Sarah and The Giant Chicken

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More later.