about them! I walked so much today, in flip flops of course. My feet are so mad at me right now, it's not funny.

On the way home tonight, there were two girls on the metro. I guess they were going out and went all out for it. Literally. I was enjoying my peaceful, long ride home and looked up. I saw butt cheeks hanging out of shorts. Note to everyone: if I EVER get stupid and wear something like that, please smack me and do whatever else you deem necessary. This serves as written proof that I give you verbal consent. If one of my friends went out like that, no wait let me rephrase. I would NEVER let my friends go out like that and I know they would do the same for me. How disgusting. The poor thing looked all of sixteen too. The funniest thing about the situation was the woman across from me. She was an older woman and when she saw the girl, she made a face and I promise to goodness, immediately began to pray. Part of me wanted to join in with her. She kept mumbling things and looking over at the girl. Then, another girl walked by us and she had on short shorts as well, sans the extra sneak peek. This lady made another face and started praying again. Sad, but true. Bless the heart of the older lady though.

I have not started a lick of homework and I'm about to fall asleep. It's been quite a long day and a bit stressful. Days like this make me miss home. This weekend will be non-existent for me. Going to a village tomorrow, and then coming home and hitting the books/computer. On Sunday I am going to try and visit with Sol. Oh, and I also have to squeeze lesson planning somewhere in between all of the madness. Pray for me! :) Have a good weekend!

Quote of the Day: "Commit your ways to the Lord and your plans will be established." Proverbs 16:3

Take Time to Realize. 23/97

(Today's title is a lyric from Colbie Calliat's song, Realize. The one thing I was looking forward to the most before coming over here was the time that I was going to be able to spend with myself. Self-learning is one of life's most valuable gifts and already in a short time, I have had learned lots of things and discovered things about myself, hence today's title.)

OMG, I'm on the phone with my Grandmother. She just told me that for Christmas Eve dinner, we are having Thanksgiving food. I am SOOOOOO excited about this one, since it's looking like I won't be having a real Thanksgiving meal this year. The two of us have realized that I will be learning to make a lot of things from scratch, just like she and my great-grandmother did years ago. Funny how some of life's best lessons come in the weirdest times....

Another thing I have realized is that I don't miss having a cell phone. At all. My phone never rings during the day and it doesn't both at me. The only reason I even have a cell phone is in case I need to call school for something or to get in touch with Elena regarding the kids. I only send an ocassional text message. Cell phone service here in Spain works weird. (Along with everything else!) All incoming calls are free. Text messages are always extra. And plans vary in price depending on how many minutes per day you are allotted and what time of the day you can make calls. I actually have a pay-as-you-go plan. Texts are a lot cheaper than phone calls. Once I get my residency card, I will probably get a plan that has the bare minimums, just because I've had to recharge my phone once already.

Remember yesterday when I asked if I could ever go through a day without breaking out in sweat before 8:30? Well, I accomplished that feat today, but only because it was raining. And even still, I managed to get wet :( I did figure out this morning that if I catch the train at 8:45 from the transfer station, it's a lot less crowded than the one that comes two minutes earlier. I missed the first train that was packed like sardines. Two minutes later another one came. I was shocked at how empty it seemed compared to the other ones. I did a double take and had to make sure I was on the right metro!

Today, I had a first grade class, a fifth grade class, and a third grade class. The first grade class was absolutely precious. The fifth grade class wants to talk all the time and in spanish! I made a deal with them. I told them that I am going to have a competition between the three fifth grade classes. Each time a class speaks in English one hundred percent of the time, they will receive a point. Whoever has the most points by the end of the term (December) will have a party. They seemd up to the challenge. The funny thing is, when they ask me something in Spanish, I tell them "No hablo espanol." Which of course, they make a face and tell me that I'm speaking it! I laugh and say it's a joke, but tell them that during English class, we have to talk in English. It's even hard for me, because I have to stop myself from answering questions they ask in Spanish, since I know what they're saying.

My third grade class was laughing at me because I was having the hardest time learning their names. I explained to them that I have 400+ names to learn and they have it easy because they only have to learn my name. On top of that, these are Spanish names! I asked some of the teachers for class lists and also made some seating charts for two of the classes I had today. It's funny to me, because several of the boys are named Nacho, short for Ignacio. It's so weird calling them by the name of one of my favorite foods!

I am looking forward to the weekend, even though I have tons of reading and two papers to write. I'm really excited to write my paper for my Democracy of Eastern Europe class because we have to discuss Serbia's potential membership in the European Union. It will be fun to be able to write about something that I know information about!

Today in Theology, I had a quiz and I didn't know two of the questions on it. Not good. One of the questions was what does JEPD stand for. I had no clue, so I named people in the bible. Of course it was wrong. But at least I made an valiant effort :)

I have also decided that I am going to make my calf muscles even fatter as the year progresses. I walk several flights of stairs a day - at the metro stations, at school, at work. All while carrying a fifteen pound backpack. And the least thing I want right now is a bigger calf muscle. I can never squeeze those suckers into boots and it makes me quite mad. On a positive note, I am burning calories. Which is a good thing, because I can't afford new clothes right now. (Sidenote, I cannot wait to get my mouth on a neopolitana in the morning. Yes folks, it's time for my weekly treat!)

Has anyone seen the trailer for the new season of Grey's?

Quote of the Day: "Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times." -Anon

Being Cosmopolitan. 22/98.

Can I just go through one day where I don't break out in a cold sweat before 8:30 am? Just one day, please?! I honestly don't see how I am going to make it come winter. Yes, I will have to wear a coat, but I already starting to wonder if the metro will still be stuffy in the dead of winter. This morning was difficult for me to wake up. I kept hitting the snooze button. I didn't leave the house this morning until 8:20 and still made it to work ten minutes early :) I broke down and tried riding the metro with my backpack on the floor, in between my feet. It was much better, I have to admit. Plus, I actually felt better having the backpack guarded by my legs, than I did having it on my back.

I had four classes today. I LOVE teaching the 5th and 6th graders. They are so much fun. Of course, they want to talk to me in Spanish. I told them that during English class, we have to talk in English, but outside of that, we can talk in Spanish. Some of the boys classroom 5-C, love baseball. Unfortunately, I don't remember their names. I know there are a lot of Jorges, Marias, Martas, and Alejandros. Of course it's easier for them to learn my name. I have at least 26 students in each class. Hopefully I will get it all down soon though. The first graders are going to be a bit of a challenge, but it's one that I am up for.

I hit a rough patch yesterday. I have been getting frustrated in my own Spanish class. It's an advanced writing class and my professor is very hard and wants us to write in a formal manner. Yesterday, I got a paper back that had more red markups than the annual budget of the U.S.A. I am feeling more and more incompetent as this class goes on and was even doubting my decision to study Spanish yesterday. But this morning with the kids cheered me up, so I'm back to normal. (Plus, a little pep email from your mother never hurts anything either!)

I am slowly, but surely, making new friends. Most of them are people I take political science classes with. They are from all over the world, too. One is from Sweden, another from Taiwan, and someone else from Mexico. The school really is a little United Nations!

Tomorrow is the last day of classes for the week, so I'm really happy about that. Of course, I'm not too happy about all the reading I have to do, plus two papers I have to write this weekend. I love political science for the reason that there is no right answer - you can write a paper based on your own beliefs and as long as those beliefs are backed up by some type of political ideology, you're fine. On the other hand, I hate political science because of all the reading you have to do and the lecture classes. Although today, I started typing my notes for Asian Politics and it was so much eaiser than writing! I keep telling myself though that all of this will pay off in the long run. In three out of my four poli sci classes, we are talking about the Cosmopolitan person. And I guess after all of this is said and done, I will truly be one of them!

This afternoon, I discovered a new park. It's only a few blocks away from school and I can't believe I never knew about it before! It has water fountains, playgrounds, and paddle courts. (I found out today that paddle is a game similar to tennis, but you use a different racket and the court is shorter. It's very popular here.) But, the best part of it all is that it has a driving range and a small golf course! I am soooo excited about this one! How cool is that?! (Yes, I know I'm lame.)

Oh, and for those of you who is a friend on Facebook, you will be pleased to know that I did not eat all my sour patch kids last night :)

Quote of the Day: "It is better to be feared than to be loved."- Machiavelli (Talked about this famous quote in class today, thought I'd share. Note: this quote does not necessarily express my personal beliefs, but I can argue for both sides on this one.)

Day One of Teaching. 21/99.

Well folks, we are down to double digits in the countdown! I love watching the number go down each night as I type it into the title box. The only thing I have to figure out now, is how I'm going to do a tracker for when I come back in January. Will I just keep track of the days that I've been here or what? I'd like to have a cumulative number, but also enjoy counting down the days until I come home for my breaks. Thoughts? Suggestions? Te pareces? (What do you think?)

Today was my first day teaching at school and let me tell you how taken aback I was at the lack of classroom management some teachers have/the behavior of the students. My first class was segundo curso (2nd level) and they were talkative. They talk the entire time you talk. Guess we will have to establish some ground rules. But I didn't want to do it today since we're not separating the kids until next week. Because I won't be able to deal with the kids if they treat me like that. But I can guarantee you that they won't :) The 5th and 6th level classes were much better. It's hard for them to talk in English all the time and of course their abilities are all over the board. I am supposed to talk to them only in English, but that is impossible. Especially when I am trying to teach them correct English. Today, the kids kept saying, "I go to the beach," when they were supposed to be telling me what they did over the summer. The problem is, their English teachers also speak like this. So, I had to ask them in spanish, if they would say "Me voy a la playa" or "Fui a la playa". Once I got them to understand that they also needed to use past tense, they understood.

For breakfast, I drank a colacao (chocolate milk) and had some type of chocolate snack thing. Not sure what it was and it kind of had a weird taste. As I was leaving today, some of the teachers asked me if I would type up a list of commonly used phrases that we use in school, so they can learn how to say them in English. This is a nice little project for me, because I will also have to teach the other teachers how to pronounce things correctly!

In the metro today, I realized that I need to buy some type of shoulder bag to use instead of my backpack. Ever since I saw the robbery in the metro, I've been apprehensive about wearing my backpack. And I'm sure people love me in the mornings on the overcrowded metro because I have the backpack on my back. There's too many people to put it on the floor, so I really don't have a choice. They can get over it! But anyways, having a "teacher bag" would help me trememdously. I no longer schlep all my books to school, because I only use them at home when I am reading them. What kills me is that I have about ten teacher bags at home, sitting in my closet.

Speaking of my closet, I was skyping with my parents tonight. First thing I notice is that my mother is wearing one of my shirts. Every day she emails me, saying something like, "I'm thinking about you today because I have on your necklace," or something to that effect. The woman has inherited a whole new wardrobe. How thoughtful of her to think of me. She's like a kid in a candy store with my closet. It's like having your own in-house shopping mall. So if anyone sees my mother out in public and she's wearing a really cute outfit, chance are, she's wearing something from my closet :) Lucky for me, my shoes are too big (in size and in height) for her foot. I would kill to have some of my shoes right now....Speaking of shoes, I looked down at my feet and they look awful. I know my feet are mad at me. And hey, if I were them, I'd be mad at me too. I may have to find a place to get a pedicure on Friday. I'm afraid if I don't get one, I won't have any feet left to walk on. Yes, it's that bad. I have the battle wounds to prove it. They come in the form of blisters, scabs, and calluses. All different colors too. It's like I have the United Nations and the Rainbow Coalition on my two feet :)

I'm getting really frustrated with my spanish class. My teacher is very picky and wants us to write in a formal tone all the time. I realize it's only going to help me in the long run, but it's really making me question my spanish language abilities, even though I know I am proficient in Spanish. It's really bugging me and hurting my spirit :(

On a happy note, I got to watch bits of the US Open last night. So proud of Nadal for winning. This has been quite the year for Spain in sports! Maybe I won't have to purchase that premium account after all....

Quote of the Day: "If at first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again." -the late Aaliyah

Bells, Whistles, and Spanx 20/100.

Last night, I gave a whole new meaning to the phrase, "Bells and Whistles." Elena has an alarm system in the house that we set at night. It activates motion sensors in the basement and on the ground floor. I've had to activate it when I stay with the kids at night, so last night was no different. Or so I thought. I don't know if it was because I was extremely tired or what, but I pressed the wrong button to activate it and ended up setting the entire system off. We're not talking one of those silent alarms. No, this was louder than 30 screaming kids, a trombone, and an ambulance. Combined. Full blast. At midnight. It was loud enough for all of Madrid to hear. I'm surprised no one sent me an email saying that they heard it in the states. It scared me to death and woke up the kids. I'm pretty sure it spooked me more than it did the kids. Dan, bless his heart, slept through ninety percent of the whole debacle.  And then, I couldn't get the stupid thing to turn off. I kept punching in the code and the Symphony Orchestra and Mass Choir kept laughing at me by getting louder and louder. I'm surprised the police didn't show up, as long as the alarm went off. I had visions in my head of the police swarming up to the house, guns pointed at me. Dead serious. I just felt bad because it woke up the kids. I'm sure the housewives were talking about me at the pool today. I can hear them referring to me not as the American, but as the stupid, incompetent American. Oh, and none of them work, so it's not like I messed up their schedules or anything. I so wish I could have been a fly on the wall in the pool area today! The entire episode sent my heart racing! Thankfully this morning, everyone, including the kids woke up just fine. Why do the most simple things always turn out to be so difficult for me?

The metro was extremely crowded this morning. We were packed in there tighter than my excess baggage underneath my spanx. (And that's really tight, FYI.) Ladies, you know what I'm talking about :) Anyways, this nice guy on the metro gave me his seat. What can I say? When we get to the station at Gregoria Maranon, the metro clears out. That stop is right on the main street of Madrid, right in the middle of the financial and business district. Everyone and their mother gets off at the stop. Me being such a dork, I just looked it up on Google Maps. I am surprised to learn how close school is to the main street. I think one day I'm just going to walk and get lost on purpose. That's the best way to do it. Of course, it will have to be a day where it's cool. I can't deal with anymore sweaty toes or blisters. Although, losing a pound of sweat from my pinky toe was kinda worth it, now that I think about it. Lost weight is lost weight, right?!

Anyways, let me just profess my love for the Spanish school schedule. The students came today - they were all so adorable in their plaid uniforms and jumpers. Seeing all of their parents drop them off and pick them up made me appreciate my job even more - I'm telling you, being able to love on kids during the day and then send them home to their parents at night is amazing :) But seriously, everyone I met was really nice and I can't wait to start teaching tomorrow. Now if I can only learn all 400 of their names....So back to what I was saying. The school day starts at 9:15. I was one of the first teachers there. A whole thirty minutes early! Apparently, no one gets there until 9:10. So, we work for a little under two hours, and then we get a thirty minute coffee/breakfast break. It's a full cafe in the basement of the school. Everyone gathers and sits and breaks bread. Literally. We have fresh bread, muffins, and something that resembles chocolate doughnuts to eat, coffee, tea, water, and chocolate milk to drink. Then its back to work for another two hours, followed by an-almst-two-hour lunch break. Then, another two hour period and it's time to go home. The kids don't even stay the full day during the month of September. Right now, they leave at 1:10. They won't stay a full day until October! Like I said, I LOVE this system. If I ever become a school principal (this is after I run for public office, become the first woman senator from Kentucky, teach, go into international business, and become a writer for a travel magazine,) I will adopt the spanish schedule.

Today at school, I ran into a friend from the first time I was here. I was so glad to see her, especially since a mutual friend of ours told me that he thought she graduated last semester. We are going to hang out on a weekend. It was really nice to re-connect though, because we are both older than a lot of the other students and we both work and take classes.

Sadly, I have nothing else to write about. Oh wait, that was a lie. I received my spanish debit card today and picked it up at the bank. First of all, it's a mastercard, which is weird to me. Secondly, I had to activate it and that was the hardest thing I've had to do since I've been here. Elena helped me, but they wouldn't let her speak to the representative. So, I had to try and translate everything. She asked me if I had stocks and retirement funds with the bank. (I guess to verify I was the real Sarah Trainor.) And then tried to sell me some type of security package. Absolutely not. Now I have to wait another 3-7 days to get my pin. And then I have to go to the bank to change it to whatever code I want. Talk about difficult!

I'm going to sleep now. In the words of my mother, "Seven comes quick."

Quote of the Day: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." -Eleanor Roosevelt

Paella and Apple Cobbler 19/101.

I have been blessed to have friends in other countries who are like surrogate families. Although I am thousands of miles away from my family in Louisville, I feel that I have become a part of yet another family here in Spain. I have quickly learned to love Sundays here and not just because of the wonderful food! Elena's parents came over once again today. I saw them as they were walking up to the door and they were so excited to see me!

Today's Sunday dinner was a fusion of my adopted home of Spain and my permanent home, Kentucky. Elena's mother cooked another fabulous paella today. Yes, it was the exact same as last week, but who cares. My motto, "When in Spain, do as the Spaniards...." (For those of you confused, please see last week's blog, entitled "Confessions of a Shrimp Killer.") I added a taste of Kentucky to the meal. I baked a homemade apple cobbler! I was worried that it wouldn't turn out because I had to convert oven temperatures over to celsius and I was afraid that no one would like it! The kids didn't eat more than a bite - Elena says they never like to try new things! But her parents devoured their portions! Her mother kept telling me how wonderful it was. I was so happy! My grandmother and great-grandmother would be so very proud of me! I cooked the apples on the stove and made my own crust from scratch. It was so good, that I am trying my best to resist the leftovers that are calling my name from the counter....

I finished the rest of my reading and homework. I am now caught up for Tuesday! What a relief! Tomorrow is the first day at school for the students and I am nervous! Thankfully, I don't have to teach tomorrow. I will spend the entire day planning with Nicholas, one of the English teachers. I will be working on my presentation tomorrow. Anyone have any "must-tell" bits of information that you think I should include in my presentation about Louisville?

Last night, I was able to watch the Real Housewives of New Jersey part 2 reunion! I was so happy. However, I still CANNOT stream any football games off justin.tv. It keeps telling me that they have reached the maximum number of viewers in Spain and that I should purchase a premium account. I'm seriously thinking about doing it. It's only $25 for three months. But then again, all the games come one late at night, so maybe it won't be worth it. I'll need everyone to keep me updated on games!

Please pray that the school year gets off to a good start for me. Can't wait to share details as the week goes on!

Quote of the Day: "The conscience of children is formed by the influences that surround them; their notions of good and evil are the result of the moral atmosphere they breathe." -Jean Paul Richter
         
-A wonderful reminder for me as I embark on the challenge of making a difference in the lives of children. Never in a million years would I have guessed that I would be doing in in Spain.

Housewives and PDA's (and I don't mean the electronic PDA) 18/102.

My apologies for last night's blog. It was rather pointless if you ask me. My life here is starting to get so busy. I was homesick the first couple of days because there was nothing to do. I kept asking myself repeatedly, "Why did I move again?" Well, now that work and school are both in full swing, I have been reminded of why I decided to do such a life-altering thing. I know that the time is going to fly by now and before I know it, I will be on a plane to come home for Christmas!

I woke up today around ten thirty. It was nice to sleep in after waking up at what seemed like the crack of dawn these past two days. I fixed breakfast for the kids and myself and we went to the pool. They swam while I read books for class. It's been a very productive day for me. I am caught up with homework/reading for my classes on Monday. All that's left is to read and do some spanish exercises in my workbook. My goal is to always be a day ahead on homework. Since this is the umpteenth time I'm taking classes, I think I finally have a handle on how to manage time effectively.

The RHOM and company were at the pool all day today. Their whole group is hilarious to me. The booze started around one thirty. Ludy, the mother hen of the group even offered me a drink. She remembered my name and everything! Probably because she talks about me when I'm not around :) They took a brief hiatus around three to go home and eat lunch, but then they were back out around six. The kids went swimming again and then everyone went home around eight. But oh no, they were back for round three . When we were eating dinner around ten, you could hear them cackaling. Elena said they are so annoying and she doesn't see how anyone can possibly sit around and gossip like they do. Apparently, they talked all through the night during the entire month of July. Elena says that she has no idea how each of them managed to find a husband who wanted to marry them and who works for them so they can stay at home and sit at the pool all day. Amazing. One of the housewives, also named Elena, has an 18 year old daughter, Marta. She failed her tests that she needs to pass in order to attend college. She has one more chance to pass them, but if she does not, she has to repeat her year. To Elena, it's no surprise that she failed them, because she says, when you sit at the pool all day, what do you expect? Today, some of the husbands even joined the club. They all looked exactly the same. Middle aged, husky, and white hair. I guess that's what you need to look for when trying to be a trophy wife, huh?

Speaking of co-habilitation and marriage, I seriously thought this couple on the metro yesterday was about to make a baby together. In public! Europeans are much more affectionate than we are, even when greeting someone. Instead of a handshake, you get a kiss on each cheek. Technically, I guess this means I have kissed men. Oops. Mimi is going to kill me! Anyways, it's nothing to see couples stick their tongues down each other's throat or their hand down their mate's pants. I'm not lying! (This is another reason why I couldn't have a spanish boyfriend. PDA's are gross and completely unnecessary if you ask me. I mean, if I can barely stand my own pants sticking to my legs in the dead of summer, do you think I want you sticking your hand down them? Just saying.) Anyways, this couple on the metro though was going a bit over the top. Even for the spainiards. I saw several people look at them like what in the world are you doing? But hey, if they like it, then I love it! (But not really!)

Yesterday, I found out more about the school. The teachers are paid based on how many hours they teach. A full schedule is 26 hours. And I'm working 20! Teachers who also act as tutors (kind of like a homeroom teacher) get more money. Some teachers teach multiple subjects or at another school, so they can make more money. Very weird to me. But I am totally grateful to be working almost a full teaching schedule.

If anyone knows any elementary teachers, ask them if they would be interested in doing some type of exchange program over the internet/email/snail mail with a class in Spain. I am completely flexible with this! Spread the word :)

Is anyone still reading this besides my mother? I feel like I'm writing to myself. Although, this will make for a nice journal in a few years.

Quote of the Day: "You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was." -Abraham Lincoln (this coming from the guy who's nickname was Tall Abe....)

Return of the killer blisters 17/103.

Yep, my best friends in the whole wide world have graced me with their presence, yet again. What did I do to deserve this?! Thankfully, I was at Sol's house, so she gave me a band-aid. I am fighting sleep right now, so excuse me if this is short and completely out of chronological order. I will try my best.

My day started at 7:30 this morning, which is so depressing for me. The alarm was set for 7, but I didn't hear it. It was very cool this morning and I was actually cold. I will have to remember to wear a jacket or sweater in the mornings. The trains were crowded, but my commute this morning took me only 30-35 minutes, station to station. Which was a good thing, because I kinda sorta got lost this morning. Today was my first day getting off at this particular station. I was supposed to take the Guzman El Bueno exit, which I did. Problem was, there were two exits named Guzman El Bueno. I took the exit to the right, when I should have taken the one to the left. I started walking and realized that I had walked way too far. However, I did find a little cafeteria and bought a coffee and a neopolitana, which was probably the best breakfast I've ever had. It is fila dough, filled with cream and chocolate, but not a heavy amount. On top is a glaze that is exactly like the glaze they put on croissants. For all those familiar with WW, I hate to think how many points it is. My mother pointed out that I need to save money and calories, so I have decided to eat one, only once a day. I mean once a week :)

We had a faculty meeting this morning. I am one of four new teachers to the school this year. The meeting seemed long, probably because I was lost during half of it. After the meeting, we had mass, that was of course, in Spanish. I am not catholic, but am religious. I've been to several masses before, the first one being four years ago when my mother dragged me to Hellen's freshman mass at Assumption. The two of us were hilarious, because we had no clue what to do. Of course, Daddy, who used to be an altar boy, wasn't there to help us and we had to go at it alone. But thanks to that experience and a few other ones, I at least know the basics. So, when the priest told us to stand up and greet one another, I knew to say "Paz contigo." The idea of how small of a world we live in was really put into perspective for me during the mass. I was comforted to see that we pray for the same things even though we speak a different language. Over and over again, I heard "Depende de nosotros" - depends on us. That's the motto of the staff. We were told that we all have a responsibility to teach these students, academically and spiritually. It was really a great experience. After mass, we had a lunch gathering. They had prepared spanish tapas (appetizers) and I met several teachers. It was nice to talk to them and I really am excited about the upcoming year. The school is such a warm place to be.

Tonight for dinner, we ate conidos, a type of bean that is a typical food of Madrid. It was wonderful, as always.

Sorry for the brief blog, but as we say in Spanish, "Estoy muerta." I'm dead.

Quote of the Day: "Character isn't something you were born with and can't change, like your fingerprints. It's something you weren't born with and must take responsibility for forming." -Jim Rohn

Too tired to think of a title 16/104.

I am exhausted. The two weeks that I had of a semi-vacation have sadly come to an end. I went to the school today to get my schedule and to figure out exactly what I am going to be doing. I was only there for two hours, but I got an over-abundance of information that my head hurt and now I am mentally and physically drained. I can only imagine what it's going to be like once the students come.

Colegio Jesus Maestro is a school that has children from ages 2-18. The infantil (preschool) is on the bottom floor, the office, chapel, and sitting rooms are on the ground floor, the primary school takes up the next two floors, and the high school, along with the sixth year classes are on the 4th floor. There is also a 5th floor but it is unused. It's a huge school! There are also three patios (recess areas), a cafeteria, and a cafe for the teachers. The cafe serves coffee, tea, and breakfast to teachers, free of charge, which is a nice perk that you won't find in any public schools in the states, I'm sure.

My tour guide for the day was Alberto, one of the english teachers at the school. There are 11 english teachers, including myself. The schools are set up a bit differently here. There is a teacher who is called a tutor, and their job role is that of the classroom teacher in elementary school. They deal with behavior issues and parents. The tutors are also teachers, but generally teach only one subject. Thus, all the teachers rotate classrooms. I am a "special area" teacher, as we call it in the states. I will be working four hours a day, five days a week and have 16 different classes! Each class has two english teachers at a time, but the class is split into two smaller groups. After 20-25 minutes, the teachers switch places so they can work with both groups. A little confusing, but I'm sure I will adjust just fine.

I met over 20 people today, and honestly, can only remember the names of about half of them. Of course, I spoke in Spanish with everyone and told them that I prefer to speak with them in that language. Elena told me at dinner tonight that many of the english teachers here are not good, because they pronounce things wrong and don't have a huge vocabulary in english, which was surprising to me. I will have to create my own lesson plans. I already know what I am going to do next week - create a power point to introduce myself and to tell the kids about Kentucky. Then we will play some type of introduction game. For the first week, I will be teaching with the other teacher at the same time, but after that, I'm on my own. One teacher had an english book and I asked where she bought it, because I was going to purchase my own copy - I'm so used to having to buy my own supplies. They looked at me like I was crazy and told me that we don't pay for anything out of pocket. Sure my wallet will appreciate that :)

I think I am really going to like the school. Everyone I met today was so nice and welcoming, which helps tremendously. Tomorrow, I am going in the morning to start working on my plans and gathering materials. The kids here, address the teachers by their first names, no title or anything. What a difference from the states!

Tonight for dinner, I fixed omelettes for Elena and myself. The kids had leftovers from what Elena ate at lunch. (They eat at the school.) I asked Elena if she had ever had an american omelette before, and she said no. I sauteed tomatoes, onions, and ham. Then I chopped up cheese (no such thing as shredded cheese) and tossed it all in the skillet. She loved it! I was so glad, because the foods we eat are different from the food they eat here. It's really fun to trade off cooking - they are introducing me to new things and vice versa.

I'm sure I am forgetting something, but I have to go to sleep and my brain is dead. I have to get up at 7, so I can leave the house by 7:45ish. I am allowing myself an hour to get to school. The metro will run more frequent, but will also be more crowded. Should be fun. Plus those who know me, know that I am not a morning person at all!

Hopefully, I won't have so many dead brain cells tomorrow and can write more.

Quote of the Day: "A Queen is never late. Everyone else is simply early." -Julie Andrews, Princess Diaries 2

I hate Hulu 15/105.

Last night, I told you all that I was going to watch the Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion show part 2. I was all ready to go and clicked on the link. And then stupid Hulu realized that I was using a third party IP address and wouldn't let me watch the show. I was so bummed. I tweeted by disgust and devoted my 3,000th tweet to Bravo and Hulu, thanking them for killing my mood last night. UGH!!!! If anyone is looking for any ideas for my birthday/Christmas gifts, DVD's of Real Housewives/Grey's Anatomy would just make my day!

Today, I got to school early, because I wanted to try and catch one of my professors from two summers ago. Her name is Araceli and she is the person who told me about Elena needing an English Teacher for Dan and Luna. So if it weren't for her, I probably wouldn't have a free place to stay right now! Like my other Spanish professors, Araceli and I kept in touch through Facebook. I was so glad to see her today. She even offered me a job, teaching English to her kids. Unfortunately, with work and school, I have no extra time, even though I would have loved to do so! I guess I'm in high demand over here :)

I got several exciting bits of information today. I will soon know of when my appointment is to go to the police station and get fingerprinted for my residency card. Many of you may not know, but I had a wonderful time getting my Spanish visa to come over here. At first, I was coming in June, then I wasn't coming, then I was coming. I've heard stories of people being denied for residency cards and having to return to the states to apply again. Flying back and forth is a bit expensive....so I'm so glad that everything went well with my application! I also received an email telling me that someone dropped the Theology class I was on the waitlist for. I am officially in the class, which means I am now carrying 18 hours this semester.

While I was talking to the professor, who also happens to be the campus priest, we were talking about the student retreat that is coming up next month. He asked if I would be comfortable with getting involved with the retreat/campus ministry. I told him about my experience in the ministry and he immediately introduced me to the campus minuster, Ana. He told her about my experience and she was so excited and said it was an answered prayer! She and I are going to meet one day next week to talk about what activities we can plan for the campus ministry. I am really excited to get involved with something on campus!

Finally, I start work tomorrow. One of the English teachers called me. I am meeting her tomorrow at noon at the school. I'm so glad to be starting. Hopefully this also means that I will get paid at the end of the month :) I need to get some funds circulating, because things over here are expensive! I had to pick up a notebook, some folders, and highlighters for classes today. I went to this store called Carlin, which is kinda like our version of Staples or Office Depot. They had a Barbie pen that matched my Barbie purse I bought in Indianapolis. I was going to get it, until I realized that the pen was almost ten US dollars! I politely put it back on the shelf. Considering, I bought a ten pack of pens at Target for one dollar, I couldn't bring myself to do it. (Yes, I find it rather amusing that I hated Barbie as a child, but now I love all the merchandise that is out now!)

I did have one teensy, tiny scare today. I thought I had lost my passport. I went to pay for my school supplies and realized I didn't have it with me. I didn't panic, but instead re-traced my steps from yesterday. I realized that yesterday morning, I was a little uneasy about walking around with my real passport after what happened in the metro. I thought I took it out, but couldn't remember for sure. Thankfully, I had taken it out at the house yesterday and found it when I came home! What a relief that was!

I am going to sleep now. I have been staying up rather late these past few nights, because classes don't start until 2:30 for me. But now that work is starting, I need to get on a good sleeping schedule. Can't wait to share my work experiences tomorrow evening with everyone!

Quote of the Day: "For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another." -Galatians 5:13-15